DID YOUR USB PORT(S) SUDDENLY STOP WORKING?

THIS COULD BE WHY...

 

 

 

On many electronic devices, not just computers, a little chip can be found. It's FTDI's FT232RL and apparently there are an unknown amount of counterfeit chips that have been installed in these devices, including your computer [obviously to save pennies on each chip, but saving manufacturers a lot of money when hundreds of thousands are bought in bulk].

 

What does this chip do? It converts your USB back to a serial port for data to be transferred. It lives a simple life beyond that. A recent Microsoft update [whether intended to or not] shut down any computer USB port which had a counterfeit chip on the motherboard, or an accessory board plugged into the motherboard.

 

I got this information from Hack-A-Day's website along with links to workaround it and get that counterfeit chip back to work.

 

LINK to configuration file

 

LINK to instructions

 

If it seems too technical, and you believe you have the counterfeit chip please consult with your local technical support for help [like myself].

 

'Nuff Said,

Brian

 

 



NO SURPRISE - ANOTHER ADOBE FLASH EXPLOIT

"FIESTA"

Update your Adobe Flash ASAP, because a nasty new Flash exploit called "Fiesta" is out, in-the-wild, ready to snag your computer browser. If you're running Windows, or Mac, users should update to Flash Player 15.0.0.189, or 13.0.0.250 if they’re using the extended support release.

You can read the Adobe security bulletin HERE, but let's update your Adobe "Flash" first...

'Nuff Said,
Brian

ACCOUNT HACKING WILL NEVER END

SO, MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOURSELF

Dropbox was the latest company to have email addresses and passwords exposed, but they won't be the last. Facing reality, you must come to terms with the fact that any Internet company or service will be hacked and it's not a question of "IF", but "WHEN" it will happen. Some preventative maintenance will save you from changing hundred's of passwords should one of your sites/services get hacked.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

1. If you don't already have a password manager that comes within security software you already have [i.e. - like Norton 360, or Symantec Internet Security] - then get one. This will allow you to make senseless/almost endless passwords like Cb!f1$4!hY&568zZ!432One! that aren't easy to guess/crack, AND...
2. Make each password different for every website you visit that requires a password so when a website/service is hacked you only have to change one password instead of a "Buttload", along with...
3. Create a backup of your password manager list with includes the website, login name and password, so should it be corrupted or otherwise unusable you can still retrieve your list.

Password managers usually work the same way - You'll have a master password to open the vault, and then when you go to a website that has your logon name and password it will fill it in automatically.

In the "Vault" used by Norton 360 you can actually use it like your favorites and scroll down to the site you want to log into, click on it and the browser takes you to the website and logs you into it with your credentials.

When the vault is closed, you can access it, and most vaults have some sort of encryption used on the data held inside them. Every time you change a password you should make a new backup of the password manager/vault data to keep it as accurate and up-to-date as possible.

'Nuff Said,
Brian