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Aloha, Brian here. Tech-Rant guy and all-around player and raconteur.  You will undoubtedly soon be overwhelmed by threats and news stories of being infected by the malware ‘DNSChanger’ that will knock you off the Internet and prevent you from connecting to your preferred websites come Monday, July 9. 2012. As a pre-emptive strike against unnecessary stress and confusion, I am providing the quick link provided by the ‘good guys’ to verify that your system is indeed NOT infected. Now, before you click on this link, think about this for a minute. Isn’t this exactly how a BAD GUY would TRICK you into CLICKING into a BAD LINK? It’s one form of ‘social engineering’ whereby someone comes up with a plausible story to get you to provide information, or in this case, follow an infected link. But, you should realize that I am the good guy and this is a legit email because you can always call me (I never pick up anymore, sorry) or email me, (guaranteed fastest response time!), and I will assure you this is legit and that I did indeed send it to you. That lesson being learned, click here http://www.dns-ok.us/ to receive verification as to whether or not your system is infected by the DNSChanger Malware that the FBI and other world security entities have been warning us about. See the story here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57466871-83/web-users-beware-dnschanger-victims-lose-web-access-july-9/ ANOTHER LINK!!! OMG! I get a lot of calls about emails that are sent with hyperlinks in them, like the two I included in this email, as to whether or not they are legitimate or not. (Subject: You have received a notice from the IRS, or USPS, or Your Ex) A very easy way to tell is to hover your mouse over the link and then READ, (I know, sucks right!?!), the displayed URL in your email program. It pops up a box that shows exactly what the url REALLY contains. Neat huh? Go ahead, try it. If the link you are examining says something like, blah-blah-blah.amazon.com but when you hover your mouse over it, it reads ‘blah.amazon.redirect.cn’ or ANYTHING other than what the visible hyperlink shows, particularly the ending of it (.com, .org., .net, .us, .biz, etc.) DO NOT CLICK IT if you are suspicious. Is that too technical? I may have overstated in saying ‘anything’ because most url’ s are like above, a hundred different characters, strung out in a secret language that makes no sense. However, we were talking about if you receive an email from a source that concerns you and it seems to be encouraging you to click a link that just seems fishy, hover over it, look carefully at it and you will likely see the source of your suspicion revealed therein. You can ALWAYS contact me, or simply forward the email and I will verify it for you. After all, I am here to help you decipher this never-ending onslaught of technical jargon and help you survive this Tsunami of TMI that we are all drowning in. Please check your browsers via the above link, ask me a question, give me a lap dance or just send me $$. It’s all good. Aloha! Brian _______________________

Free Beer and Pizza

Aloha everyone! Brian here from MB Technologies, LLC to dazzle and entertain with a bit of guidance and humor thrown in for good measure. I constantly lament the state of tech and amidst this tsunami of information, useless flotsam and meaningful jetsam, how to tell the difference between them and cut to the solution. After all, what is it that you really want to accomplish? Despite the wild variety of software and end-purposes, the truth is, people just want to get their work done. Did you know, in the ‘olden’ days, the think-tanks and experts promoted the idea that computers would allow the workforce to do more work in fewer hours resulting in more leisure time for the workers? LOL!!!! Not in America my friends, maybe in Sweden or Germany, but not here. It has come to mean that fewer people can do the job of many. We are so convinced of our need to be available, many of us no longer really disconnect from the office. But I digress. While at my favorite watering hole this last weekend, they suffered the ignominious insult of having their POS (Point of Sale) computer system crash and require a complete reboot. Wow. I know almost everyone there by name, they are some of the nicest, friendliest wait staff anywhere and I count many as my friends. I will tell you though, they were HATERS that day! I had never heard so many F-Bombs, vague threats towards management, gnashing of teeth and speaking in tongues all whilst screaming about their inability to do their jobs correctly. WORST DAY EVAR! They couldn’t submit orders, run credit card charges or even open their cash drawers! They had NO alternate system and it was true chaos. Being an IT admin and knowing exactly what was going on, it was amusing. At first. As I watched the meltdown continue it became clear to me that this is how my users (clients) feel when computer things don’t go their way. Even though we are all inextricably linked to the network, the Internet, our Smart Phones, our work process, our email, etc., the link is tenuous. Interrupted for whatever reason, we are bereft of input and output. We are disconnect. We cannot think straight much less get our work done. The resultant angst is understandable and yes, I feel the same way if I come into the office and I can’t get to the Internet. Does not make me happy. It is exactly that need for absolute perfection at all times that creates this paradigm of near hysteria if anything and I mean ANYTHING goes wrong. DO you have ANY idea how many things CAN go wrong? SRSLY?! There is hardly any amount of money that can create a system that is entirely infallible and completely perfect, because in the end, one system depends on another. They are all interconnected by the thinnest of wires. Bringing it all around to a completed circle, I, we, can only do the best we can with the tools we have at our disposal. BTW, there is always a workaround. If you haven’t ‘Turned it off and turned it on again’, you are doing both of us a disservice. Workarounds are legitimate temporary fixes for problems that need a permanent solution but can be fixed in the short term by modifying behavior, whether it’s the user or the program. Nothing is perfect, after all, this IS a relative world and we all know that what can go wrong, will go wrong. (To misquote a famous ‘law’) But, we here at MB Technologies, LLC really do care about you and it is our intent to protect you from yourself and the noxious rabble that skulk on the Interwebs to steal your banking info and your credit card numbers and crash your computer. BTW, you know how I always tell you to ‘lock your computer’? I just learned, or relearned, that hitting the Windows key + the ‘L’ key will instantly lock your screen. Try it! Leaving your screen ‘open’ invites people to write on your Facebook profile and send emails out in your name. You don’t want THAT do you? Thanks for listening and being part of this grand social experiment. After all, the world has never been at this very moment in time before. It is unique, precious and amazing. These are the good old days. Aloha, Brian _______________________ Brian D. Hughes MB Technologies, LLC brian@mbtechnologies.com (808) 383-9986 Simple Reminder: Be the conscious creator of your experience.

Repetitious Rants Rule

Techno-Rant by Brian D. Hughes
Volume 12 Issue 4

Welcome to my occasional techno-rant, foisted on my unwitting and at times unwilling captive audience. 

So what’s my rant today? Well it could be about ‘Privacy’ on the web, or it could be about ‘Google Glasses’, maybe ‘The Cloud’ or ‘Apple vs. Everyone and Everything that is NOT Apple’.

But no, this isn’t meant to be a divisive or judgmental rant, it’s meant to be an informative and humorous blurb about technology and how it affects each of us. It is so powerful, this emerging techno-juggernaut, embedded, unavoidable, liberating and frighteningly ubiquitous.

Part of the rant today is repetition. Ya, I know. Heard it all before, been there done that, yada-yada-yada, preaching to the choir repetitious. But isn’t that like computing a bit? Repetitious behavior , repetitious processes, repetitious repetition.

So when I tell you about this weeks ‘Major Security Patches’ or how to ‘Restart Your Computer Before Calling’, or to ‘Update Your AV Software’, etc., you are going to let out a big fat yawn. YAWN!

I could fill this awesome rant with super-cool and useful websites and links and then warn you about clicking links in an email, but I won’t. Too bad, too, because I know some really great sites with really great info and articles. But the whole ‘linkage may be evil’ is kind of true.

The amount of conflicting information you receive from competing sources overwhelms and underwhelms simultaneously. 600K Mac’s were infected by a flash virus this week. Oh, gee. I thought they were invulnerable to everything. (Except Apple policies, over-pricing and mind-control)

There really were several important security updates distributed by Microsoft this week that would have been automagically installed to your system IF you had followed my previous (repetitive) posts about how to make sure these updates are done.

BTW, Google recently changed its Privacy Policy and it now protects you less. Did you know that Google will hand over your data if they receive a subpoena for it? ALL OF IT? Sure, so while your law office thought moving to the cloud was such a great idea, all it takes is for opposing counsel to figure out where your data is stored, request the data, receive all of it and leave you breathless.

I am just trying to point out that like life, you can only do your best with the information you have at hand. The information changes daily. That is why I previously pointed out (Repetition) that users can’t remain deaf, dumb and blind when it comes to computing anymore. You can’t really survive as a Luddite in this day and age.

Why would anyone want to? There is such a rich and vibrant culture of instant gratification waiting for you at the end of your mouse-click. Just be smart about it, please. Google it if you have to, but know that they collect and sell your information every time you do a search, unless you opt out and turn that feature off.

This isn’t paranoia or bravado. It’s being as smart as you can be, while getting the most out of it and getting it for free whenever possible.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

End of rant. Aloha, Brian
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What's Your Budget?

Hello to everyone that actually reads these posts. I will try to keep this short, sweet and to a point.

Whenever anyone asks me about what type of system they should buy, whether it be desktop, laptop, netbook, mobile device or whatever, my first question back to them is usually: ‘What’s your budget?’.

It surprises me when people don’t have that in mind, as there is such an enormous swing in price ranges these days. But, if you give me a budget, my next directive is always: ‘Try to get the biggest bang for your buck’.

This is when I get the questions about RAM, MHz, Hard Drive Storage, etc. and what it all means. There are a lot of crazy numbers and letters mixed up on those sale ads at your favorite store or website and they can be a bit confusing.

I know I teased you all about slow computers recently, but it is true that they are never as fast again as the first time you turned them on and booted it up. However, if you are willing to spend some money, (See Title), you could get faster RAM, or better yet, an SSD! Also known as a Solid State Drive.

Yes, the ‘flash drive’ of hard drives is now available for less than $1000 in various configurations and sizes and they CAN make your computing experience much faster at boot up, load times and switching windows.

Unfortunately, to get the most out of them you need the latest and greatest of everything. But that doesn’t mean you can’t see a significant benefit if you are willing to pay for it. Of course your data must be copied to the new drive and the new drive set as your boot device and that is when things get tricky, but laptops and desktops can see a real boost from this upgrade.

But that is like most of life, isn’t it? If you are willing to pay the ‘n’ price, you can get the ‘x’ benefit. I guess the next question I should ask would be ‘Is it worth it?’.

When it’s only one system, it’s yours and for your home, then it may well be. The problem becomes more thorny when you have 50 systems and they are 3 – 5 years old. Maybe then, not so much. After all, our outside life span for business computers is 3 – 5 and if you are going to spend any money at all, it may as well be for a new system with a full warranty.

If you are buying a new system, do yourself a favor and go for the one that already has the SSD and as much RAM as you can fit into it. It will likely be faster and last longer than any computer you have had before.

BTW, Apple will likely be coming out with the iPad3 any day now (3/7/12?) and when they do, the price for the iPad2 will likely drop by $100 immediately. I have never been one to have ‘bleeding edge’ technology, mostly because version 1.0 of anything is for suckers. So in sticking with the theme of budgets and buck bangs, if you REALLY want a mobile device that has that Apple logo, get ready to plunk down your money when the price drop happens soon.

For those that are thinking about the SSD upgrade and have questions, let me know. Just make sure you have a budget in mind. LOL!

Aloha!

Brian
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Speed up, you move too slow!

Aloha everyone!

This is the biggest gripe by far ^^ of all the complaints I hear about computers and even though I have broached this subject before with brilliant insight and tongue-in-cheek genius, but I thought I would revisit this and related issues for your amusement and perhaps, edification.

So, your computer is ‘slow’. It couldn’t be the nut attached to the keyboard, could it? LOL…

zOMG! we have such wild and unreasonable expectations of everything. We kick and scream inside our heads when the elevator stops on a floor we weren’t expecting to let someone on or off and they are only going ONE FLOOR! (“USE THE STAIRS YOU LAZY COW!” You scream!) Of course if we need to go one floor on the elevator, it’s entirely justified. Because of course we are, well, us.

That is kind of the point of what I am driving at. Your perspective of ‘speed’ is skewed because of the pressure on you and the expectations you have for everything. I get it, I am right there with you, but when it comes to computers, I just have such low expectations.

If they even boot up and get to the internets I am overjoyed because of the sheer complexity of the whole of it. It is really quite amazing. But I digress. Your computer will NEVER be as fast as the 1st time you turn it on. NEVER. So learn to get along with what your computer needs and you will be less stressed and get more done.

I often hear, ‘This system is so much slower than my home system.’ LOL. I mean, duh. Your home system is not required to authenticate to a server, run security scans and service requests to large hosted databases. Seriously, these are NOT home systems, they are working machines.

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to reboot your system at the end of the day, log back into the network and then secure your system by locking the screen (CTRL + ALT + DEL , Lock This Computer, for you noobs) and turning off the monitor.

When you come back into the office the next day, updates and scans are finished and the system is all warm and ready to provide you with the benefit of its multi-core processor. But even getting people to do this 90 second procedure is tough. Some users think logging off is the same as rebooting. (It’s not) Some users think that just leaving it running with everything open is just as good. (It’s not)

Despite how I present ways to enhance your computing experience, I meet resistance and derision of the systems, the network, the programs, etc. But when you use things how they are meant to be used, they respond accordingly.

Is this all your fault? No. Do computers suck sometimes? Yes. But how do I tell the difference between a squeaky wheel and a legitimate complaint? It’s all in the way it’s presented. If you have a problem, you need to be able to reproduce it on demand. If you provide a ‘this is slow’ or ‘this crashed one time’ kind of vague complaint it sounds more like whining than someone who has a problem that needs to be resolved.

To let you down even further, lower your expectations of what you want computers to do and instead, work with them. Don’t open and close your applications all day long. Every time you do that you reduce available ‘memory’ for your system. Leave your programs open and move between windows as needed, but try to keep the windows down to an ‘as needed’ basis.

Not all programs get along with other programs. They don’t play well together. That is a tough nut to crack because each program believes that it is the reason you are on a network and have a computer. They could care less your other programs crap out when they are in command.

Do me a favor though. When you do have a crash or an identifiable problem, screen capture and or document the instance of the problem so that we can search for solutions and fix your problem. To screen cap simply use CTRL + PrntScr to grab the active window, then paste it into an email or into WordPad and send it to us. Voila!

For more obscure issues without an error screen, document the problem. As in, every time I do A., B. happens. It helps us help you.

That is really what this is all about. We want to help you be productive and (reasonably) satisfied with your professional computing experience. But it takes two to tango and we need you to follow these simple directives so we can all get along.

Thanks for listening and Happy Monday!

Turn Off, Look Around, Disconnect ~ Or not....

Aloha! Brian from MB Tech here, assailing you in electronic format, trying to get your attention for just a few seconds.

You see, the saturation of technology and the intrusion of it into our lives is both a blessing and a curse, don’t you know?

Sure I can Google anything from Anarchy (Sons of) to Santorum (Don’t look that one up) and get millions of hits, but getting the information I want quickly and efficiently without having to go down the rabbit hole to get it, or sift through millions of irrelevant junk links, are just a couple of the many challenges facing us each day we turn on our computers.

LOL! Yeah, right. Turn ON your computers. Your computer, like mine, is likely ALWAYS ON. What is the point of turning it off anymore? If not the PC, what about your mobile device, your tablet, your laptop, your netbook, your iPhone, your kids computer, your TV, your TiVo, etc.? Always on, always connected, GPS Tracking, Location Broadcasting, your work PC two clicks away, it just never ends.

I was just reading a story about ‘sleep texting’ because people leave their phones on the nightstand as an alarm clock, it buzzes, they wake up, half asleep, knock out a text or two, wake up the next day and have no memory of it.

Is this a luddite kind of warning, asking us to hearken back to more innocent times? Ah, the halcyon days of our youth when everything was perfect, perfectly innocent and gumdrop trees spilled their magical fruit into our mouths and all was right with the world?

Of course not. This is a guide to managing your online life, your devices and your sanity, as mine (Sanity and patience) is under assault as well.

As the old saying goes, ‘I have one nerve left, and you are standing on it!’, is about how I feel sometimes with the crush of constant access required by everyone 24/7/365. It is just non-stop and fraught with ‘OMG! 911’ importance, according to some users anyway.

Turns out, not so much. If Timothy Leary were still alive, maybe his motto ‘Turn on, Tune in, Drop Out’ would be better said as ‘Turn Off, Look Around, Disconnect’. Hello! McFly!??! ANYONE IN THERE?! Put down the phone and LOOK AT ME.  And please quit yelling into your phone while on the elevator hoping that the voice on the other end can somehow magically hear you! YOU ARE IN AN ELEVATOR!

Trust me, I am guilty of it too. (Not the elevator part) But again, this is supposed to be a note that might help you gain some perspective on the unending onslaught of information, computers, devices and demands to be available and connected at all times. It is NOT sustainable.

It is certainly going to increase before it decreases, unless you take steps to manage it now. I will tell you one thing, Dick Tracy never saw this coming.

The answer, quite simply, is to set boundaries. Like no remote access to work. No work email to your mobile device. No texting while walking down Bishop. Put your hands in your pocket and look up at the sky for a change. Disconnect each and every day for an hour, two or more.

This isn’t helping, I know. We all know better, but it is so compelling. There is a feeling of power that comes from the ability to connect from anywhere at all times, but you are paying a steep price for it. Is it really worth it?

Turn Off, Look Around, Disconnect and Rejoin the Human Race. Or Google it.

Of course if you want to create new connections, configure your mobile device for more access, add a new computer, server or service to your quiver of access capable devices, let us know. We aim to please.

Aloha! Brian

Answers and Opinions to Todays Questions Tomorrow!

Aloha. Here's my opinion or answer to some computer questions I get asked regularly: (BEWARE! Humor lurking)

1. If I own a Mac will it prevent me from being exposed to vulnerabilities on the Internet?

Answer: Yes! And, they never crash, don't use electricity, run at the speed of light, make chocolate ice cream and are FREE! If you believe every ad that you watch on the tube, then you are a victim of your own gullibility. They do have a lower exposure, but they are not invulnerable, except in Steve Jobs mind.

2. What is this 'Cloud Computing' I hear everyone talking about?

Answer: Oh! The Clouds are Beautiful today! They are magical and mysterious pillows of light and energy that are in every diagram of networks and the Internets you have ever seen. However, the real answer is less cool. Ever use GMail? HotMail? Yahoo Mail? Yeah, that is 'Cloud Computing'. Whoop-Dee-Dee. If all your info is stored on the Internets (The Cloud) and if you don't have a computer and an Internet connection, you don't have access to your data. Cure all? Answer to all things Internet? Doubt it.

3. Seriously though, how can I get infected even though I have up-to-date anti-virus software?

Answer: Because your IT guy sucks. Nah! Joke! ;) No, the problem is, there are different avenues to exploit vulnerabilities within your system, the bad guys are working 24/7/365 to trick you into falling into their traps and your bad habit of opening every email and clicking on every link sent to you increases your exposure exponentially. Seriously though, website infections are the most effective form of distributing FakeAV attacks, malware, trojans and viruses, which make million$$ of $$ for the bad guys. Using Firefox or Chrome instead of Internet Explorer lower your exposure to these infections. Using Uncommon sense lowers your exposure further.

4. Should I upgrade to Windows 7?

Answer: Yes! Send me your money now! Ha ha. Face it, in an office where security is enforced through policies, etc., the compelling reasons aren't as cost effective as we would hope. You can't 'upgrade' XP to Windows 7, you have to export settings, install Windows 7, then reinstall all your applications, then import those settings. YOUCH! Expen$ive and time consuming. However, the features of Windows 7 are numerous and desirable in the workplace and at home. So, if buying a new computer, embrace Windows 7, lower your users privileges accordingly and utilize the UAC to your advantage! ;)

5. What is UAC? Answer: Under Achiever's Club? Upper Atmospheric Clouds? No. User Access Control. It's how Windows 7 forces a user to elevate their rights to run programs, etc., to avoid unnecessary exposure to programs trying to take control of your computer. Kind of a pain sometimes, but worth it.

6. Which computer model should I buy?

Answer: The one that fits your budget and does every thing you need it to. Of course, I have some fav brands and models, but you know they change every single day. Always go for the biggest bang for the buck and for laptops, insist on a 3 year warranty, because any laptop that has a 1 year warranty only, (unless a disposable unit like a netbook), will cost you more than the price of replacement for almost any repair, once that year is up.

7. Why is my home computer SO much faster than THIS one!

Answer: Because it's at home where you wish you were. But SRSLY folk, our work systems are burdened with many applications, services and settings that are not on a home system and never will be. Just authenticating to a domain controller (server) requires several layers of security and communication between the systems that slows things down. So, try and be patient.

8. Why do you sound so grumpy when I call you on the phone?

Answer: I have an aversion to technology in the form of handsets. FML! I am afraid it's my mom calling me again to make sure I am wearing clean underwear in case I get into an accident. I am a man, therefore cannot multi-task. Phone call + walking = BRAIN FREEZE! I prefer emails for audit trail purposes, because the older I get, the more I forget. Real Answer: I am just a grumpy old white guy! :)

Hope this helps, hope it made you LOL! If you have any questions you would like me to answer, let me know.