Internet Browsers, MS Edge, Google Chrome's new User Interface UGLY, Bent iPads and lower iPhone sales

Microsoft Edge Retains Its Battery Life Advantage in Windows 10 Version 1809

I had never really thought about this much but in this day of online streaming, if one is using a notebook or tablet, Microsoft's Edge browser has a 24 percent battery life advantage over Chrome and 94 percent advantage over Firefox when streaming HTML5 video in full screen.

On average, Microsoft Edge provided a 24 percent battery life advantage over Google Chrome and a 94 percent advantage over Firefox. Edge lasted over 16 hours on average, compared to almost 13 hours for Chrome and 8 hours and 16 minutes for Firefox.

As reported previously on this blog, Microsoft is switching the underlying code for Edge to Chromium, an open source engine from Google.  Why Microsoft never touted this Edge advantage before I can't say.  It will be interesting to see if the advantage persists after the switch to Chromium.  Microsoft is making the switch to Chromium because of the large number of add-ons available for Chrome and lack of add-ons or interest in writing add-ons for Edge.

https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/196141/microsoft-edge-retains-its-battery-life-advantage-in-windows-10-version-1809

and while we are talking browsers...

Google Chrome's new UI is ugly, and people are very angry
The new UI is trash, users say.

Anytime you start changing things most people don't like it.  Let's face it, people don't like change.  Microsoft hopefully learned a lesson from Windows 8.  People couldn't get things done because of the difficulty Windows users had in learning the new user interface.

Now Google apparently learned nothing from Microsoft's mistake.  Starting back in September with Chrome version 69, a new user interface was rolled out with mobile devices in mind.  Some users voiced their discontent with the interface so Chrome allowed an option to modify a setting and continue to use the older user interface.  The new version, 71 released earlier this month has removed that option.  The lighter color and rounded tabs are difficult to distinguish on laptops and desktops especially when using multiple tabs.  The ability to mute websites has also disappeared with the new version.

The change has prompted a social media storm on sites like Reddit and Twitter with complaints being legitimate and no sympathy from Google engineers who have stepped in on the sites and told users to switch to other browsers.  Wow!

https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-chromes-new-ui-is-ugly-and-people-are-very-angry/

Apple's gaslighting over bent iPads is a stunning response to a serious problem

Starting in mid-December, people started complaining that their new iPad Pros were bent.  Photos started circulating online that clearly showed one side of the iPad perceptively higher than the other when lying on a flat surface and you know what?  Apple has announced that it isn't going to repair, replace or reimburse for affected models.

Apple wants you to believe that this iPad is normal.

https://www.macworld.com/article/3330576/apple/apples-gaslighting-ipad-pro.html

Massive iPhone Discounts Continue As Apple Risks Status For Sales

The days of Apple being able to dictate the price to consumers may be over.  Hell, I predicted a $2000 iPhone in an earlier blog.  Apparently, that's not going to be the case since Apple's latest models are not selling.  The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max are being discounted in the UK and the US and that practice is now spreading to other territories.

Analysts watching the supply line, the earnings reports from parts suppliers, and consumer reaction and interactions, are all estimating lower sales for this generation of iPhone.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2018/12/26/apple-iphone-xr-iphone-xs-iphone-xs-max-sale-discount-bargain/#6e50463344dc

and finally,

Apple may start building the iPhone XS and XR in India next year

Apple controls 13 percent of the smartphone marke worldwide, however, in India it's share is only 2 percent selling fewer than a million devices in the first half of 2018.

https://www.engadget.com/2018/12/27/apple-iphone-x-assembled-in-india-2019/

Intel Generation 8 and 9 based computers

Buy a new Driving Force Computer before Year End for Tax year 2018.

 

Report: Microsoft Will Scrap Edge for Chromium-Based Browser

Microsoft's Edge browser which was meant to supplant Internet Explorer as the default built-in browser in Windows 10 is in for a major overhaul.  While very innovative with new features, Microsoft tried to push it on users by making it not only the default browser but the default for documents, PDFs and many other applications that users did not want.  The final death knell for Edge 1.0 was the dearth of extensions (add-ons) for Edge.  Extensions are small add-ons that bring extra features, such as adblocking, VPN, password management and more.  While Edge did have some extensions available the number is small when compared to Chrome.  Many developers ignored Edge and concentrated on Chrome due to its popularity.

Microsoft plans to recreate Edge using Chromium.  Chromium is the open source project behind Google Chrome and Chrome OS.  This will allow Edge to use Chromium extensions.

Given Google's demonstrably shown penchant toward censorship of information available based upon its own beliefs and biases, is this a good thing?  Google's attempt to move into the Chinese market has led to bending to the whim of the Chinese government.  The search engine being developed for use in China allows for restrictive access to information and the ability of the government to track individuals locations and searches.  Some Chinese Google employees are raising alarm bells risking the ire of higher-ups and job security.

Is this who you trust to keep your info safe?

https://www.extremetech.com/internet/281715-report-microsoft-to-scrap-edge-for-chromium-based-browser

https://www.techradar.com/news/microsoft-confirms-edge-will-be-able-to-use-google-chrome-extensions

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/sep/18/google-china-dragonfly-search-engine

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-3-chinese-google-employees-202114194.html

Browser Alternatives and the future of Internet Explorer

On my desktop I use Edge, IE, Chrome and Firefox.  I use them all since I have to maintain multiple sessions of Office 365, LogMeIn and other programs concurrently which preempts multiple logins within the same browser.  I use Internet Explorer a lot because of compatibility issues with some websites.  I use Chrome because of the balkiness and performance issues with IE and I use Firefox more often than I use to because of Google's privacy issues and upper management's continued contempt and arrogance on certain issues.

Originally Microsoft committed to continued support of Internet 11 throughout the life of Windows 10.  However Microsoft has not hidden its attempt to push users toward Edge and even if Microsoft continues with security patches, I don't believe it will continue to add improvements or features found in Edge and other browsers.

Opera browser - https://www.opera.com/

Firefox by Mozilla - https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=firefox-com

Facebook has its own issues.

Facebook too is under increased pressure about how it uses information collected by tracking you.  Did you know that before Facebook, Mark Zuckerburg originally wrote FaceMash which purpose was to rank women at Harvard?  FaceMash would pull photos of Harvard students off of Harvard's Web sites.  When people visited Facemash.com they would see pictures of two Harvard students and be asked to vote on which was more attractive. The site also maintained a list of Harvard students, ranked by attractiveness.

In the fall of 2003, Harvard seniors Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra were on the lookout for a web developer who could bring to life an idea the three say Divya first had in 2002: a social network for Harvard students and alumni. The three had been paying Victor Gao, another Harvard student, to do coding for the site, but at the beginning of the fall term Victor begged off the project. Victor suggested his own replacement: Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard sophomore from Dobbs Ferry, New York.

The rest is history and the remake of the future.

https://www.businessinsider.com/how-facebook-was-founded-2010-3

Doom: 25 years of a gaming legend

Hard to believe it has been 25 years since the release of Doom.  I had been playing Star Wars and Wolfenstein, another ID software 1st person shooter game about infiltrating Hitler's castle full of Nazi, SS soldiers and shooting them up.  That was in the day of Novell networks, 386 and 486 computers.  Enter Doom... after the 3rd time of being destroyed by the fireball throwing Imps of Doom I had to kick back, tell myself "relax"  it's only a game, WOW!  We were entertaining a friend's you son Chase that day.  Chase was only about 5 but he stayed in the office with me while I was on the computer.  Come here, watch this Chase I said...  I started another Doom episode and when I rounded the corner and the hellish Imps appeared throwing fireballs quickly killing my character.  I exclaimed, you see that Chase?!!!  I turned around, Chase was gone, hahaha!  25 years ago.

I recently got an update on Chase.  He is into the gaming industry and is now being paid to play and evaluate games.  Wow again.

https://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/doom-20-years-of-influencing-gaming-1205980

INTEL Gaming Systems by Driving Force

beginning with the Generation 8 processors, Intel unveiled a new design for Desktop processors including more cores, threads, and features not found or supported with prior generations.  These processors, platforms coupled with Intel Optane memory offer unparalleled performance compared with prior offerings.

read this comment from a satisfied customer using an entry level Intel Core i3 8300,

12-10-18, J.Griffin:  Man!! My computer is so fast , THANK YOU!!  and I put a new roller in my scanner and it’s scanning multiple pages again. Feels like Christmas!! 😊

Now the ultimate platforms for gaming and graphics featuring Intel Gen 9  Core i5, i7 and the most powerful desktop processor ever, Intel Core i9 9900K.

Too late for some users but finally something is being done about the fake Tech Support scammers online.  Microsoft is on the attack!

Maybe you've encountered these warnings before.  You are in the middle of searching for content online, allegedly legit links off Google News and a pop-up warning that your computer is infected.  You need to call a 1-800 number for help.  I've seen these warning and often I have to use Task Manager to kill the process.  I also know of some users who fell victim to these underhanded tactics.  Microsoft will never contact you directly about internet or email issues, however, Microsoft is proactively working against these malicious operators.  In fact, Microsoft brought down the Russian "Fancy Bear" plot to attack the midterm elections.  You go Microsoft!

After Microsoft complaints, Indian police arrest tech support scammers at 26 call centers

Indian police raid 26 call centers, make 63 arrests

https://www.zdnet.com/article/after-microsoft-complaints-indian-police-arrest-tech-support-scammers-at-26-call-centers/

Get ready Microsoft Office users, Office 2019 is just around the corner and Microsoft is redesigning the icons.

If you don't have a subscription to Office 365, why not?  I don't understand the resistance of some users to buy the subscription model of the software.  Now I have clients who harbor an extreme disdain for Bill Gates and all things Microsoft but they still use Microsoft Office over the myriad of imitators and alternative office suites.

When you purchase the "I own forever version", you are limited to 1 machine and never receive any new versions.  However, if you have the Office 365 subscription, you are allowed to install it on up to 5 devices (business) or share with 6 users (home version) and as long as your subscription is current you will always receive the latest version of Microsoft Office!

The monthly subscription is cheaper than hosted email in some cases.  Home users can purchase all the premium applications for $99.99/year for 6 users.  If you are really miserly and live alone with 1 computer, $69.99/year.  There is always the Office Home and Student 2019 edition for $149.99, one-time purchase, 1 device, no updates.

Backup:  if you are paying for a backup service or do not have a backup, the OneDrive application provides 1 TB of cloud space.  Once installed OneDrive synchronizes everything in the OneDrive folder on your computer with the cloud.  OneDrive can store multiple versions of the same document in the event of a crypto attack or if a user overwrites critical information accidentally.  In addition, when traveling you can access your data via the Office portal from any computer in the world.

If all the above doesn't convince you then you will want to hear this.  It used to be that when a new version of Office came out it was way superior to the previous version.  That is no longer true for the one time buyer.

"Office 2019 is considerably less powerful than Office 365. There’s nothing new in Office 2019 that hasn’t already been available for quite some time to millions of Office 365 subscribers (the company says it has more than 31 million subscribers to consumer editions), and in fact, Microsoft left several features out of Office 2019 that it had introduced in Office 365 over the past few years."

Only Office 365 subscription users get all the enhancements.

Oh, and by the way, they're changing the icons too!

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3261024/microsoft-office/review-office-2019-is-the-best-advertisement-yet-for-office-365.html

Office 365 for business.

The subscriptions available for business come in 3 flavors on a per-user basis start at $5.00/user/month for business email, $8.25/month for Office applications only to $12.50/month for businesses that need email, Office apps, and other business services.

Driving Force is a CSP, Cloud Solution Provider.  We can provide help and guidance in making your decision and afterward assist in the implementation of your Office 365 experience.  Call us at 404-728-0353 or contact us at DForce.

https://products.office.com/en-us/compare-all-microsoft-office-products?tab=2

AD-(shameless plug.)

Intel introduces Generation 9 CPUs including the most powerful desktop processor yet, Core i9 9900K.

I have clients who contact tech support at a name brand computer maker and after hashing out their latest technical glitch are told, "find yourself a good system builder".  Don't buy a computer that is no longer performing as expected after 6 months.  Buy a custom system with quality, high-performance components.

https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-9700K-vs-Intel-Core-i7-8700K/4030vs3937

Latest Security Hack, Microsoft passes Apple as most valuable Company

Latest Hack:  Marriott says its Starwood database was hacked on approximately 500 million guests

Marriott said the Starwood guest reservation database was breached, potentially exposing information on about 500 million guests.

Among the information stolen on many of the guests includes a  combination of name, mailing address, phone number, email address, passport number, Starwood Preferred Guest account information, date of birth, gender, arrival and departure information, reservation date, and communication preferences. 

Payment information may also have been accessed on some guests.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/30/marriott-says-its-starwood-database-was-breached-onapproximately-500-million-guests-.html

Apple and Microsoft are going head to head for world’s largest company

What you may say... Microsoft?  It was Amazon and Apple that had been vying for the richest capitalization but the online retailing giant's stock has dropped in value along with Apple's beginning in October.  Meanwhile Microsoft stock has surged in part due to 2 areas, cloud and gaming.

Microsoft's growing cloud business and strong PC sales made Microsoft one of the few tech companies to grow in value following its September quarter earnings results. Apple's valuation, meanwhile, has fallen more than 20 percent since its own earnings results.

Microsoft topped AWS (Amazon Web Services) beginning in the 1st quarter this year with IBM trailing in 3rd place.  Both IBM and Microsoft posted very good 2017 4th Qtr results with IBM topping both AWS and Microsoft.  However, the gap between Microsoft and AWS started widening in that quarter.

Gaming has become a huge industry fueled by Fortnite, Red Dead video games online forums.  Gaming machines are very lucrative for hardware companies.  Video cards capable of delivering 4K graphics and high speeds can cost more than the average business computer alone.

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/11/26/microsoft-passes-apple-most-valuable-company/

https://9to5mac.com/2018/11/26/apple-market-cap-microsoft/

https://9to5mac.com/2018/11/01/apple-stop-reporting-unit-sales/

https://9to5mac.com/2018/11/21/foxconn-cut-costs-iphone-sales/

AAPL chart by TradingView

AMZN chart by TradingView

MSFT chart by TradingView

DFORCE PCs - INTEL Generation 8 Computers, for Business & Gaming

Malware and Phishing attacks on the rise as Holidays approach

Phishing attacks and Malware attacks are ubiquitous.  Almost everyday I see some myself or receive emails from users wanting to know if this is real.  One I want to warn about is the "efax notification", eFax Notification Delivers Hancitor Malware.  If you received an email reference an efax, beware of attachments and/or links within these emails.

Fake Ransomware just overwrites MBR but demands payment

There is a fake ransomware trojan circulating that overwrites the MBR (Master Boot Record) and then restarts your machine.  The MBR is the code stored in the first sectors of a hard disk drive that contains information about the disk’s partitions and launches the operating system’s boot loader. If the MBR is corrupt or altered, the computer doesn’t know which partitions contain an OS and how to start it.

Upon reboot, the following ransom text is displayed and the machine is unable to boot as normal:



The message says;

Oooops!  Your OS is locked.  The harddisks of your computer have been encrypted with an military grade encryption algorithm.  There is way to restore your data without a special instrucrion for unlocking your computer.  You can buy the instruction.  To do this, you need to send $200 to Monero wallet: "a monero address" (This is a Monero address)

The claim that it has encrypted your files is fake.  According to SonicWall;

The only modification to the filesystem is the overwritten MBR.  No files have actually been encrypted and there is no encryption functionality present in the malware.  Although files can easily be restored by mounting the filesystem using a live OS booted via a memory stick, most users will likely consider their files gone and perform a full reinstall.  There is no contact information provided to “restore” files and no way of verifying if paying the $200 in Monero will suffice.

https://securitynews.sonicwall.com/xmlpost/fake-ransomware-just-overwrites-mbr-but-demands-payment/

https://www.pcworld.com/article/3133181/security/free-tool-protects-pcs-from-master-boot-record-attacks.html


Tips to Prevent virus and malware from Infecting Your System:

1. Enable your popup blocker: Pop-ups and ads on the websites are the most adoptable tactic used by cybercriminals or developers with the core intention to spread malicious programs.
   So, avoid clicking uncertain sites, software offers, pop-ups etc. and Install a powerful ad- blocker for Chrome, Mozilla, and IE
2. Keep your Windows Updated: To avoid such infections, we recommend that you should always keep your system updated through automatic windows update.By doing this you can keep your device free from virus.  According to the survey, outdated/older versions of Windows operating system are an easy target.
3. Third-party installation: Try to avoid freeware download websites as they usually install bundled of software with any installer or stub file.
4. Regular Backup: Regular and periodical backup helps you to keep your data safe in case the system is infected by any kind of virus or any other infection.Thus always backup important files regularly on a cloud drive or an external hard drive.
5. Always have an Anti-Virus: Precaution is better than cure. We recommend that you install an antivirus like ITL Total Security or a good Malware Removal Tool like Malware Crusher.

Email and Identity Theft - Has your information been Pawned?

There are always evolving threats to your online security.  Whether a phishing email, an email with a malware attachment/download or a compromised website, chances are you will experience at least one attempt each day.  Security software, firewalls, and antivirus software can provide a high degree of protection but it is no guarantee that your credentials will not be compromised.  You must be vigilant of phishing attempts and compromised websites.

A lot of attempts to steal your info is to spoof the email of someone you know to gain your confidence.  It may include an attachment that when clicked on takes you to a filesharing site, DropBox, Microsoft Sharepoint or OneDrive and ask you to log in.  It is easy to steal the source code of a website and mimic that site on a malicious web page.  Once you log in, BAM, they have your info which they will use to compromise your authentic email or access your online account.

Another ploy I have seen recently are emails that include a compromised password that is a real password that the user has or still uses.  The email states that they have private info about you that will be revealed publicly unless you pay a ransom to a Bitcoin wallet.  These wallets are very real and untraceable, so do not fall for this extortion attempt.

I have been contacted by users wanting to know if these are real because the email contains a current or past used password.  Again, they are only extortion attempts.  The next question is how did they get the password.  Below is a chart of information courtesy of "haveIbeenPawned.com".  Your identity and information are all over the web.  It is at your bank, LinkedIn, MySpace, Facebook etc.  This chart lists the largest data breaches thus far of user data at major corporations and websites.  And remember, these are just the largest, not nearly all.

Beneath the chart is links that you can use to check to see if your email has been pawned and your information was included in any of the compromised sites.

I have included the "haveIbeenPawned" website in a past blog post.  If you don't practice good password security yet and your email has been pawned please start today.  No one to blame but yourself.

https://haveibeenpwned.com/

https://www.lifelock.com/breach-detection?promocode=BreachEraser&nc=breachnortoneraser


Microsoft, Linux developers, and Apple are constantly releasing updates and patches to their operating systems to fix known and new exploits as they are found.  If you are using Windows XP then you have not received a security update since April 8, 2014.

Web browsers are evolving and getting better at warning the user that a website is not safe.  Google Chrome is good at warning you that a website is not safe and Mozilla Firefox will soon start alerting you to a breached site.  These browser updates don't necessarily happen automatically.  You should check if an update is available periodically and if so, install it.

If you are using Windows XP then you are using a way out of date, non-secure browser to navigate the internet.  I would not advise using an XP machine for financial transactions.

Support for Windows 7 extended support ends January 14, 2020.  Many software vendors will end support before that.

It isn't only the operating systems but recently flaws in Intel Processors have been exploited.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davealtavilla/2018/01/03/intel-processor-bug-leaves-all-current-chips-vulnerable-and-its-fix-saps-performance/#74f5a918570a

One last thing, it's all software that you use whether Adobe Acrobat/Flash Player, Java, MS Office, or browsers.  Hackers use exploits in all of these to gain access to your computer and info.  It is imperative that you patch and update your systems to remain secure.



NEW INTEL GENERATION 8 & 9 based WORKSTATIONS

Special Alert: do not install Latest Windows 10 Update. Microsoft halts rollout.

Microsoft has halted the rollout of it’s latest Windows 10 October update, dubbed version 1809.  It was originally released to the public this past Tuesday, October 2^nd and was scheduled for automatic rollout this starting this week.  It has been halted after reports of data loss.  In the statement Microsoft says ;

“We have paused the rollout of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809) for all users as we investigate isolated reports of users missing some files after updating.

If you have manually downloaded the Windows 10 October 2018 Update installation media, please don't install it and wait until new media is available.

We will provide an update when we resume rolling out the Windows 10 October 2018 Update to customers. “

During the beta stage, there was one report in a feedback hub “Files Deleted” 3 months earlier about the Documents folder having been replaced by a new Documents folder.

However, within hours of the latest release to the public last week reports from users started coming in.

“I'm on a Dell Precision. This happened to me as well! The contents of the Documents folder totally disappeared. All the other folders for my user profile such as Desktop, AppData, etc are intact. Fortunately, I had a backup from the summer. I have been a loyal Windows user since Win95, and I've never had a Windows update single out my Documents folder for deletion. Very disappointed today.”

Several commenters who updated multiple machines have reported that the issue affected only one device:

“I have had the same issue happen. I updated two computers last night. One computer Documents and Pictures are there and everything is good on the second computer my Documents and Pictures folder is now empty, all files that were in these folders are gone. I can confirm that the other files in my Users folder are still there, it appears that only Documents and Pictures where deleted.”

The author of the story I am citing here is suspicious of a new Auto Save capability that has been added to OneDrive allowing Windows 10 users to link the Local Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders.

To read the complete article, click on the link below;

  

https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-halts-rollout-of-windows-10-october-2018-update-what-happens-next/?ftag=TRE-03-10aaa6b&bhid=2219791

Phil Gilbert

Free Radical, Ltd. dba Driving Force Software

http://drivingforce.net

( Phone: 404-728-0353

@  email:  dforce@drivingforce.net

Why Spam gets through, Office 365 Scams, threats. Intel 8th Gen Processor Shortages

Why spam gets through

"Spammers and phishers create malware and send spam because it is profitable. They are always working up new ways to work around spam filters and get messages delivered to user inboxes. Because of the number of unique spammers in the world and the rate at which they create new content, the spam you see in your inbox today is new. It is different than what it was yesterday, or the day before, or the day before that. It looks similar, and may use the same technique, but it is not the same message. It is slightly (or greatly) different and has been designed to evade filters."

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/tzink/2014/09/12/why-does-spam-and-phishing-get-through-office-365-and-what-can-be-done-about-it/

Office 365 users should be aware that they are increasingly being targeted by criminal hackers trying to gain access to their account.  They are employing a variety of phishing emails to trick you into revealing your access information.

The first trick is an email purporting to be from Microsoft saying that something is wrong with your account and it will be de-activated unless you take action.  There will be a link that will take you to a site that looks exactly like the Microsoft Office 365 portal but it's not.  Sometimes the email/ID will be prefilled and all you have to supply is your password.  Once the criminal has your info they can log on to your Office 365 portal.  You may keep personal info in the cloud that could cause harm enough by itself but oftentimes they will use your email/ID to attempt to fool your contacts with the same or other schemes.

However, that is not all they can do.  The end game is not to steal your account by changing the password to your Office/email account.  They want to discretely monitor and control your financial and other business info.   Once a hacker has your info they can create email rules that will prevent you from knowing what activities they are up to.   For instance, they can identify your bank information and create a rule that will forward emails/responses to and from the bank to a 3rd party email and then delete the email so you don't see it and know what is happening.  They will issue a "Forgot Password" request to your banks, credit cards. receive the password reset and set the password to take charge of your accounts.  It would not take very long before significant damage is done and too late when you discover that something is wrong.

Office 365 users, just beware that Microsoft will not contact you directly about issues such as over the storage limit, unprocessed emails and other email problems.  If there is an issue your Admin will be contacted, not individual users.

Examples;

In each case, the links are to Office portal look-alike pages or to a scam site.  It is easy to mimic the portal page.  All one has to do is right click, select view source.  Copy the code and then upload to a webpage and code it to do perform as you wish.  Any website can be duplicated and published to a scam website by using this simple technique.

Other attempts I've seen are emails received from UPS or a trusted (compromised) contact that has an attachment which when you attempt to open takes you to an Office portal screen (above) and asked you to log in to the portal.  It's a scam, don't.

All email users should beware of the above because you may receive these emails and think you should log in with your email password.

Submitting spam back to Office 365
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/tzink/2014/09/12/submitting-spam-back-to-office-365/

Shortage of 8th Gen Intel Processors Is Causing Price Hikes Worldwide

I have been touting the benefits of Intel's new 8th Generation, Coffee Lake processors.  Recently I wrote about PC sales being up for the first time in 6 years,  https://dforceatl.blogspot.com/#!/2018/08/pcs-sales-up-macs-are-down-apple-first.html

Now there due to rising demand and Intel's failure to keep up with this demand there is a shortage of Gen 8, Coffee Lake processors.  Prices on all Gen 8 processors across the board have risen significantly, the Core i7 8700K by as much as $70 if you can find it.

https://www.technadu.com/8th-gen-intel-processors-shortage-price-hikes-worldwide/40917/

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-coffee-lake-shortage-cpu,35632.html

https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3063533/novatech-intel-cpu-shortage-will-hit-9th-gen-core-processors

I currently have some Core i3s in inventory at the pre-shortage costs.  Generation 8 processors differ from previous generations in the number of cores/processor greatly increasing performance and capabilities.

Core i3 increased from 2 to 4 cores (processors).
Core i5 and i7 from 4 to 6 cores (processors).

Get some today!  Call for pricing and availability, 404-728-0353

Google Chrome: Tips and Tricks to get more done using your browser

Many of you use Google Chrome as your go-to browser for surfing the internet and searching the web for information.  Chrome works hard for you and gets little consideration that it needs tuning and help at times to stay efficient and at peak performance.

If you have a poor or slow internet connection, an extension is available for helping speed up browsing.  I know some of you struggle with DSL still.  The Data Saver extension is available for free to help with a poor internet connection.

No matter what browser you use, there is the need to check your system for spyware and PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs).  Be sure to see Rule;

#10: CHECK YOUR SYSTEM FOR SPYWARE AND OTHER JUNK

Windows users can make use of Google's Software Removal Tool. It might also be a good idea to scan the system using something such as Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware.

Mac users can check out Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware for Mac (don't believe the nonsense that Macs can't have viruses or malware -- that may have been true a decade ago, but it's not true today).

The following link gives you tips and tricks to make your Google Chrome install run faster, more secure and do more than you thought was capable with the browser.  These helpful hints work on both PCs and Macs.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-master-google-chrome/

A $2,000 iPhone: It's coming. It's inevitable

A $2,000 iPhone: It's coming. It's inevitable

Now that Samsung has introduced a new Galaxy Note 9 starting at $1250, the experts say a $2000 iPhone is around the corner.  Hell, I can't sell a $499 desktop but people will spend a thousand plus for a phone...

The new Galaxy Note 9 has beaten Apple at their own game with the $1249 price for a phone with more RAM, storage and screen real estate, 6.4 inches.  There is a 512GB model for an extra $250 plus you can add a 512GB micro SD card for 1TB of storage.

Apple currently offers a base model 64GB iPhone X for $999 and a 256GB model for $1249.  According to rumors, Apple is preparing to release 3 new models.

Now you have to admit Apple is genius at making money.  The recent earnings announcement highlighted how services revenue had grown for Apple.  They offer a 64GB and 256GB model and give you 5GB iCloud storage to back up your phone with.  Wow, how generous of Tim Cook and company.

iCloud storage plans and pricing
When you sign up for iCloud, you automatically get 5GB of free storage. If you need more space in iCloud, you can upgrade to a larger storage plan.

Read all about it at;

https://www.zdnet.com/article/a-2000-iphone-its-inevitable/?ftag=TRE-03-10aaa6b&bhid=2219791

Intel Generation 8 workstations 

FBI warns of imminent hack attack on ATM machines worldwide

FBI warns of imminent hack attack on ATM machines worldwide

On Friday 08/10/18 the FBI issued a warning to banks around the world that ATM are at risk for an imminent cyber attack.  Millions of dollars are expected to disappear from customer accounts.

A similar attack occurred in 2009 and resulted in $9 million in losses.  The scheme is a cash-out in which the criminals hack a bank or payment card processor and issue cloned cards to be used around the world to withdraw money.  The culpable targets are small to mid-sized banks that lag in the latest security equipment and software.

“Historic compromises have included small-to-medium size financial institutions, likely due to less robust implementation of cybersecurity controls, budgets, or third-party vendor vulnerabilities,” the statement reads.

“The FBI expects the ubiquity of this activity to continue or possibly increase in the near future.”

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2018/08/15/fbi-warns-banks-that-crooks-are-planning-choreographed-atm-drainage/

stay tuned.

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. AMD recently announced the availability of the much-awaited second generation AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX desktop processor.

In recent blog posts I have written about the performance gains achieved by Intel Generation 8 processors over the prior Intel Generation 7 processor family.  Generation 8 has more cores across the product line, Core i3 from 2 to 4 cores, Core i5 & Core i7, 4 to 6 cores.  Well, that pales in comparison with the new 2nd generation AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX desktop processor.

The Threadripper (love the name) 2990WX is capable of achieving 6 GHz across 32 cores with the right cooling system.  The higher the speed, especially when overclocking, the hotter and thus more unstable the chip becomes so more extreme cooling is required.  The cooling processes for achieving this speed is probably more expensive than your typical home computer.

Reportedly, Intel’s yet-to-be-released 28-core PC chip recorded up to 5 GHz clock speed under industrial-grade water cooling. Meanwhile, AMD’s 2990WX delivered 5.1 GHz clock speed under liquid nitrogen cooling conditions.

In reality, these chips are targeting the server markets and those gamers who can afford the very best and have lots of disposable income.  Just the processors alone are priced at $1,799 for 2990WX and $1,299 for the 2970WX.

The more modest AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X features only 16 cores and 32 threads, will be available Aug 31, 2018.  Meanwhile, crumbs for us working stiffs are coming.  AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2920X and 2970WX models are scheduled to be made available in October 2018, and are priced at $899 and $649 respectively.

The new Ryzen Threadripper processor is developed on 12nm Zen+ architecture. The chip is touted to be the highest-end chip featuring a whopping 32 cores and 64 threads, per PC Gamer. Higher core count of Threadripper 2990WX is expected to boost the competitive position of AMD against Intel INTC in the high-end desktop market (“HEDT”) considerably.

for more info about these new products read;

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amd-raises-bar-2nd-generation-142002517.html

and if you are interested MicroCenter has the Threadripper in stock.

http://www.microcenter.com/product/510650/ryzen-threadripper-2990wx-32-core-str4-boxed-processor

Intel vs AMD

The high-end chips are very impressive but not very economical for everyday business and home users.  When you visit retailers sometimes you can be overwhelmed by the offerings and wide price ranges.  Most of the lower priced units are AMDs or Intel Pentium (even Celeron) based systems.

The new highly touted Surface Go which starts at $399 for 64 GB SSD, 4 GB RAM (no keyboard/pen), has the Pentium Gold processor.  The Surface GO has all day battery life which I desire so I could travel without power supply and cord.  However, the weak processor is a deal breaker for me since I know it will not be powerful enough to replace my current 3rd Gen Core i7, 1.5 hour battery life (sigh).

AMD makes good, reliable and less expensive processors but in my experience, I have found Intel chips provide better performance for longer across the life of the machine.  See the link below for performance specs and comparisons.

https://www.thenerdmag.com/intel-8th-gen-core-i7-vs-amd-ryzen-7-cpu-benchmarks/

Intel Optane Memory

I have just completed a 3 course Intel training seminar learning about the benefits of Intel Optane Memory.  I am still quite happy with the mundane Intel Generation 8 processors especially when coupled with the performance of an SSD.  However, although SSDs have come down quite a bit in price they still are not as inexpensive as SATA hard drives which offer huge storage capabilities for the price.

Enter Intel Optane Memory.  Starting with the Intel Generation 7 processors and the associated chipsets featuring an M.2 slot on the mainboard, a 32 GB Intel Optane memory module coupled with an inexpensive 1 TB hard drive provides SSD performance across the entire 1 TB for approximately a third of the price of a comparable 1 TB Solid State Drive (SSD).

If you have a Generation 7 based computer and would like to optimize performance, consider adding a 16 GB Intel Optane Memory module, approximately $39.

If you are considering a new computer, there has never been a better time to achieve great performance for your buck.  Contact Driving Force Software, dforce@drivingforce.net

Device Security - Time to rethink Mobile Security - CCleaner, not exactly free.

Is it time to consider SmartPhone security?

Your online privacy is under constant threat these days from every direction conceivable including software you install.

I spent yesterday with my CPA talking taxes, finances and data.  My CPA is extremely concerned about data security and we were taking steps to secure and make sure his PCs were protected against any threats.  However the main threat to security may not be your computer but your always connected smartphone which people are using to do banking, place shopping orders and more.

Smartphones are like having an open window allowing everyone into your world.  I mean you are carrying a LoJack system in your pocket  It's tracking and relaying where your present location.  Even if you're not using GPS it is still pinging cell towers and GPS satellites can still see you.  In other words, you can run but not hide.

It's been said that the world's most secure smartphone is the one at the bottom of a river.  So what to do?  To stay abreast and keep up in today's modern world a smartphone is a must.  The link below is to an article which lists the 4 best phones for privacy and security.  #1 may surprise you but it is still the preferred device used by many governments around the world.

https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/how-to/4-best-phones-for-privacy-security-0176106/

In the past year, some clients and people I know have had their email and online accounts hacked.  Many times scans of their system revealed nothing.  I ask if they possibly responded to a phishing attempt.  Almost always the answer is no.  In each case, the compromised email account and equivalent phone app was also on their smartphones.  I'm beginning to wonder if its time to take smartphone security more seriously.  It could be the weak link in your online security.

Consider these facts from Malwarebytes online forum.

"These hacks aren’t happening in a vacuum. Mobile malware is a frontier ripe for cybercriminal activity. According to a 2015 Pew Research Center Report, nearly two-thirds of Americans own a smartphone, and roughly one in five of those users conduct most of their online browsing using their phone instead of a computer. The reality is that as more and more people use their phones to go online, more cybercriminals will hear the call."

 “Everything from backdoor malware that steals personal information to ransomware that locks your phone until payment is made exists in the mobile space. With millions of malware samples in the wild, there is no reason not to be concerned.”

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/101/2016/09/top-10-ways-to-secure-your-mobile-phone/

New Wi-Fi attack cracks WPA2 passwords with ease

The common Wi-Fi security standard is no longer as secure as you think.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/new-wi-fi-attack-cracks-wpawpa2-passwords-with-ease/?ftag=TRE-03-10aaa6b&bhid=2219791

Beware the Software Santa.  Free comes with a cost.

CCleaner, a software I used in Windows 98 days is currently in trouble with users due to unwanted monitoring and collection of data.  This is just the latest incident for the company.  Last year it was modified by hackers and used to serve malware.   CCleaner is available from Avast (Piriform) and is used to scrub and optimize all kinds of devices including Windows, Macs and mobile devices.

In the latest version 5.45, the company added features that many users were not pleased about.  The features in question are used for data collection.  The collection of data is performed by tasks called Active Monitoring and heartbeat which continuously send user data to CCleaner servers.  The company claims that nonpersonal and nonidentifiable data only is sent to servers, however, the difficulty in opting out is frustrating many users.  If you close the program it only minimizes and to close the program it has to be forced closed or the service stopped.

When servicing client systems I almost always find malware and PUPS (potentially unwanted software) installed.  These items compromise system security and performance.  Often times these programs are installed along with legitimate software by the user during the install process.  It is important to pay attention to the install process to make sure that you don't install more than you intended especially when Googling and installing free software.  Always pay attention to your search results and don't select a search result that isn't a direct link to the desired software or is listed as an ad.  The software may be advertised as free but they are trying to get paid.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/cc-cleaner-provokes-fury-over-active-monitoring/?ftag=TRE-03-10aaa6b&bhid=27630927001468733386426006914379

Go Fast with any one of these premium Intel Gen 8 based workstations equipped with a Solid State Drive (SSD)!

PCs sales up, Macs are down, Apple first company with Trillion Dollar Market Cap even as Huawei passes for 2nd in Phone Sales

WHY ARE PCS SALES GROWING WHILE MAC SALES ARE CRASHING?

While PC sales are up for the first time in 6 years, Mac sales had the worst quarter in 7 years, a 13 percent unit decline year over year.  In fact, Mac sales are at a level not seen since Q3 2010.

The reasons behind these figures are simple.  PCs have exhibited new features and innovations in recent years driven by Microsoft and the Surface Line while Apple has allowed it Mac lineup to become stagnant.  Apple recently an update "Refresh" on its Macbook Pro, however, it is hard to justify spending thousands of dollars on technology that is more than a year old.  In addition, the reliability of Macs has received a lot of consumer complaints and negative press recently and that doesn't help when selling systems priced over a thousand if not thousands of dollars.

Windows 10 has been another factor in PC growth.  OEMs and manufacturers have bestowed credit on Microsoft's OS for helping revive the market.

PCs and Macs have different markets and some professionals rely on Macs to work, however,  businesses and enterprises overwhelmingly rely on PCs and the business market is buying PCs again.  

The recent release of Intel Gen 8 processors and less expensive SSDs have provided a significant performance increase that coupled with Windows 10 offer an upgrade experience worth the money.

Windows 10 version 1803 that was just released adds so many features that use to cost you money.  Version 1803 came with a new App that performs video and photo editing a popular application among today's users.

to read about this and more click on 

https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-are-pcs-sales-growing-while-mac-sales-are-crashing/

Apple hits a trillion dollar market cap — watch it move live here

Apple shares hit the historic $1 trillion market value milestone Thursday.

The stock briefly hit the $207.05 per share price that was needed to bring it to the $1 trillion mark before retreating.

The shares have soared since reporting better-than-expected quarterly earnings on Tuesday after the bell. The stock jumped 5.9 percent on Wednesday and has continued higher Thursday.

China's Huawei overtakes Apple as world's 2nd largest smartphone seller

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-08/02/c_137364051.htm

Driving Force - Powerful New Intel Gen 8 workstations!

Driving Force offers a full line of Gen 8 workstations to fit any need.  Whether you are looking at the most economical or a powerful platform to last for years to come, any of these will beat your current system.

For pricing please click on image below.  Thanks!

Windows 10 version 1703 servicing ends in October, DaaS, Will you lease your next computer monthly?

Windows 10: Clock's ticking on upgrade, Microsoft warns Creators Update users

Microsoft has announced that it will no longer provide updates for Windows 10 version 1703 after October 9, 2018.  Version 1703, "Creators Update" was released in May 2017 followed by the "Fall Creators Update", ver. 1709 in October 2017.

The major version updates are large in size, often 1 GB and many people put off upgrading because of this and potential problems with incompatibilities that may arise.  Starting with version 1803 in April 2018, Microsoft allowed users to delay the decision to update.

What does it mean if you don't update?  You will no longer receive security updates to the latest threats from hackers and if your system is not currently under attack, it will be eventually.  When the Intel Meltdown and Spectre flaws were announced Microsoft was in the lead releasing patches to protect your computer.  After October 2018 users on version 1703 will no longer receive these or any other new security updates.

To find out which version of Windows 10 you're on, do the following,

Hold down the Windows key and press R, this will bring up the Run command.
Type cmd and press ENTER, Command Prompt Window will open,

At the prompt type WINVER and press ENTER.  You will receive a screen that provides your OS version.

Below is the full list of Windows 10 versions, courtesy Wikipedia.

Click here for the full story;

https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-clocks-ticking-on-upgrade-microsoft-warns-creators-update-users/

Windows 10: These two new builds deliver lots of bug fixes

https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-these-two-new-builds-deliver-lots-of-bug-fixes/

DaaS, Devices as a Service:  Microsoft bangs the 'devices as a service' drum ahead of Windows 7's end-of-support deadline

Windows 7 end of life January 14,2020.  Windows 10 protects against more than twice the malware threats.

According to Microsoft, there are 184 million commercial devices still on Windows 7 (excludes China), and the majority are more than 5 years old.

Microsoft is rapidly gearing up for a new model, DaaS, Devices as a Service.  The plan is to provide devices running Windows on a monthly subscription basis.  By 2020 when Windows 7 expires, they expect 30 percent of all PCs to be acquired via a monthly lease.


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Driving Force - Powerful New Intel Gen 8 workstations!

Driving Force offers a full line of Gen 8 workstations to fit any need.  Whether you are looking at the most economical or a powerful platform to last for years to come, any of these will beat your current system.

For pricing please click on image below.  Thanks!