Headlines of note

Interesting ‘news’ items today.

* PayPal Vulnerability Allows Hackers to Steal All Your Money

“A critical security vulnerability has been discovered in the global e-commerce business PayPal that could allow attackers to steal your login credentials, and even your credit card details in unencrypted format.” Read more..

* Supercookies are back, and they’re as unappealing as ever

“Supercookies are back in force. But if supercookies are so great for consumers, why aren’t mobile carriers bragging about using them?” Read more..

* Scanner identifies thousands of malicious Android apps on Google Play, other markets

“A team of researchers have created an app vetting scanner referred to as “MassVet,” and they used it to identify more than 127,000 potentially harmful applications (PHA) in more than 30 Android markets – including Google Play.” Read more..

* The Internet of Things is a safety issue, and therefore a business risk

“When you merge the physical and the digital, it’s not just about InfoSec any more. People’s lives could be at risk.” Read more..

* Adobe Flash steadily heading toward demise

“After multiple malvertising campaigns on major ad networks, including Yahoo and AdSpirit.de, as well as the disclosure of major vulnerabilities, companies have begun banning Adobe Flash ads on their websites.” Read more..

[ Well.. that’s about 5 years too late.. But, better late than blah blah. ]

* Here’s How Iranian Hackers Can Hack Your Gmail Accounts

“Hackers are getting smarter in fooling us all, and now they are using sophisticated hacking schemes to get into your Gmail. Yes, Iranian hackers have now discovered a new way to fool Gmail’s tight security system by bypassing its two-step verification – a security process that requires a security code (generally sent via SMS) along with the password in order to log into Gmail account.” Read more..

* Warning! How Hackers Could Hijack Your Facebook Fan Page With This Trick

“Facebook bounty hunter Laxman Muthiyah from India has recently discovered his third bug of this year in the widely popular social network website that just made a new record by touching 1 Billion users in a single day. At the beginning of the year, Laxman discovered a serious flaw in Facebook graphs that allowed him to view or probably delete others photo album on Facebook, even without …” Read more..

Oh, yes, there’s more, but…

Today’s quote: “It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Copyright 2007-2015 © “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.

A few items, and some FF

It was a non-interesting week in the tech headlines, IMHO. But you may want to be aware that I’ve seen some really good tech bargains in this “back to school” sale season — if you’re considering a purchase. And here are a couple articles a few of you may find valuable.

* The Microsoft Store: A wretched hive of scams and fake apps

“It appears that Microsoft’s online app store is suffering from a serious infestation of scam and fake apps turning up with discomforting regularity in popular searches.” Read more..

* How to hack Gmail 92 percent of the time

“Impossible? Apparently not, as US researchers have discovered.” Read more..

* AOL announces that it does not follow ‘Do Not Track’ requests

“AOL amended its privacy policy this past week and elaborated on its decision not to respond to web browsers’ “Do Not Track” (DNT) signals.” Read more..

[I’m pretty sure that’s because the websites ignore such request anyway.. it’s a toothless, ‘feel good’ idea.]

Friday Fun Video:

I love that dog!

Today’s quote: “We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men.” ~ George Orwell

Copyright 2007-2014 © “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.
And please, never forget – one person can make a difference.
Find a way to make someone’s day today.
(Best advice I ever heard? Don’t sweat the small stuff.)

Hey! Thanks, Google!

Tech whiz kids really are making the world a better place!

* Google just made it really easy for strangers to email you

“You no longer need someone’s email address to send them an email. At least, that will soon be the case if you want to email another Google+ user. A new Gmail “feature” will let you simply type in anyone’s name into Gmail’s “to” field and send them an email. Google announced the new Google+ integration on its Gmail blog today, but company representatives have clarified that — by default — anyone on its social network will be able to send messages to your Gmail inbox.” Read more..

Fortunately, there will be a way for you to opt out (read the article to find the setting), which you’re going want to do, as I think the only people who are going to do this are spammers (and my guess is, they’ll do it a LOT.)

Genius!

(Hey, Google? Google Plus is never going to compete with Facebook, any more than I can flap my arms and fly.. Smell the coffee.)

*     *     *

Today’s quote: “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” ~ Mark Twain

Copyright 2007-2014 © “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.

Please Help Me Access My Hotmail – I’ve Been Hijacked

I receive frequent requests to recover hijacked email accounts or retrieve the information in them, and/or to reset lost passwords. Here’s my answer:

No.

There is nothing I can do.

But here is what you can do:

1) Contact your email service provider and tell them what has happened. They should have some way of identifying you, (usually a couple of ‘secret questions’ you pre-set up) after which they should be able to reset your password.

(Notice there is no Number 2?)

*     *     *

Unfortunately this (almost) never works for free accounts. Why? Because these accounts are free and there’s (almost) no customer support. They tell you that up front. You get what you pay for.

Let me be even clearer about that: if you are using a free webmail (online email) service such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail, etc., and…

• you forgot or lost your password
• your password does not seem to work
• you forgot the answer to your secret question
• and you did not set up an alternate email address, or you lost access to the alternate email address
• your account has been hijacked by a hacker
• and Support is not responding to your request for help

You are out of luck. I cannot help you – even if you hired me to.

Your only shot at regaining access to your email is via the form the service provides. Which does not always work.

Hotmail: The Windows Live Help Solutions Center is currently your only official support resource for Windows Live Hotmail.
If you think you’ve been hijacked, you can use Windows Live’s own Windows LiveID Account Recovery Help Page. There you’ll be taken through a form where you can prove that you are the rightful owner, and may, hopefully, regain access to the account.

Gmail: try this Gmail Help page first.

Yahoo Mail: try the Sign-in Help Wizard first.

I am not going to bother writing out the instructions for setting up your account, now, so that recovery in the future will be easier, nor tell you to write down the answer to your secret question (your Account settings is where you start), as I may as well be saying “change your oil every 7,500 miles”, or “brush and floss three times a day.” Many are probably reading this because they were not the careful conscientious type, and they were hoping someone else would clean up their mess for them.. (the New American Way.)
All I can say is: use the “recovery form”; fill it out to the best of your ability; and I can wish you good luck.

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Enhance Google (Also Blocks Ads)

Firefox users will want to know about an Add-on I recently discovered and adopted.

Loyal readers know I hate ads. And they know I use Firefox. I use Firefox for the “Add-ons” (aka “plug-ins”) that give me additional security from cybercrime, enhance my privacy, and the ability to block advertisements — which I consider “musts” for a “better online experience”. (I wrote an article showing my “must have” Firefox Add-ons [and how to get them] here: Winners named, Browsers & Add-ons, Friday Fun.)

I just added to my list an add-on called OptimizeGoogle which, by simply checking a checkbox, tells your browser to automatically use the secure SSL (https://) when connecting to Google services (Gmail, Docs, etc.) and strips out the ads. (Woo Hoo!) Secure sign in and no ads – yup. That’s for me. It does more, too, but I’ll let you discover those things.

1) In Firefox, click on the Tools menu, then Add ons, then the Get Add-ons button.

2) Type OptimizeGoogle into the search pane. Then click on OptimizeGoogle then click Install.

You will need to restart Firefox to complete the installation.

3) Now, again, click on the Tools menu, then Add ons, then click on OptimizeGoogle to turn it blue (aka “select it”).

4) click the Options button.

5) place a check in the Block ads on all Google services checkbox, as shown.

Click OK and you’re done. (Unless you want to explore some of the other settings/options.. that is.)

Reminder: For the complete list of my “must have” Firefox Add-ons, [and how to get them] please see Winners named, Browsers & Add-ons, Friday Fun.

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Reader Question: My Pick(s) For Best Antivirus

I wish I had a nickle for every time I am asked this question…

Q: “Paul,
I want to thank you for all the good information on your website and I am hoping you can give me some advice. The McAfee on my new computer is due to expire and it is asking me to buy a subscription or I won’t be protected. Should I pay or should I get something else? I will be using this computer a lot and want the best protection. Thank you.
~ TB

A: TB,
In this day and age of Internet Insecurity, it is absolutely vital (IMHO) that any device that connects to the World Wide Web has antivirus: and, an “expired” antivirus is next to no antivirus. I have written much about Internet/PC security (and answered this question before). But the competition between the various vendors means that the answer to “who’s the best?” changes year to year… and I suspect you want my short answer. (And, currently, McAfee is not it.)

So, for April/May 2011 my General recommendations are:

• Paid Internet Security: Norton Internet Security 2011 (comprehensive. Any user experience level.)
• Free Antivirus: Avast! (Any user experience level.)

• For Netbooks: see, Best Antivirus For Netbooks?
• For Smartphones: Smartphone security is new to me, and I can only (at this time) say that I think that, at the very least, you want Lookout.

* You may be interested to know, PC World magazine also has those first two as their top reco’s: see, Free vs. Fee: Free and Paid Antivirus Programs Compared

“Can free antivirus software protect you? Or is it worth paying for a full-blown A/V app? We look at the benefits–and pitfalls–of free and paid antivirus products.“

Additionally: (Internet security is much more complex than bullet point answers!)

● I prefer to fine-tune my answers to the User: everybody is different, after all. To get your own “fine-tuned” recommendation, try Gizmo’s Freeware Security Wizard.

“This Wizard has been designed to help you select the best free security software for your PC based on the version of Windows that you use, your technical computer skills and your general level of security risk (read more…).”

● In my Blogroll, you will see direct links to trustworthy Product Comparison reviews.

● I recommend supplementing your antivirus with Anti-Spyware, and I frequently recommend SAS (SUPERAntiSpyware) here. It is a great additional “layer of defense”. It is available here. (It is also one of the few titles I actually reco upgrading to the paid version. Hint: look for the “Lifetime” price.)

● I suspect someone will write in and ask, so.. (For Infection Removal): MalwareBytes Anti-Malware

Today’s reading reco(s):

* Off Topic: White House Releases Birth Certificate

“In all my years of being a citizen of the United States, I have never been more embarrassed… I was brought up to respect whomever was the President; whether it be Democrat or Republican. Today.. ” Read more

* Restoring Your Contacts List or Address Book In Gmail

“Google’s Gmail has been a very popular online (web) email client for years; and, rightfully so. It continues to improve and offer features that you would typically find in email software that you would install on your PC.” Read more

* Yesterday, I mentioned iPhone tracking only part of Apple’s security and privacy shortcomings…

“The revelation by a pair of researchers that iPhones store location data for the life of the device is making waves. How much does it really matter? Chad Perrin suggests the problem goes deeper.” Read more

But Android users should (also) be aware.. Android phones keep location cache, too, but it’s harder to access

“After this week’s disturbing revelation that iPhones and 3G iPads keep a log of location data based on cell tower and WiFi base station triangulation, developer Magnus Eriksson set out to demonstrate that Android smartphones store the exact same type of data for its location services. While the data is harder to access for the average user, it’s as trivial to access for a knowledgeable hacker or forensics expert.” Read more

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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April’s Here. More Friday Fun

It being April 1st, I think it’s fair to issue a BOLO (Be On the Look Out). Pranksters, there be.

April Fools’ Day has hit the Internet and, as usual, there’s no shortage of fake news stories, gag product announcements, and corny jokes. Some are funny. Some are sort of lame attempts at being funny.
Keep this in mind, and don’t get duped.

Not so fun – ny: April is – of course – tax month. Yippee.
Two weeks. To help, on the IRS site there is a page called “FreeFile”, and here you will find the “partnership links” to the free versions of 19 accepted tax prep programs — of which H&R Block’s Free File and also TurboTax are available.
To qualify, you must have an Adjusted Gross Income of $56,000 or less.

Today’s free link: FreeFile at the IRS
Note: there’s two buttons on the page; “I will choose” and “help me choose”. Though all of the programs there are accepted by the IRS, I would recommend clicking the “I will choose”, and then selecting either H&R Block or TurboTax.

News

Holy cow! (Not sure I like this…) New, today (I think): Gmail Motion (beta)

A new way to communicate
The mouse and keyboard were invented before the Internet even existed. Since then, countless technological advancements have allowed for much more efficient human computer interaction. Why then do we continue to use outdated technology? Introducing Gmail Motion — now you can control Gmail with your body.

How it works
Gmail Motion uses your computer’s built-in webcam and Google’s patented spatial tracking technology to detect your movements and translate them into meaningful characters and commands. Movements are designed to be simple and intuitive for people of all skill levels.

Huh? “Patented spatial tracking technology” ? (One of those words makes me nervous..)

*     *     *

I am looking out my window at what appears to be our 3rd straight day of gorgeous, warm sun. I have been valiantly resisting – after weeks of rain and gray and cold – the urge to play hookie. But since it’s Friday, I think I will stop resisting and just plain do so. Give myself a three day weekend. Spring is here!

No. I will not be pulling any “pranks” this year. I must be getting old.. I cannot even remember back to wanting to do any April Fool gags .. sigh.

Do Not Try This At Home Department:

* Baseball is back: In the first game of the season, the World Champion S.F. Giants…
lost to the (arch-rivals) Dodgers. Off to a good start, 0 – 1.

[Note: my “playing hookie” does not – necessarily – mean I will not post articles, or answer my phone… but just in case, have a great weekend folks!]

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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