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LastPass warns users while it fixes a ‘MAJOR’ vulnerability.

While I am all for any attempt by end users to secure their passwords, I have always been a bit leery of using services such as Lastpass. As they are a high value target. Hackers know if they can get into a service like this they will have access to millions of accounts. I prefer my passwords in a spread sheet encrypted with a strong password. Seems old school to some. But I don’t have to change all my passwords every time Lastpass is in the news. And this is not the first security threat they have had to warn users about.

So….

If your using LastPass, time to do the password dance again…

ie: change your passwords now.

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Monday in computer repair

Hitting the road soon for computer support calls. And have the first half of the week booked already. Just stopped for a sec as I look at some of the devices I am returning today to clients. 2 macs, a Linux box, a tablet and 3 windows machines. Always something new, 🙂

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Upgrading a few of my …

Diagnostic computers and a data recovery rig I built a few years back. While getting some computer repair work done for clients.  Monday, Tuesday and Wed pretty booked up already. So a busy weekend and start of the next week. 🙂

 

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Use a VPN

With the privacy laws in the USA and other countries being rolled back. It’s more important that you take your privacy more seriously. One of the easiest ways to do this is to use a VPN (Virtual private network). But most VPN’s can be tricky for the average computer user to setup.

I have found a web browser that has a built in VPN. So the setup is as easy as clicking on one button in the web browser.

The Browser is called Opera and all you have to do is click on the VPN tab in the address bar and turn the slider to “ON”.

If you use a VPN and a browser in private mode your chances of getting tracked by your ISP and advertisers.

Here is where to get the browser and how set it up…

The browser.  http://opera.com

It’s VPN setup…
http://help.opera.com/opera/Windows/2393/en/private.html#vpn

Viewing in Private mode…
http://help.opera.com/opera/Windows/2393/en/private.html#privateWindow

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More privacy rights eroded

Yesterday the  United States Senate voted to let Internet service providers (ISP’s) sell your usage data to any and all advertisers. So if you wonder why when you go to a “questionable” website and then start seeing ads for the same kind of thing shortly after your visit, you will now know why.

But this goes deeper. What if your into off road motorcycles and visit lots of websites about the sport. Would your health and auto insurance shoot up because now anybody can buy a look at your interests and see your into “risky” activities?

Since this is now legal your only defense would be to hide your browser activities. Look for my post about VPN’s if you wish to protect yourself.

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Two US firms lost 100 million to email scam

The BBC is reporting today the two firms in the United States fell victim to an email phishing scam where a man posing as an Asian manufacturer,  tricked employees into transferring money into bank accounts under his control.

While many think that just Grandma falls for these scams, it’s important to note that they can happen to anybody not practicing good computer security habits.

Via: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39351215

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Microsoft now determines when your computer is active?

Been working on a machine that had it’s updates corrupted. After getting them fixed and caught up, I went into settings to change the computers active times as I know this person is up late with their computer and is online over 16 hours a day.

The picture below shows that Microsoft will not let you set the systems active time for more then 12 hours. In other words in Microsoft’s view nobody should be using their computer more then 12 hours a day?  Weird if you ask me.

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What happens if / when the FCC relaxes your privacy protections?

It seems that on a number of fronts the new administration wishes to let companies use your data to make a bigger profit, while trashing any last remnant of privacy for their clients.

If old privacy rules are allowed to be weakened or removed altogether you can expect the these thing to occur in quick order…

1. Selling your data to marketers. After all they would love to know all your kinks so they can insert adds for your fav bull whip. 🙂

2. Hijacking your searches. Why should you get to choose where your information comes from?

3. Snooping through your traffic and inserting ads. What, you don’t want somebody looking at what your doing?

4. Pre-installing software on your phone and recording every URL you visit. It’s not like the police, NAS or CIA have ever used any of this information before against anybody, right?

You only get tot keep the rights you stand up for and protect. So it’s up to you if you will keep the freedom you expect on the Internet or let others take it from you.

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Microsoft seems not to care how much their updates will cost you.

If your on a high speed, unlimited connection, Microsoft updates should be installed as they come out to insure you have a more stable and in most cases secure computer.

But many people (AT&T I am talking about you) have low bandwidth, low data cap plans that price gouge you and / or throttle your speed after you hit their cap (22 gigs if your on a AT&T “Unlimited” plan).

So if your a Netflix / Youtube junkie with 5 other people on your “Unlimited” plan most of your data is maxed out by the end of the month.  But Microsoft makes no real effort to help you by letting you choose what to install (or not install). So your Internet data costs are now determined by Microsoft and not by you.

Via: Engadget

https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/19/windows-10-to-push-key-updates-on-limited-data-plans/