Computer Safety & News

Google Fi is a new cellular service with MVNO support as shared below: Google Fi drops ‘Project’ and adds MVNO support for most Android devices, iPhones https://fi.google.com/about/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_virtual_network_operator Back in 2015, Project Fi launched as Google’s take on cellular service and has over the years added new features, as well as support for more phones. […]

https://www.pcmag.com/article/364947/how-to-avoid-phishing-scams The key to running a phishing scam is creating a replica of a secure website that’s good enough to fool most people. With the classiest fakes, every link goes to the real site. Well, every link except the one that submits your username and password to the perpetrators. As icing on the cake, the […]

https://www.pcmag.com/news/365198/microsoft-helps-police-shut-down-fake-tech-support-centers-i The fake tech-support centers swept up in the raids made thousands of dollars by sending out pop-up ads over the internet that claimed users’ computers had been infected with a virus. Victims were fooled into buying repair services to fix the phony issue. Microsoft has been working with police in India to shut down […]

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/30/marriott-says-its-starwood-database-was-breached-onapproximately-500-million-guests-.html Marriott says its Starwood database was hacked for approximately 500 million guests Marriott said the Starwood guest reservation database was breached, potentially exposing information on about 500 million guests. Among the information stolen on many of the guests includes a combination of name, mailing address, phone number, email address, passport number, Starwood Preferred Guest […]

This Cisco research study describes explosive growth in Internet traffic, where it is projected to triple by 2022 http://www.eweek.com/networking/global-ip-traffic-to-more-than-triple-by-2022-cisco-predicts Cisco is predicting more IP traffic from 2017 to 2022 than in the history of the internet, and AWS and Lockheed Martin partnering to bring satellites down to Earth. In its latest Visual Networking Index, Cisco Systems […]

https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/current-activity/2018/11/29/Protecting-Against-Identity-Theft As the holidays draw near, many consumers turn to the internet to shop for goods and services. Although online shopping can offer convenience and save time, shoppers should be cautious online and protect personal information against identity theft. Identity thieves steal personal information, such as a credit card, and run up bills in the […]

Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center gets new features with the Fall 2018 Creators Update, but the best third-party antivirus tools still provide better protection https://www.pcmag.com/article/356835/does-windows-10s-security-boost-make-antivirus-obsolete Not so long ago, the venerable Windows Defender got a new name—Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center—and a leap in functionality. In addition to antivirus, it manages Windows Firewall, SmartScreen Filter, […]

A new EternalBlue attack has compromised 45,000 routers to expose possibly up to 2M devices.  It uses a UPnP vulnerability being used to open up & expose ports 139 and 445 allowing potential for unauthorized access, as documented below: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/11/mass-router-hack-exposes-millions-of-devices-to-potent-nsa-exploit/ More than 45,000 Internet routers have been compromised by a newly discovered campaign that’s designed to open […]

DriveSavers is a  data recovery company.  They have possibly discovered a new exploit that will unlock Applie iOS12 devices as noted below.  They charge an expensive fee to recover & are keeping exploit secret at this point  https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2018/11/29/apple-iphone-xs-max-xr-problem-ipad-expensive-cost-upgrade/ https://drivesaversdatarecovery.com/data-recovery-services/devices-supported/smartphones-and-tablets/passcode-lockout-data-recovery/ In short: the data on all iPhones and iPads running iOS 12 is not safe. This […]