Oct 4, 2018 | News
So yesterday evening, my social media page went crazy. But it wasn’t over the baseball playoffs or the Brett Kavanaugh scandal. Because this was more like: Did you get that presidential alert yesterday?
At around 2:13 EST yesterday, a ‘Presidential Alert’ went out to millions of smartphones across the USA. The agency FEMA did the test. Also, keep in mind this was just a test. It’s part of the WEA (Wireless Emergency Alerts) system. The WEA is a system that goes to all wireless devices, kind of like the EAS does with radio and TV. Why do they do this? They say it’s in case of an emergency, like natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and even nuclear war.
But this isn’t the first time time alerts went out on cell phones. Because as early as 2006, George W. Bush’s administration came out with WEA system. The goal was to alert people on their cellphones (we didn’t have smartphones until late 2007) on a local level. The alerts included things like weather watches/warnings, and Amber alerts for missing children. But this is different. This time, the White House sent alerts to smartphones all across America. Even our clients in our computer repair shops caught that. In fact, people from here to my Facebook post say, “How did they get my number?”.
So for those who ask that, let’s not forget. It’s not 1987 anymore. It’s 2018. Our IT support and computer information are so intertwined. If they want to alert you, find you, or call you, then they can and will. This isn’t conspiracy theory. This is truth. Some people didn’t get the alert. For instance, I didn’t get the alert. Then again, I have a prepaid phone. So maybe that had something to do with it. But the majority of the people I talked with aren’t happy with this alert. Many say it seems more like an intrusion than a safety practice. Did you get that presidential alert yesterday?
Oct 3, 2018 | General
So for years, many people from fast food to retail, protest a $15 minimum wage. So far, they made little headway. In fact, some found their jobs replaced by robots and AI technology. But it sounds like one company hears this protest and is doing something about it. Amazon increases minimum wage.
This includes all Amazon employees, including those from Whole Foods. This also includes the 100,000 seasonal employees that will come. In fact, the holiday shopping season is almost upon us (I know it comes sooner, but that’s another subject). Obviously, this wage increase cover the 250,000 full time Amazon employees as well. This new rule will start on November 1, 2018.
It’s already winning praise outside the IT service and support community. Senator Bernie Sanders urges other CEO’s to follow Jeff Bezos’ example. Then there is Dave Clark, the VP of Amazon. He took a picture, then tweeted it. That picture is of him announcing the wage increase to happy employees. Bezos wants people to know that other benefits will not change. Bezos himself also encouraged other CEO’s to follow his lead. Also, Bezos and other Amazon leaders promise to lobby for a federal minimum wage increase. They say $7.25 is too low. However, they didn’t say how much the national minimum wage should be.
Not too long ago, a customer came in our computer service shop. An Amazon employee, she complained about how her wage was low, despite Amazon being an almost trillion dollar company. I think of hard working Americans like her when I read Amazon increases minimum wage. But keep this in mind. Amazon is a trillion dollar company. They can afford to give their 250,000 employees minimum wage! Some companies can’t. In fact, some retail corporations are hanging by a thread as it is. If you can afford to pay your people $15 minimum, then do it. But some can’t. Also, the cynic in me asks: Will there be any layoffs or other repercussions before they increase their minimum wage?
Oct 2, 2018 | Computer technology
So over the last several years, we read about robots taking over certain job markets. For example, I saw one where a robot made pizza. But now, robots do your construction jobs.
They call this the HRP-5P. It’s funny they didn’t give it a proper name. A company in Japan they call Japan’s Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Institute. In this video, the robot installs drywall. First, it picks up the drywall. Then, it lines up the drywall with the wall’s size and shape. It goes on to drive the nails into the wall and stabilizing the drywall. It only installed one piece of drywall. But the video lasts 35 seconds. Then, imagine what HRP-5P can do in minutes, or hours or even a day.
The creators actually want to send robots like HRP-5 to construction sites all over Japan. Furthermore, they say such robots will be necessary in the near future. They may be already necessary, or so they want us to think. The creators, and their supporters, blame a low birth rate and aging population for this. Somone…or something…needs to fill the gap.? They also worry about workers carrying large pieces of equipment, and say robots are better off doing this. Are these legit reasons or are these excuses?
Meanwhile, here in America, there are millions of contractors and tens of millions of construction workers. Obviously, they use machines to lift heavy equipment; the even use IT support? for other tasks. But let’s dig deeper. They’re already replacing humans with robots in other industries from food service to nursing. Here is where it hits home for us. There is even talk of using robots for computer repair. This means millions of techs will be out of work. This also means millions of construction laborers will be out of work if robots do your construction jobs. Now are you concerned?
Oct 1, 2018 | News, Security
So a few days ago, Facebook faced yet another crisis. In fact, this is even bigger than the Cambridge Analytica scandal they dealt with for months. Let’s talk about Facebook’s massive security breach.
So late last week, Facebook’s massive security breach happened. This breach impacted over 50 million Facebook users. That has to be a record. But wait…there’s more. This attack lets hackers take any piece of information they wanted. This means everything you posted. This also means your profile. Keep in mind what’s in your profile: names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, even info of family and your past. The one good thing is they don’t think this breach can get to your private messages.
However, there is more good news. Facebook leaders said they fixed the bugs that let this security breach happened. But in order to do that, they had to log out of over 90 million user accounts. But wait…I thought this breached impacted only 50 million users (I can’t believe I say only 50 million users). However, it turns out that 40 million more users may have been affected. You do the math. The FBI is now taking action. Although there are some suspects from Taiwan, but there’s not enough evidence yet. In fact, both Facebook and the Feds say they may never know who is behind Facebook’s massive security breach.
Here is the scary thing. I’m watching news shows address this. Even IT support experts say, “There’s nothing you can do”. Isn’t that something? We usually say stuff like ‘change your password’ or set up a verification system. But in this case, they can’t even say that. Because these hackers didn’t see, and didn’t even need to see your password. In all my 13 years in computer repair, this is the first time I ever heard an expert say, “There’s nothing you can do”! Wow! Could this be the future of the very systems we depend on for mere survival?
Sep 28, 2018 | Computer technology
So what if you ran a major IT service corporation? Then, what if a group of people ran a theft ring, in your own hometown? That’s what happened to Apple. Police bust an Apple theft ring in Silicon Valley.
Local and state police arrested many who stole from Apple stores in Oakland and San Luis Obispo. The law accuses them of stealing over a million dollars worth of Apple merchandise. So according to authorities, they came in wearing baggy clothes in hoodies. Then,? swiped away the display items, stuck them in their pockets and baggy clothes, and walked out of there casually. It was simple as that.
It wasn’t just in these two cities. Because this theft ring operated in 19 California counties. So far, police arrested only seven people. They’re looking for at least nine more. I say ‘only’ and ‘at least’ because I think it takes way more than 16 people to pull of jobs like this. We’re talking millions of dollars worth of Apple goods here. California Attorney General Xavier Becarra addressed the case. As we expect, he assured they would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. However, Becarra addressed another concern: copycat criminals.
So come to think of it, I share Attorney General Becarra’s concern. I think most of know that Apple products don’t come cheap nowadays. Furthermore, some items, like these new batch of phones, are really popular. Look at how easy it was for them to pull this off.? Then add to the fact that not everybody is enjoying this…ahem…’economic boom’ the news and stock market hypes up.? All these things just breed temptation. But I tell you what. Police bust an Apple theft ring in Silicon Valley. That’s what. If you do this, then they will find you. Then you will be looking at years in prison. Believe me, Apple has the backing to make it happen. So my advice to you is…don’t even try it!
