Lenovo Delivers Malware
One of the good guys is now a very, very bad guy. Lenovo (originally an IBM division, sold to the Chinese), is sending its computers out pre-filled with malware and spyware. The Chinese tech company now admits to including adware known as "Superfish" in its machines. Superfish is not only designed to display targeted advertising but also to track your online activities. This means that the computer is capturing passwords, bank account info and everything else you connect with! This type of software is also easy for 3rd parties to hack who then can become privy to this same password type information and you would not know it, especially if you're using public Wi-FI.
If you own a Lenovo desktop or laptop then you need to look into removing this "crapware", the current technical term, ASAP. Importantly, even after you uninstall Superfish, it leaves behind root certificates which are integrated with your Operating System and browsers. Windows defender, a Microsoft tool that purports to remove these root certificates, is free and delivered with every Windows 7 and 8 machines.
Lenovo has released its own Superfish removal tool and you can download it here. You can read more about Superfish by clicking on this link or this link.
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What is Net Neutrality
And
Why is it Good?
 Anyway you look at it the delivery of the Internet to you is similar to water being delivered to your tap. There's a limited amount of water available for delivery and more importantly there's a limited amount of pipes with finite size that carry that water along the way, splitting it further into smaller and smaller pipes until it reaches your particular house and sink. The internet providers up until now could and would work out separate agreements with companies and corporations such as Netflix, to deliver their content, which we are watching more than often over that internet connection, at a faster speed. Giving priority to Netflix means that your YouTube video, your email or the newspaper you read online, do get to you slower. The FCC, is on its way to regulating the internet, or what is officially known as "Broadband Bandwidth" as a utility. Utility status would mean regulating everything from the cost to the path and speed of this bandwidth as are the electricity providers, the cable TV providers and the local natural gas companies. Net neutrality, which the FCC ruled is now the law of the land, means that Netflix and similar services will not be able to buy faster lane traffic so that you and your newspaper read are now in the slower lane. No preferential treatment for anyone. It is a Monumental victory for the consumer. Read here. Be prepared to hear the usual baloney from providers like Verizon FIOS; they will contend that this restriction will reduce research dollars into new technologies. The reality is that research money floes in the direction of profit and there's always more profit to be made by providing more services over internet connectivity. It's more likely that the people who develop applications for the web, like streaming video, will only work harder to streamline what they produce and create lighter weight material, resulting in faster transmission of the same information. It's my opinion that inevitably all of our media services, phone, TV and internet will be provided over the same pipe and over fiber everywhere. I think that in the same way electric companies such as Con Edison have remade their business model and "rent" space to other electricity providers over their lines, the same will be true about companies like Verizon FIOS, which is the all fiber network. Fiber can carry more transmission to more people then we currently have a use for and it's likely to stay that way for a longtime to come.
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Microsoft News  With Windows 10 on its way, could Office 16 be far behind; clearly not. Microsoft is looking for individuals and businesses that would like to try (beta test) the next Office software. The software includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access and Outlook. If you're interested apply here, or to read more look here.
Microsoft is planning a new browser for its upcoming Windows 10 release. The browser code named "Spartan" should eliminate the shortcomings we've all found in the current and previous releases of Internet Explorer. Microsoft says that the browser will be cross platform, so that when you use it on your PC and then on your phone or tablet, you will not only see the same interface but wherever you left it on the PC will now be extended onto this next device. Open a newspaper article on your desktop, move to your laptop or/and you phone or tablet, open Spartan and that same article will be there, exactly as you left it. Google's Chrome/Gmail connection BTW, does this now. Read more and watch the video here. Google recently revealed a major security flaw in Windows 8.1's version of Internet Explorer. While Microsoft has recently issued a patch, you need to make sure that your windows installation is set to automatically receive updates and that those updates are current. If you'd like to read more on this major skirmish between these two tech giants, click here and here.
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Of Interest
 The FCC and the cellular communications industry have reached agreement to let phone and tablet owners unlock them. This means that if you want to switch your carrier from say Verizon to AT&T you'll be able to take your phone with you to use with your new carrier and plan. The phone must be compatible and for the most part it will be. This also helps those who want to take phones on vacation outside the US, where in the past a phone rental was required, now you can have your phone paired temporarily with the outside of US carrier's network. In general, smart phones have been provided unlocked over the last few years, this really means that all phones will now be capable of being unlocked. Read all about it.
Self Driving Cars. Everybody wants to get into the act. Google, we all know, is in the process of developing a self driving car and has been for a number of years. Now Uber is getting into it. Volvo announces that it will have a self driving model road test worthy in two years. Tesla has an Automatic Pilot mode ready for approval. The thinking is that we're no more than 5 to 10 years out.
On that note, Apple has revealed that it's intent is to have a car of its own on the road by 2020. Read here. To get a jump start Apple's been poaching engineers from other automakers.
Hello Mahopac and Somers, Got Comcast/Xfiniti? Then you already know your troubles. Turns out the company customer service and tech reps have been bad mouthing you guys and girls. An invoice was sent to a customer with her name changed to "Whore Julia.....". Another to "Dummy" and a third to "a**hole". Read all about it.
That privacy mode your browser allows you to select will not stop the "super cookies" that websites are now placing on your machine specifically to bypass private browsing.
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If you are still reading magazines, I am, try these people. I've been getting my magazine subscriptions filled through this company for years. They are consistently half to one third the cost of any other offer you might find.
Want to catch up on more tech issues, current corporate ploys to separate you from you money and even recalls you're not hearing about? Try going to the Consumerist.
Try Kayak's travel hacker for not only a marvelous consolidation of other websites but for an in depth analysis of the best bargains in car rentals, hotel accommodations and more, all based upon collected bookings from customers like you and me.
Looking for movies, music and more that are in the public domain (free to download) try archive.org. This site also snaps pictures of popular websites on a regular basis making it possible to look back historically into the past. They call it the "Wayback Machine", boy Sherman not included.
Need a bathroom? Willing to pay a rental fee for its use, try Airpnp. No Kidding. It's a smartphone app to connect you with people who are willing to rent their bathroom for a fee, toilet tissue, soap and water included. At present for IOS (Apple) only.
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If you're an "Angie's List" subscriber, would you add me to their list of favored service providers. Thanx.
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I make DVD, BluRay, Chromecast and Roku connections for that Netflix account or to watch web content on your TV.
I also connect your Homelink and your garage door.
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