2 billion logins affected in possible record-breaking data breach

2 billion emails and passwords on the compromised list.

A new data breach has the internet world sitting up and paying attention.  It is estimated that over 2 billion email addresses and passwords have been compromised.  If you use the same credentials, email/password on multiple sites you should consider changing your password.  It is recommended that you use at least 12 characters in a password, see this link about password security.  https://www.berylliuminfosec.com/unique-passwords-matter-here-is-why/

There are password keeper programs available but realize those can be hacked as well.

Another way of securing your information is using multi-factor authentication.  Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft provide this service.  I use this security feature on admin accounts for client Office 365 accounts.

There is a free website that allows you to check if any of your emails have been compromised.  I have written about this site in the past, and if you have not checked, please do so today.  It is HaveIbeenPwned.com.  Type in your email address and if it is on the list, change your passwords.

To read more, click on the following link;

http://www.fox9.com/news/2-billion-logins-affected-in-possible-record-breaking-data-breach

other recent data breach news,

Agency waited weeks before telling anyone about massive data breach

https://newsok.com/article/5620604/agency-waited-weeks-before-telling-anyone-about-massive-data-breach

Marriott Establishes New Loyalty Program After Massive Data Breach

http://fortune.com/2019/01/16/marriott-loyalty-program-data-breach/

Marriott: Hackers accessed more than 5 million passport numbers during November’s massive data breach

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/01/04/marriott-hackers-accessed-more-than-million-passport-numbers-during-novembers-massive-data-breach/?utm_term=.7589793be0c4

Worst Data Breaches of 2018

https://securitytoday.com/articles/2018/12/27/worst-data-breaches-of-2018.aspx

Apple takes swipe at rivals with ad at CES in Las Vegas, Amazon Smart Speaker share slips and other important tech news.

Apple has a message for Amazon and Google and it’s plastered on the side of a hotel at the biggest tech conference of the year

CES, the annual meeting of world business leaders and cutting-edge technology is going on in Las Vegas this week, Jan 8-11.  Big names in technology and entertainment will be introducing new products and technology at the show.  Samsung is introducing new shape-shifting TVs aimed at large applications such as billboards and even larger TVs for the home.  Thanks to a new agreement between Apple and Samsung, new Samsung Smart TVs will feature iTunes along with Hulu and Netflix.  Apple announced that several TV makers will include Airplay2 that allows casting content from an Apple device to the big screen display.

Over 4500 companies will be participating in the show.  However, one company that will not be participating is Apple.  Apple normally does not participate at CES but this year took a shot at the privacy concerns surrounding Google and Amazon recently by posting a huge advertisement on a Las Vegas hotel.

The ad's focus appears to be on phones, however, the real message Apple is implying is that we're not going to sell your data.

Read about this and more CES news at the links below;

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/06/apple-privacy-ad-ces-2019.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-46721207

One segment that is expected to be in the spotlight at the CES show is AI, Artificial Intelligence. 

For 2019, we're being promised tags that will let smart speakers tell you where your pet or TV remote is hiding, as well as Alexa/Google Assistant-controlled pianos, heart rate monitors, lawnmowers, motorcycle helmets and meditation lamps.


Which segues into the next story.

Amazon Is Losing Its Grip on the Smart Speaker Market

In the past, I have written blog posts about the smart speaker market particularly with praise for Amazon's Echo which could be purchased on sale in the Dot model for $29 at times.  Today, more than 74 million people have smart speakers in 2019 which represents roughly 26% of all internet users.  Amazon's price has allowed them to dominate in the early adoption of smart speakers but with competition from Google's Home, the share is eroding.  However, this Christmas Amazon sold millions of Echo devices breaking sales records so they will continue to dominate the segment for the foreseeable future but Echo is no longer the default choice of consumers.

Read more at;

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-losing-grip-smart-speaker-190900716.html

https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/01/06/amazon-losing-its-grip-on-smart-speaker-market.aspx

and consider the plight of this poor guy who wanted to upgrade to an Apple,

Looking for Top Shelf performance, SSDs and Intel Generation 9 based systems.

Consider upgrading your current system with an SSD, Solid State Drive.  A 500 GB Western Digital 2.5" desktop SSD is only $79.99.

Western Digital SSD WDS500G2B0A 500GB SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5inch 7mm Blue

Protecting your online Privacy and Info - DuckDuckGo, how to avoid being tracked Online

Have you ever searched for a product or service online and then found that webpages or social sites you visit are full of ads for the items you searched for?  Internet browsers and search engines are tracking your information and sites that you visit.  Your information is a revenue source for these companies and they are compromising your personal information for profit.

Now there is an extension for Chrome that works to secure your information.  It is called DuckDuckGO.

DuckDuckGo Website

DuckDuckGO's statement is that "We Don't store your personal information.  Ever."

The invasion of American's privacy is pervasive and wider than you think.  Facebook is under attack for privacy issues and many have turned to messaging apps such as Whatsapp, yet Facebook owns Whatsapp.  Waze the popular GPS mapping system is owned by Google.

To better understand how Google and other browsers and search engines track and use your information, visit DuckDuckGo's blog at  https://spreadprivacy.com/

You think you don't have anything to hide?  Three Reasons Why the "Nothing to Hide" Argument is Flawed  https://spreadprivacy.com/three-reasons-why-the-nothing-to-hide-argument-is-flawed/

DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials.

The DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials app is only available for Chrome currently.  I have added the extension to Chrome on my desktop and set it as the default extension.  Privacy Essentials is free and there are other extensions available based on your needs.  Currently, I only have Privacy Essentials installed. 

https://duckduckgo.com/app

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/duckduckgo-privacy-essent/bkdgflcldnnnapblkhphbgpggdiikppg

Happy  New Year and safe surfing!

Intel 8th & 9th Generation based workstations. 

Driving Force pairs its processors and mainboard chipsets to give you the highest level of power and performance.  Whether an entry-level Core i3 or Top of the Line Core i9-9900K CPU, don't bottleneck your processor with cheap chipsets and parts.

Computer Virus hits newspapers coast-to-coast. MS Office 365, discount for new subscribers

Malware alert, be on guard.

Computer virus hits newspapers coast-to-coast

Newspapers across the nation were impacted Friday by a computer virus that affected the ability to print newspapers within Tribune Publishing, including the Chicago Tribune, NY Daily News, Baltimore Sun and Orlando Sentinel.  Many subscribers of the LA Times & San Diego Union-Tribune were missing their newspapers on Saturday morning.  Online access was available.

The LA Times reported that the malware was of foreign origin.  So far there is no evidence that customer information or credit card info was compromised.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/computer-virus-hits-southern-california-newspapers-n953001

Microsoft Office 365 plans

If you are a daily user of Microsoft Office and still use an old version you should wait no longer to make the move to Microsoft Office 365.  There are many different plans that can be tailored to your needs.

The Office 365 Business plan offers the following applications, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Access (PC only).  It includes OneDrive which gives you 1 TB of cloud space that syncs with a folder on your computer for sharing on the cloud as well as providing backup.  Each user can install it on up to 5 devices, tablets, PCs or Macs.  With an active subscription, you always receive the latest version of Microsoft Office.

There is the Office Business Premium which includes Exchange, Sharepoint, OneDrive and Microsoft Teams for those who need email.  It also includes all the programs associated with Office 365 Business Plan.

Finally, there is Office Business Essentials that provides Business Email but not the Office applications.

There are web versions of MS Office applications available with all 3 plans.

See the details below, however, contact Driving Force, 404-728-0353 if you wish to buy, I can offer a discount off regular subscription price for new users.

https://products.office.com/en-US/compare-all-microsoft-office-products-b?tab=2&OCID=AID737190_SEM_A8sIhb8A&lnkd=Bin g_O365SMB_NI&msclkid=79248b1ad2c21e57e61ed736086d5d2f