Yesterday, at our computer service shop, a tech alerted me to something. Intel wrestles with two severe bugs: Meltdown and Spectre. So consider this a consumer alert: Intel fights CPU bugs.
But how bad is the problem? These bugs are capable of appearing on every CPU ever made in the last 20 years! So to put it in layman’s terms: Nobody is safe from this one! Then, these bugs let hackers use JavaScript to access memory during this cyber attack. This memory could contain anything, including passwords, usernames, addresses, places, codes, you name it. This is what makes Meltdown and Spectre so dangerous.
However, maybe we shouldn’t panic. Because Intel and other IT support companies say they made significant progress in giving out security patches and firmware protection. They believe these will guard against these two super bugs. Furthermore, Intel is issuing updates to all of it’s machines. According to Google Project Zero, they will help make these machine immune to these bugs. In fact, one spokesperson said that in the last week, Intel gave more updates this week then they have in the past five years. That just shows you how serious this is. It also shows you how dedicated Intel is to fighting Meltdown and Spectre.
Microsoft and Apple also address this potential crisis. They’re both offering either patches and fixes to fight this. Another thing that strikes me about the consumer alert: Intel Fights CPU bugs. Why is mainstream media so silent about this? Yes, some tech news does report it. But it had to hear it from a colleague. This sort of threat to this many systems should be breaking news. But for some reason, it’s not. This is the reason I’m reporting it. Not only so that you can be informed, but also so you can be safe. How can we be safe if we don’t know?
For years, Android wrestled with malware and other hacks. In fact, they wrestle with such issues today. But now, Android.Fakeapp Trojan is at it again. Android, Uber and Malware: Oh my!
This time, they fakers imitate Uber. Cyber security watchdog Symantec discovered the malware. So here is how it works. First, the malware, looking like Uber, pops up on your smartphone screen. That’s how they try to get your phone number and password. Then you press enter. But when you do that, your info goes to their server. Then the hackers have your information. They can either rip you off themselves or sell it on the dark web, maybe both.
However, they go even further. They show a real screen from the real app showing your real location. They do this because the hackers don’t want much suspicion. Experts hint that consumers are getting smarter protecting themselves. So hackers are also getting smarter. They’re using new tactics, including pieces of a legit website/app, to trick users. Uber leaders address the issue. One Uber rep says they’re putting extra security controls in. They’re also blocking unauthorized logins if you unknowingly give up your information.
I do applaud Uber for addressing this threat. For some, this may sound obvious. But in IT service, this may not be always the case. So kudos to Uber for addressing this situation right now! So what can we do? Well, just like ‘see something say something’, if something looks suspicious, cut it off immediately! In our Boston computer service shop, we tell our clients that often. And this advice saves machines and headaches. Download only from trusted sources. Do not accept duplication. Yes, it is good to change your password often. At the very least, make difficult ones that only you will know. Android, Uber and Malware isn’t a good mix. What else can we do to get malware out of the picture?
So yesterday, I reported Amazon is having the best year of it’s life. But it’s too bad not everyone can say that. Because government spy agencies are losing recruits: Good or bad thing?
Let’s start with our own NSA. In 2017, they experienced talent, morale and recruitment slumps. In fact, one former NSA manager said morale is at an all-time low. Then, another former official said a budget crunch interferes with recruiting and promotion. Not only are they losing recruits, but even senior NSA veteran spies are leaving. Some blame the political and social turmoil surrounding Trump’s presidency. Others blame NSA Director Michael S. Rogers’ leadership. However, nobody sees an end to this dilemma.
But our NSA isn’t the only ones having problems. Because spy agencies are losing recruits in Britain. Apparently, Parliament is competing with private tech and IT support companies for recruits. And they seem to be losing. They’re trying everything to win people over. So they’re trying pay raises and other ‘cushion y’ packages. But even they admit it’s hard to compete against private companies who offer them several times as much. This is a problem because cyber crime in Britain increases at an alarming rate. Remember Wannacry?
So I ask is this a good or bad thing? It can be bad because whether we like spy agencies or not, we need them. We need them because there are terrorists, thieves, sex predators, and other sociopaths who use the web for our destruction. I know. In our computer service shop, we see the damage hackers do to good peoples’ computer systems.? We need these government agencies at full capacity to fight these evils. But look at the elephant in the room. Why are so few recruits wanting to work for these agencies? I think it’s a backlash due to the NSA surveillance scandal of 2013 and the Russian hacking scandal of 2016-17. These incidents gave government intelligence agencies black eyes.? Who wants to be associated with that? Not too many people. So what can be done to get recruits back?
Back in 2013, Edward Snowden turned the IT support world, especially the surveillance world, upside down. That’s because he revealed the NSA spied on law abiding Americans. He also believed top tech companies helped in this spying. But that was almost five years ago, and he’s still making news. This is Edward Snowden’s app and his fight.
They call Edward Snowden’s app Haven. He and other privacy crusaders, like The Guardian Project, released the new app this week. It’s strictly for Android smartphones…for now at least. This app tracks changes to your surroundings. And I’m not just talking about the other side of the country and/or world. It can even track if the other side of the room is different.
Furthermore, it can serve as a motion tracker and if someone is spying on your phone. Some already praise Haven because this helps protect their sensitive information. One co-builder said it helps fight the ‘evil maid’. That’s where a hacker goes behind your back and physically breaks into your machine to compromise your info. The Haven app would detect the culprit’s face, voice, movements, even breathing patterns. Of course, Haven will let you know if and when anything suspicious is happening to your phone.
I’m already reading reports that Haven is working. Parents are more at ease. Also in Columbia, it’s literally saving lives. I say this because it’s alerting people when someone is trying to break into their info. In some cases, if not caught, these break ins can lead to assassination attempts. Yes, Snowden has been out of the news for a while. But this proves that he hasn’t stopped fighting. It also proves he still a crusader for our online safety and privacy, no matter who’s trying to compromise it. Here in our computer service shop, we fix hacked machines often. This especially goes for laptops fixed. And the hackers’ tricks are getting smarter. My only hope is that all smartphones companies make Haven accessible. Isn’t that only fair, and safe?
Last week, I shared a concern of mine and many in the computer repair and/or IT service industry. So today, that concern came true. Breaking: They repealed net neutrality.
Literally just hours ago, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) voted 3-2 to repeal net neutrality. I should also tell you the vote was among party lines. So who led the charge to get rid of net neutrality? We can thank (I mean that sarcastically) FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. His proposal got this ball in motion. Then we can thank mega corporations like Comcast for backing this ruling. They are probably the only winners in this round.
Yes, many in the public fought to keep net neutrality alive. But so did many Democrats in Washington. Furthermore, many in Hollywood didn’t want the ruling we’re getting today. If that isn’t enough, then keep in mind many in Silicon Valley don’t want this. Companies like Facebook and Google/Alphabet screamed to keep Obama’s 2015 Internet rules in place. Even after the ruling, many on both sides have plenty to say. For example, FCC official and Democrat?Mignon Clyburn says Republicans pretty much handed the Internet to a few mega corporations. However, Pai sees things a lot different. He says Obama’s rules slowed competition and this will free up service providers.
But do you know how hard it is to start an ISP today? It’s not hard; it’s nearly impossible. I don’t want to make this is political thing. But I agree with Clyburn on this one. I fear if you let the cats away, then the rats will play. Many also fear now there is nothing stopping the big boys from charging whatever they want to whoever they want. I also worry there is nothing stopping the big boys from censoring whatever they want. Some say consumers won’t see any changes…yet. However, I know some of my readers support this decision. I want to hear from you. Breaking: They repealed net neutrality. How is going to benefit us?
It’s been 90 years since Charles Lindbergh’s first transatlantic flight from New York to Paris. But all this time later, airplanes are still venerable. So now, there are new threats. Can drones bring down planes?
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) thinks so. In fact, they think drone strikes could be even worse the bird strikes. I saw a video on CBS news that was fairly chilling. It was of a drone crashing into a city skyscraper. It was minor, no injuries or damages except for a now defunct drone. But you gotta ask what if? What if that drone was high enough to get to an airplane?
Because researchers are asking the same questions. Furthermore, they showed a cartoon of a drone flying into an engine fan blade. If that were to happen in real life (I pray it never does), then that engine could fail. But that’s not the only concern. Researchers also did a cartoon of a small drone hitting the tail. It was enough to rip through the skin. So far in 2017, pilots saw over 2,000 drones from the cockpit. Already, that’s a 20% increase from 2016. Drones are becoming more popular in every aspect of life, from government to business to recreation. The fear is these sightings are bound to increase in the years to come.
I heard one government official say this is a tragedy just waiting to happen. I agree. What do we in IT service do about it? First of all, we need to raise awareness of the dangers this can cause. Just like we in computer repair warn of viruses and malware, let’s do the same for this. Can drones bring down planes? I don’t know. But more to the point, let’s never, ever find out the hard way! Follow the FAA rules when it comes to drones. They’re not there for killjoy, but to keep us all alive and safe. And use plain common sense as well. What will you do about it?
