Another Day Another Java Attack - This Time It's Facebook Techs!

As I rolled over in my sick bed this morning and read my usual incoming daily news messages, one messages immediately stood out: A handful of Facebook engineers had their machines hacked after simply visiting a website that itself had been compromised.  In this case, the engineers had no idea that merely visiting the site, (not even downloading anything from the site) they had infected their machines.  Here is a recent quote from Facebook on the matter:

"Last month, Facebook Security discovered that our systems had been targeted in a sophisticated attack. This attack occurred when a handful of employees visited a mobile developer website that was compromised. The compromised website hosted an exploit which then allowed malware to be installed on these employee laptops. The laptops were fully-patched and running up-to-date anti-virus software. As soon as we discovered the presence of the malware, we remediated all infected machines, informed law enforcement, and began a significant investigation that continues to this day."

Now I hope this will really get people's attention.  I posted about this over a month ago (just scroll back) and even though fixes in the form of "patches" have been made, the fixes haven't fixed all loopholes.  Millions of people, billions of computers are open and subject to the security loopholes in Java.  Since I posted about this, I've deleted ALL Java from my computers and haven't missed it.  Yet Java is freely installed in most machines and we get weekly if not daily messages to update it.  Java is built into our browsers (phones, tablets and pc's) and basically helps us view certain websites.  Java is an old, old code, that in today's world has a lot of security loopholes.  Steven Jobs hated Java for this very reason.  Most websites use other code (HTML) now for viewing.  Even if you happen upon a site that needs Java to open properly, you won't even need it, because it will open just enough for you to understand what you're seeing.  For those of you who will argue "Oh but there are patches to fix that" and I argue back "Don't you think those Facebook engineers knew that, and had patches installed on their machines?  And look at what happened to them?  If you're as smart as a Facebook engineer, then you probably don't need to be reading this blog."  

Today visiting websites is like going to a watering hole in the wild outdoors in the jungle.  If the water is tainted everyone drinking from it can get sick.  You don't even need to download anything.  My antivirus warned me about a certain tech website that had been temporarily compromised.  Thank goodness!  Had I landed on that site, just by merely visiting I too could have been infected.  I value my machines.  I try to take care of them as often as possible.  I'm sure that many of you out there value your smartphones, tablets and pc's too as well.  We are compelled to protect our personal information, contacts and identity.  Well, today's tech world demands that you'll need to read up and become a little more vigilant about avoiding any mistaken steps into the world of computer hacking and identity theft.  Good luck!  Feel free to write me back.  Now back to sleep I go.

Read the link below from a fellow blogger with more detailed, technical information.

www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/01/14/java_zero_day_exploit_don_t_patch_just_disable_java_in_your_browser.html

A New Member of the Smartphone Darkside

I know, I know, this "news" is starting to actually get old, but yet another person at my job has purchased a Smartphone.  He's another older guy - that is he's in his 50's - has purchased an Android phone.  More specifically, he's purchased a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 just like mine after he has observed me working with my phone the past few weeks.  What's so funny is that he gave up an old flip phone that he has had for at least six years.  He actually swore and argued with me that he would never, ever "waste" his money on some crazy phone like mine.  He was happier than a pig in mud with his simple flip phone to make a simple phone call.

Well, it appears that he too has joined the Smartphone Darkside.  He stopped by and asked me to do some initial set up for him since the salesman in the store didn't do much for him other than sell him the phone and upgrade his phone plan.  The screen time out was still at 30 seconds, hardly enough time for an older man trying to learn a new trick to operate his phone.  I set that to several minutes and stopped the battery wasting "ripple" effect on his wallpaper.  I told him that wasting his battery on something like that will come back to bite him one day when he wants to make a phone call and can't because he wanted a special effect running on his cell phone.  Me and another coworker who also has a Smartphone assured him that no matter how fast or brilliant the Smartphone is - it will be as usuful to him as a paperweight if the battery runs out of power while he's just driving/walking around.  He looked at us all (three of us) and said "Okay, take that off then". <we all cracked up>

Now I know that there aren't a lot of people really following this blog too tough, and that's okay.  But for those that are following, I hope that what I put out here is helping you - or helps you steer a loved one to this blog and that this information here will help them.  Please do feel free to write a comment or question if you have one.

This Smartphone evolution is pretty amazing. Whether you chose Android, iPhone, or Windows 7 (and yes, Blackberry is finally back in the game) I hope you do choose according to what not only works, but what also helps you in your life.

There it is...the 21st century...right out there in front of us.  Up, up and away...


 

Another Run To The Windows 7 Border!

Last weekend I helped another coworker shop and find the dwindling stock of Windows 7 computers. Yes Microsoft is forcing their will upon us with Windows 8. I am advising friends and all that if you are not one who can withstand too much change, then go pick up a decent Windows 7 PC while you still can...because sooner or later...the resistance to Windows 8...will eventually be...futile.

Upgrading From Vista To Windows 7 - To Avoid Windows 8"

 

So an older coworker of mine wanted to upgrade his quad core desktop from Windows Vista to Windows 7 operating system.  A computer guy he knows was going to charge him $100 to help him do it.  I told him to not worry about that and to just buy the software and bring it into work.

 

 

 

Once he purchased the software (which is now going up in price to force consumers to turn to Windows 8 instead of going back to Windows 7) he brought in both his desktop and the Windows 7 disk and I proceeded to help him upgrade.

 

Honestly, I love loading up a new software onto a machine for a clean install. 

 

The machine was placed in a back office on a quiet day.  All the initial "clicks" were made to get the software going.  It took around 6 1/2 hours to simply monitor from time to time, but my co-worker went home with a brand "new" computer.  All it cost him was buying both of us lunch.  48 hours later, he reported to me that the Windows 7 upgrade was a success.  It was less buggy than the Vista, as most of us who endured Vista already knew.  He couldn't be happier.  He had taken a look at the Windows 8 and just couldn't get too warm about it.  So upgrading to Windows 7 was his next best option and he did.

VERY IMPORTANT - MAJOR HACK WARNING ISSUED!

Hi folks, today I opened up my emails and read a big time hack warning being issued by the computer tech people that I look up to.  This warning is without a doubt the sternest warning I've ever received about a "possible" virus attack or hacker vulnerability.  And it's easy to know why...because it happens to be a vulnerability left on every computer and software platform including PC, Mac and Linux based machines.  So whether you have a Windows, iOS X or Linux as a software system on your machine - your computer vulnerability is as wide open as French doors on a mansion on a breezy, warm day.

Why?  Because this hack vulnerability has been left on our machines via Java (not Java Script), a good guy software, that has been a mainstay in millions of machines...in the tune of over 850 million machines world wide.  Java is a programming language that is commonly used by websites.  It's a good guy software.  However, the developers have made several missteps in recent years which have opened back doors for hackers to run software via Java, that's built right into a legitimate looking website.  This malicious software easily installs on its own and hacks right into your computer.

Two years ago a simple Java update for Apple computers, left a backdoor open that allowed some 200, 000 Macs to be hacked before a fix was rushed into place.  Today it appears that yet another update by Java Script has left some 850 million computers across all operating platforms open to yet a new hack.

I'm going to attach another blog link to this blog.  My best advice, based on what the experts are saying is to simply disable or get rid of Java on your machine all together.  Java is sot of becoming a thing of the past and may not be as useful as they used to be.  We can't afford for their software updates to constantly leave our machines open for major attacks.

I'll be working on my home computers as soon as possible.  Read the link below for further information.

http://www.techlicious.com/blog/critical-java-security-risk-requires-immediate-action/

Upgrading: Windows 8...vs Windows 7?

Today I assisted a female coworker purchase a Windows 7 desktop that was $100 to $150 off the store retail price, via mail order.  I had actually spent about an hour talking to her on Friday about the differences between Windows 8 vs Windows 7 and I could tell that she really wasn't too interested in dealing with Microsoft's revolutionary Windows 8.  Win 8 is Microsoft's attempt to kept it's name as a leader in the computer technology game, and rightfully so.  After all, they did usher most of us into the PC world from the 1990's on with their Windows platform operating system. 

Calm down Apple fans.  I was not implying that Apple's OS hasn't been around from the beginning until now.  Same with you Linux fans.  You've all rightfully deserved your place in time, history and market share.  All I'm saying is that Microsoft has done a lot to popularize personal computers - period.  Just because Apple has jumped to the front of the line, doesn't mean that Microsoft needs to step back and do nothing.  The competition between all the major tech players has been beneficial to us consumers, and profitable to the major players.  Enough said.

Now back to my point...so I helped a female coworker shop for and purchase an i5, Windows 7 PC for $460.  6gb RAM, 1 TB hard drive, 3.1ghz speed and a so so integrated graphics card.  All that included a discount coupon code.  She is currently using a 2004 PC with Windows XP, Celeron processor, 80gb hard drive, etc, etc.  So she's made a pretty good jump with her soon to be new device and it falls within her budget for such an upgrade.

Now she can really put her music, family photos, smart phones and tablet all together with a device that will give her some future proof features.  Had she been a real power user, she would have needed a little more to get her going, but the main features was more than enough for her basic needs.

That brings me to my point in this post.  If you're not really into power computing, fearful of the complexities of Windows 8, and want to stay as current as possible - then I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU BUY A WINDOWS 7 PC BEFORE THEY ARE ALL GONE.  At this point in time, you can buy a quality device, equipped with quality parts and features, that will be relatively future proof - that is - they will have room for some physical upgrades to give you at least 4 to 8 years of decent use.  If that is all that you desire, now is the time to shop for such machines.  If you wait until later in the year, you're going to be left purchasing the bottom of the barrel PC's that still have Windows 7.

Microsoft has made a big and bold statement these past several months.  Windows 8 is everywhere.  Tablets, phones, and PC's.  It works great on tablets, phones and touch PC's...but...ah not so great on traditional PC's with keyboard and mice.  It just doesn't "feel" right or as intuitive.  But, be that as it may, Windows 8 is definitely here to stay...learning curve or not. 

So folks don't waste another second reading this blog.  Go shop around and find yourself a PC with Windows 7.  2013 just may be Windows 7 last stand.  From here on, the playing field seems like it's going to get pretty tech wild.

To Anti-virus Or Not To Anti-virus - For Your Smartphone?

Should you or shouldn't you bother to purchase antivirus for your Smartphone?   Five and ten years ago, nobody would have even asked that question.  Most of us had just plain old cell phones that made...phone calls.  So now we've clearly moved in a much more complicated direction and the question remains how safe is my new Smartphone now that I can connect it to the Wild Wild World of the Internet.

I purchased my first Blackberry in 2007.  Another in 2009 and then again in 2011.  I then parted my Blackberry ways experimenting with an iPhone 4 in 2010 and recently a Samsung Galaxy Skyrocket 2011, and now (2012/2013) a Samsung Galaxy Note 2.  My '07 and '09 Blackberries were never any good at real in depth Internet browsing.  However, they did live up to Blackberries legendary reputation for being very secure devices.  Clearly they set the bar very high as far as mobile security was concerned.  The rise of the iPhone and then subsequent ascension of the Android phone have set newer bars as far as exploring the Internet and having a secure device.  Now that most 2012 (and up) cellular phones can jump on the Internet at speeds so blazing fast, that they can out pace some tablets from just less than two years ago with their connections speeds and browsing abilities...we've entered seme very, very uncharted territories.

Well, perhaps I shouldn't say uncharted.  If you've had a computer more than 10 years (I started using my first computer in high school some 30 years ago) you know that there were computer viruses out there in the wild that could adversely affect your device if you were not careful.  So now you have virtual mini computers in your purses, pants and jacket pockets and you're wondering if you should buy something to protect your device?

Okay let me discuss this with you this way.  10 or 20 or 30 years ago, the computer you were using probably had your semester's paper from high school or college, or a work assignment for your job.  Then later on it became important for some things you did in your home like shopping, communicating with others, sharing family photographs, etc.  Now today, you use it to schedule appointments, join social networks, log ALL of your most important phone numbers and music selections, your text messages, emails, favorite cooking recipes...apps, apps and more apps.  Are you sure you want to leave such a device open to having it's information stolen?

Now you older folks, don't get all sour and self assured that you don't need to have all that information in a tablet or Smartphone and you're doing just fine with your old tiny, winy address book next to your night table.  Phooey you!  If you have anything like my old phone book or my mother's old phone book, you have numbers written over numbers and a pages falling out left and right.  No way you could keep track of 300 plus phone numbers and addresses in that old thing.  No way that phone book can give you instant access to a map of that address after you look up the name of the business.  The instant access to such information and connections is so immediate and so "awareness changing."  Everyone I know over 45 who has recently learned how to use a Smartphone and can work it into their budget, has never, ever gone back to a regular phone.  They absolutely refuse.  They are plugged into their families, friends, jobs - whatever and do not want to go back to the old way.

Bear in mind, I did read an article last year from an alleged "tech" guy who stated that he didn't know of any particular "viruses" in the wild that were geared to attack Smartphones and tablets.  He felt that there wasn't sufficient cause for alarm or rush to purchase an antivirus for your Smartphone.  Well...all I have to say is this...5 years ago (and earlier), there wasn't even a question of needing to purchase antivirus for a Smartphone in the first place.  The phones couldn't do what they do today.  They couldn't blaze through websites like they do today.  The more places you can go to, the more likely you are going to pick something up.

IRONICALLY as I sit here writing this post, a family friend's Twitter account was hacked with a virus and I just received a text message with a virus filled link via my phone.  Had I NOT been aware to NOT click onto the link, I very well could have infected my Twitter account and Smartphone with this virus.  I sent her a regular text message and she fixed it.  But now it is just that easy to have some jerk ruin your phone or online accounts. Hopefully my antivirus would have kicked in and saved me, but you never know.  Nothing is 100%, but zero percent is 100 % ineffective.  By having antivirus in my phone and reading through a potentially infectious Social Network message, I saved myself a huge headache.

Most of the Smartphone antivirus comes "free" with full features for 30 days.  Then they switch you to basic, limited features after the 30 days and prompt you to pay for full protection for the year.  There are so many now out there this year, as opposed to last year or the year before.  In a subsequent post I will scribe some recommendations here on this blog.  For now...do some research and protect your Smartphone and tablets folks.  It might be the very last shield you have between your personal information and...identity theft.