Category: Tech News

KRACK Security Vulnerability in All Wifi 802.11 Devices

Posted on by John D

A new, very real and very widespread security vulnerability in all wifi 802.11 devices has been found. It is a notable issue because it is not a manufacturer flaw but a design flaw caused by the wifi spec (802.11) itself.

Called KRACK (Key Reinstallation AttaCKs), the problem might take time to patch because of the fracturing of various types of wifi devices. For instance, Android phones are at the mercy of the phone manufacturers and/or carriers as to when updates occur. Older routers might not even have a user-friendly update mechanism, but I’ve noticed some newer ones will actually automatically check but not necessarily automatically install. The good news, though, is that the security vulnerability in all wifi devices can be patched via software. No hardware changes are required.

Today is being called “Black Monday” in many information security circles. We have had a major Wi-Fi vulnerability announced that affects absolutely every device that supports Wi-Fi. The vulnerability allows attackers to decrypt WPA2 connections. A second vulnerability also emerged today, and we will cover that at the end of this post.

~ PSA: Severe Vulnerability in All Wi-Fi Devices

The Internet Archive Is Stupid As Well?

Posted on by John D

It is indeed the Age of Stupidity, where all things have become politicized regardless of merit. Now, the Internet Archive is stupid as well, as they rush to put up servers in an even more restrictive country than the U.S.

The world has obviously lost its mind. Fear-mongering seems to increase with every US election cycle, and I sometimes have trouble believing the words that come out of people’s mouths. I mean, Madonna wanting to blow up the White House? Is this sanity?
Continue reading “The Internet Archive Is Stupid As Well?” →

Wide Impact: Highly Effective Gmail Phishing Technique Being Exploited

Posted on by John D

WordFence recently posted about a “highly effective Gmail phishing” campaign that has fooled or almost fooled several technically savvy people. It just goes to show that you can never allow yourself to become too complacent.

A new phishing technique that affects GMail and other services and how to protect yourself.>

~Wide Impact: Highly Effective Gmail Phishing Technique Being Exploited

Russian DNC Hack Crock

Posted on by John D

Russia continues to be the bogeyman in Democratic distractions to blame anyone and everyone else for their failure to win the election. Now, the Washington Post is stirring up the pot again in “Secret CIA assessment says Russia was trying to help Trump win White House“. The truth is that the supposed story is a Russian DNC hack crock.

In another example of how far the Washington Post has lost its way (along with all the other so-called “news” media), it recently posted. True, at least they tried to “balance” the article with some dissenting voices sprinkled here and there, but the real fact is that very few “news” outlets have really investigated the truth of the matter in any kind of fact-based way. Continue reading “Russian DNC Hack Crock” →

“Snoopers Law”: UK Officially Gives Up Any Pretense That It Is Not George Orwell’s Nightmare Come True

Posted on by John D
Tim Berners-Lee on the Internet as a human right
Tim Berners-Lee on the Internet as a human right

I heard about the UK’s “Snooper Law” just the other day on Jupiter Broadcasting, and the most surprising part is that it “sailed through” parliament. Where is the uproaor?

Older But Geeky has a write-up on it in “UK Officially Gives Up Any Pretense That It Is Not George Orwell’s Nightmare Come True”.

Apparently, spying on all of your activities has become a priority for many “freedom loving” nations and forget about any notion of privacy. Do you still believe you live in a democracy?

“This snoopers charter has no place in a modern democracy – it undermines our fundamental rights online. The bulk collection of everyone’s internet browsing data is disproportionate, creates a security nightmare for the ISPs who must store the data – and rides roughshod over our right to privacy. Meanwhile, the bulk hacking powers in the Bill risk making the internet less safe for everyone.”

~ Sir Tim Berners-Lee, as quoted by the BBC News in “‘Snoopers law creates security nightmare’“

Old Goat Guide: Chrome Browser Kicks Flash To the Curb

Posted on by John D

About time someone kicks Flash to the curb!

Just last week, I sent an email to a website as to why, why!, can I access their videos on my Android phone but not on my PC. It kept insisting upon me downloading Adobe Flash, which I not only did not have installed but even have the built-in PepperFlash turned off. I should be able to access it via HTML5, but instead I get a stupid message to download an obsolete and often abused plugin. Maybe now more sites will get off their cans and fix this.

The latest version of the Google Chrome web browser (version 55) has finally kicked Adobe Flash to the curb, by giving preference to HTML5 on most websites. There are a small number of exceptions to this, at least for a time, with YouTube and Facebook being notable ones.

~ , Old Goat Guide: Chrome Browser Kicks Flash To the Curb

Windows 10 Downloads Whether You Want It or Not

Posted on by John D

After all, you’ll change your mind, won’t you?

Have you ever gotten the feeling that Microsoft believes it knows what you want more than you do? I’ve read that about Windows in particular, and I’ve even said words to that effect at times, but it was usually in an exaggerated jest. However, it appears that there is more truth behind that sentiment than I had previously believed. You now even get Windows 10 downloads whether you want it or not.
Continue reading “Windows 10 Downloads Whether You Want It or Not” →

Dangerous Selfies

Posted on by John D

Proof that we as a society have lost it.

Crash pic taken shortly after posting selfie while driving
Crash pic taken shortly after posting selfie while driving

Until I saw the above picture taken shortly after a dangerous selfie, I thought that perhaps the whole notion of the drive to curb “Death by selfie? Russian police release brochure after spate of fatal accidents” was over the top. Now I’m not so sure.

We can build machines that make our lives easier, but they won’t make us any smarter it would appear.