Geekly Update - 03 April 2019

Category: Tech-News

What was the funniest online April Fools Day prank this year? Is the Microsoft tech support scam finally over? Will NASA pay you nineteen thousand dollars to do absolutely nothing? And why does Facebook want to know your email password? Get answers in today's Geekly Update -- it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and, comment!

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

The US government is warning users of Medtronic heart defibrillators about a security flaw that could enable the device to be hacked by someone within a 20-foot radius.

A North Carolina man who cheated US citizens of more than $3 million over four years in a "Microsoft tech support scam" has pleaded guilty. Popups were used lock users' browsers and falsely claim the computer was infected with a virus.

Techcrunch reports that Tyler Bariss, "a prolific and seemingly unremorseful repeat swatter and bomb hoaxer," has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. His malicious actions got a man killed in 2017.

Here are five fun AI online experiences you can try in your web browser.

Geekly Update 04-03-2019

NASA is offering to pay you $19,000 if you're willing to spend 60 consecutive days lying in bed. For science, of course. The space agency is analyzing the effects of long spaceflights on astronauts' bodies. Must not be a lot to do out in space.

For over 30 years, plastic Garfield novelty phones have been washing up along the Iroise coast of western France. But the mystery has finally been solved, sort of.

It's getting harder to trust what we see in photos and videos. Adobe's After Effects software is now "content-aware," which means it can recognize and remove unwanted objects from videos.

Verizon’s new Just Kids plan offers parental controls that allow for screen time limits, content filters, and location tracking of their kids.

Did you miss the best online April Fools Day pranks? Here's a roundup for you. I especially liked Google's "physical screen cleaner" feature, and the Roku "Press Paws" remote control for dogs. Built-in sub woofer? Yes!

Some users creating new Facebook accounts are being asked for the password for their email account. Security consultant Jake Williams says that’s “beyond sketchy.”

Your thoughts on these topics are welcome. Post your comment or question below...

 
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Most recent comments on "Geekly Update - 03 April 2019"

Posted by:

marcel dubois
04 Apr 2019

No the Microsoft scam isn't over. Still getting calls. In fact now leaving voicemails.


Posted by:

bb
05 Apr 2019

No, the Microsoft Tech scam will not be over. There is too much money in it! That's $3 million from you to one person - how many more people will want a piece of that?

Never, never, NEVER respond to spam or pop-ups. The only reason it exists is people responding to it and sending yet more money to the scammers.


Posted by:

SamG
07 Apr 2019

What? They haven't nailed the, "your Apple device is broken" people?


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