Geekly Update - 21 Sep 2017
What would you do if your brain was directly connected to the Internet? Would anything entice you to pay $9000 for a laptop? And if the phone rings in an elevator, should you answer the call? 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
Equifax “Chief Security Officer” Susan Mauldin has degrees in music, but none in computers or security. Sadly, she won’t be around to face the music from the company’s historic data breach. Mauldin and Equifax’s CIO have “retired” in the wake of the massive hack.
Prosecutors should not be allowed to hide evidence from the defense behind “trade secrets” laws, the Electronic Frontier Foundation argues in a lawsuit involving access to DNA analysis source code.
Researchers have linked a human brain to the Internet, allowing real-time monitoring of brain waves. This breakthrough could lead to mind-control of IoT devices. Think about coffee, and the machine starts brewing! Just don't think about elephants.
"Would you please press 1 for me?" A telemarketer calling random numbers happened to dial the emergency communications system of an elevator, startling passenger John Timmer.
Google Chrome will begin to block autoplaying videos in January. At first, only videos that include audio will be prevented from playing automatically.
Hackers hid malware in the popular CCleaner free software, says Avast, the owner of CCleaner. Users who downloaded CCleaner v5.33.6162 or CCleaner Cloud v1.07.3191 should immediately download updated versions.
Amazon was tricked by a fake law firm into de-listing a Marketplace seller’s most popular item - an electric toothbrush head - causing that seller a $200,000 loss. Apparently, such dirty tricks are common among competing sellers.
Verizon Wireless is booting 8,500 rural customers because they are unprofitable.
Samsung is finally allowing smartphone users to disable the Bixby personal assistant, but they still can’t re-assign the awkwardly placed Bixby button to other functions.
Plunder blunder? Bittorrent site "The Pirate Bay" is testing a new revenue model. Javascript code tucked into the footers of some pages causes the visiting computer to mine Monero cryptocurrency. Users notice sudden, significant spikes in CPU utilization and corresponding slowdown of running apps.
Acer will make just 300 of its bleeding-edge Predator 21 X, which PC World calls “the biggest, baddest laptop on the planet.” It’s also the priciest, at $8,999.
Comcast lost customer Drew Weaver after a weeks-long dispute about whether he exceeded the company’s 1 Terabyte/month data allowance. Weaver now gets by just fine on his 3 GB mobile data allowance.
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 21 Sep 2017
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Most recent comments on "Geekly Update - 21 Sep 2017"
Posted by:
Kenneth Heikkila
21 Sep 2017
Another reason to stick with Chrome.
The Verizon thing is just another example of Telecom monopolies screwing the American public. Our rural DSL (1.5Mbps max, regularly [by regularly I mean pretty much daily] falls below dialup speeds.) Neither the line owners, Century Link nor the local ISP Gorgenet plans to upgrade the lines ever despite promises to do so for over 10 years. Neither will accept new subscribers (a recent development too late to help those who have been on the service for years.) The latest by Gorgenet is to make dropping your land line (formerly a requirement for DSL) for either unreliable VOIP or nothing a requirement for staying on their "service."
Posted by:
Kenneth Heikkila
21 Sep 2017
My choice was to give my neighbors a tiny fraction of bandwidth back and switch to satellite. I am expecting good things now that Hughes net offers a reasonable plan that isn't too unreasonably expensive (if you don't compare it to the plans available in Europe and pretty much everywhere else.) Also even if I go over my allotment the throttled speeds should be as high as my max DSL speed.....we'll see.
Posted by:
Lee Dalzell
21 Sep 2017
I answered the phone in my University library's elevator. A woman asked for someone. I told her "You are calling an elevator!" She said "Sorry" and hung up!
Posted by:
Allan Thiele
21 Sep 2017
Good for Chrome. Getting rid of the auto-playing videos will make life much nicer.
Posted by:
Brad
21 Sep 2017
Just another world-class data breach and, guess what, nobody is responsible or, if they are, they just retire with huge severance packages. Maybe if a few were sent to prison, they'd be more conscientious about their responsibilities to their clients. And we're left holding the can for their mistakes. It's not like we could CHOOSE whether or not to have our data held by Equifax.
Posted by:
Lloyd Collins
21 Sep 2017
Brains linked to the Internet, now in the very near future, hacked, malware, and ransomware brains. So when you see someone's head rapidly moving side to side, and yelling ERROR...ERROR, you will know why.
Very stupid idea.
Posted by:
Excelsior
22 Sep 2017
Bob, as I've said before. You're simply the best.
Great Info! Non readers are missing so much.