Geekly Update - 11 March 2020

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

Apple has previously warned against using “cleaning products” on iPhones, saying they could damage the protective coating on the screen. But in a recent reversal, the company says it’s okay to use a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes to clean your icky smartphone. “Gently wipe the exterior surfaces of your iPhone. Don't use bleach, or submerge your iPhone in any cleaning agents.”

Privacy advocates worry that the EARNIT Act, which is meant to protect children from online predators, could be the government's first step towards weakening end-to-end encryption. In other words, tech companies might soon be forced to provide "lawful access" to encrypted messages. Encryption protects many legitimate users, but also allows criminals to communicate with unbreakable codes. The problem with "lawful access" is that it's a Pandora's Box. Tech experts says the "backdoor" access for law enforcement would undoubtedly be stolen and/or abused, rendering all encrypted communications moot.

Krebs on Security reports that the FBI has arrested Kirill Firsov, a Russian computer security researcher and charged him with operating deer.io, an online marketplace for stolen account credentials. Deer.io offered stolen logins and passwords for thousands of popular online services and stores.

The company that offers the "robot lawyer" service DoNotPay, has launched a new product. It's a Chrome browser extension that allows users to share subscriptions without giving away their password. Services such as Spotify, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Hulu are supported, at least until the lawsuits come.

Wired Magazine says resetting your Windows, Mac or Chromebooks computer once a year will result in a happier life. It can clean malware, reset corrupted settings, reduce clutter and improve performance. Instructions are provided.

Microsoft security researchers helped to dismantle an international zombie bot network known as Necurs, which had infected over nine million computers and was responsible for stealing personal information and sending fake pharmaceutical emails.

The makers of Atlas VPN warn that voice assistants can get hacked using ultrasonic waves or lasers that can imitate voice commands. The slient hacking happens without alerting the owner. Atlas predicts that 75% of households in the US will have a voice-assisted speaker by 2025.

Dyson has unveiled the latest product for hair care. The Corrale is a cordless hair straightener that costs $499. The price tag alone might curl your hair, but there is good news. It comes in your choice of colors: gray with pink trim or purple with gold trim.

This just in from the “Tolerance is a Funny Thing” Department: Twitter is now banning “dehumanizing remarks” that may be offensive to others based on age, disability, or disease. If you post something mean about the elderly, sick or disabled, your post will likely be removed, and you’ll suffer a Twitter timeout.

And in closing, let’s make fun of people who bought tech products that turned out to be not very popular. This list of the last decade's top tech flops includes the Fire Phone, Google Glass, and several products that burst into flames.

Your extremely polite, non-dehumanizing thoughts on these topics are welcome! Post your comment or question below...