Geekly Update - 18 August 2021
Are you one of the 48 million T-Mobile customers that just suffered a major privacy hit? Is Norton plotting to kill off your favorite free antivirus software? And will Apple soon be scanning your devices for questionable content? 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
News that Norton/LifeLock is merging with Avast, which already owned AVG, isn't sitting well with many tech observers. There is speculation that Norton, which purchased Avira last year, has an Evil Plan To Kill Free Antivirus. Now that Norton controls Avast, AVG and Avira, PC Magazine asks the question, "How worried should we be that the days of free antivirus are numbered?"
The IBM PC Model 5150 is turning 40 this year. PC Labs pulls one down off the shelf, dusts it off, and tears it down. If you've ever popped the hood on a PC, you'll find this walkthrough of the innards of the first IBM personal computer quite interesting.
T-Mobile said yesterday it is investigating a data breach in which hackers claim to have obtained 100 million customer names and addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, drivers licenses, account PINs, and the device ID numbers of phones on the account. Samples of the data have been posted for sale on the dark web. T-Mobile says not to worry, only 48 millions customers have been impacted.
The Verge reviews the new Pixel 5a 5G smartphone. Compared to the 4a model, it has the same processor, memory, storage, and camera. The 5a has a bit larger screen, a beefier battery, waterproofing, and a $449 price tag that's $50 less than the previous model.
Everyone is being told to implement two-factor authentication (2FA) security, which adds another layer of protection to tradtitional username/password logins. But Krebs On Security says hackers are cracking 2FA by taking advantage of flaws in the SMS (text message) protocols. Your best defense: use a 2FA solution that employs an authentication app instead of text or voice.
Mandiant, CISA and ThroughTek are warning about a critical vulnerability in 80 million IoT (Internet of Things) devices that could let attackers watch live camera feeds, create botnets or use hacked devices as a stepping stone to further attacks. They recommended a protocol upgrade to protect these devices from attacks.
ZDNet is reporting on a knee replacement robot that does custom implants. Monogram, the company behind it, says the the 'one-size fits none' model currently used by knee replacements can be improved by offering patients an individualized fit using artificial intelligence, robotics, and 3D printing.
Apple is implementing a child s*xual abuse material (CSAM) detection system for iPhones and iPads running iOS15 and and Macs running OS Monterey. Images on those devices will be scanned for matches against a list provided by the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Privacy experts are worried that this could be expanded to hunt for other types of material.
This just in from the "Important News You Can Probably Ignore" Department: MasterCard will no longer issue credit or debit cards with magnetic strips... starting in 2033.
The Intercept says Taliban forces have seized biometrics devices left behind by the US military in Afghanistan. The devices could be used to identify and retaliate against tens of thousands of Afghan citizens who assisted the US government in that country.
Your thoughts on these topics are welcome. Post your comment or question below...
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This article was posted by Bob Rankin on 18 Aug 2021
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Article information: AskBobRankin -- Geekly Update - 18 August 2021 (Posted: 18 Aug 2021)
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Most recent comments on "Geekly Update - 18 August 2021"
Posted by:
Glen Fotre
18 Aug 2021
Damn Norton!
Posted by:
Norman478
18 Aug 2021
I have always been very suspicious of norton, I worked at 'The Met' at this time, we had a virus appear on our network system and at that exact time norton was advertised and it was purchased for the system, it always seemed very strange, to me, that they knew about this particular virus and at the right time
Posted by:
Charley
18 Aug 2021
Unfortunately, a lot of banks and other companies, for example Wells Fargo, don't work with the authentication apps. They do support two factor authentication, but not with the apps.
Posted by:
Renaud Olgiati
18 Aug 2021
The IBM 5150 brought back fond memories of my first PC (Amstrad 1512), of adding DIP modules to get the memory from 512kb to 640 kb, swapping the Intel8088 CPU for a NEC V20 (faster) and adding a V30 co-processor, and a 10Mb HD card; not forgetting the joys of the special boot floppy needed to modify the BIOS settings...
Posted by:
Beth
18 Aug 2021
Hi, Bob. Can you please correct the 2FA article link? Thanks.
Posted by:
4geoff2
18 Aug 2021
If I had an i-phone or pad, I would get rid of it, NOW. Maybe they want to try going on a fishing expedition, on my flip-phone.
Posted by:
Les
18 Aug 2021
Discouraging to read about how the US not only seems to have abandoned Afghans who have helped us but also that we have left behind devices that can actually help identify those people. This is reminiscent of our abandonment of those who helped us in Vietnam, only with the added negative of assistive technology to identify them.
Posted by:
John Bayer
18 Aug 2021
A long time ago Norton used to have some good maintenance programs but their antivirus has always sucked. And their maintenance programs have gone downhill as well. Would I care if they took out those antivirus programs? No. None of them were any good either but I guess they were better than nothing. Unless someone can do better than the one I use ( which costs of course) I would never use Norton. Mine has discovered things that Norton couldn't even see. McAffee is no better. There are only 2 good ones out there regardless of what some of the surveys say. I have done real-time testing with some viruses I have to prove it.
Posted by:
George Van Hemert
18 Aug 2021
John Bayer
So tell us what you use allready.
Posted by:
Russ
19 Aug 2021
Bob uses PC Matic. I am now a subscriber and am testing it out so to speak and I am pleased so far as a whole. I have had a couple of links it has complained about that I dont quite understand, but so far no nefarious happenings.
Posted by:
NB
19 Aug 2021
I got free anti-virus software as part of MS Windows.
Posted by:
Wild Bill
20 Aug 2021
I'm mostly with NB, using whatever passes for Windows Defender, these days, and a real dose of common sense regarding what I click and where I go.
That and being poor seem to work, so far. I think I still have one machine running Avast but I have removed it from the others due to issues, advertising/soliciting and loss of reputation, for me. (Selling OUT to Norton simply vindicates my position, as I left them many years ago, pissed about shoddy practices.
Posted by:
Frances
20 Aug 2021
2FA doesn't work very well if you don't have a cellphone or all you have is a flip phone. I have one bank that calls on the landline which seems simple enough except that I'm elderly and don't hear well and getting to the phone and hearing the number code is not easy for me. I prefer e-mail which everyone says is not secure but I don't hear a convincing argument that it could be problem when the code lasts maybe 15 minutes, or even less.
Posted by:
Brian B
21 Aug 2021
Anyone who stores confidential or sensitive information in the cloud is giving almost anyone the opportunity to have a peek. Some of these corporations are very cavalier with regards to your private information. I give as an example:-
"T-Mobile says not to worry, ONLY 48 MILLION customers have been impacted" (not the 100 million claimed by the hackers)
Posted by:
Ken Driver
21 Aug 2021
"Military Intelligence" 2 words that should never be used in the same sentence.
Posted by:
Jonathan
22 Aug 2021
Credit cards with no magnetic strip.
Is it only my family that live in an area where none of the gas pumps accept anything but magnetic stripes on credit cards?
Yes, the gas pumps "should" be updated, but will they be? Apparently it is not a simple change but complete replacement of the payment processing machinery.
Posted by:
Richard A Krieger
29 Aug 2021
I will go look it up but what is 2FA? I'm guessing by what I read here that it is another two step process for logging into a web site.