Monday, April 22, 2019

What is RAT Malware, and Why Is It So Dangerous?

Did You Know?:

In 1997, Crayola released a line of crayons that cashed in on the whole Internet craze with color names like “on-line orange,” “web surfin’ blue,” and “circuit board green.”

 

April 22, 2019

Did You Know?

In 1997, Crayola released a line of crayons that cashed in on the whole Internet craze with color names like “on-line orange,” “web surfin’ blue,” and “circuit board green.”

 
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What is RAT Malware, and Why Is It So Dangerous?


A Remote Access Trojan (RAT) is a type of malware that allows hackers to monitor and control your computer or network. But how does a RAT work, why do hackers use them, and how do you avoid them? Read More »

 
How to Install Google Chrome Extensions in Microsoft Edge


Microsoft’s new Edge browser built on Chromium is now available—in beta. But by default, you can only install a small number of Microsoft-approved extensions. Here’s how to install extensions from the Chrome Web Store in the new Edge. Read More »

 
How to Detect Hidden Surveillance Cameras With Your Phone


A family recently discovered a rude surprise at their Airbnb: a hidden camera disguised as a smoke detector in the living room. Here are two ways to check for cameras—in an Airbnb or elsewhere—using only an iPhone or Android phone. Read More »

 
Windows 10’s “Sets” App Tabs Are “No More”


Sets was going to bring tabs to File Explorer and other Windows applications. An early version of Sets once appeared in Windows Insider builds, but Microsoft pulled it. Now, according to Microsoft’s Rich Turner on Twitter, Sets is “no more.” Read More »

 
Daily News Roundup: Your Passwords Are Probably Trash

Recently, the UK’s National Cyber Security Center paired up with Have I Been Pwned?’s Troy Hunt to conduct a survey that analyzed passwords of accounts that had been breached. Turns out that most users (still) suck at using strong passwords.

The top passwords found in the study? “123456,” followed by “123456789.” Other brilliant things, like “qwerty,” “password,” and “111111” rounded out the top five spots, with “123345678,” “abc123,” and “password1” all finding spots in the top 10. People’s names, band names, and sports teams were also among the most used (and most breached) passwords. Fantastic.

It’s no wonder we hear about new data breaches almost weekly these days—passwords like these do about as much to protect your data as not using one at all. If you find yourself using anything similar to these passwords—or even reusing the same passwords on multiple sites—it’s time to re-think your password strategy.

The good news is that we have your back. Choosing a strong password is actually easy; as is remembering those passwords. How? By using a password manager. It may seem a bit daunting to get started, but we can help with that too.

As an aside, if you’re curious about any of the passwords you currently use, you can cross-reference them with the Have I Been Pwned?’s database—and don’t worry, it’s completely safe. So check your passwords, change the ones that have been part of a breach (or are just generally weak), and get yourself a good password manager to help with it all—lest you find yourself on the wrong end of one of these lists.

In other news, Apple may be bringing some of iOS’ best features to macOS, Netflix is testing its own version of the I’m feeling lucky” button, Google Assistant is coming to third-party accessories, and a lot more.

  • More iOS features may be coming to macOS: The word on the street is that macOS may be getting Screen Time, Siri Shortcuts, and more in macOS 10.5. The convergence grows. [The Verge]
  • Netflix gets random: Hidden deep inside the Netflix Android app is a new “random” button that picks the next episode you watch for you, making TV-watching even more mindless than it already is. Yay? [Android Police]
  • Google Assistant is coming to accessories: You can already launch Assistant on phones, tablets, Chromebooks, and smart speakers, but it looks like hardware accessories will soon be able to invoke the digital assistant. Keyboards, mice, styluses, and the like will all be prime candidates for the Assistant button. I’m in. [Chrome Unboxed]
  • Samsung folds: It looks like the company is rethinking this Galaxy Fold thing for the time being—it canceled launch events in China that were set for this week. [Reuters]
  • JC Penny drops Apple Pay: In a surprising move, retailer JC Penny has removed support for Apple Pay from its stores and app with absolutely no explanation why. It just sort of…disappaeared. [9to5Mac]
  • App betrayal: A recent study by the American Medical Association found that apps designed to help users quit smoking or cope with depression are also sharing their findings with Google and Facebook. 29 of the top 36 apps are sharing data, and only 12 of them disclose it in their privacy policy. Sickening. [JAMA Network]
  • Austria wants to know who you really are: A new draft law in Austria would require users to give their real name and address before commenting on large public sites. Whoa. [Engadget]
  • SuperTuxKart goes online: In more fun news, open source racing game SuperTuxKart hit a huge milestone this weekend: after 12 years in development, version 1.0 was released. And it includes online play! [Liliputing]
  • God of War was almost totally different: If you’ve played the newest God of War game, then you know there’s an absolutely iconic moment around the midway point that changes the entire feel of the game. I don’t want to give any spoilers to anyone who hasn’t played, but that moment almost didn’t happen. [Gamespot]

In more fun news, over the weekend Android Police published a hilarious look at 13 times Google Assistant completely failed to provide the right information or context. As useful as digital assistants are, it’s a good (and fun) reminder that there’s still a long way to go before we have to worry about AI taking over the world.

 
What’s New in Chrome 74, Arriving April 23


The stable version of Chrome 74 is set to land on April 23rd. It will include a dark mode on Windows, Incognito detection blocking, support for media keys in PiP, various Chrome OS improvements, and a lot more. Read More »

 
DEAL OF THE DAY
Daily Deals: An Xbox One S + Battlefield V for $170, a Google Pixelbook for $619, a 23.8″ Monitor for $85, and More


Right now, websites like Rakuten, Amazon, eBay, and Best Buy are running some killer deals. These deals range from $50 Corsair gaming keyboards to $190 smart sprinkler controllers, but as always, we have a few favorites. Read More »

 
Windows Updates Are Breaking PCs With These Antivirus Programs


On April 9, Microsoft issued a Windows patch that broke PCs with certain antivirus programs installed. This affects PCs running Windows 7, 8.1, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, and Server 2012 R2—not Windows 10, this time. Read More »

 
How to Lock Text Boxes in Word

Locking text boxes is a great way to protect specific content in your document from changing, either accidentally or intentionally. Here's how to lock your text boxes in Word. Read More »

 
How to Use Excel’s Split Screen Function

Splitting screens, whether vertically or horizontally, is a great way to streamline your workflow when using Excel. Using this feature lets you simultaneously view separate sections of a spreadsheet, enabling you to compare data quickly. Here's how. Read More »

 
GEEK TRIVIA

Which Star Trek Actor Is Responsible For Inventing The Klingon Language?
Michael Dorn »
William Shatner »
James Doohan »
Leonard Nimoy »
 
How to Show or Hide the Home Button in Google Chrome

Remember when all web browsers had a button that would redirect you back to a predetermined homepage? While Google prides itself on having a clutter-free interface, some people reminisce of the days when you could click a button and return to your homepage. Read More »

 
 

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