Microsoft FREAK Fix

This week's patch Tuesday fixed the FREAK flaw that was revealed last week.  Originally it seemed that Microsoft was immune to the FREAK security flaw, but a few days after Apple and Google web browsers were vulnerable Microsoft declared it too was was vulnerable.  This week's patch (which was huge and took a good 15-20 minutes to update) fixes that.

Still waiting for the Apple and Google fixes.

Which Smartphone is #1?

A common question I always get asked is about which smartphone would  I recommend - Google Android, Apple iOS, Windows, BlackBerry?

While there are many factors that can decide which phone is best for you a lot of people seem to want to know which is #1.  When I think of smartphones I think in terms of the operating system (Google Android, Apple iOS, Windows, Blackberry) and not the manufacturer of the hardware (Apple, Samsung, LG, HTC, etc.) .  Despite what people might think, it's not Apple iOS, but Google's Android by a great margin.  Recent numbers show that Android now has over 80% of the worldwide market share.

If you want to see a breakdown market share in different countries I just discovered a great interactive website (Kantar World Panel) that breaks it all down.  Unfortunately Canada isn't one of the countries but from past experience our numbers are usually very close to the US.  At a quick glance you can see the trend:
1. Google Android
2. Apple iOS
3. Windows
4. Other and BlackBerry

Security Flaw for Mac and iOS Safari and Google Chrome Mobile

A security flaw has been discovered that leaves the user open to a risk of electronic attack.  This flaw, called FREAK, has apparently been around since the 1990's and has just been discovered now.

To test your browser and find out more information go to https://freakattack.com/.  I tried Internet Explorer and Google Chrome on my PC and everything was okay.  Google Chrome on my phone was not safe.  I've also tried Safari on a Mac and it too was not safe.  A patch is supposed to be available next week and your system will automatically update.

My advice, use another browser if possible and be careful where your surf.

UPDATE:  Microsoft has also come out to say that Internet Explorer is also vulnerable.  All the major web browsers are considered compromised and their respective companies have announced plans to have a fix in place this week.

Also, even though this is a serious problem, there is not a great deal to panic about.  The number of instances that would need to have happen in order for information to be stolen is high enough for it not to be a common issue.

Living with Windows 10

On September 30 Microsoft announced that their new operating system would be called Windows 10 and would be available mid-2015.  The next day they released the Technical Preview (or what most people would refer to as a Beta even though this is more like an Alpha) of Windows 10. Since then they have released several more updates.   I have been using it since then and thought it was time to give some of my impressions and some clear up some misconceptions.

I have it installed on an old Windows 7 desktop and Windows 7 laptop I refurbished.  The laptop is an old Acer with 3GB of RAM and a dual-core AMD 2.0Ghz processor.  For those not up on all the confusing names and acronyms, the laptop isn't exactly a speed demon - I think I'd be lucky to get a $100 for it on eBay.  This is the computer I'm using Windows 10 on the most and the one I'm using right now to write this.  Even though this is a comparatively slow computer and any beta or Technical Preview is supposed to be buggy, Windows 10 is running better than almost all the computers I see running Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8 on a faster computer.  Since Windows Vista Microsoft has succeed in making sure that each new version of it's OS runs better on less, and Windows 10 has carried on this trend.

Since this is a very early version of what Windows 10 will eventually be there isn't a whole lot that the average person would notice at first.  The one thing that will jump out at people is something people have been moaning about since Windows 8 came about - a start menu (see picture above).  Yes, finally you can click on the Start button and be shown something like the traditional start menu that has been in Windows for over a decade.  You will see in the picture that some of programs that pop up in the start menu look like the Windows 8 tile apps that would pop up and take over the entire screen.  This is not the case anymore.  Now when you open one of these Tile apps they open within the desktop, just like a traditional desktop program.  Also missing are the Charms bar that would slide out from the right side of the screen.

This is not to say that all these Windows 8 features have been removed, they have just been hidden.  If you were to have Windows 10 on a tablet or phone you'd still see the tile screen as your main screen since this is more touch friendly.  After using Windows 8 for years I now find it odd not to have the charms bar come up on the side when I'm looking for things.

Besides running nice and smooth the only other noticeable differences are slight image redesigns of of common icons - folder icon, wifi signal, etc.  What is still to come are big changes to the web browser.  Internet Explorer, after being introduced 20 years ago, will be no more and will be replaced with Spartan.  This is being touted as being much faster and safer than Internet Explorer.  Another big addition for Xbox One users will be the ability to stream your games to your PC.

I hope, in vain I'm sure, that people will give Windows 10 a chance after all the negative press about Windows 8.

Windows 10 Free for Everyone! Well almost everyone ...

In case you hadn't already heard Windows 10 (before you ask, there is no Windows 9) will be a FREE upgrade to almost everyone.  Those of you with Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 will be able to upgrade your computer, for free, to Windows 10 when it arrives this coming fall.  Vista users are out of luck and XP users .... what are you still doing using XP!!!!  It's not secure people!  But I've mentioned that in a previous post.
The only caveat is that your existing computer must be able to run Windows 10 (and if you are already running Windows 7 or 8.1 then it will run Windows 10) and that you have one year from date of launch to do the free upgrade.

Canada's Netflix - Shomi

Pretty much everyone is familiar with Netflix, the online TV and movie streaming service.  Today Rogers and Shaw launched their version of Netflix called shomi.  At this time they are calling this a Beta since it's only available to customers who currently subscribe to Rogers or Shaw.  Eventually they will roll it out to everyone in Canada.  Bell is reportedly also working on their own version of this service for 2015.

The pricing is as follows:
Netflix - $7.99/month (first month free)
shomi  - $8.99/month (first month free)

If you have Rogers it states on their Shomi page that if you already have Rogers Internet or TV shomi is "INCLUDED" if you have Hybrid Fibre 50 internet plan or higher.

Unfortunately if you read further the "fine print" shows that it is only included until March 31st, 2015. If you don't have this service, or higher, then it will be $8.99 per month.  Shaw's conditions are pretty much the same.

To watch shomi you will need a compatible device. Right now these devices are limited to your traditional computer (desktop/laptop), NextBox (Rogers), Rovi/HD/Gateway (Shaw), select iOS and Android tablets and smartphones - "with more viewing options coming soon!".  Originally Rogers stated it would launch on the Xbox 360, but that seems to be missing from their website now.

To access the service from your non-set top box device you will need to log into their website, choose your provider (Rogers or Shaw) and log in using the same login info you use to access your Rogers/Shaw account.  If you haven't set up an online account yet, you'll have to do that now.

So far the content seems to be a lot less than Netflix, but that was to be expected.  shomi has been promoting that their service is more about quality than quantity.  We'll have to wait and see what they decide is quality and how much they will add.

The one benefit for some people with limited internet bandwidth is that if you do use your set top box to watch shomi then you will not be using any of your bandwidth.

Is this a Netflix killer?  No.  I think this is just Rogers/Shaw trying to build something that may compliment your current Netflix account.  For example:  the British show Top Gear is available on shomi with seasons 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 while Netflix has 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.

The question is whether people will want yet another fee added to their growing cable bill.  We'll have to wait and see how this develops over the next few months.

Update: November 7, 2014 - It didn't take long to browse the entire list of movies and TV shows, but I know they'll be adding content as they go forward (they already have added a few more titles).  So far the service has worked perfectly and it will work on any Rogers digital box, not just the NextBox.  The quality on the digital box is much better than what I was used to on the regular Rogers On Demand service.  Still, for an additional 9/month I still need to be convinced to go with this on top of or replacing Netflix.

Services

Go Fetch Computers is a local (Midland, Ontario) mobile computer service company.
We don't have an expensive storefront so we can to come to
your home or office to do all the service you require at no extra cost.

 Desktop, Laptops,
Smartphones & Tablets

Over 20 years experience

On site service at no extra cost

Serving Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny and Tay

Services we provideOn site upgrades Trouble shooting Tune-ups Virus Removal Networking Solutions (share files and printers throughout your home) Backup Solutions Custom Built Systems Website Design Domain Name Registration Web Site Hosting Remote access (we can fix it no matter where you are!) Tutorials

SYSTEM TUNE UPS AND VIRUS REMOVAL IS OUR SPECIALTY Is your computer running slower than when you first got it? Do you have pop-up's that just won't stop? Is your computer making loud, disturbing noises that weren't there before? Are you just unsure about whether your computer is safe to use on the Internet? For most computers a complete tune up will cure all these problems. Our tune up service includes: - Physically cleaning out the inside of your computer of dust and hair - Thorough scan and removal of any viruses and malware - Installation of any critical Windows updates - Examination and cleaning of the Windows Registry (the most important file on your computer!) This service can take several hours so we will come to you, remove your computer, complete all work and come back to hook up your computer exactly as you had it! All this for only $70

Need a Website, but think it would be too expensive? For less than $500 your business could have a website on the Internet! Click Here for more information

The most common problems are usually the easiest to fix so for on-site calls you have the option of watching us in action and we will teach you as we go so in the future you can do your own repairs or even help your friends.

Two-Step Verification - Turn It On!!

Almost everyone, except the most casual user, has some sort of online connection that requires a password.  At the very least a person has an email address which, despite what I commonly hear, does require a password.  For many services your email account can be the master account for many other services, such as:

Microsoft - Xbox, Office 365, OneDrive, OneNote, Windows 8 login, email (hotmail, live, outlook)

Google - Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive, YouTube

Apple - iCloud, iTunes, Apple TV

For the hackers of the world, having access to your email account can be the Golden Ticket.  With that they have access to a myriad of services and even request password changes to other services tied to your email account.  With most email being accessible through a web browser hackers can try to break into your account using simple methods.

The key, literally, to all these services is your password. I've written before about the importance of a strong password but sometimes even that may not be enough or maybe a complicated password is too much to remember so people take the easy way out and go back to using their birthday, phone number or pet's name.

Two-Step Verification and How it Works

There is another security measure than can be put in place to help - two-step verification.  It can also be called two-factor verification or authentication, but they are all the same.  Simply, it means you need two methods to log into your account - a password and a special code.  It was the absence of this feature on iCloud which contributed to having celebrities having their account hacked.  Here is how it works:

1. Log into your account

2. You are then prompted for a code

3. Enter your code and you are then logged into your account.

Okay, but where do you get this code from?  This can work several ways depending on the options that the service has.  In this case I am using a Microsoft account which uses something called an Authenticator App on my smartphone to create a time sensitive, one-time use codes for various services. Everyone has this app available for their smartphones - Apple, Google, Microsoft and even Blackberry.  Here is what the Google one looks like: in this example, from Google's website, it shows two different accounts it's creating codes for.

The circle on right is a countdown before the code refreshes with a new number
This takes about 30 seconds.

You also have the option of having the code sent to you via text message, emailed to another email address you have access to, or even have it sent to your home phone with a recorded message reading out the number.

What I really like about this is that even if I publicly posted my email address and password (which would be insane) a person would still need access to my phone to gain access to my account.  More realistically, those who have had their username and password stolen from a phishing scheme (see my post on spotting a fake email) the person who stole your info still couldn't get into your account because they don't have that final necessary code.

Almost every company/service has some sort of two-step verification option: PayPal, Facebook, Twitter, those I already mentioned above, and many, many more.

Yes, this could be bothersome if you need to enter a code every single time you use your computer.  Fortunately most services give you the option to "Trust this computer" so it will remember that is your personal computer and it's safe.  Obviously never choose this option on a public computer.

How Do I Turn It On?

Now that you're convinced, how do you turn it on?  I can't give you a lesson on every service that offers two-step verification but generally all you have to do is log into your account, whatever that may be, and go to your security settings (where you'd change your password) and look for something related to Two-Step Verification.  If it's offered by the company/service you are logged into then you should see an option to "Turn On" two-step verification.  From there you will be prompted as to how you want to receive your code.

I firmly believe in turning on this service.  I'm sure it's not 100% guaranteed to protect your account but it goes a long way to preventing someone from accessing your account.

How to Spot a Fake Email

The other day I received an email that said it was from Outlook.com stating that my email account had been blocked because of fraudulent activity.  To unblock it all I had to do was click on the link and log into my account. This is a common scam that I see all the time and it can apply to anything - Outlook.com, Gmail, Yahoo!, Rogers, Sympatico, PayPal, eBay, etc.

I instantly saw this as a fake, but I had several clients fall for this type of email in the past and had their username and password stolen because of it.  Usually the person doesn't even trace the cause back to the email, but instead thinks that their computer has been hacked because they can no longer access their email account.

Here is the email I received:

I've blanked out my personal email address for privacy reasons.

The Scam

When the link is clicked on you will be taken to a page that does look exactly like the Microsoft login page.  When you login it appears the page reopens and you have to try to log in again, on the second try you do get into your email.  Hooray, my email is unblocked! 

What has happened is that the webpage you were taken to just captured your email address and password (you have just given someone your login information) and then they take you to the real Outlook.com login page where you are able to login successfully.  Once the people who created this have a chance they will log into your email account and change your password so you can't login anymore.  From here they can scan your email, look for other accounts you use, go there, request a new password (which get's emailed to the account you no longer have control of) and on and on it goes.

How to Spot a Fake

The first thing to look for is bad grammar or spelling.  Looking at 1a you can see that the sentence isn't complete - "... but we'll need to get your account info to resolve the".  Resolve the what?  It's blank after that.  Example 1b is a perfect example of poor grammar - "This message is to from Microsoft". 

Example number two is the reason why I never click on a link in an email.  Even though the link is all written out and looks like a real link the coding linked to that isn't what's written out.  If you place your cursor over top of the link you will see at the bottom of the page where the link is really going.  In this case it's really going to a website called palmettobahamas.com - this obviously isn't a Microsoft website.

What to do Next?

If you do get an email like this, don't click on any links.  If you do have some suspicion that there is a problem with your account go there by typing in the address manually or from your shortcuts and login and see if everything is okay.  This might even be a good time to change your password.

I will be posting something shortly about how to make your account even more secure using two-step verification, but in the meantime don't click on any link sent to your email!

UPDATE: Here is yet another email sent to me with almost the exact same formatting.  This one has better grammar, but again the links do not go where they say they do and bring you to a page that looks just TD Canada Trust.  The big tip off for me is that I don't deal with TD, almost everything is hyperlinked and that the email refers to me by my email address instead of my real name.

OneDrive Size Increases Again

Just announced, OneDrive has increased their free storage size again. Microsoft is increasing their 15GB free space to 30GB for all users of iPhones, Android, and Windows Phone users. The one change is that 15GB is for your camera roll pictures and 15GB for other documents. So all of you with a new iPhone take advantage of this "limited" time offer and save yourselves some money if you were thinking of upgrading your iCloud account.

https://blog.onedrive.com/you-can-now-get-30-gb-of-free-storage-with-onedrive/

What Is The Cloud And Do I Need It?

 

One of the most common questions I receive from my clients seems to be about the cloud.  What is it?  Do I need it?  Is it safe?

What is The Cloud?

First a bit of a primer as to what The Cloud is.  Basically the internet is the cloud.  If it's online, its in the cloud.  No one invented the cloud, per se, but instead the term came into popularity a few years ago as online storage became more accessible to everyone.  Today the term The Cloud has come to mean online storage.  Today the main players are Microsoft (OneDrive), Google (Google Drive), and Apple (iCloud).  Dropbox was at the forefront of online storage but as of late they have been left behind by the Big Three. People can use their PC's, tablets or smartphones to sync all their data to the cloud for easy access to their files or to share with their friends/coworkers.

The Cloud and the PC

Today most PC's have more than enough room on their hard drives to store all your files and pictures.  So why would you use the cloud?  The main reason I use mine is convenience.  By storing my documents and pictures on the cloud I have access to all my files no matter where I am.  If I'm at a friend's house I can log into my account and show them all the pictures of my holidays, kids, pets, etc.  If I need a document I can use my client's computer, my laptop or even my smartphone to access the file.  As another bonus, any changes I make to the document, no matter where I am, the changes will be made anywhere else I view it from.  This is because the cloud is basically my own personal hard drive on the internet.  Any changes made there are the same as if I made the change on the document on my hard drive.

In an office or team environment the cloud ends the problem of duplicate files and not knowing which is the most up to date.  By everyone in the office working on the same document stored on the cloud that document is always up to date.

A common problem with today's advancing technology is that while things are getting better they are often getting bigger as well.  This is especially true with pictures.  My clients often complain that their emails cannot be sent because they are getting errors saying the files they are sending are too big.  Most email providers have a limit as to how big an attachment can be.  Quite often two or three high-resolution pictures can exceed this limit.  By using the cloud to store all your photo's you can direct your email recipients to the pictures on your cloud storage space.  This way you aren't actually sending them the files so your email won't get that error message saying it's too big.

The Cloud and Mobile Devices

Cloud storage has really taken off with the increased popularity of smart phones and tablets.  Because these devices have relatively little storage space compared to a PC (8/16/32/64GB vs. 500/750/1000GB) they need to rely upon storage in the cloud.  For example, my phone has 16GB of storage on it, but I have access to all my documents and pictures which totals over 200GB - all of it on the cloud.

The main two smartphone and tablet operating systems in North America are Google's Android and Apple's iOS (iPhone and iPad).  Both of these backup your data (pictures, files, etc.) to their cloud service automatically.  Some people may not even know their pictures are being uploaded to their cloud account.  They may not even realize that they have a cloud account.

The Main Cloud Services

There are four main companies that provide cloud storage - Dropbox, Apple's iCloud, Google Drive, and Microsoft's OneDrive.  Dropbox is quickly falling behind the other three players, but they were one of the first on the scene and many people still use Dropbox despite some of it's limitations. I know there are many more companies that offer some sort of cloud storage, but I'll limit my scope to the main players. Each of these companies offers a certain amount of free storage space and charge for extra space beyond that and each company only supports specific operating systems (PC, Mac, iPhone, Android, etc.). Unfortunately each company offers different levels of storage and how much it costs if you need more online storage.  To help sort through the differences I've created a couple of tables below.  The first will show you what operating systems each service is compatible with and the second shows how much each service charges beyond their free storage and how much free storage they offer.

Operating Systems Supported

Operating System	DropBox	Google Drive	iCloud	OneDrive
PC	X	X	X	X
Mac	X	X	X	X
iOS	X	X	X	X
Android	X	X		X
Blackberry	X			X
Windows Phone		X		X

Cost/Year and Space Allowed

GB	DropBox	Google Drive	iCloud Pricing Updated September 10, 2014	OneDrive
2	Free
5			Free
10			$20
15		Free		Free
20			$40 $11.88
50			$100
100		$24		$24
200			$47.88	$48
500			$119.88
1000 (1TB)	$132	$120	$239.88
Unlimited Updated October 2014				$99 Free with Office 365

For operating system support you can quickly see that OneDrive is the only service that will work all on all major operating systems and Apple's is the most limited.

For how much space you are allowed both Google and Microsoft offer the most for free at 15GB.  The most expensive of the bunch would be Apple at $100 per year for just 50GB - both Google and Microsoft offer twice the amount of storage at a quarter of the price.

Once you get into the 1TB range you'll notice there is an asterisk next to Microsoft's $99/year.  This is because Microsoft doesn't actually offer a 1TB plan (for personal use).  Instead they offer 1TB for free to those who subscribe to Office 365, which is $99/year.  Not to get into all benefits of Office 365, but you can see what a great deal Microsoft is offering. To quickly summarize Office 365, you get: the full Office Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Publisher, Outlook, etc.); installs on 5 PC's (Windows or Mac); installs on 5 mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, Android phone or tablet); free Skye minutes; and the 1TB of storage.  On top of that, it's not just 1TB per subscription it's 1TB per installation of Office.  For example, you get Office 365 and you install it on your computer, your three children's computers and your spouses computer.  They all get 1TB of cloud storage for free so really you can get 5TB of storage for $99/year.
UPDATE:  Pricing for Apple iCloud was updated shortly after this was written.  While they have become more competitive at the 200GB level, their newly added 500GB package is more than the others 1TB packages and their new 1TB package is twice as much as their competitors.
UPDATE - September 19: Microsoft announced (to coincide with the launch of iPhone6) that Smartphone users who use OneDrive to automatically back up their photos would get an additional 15GB of free storage, bringing their total up to 30GB for free
UPDATE - October 27: Microsoft announced that it will start rolling out UNLIMITED storage for anyone with Office 365 - that pretty much ends the cloud storage wars.

Is The Cloud Safe?

In my opinion the cloud is safe.  I use it and I have no worries.  I'm not saying that the cloud, no matter what service you use, is 100% safe but neither is anything you are using now.  Even if you don't use a cloud service you computer could potentially still be hacked (I have a few clients who have had this done to them) or your house could be broken into.  Nothing is 100% safe.

To stay safe the key is always the same - make your account as secure as possible.  With something as important as your cloud account or your email address you need to make the password a really good one (no more birthdays, names or your pets, your address, phone number or any other easily guessed passwords).  Also use two-step verification.  By turning this on you have to use your normal log-in information, plus a code that is sent to your cell phone via text message or even a call to your home phone with a computer reading a number to you.  The big three providers all have this feature and I encourage everyone to use it (even though this would not have worked in the hack over the weekend because Apple's Find My Phone service didn't even use two-step verification).  To make things easier for you, here is a list of links to set up your own two-step verification:

Microsoft - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/two-step-verification-faq

Google - http://www.google.ca/landing/2step/

Apple - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5570

Was The Cloud Hacked?

News broke this weekend of celebrities having their private pictures stolen from their cloud (ie. online storage) accounts.  To read the headlines on traditional media sites you would be right to think that The Cloud was hacked and that Apple was The Cloud.

What is The Cloud?

First a bit of a primer as to what The Cloud is.  Basically the internet is the cloud.  If it's online, its in the cloud.  No one invented the cloud, per se, but instead the term came into popularity a few years ago as online storage became more accessible to everyone.  Today the term The Cloud has come to mean online storage.  Today the main players are Microsoft (OneDrive), Google (Google Drive), and Apple (iCloud).  Dropbox was at the forefront of online storage but as of late they have been left behind by the Big Three. People can use their PC's, Tablets or Smartphones to sync all their data to the cloud for easy access to their files or to share with their friends/coworkers.

Cloud storage has really taken off with the increased popularity of smart phones.  The main two smartphones in North America are Google's Android and Apple's iPhone.  Both of these devices will backup your data (pictures, files, etc.) to their cloud service automatically.  Some people may not even know their pictures are being uploaded to their cloud account.  They may not even realize that they have a cloud account.

Was the Cloud Hacked?

It was not the entire cloud that was hacked this past weekend.  If you use Google Drive, OneDrive, DropBox you are all safe.  Even if you have an iCloud account you could still be safe.  Those that were hacked were those with an iPhone and an iCloud account*.  The hackers did not hack iCloud accounts directly but instead used a previously unknown security hole (referred to as Zero Day) in Apple's Find My Phone service.  The hackers used a 'brute-force' attacked which is where they keep trying different passwords until they get one that's right.  Normally a website will shut you down after you make a few wrong guesses (I'm sure many of you have experienced this when you've forgotten a password).  Apple's Find My Phone flaw was that there was no limit as to how many times you guess a password.  Once they came across the proper password on the Find My Phone website they could then log into the person's iCloud account.  Apple quickly issued a fix and this can no longer be done.

Is The Cloud Safe?

In my opinion the cloud is safe.  I use it and I have no worries.  I'm not saying that the cloud, no matter what service you use, is 100% safe but neither is anything you are using now.  Even if you don't use a cloud service you computer could potentially still be hacked (I have a few clients who have had this done to them) or your house could be broken into.  Nothing is 100% safe.

To stay safe the key is always the same - make your account as secure as possible.  With something as important as your cloud account or your email address you need to make the password a really good one (no more birthdays, names or your pets, your address, phone number or any other easily guessed passwords).  Also use two-step verification.  By turning this on you have to use your normal log-in information, plus a code that is sent to your cell phone via text message or even a call to your home phone with a computer reading a number to you.  The big three providers all have this feature and I encourage everyone to use it (even though this would not have worked in the hack over the weekend because Apple's Find My Phone service didn't even use two-step verification).  To make things easier for you, here is a list of links to set up your own two-step verification:

Microsoft - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/two-step-verification-faq

Google - http://www.google.ca/landing/2step/

Apple - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5570

I plan on creating another post on the features and benefits of Cloud storage, so keep posted.

*UPDATE: As this is a recent story more details will emerge as investigations occur, but at this writing Apple is denying that iCloud or Find My Phone were compromised

PayPal Scam

It's been awhile since I've received a PayPal scam, but it looks like they are starting to make the rounds again.  This morning I received this email:

Dear customer,  
  
As part of PayPal's commitment to excellence, we invite you update your account by enacting the 2014 .   
  
Your Account Will Be Limited , Until We Here From You . 
  
To Update Your Info . Simply click on the web address below 
(or copy and paste the link into your browser):  
  
 Please Click Here To Update Your Info 
  
We appreciate your participation and look forward to hearing from you.  
  
John McCabe
 Senior Vice President
 Customer Service and Operations  

The first tip off that this was a scam was that the "From" was not PayPal, but myself!  Secondly, Paypal would never send anything like this out. Thirdly, the link they give actually goes to "quacklabs.in" not PayPal.  Of course one of the biggest tip offs could be if you receive this and you don't even have a PayPal account!

If you ever do get something like this and you might think it's legitimate then use your web browser and go to the website directly (ie. www.paypal.com) - don't start clicking on any of the links you sent!

What I Use

I have experimented with many programs and services over the years.  Here is a partial list of what I currently use.

HardwareCustom Built Windows Machines
ASUS Desktop
MSI Laptop
Windows Surface RT
Google Nexus 7 Tablet
MacBook Pro (Summer 2009)
External 1TB Storage Drive USB 2.0
iPhone 3G
HTC 8X 16GB Windows Phone 8
Samsung Nexus S Android Phone
Samsung LCD Monitors
Samsung Laser Printers (B&W and Colour)
Logitech Speakers, Webcams
Microsoft Wireless Wave 3000 Mouse/Keyboard
KVM Switch (connect multiple computers to one mouse & keyboard)
Linksys Wireless Router (secured!)
D-Link DIR-850L Router
Kindle 3rd Generation
Kindle 4th Generation
Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Generation
Boxee Box
Microsoft Xbox 360s with Kinect (Living room and rec room)
Windows Home Server 2011
D-Link DCS-5020L Network Camera
D-Link DCS-930L Network Cameras
Roku XS (Canadian Edition)
Microsoft Xbox One
Google Nexus 5 mobile phone
Dell Venue 8 Pro tablet

Software
Windows XP
Windows 7
Windows 8 Pro
Windows RT
Windows Home Server 2011
Ubuntu
Mac OS X Snow Leopard
AVG Free (anti-virus)
Microsoft Security Essentials (anti-virus)
Grid Republic/BOINC
Carbonite (off site, cloud backup)
Crashplan  (off site, cloud backup)
SkyDrive
Picasa
Drop Box
Google Earth
SlySoft AnyDVD
Sothink

Internet Browsers
Internet Explorer 10 (90%)
Firefox (1%)
Google Chrome (9%)

Misc
Rogers Hi-Speed Internet
Rogers PVR
Vonage VOIP Telephone Service

Xbox One Media Remote Review

 



The Xbox One Media Remote is an alternative to using the Xbox controller when you are using your Xbox One for doing any of those non-gaming activities like watching TV, Netflix, YouTube, DVD's, etc.  While the Xbox One controller is generally considered one of the best game controllers available it can be difficult to use when trying to pause, fast forward, increase volume, or any of those actions you normally use when watching TV.  The regular controller also will turn off after certain amount of time to save battery life and it can also be intimidating for those non-gamers who want to use the Xbox One.

The Media Remote is a little fatter than I thought it would be, but after using it I came to appreciate the extra size. The Apple TV and Boxee Box remotes are both nice and small, but too small and light.  The Media Remote feels more solid and easier to use.  There is also a nice matte rubbery coating on it to make it extra grippy.



The Media Remote is much more like a regular TV remote with a couple extra Xbox One specific buttons like a button for the menu, options, and a big silver button to turn your system on and off and to go to the Home screen.  It also has a nice feature of lighting up when you pick you pick it up so you can easily see all the buttons when in a dark room.  It also doesn't need to shut off like the game controller which uses Bluetooth to control the Xbox One.  The benefit of Bluetooth is that you don't need line of sight to control the Xbox One, but the downfall is that it sucks up battery life.  The Media Remote uses IR (infra-red) so this does mean you need to point it at the Xbox to control it.  One the positive side the AAA batteries should last a long time.

If you have your Xbox One configured so that it can control your TV (and multimedia receiver if you have one) you can also use the Media Remote to control the volume.  Ideally you could also use the Media Remote to control your cable box but unfortunately this feature is only available in the USA through the Xbox One's One Guide.  Hopefully this will be coming to Canada soon.  Regardless of this the Media Remote is great when you, or your non-Xbox familiar family and friends, are using any of the other media/streaming features on the Xbox One.  For $24 it's a great add-on for those who use their Xbox One as multimedia device in their living room.  I purchased mine directly from the Microsoft Store which offers free shipping and anything I've ordered from them ships overnight.

Hacking Smartphones - The New Target

With Smartphones and tablets increasing in popularity more and more people are storing personal data on their devices.  Hackers are desperate to get a hold of any personal data such as banking info, email, access to your secure apps, etc.  Because of this the new focus of the cyber-criminal is to start creating programs to get into your device and send that information back to them.  The most common way to do this is through something called malicious software or malware.  Malware is a program which you either are unaware of or an app which has malicious code written into it which can then exploit your device.

Android devices are the most common target for hackers because, like Windows on PC's, they are by far the most common with a market share of almost 79%.  Also, it's possible to get Android apps from somewhere other than the official Google Play store.  It are these non-Google Play Store apps which are the most likely to contain malware.  The app could could even be one that you know like Flappy Bird, Scrabble, or anything.  Hackers can use those apps and put their own hidden code in it which then infects your phone.  It is always best to only download apps directly from the official store:

Android: Google Play or Amazon AppStore
iPhone/iPad: App Store
Windows Phone: Windows Phone Store
Blackberry: Blackberry World

When an app is listed on the official store then it has gone through a vetting process to ensure the app will work on the device and that it isn't infected.  Unfortunately it's still possible for an infected app to get through the process.  Fortunately for Android users there is a form of malware protection and it's free!  Malwarebytes has historically been great at removing malware and now they have made a version for Android devices.  I highly recommend anyone with an Android device to install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Mobile.  Apple users just need to to vigilante and make sure they keep their phones updated (in February a serious security hole was found in iPhones and iPads - the most recent update fixes this).  Windows Phone and Blackberry users have less to be concerned about since their market share is much lower (Window Phone 3.6% and "Others" at 2%) and it's not worth a hacker's time to bother with these.  Windows Phone numbers are on the increase so this may be more of a concern in the future.

Like with anything, be careful of what you are downloading and installing whether it be on your PC, smartphone or tablet.

One Month Left for Windows XP and Office 2003

Okay everyone, it's crunch time.  If you've still got a computer running Windows XP or Office 2003 you have just over a month to upgrade before both products are retired.  They will both continue to work, but if you are connected to the internet you are running a severe security risk.  Not sure if you are running XP?  Microsoft has even created a simple website that will check for you.  For more detailed information on the dangers of running XP or Office 2003 check out Microsoft's page on the matter.

Starting this Saturday, March 8th (exactly one month before the deadline) XP computers will start having pop-ups from Microsoft stating that you only have one month to upgrade.  I think they should have been doing this for the last 6-months, but at least they are doing something now.  Microsoft will also be releasing free software, in partnership with LapLink, that will help transfer all your files over to your new computer.

Numbers are still showing that 29% of computer users are using XP so if you are one of them please upgrade as soon as possible for your own safety.

Xbox One Stereo Headset Review

Microsoft has been the first to release a stereo headset for the new Xbox One at a price of $79.99.  Turtle Beach ($119 - $189) and Polk ($149) will also be releasing their headsets at the beginning of March.  Somehow I managed to get my Xbox One Stereo Headset delivered to me, directly from Microsoft, week before it's even released by Amazon or Future Shop/Best Buy.  I'm not complaining, but I was very surprised!

As with all the Xbox One accessories the packaging is beautiful with the box folding open to present the new item.  The packaging is also mostly all recyclable cardboard which is also nice for those of us with the amount of trash we can put out can be limited.  

The first thing I noticed was the placement of the microphone.  I'm no longer a big user of the microphone when I'm playing online and with other headsets I was always pushing up the the microphone arm up out of the way where it would stick out.  With the Xbox Stereo Headset it took me second to even find the microphone because it was so tightly integrated into the head band of the unit (see picture below).

When it's pulled down it's it a nice thin, unobtrusive mic but some might complain that since it's a fixed arm that they can't move the mic closer, or further, from their mouth.  For me it's the perfect design and it looks a whole lot less geeky when sitting in your living room.

The headset connects, via wire, to the included adapter that connects to the bottom of the Xbox One Controller.  It's very convenient to have a wireless headset that needs nothing added to any of the ports on the Xbox itself (like had to be done with the 360).

A big factor in any headset is comfort.  People can be wearing these for hours at a time so if it's not comfortable you're not going to use it.  The cushion around the ears are a cloth material with thick foam padding and I found it immediately comfortable, more comfortable than headsets with a vinyl cushion. The inside is coloured the Xbox green, which I actually kind of like - it gives it a consistancy. I always have some comfort issue with headsets because I wear glasses and the headsets don't fit over the arms of the frame.  It seems that because these are a softer, thicker cushion they fit much better over my glasses.  I'm also finding that because the cushion is cloth I'm not getting "sweaty ear" like with other headsets.  The one thing that remains to be seen over the long term is how clean the cloth will stay versus a vinyl.

Of course the most important thing about a headset is the sound quality.  When I first hooked these up, and followed the instructions to update the controller, I was extremely disappointed.  At times the sound was clear but for the most part there was a lot of static and popping.  When it was clear the sound was okay, but weak.  I was even checking to see if there was a loose connection somewhere, electronic interference from some other device.  Nothing.  I'd started to contemplate sending it back.  The next morning I fired up the Xbox and was prompted to update the controller.  This seemed to be a different, and longer, controller upgrade than the previous day.  What a difference!  First off the the signal was 100% clear and when I played Forza 5 it was too loud and the bass was very full.  Racing around on Forza I could not only feed every bump when I rode across a rumble strip but I could hear the tires bump-bump-bumping across the strip clearly on the left or right.  It is now a pleasure to use these headphones.  As a bonus, if you have your Cable or Satellite box porting through your Xbox you can also just use these to watch TV without disturbing your family or roommates.

Initially I pre-ordered the Polk headset, but for almost half the price I am very happy with these and have cancelled my Polk order.

Update: I've played Call of Duty: Ghosts and Tomb Raider and the sound was great. In Tomb Raider was a huge improvement over normal TV, or surround, speakers. I was able to hear voices better and especially ambient sounds like dripping water echoing in a cave.  

Xbox One



I am a die-hard Xbox fan and when this was announced I pre-ordered it within the hour.
I normally keep my Xbox in my basement for gaming, but when the One arrived my wife actually suggested we put it in the living room to see how the whole integrated experience worked. We both love it so much in the living room that we are currently looking for another for the basement.

The Kinect voice commands is what really makes this console shine for the non-gamer. Anyone can easily turn it on just with the command "Xbox On". What I didn't realize until I got everything hooked up was that the One also turns on our surround sound receiver and TV at the same time - no more having to switch HDMI inputs on the remote! We can be watching TV and decide to switch to Netflix with just the "Xbox go to Netflix" command.  If we are watching a DVD or Blu-Ray movie its another simple voice command to Pause, Play, Fast Forward, Rewind, etc.. Like I said, it's the Kinect that really makes this console shine in the living room.

As for gaming, I bought the two first games I religiously purchase - Forza 5 and Call of Duty Ghosts. The speed, graphics and sound are stunning! Again, it's a breeze to jump into a game and back to TV within seconds or vice-versa. You can also have Skype running in the background so if you receive a call you can answer on your TV.  You can also "Snap" any application so it just takes up 1/3 of the screen so you could be watching TV on 2/3's of the screen and be on a Skype call on the other 1/3.  This just wasn't possible with the 360.

No one I know really used the Kinect on the 360, but this new Kinect is so good that we don't hesitate to use it. People complained that the Xbox One was $100 more than the PS4 and that extra cost was the Kinect, which people thought wouldn't be used and should be sold separately. If the Xbox One didn't come with the Kinect I doubt my non-gamer spouse would want to keep it in the living room. Our living room is starting to feel like something from the future :)

Windows 8.1 Dropping WiFi Connection

I've recently had a few clients that experienced their WiFi signal dropping from their laptop after they've updated it from Windows 8 to 8.1. Usually this is caused by a bad or outdated networking driver.  Here is a quick way to solve the problem, but you will have to be connected to the Internet so make sure you are currently connected by WiFi or preferably with a network cable going directly into your modem or router.

Right click on the new (for Windows 8.1) Start button at the bottom left of your screen and then click on Device Manager

 

This will open up the Device Manager window.  Next you will click on the "Network Adapters" which will show all the Network adapters on your computer.

 

There will most likely be two or selections when you click on this.  The one you will be looking for will have some mention of "wireless".  Next right click on the adapter and choose "Update Drivers".  The computer will then search online for any updates for your network adapter and install it.  You will then have to reconnect to your WiFi.

Your WiFi connection should now stabilize.