So recently, cyber criminals found a new way to threaten your computer system. It starts off as spam. But it turns into something far worse. Let’s see how the Smoke loader steals passwords and messes up security.
This malware issues Trojan, ransomware, and other viruses quickly. Smoke loader started it’s computer reign of terror back in 2011. However, in 2018, this threat got worse. It can also start as a bad Microsoft Word attachment. It tricks users into enabling Smoke Loader. Then, they install it on a compromising system. This allows this stuff to add even malware.
Some researchers track Smoke Loader and sees what this computer repair nightmare is up to.? So now, it’s using Trickbot to steal passwords, credit cards, and other information. They may tell you that a bill is overdue through a phishing email. Then you may find a number, probably a foreign one, to call. Obviously, don’t call it. Then there is the PROPagate method. It pretends to install a subclass running windows. Yet what they’re really doing is injecting a bad file. No browser or system is immune. They can do it to IE, Crome, Firefox, and all the other browser systems. Yes, they can even take over your whole system.
So what do we do? Most security experts will tell you, and most of our pc repair techs will tell you, step up your cyber security game. Because the cyber hackers and crooks are stepping up theirs. Install the latest security systems and patches. Around here, we always suggest Avast. Watch out for spam and other phishing schemes. If you get an attachment from somebody you don’t know, then don’t click on it. In fact, just throw it in the trash. These things may not solve all our computer problems, but I bet it will combat smoke loader steals passwords. What can we do to be safe?
So one of the biggest travel times is coming up: the 4th of July holiday. However, if you’re flying to Orlando, you could be in for a security shock. Orlando Airport facial recognition is here.
Because this airport offers facial recognition to all international travelers. Right now, this is for passers coming from London’s airports. But by the end of 2018, this airport’s system will be fully open for business. They’re not the only ones. Because airports in New York and Atlanta are running the tests. How does it work? The facial recognition system checks your face against your passport photo. Keep in mind they already have your passport photo in a government database. They will save this images for two weeks. According to US Customs, it’s 99% accurate and will combat terrorism and other ills.
However, privacy rights groups show concern over the Orlando airport facial recognition. Some, like the ACLU (America Civil Liberties Union) say they can abuse the system and follow people beyond the airport. They also say they’re not enough clarity of how they’re going to use the data. Also, there is concern that a hacker could break in the system and compromise the ID’s of millions. I watched a CNN report on this. A customs agent, in almost a condescending and sarcasm tone, assured this is safe.
But political figures also show concern about this new piece of IT service. In fact, two US Senators, Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) want to pause all bio metric screening. They are very concerned and want an investigation of potential privacy and cyber threats. They are not the only ones. Some say this will be a matter of quickness and convince. It may be. But Senators Markey (whose office is just down the street from our computer service shop) and Lee are right. We need to talk about safety and privacy first. Look at how good these hackers are getting and the damage they can do. Whose to say they won’t try to attack this Orlando airport facial recognition database?
So You Tube is trying to step out of it’s traditional You Tube offerings. In many ways, they’re already doing that. But You Tube steps up it’s game, adds program.
So as far as memberships, they already have You Tube Gaming. For around $5 a month, you get your own channel and choice of games. But now, these new Channel memberships will have stricter rules. Channel creators will need to be 18+ and have at least 100,000 churches. This includes a members only tab, where people of that community can exchange ideas and items. The pool and potential is there. Because the number of You Tubers making six digit figures increased 40% in just a short time.
Then there is a You Tube merchandise. That’s right. Now, You Tubers can sell products to their people directly through You Tube. It’s already happening. One channel, Lucas the Spider, sold over 60,000 dolls in less than three weeks. So this one channel made over $1 million. You Tube calls this program Teespring. This program will help you sell your merchandise, for those who never sold a item online ever. They tested it and these tests were successful. Then you can you You Tube Premiers. That’s a landing page. On that page, you can promote your videos and merchandise before you release them. Also, you can put the price of merchandise on this page.
You Tube steps up it’s game. I’ve seen my competition where they displayed laptops fixed. They didn’t have the parts or anything like that for sale. But let’s not dwell on them. There are a lot of You Tube videos I do love and follow. One is considering selling merchandise online. There are also a few others that sell stuff online, and could use the merchandise service. How many in IT service have a You Tube channel? I’m sure there are quite many. And You Tube steps up it’s game. Could you take advantage?
So in the early 2000s, hardly anybody heard of Netflix. They were some mail-in company you got videos from when you were too lazy to go to the video store. But now, it’s an IT service entertainment monster, worth around $100 billion. However, there still seems to be financial issues. Is Netflix in debt? This is hard to believe.
So according to their own statement, Netflix will raise $1.5 billion in ‘offering senior notes’. The statement is in such legalese and corporate jargon that I won’t even try to interpret it. But in their statement, they will use this new debt to increase their business. By that, I mean better production of shows, make better investments and making better strategies.
All these changes sound exciting to Netflix leaders, but their stock holders…not so much. As of this writing, Netflix stocks are down around 10 points. That’s about three percent. Like I said, their statement is legalistic. However, most think it will use this new debt to invest in new programs. They did this in previous years. Over the years, they raised billions to produce new shows of their own, depending less on other networks and studios. Are these new shows worth the new debt? That’s up to each person to decide for themselves.
Is Netflix in debt? Maybe the title is a little misleading. What they’re doing is creating debt to build better programming. This IT support entertainment firm came a long way from shipping DVD’s. Also, from the stats I’m reading, this is a move Netflix can afford. As of April 2018, Netflix has over 125 million worldwide. In fact, in Q1 2018 alone, they got over 7 million new subscribers. This trend has no signs of slowing down. So maybe this new debt is good debt, if there is a such thing. C’mon…admit it. How many times do you use the phrase, “Netflix and chill”?
So in the 1990s and much of the 2000s, us Americans thought we wereIT support and technology. Many of us also thought nobody could touch us. Then China’s tech boom came along. Now I ask, “Will IT service turn into the united state of China?”.
So I read an interesting article. In the tech world, they’re demanding not American tech services, but China’s. One reason is due because of change in consumer habits and culture. Furthermore, people and companies tire of rising adverting costs, incompetent service, scandal, and potential monopolies (ahem…Google, Amazon, Apple), that seem to plague American technology. The world sees it. This is where China could come in.
First of all, China hardly went through the ‘trial and error’ that American techies did. They just ahem…borrowed…from us and everybody else’s. Now, well, since 2010, many of the world’s best companies came from China. Also, many praise China’s techies for their work ethic. Then look at their ad business. China’s tech companies, like WeChat, seem to have better ad revenue than our Facebook. They seem to be light years ahead of us in mobile shopping. On their Singles Day, kinda like our Black Friday, their Alibaba, kinda like our Amazon, raked in $25 billion. I doubt even our Amazon or Walmart can do that in one day.
So what then? I see it in our Boston computer service shop. There are some occasions, not many but a few, where we need a part from China. We’ve actually heard customers say, “I’m relieved. China has better parts anyway.”. Wow. So it sounds like our American tech companies better get on the ball. And now I’m reading about a trade war between the US and China. How will this work out for either nation? More so for us than for them. Will IT service turn into the united state of China?
Ever hear of the company Happiest Baby? So two years ago, they gave us the Snoo. Snoo is the electric crib that uses robotics to put babies to sleep. It also costs $1,200. But now, Happiest Baby is at it again. Let’s talk about Snoo baby crib and swaddler.
So apparently, Snoo’s baby crib is a hot seller. This is despite the $1,160 cost. It’s because it does what it says it’s going to do: put babies to sleep. Now let’s look at the Sleepea, their new product. It’s a sleep sack for newborn and infant babies. Furthermore, it is a tech item. But it’s one that keeps your baby quiet through the night and keep parents sane through the night.
We can thank Snoo creator Dr. Harvey Karp for this item. In fact, they credit Dr. Karp for introducing the world to the swaddler. He says it’s swaddles, not blankets and sheets, that comforts babies. They work with the babies’ bodies. But blankets overheat and don’t work with babies as well. They come in three sizes to fit babies, infants and even toddlers. They also come in four colors, like the traditional pink and blue. But they come in teal and grey. It even has ‘quiet Velcro’. This keeps the baby quite while the parents change the diaper.
What does this have to do IT support or computer repair? Quite a bit. Because once again, Happiest Baby’s Baby Crib and Swaddler proves two things. One, people can and do use technology to build other things that aren’t even technology. I’m sure Dr. Karp put in the same insight he used to make a tech crib is what he used to make this swaddle. By the way, the swaddler will only cost around $25. You can get it at retail stores like Target or online at Amazon. Secondly, people in tech are moving to other things, and are being successful about it. Would you ever use this swaddler?
