Jun 4, 2018 | Smartphone
So months after US Congress grilled Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, we learn more. And it’s not good. Did Facebook give Apple data?
So a NYT article reported over time, Facebook give Apple, Samung, and other smartphone makers access to users’ data. This is a problem because in 2011, them and other IT service companies made a deal with the FTC. But they may have broken it. Furthermore, the report says they gave over 60 smartphone makers access, such as ‘like’ buttons. They did this because they could skip going through the app process. So this pretty much means they gave most companies in the world this kind of access. But wait…there’s more.
A New York Times reporter said one smartphone company got private info from over 500 of his Facebook friends. This included everything from their party plans to their religious beliefs. It included political beliefs as well. That’s huge because look at today’s turbulent political climate. I myself lost a few Facebook friends because I didn’t have the exact same social and political beliefs they did. So that’s huge. But the reporter added they had unique identifiers on over 290,000 of his friends. However, Facebook leaders insists they created these API’s? so they could have Facebook on their operating systems.
So did Facebook give Apple data? And not just Apple, but Samsung, Blackberry, HTC, and dozens of others. I don’t know. All I can do in this case is report on the facts, then draw conclusions. For their sake, I hope Facebook didn’t do this, at least not in this way. Because if they did, then this would go against Zuckerberg’s testimony to Congress. Back then, he said, “Every piece of content you share on Facebook is your own”. Also, we should not that Facebook itself started phasing out this program in April 2018, a month after this statement. Now, it’s time for the smartphone companies and IT support companies to do the same. What do you think?
Jun 1, 2018 | Security
So who remembers the Apple iPhone January 1 1970 bug? How bizarre. But now, I read about a bug hitting up Android/Google smartphones. Furthermore, this Android bug can reveal text messages.
They name this bug ‘the1975..com’. Yes, you have to spell it with two periods between the year and com for it to work. But why would you want it to? Anyway, when you type ‘the1975..com’ in the Google app, then it will pull up your private text messages. But the real intention of ‘the1975..c0m’ is to pull up a rock band’s website. The text conversations can come from anywhere and everywhere.
A Reddit user who calls him/herself?Krizastro found the app. They used the Google Pixel Launcher, and this bug came to them that way. If you want a recap of your text messages, there’s a way to do that. For example, in the Google app, just type, ‘show my text messages’. You could also manually go through contacts and texts, but the ‘show my text messages’ way is quicker. Just don’t use the ‘the1975..com’ way. There’s no telling what Pandora’s Box you might be opening. No brand of Android seems to be immune to this bug. Not even the newer and high end phones like Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy S9+ are immune.
So let me share with you some good news. Yes, this Android bug can reveal text messages. But there is no major breach or threat to your information. If it’s anything, it’s just an annoyance. So why do I report it? I, along with everyone else in this Boston computer service shop, believe you should be informed. Android leaders have yet to comment on this. But look at their good record with customers. I truly believe they’re already on it. That’s more than I can say for many IT service and support companies.
May 31, 2018 | Malware, Security
So do you remember the 2014 movie The Interview? It caused so much controversy they had to take it off many theaters. In fact, NK dictator Kim Jung Un threaten havoc. But four years later, they’re still retaking havoc. This is the new North Korean malware: consumer alert.
According to the FBI and Homeland Security, North Korean hackers are using remote access tools to steal passwords and other important data. Furthermore, North Korea did this since 2009 and continue to do so in 2018. They’re biggest targets are media, pop culture, and financial sectors. Jonap, one of the tools, can carry hackers’ commands. Then, it infects a system already weak by other malware. Users get hit when they visit infected sites or open malicious emails and attachments.
And the new North Korean malware isn’t just hitting US sites. Jonap is affecting 87 other nations from around the world. Then there is Brambul. Brambul is a worm they put on by dropping malware. After this, it gets IP addresses. Then, they get illegal access to your system. If that isn’t enough, they’ll make up their own IP addresses. These fake addresses help them carry out more attacks. Now, they have IP addresses, usernames, passwords, emails, and all the other sensitive information they need.
For the IT support community to find, or even deter, North Korea’s hackers is going to be hard. First of all, they’re hard to find. Then, look at their twisted cause. Keep in mind only a small percentage of the North Korean people even have online access. Also keep in mind there are less than three million smartphones in North Korea. However, their population is around 30 million. So who in North Korea is doing these hacks? Who in North Korea gives the international IT service community such a headache? Could a select handful people under North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un’s orders be behind this?
May 30, 2018 | Computer technology, Entertainment
So before there was Playstation, Sega Genesis, even Nintendo, there was Intellivision. It was a popular home video game console in the early 1980s. But by the late ’80s, competition from Nintendo, Atari and Sega took it’s toll. The company disbanded. However, it seems like now, Intellivision video games make a comeback.
So the new Intellivision is coming up with a retro style gaming system. But so far, we know little about it. They don’t even have a name for it yet. However, they say it will be for all ages. They also say this new system will be easy for non-gamers and beginning gamers to enjoy.
Don’t expect a Nintendo like revival, either. You have to remember. Intellivision has been in the ecomomic dog house for the last 30 years. So it’s going to take a long time to get out of there. Intellivision is calling a press conference on Facebook on May 31. What will they say and how much will they reveal? Experts and IT support journalist don’t expect much. In fact, they don’t expect to hear much until their big conference on October 1. And there is literally no telling when they’re coming out when this new Intellivision. It could be past 2020.
But for their sake, I hope it doesn’t take that long before Intellivision video games make a comeback. Because other retro video games are making a comeback. The old school Nintendo consoles are selling like hotcakes. Even in our Boston computer service shop, some of us, like me, prefer Pac-Man and Legend of Zelda to Destiny 2 and Call of Duty. Many of my younger readers may not even know what Intellivsion is. Well, between 1980-1984, they sold over three million consoles. Back in the day, they were almost as big as Atari and ColecoVision. Intellivision gave us games like Dungeons and Dragons (that was a great cartoon by the way) and Astrosmash. I hope it works. Will Intellivision video games make a comeback?
May 29, 2018 | General
So we all know how critical IT service and online technologies are to today’s world. But you may not know where some of these companies come from. Top businesses are tech: Guess where two are from?
So let’s get the more obvious out of the way. Maybe it’s not so obvious. But a list of the top 10 most valuable companies in the world came out. Eight of them have something to do with IT support and/or computer technology. The first is Google, which should not surprise anyone. Google held the number one spot for most of the 2010s, and shows no signs of letting it go. In fact, they made $302 billion last year. That’s a 23% increase from the year before. Number 2 is Apple and number 3 is Amazon. This surprises me because since Amazon is taking over everything. Also, what they touch turns to gold. I thought surely Amazon would be second on the list.
However, here is the real surprise (or maybe not). Two of the top 10 are e-commerce companies from China. One is Tencent, coming in at number five. It’s the first year they made the list. They made $179 billion in 2017. That’s a whopping 65% from 2016. Then there is Alibaba. They rank #9 on the list. Not only is Alibaba very popular in it’s native China, but in economic powerhouses like Brazil, Israel, and South Korea. In fact, it’s the top e-commerce site in these nations, topping Amazon and Ebay. We can also credit the entrepreneur spirit of young Chinese people. Plus, many worldwide are ditching US e-commerce sites for these Chinese sites.
Other tech companies rounding out the top 10 are Microsoft (#4), Facebook (#6), and AT&T (#10). The two non tech and e-commerce companies on the top lists are Visa (#7) and McDonald’s (#8). I find it crazy that Walmart and Ebay didn’t make this list. But as you can see, most of the top businesses are tech. What do you make of the list? Who do you think should or shouldn’t make it? Who do you think should be higher on the list?
