Monthly Mini-Bytes - July 2020

What Does the Twitter Hack Tell Us About Online Security? There isn't any. That's all folks! Roll credits... Seriously, the Twitter Hack or breach or whatever is incredibly unsettling. Major accounts from the blue checkmark glitterati were used in a Bitcoin scam that unfortunately many people got swept up in. How did it happen? The FBI is investigating, but initially it seems that the bad guys gained access to an administrative tool to take over the accounts. Yes, scary. So what can be done to protect yourself and your online accounts? The Twitter Hack shows that two-factor authentication and passwords can be circumvented. Does that mean all hope is lost? No. You still have an incredible amount of control, but that control takes time and effort. There is no magic blue pill that can protect your accounts. No password manager can secure you 100%, but there are best practices that you can put into effect now. 1.) Good, Strong, and Varied Passwords - I know I sound like a broken record on this and you are probably sick of me writing about it. You must, must, must have strong passwords of at least 10 characters, and they need to be unique for each and every account. Yes, as I mentioned above, passwords can be circumvented, but just like locking the doors to your house, the more roadblocks that you put in place, the less likely it would be for you to become a victim. 2.) Use Two-Factor or Other Types of Secondary Authentication - Just like #1, the more barriers the better. Having a secondary option for authenticating your accounts in addition to a password is a must (if available). 3.) Enable All the Account Alerts - Where available, enable all the alerts that you can for login, activity, and for any transactions in your financial accounts. That way you should know immediately if your account has been breached. 4.) Close Unused Accounts - If you have any old accounts, no matter how minor, close them if they are not being used. Some sites don't let you delete accounts, but if you have old Facebook or Twitter profiles that you are no longer using, get rid of them. If the account doesn't exist it can't be breached. 5.) Clean Up Your Logins - Audit your logins to make sure that you are using your current primary email address. Overtime, many of us have used different email addresses as usernames. If you no longer use a particular email, update the username to reflect your current address.

Are You Cooking Your Mac? With many working from home coupled with the blazing summer heat, it's incredibly easy to put your Mac notebook into a situation where it can overheat. We've known of MacBook Pros sitting for hours on a bedspread streaming videos that have overheated and gone kaput. It happens, so be mindful. The good news is Apple has some tips on notebook safety: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201640

How to Run Two Versions of macOS

With macOS Catalina 64-Bit has become mainstream on the Mac, so older applications no longer run. This puts many business users into a pickle. You may have older accounting software that will not run in Catalina, or maybe even an ancient contact manager that you use everyday, but it is not compatible either. There is a solution, but it is not easy nor cheap. Parallels is a software program that will allow you to run other operating systems including Windows and older versions of macOS in a separate window. Setting Parallels up to run macOS is not easy, but it can be done. We would not recommend this solution for power-hungry design software, but for bookkeeping and contact management, it could be something to consider. This is not a permanent solution, but it would help you buy time to figure out next steps, especially if you are forced into purchasing a new Mac that, of course, would come with macOS Catalina. In order to do this you would need both the Parallels Software and an installer for the version of macOS that you require. Again, this is not simple, but can be a solution if you need to run both new and old software on your Mac. For more information on Parallels, visit: https://www.parallels.com

June 2020 - Monthly Mini-Bytes

Online Fraud is Up! Time To Protect Yourself With the lockdowns and trend to working at home over the past few months, online scams have soared. It's time to take security seriously. Protecting yourself and your data takes work and involvement. It's not really that hard, but it's a chore that you need to do. The good news is that we have three tips that will help you lock down your stuff during lockdown, even though lockdown is over... and it wasn't a lockdown anyway, but where did all the toilet paper go? "Limit two almond milks," says the mean Whole Foods lady. Who's hoarding almond milk? [Sorry... rant detected.] Okay, on to the tips. Put a Passcode on Your iPhone Your iPhone is one of the linchpins in your security arsenal. If it is not secured, it's like handing the keys to your life over to someone. Having a passcode encrypts the phone. With a passcode it would take something like two million dollars and a super computer to break it... unless they guess the password. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but a phone with a good passcode makes for good security. If you enable enhanced login features like two-factor, your phone is the way you prove that you are you. Having it unprotected is like leaving your front door open during a riot. If you have an iPad, have a passcode. It's the same rationale there, too. Tighten Up Your Email Security Your email is the gateway to your online accounts. You must have a good and strong password of at least ten characters or more with a mix of numbers and letters. Don't make it easy to guess. You don't need to remember it if you have a system to document your passwords. An email password where your name, kid's names, or birthdays are contained within can be easily cracked. Also, enable two-factor authentication or any type of advanced security. When a new login is detected, you will get a text to your phone (that's why it needs a passcode) to identify you. Some email programs offer authenticator apps that you can install. And if you haven't changed your email password in ten years, do it now. Setup Banking Account Alerts Set up alerts with your bank and credit cards for when even a penny moves in and out of your account. You will get an alert and can take action. When my credit card was compromised, I got an alert to a transaction that I did not recognize. I was able to act immediately. You will, too. Each bank is different, but you should see a "Setup Alerts" option somewhere on their site.

Apple Switching to It's Own Chips

The big news of Monday's WWDC Keynote was the fact that Apple will be moving to its own microprocessors. This is a really big deal. Apple has done a tremendous job in developing the chips for the iPhones and iPads. These chips are now rivaling the best from Intel and others. Computers will start shipping with the new chips later this year. This is much like the move from PowerPC to Intel in 2005. Intel computers will still be supported during the transition, but if you have a computer from 2012 or before, it would be a good idea to think about upgrading. For more details, see this press release here: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/06/apple-announces-mac-transition-to-apple-silicon/

Which Streaming Service is Best? With many of us keeping entertainment in house, the big question is which streaming service is best? Well, that depends on what you and your family like to watch. Whether it be Netflix, AppleTV+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, AcornTV, Starz, or Hallmark Movies Now, content is key. Each service has their own offerings and exclusives. A movie may release on HBO Max, but not be available on other platforms -- the same for Netflix and others. The key is to determine your viewing patterns and subscribe to the services that meet those requirements. The good news is that they all offer a free trial period, and month-to-month payment options. You can subscribe/unsubscribe after you binge on the movies and shows that you choose.

May 2020 - Monthly Mini-Bytes

The New(ish) 13-Inch MacBook Pro is Here Apple announced a refresh of the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Many of us expected them to stretch the screen to 14-inches as they did with the awesome 16-inch model, but they didn't. They did put in the much better Magic Keyboard and in doing so tossed aside the widely disliked Butterfly Keyboard. It is a mild refresh and not the aggressive re-imaging that we had hoped, but it's good enough with the new keyboard, an actual Escape key, and the introduction of the 10th generation iSeries processors. Of the three models. the one that starts at $1799 is the best value in our opinion. For a $500 premium over the base 13-inch unit you get a faster processor that's two generations newer, 16 GB of faster RAM, and 512 GB of Flash Storage. For more info on the new MacBook Pro visit Apple: https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro-13/

Which Mac Laptop Should You Buy?

With the refresh of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, Apple is back to having solid offerings for all three levels of laptops. Which one to get is the big question. Here are our tips: MacBook Air - Portability The MacBook Air is built for portability and that costs money. As a result, even though it appears to be the least expensive MacBook, it isn't necessarily the best value. By the time you beef up the innards it can quickly climb in price to MacBook Pro levels, and even then it can't match the power of the Pros. Don't get me wrong here: the MacBook Air is a great computer for the right person and the right use. If portability is your main goal and you are only doing basic computing (email, web, some photos, etc.) then the MacBook Air can be a terrific option. 13-Inch MacBook Pro - General Use The new 13-Inch MacBook Pro comes in several flavors. The one that we recommend is the model with the 10th generation processors. It starts at $1799. This is a good, solid machine for general use: Microsoft Powerpoint, photo editing, and light video editing. It only has quad-core processors, and in the age of gluttonous 64-bit operating systems like macOS Catalina, six-core options like in the 16-inch MacBook Pro, the iMacs, and Mac Minis have more power to deal with year-to-year advances in software. That is not saying the 13-inch MacBook Pro can't go the distance -- it can, but it's important to decide how you are planning on using your laptop and how long you intend to keep it. 16-Inch MacBook Pro - Best Value, Great Power Even though they are pricey, the power they bring to the table is excellent. This is the computer to choose if you plan on holding onto it for years, do a lot of photo editing with Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom, edit videos with Final Cut, or just want a computer that will go the distance and handle whatever Apple throws at it with system upgrades. AppleCare+ - Yes, You Need It Once you purchase a MacBook there is no upgrading. It is all one piece, meaning if something breaks the entire machine needs to be replaced. It's just like the iPhones these days. AppleCare+ is a must, as bad RAM is no longer a $100 inconvenience, but a $700+ system board swap.

Apple Stores Are Closed: What About Hardware Issues? Apple sent out a vague email about reopening their retail shops, but there is no word about the Apple Stores here in Arizona. So what do you do if you need a hardware repair? Visiting the Support Page at Apple.com (https://getsupport.apple.com/) or calling 1-800-MY-APPLE are the ways to get in touch with them in order to get a hardware repair started. Depending if it is a device or a computer, they will mail a box to you for you to ship the item back to them for repair. No, this is not ideal, but what is right now? We've shepherded several machines and devices through this process and it's not all that bad, and in some cases was much better than slogging a machine into the Apple Store. It seems like there may be an announcement soon about when they are set to reopen, but the phone number or website options will continue to be available. It will be your choice.

April 2020 - Monthly Mini-Bytes

Information Technology is an Essential Service I think for all of us the last month or so has been tough, but the show must go on and work must continue. We wanted you to know that since technology, connectivity, and working remotely are so important right now, we are glad that we are considered an essential service so that we can be in a position to help you thrive and function during this time. We are available for both onsite and remote consulting -- whatever you may require or be comfortable with.

Tips for Awesome Video Conferences

When video conferencing first came out and was being widely used, I remember that the equipment was installed in a special conference room. We all piled in and up on the big screen was another large conference room filled with people. It was groundbreaking? Maybe? It wasn't like being there, and I remember feeling that I was on stage so I was conscious of things like fidgeting, letting out the odd smirk, or picking my nose. Now with social distancing in full effect, video conferencing from our computers and devices is more important than ever. But it still is not as good as being in person with one another. It never will. It will never replace business travel, the in-person meeting, or the handshake (when allowed again by government entities, doctors, statisticians, etc.). For now, we are stuck with it, so here are some tips to make your conferences extra special: Less is More: Don't have a video conference unless you need to. It's never a good idea to waste people's time -- especially now. Many things can be done in a good old-fashioned phone call. Just because it's possible, doesn't necessarily mean that it's a good idea. Use a Headset for Audio: The built-in mic oftentimes can produce feedback that can be disruptive. Using headphones or AirPods can make a big difference in the ability for others to hear you clearly. Upgrade Your Background: Take a look at what is behind you. Many apps have the ability to blur the background or add something to block out the room. Remember that whoever is on the conference will see the whole picture -- you and your dirty laundry. Check the Camera Angle: The up-the-nose shot is not the most famous in cinema, so think about raising up your laptop on a few books to get your best angle. It's okay to be vain. You're on camera. You're a Movie Star!: You are on camera, so go the extra mile by wearing something different than that old concert tee with moth holes in it; take a shower; or even comb your hair. Now, many of you who have video conferenced with me over the last month know that I take none of this advice, but I probably should. Even though many are working from home, it never hurts to dress the part. You May Be Recorded: The conferences can be recorded, so be mindful of what you say and be wary of the open-mic moment.

The New iPhone SE: Is it for you? No. In fact, I don't get this phone at all. It's basically just an iPhone 6 with iPhone 11 parts in it. For not much more money you can get the iPhone 11 with a bigger screen, better camera, FaceID, and all the modern benefits of an iPhone in 2020. The iPhone SE is built to a price to satisfy that crowd of none that love TouchID and the classic iPhone form factor. Our advice still stands: The best general use iPhone, and the best value in an iPhone ever (in our opinion) is the iPhone 11. If you take a lot of pictures and are into serious photography go for the iPhone 11 Pro or Pro Max. For more info on the iPhone SE: https://www.apple.com/iphone-se/ To learn about the iPhone 11: https://www.apple.com/iphone-11/

March 2020 - Monthly Mini-Bytes

Remote Consulting Amid COVID-19 I think about my grandfather who was born in 1910. He lived through World War I, the Spanish Flu, the Great Depression, and World War II. It's hard for me to imagine living through such tumultuous times and remaining strong. But he did, and I think about what he went through before I get angry about the lack of toilet paper at Costco. Today, in 2020, we are faced with a global pandemic and its resulting impact to ourselves, our families, and our businesses. Fortunately, it is a different time than the early 20th century. The world is much more global. We are all very connected. Through technology we can be more informed on how to stay healthy. And one of those ways is through social distancing, but that means changes to how we work and interact. Many of us are now working remotely. Our Macs, iPhones, and iPads not only help keep us productive, but also enable us to stay in touch with loved ones from around the globe. Keeping your Apple Ecosystem healthy at this time is very important. We want to assure you that we are here to help with remote consulting options so that you can social distance like a pro! With a phone and our remote tools we are ready to consult with you on your technology issues so that you can stay connected and productive.

Watch Out for Scams! Times like these bring out the best in people -- without question. Yet, also, at times like these the dregs of humanity slither up from the swamp to take advantage of a bad situation. Not only is there an active dis-information campaign coming from bad-actors overseas, but the amount of rumor and just plain false information that is flying around the big social media sites can be misleading and frustrating. On top of all this, scammers are sending out phishing emails that have caused a lot of problems and compromised the personal data of thousands of Americans. Only visit reputable websites and avoid clicking on any links in emails. The FBI has information on these scams and how to stay safe: https://www.ic3.gov/media/2020/200320.aspx

Working Securely at Home Since more and more people are working at home right now, it is important to know how to keep your laptop secure. MalwareBytes have put together some best practices for working at home. You can view the article here: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/how-tos-2/2020/03/security-tips-for-working-from-home-wfh/

February 2020 - Monthly Mini-Bytes

Is it time for a Password Audit? A few weeks ago there were a flurry of reports of Ring cameras being hacked. Panic ensued. Tech talking heads immediately piled on Ring and other similar service providers as evil, unsecure, and heartless capitalists who could care less about their customers. They said that children were in peril, privacy was over, and small flightless birds were soon to rise up and become our overlords. It was classic fake news... except for the birds, of course. The truth of the matter is it was the customers who failed to configure their devices with secure passwords on a secure infrastructure. Hackers look for soft targets. Having no password or not changing the default password (the one that came with the device) is like putting a bird feeder on the ground and not expecting squirrels to plunder the seed. It's not the device's fault. It's not the fault of the company that built the device. It is totally the fault of the end-user (consumer) who chose not to take their security seriously. Passwords are a pain. They are hard to remember. They cause confusion and lost productivity. Well, until a better system is developed, we are stuck with them, so it's best to learn how to co-exist and maybe even love your passwords. (Okay, maybe not.) Here are the rules for good passwords: At least 10 characters. 12 is better. 14 or more is awesome. Use a mix of numbers, letters (capitals, too), and symbols if allowed. Don't use the same password for everything. It's like having no password at all. Do not make the passwords similar to others. Once one is compromised, the rest will fall quickly. Write down your passwords, or save them somewhere. No one remembers their passwords. It is okay to use fowl language when talking about the subject of passwords with others. If you use iCloud Keychain and save passwords in Safari, you can "audit" the state of your passwords by going into Safari, choosing Preferences from the Safari drop-down menu, and selecting the Passwords menu tab. It will ask you for your computer password. Here you can see what you have saved. Accounts with passwords that are reused or easily guessed will show a symbol on the right. Happy auditing!

How To Clean Your Stuff There's a lot of advice on the news about staying healthy, and although it's not possible to encase oneself in hand sanitizer, there are things that you can do with your computer and devices to keep them clean. There was a study several years ago that a computer keyboard has more bacteria on it than a public restroom toilet seat. Seriously... ick! Fortunately Apple has created a page on how to safely clean everything from a keyboard, to an iPhone, and even the Apple Watch. You can check it out here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204172

Old Speakers, the End of Music, and You I think there is a subset of Americans who love their Sonos Systems more than their children. The wireless speaker system has made it easy to play all types of music around the house. The systems are expensive, and with that type of investment you can understand the anger when Sonos announced in January that it was ending support for older speaker models. Of course, since then the CEO backtracked, but it still brings up an excellent point on devices and longevity, especially when it comes to music. It used to be that purchasing a good stereo system meant that it could last a lifetime. Older speakers from 40 years ago arguably sound as good as anything today, and who would turn away the opportunity to own a tubed amplifier -- technology from the 30s! But now that $3,000 invested in a digital music system does not have the longevity. At some point it will not be supported. As file systems change it will have a difficult time playing music that you want to hear. And it will break. Then, good luck trying to find someone to fix it. Digital products are expendable, and once they go through their lifecycle, then the only thing that can be done with those systems is, well, recycle. Sonos backed off for now, but they will have to end support for older systems at some point. This is also true for any smart or connected device imaginable including doorbells, alarms, refrigerators, home automation systems, or even those fancy connected lightbulbs. It's food for thought.

January 2020 - Monthly Mini-Bytes

The Truth About Business Email Today we will be talking about email for business. For consumers we like iCloud or Gmail for mail, but we can go into that later, but a lot of the same reasons we like those two for home users, we like Google's G-Suite or Microsoft's Office 365 Exchange for business. In 2020 email has become a minefield of spammers, scammers, spoofers, and otherwise bad folks trying to impersonate your employees, fool customers, or get back-door access to your systems. It takes a large organization like Google and Microsoft to dedicate the resources both in staffing and technology to build a firewall of protection around business email. It's not to say that they are 100% secure -- no system is, but by having the manpower focused on gray-listing and blacklisting domains, it helps give business owners one more layer of protection. Smaller ISPs cannot compete, which is why you see such organizations as Go Daddy reselling Microsoft Office 365 Exchange. We usually recommend purchasing Office 365 Exchange directly from Microsoft, as some ISPs will resell older or their own server-based versions of Exchange that we do not recommend in 2020. Again, no mail system is even close to 100% secure. You and your company need a good, solid set of policies around passwords, access, and account criteria in addition to a robust email system. Even then, it still takes a savvy and well-trained staff to further your business' protection. One other thing to note: These two products offer a lot more than email. From calendars, to notes, to apps, to cloud storage -- both offer full business suites. To learn more about: Google G-Suite for Business: https://gsuite.google.com/solutions/ Microsoft Office 365 Exchange: https://products.office.com/en-us/exchange/exchange-online

You Have to Pay to Play There is a cost with trying to save money when it comes to technology. You pay for quality and reliability. You pay for security and longevity. And the cost stays the same whether you wait to upgrade or delay it down the road. Nowadays with all the security concerns it is important to keep as up-to-date as possible to make sure that you are taking advantage of the best security. Do we recommend refurbished Macs, iPhones, etc? No. Absolutely never. Macs and other Apple devices retain their value as long as they can run a current system. For a Mac you may save one or two-hundred dollars, but you never know if it is actually "refurbished" and you may just be buying someone else's problems. A well-configured Mac purchased new with Apple Care covers you for three years and can hopefully last well beyond that. What about subscriptions for Adobe or Office? Pay them. That's the way that tech is going. It's frustrating, but with your subscription you have 24/7 support (in most cases) and the apps will always be up-to-date. If you don't like the subscription model that these companies are implementing, you could always buy their stock and show up to the annual meetings to complain. It won't help, but you may get some tasty snacks. What if my iPhone/iPad cannot run a current system? Get a new one. For mobile devices it's important to always be on the current system. If you can't run it, replace it. iPhones have a lifecycle of about 2 years. That's what the industry says. You may get longer, but if it won't run the current iOS, then replace it. A little money spent over a consistent period is better than a lot spent all at once with massive updates to software and systems. Staying current and up-to-date, at the end of the day, is the cost-effective solution to level the technology costs.

Big Changes to Cox Email and Others For many of the reasons stated in our article above about business email, ISPs like Cox are pulling back their offerings. As of August 2019 you are no longer permitted to add additional email accounts. We have also learned that Cox is limiting new customer's emails to one. https://www.cox.com/residential/support/cox-email.html And Cox is not the only internet provider to start pulling back on email. Now is the time to think about moving your primary email address to a different service. We have found iCloud and Gmail to be two attractive options. Remember that moving to a new primary email means changing all logins that use the old @cox.net email address.