3 things you should do right now to protect your Apple iCloud account

3 things you should do right now to protect your Apple iCloud account.

This is a followup to my Friday post about hackers possessing passwords to 250 million Apple iCloud accounts.

Apple users really should heed the advice of the experts and pay attention to the threat to their data posed by the hacker group, "Turkish Crime Family".  The London based hacker group may or may not have access to 250 million Apple iCloud accounts but they have proven they have access to an indeterminate number of accounts.  That is more than reason enough to protect your account and data by changing your password today.

from ZDNet article, change your password!

Since Apple isn't doing this, it's up to you.

Apple talks as if your Apple ID and iCloud ID are different. They're not. They're the same, and they use the same password.

To change your Apple ID password, sign in to your Apple ID account page with any web browser and follow the instructions to reset your password. I changed mine using Google Chrome from a Mint Linux system.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-protect-your-apple-icloud-account/?loc=newsletter_small_thumb&ftag=TRE17cfd61&bhid=2219791

I know ignorance is bliss, especially for Apple users.


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Apple iCloud Ransom target date April 7, 2017, New iPad

Happy Friday Quickie Blog - a couple of Apple facts.

Apple iCloud ransom demands: The facts you need to know

If you have an iCloud account you should seriously consider changing your password in light of a new threat by a hacker group called the Turkish Crime Family.  The group claims to have access to 250 million iCloud accounts.

If Apple doesn't pay a ransom in Bitcoin by April 7 the hackers are threatening to reset the passwords of the accounts and remotely wipe iPhones.

Read all about this latest Apple Hack at:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-icloud-ransom-what-you-need-to-know/?loc=newsletter_large_thumb_featured&ftag=TRE17cfd61&bhid=2219791

Apple hope new cheap iPad will turn around sales

There is a new iPad available starting today 03/24/17.  The most exciting feature of this newest tablet from Apple is it's price, $329 for 9.7" 32 GB WiFi model.

It replaces the iPad Air 2 and is simply called the iPad.  In addition to the lower cost, the iPad sees a spec update, with the old A8X chip getting replaced with the 64-bit A9 processor.  Despite the more powerful processor there are compromises to hit that low price.  Apple is betting that it has hit the sweet spot to turn around flagging sales.

Also, a new red  iPhone.

Read about this new iPad at:

https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/22/apple-new-ipad-cheap-not-powerful/

https://betanews.com/2017/03/21/low-cost-9-7-inch-apple-ipad/

Thats it!  Happy Friday!  Buy a PC!


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WikiLeaks dump, CIA capabilities, your security and Best Buys assist FBI

Many things were revealed last week after the WikiLeaks dump.  Cybersecurity experts have been focusing on the "zero-day" vulnerabilities detailed in the documents.  These are holes in the code that can be used to infect a device with spyware/malware or to steal personal information.  The CIA has been criticized because they did not attempt to notify tech companies of the security flaws so they could be addressed but instead left Americans vulnerable to potential cyber criminals.

According to documents released in the dump, the CIA has the ability to hack into and control iPhone, Android and Samsung TVs.  It doesn't stop there, Skype, Wi-Fi networks and anti-virus programs can be manipulated as well.  If the CIA can hack these devices so can others.

The dump unveiled the agency's ability to hack into devices remotely and turn on cameras, microphones for tracking a person's location and messages.  The CIA along with intelligence services in the UK developed a hack targeting Samsung Smart TVs that enabled them to record surroundings while the TV appeared to be off.

In addition to the WikiLeaks dump, new federal court filings revealed a close relationship between the FBI and Best Buy’s Geek Squad.  The FBI was using Best Buy's Geek Squad to monitor and gather data on individuals.  Now I'm all for the capture of info that assists in getting child pornographers, criminals and other scumbags but I was still surprised to learn of the training and management of Geek Squad staff as FBI informants.


After CIA leaks, tech giants scramble to patch security flaws

Apple, Microsoft, and Google are analyzing leaked CIA documents to see if their products are affected, but security researchers say that most of the flaws have long been fixed.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/tech-giants-scramble-for-cia-hacking-fixes-most-flaws-patched/?loc=newsletter_large_thumb_featured&ftag=TRE17cfd61&bhid=2219791

FBI Used Best Buy’s Geek Squad To Increase Secret Public Surveillance

http://fortune.com/2017/03/12/rbi-best-buy-geek-squad/

http://www.ocweekly.com/news/fbi-used-best-buys-geek-squad-to-increase-secret-public-surveillance-7950030

The battle for online privacy:  What you need to know

https://www.cnet.com/news/online-privacy-what-you-need-to-know-faq/?ftag=CAD1acfa04&bhid=21042726186831923270015874178287


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