Nah. This isn’t creepy..

* How Google wants to build a world where every device is listening

“The firm is gathering speech samples from people across the globe, as part of a push to get simple voice recognition everywhere, paving the way for voice commands throughout our homes.” Read more..

Tell ‘ya what. I’ll gladly touch a screen/mouse/keyboard and Veto your developing this further. How’s that?

Copyright 2007-2017 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Okay.. Let’s cast a critical eye..

At the bottom of an article about how, for a few bucks, ANY-one can buy a ‘kit’ and make their own Android Ransomware (see, Easy-to-Use Apps Allow Anyone to Create Android Ransomware Within Seconds) we are advised how to ‘stay safe’ from such unhappy things..

How to Protect Your Android Devices from Ransomware Attacks

In order to protect against such threats on mobile devices, you are recommended to:

1. Always keep regular backups of your important data.
2. Make sure that you run an active anti-virus security suite of tools on your machine.
3. Avoid downloading apps from unknown sites and third-party app stores.
4. Always pay close attention to the permissions requested by an app, even if it is downloaded from an official app store.
5. Do not open any email attachments from unknown sources.
6. Finally, browse the Internet safely.

And let’s analyze that advice with our critical eye:

1. Always keep regular backups of your important data. Because it’s not a question of if you’ll get screwed, it’s a question of when.
2. Make sure that you run an active anti-virus security suite of tools on your machine. No arguements. If it connects to the Internet you NEED this. But KNOW THIS: it’s only a semi-effective shield, NOT bulletproof armor.
   
3. Avoid downloading apps from unknown sites and third-party app stores. Or even regular ‘stores’, as we’ve seen them get ‘poisoned’ already (Google Play Store, recently [see https://thehackernews.com/2017/08/android-ddos-botnet.html]). So let’s just change it to: Do NOT download apps.
   [edit 9/18: and yet again. See this http://thehackernews.com/2017/09/play-store-malware.html.]
4. Always pay close attention to the permissions requested by an app, even if it is downloaded from an official app store. Utterly pointless to advise this. First of all no one will. Second, were ‘average people’ to start doing this, they’d have no clue what all that ‘tech jargon’ means. And 3rd, most apps don’t offer you any choices with ‘Permissions’ – if you want the app, you have to accept the ads and the spying. So let’s just use my #3 as our guide.
   
5. Do not open any email attachments from unknown sources. Um. People who still do this have never read a tech article in their life. So they aren’t seeing this.Those who do (read articles) KNOW email is still a favorite way for the criminals to infect your machine. MY advice? Unless someone you know has told you, “I’m sending you a document”, don’t open it – period.
6. Finally, browse the Internet safely. What? Great advice! Only one problem — there is no such thing. ( Um … I guess that translates to “don’t look at pron”?)
7. Do not ‘jailbreak’ or ‘root’ your device. (Okay.. so I had to add one.)

* * *

Today’s quotable quote: “Lighten up, just enjoy life, smile more, laugh more, and don’t get so worked up about things.” ~ Kenneth Branagh

Copyright 2007-2017 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

More on Layer 8

“Layer 8” is a snarky, insider reference to you, the ‘End User’. (Also referred to as “pebcak” and “ID:10t” [ as in, “we have another ten-tee error”. ])

* 100% of government IT workers said employees are biggest threat to cybersecurity

“Only 14% of government organizations consider themselves to be well-protected against cyber threats, according to a report from Netwrix. Here’s why.” Read more..

And I wager those 14% aren’t as well-protected as they think they are..
And this is why you don’t want gov’t agencies making ‘databases’.

Copyright 2007-2017 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

14 Tips to be safer on Public Wi-Fi (‘hotspots’)

A couple reading reco’s for mobile Internet users.

* 14 Public Wi-Fi Hotspot Security Tips You Need

“Sometimes you need it so bad, you don’t care if it is clean or dirty. You don’t care who has been there before or what viruses they’ve left behind. I speak, of course, of public Wi-Fi hotspots, aka honeypots for weak-willed souls desperate for a sense of connection. Look, it’s okay to connect to strange networks. Just use protection, cover your tracks, and follow PCMag’s 14 Tips for Public Hotspot Security. Be safe out there.” Read more..

I disagree with what the author wrote there a bit.. it’s really not ‘okay’ to use public wi-fi.. (that’s why I put ‘safer’ where the Industry puts ‘safe’) but I know you’re going to. One of the main reasons is “53 percent can’t tell a secure network from an insecure one.”
That’s so shockingly stupid clueless in 2017 .. do we need to remove these devices from the hands of the masses?

* * *

Today’s quote: “A paranoid is someone who knows a little of what’s going on.” ~ William S. Burroughs

Copyright 2007-2017 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

How to erase yourself from the internet

Anyone thinking off ‘going off the grid’, this article is for you.

* Gallery: How to erase yourself from the internet

“Destroying your digital existence—it’s not easy

Fed up with social media? Sick and tired of hiding from identity thieves? It’s not easy to eliminate your online presence, but it can be done if you’re willing to put in the legwork.

Here are some tools, tips, and strategies for getting rid of your internet footprint.” View slideshow

Addenda: This article does not mention some other obvious things, such as –> NEVER own an ‘Internet-connected’ device/toy/gadget (such s a ‘smart tv’ or ‘Internet security camera’..)

Today’s quote: “Nothing you wear is more important than your smile.” ~ Connie Stevens

Copyright 2007-2017 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Start over

This is not “news”, but this ‘news article’ is why I’ve been saying –> scrap it ALL. Start over.

This time with security/privacy in mind.

To understand this, you need to know that “vulnerabilities” means “insecure computer code”. You need to note the idea “being found” and think “tip of the iceberg”, and you have to understand that NONE of the ‘computer languages’ are even designed to be secure. Were a ‘Programmer’ to try to write a hacker-proof ‘app’, they couldn’t because the Language, and the “libraries’ it uses are weak. Anywho.. bringing you this stuff is killing my ratings, but here’s the evidence .. um, article:

* ‘Unrelenting’ rise in vulnerabilities, Risk Based Security reports

“We are on track for another record-breaking year in the pace of vulnerability disclosures, said a new report from Risk Based Security.” Read more..

*     *     *

Today’s quote: “No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.” ~ Robin Williams

Copyright 2007-2017 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

If you are, or ever were, a Yahoo user, read this

Please note the date. And also please note, many of your ISP’s use Yahoo as their ‘engine’/email provider.. such as SBC/AT&T.

* Data on 1B Yahoo users stolen in second breach

“Data on one billion Yahoo users was likely stolen by an unauthorized third party in a data breach that occurred in August 2013, the company said in a Wednesday press release that also noted the breach is “likely distinct” from a breach previously disclosed in September.” Read more..

RELATED: How to delete or protect your Yahoo account

“It’s time to seriously consider deleting your Yahoo account. Can’t? OK, here’s what you can do to protect it.” Read more..

* * *

I almost titled this article “Yahoo! Scores More Points”.. But didn’t as I don’t want people zeroing in their concern on Yahoo! This kind of thing happens all over the place, to most every company/organization sooner or later — because we’re using quite insecure technologies. You pretty much have to presume your ‘identity’ is already stolen. And you have to be darned reluctant (unwilling, as much as you able) to provide accurate information to any entity.

… it just keeps getting better and better ..

One billion people in a single hack.