Saturday, February 27, 2016

Microsoft's Updates, just keep on Updating...

As you know we usually turn off our updates through the month to prevent MS from updating our software at our expense.

So what we did is leave our updates on this past month to see if MS is still as sneaky as they have been in the past and we found out they still are...

MS decided to add the dreaded KB3035583 Windows 10 Nagware alert of UPDATE ME UPDATE ME...I'M FREEEEEEEE...

Look MS, we thought that since we didn't jump on the bandwagon you'd get the hint, but they're being pushy.

So if you don't want to have to uninstall something you didn't want to begin with just leave your updates off until the next month when you can pick and choose the updates you want.

There were two other updates included this month KB3118401 and KB3121255 under the optional updates...

KB3118401 - This article describes an update for Universal C Runtime (CRT) in Windows.
KB3121255 - "0x00000024" Stop error in FsRtlNotifyFilterReportChange and VSS backup of PI Data server fails in Windows.

Don't get us wrong, we are a Windows 10 advocate, but we're also a Windows 7 advocate as well and don't see the need to upgrade to W10 when W7 is working just fine.

Remember Microsoft? Don't fix what ain't broke ;-)...

Monday, February 22, 2016

Malware Software Changeup...

Microsoft Security Essentials can no longer be used on Windows 7 machines unless you are using DW.

If you are using MBAM (Malwarebytes) and MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials) you should remove MSE and install MBAM's "Anti-Exploit.

This works in conjunction with MBAM Anti-Malware so just uninstall MSE, reboot, then install Anti-Exploit.

Your new yearly renewal will be 50 dollars a month as it stands now, but maybe MBAM will combine the two and discount it...

MSE and MBAM are not able to secure you properly by themselves anymore, and MSE is just not coming along due to MS wanting to dump Windows 7...

Security has changed because Malware has become very nasty and sure you might be able to remove today's threats, but it's going to cause some damage before you do, and will make you think twice about not reloading...

Kaspersky has the best software on the market and is priced aggressively for the protection it provides, but we are on the fence...

We have seen a change in the market for some time now and it's become serious enough to start rethinking protection.

Malware is a year to year solution and a 5 year solution and coincidentally enough we are at that 5 year mark and we see a new name in security...

32 bit Windows 7 machines DW and MSE, 64 bit Machines Windows 10 MBAM Anti-Malware/Exploit.

We support both the best of malware solutions and the best of end users to provide the total protection layers ;-)

Some people need a more aggressive software than others depending on what they are searching and loading on their machines.

Our Government doesn't employ the best of the best anymore, that's the private sector and because of this they have tied the hands of American developers, which leaves us vulnerable.

Your best Malware software doesn't come from America, it comes from Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Austria etc...

Current Testing:
https://www.mrg-effitas.com/

**UPDATE**

Steven Thomas Lives...

There is one American company that has been added to our exception list and that is...Webroot.

Steven Thomas was to Webroot as Steve Jobs was to Apple and time will always tell if their influence can live on...and in both scenarios we can say that it has...

The Obama Administration ostensibly moved to limit the NSA’s powers but ultimately decided on a new program that would essentially just force telecommunications companies to keep metadata and supply it to the NSA on demand...
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/02/obama-administration-closing-in-on-rules-to-let-nsa-share-more-freely-with-fbi-cia/

Most software already has a “golden key” backdoor: the system update...
http://arstechnica.com/security/2016/02/most-software-already-has-a-golden-key-backdoor-its-called-auto-update/

sidenote: Stay Strong Tim Cook, we're behind you all the way...

From the days of Marantz Gold systems to the plush white of the Apple's iPad's and everything in between gives us the right to be a harsh critic.

Webroot has proved to us that they can survive on just a vision from a visionary and continue the dream that has now become reality.

Webroot is that American Company that can break the barriers that many are struggling with in America with Government oversight and because of this we also recommend Webroot.

We are even going as far as loading it on a small network to test for ourselves if their software is ready for real time...now the dream becomes a reality...

Steven Thomas (born October 13, 1971 - July 14, 2008, age 36) Start rolling in your grave because your Webroot is on the riSE!!!

**UPDATE**

As we said, MBAM would come up with a Total Solution, and they have. It's for business, but you can load it on personal machines as well. 49.95 and includes all the best products of Malwarebytes...
https://www.malwarebytes.org/business/endpointsecurity/

Sunday, February 21, 2016

5hVnz Modes Cont...

Well another example that could have prevented the embarrassment of the "FEDERAL GOVERNMENT" if "Work Mode" was used on the phone...

What companies don't stress to their employees is anything provided by the company is company property, but they don't and because of that they allow the "End User" to do what they want.

Companies still aren't taking data and security seriously and this recent event with the San Bernardino massacre was horrible and by companies unwillingness to improve their game has added insult to injury.

The service costs $4 per month per phone...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/common-software-would-have-let-fbi-unlock-shooters-iphone/2016/02/21/12b3349a-d8b5-11e5-8210-f0bd8de915f6_story.html

...and you want the Federal Government to be in charge of computer security :-D

Apple just proved that the Private sector is much better positioned to protect you than someone that is only concerned with reading your emails...The Government.

The irony of it is that we're sure that if they just gave the phone to Apple they could extract the data from behind closed doors, but then that would mean they wouldn't get their hands on the software.

More than likely all they'll get is a text saying, I'll be late to work today, got caught up in traffic :-(

Set it to work mode, have an Administrator be able to override any password they put in and call it a day already!

What, is the 1990's all over again...

**UPDATE**

McAfee offered the service of his misfit hackers to defuse the standoff between Apple and the FBI...
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/john-mcafee-offers-to-hack-terrorists-iphone-for-fbi/ar-BBpG4bq

**UPDATE**

Come to find out the Govt. never did gain access to the phone as they proclaimed. They had to hire a third party company called, Cellebrite an Israeli tech forensics company that breaks into phones for law enforcement...

Apple's Group Chat Dials others phones...

iPhone 6 chat has a weird issue. If you create a group chat in iPhone text it could dial one of the contacts of the persons chat from another phone...

There was two android phones an iPhone and a Windows phone CE (7.8) and what happened was the windows phone dialed one of the recipients in the group.

It called 4 times to this phone and the blocking restriction was off because we were a contact of the groupies call list...

The user didn't answer when they were called and at this point we're not sure if the phone even rang, they said all they saw were 4 missed calls with the number listed.

We say this because the times the calls came in was the same time the texts were happening...

We do not have the recipients contact number in our contacts so it would come up private.

No other person's phone was dialed and they didn't get a call from anyone else, so WTF?! Is it just a Windows Problem and or a Windows CE only problem...

Linux Woes Worsens...

Hackers made a modified Linux Mint ISO, with a backdoor in it, and managed to hack our website to point to it...
http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2994

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Windows Subscription Fee Theory Update...

...streaming style...instead of coming out with a you owe us now statement, instead, try the philanthropic avenue and request for donations...

Monday, February 15, 2016

Latest Linux Trojan: Pawn Storm...

“Despite the lingering belief (and false sense of security) that Linux inherently yields higher degrees of protection from malicious actors, Linux malware and vulnerabilities do exist and are in use by advanced adversaries,” they said...
http://www.pcworld.com/article/3033229/security/russian-cyberspy-group-uses-simple-yet-effective-linux-trojan.html

Nearly three months after it was spotted for sale in a Russian hacker forum, the Mazar bot has been put to use in active attacks targeting Android devices...
https://threatpost.com/mazar-bot-actively-targeting-android-devices/116240/

Analysis Of The Top 10 Linux Distributions Of 2015...
http://www.everydaylinuxuser.com/2016/02/analysis-of-top-10-linux-distributions.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+everydaylinuxuser%2FWLlg+%28Everyday+Linux+User%29

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

5hVnz Song of the Month...

Welcome to Freeattle...
http://kiroradio.com/listen/9998692/

Sally Bagshaw, Seattle City Council, Approves Safe Drug zones for Seattle...

“There are much better places to use drugs than in the dirt.”
http://crosscut.com/2016/02/sally-bagshaw-hunts-for-1000-new-beds/

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Patch Tuesday...

It's that time again to Update your Windows Operating Systems...if you dare...

**UPDATE**

Update for Windows Update. All went well and you won't see KB3035583, so update away...

We've been telling you for years...

LITHIUM BATTERIES ARE UNSTABLE!!!

Remember, the Golden Rule: Population Control with a Profit!

Example: Cigarettes are Legal and Marijuana is not...

Panel proposes ban on air shipments of batteries...
http://news.yahoo.com/ap-source-panel-proposes-ban-air-shipments-batteries-225650326--politics.html

Solution: Lithium Imide.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

ASUS ALz...ON!...

With all the new hardware and software either on the market or standing in the wings, there will be billions of dead or dying technically obsolete objects requiring burial. Don't forget the robots. Where will the cemetery be located? On land, sea, or outer space? The next Gates or Jobs may be an undertaker/cemetery owner who shall create a humane disposal for this future electronic mass.

Think about this long enough and it rivals global warming and politics in general. And to think this question is not being raised in the presidential debates...

Comments...

The Portable...

The problem with the Cloud is that it's a network and as we all know a network can go down, leaving you without your Point of Sales Program, Printers, Internet...

The Portable should be the network buddy...

Like you would have a battery operated plug in hand held vacuum ready to pick up quick messes, would you have a portable ready to go to do the business...

There is no reason that you couldn't have a portable device that plugs into the network that gets updated as the day goes on.

The portable could use the network devices like printers, but if they aren't available you can email it using 4g.

The portable would have all the front of house programs loaded on it that would sync data in real time and could be used as an Internet connection to keep emails going.

Software should start designing for Electronic Signatures in the case that someone designs the network buddy or if you want to make your software portable...

That's another benefit of portables today is the ease of mobile business...no more heavy batteries, heavy cables and short battery life.

You could have a bay of portables that are scanned for malware immediately when they are returned from the field, then synced.

This would show accountability for the devices and will have a nice place to store them that doubles as a charging device...

Your daily computers will be used when you are in the office leaving portables to live up to their name...portable ;-)

If you keep the customer comfortable with your ability to multitask in the case of network failure, you'll have a customer for life...and that's a fact!

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

ADDICTION...

The Drug isn't the problem, it's the solution and if you come between the two you'll now become the problem...

You can't solve the addiction by trading one drug for another and or by demonizing the drug. The best solution is allowing the drug to run its course.

This can take time and it might take their life in the end, but time and understanding is the only solution to solving your fears of the unknown for both you and the addict.

The current approach they are using to curb drug and homelessness problems are thinking that by giving them a home, or giving them training or giving them a job will cure them, but it doesn't.

Plus, you don't know the training they already have and could be considered an insult to some by offering them a 10.00 an hour job.

What you don't understand is that an addict has chosen a community that accepts them for who they are and treats them like family...

Once an addict always an addict in the eyes of those around them and regardless of them quitting or not, they will always be considered an addict...

...but the "community" would never call them an addict, as a matter of fact, they call them their friend while inviting them in to meet their family...

You could also create more problems by breaking up the only people that have accepted them for the person they are, which will create animosity and resistance.

There's an old saying, Serenity Prayer - "GOD, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

So you see, it's best to support them the best way you know how while conditioning yourself for the times you have to let go...and that's a fact!