Things I build, break,
fix, and write about

8 December 2025
AI
Creating Let's Encrypt certificates with Sophos firewall

Troubleshoot Lets Encrypt certificate failures on a Sophos firewall. You confirm DNS A records, port 80 reachability and that the ACME HTTP-01 token URL returns HTTP 200. Use dig and curl to test the exact token path. Fix NAT, firewall rules or proxies that block or rewrite /.well-known/acme-challenge.

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8 December 2025
Deals
Blink Outdoor 4 Camera + 2 more Amazon tech bargains

Discover the Blink Outdoor 4 camera and two more Amazon tech deals this week.

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8 December 2025
AI
Controlling camera access on MacOS devices

Learn how to securely grant USB camera access on a Mac for four specific users. Explore user permissions, camera settings, and effective management strategies.

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7 December 2025
AI
Using Safe Mode to remove Sophos Tamper Protection

Remove Sophos Tamper Protection offline using Safe Mode when your device cannot check in. You get clear checks, commands and remediation steps. Reboot to Safe Mode, stop Sophos services, remove files and clean registry keys, then reboot and verify no Sophos services remain.

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7 December 2025
Rambles
Weekly Tech Digest | 07 Dec 2025

Stay updated with the latest in tech! This digest covers AI ethics, auto industry shifts, and the impact of politics on technology, exploring today's pressing issues.

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7 December 2025
AI
Best practices for Sophos XGS HA cluster configurations

I’ll walk through how I configure Peer Administration on a Sophos XGS HA cluster so you can avoid the usual gotchas. This guide uses a practical, example-led approach. I cover network assessment, peer admin addresses, DHCP configuration, firewall rules and a few checks to prove the setup works. I use short, specific steps and real […]

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6 December 2025
AI
Addressing Microsoft login session reuse in Sophos Connect

Discover how to configure Sophos Connect to enforce login prompts for SSO users, preventing authentication failures and ensuring smooth third-party access.

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5 December 2025
AI
Using n8n snapshots for reliable backups

n8n backup patterns: Use CLI exports, database dumps and VM snapshots for layered protection. Automate daily exports and weekly snapshots, keep one offsite copy, and encrypt credential backups. Test restores monthly on a separate host and document the steps. Follow this guide to set up routines that actually restore your workflows and credentials.

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5 December 2025
AI
Choosing Reliable Self-Hosted Accounting Software for UK Self-Employed

Discover the essentials of choosing reliable self-hosted accounting software for UK self-employed individuals, ensuring data control and efficient financial management.

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5 December 2025
AI
Creating a wall-mounted dashboard with Home Assistant

Home Assistant Tablet Dashboard offers a wall-mounted control panel for your smart home. You will learn how to pick hardware, install Home Assistant, build a fast Lovelace dashboard and keep the tablet responsive day to day.

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