Fake call (scam): To Dell owners- caller knows tag and service code and insist on fixing problem

This is hitting hard around here:  tech call says you are having a problem with your Dell computer and wants to fix it for you.  To prove they are the real thing, they read off your service tag and your express service code.  You drop your skepticism and let them on your computer, where they show you the event log, telling you that your computer has all these errors and must be fixed.  It is a standard scam from that point.  If the call is from "Dell" hang up.

As for reporting this, Dell is apparently asking you to send a private message to them.  However, since this has been going on for at least 3 years, Dell obviously considers it a problem they can't handle. 

Clearly and obviously, someone has hacked into Dell and may still be hacking into Dell and stealing the user information.  It might be an inside job, since so much of what goes on at any support center today is overseas where they are lax and may be on the take.  It would be nice if the white hatters out there would trace these crooks down and hack their systems to determine the sources.  Dell, why aren't you in the forefront? 

References:

https://www.dell.com/community/Customer-Care/SCAM-Tech-Support-Call/td-p/5134886

https://www.dell.com/community/Customer-Care/Fake-Dell-support-call/td-p/6088196

https://www.cio.com/article/3020733/security/scammers-target-dell-customers-after-apparent-data-breach.html

How to see what information Google and Facebook have on you!

I apologize!  I've been AWOL for a while.  I have web page from Ask Leo! that everyone should read and take seriously.  It tells you how to find out what information Facebook and Google know about you.  I was shocked- and I try to be careful.  Here is the link:  https://askleo.com/download-facebook-google-data/?awt_l=8ysdX&awt_m=Jt5ZTjvAI3dfbL&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=20180508&utm_medium=email&utm_content=featured

There is even a video on that page demonstrating the instructions. 

OK, so you don't care... but remember, anyone who can get on your computer or log on to your account can dump all that information.  So... teens- guess what your parents can do!  Guess what your friends or your siblings can do!  I apologize in advance for this warning, but couples- guess what your other half can do! 

Using Chrome to Block Sound from those pesky sites that start videos when you land on the page

A recent added Chrome feature is blocking the sound of sites.  This is useful when a video starts when you land on a site, even though you don't want the video to play.  I know this irritates me.  For example, the downloads.cnet.com has this on every download page, eg,  http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes/3000-8022_4-10804572.html.

The announcement of this feature is here:  https://blog.chromium.org/2017/09/unified-autoplay.html.  You can Google more about this feature, but the "bottom line" is:  To permanently mute site you visit where you don't want videos to automatically play,

1. Right click the tab for that web page, at the very top of the browser window, just to the left of the x on the tab. 
2. (Yes there is a drop down list!)  Pick "mute site" to permanently turn off the site.  
3. To turn the sound back on, go to the dropdown and "unmute site".

To improve web browser performance for those with slow internet, it would be nice if you could completely and permanently stop the video from playing using the same process.  I'm thinking this will come.  There is another approach that will do just that, but it is techie and is for all web pages.  Instructions:  http://www.thewindowsclub.com/stop-videos-from-playing-automatically-on-websites.

New Ransomware Technique- ransom note plus sound

The following is a picture of a new ransomware approach.  It includes this full screen display plus sound narration warning of the danger and urging action.  This is done using your device's browser, so, to fix the problem, bring up your task manager and kill the browser task.  Note that their may be many instances of your browser.  Kill them all because the next thing you have to do is clean out your browser caches.  A full instruction guide on eliminating this problem can be found at https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-microsoft-system-security-alert-browser-tech-support-scam.  This is a very complete guide. In general, the threat is removed by cleaning out your caches (use CCleaner free version) and running Malwarebytes.  Download the free trial version of Malwarebytes and keep it running for the trial period.  (To purchase is up to you.  Malwarebytes works in a different way than the antivirus programs and can be added to your security system as an enhancement.  But, if you have the discipline of secure browsing plus manually running Malwarebytes on occasion, you can use the free version.  I need another blog entry to show how to turn your trial into a free version.) 

 

What Operating System Does TSA Use?

You know TSA?  Airport Security!  You know Window XP- not supported for a couple of years; guaranteed to be hacked by now.  Look at what Operating System TSA uses:

Got a new phishing email that you should see

The following is a picture of an phishing email I received... very deceiving.  This is from Kazakhstan.  

Google Privacy Practices- as seen on Fox

Some random comments I have on Google privacy practices:

• Google offers more control over privacy than most.  Consider Amazon!  Consider Windows 10.  Oh, you didn't know how much you are giving away using Cortana and the default settings of Windows itself? 
• You reap what you sow:  your privacy is your responsibility.
•  The Fox presentation discusses how you can be tracked even with the phone in airplane mode.  To fix that problem: To turn off the location tracking as reported by FOX- for Android:  Settings.Google.Location.Google Location History.  Turn off.  Google counts on lazy users and the usefulness of the feature.  This feature is no doubt responsible for the traffic reports available on Google Maps.  Do you like the traffic reports? 
• A local broadcaster talked about going into a Dollar Store and buying ginger ale.  After that, she got ads on ginger ale.  First of all, it is likely that the Dollar Store has a contract with Google or uses Google as part of its business.  That is how Google gets the info on your purchases.  Second, you can turn it off.  See this help:  https://support.google.com/ads/answer/2662922?hl=en.  
• Some people say that the phone is listening to you.  Well, if you use Siri, Google, etc:  those applications are always on and "listening."  When they "listen,"  the microphone input- the noise in your room, what you say- is being sent over the internet.  Depending on the way the company scrubs the input, what you say could be processed for ads, etc.  It could also be processed to automatically call 911... So good and bad.  To turn it off, you should mute the device.  Search "Mute" with the device name and follow the instructions.  Yes, its an inconvenience to unmute, but you have two options:  Don't care, or build your own voice recognition system.
• Some people complain about the camera turning on without their knowledge.  OK, ignoring butt turn ons, either the phone is infected, you have purposely configured an app setting to turn on, or you have an app setting that is a default that you need to turn off/on to disable the camera.  All of these are not the fault of Google or any app... it is your fault for not paying attention to the permissions for an app or allowing the phone to become infected.  
• So here's the general rule, for Android:  

1. Go to settings
2. Go to Apps.
3. For each App, tap the App symbol
4. There will be a strip for Permissions
5.   On the strip itself will be a summary of what access is being given to the app.
6. If you don't like what it has access to, tap Permissions and turn off the access you don't want it to have.  The App might respond that doing so will disable function and make the App unstable.  You've got a choice:  go ahead and disable and see what happens, or delete the App.  Oh, there are three more choices:
1. Write your own app
2. Have someone write an app to your specifications (Got an enterprising grandkid?)
3. Purchase an app that has the privacy features you want.