2010
August 27, 2010
by Gina Dykas
WARNING! Yesterday afternoon I received an email from Bank of America (or so I thought). It stated that multiple computers have tried logging into my account, but have failed and they recommend I change my password. I followed the hyperlink in the email that came up with a Bank of America form asking me for my address, social security number, credit/debit card number, birthday, and the list goes on. Unfortunately, I proceeded with the form trusting it was really from my bank.
This morning, I received the same email again, but this time I forwarded it on to our senior engineer to take a look. Sure enough, after researching the email it was a scam and a "phishing" email. Needless to say I called Bank of America right away and they gave me steps to take to ensure my accounts would be safe. I changed all my passwords again after finding out this was fraudulent since the scam lead me to "confirm" everything yesterday. This is not a joke- DO NOT OPEN anything or follow any hyperlinks if you receive this email. A customer service representative reassured me they will never put a hyperlink in an email to notify you of changes (or to change account)- they will simply tell you to log in to your account and make changes from there.
If you have any questions or this happened to you, contact your bank as soon as possible. If spam continues, Symmetric Group can also help by monitoring these phishing emails. Please spread the news to friends, coworkers, family, and anyone you can think of!
2010
From forgetting our passwords to deciphering error messages, most of us have at one point or another experienced our “a-ha” moment when a tech-support specialist advises us how to fix our computer glitches.
The solution to the problem is frequently simpler than most people realize. One tech-support specialist we know has a basic motto: “If all else fails, reboot.” Though rebooting has been known to cure minor ills, there are still a wide array of problems users frequently encounter, which more often than not can be resolved either by the tech-support specialist on the phone or a trip to the computer store.
Forgetting passwords: This is more common than you think. A number of users even forget passwords they use on a frequent basis. These days, there is usually a “Forgot Password?” option on most websites, where you can simply obtain a new password in a matter of minutes. A help-desk analyst we contacted says that this is easily the most recurring problem users face and that frequently their “caps lock” button is on.
Can’t turn on your computer or nothing happens: About.com reports that “the number-one reason a computer won’t turn on is because it wasn’t turned on!” Check the power switch. If it does switch on, but it’s not working, it could be related to the power supply.
Computer is running slow: Various factors can slow your computer down to a crawl, particularly if there is very little disk space or if it’s been infected with malware. Our help-desk analyst explains that with malware infections, “People are tricked into believing that the pop-ups they receive are actually from a program installed on their computer. So they click on it, and the infection starts to work its way through the computer.” You can help safeguard your computer by not clicking on suspicious links, and clearing your cache or uninstalling a few of those games you rarely play can help create more space. Another solution is to run a program like System Mechanic, which can clean up system clutter and help boost Internet speed.
Strange sounds coming from your computer: As noted in a recent article, if you hear strange noises emanating from your computer, it could spell trouble for your hard drive. A tech expert we spoke with recommends taking your computer in, where a specialist can look at it and attempt to salvage the data.
Messages about memory: A tech expert we contacted says that “a cheap way” to avoid getting messages about low memory is to simply shut off your computer when you’re not using it. (This is a trick that actually worked in our case, because we had a habit of running a lot of programs at once and leaving the computer on 24/7.) But if you’re still getting memory messages, it’s time to buy more RAM. According to pctechbytes.com, “Upgrading your computer’s memory is one of the easiest ways to improve speed and performance.”
"Hijacked" browser: This takes place when, for example, your home page switches to an unfamiliar one (hence, the “hijacking”) or you get an unusual number of pop-ups. This is frequently the result of spyware. Tech experts recommend that you can usually prevent hijacking by updating your anti-virus program, or on the other hand, you can try a different browser.
Difficulty using documents and spreadsheets: Your colleagues expect that spreadsheet by Monday, and frankly, you still find Excel intimidating and difficult to use. Microsoft.com actually offers online training for Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and other software, and there are plenty of other online tools that can help you master the art of various programs.
2010
Jul 30th 2010 By Emily Gordon
Imagine it: You wake up one morning, scramble to work, and after doing just enough to seem like a good employee, you immediately log on to Twitter. You have an @reply from your boyfriend: I love you, n00b, will you marry me?
How would you feel?
Well, strap in, because it might happen to you. According to CNN, social networking proposals are a bona fide trend: Men, in an effort to be creative and grand on a budget, are taking to the Internet to propose to their girlfriends, using everything from Facebook to Twitter to creating viral YouTube videos to the Old Spice Guy.
And while you may argue that this is just the natural evolution of Jumbotron proposals at halftime, I would like to tell you you're wrong.
Men, here's the test of any wedding proposal you are planning: Years from now, when you're having story time with your children and they turn to you, apple-cheeked, and ask how you asked Mommy to marry you, how is your story going to sound? Is it going to sound romantic and heartfelt, or are you going to have to say, "OK, look, there was this really funny commercial for Old Spice ..."
Why are more proposals happening like this? Michael Rosenfeld, sociology professor at Stanford, thinks that any public proposal reflects the proposer's fear of rejection, as women are less likely to turn you down in front of other people. Also, he says, promoting your online presence is a factor. "In the Internet age, the border to fame and notoriety is much lower, and because we live in an age of very gratifying self-promotion, online proposals can sometimes devalue tradition."
Yes, tradition. It may seem like an uncool thing to say, but tradition is important, even if it's a new tradition that you are creating with your significant other. Don't make this moment about the latest Internet meme; make it about your relationship. Using technology is totally fine for a romantic gesture, but rather than re-editing Keyboard Cat to make him propose, make a video with your own cat playing your song, and then present it to her on a laptop that you've brought along on a picnic.
A proposal isn't the most important thing in your relationship, sure, but it isn't just a clever thing to do either -- it's a question you ask someone that results in a legal partnership. Don't distance yourself from it. Feel the asphalt under your knee. Proposals should be intimate and connected to who you are as a couple rather than the latest YouTube sensation.
But I may be bitter. I was proposed to on MySpace.*
*no I wasn't.
2010
By: Sam Abuelsamid
As our cars become more technologically advanced, they leave the door open for vulnerabilities. Latest in the technological flawbook appears to be tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), revealing just how small that hole needs to be in order for a tech savvy thief to crawl through.
A group of researchers from Rutgers University and the University of South Carolina discovered that you can hack into a car's electronics wirelessly though tire systems, which means any modern vehicle could be vulnerable to an attack at any time, even while it's being driven down the road.
In their study, researchers used a car's tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) as their entry portal. Tire pressure monitoring has been mandatory on new cars since 2008 and uses a sensor on each wheel that transmits data over radio frequencies to a vehicle's electronic control unit.
By sniffing for signals from the TPMS, these researchers were able to track two different vehicles and even interfere with the signals. At this point, the real world implications are limited because TPMS sensors have a very short range and update the car's ECU only every 60-90 seconds. However, these findings underscore how as vehicles get more wireless connectivity, it's important to ensure those wireless connections are secure and encrypted to prevent mischief.
Over the last few years, other vulnerabilities have been found in vehicles. While most of these aren't cause for concern today, they nevertheless point out that that technological advancement comes with compromises.
- Geo-location: Cars with onboard navigation systems are in a never-ending conversation with the sky above. Acting as a unique signal with a series of satellites, your vehicle essentially has its own "mailing address." Locating that address by compromising the satellite network could reveal your location to someone who wanted to find out where you were traveling. What's at stake: your location.
- "Home button" robberies: Related to navigation systems, there have been reports that thieves target vehicles with navigation systems and garage door openers visible. The thinking is that if a thief can get access to your navigation system, he can press the home button (which most drivers program to their real home address) and then use the garage door opener to get inside. What's at stake: Your car and potentially your home.
- Physical Access to the car's brain: In an earlier report, our Craig Howie reported on the dangers of allowing someone access to the OBD-II port of a vehicle, which is the access point for the car's brain. "Someone -- such as a mechanic, a valet, a person who rents a car, an ex-friend, a disgruntled family member, or the car owner -- can, with even momentary access to the vehicle, insert a malicious component into a car’s internal network via the ubiquitous OBD-II port (typically under the dash). The attacker may leave the malicious component permanently attached to the car’s internal network or, as we show in this paper, they may use a brief period of connectivity to embed the malware within the car’s existing components and then disconnect." What's at stake: A lot. Access to the all the vehicle systems can be found here, which means everything from accelerator to brakes.
- "GPS Jammers" Allow Thieves A Getaway: The super technologically advanced thief is looking a few steps ahead. Knowing that many cars come with GPS systems, onboard tracking systems such as OnStar and other theft devices, there have been reports that thieves are buying GPS jammers from China. These systems essentially block the car's own GPS signal, preventing the law from locating the car. What's at stake: the safe return of your car.
2010
The often humorous trials and tribulations of tech-support specialists have been well-documented since the mid-'90s, when the Internet and home computers became part of our daily lives. Things have greatly improved since the days of the hapless users who mistook their CD-ROM drives as cup holders or didn’t realize that there is another definition for ‘mouse’ other than a small rodent.
These tales of woebegone consumers calling tech support have been frequently shared by many a patient (though frustrated) tech-support representative who no doubt marvel at the ability of the computer to instill such fear and intimidation in the average new user. Some of these stories are now urban legends, so much so that the website Technical Support Inc. (tsishow.com) is a comedy program that spoofs a tech-support division at a fictional company and stars real-life tech-support reps.
“Hello? Is this the Internet?”
Rob McDonald, a program director who previously worked as a tech-support rep, recalls a few such conversations he and his colleagues had with users calling the call center:
One of the most typical calls tech support specialists receive is the one from the panicked husband or kids: “How do I delete all these websites from my computer? Please hurry! My wife (or parents) will be home any minute!”
There is also the incident of the customer who claimed that he had signed up with the Internet service provider and that “You took my credit card and you won’t give it back.” It took the call-center rep a while to figure out that the guy had inserted his credit card into the 3.5-inch floppy disk drive on his computer where it had become stuck.
The Wall Street Journal also reported the case of two Dell customers: One user, in an effort to clean his keyboard, had run a bath and soaked the keyboard in soap and water. Another had been using the mouse as a foot pedal.
Another caller -- who didn’t own a computer and had no interest in signing up online -- called McDonald about “the Internet mall.” She had purchased a packet for $100 that provided information on how to get rich on the Web. The caller assumed that she had contacted said mall: “It says right here, ‘Sell your product on the Internet mall’….That’s you, right? That’s who I’m calling -- the Internet?” No Virginia, “the Internet” does not have a phone number or street address.
How to approach Tech Support
Even for savvy computer users who may run their own personal websites or fix minor system glitches, it’s best to approach tech support intelligently. When your system crashes, or you are forced to deal with a glitch that doesn’t make sense, simply describe your exact actions that led to the failure. Sometimes system messages can be difficult to decipher, and it’s best to ask an expert who can guide you through it. The New York Times for example, reports the case of a user who received the message “Error Type 11” and repeatedly typed 11 on his keyboard, thinking that this would fix his computer.
An ounce of prevention
There are certain preventive measures you can take to boost your computer’s health, so to speak. If your system has slowed down to a snail’s pace or keeps crashing, it’s time for a tune-up. Delete old documents, photos, music files, and so on, clear your web cache, and refrain from clicking on suspicious links. Programs like System Mechanic and PefectSpeed also help repair various problems, clear up unwanted clutter on your PC and boost Internet speed. If your computer starts making strange noises, call a tech rep or show it to a professional who can then figure out whether the hard drive has been damaged beyond repair.
There are times when glitches will inevitably occur, but at least you can attempt to fix them and not end up like the user whose monitor started emanating smoke and was eventually referred to 911 by the tech-support rep.
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