The crew this week:
David Jones
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Your Technology Solution Computer Service
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1) Watch out for a new round of scam Microsoft "we're discontinuing your email version and you must upgrade" emails
The scam emails (see the screenshot) are being sent from email addresses @allmail.net, which is a private budget email provider based in Missouri, and claim that to avoid disruption to your email service, you must upgrade immediately to a new version…
If you were to mouse over the "click here" link on the actual email (or hold your fimnger on it on a touchscreen device), you'd get a pop-up showing that clicking on the link would take you to a fake outlook.com log-in page hosted on Google Docs (which is Microsoft's arch-competitor).
If you were to type in your email address and password, the hackers would immediately gain access to your emails and could start forwarding them to themselves, and then trigger password reset emails from your banking and other accounts, to steal your money and your identity.
NEVER click on links in emails like this!
2) Yahoo Canada has agreed to pay $20.4 million to settle class-action lawsuits over its failure to prevent data breaches
Yahoo suffered multiple data breaches between 2013 and 2016, and was taken to court in the USA and here in Canada, for repeatedly failing to take steps to prevent the theft of user data.
Yahoo has now agreed to settle the Canadian class-action lawsuits, by paying the Canadian equivalent of $15 million USD (that's about $20.4 million CAD). (Yahoo earlier agreed to pay $117.5 million USD to settle similar class-action lawsuits in the USA.)
If you had a Yahoo Canada account between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2016, you're eligible for up to $375.
If you've received an email like the one in the screenshot below, submitted by Tech Talk listener Kirk, you're in Category B, and your claim process is easier…
If you didn't get an email like the one above (check your Junk email folder), but you did have a Yahoo Canada account between Jan. 2012 and Dec. 2016, you can submit a Category A online claim…
The online claim portal is here…
3) If you bought eBooks in Canada between 2010 and 2017, you could share in a $10 million price-fixing class-action settlement
Apple, Kobo, Google, Amazon and Sony have agreed to pay more than $15 million CAD to settle the allegations that they conspired with publishers to inflate the price of eBooks between 2010 and 2017.
$10 million of that money is to be distributed to Canadian who bought eBooks published by Hachette, Harper Collins, Macmillan, Penguin, and Simon & Schuster between April 1, 2010 and March 10, 2017.
If you've received an email from Notice@eBooksCanadianSettlement.ca and it says you're eligible for compensation, there's nothing else you need to do.
If not, but you did buy at least 12 eBooks from the publishers above, via iTunes, Kobo, Google, Amazon Kindle, or Sony, between April 2010 and March 2017, you'll have to submit a claim online before the end of August.
How much money you'll get, will depend on how many people file a claim, and how many eligible eBooks you bought.
Yahoo Finance
Approved Settlements and Distribution of Settlement Benefits in eBooks Canadian Class Actions
Settlements concerning the prices of eBooks sold in Canada have been approved. Anyone who purchased eBooks in Canada from April 1, 2010 to March 10, 2017 may be eligible to receive compensation.
The online claim portal is here… https://www.ebookscanadiansettlement.ca/en/claim
4) London Drugs has restored all services following its ransomware attack and closure, and is now offering credit monitoring and identity theft protection to former employees as well as current staff
Sophsticated hackers using LockBit ransomware last week dumped 300GB of corporate and employee files onto the dark web after London Drugs refuised to pay a $25 million ransom.
So, far, there's no word of any employees having had their finances or identities compromised.
The family-owned BC-based chain initially offered two years of credit- and identity-theft- monitoring to all its employees and encouraged them to take advantage of that, and has subsequently offered to provide that same service to former employees who contact them.
London Drugs' handling of this situation is being hailed as a textbook example of crisis management…
Malwarebytes has some excellent tips on how to avoid ransomware attacks like the one that crippled London Drugs…
Malwarebytes
What is Ransomware? | How to Protect Against Ransomware in 2023
Ransomware is a form of malware that locks the user out of their files or their device, then demands a payment (often in cryptocurrency) to restore access. Learn more about ransomware attacks, how to prevent them, and how security software can roll back ransomware attacks if they happen.
6) US officials have busted a massive Chinese botnet that infected 19 million devices, and have arrested the ringleader
The botnet known as "911 S5" was used to facilitate cyber-attacks, large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats, and export violations.
In addition to working with international partners to dismantle the operation, which infected 19 million computers in almost 200 countries, US officials have arrested Chinese national YunHe Wang, who they say used programs such as MaskVPN and DewVPN to distribute the malware.
The scheme sold access to millions of malware-infected computers worldwide, enabling criminals around the world to steal billions of dollars, transmit bomb threats, and exchange child exploitation materials, allegedly earning YunHe Wang more than $100 million USD.
7) If a message appears on the screen of your phone, tablet, or computer advising that your device is infected or is about to crash, and urging you to call the phone number on the screen, it's a scam.
Here's an iPad screenshot of what one of these scams looks like…
If this appears on the screen, it got there because you clicked on a button or link which took you to what's called a Browser Hijack — a website which has been crafted to try to trick you. Your device is NOT infected. It's just a scam. If you call the number, it'll connect you to a call-centre (often in India) where a scammer will pose as someone from Apple or Microsoft or Samsung or Google, and will offer to fix the problem, either for a hefty fee — they'll want your credit card info — or they'll try to pursuade you to give them banking info. NEVER call the number, and NEVER click on the button or link. Just restart your phone, tablet, or computer and it should go away.
8) Here's an easy way to avoid being scammed:
If you get an email or a text about a problem with an account or service, or about a package that can't be delivered, or an invoice/receipt for an item or service you didn't order, or about a refund owed to you, or about a prize you've won, assume it's a scam, especially if it urges you do something right away.
If you think it might be real, check with your bank, or with the merchant, but NEVER call the number, and NEVER click on the button or link.
Tech News Of The Week
Items start at #10, so the numbers don't get thrown-off if we add more security items above!
Tip: if an item in these Show Notes has the icon on the right in the upper-right corner, you can click/tap on it to make the additional info open in a new tab.
10) Fido and Koodo have reduced the price of some of their mobile plans, but Freedom Mobile and Public Mobile are still cheaper
Rogers-owned Fido has dropped the price of its 50GB plan by $5 to $44 a month, matching Virgin+, and Koodo.
Telus-owned Koodo, meanwhile, is undercutting them by offering a 20GB plan for $34/month, and a 40GB plan for $39/month. While those moves are encouraging, you can still do much better…
Quebec-based Freedom Mobile and Telus-owned Public Mobile are both offering 50GB for $34/month, and unlike the other carriers, that includes Canada/USA calling and data roaming in addition to international texting.
Freedom also offers a 20GB Canada/USA plan for $29/month, and 4GB Canada only for $24/month.
11) We're gaining new insights into how Google's top-secret website ranking algorithm works, via 2500 leaked internal documents
Google now admits the 2,500 leaked internal documents are authentic, but is cautioning us against making inaccurate assumptions about Search based on what it says is out-of-context, outdated, or incomplete info.
Nevertheless, the documents do give to valuable insight into Google's closely-guarded and constantly evolving search algorithm…
12) The end of an era: ICQ is being shut down after 27 years
One of the oldest, still-running online platforms is finally closing its doors after 27 years: ICQ has announced via its website that it'll be shutting down next month.
ICQ is considered one of, if not the earliest, instant messaging service on the internet.
The platform, named after the phrase "I Seek You," was developed by a small Israeli company named Mirabilis and launched in November 1996. ICQ predates other popular IM services like AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) which became synonymous with the instant messaging space.
13) Google is scrambling to manually remove a flurry of weird answers which its updated Gemini AI engine is generating
Social media is abuzz with examples of Google’s new AI Overview product saying weird stuff, from telling users to put glue on their pizza to suggesting they eat rocks!
The messy rollout means Google is racing to manually disable AI Overviews for specific searches as various memes get posted, which is why we're seeing so many of them disappear shortly after they're being posted to social networks…
14) It looks like Apple is planning to bring Apple TV+ to Android
Apple is finally bringing the Apple TV app to Android phones and tablets, as reported by Bloomberg. Apple is in the process of hiring engineers to help lead the effort and build out the software.
Apple has an app for the Android smart TV platform, but not for Android devices themselves.
15) Netflix may be about to disable downloads on laptops & PC's
There are conflicting reports, and no word either way from Netflix, but it does appear that the streaming giant is toying with disabling downloads for offline watching on Windows PC's and laptops.
Numerous subscribers have seen this pop-up when launching the Netflix app on their laptop…
It’s tricky to say what’s happening here. Others have had a similar pop-up but without the "removing downloads" message…
It’s possible this pop-up was an error and Netflix will not be removing download support from its Windows app. However, it’s also possible Netflix is just doing A/B testing to gauge online reaction to a potential change. This is something we’ve seen before many times, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
In the meantime, if you're a Netflix subscriber who relies on downloads through the Windows app, now might be a good time to message Netflix and let it know you'd like to keep that feature around.
16) Netflix is making waves with a big push into live events
Netflix is making a major push into live events, signaling a shift in strategy on its content offerings and flashing a stark warning sign to legacy media brands who have, for decades, dominated the live television landscape.
Insiders say no decision has been more significant than Netflix’s agreement with the NFL to broadcast games on Christmas Day each of the next three seasons — a deal that came with a reported price tag of an estimated $75 million USD per game.
17) AirTags lead to recovery of $5 million in stolen tools in DC
After getting fed up with overnight thefts of tools, a Northern Virginia carpenter planted AirTags on his tools, leading Washington DC police to series of storage facilities full of 15,000 stolen tools worth millions of dollars…
18) Apple and OpenAI reportedly have made a deal to bring ChatGPT functionality to iOS 18
Apple wants to bring AI to its platforms, but has focused on privacy-preserving on-device models and not the Large Language Models (LLMs) used by its competitors. So, the company has been seeking a partnership with Google or Microsoft to bring their LLMs to iPhones and iPads.
According to a report, a deal has finally been struck between OpenAI and Apple. The details of the deal aren't known, but it likely means technologies used for ChatGPT could be accessible by Apple users, namely through Siri.
We'll likely learn more at Apple's June 10 keynote at its 2024 WWDC — WorldWide Developers Conference…
20) Walmart will now deliver groceries straight to your fridge.
As part of Walmart's InHome Delivery service, a "Walmart Trusted Assiociate" wearing a camera uses a one-time code for a smart lock or garage door to deliver orders inside your home, putting the cold items into your fredge and freezer. Walmart is expanding InHome delivery to 10 more USA cities, including Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and San Bernardino...
And soon, you won’t even have to order. Walmart is developing a replenishment service that automatically orders groceries for you…
21) Did you know colour pictures date back more than 100 years?
Here's a photo that was taken 111 years ago in 1913 by Stéphane Passet during his visit to the Temple of Confucius, in Qufu, China. It's an enhanced autochrome, originally taken in colour and has not been colourised…
22) Ryan Reynolds reveals sexual Dune-inspired "Deadpool & Wolverine" popcorn bucket
The Canadian actor has also declared 2024 is the start of "The War of the Popcorn Buckets"!
23) Half a century after ABBA burst onto the world stage winning Eurovision 1974, Sweden has knighted the group's four members
The Swedish pop quartet's members are being awarded one of the country's most prestigious knighthoods, the Royal Order of the Vasa, by Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, five decades after the group first rose to international stardom by winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with their hit "Waterloo."
It's also the first time in 50 years that the Royal Order of Vasa has been handed out, with ABBA's Agnetha Faltskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad being named “Commander of the First Class” of the order for their "very outstanding efforts in Swedish and international music life”…
24) Use the Malwarebytes support tool to repair your Malwarebytes Desktop Security app on Windows
"The Support Tool troubleshoots and repairs issues with Desktop Security. If you're experiencing a technical issue with the app, you can use the Support Tool to repair the app. The Repair option removes and reinstalls the app from a device while saving your configurations and activation key."
25) How to deny/remove a website's notification permissions in macOS and Safari
We also recommend that you stop websites from even asking for permission to send notifications:
Launch Safari and go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications > and uncheck the ☑ next to: “Allow websites to ask for permission to send notifications.”
Feliz Cumpleaños to Majo, our international homestay student from Mexico, as she turns 17!
…and finally, our "Sign Of The Week"…
And so it goes…