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Tip: For your own safety, you should never Check for Updates in Windows 10

December 18, 2018 by Robert Eyler

Tip: For your own safety, you should never Check for Updates in Windows 10

We all know and accept that being a Windows 10 Insider will expose you to early software with potential bugs, but it turns out besides ticking the Become an Insider box there is another way to tell Microsoft you like to live on the wild side, and that is simply clicking on the Check for Updates button.

In a blog post last week Michael Fortin, Corporate Vice President of Windows revealed that clicking that button marked you out as an advanced user willing to test early versions of Windows 10 patches.

He writes:

We also release optional updates in the third and fourth weeks of the month, respectively known as “C” and “D” releases. These are validated, production-quality optional releases, primarily for commercial customers and advanced users “seeking” updates. These updates have only non-security fixes. The intent of these releases is to provide visibility into, and enable testing of, the non-security fixes that will be included in the next Update Tuesday release (we make these optional to avoid users being rebooted more than once per month). Advanced users can access the “C” and “D” releases by navigating to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and clicking the “Check for updates” box. The “D” release has proven popular for those “seeking” to validate the non-security content of the next “B” release.

In short with the monthly C and D patches are a proving ground for the regular and mandatory B “Patch Tuesday” releases which regular users would not normally receive unless they click Check for Updates.

And while Microsoft notes these are “validated, production-quality optional releases” we know these patches have gone wrong in the past, and have had to be pulled and re-issued.  Unless you wish to be a tester it is probably wise to let the pioneers take the arrows first.

In the end, it is wise to test any software update on a small segment of users first, but many less expert users have been told Checking for Updates makes your PC safer, not riskier. Some segment of users even Check for Updates to avoid unexpected reboots when they are doing something important. How Microsoft views this group will not be transparent to them.

With the usual Christmas meetups approaching it may be wise that, instead of telling our friends and family to keep their PCs up to date, to spread the message that it is best to leave your PC alone to do its thing and hope and pray Microsoft gets it right this time.

This is from https://mspoweruser.com/tip-for-you-own-safety-you-should-never-check-for-updates-in-windows-10/

Filed Under: IT News

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Be aware of phone scams

November 15, 2018 by Robert Eyler

Phone scammers posing as your utility provider may claim you
are delinquent on your bill. They also may threaten to turn off your power,
rig caller ID to make it look like the call is from your utility provider
or tell you to put the money on a prepaid debit card and ask for the
card number. Don’t believe it.

Filed Under: Scams

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Scam Calls Are ‘Epidemic’ — and Getting Worse

October 20, 2018 by Robert Eyler

A new report says nearly half of mobile calls will be fraudulent by next year

by  Sarah Elizabeth Adler, AARP, September 14, 2018 | Comments: 200

This can be found at Scam Calls Are ‘Epidemic’ — and Getting Worse

Unknown number calling

Tero Vesalainen/Getty Images

Scam calls are getting more frequent — and quickly. By next year, nearly half of all calls to mobile phones will be fraudulent, according to a new report from telecommunications firm First Orion. The company analyzed data from more than 50 billion calls over 18 months to get a snapshot of what they call the scam-call “epidemic.” Here’s what they found:

  • Mobile phone scam calls are increasing: In 2017, only 3.7 percent of calls to cell phones were fraudulent. This year, that number reached 29.2 percent — and it’s expected to climb to 44.6 percent in 2019.
  • Fraudulent landline calls are declining: Scam calls originating from landlines are decreasing. In 2019, only a projected 24.8 percent of scam calls will come from landlines, a decrease from 56 percent in 2017. This is in part because fewer people use landlines in the first place, but it’s also a sign of just how technologically sophisticated — and successful — mobile scammers have become.
  • Beware the area code: “Neighborhood spoofing” is a tactic in which fraudsters show up as a local number on your caller ID by matching the first six digits of your number. The report estimates that 9 in 10 scam calls will come from a familiar area code next year.

The increasing numbers of scam calls mean it’s harder to determine what calls are legitimate — on either a mobile or landline.

“People just don’t answer their phones anymore,” says Gavin Macomber, First Orion’s senior vice president of marketing and strategic business development.


Learn more about protecting yourself, visit AARP’s Scams & Fraud page. 


According to Macomber, 84 percent of unknown mobile calls (and an even higher percentage of landline calls) go unanswered these days. This can be a real problem for legitimate businesses trying to reach their customers.

And for consumers who get caught up in a scam, the financial repercussions can be serious. The FTC reports that the median loss from a phone-based scam in 2017 was $720.

Luckily, there are several ways to stay protected. For smartphone users, apps such as RoboKiller and Truecaller can help detect and block unwanted calls — but keep in mind that these apps block calls only from known scam numbers, not “spoofed” calls that temporarily hijack legitimate digits.

Some carriers, such as T-Mobile, have started to offer screening services that alert consumers if an incoming call is likely fraudulent — and other carriers are likely to follow suit. In the meantime, familiarize yourself with common scams, like calls from people claiming to work for the IRS or your credit card company.

Macomber says he hopes we’ll soon be living in a world in which consumers can answer their phones again. Until then, just hang up.

Filed Under: IT News

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New kind of scam to look out for with Facebook

October 3, 2018 by Robert Eyler

Please tell all the contacts in your messenger list not to accept anything from Lucia Hernandez (Luciana). She has a picture of her sitting by the water)She is a hacker and has the system connected to your messenger account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure that all your friends know it. Thanks. Forwarded as received.
Hold your finger down on the message. At the bottom in the middle it will say forward. Hit that then click on the names of those in your list and it will send to them

Filed Under: Scams

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Thank God when you go to bed

October 3, 2018 by Robert Eyler

Everybody bow your heads…Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you as humbly as I know how. I confess my sins, known and unknown. Lord you know I’m not perfect, and I fall short everyday of my life. I just want to take time out to say thank you for your mercy and your grace. Thank you for my health, my family, my friends, the roof over my head, food on my table, and everything I have.

This was found on the internet and I thought it was a good reminder of are Father in Heaven.

 

Filed Under: Other Stuff

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Text to Download an App to track you

September 6, 2018 by Robert Eyler

This is going around… Now… It may or MAY NOT be for tracking women / young ladies — but the object of it is to install SOMETHING on your mobile device.

Be sure to have “only authorized software” enabled on your phone to make sure this stuff isn’t auto-installed.

Your phone can get infected just like a computer and with the popularity of phones over computers/laptops, we’ll see more of this.

Please, have a talk with your kids about things like this.

 

 

 

 

 

DO NOT DOWNLOAD ANYTHING FROM A TEXT MESSAGE THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM.

This came from Facebook -The Computer Guy

Filed Under: IT News

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Warning on Sextortion do not fall for this scam

August 16, 2018 by Robert Eyler

Do not believe this email if you get this email just delete it.

Someone has been sending sextortion scam emails with a new twist – one aimed at making it more likely you’ll be duped into paying a blackmail fee.One of the emails arrived at Naked Security yesterday, via a diligent reader, just as Brian Krebs was breaking the story on his site.

It claims to have compromising images of the recipient and goes on to ask for payment in order to stop the images being released publicly. Attempting to manipulate victims by claiming to have compromising images of them is known as sextortion, and its been used for years. What makes this scam different is that it’s added something extra: it contains a real password used by the victim.

The email reads:

"I do know, [PASSWORD REDACTED], is your password. You do not know me and you are probably thinking 
why you are getting this e mail, correct? 
actually, I placed a malware on the adult videos (pornography) website and do you know what, 
you visited this web site to experience fun (you know what I mean). 
While you were watching videos, your internet browser initiated working as a RDP (Remote Desktop) 
that has a key logger which gave me accessibility to your display and also webcam. after that, 
my software program obtained all your contacts from your Messenger, Facebook, as well as email. 
What exactly did I do?
I made a double-screen video. First part displays the video you were viewing (you've got a nice 
taste haha), and second part shows the recording of your webcam.exactly what should you do?
Well, I believe, $2900 is a reasonable price tag for our little secret. You'll make the payment 
via Bitcoin (if you don't know this, search "how to buy bitcoin" in Google). 
BTC Address: 19ZFj3nLSJCgoAcvZSgxs6fWoEmvJhfKkY
(It is cAsE sensitive, so copy and paste it)
Important:
You have one day to make the payment. 
(I've a unique pixel within this email message, and now I know that you have read this e mail). 
If I do not get the BitCoins, I will definitely send out your video to all of your contacts 
including relatives, co-workers, and so forth. Nonetheless, if I receive the payment, 
I'll erase the video immidiately. If you want evidence, reply with "Yes!" and I will send your 
video to your 9 friends. It is a non-negotiable offer, that being said do not waste my time and 
yours by replying to this e-mail."

This information is from the Naked Security
There is more information on this at the following links 
 Wikipedia
FBI

Filed Under: IT News

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Man Allegedly Used Change Of Address Form To Move UPS Headquarters To His Apartment

May 16, 2018 by Robert Eyler

Dushaun Henderson-Spruce submitted a U.S. Postal Service change of address form on Oct. 26, 2017, according to court documents. He requested changing a corporation’s mailing address from an address in Atlanta to the address of his apartment on Chicago’s North Side.

To read more at NPR

 

Filed Under: Other Stuff

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Apple asks FCC for flexibility as it explores 95GHz to 3,000GHz wireless options

May 13, 2018 by Robert Eyler

Leaders at Apple wrote to the Federal Communications Commission asking the agency to leave certain frequencies unlicensed or shared as it tests 95 gigahertz to 3,000 GHz wireless technology.

A major part of this 5G testing is working on millimeter wave radio spectrum, which was traditionally reserved for larger devices like radars, satellites and airport security scanners.

To read more VentureBeat

From Comptia Newsletter

Filed Under: Scams

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Mothers Day

May 13, 2018 by Robert Eyler

Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there that keep that home going and smooth. Helping your kids learning right from wrong.

Keep up with all of the good work.

From Robert’s Computer Service

Robert Eyler Owner

5/13/18

Filed Under: Other Stuff

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