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Homeland Security and US-CERT forward nonsense alert

Just got an email from US-CERT forwarding a FTC alert stating that you should use Equifax to monitor the effect of the Equifax breach on your credit accounts?!?!?!

See this line in the email…
Alternative security recommendations include using fraud alerts and free credit monitoring from Equifax.

Forgive me if I don’t get it. But this seems to me like letting the doctor that left the scalpel inside your gut, go back in for another try. It is the industry standard to have an outside agency or company monitor a break of this magnitude. Until they have proven they have fixed the breach AND a resolution has been implemented for ALL those that have been affected.

jeeesh !!!

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CCleaner Hacked

If your using CCleaner, know that the company that produces it has said it’s been hacked. Uninstall ASAP and if you wish to still use it download the latest version.
via…
https://techcrunch.com/…/avast-reckons-ccleaner-malware-in…/

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Watch out for fake antivirus programs

Just came across this Fake antivirus / scamware
“professional cleaning software”.

Could you be any more creative with a name?

If you decide to install security / antivirus software consult an expert first or you may end up with a fake that does nothing but take your money.

 

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From Homeland Security / US-CERT

If your using Thunderbird to check your email…

Original release date: August 21, 2017

Mozilla has released a security update to address multiple vulnerabilities in Thunderbird. A remote attacker could exploit some of these vulnerabilities to take control of an affected system.

US-CERT encourages users and administrators to review the Mozilla Security Advisory for Thunderbird 52.3 and apply the necessary update.

Get the update version here

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Know your software

On computers as well as smartphones I find people download software without even doing a google search to see if it is any good. Yet alone to check if the software is just bait for a virus infection or has had other issues discovered with it. Such as bugs or not working with certain O/S or hardware.

In addition software that is great today can be dangerous tomorrow if hackers compromise the source code or somehow are able to control the website providing the downloads for the software.

Yesterday some popular extensions for google chrome created by Chris Pederick have been reported to have been compromised by hackers.

If your running any of these add-ons you should remove them ASAP…

Chrometana
Infinity New Tab
CopyFish
Web Paint
Social Fixer

This is just one days hacking news as both Chrome extensions TouchVPN and Betternet VPN were also compromised in June.

So before downloading any program make sure you check it out. And if you need help ask a computer professional such as RenoGeek to help you with your software choices and security.

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The end of net neutrality

Today is save net neutrality day.

Many companies want your law makers to change how information is processed by your Internet provider. While it might seem innocent, know that the Internet you enjoy today was built on equal access for all.

If these companies have their way within a few years you will find that with data caps and speed tiers your experience on the Net will become slower (for the most part) and more expensive. With you having to pay a premium to access your favorite websites and services.

Contact your lawmakers today and let them know you want to keep the Net Neutrality rules that are already in place. If you don’t, then expect to pay more in the future for sites like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and Youtube.

 https://www.battleforthenet.com/july12/

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Ransomware protection

Once again a new ransomware is in the news. Starting in the Ukraine and spreading worldwide in just a few hours. As always happens once a new malware hits the news I get phone calls asking how the person can protect themselves from the new thing on the block. And my answer is the same. Good anti-virus products. Good computing habits and Back up, Back up and did I say backups?

With a good, well maintained backup even the worse virus or malware will just mean you need to re-install the O/S and copy your data back. Without a good backup you could spends months re-creating important work data and maybe loose important things like personal documents and pictures permanently.

In addition, a good anti-virus will help fend off malware and not clicking on every link sent via email from your friends and co-works can also limit your exposure to these new threats.

As always if you need help with computer security or other computer issues please give RenoGeek a call.

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The coming end to privacy

The new Amazon Echo will have a “drop-in”, (feature???) where people you approve can just “drop-in” and video chat instantly. No picking up or screening the call, they just show up on your screen and start chatting. No warning.

In a world that has trained people already to never shut off their cell phones and spend the first part of their day checking emails and updating their status and where people think you died if you don’t answer a text in under a minute, it is a disturbing trend.

We already get rated at work on how “Available” we are and even Facebook will show how often and how fast you respond to their version of text. Now in this always on world companies are pushing us to never be away at all. Even in the book 1984 there were corners to hide in from time to time. But forget that in the new 24/7 “never away” world we are creating.

While I have spent my life working with and promoting all things “Tech”. I resist the idea that you should or even must be available to anybody in the world 24/7.

Technology is supposed to make your life better and free you to do the things you like. If any software or hardware device increases your workload or decreases your enjoyment then it has missed the whole point of why it should exist in the first place.

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Testing software

I test software all the time as I need to be familiar with any products my customers may use or try.  Today’s test was for Easeus partition master 12. A consumer level drive partition and maintenance utility.

While I would give the program itself a 3 out of 10 for usability, as most of the real functions you would need already exist in other free utilities and the price they want for their version is hundreds of dollars over what their competitors ask for.  The real disappointment was with their business practice of including crap ware with their product, and the fact the program changes your default search and home pages.

Now  I know if you look carefully and unchecked the right box on the right EULA page you don’t have to install this junk. But for their target end user who would be using this utility because they are not very computer savvy, it can easily be missed and that consumer would then have five extra programs and new search and home pages they never asked for.

Also as a bonus lesson on how not to do a uninstall program. I would suggest they dump the pop up webpage asking yet again to change your search pages when you try and uninstall the program. After all if your uninstalling, you are saying in general you did not like the program and want to go back to the way things were before installing said software. Right?