Mar 22, 2018 | Computer technology
So we all know Jack Dorsey as the IT service leader. He is the founder and CEO of Twitter. He’s also the CEO of mobile pay firm Square. But did you know he’s also a Bitcoin guy? In fact, here is Jack Dorsey’s Bitcoin Prediction: Bitcoin will be our global currency.
So Jack Dorsey revealed this in the Times of London. He believes not only will Bitcoin overcome it’s struggles, but it will thrive like nobody’s business. Furthermore, he says Bitcoin will be the single currency of the world and the Internet. Dorsey adds this Bitcoin takeover will probably happen in ten years, maybe even sooner.
He does admit, that Bitcoin isn’t ready to take over right now. He’s exactly right. As of today, Bitcoin is worth over $8,500. But one time, not long ago, it was worth over $20,000. Dorsey also admit Bitcoin??does not have the capabilities right now to become an effective currency?. However, he predicts more people will have it. And this will make it more dominant. Dorsey just doesn’t talk the talk, but puts his money where his mouth is. Because recently, he donated to 2.5 million dollars to a startup company they call Lightning Labs. It’s purpose is to help Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency easier and more portable and affordable to obtain.
I just noticed a point. In early 2017, Bitcoin’s worth started in the hundred. It rose to $20,000. But now, it’s only $8500. On one hand, Bitcoin is more affordable to get, but on the other hand, it’s worth enough to take notice. Then, you have the ID theft and hacking crises. Everytime you look around, somebody’s credit/debit card is being wiped out. Not too many people carry cash anymore. And not too many people use a checkbook on a regular basis anymore. Mobile pay companies like Apple Pay and Google Pay are all the rage.? Some in our Boston computer service shop use it. Is Jack Dorsey’s Bitcoin prediction right? Is this the next step?
Mar 21, 2018 | General
So let’s go back to 2014. Yes, a lot of things happened on the IT support and computer repair front. But one event was Facebook acquiring What’s App for $22 billion. Brian Acton founded What’s App. But now, Brian Acton tweets ‘Delete Facebook’.
However, there is more to the story. Because there is the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Many media reports say this London research firm got over 50 million Facebooks accounts. They got them without permission or approval from any of the Facebook users. Also, to this day, many still blame the fake news on Facebook for Donald Trump’s election win back in November 2016.
So yesterday, Brian Acton tweeted this to the whole world: It’s time. #deleteFacebook#. Acton is now a data and privacy rights advocate. In fact, Acton left team Facebook in 2017 to start his own non-profit. He named it Signal. It is an alternative to What’s App and it ensures better privacy when sending messages. Acton believes Signal’s purpose is to build technology that doesn’t sell, give, or compromise personal data. Acton isn’t the only one who is turning on Facebook right now. In recent days, their stock prices plummeted. It’s making some ground today, but we’ll see. However, another former Facebook leader said they created a monster, and now that monster is messing up society. That was basically his drift.? Some other former employees publicly regret even working for Facebook.
But let’s get back to Brian Acton. Why is he saying and doing this? I don’t know. I tried to look for motive. Maybe he really does believe Facebook is playing with people’s freedoms and privacy and personal data. If that’s the case, then he would have a valid point. Is he concerned about Cambridge Analytica? Because frankly, so am I. Is he still ticked about 2016’s election? Or is he still upset about be being bought out?
Mar 20, 2018 | News
So, I thought the Cold War ended in 1989. But apparently, it’s heating up again. Have you read some of the headlines over the past month or so? As US vs Russia cyber warfare continues.
So now, US officials say they found malware in computer systems we need for survival. These are the IT support systems that run our water, energy, nuclear power, and manufacturing. Furthermore, they trace the malware back to Russia. This doesn’t include other cyber attacks.? Therefore, the FBI and DHS (Dept. of Homeland Security) urged industry leaders, and their computer repair teams, to check their cyber security. These cyber attacks started in the spring of 2016, say US officials.
Then there are the motives and results. US officials say one motive is surveillance. They want info on our energy and computer systems. One US official said these actions are troubling. They also say Russian cyber hackers, backed by the Russian government, were behind the attacks. An alert went out. It accused Russian government cyber spies of malware, phishing and gaining remote access to networks. So what are they doing about it? The US is now passing yet more sanctions against Russia. These sanctions target Russian government organizations and even certain hackers and their bosses. But some even say that’s not enough. Because one said these sanctions, “…fall far short of what is needed”.
However, here is what is more disturbing. This comes at a time when Russian troops and ships are already on the move. Also, Russian President Vladimir Putin literally brags about having nuclear weapons that no nation can stop.? That interview Putin had with US journalist/talk show host Megan Kelly is absolutely chilling. Here is some of it. Now, rumors and articles abound that Russia is throwing propaganda out there to accuse the USA of war crimes in Syria, and make themselves look like Syria’s savior. Some call Russia the most dangerous nation on Earth and Putin the most dangerous man on Earth. The US vs Russia drama is getting too real for me. What do you make of this international cyber warfare?
Mar 19, 2018 | General
So, ever hear of Andrew Yang? He is a IT service venture capitalist. In fact, he founded Venture of America. Furthermore, he wrote books like ‘The War of Normal People”. In this book, he talks about America’s jobs going away. They’re not going to other countries, but to non-human entities. Andrew Yang wants to save us from robots.
That’s why he’s running for President of the United States in 2020. He just put his name in for the Democrat Party’s nomination that year. But he has radical ideas, maybe too radical for many. I talked about the problem of wealth inequality, especially in tech hubs like Silicon Valley. So to combat this, Yang proposes Universal Basic Income. This includes a ‘freedom dividend’. As I understand it, this would income from the tax’s revenue of tech’s big four. I’m talking mega tech companies like Amazon, which Yang calls out. Some of that revenue would go from these companies to ordinary citizens. Andrew Yang even wants a new digital social currency. Then, he would use this currency to help with social issues, like caring for the elderly and disadvantaged.
I also want to talk about his concern with AI and robotics. He address this kind of technology and how it’s taking human jobs. He also says AI is a huge threat, erasing millions of jobs at a time. Even at our Boston computer service shop, I hear the concern. He believes his new digital currency can help ease the AI threat. Let me say this now. This is not an endorsement for Andrew Yang. I’m just telling you he’s running in 2020, and this is his platform. Whether you choose him or not, that’s your choice. But there are some things I like about him, and some things about him that disturb me. I respect he addresses the problem of AI technology. But his Universal Basic Income and digital currency sounds a little Big Brother Orwellian to me. Would you vote for Andrew Yang?
Mar 16, 2018 | Computer technology, News
So by now, most of us know about Elon Musk sending cars into space. Some believe he’s crossing into the next plane in IT support. But there could be a more grim reason for why Musk is doing what he’s doing. This is a question to Elon Musk: Will Mars save us?
So at a SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, tech billionaire Elon Musk paints a pessimistic picture of our future. In fact, he fears we’re heading for the new ‘dark ages’. A couple of things that concern him are World War 3 and climate changes. Musk also suggests a Mars colony will keep human beings safe from war and natural disaster. When the war ends, then people on Mars can come back to Earth and rebuild.
But WW3 and the environment aren’t Musk’s only concerns. His biggest worry is AI technology and robots. He urges the US government to pass some regulation that will control AI. Last summer, Musk called AI, “…a fundemental risk to the extinction of civilization”. That’s a fancy way of saying the end robots could end the world as we know it. It’s not that fantastic. I read an article where AI technology already develops language that us as humans can’t even read. However, these AI robots can read and speak this language to each other.
In fact, Musk just straight up told the Austin crowd AI is far more dangerous than nuclear war. He wasn’t just talking about robots threatening and taking our jobs.?This even means computer repair jobs. He wasn’t just talking about people choosing marriages and sexual relationships with robots over real humans. Both those things are happening. But Musk’s visions of what AI may do is far more deadly. That’s why his company builds these cars and robots to save us from these apocalyptic dangers. He also told them his spaceship to Mars will be ready next year. Add to that the million people he wants to take to Mars. I doubt you’ll be in that million if you’re in the 99%. Would you even want to go to Mars. My question to Elon Musk: Are you going crazy?
Mar 15, 2018 | Computer technology
So why am I talking about the West African nation of Sierra Leone in an IT support blog? Because they used a voting system that could spread worldwide. Let’s talk Sierra Leone and their new voting system.
Sierra Leone used Agora, a digital blockchain voting system, to determine their next president. This was just an option, but many voters took advantage of it. In fact, 70% of votes came in through Agora. This system stores all votes in a ledger. It does so anonymously. Then, it gives instant election results. So it isn’t biased of any political party, like some humans can be.
Sierra Leone used the Agora system because they want to make elections legit. They also want to get rid of corruption and secrecy in the elections. Furthermore, they want to establish trust within the voters. Agora creator Leonardo Grammar believes this blockchain system makes a more level playing field. And of course, this reduces paper ballots. So there is even some environmental justice here. These things are the upside of this trend. But what is the worst that can happen?
Many people, especially in the computer repair business, worry about hackers breaking in the system. In fact, that’s why many American counties and states still use paper ballots. Despite these concerns, Grammer still plans on promoting his Agora system, eventually worldwide. I guess you’re curious about Sierra Leone’s elections. They were on March 7, and the results are too close to call. On March 27, they will have a run-off election. When I think of the controversy surrounding this past US presidential election, I think some Americans are up for anything. Yes, they can corrupt paper ballot. But as pointed out, a political opponent can hack into the system and foul up the election that way. Either way, would you want to switch to a Agora digital blockchain voting system?
Mar 14, 2018 | internet
So let’s wish the World Wide Web a happy birthday. But I bet you don’t know who Tim Berners-Lee is. That is the man the IT support world credits for creating the WWW on this day in 1989. The World Wide Web founder speaks out. It’s not good.
So Berners-Lee writes a scathing letter about the WWW’s current condition. He published it to The Guardian. He remembers the Web’s infancy of the 1990s, when small time bloggers and businesses, dreamers and artists ran the show. But now, major corporations not only control the Web, but made it so that smaller businesses can’t even compete. He complains about the Facebook’s and Google’s of the Web. Not only do they control the business aspect, but they control our ideas and opinions as well.
Berners-Lee believes the Web is now too centralized. And because there is little competition, fake news outlets and social/political/radical extremists can use this to manipulate the masses. He complains these mega web companies are all about profit now; they’re not ready to take on helping human beings socially. Then, Berners-Lee challenges online companies to close the wealth, gender, racial, and global gaps. He also calls on a new generation of dreamers to, “build a web we want”. That’s a clear hint that we need to challenge the WWW current status quo.
The World wide web founder speaks out. I agree with most of it. But I will give the Web giants credit where Berners-Lee doesn’t. Facebook and Google leaders often do use their wealth and power for good. However, I do remember an Internet that wasn’t dominated by the Amazons, Googles, Apples, Facebook’s, and Walmart’s of the world. Back then, it really was a level playing field. Those days are long gone. This repealing of net neutrality isn’t helping matters, either. I see such issues play out in our Boston computer service shop.? So yes, I do agree that too much Web power is in the hands of too few. So what can we do about it?
Mar 13, 2018 | News
So the small nation on Myanmar is in crisis. It will take this whole page to explain, but here is a link that tells it. The photos and articles are heartbreaking. But what does this have to do with IT service? Some accuse social media sites of pumping up the hatred. Facebook and Myanmar crisis and falsehood.
So when I say some, I’m mainly talking about the United Nations. They accuse Facebook of enabling hate speech and the talk of ethnic and religious violence in Myanmar. Furthermore, other social media outlets like Insatgram and WhatsApp are under the same accusations. In fact, Sri Lanka wants to ban these social media sites altogether. Leaders say it’s because these sites are promoting hatred and violence. India also struggles with false info through social media, and extremist groups using it as a tool. In fact, it has lead to riots and murders.
But let’s get back to Facebook and Myanmar. Some UN activists warn that Myanmar’s extremist are usings Facebook to incite hatred against ethnic and religious minorities. The hatred is so bad that in summer 2017 alone, over 650,000 fled to Bangladesh and other neighboring countries. One UN leader told media that Facebook does indeed play a role in hate speech. This leader even targeted a certain person. He accused one popular uber nationalist monk of using Facebook to preach hatred and sow seeds of division. However, some UN investigators say they erased or blocked this nationalists’ page. But others say that’s not enough.
Like guns, it’s not the social media site itself. It’s the person using it. It’s the human heart that’s behind the keyboard. Some use Facebook and social media for good. But there are always some evil souls who use it for evil. But for a nation to cancel Facebook, or any social media site, or any IT support site, is censorship. Then the government gets all the power. And that’s just as evil as the evil they’re facing now. Why should they censor everybody and make everybody suffer just because of a few evil hearts and minds?
Mar 12, 2018 | Computer technology
So I have alarming news from Kapersky Lab. That’s one a top level online security firms. They discovered yet another malware strain. Furthermore, they believe the state is sponsoring it, as part of cyber warfare. Malware attacks routers! Consumer alert!
They named this malware Slingshot. Their code spies on PCs through attacks that target by MikroTek routers. But there is a process for this attack. First, they replace library files with fake and malicious files. Then, the malware goes on the attack against the PC. But wait…there’s more. A code gives the destroyer free reign all storage and memory. This destructive code is what keeps the malware alive. Therefore, the malware keeps eating and eating into your PC like a maggot does a bad piece of fruit.
However, as bad as this sounds, there is still more. Slingshot stores it’s malware files in a virtual file system. That means the hacker can store it up and use it whenever he wants. He/she can also use it against any part of the PC system they want. This includes, but doesn’t limit, emails, hard drives, keyboards, passwords, social media posts, and pictures. Remember, this is cyber spy warfare. So when malware attacks routers, it can leave your most intimate moments on your PC exposed.
So what does this mean for IT support and computer repair? A lot. First of all, if you own a MikroTek router, then please consider returning it. Better safe that sorry. Of course, we’re not ruling out this is happening to other routers. There’s just no hard proof of that yet. Slingshot already made it’s presence known in many Middle Eastern nations. We don’t know if it hit any US system yet. But you can’t rule it out easy. At our Boston computer service shop, we feel it’s a duty to keep our readers informed on dangers out there. This is a danger. What are other dangers we should know about?
Mar 9, 2018 | Computer technology
So Waymo is Google’s self-driving car project. There was a big emphasis on cars. But now, they want self-driving trucks as well. Let’s talk about Waymo and Google’s self driving trucks.
So in the last 24 hours, Google announced it’s pilot program to boost the logistics of self-driving trucks. This project will also take place in Atlanta. Google has data centers there that will oversee this. However, Atlanta isn’t the first stop for this kind of testing. Because in the last year or so, they tested Waymo and Google’s self driving trucks in California and Arizona. Now, they’re ready for the ATL.
These self driving trucks use the same sensors that Google has on their self driving Pacifica minivans. They will use the same software as well. However, the experiment in Georgia means they can test different things they couldn’t in other places. They can study all the things regular big rigs do: loading and shipping. They’re also studying how these trucks enter and exit factories, ports, warehouses, and other distribution facilities. Don’t worry. These trucks won’t be totally without a driver. Trucks will have drivers behind the wheel to monitor progress. Furthermore, let’s say these big rigs get out of control. Then, the driver can get things back in order.
Now what does this have to do with IT support or computer repair? I hope you’re aware how much we depend on big rig trucks for our survival. Our grocery stores and restaurants and other food places get their supplies from trucks. So do your favorite bars and coffee shops. In the same way, so do clothing stores and other places we all but take for granted. If the truck driver industry shut down for a week, or if they went on strike, then we’d be in a world of trouble. In fact, I doubt we would survive. So imagine your supplies being delivered by a self-driving truck, controlled by technology. What would that look like?
