An Internet Consultant's Views, Thoughts, and Suggestions!
Ozdachs offers a discussion of tech-related topics based on our experience designing websites, helping organizations use social media and Internet marketing. These comments are our opinions and views, and your comments are welcome!
A more straight-forward outline of Ozdachs’ consulting services is presented at our Internet Marketing and web design business site.
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What’s Heartbleed and Why Do You Care?
You know how you’re told to put your private social security number or credit card information only into sites that are secure? Their site address is https:// instead of just http:// . Your browser will display a lock icon, turn something green, or give you another indication that what you send in cannot be stolen by third parties?
Well, it turns out these https:// sites are not secure at all.
Monday one of the biggest suppliers of encryption code said that their widely used library has a flaw in it which allows anyone to look at 64,000 characters that is in the host server’s memory. Your retirement account username and password and social security number might be part of the 64kB of information a passing bad guy looked at. Or, the username and password to Gmail account […]
Amazon Joins (Suddenly Leads?) the Streaming Video Race
This afternoon I went to Amazon to buy dog dental treats (why else??) and was greeted with the slash page announcement that Amazon now has its TV-connecting box for streaming NetFlix, Amazon, Huluplus, etc., etc.
Amazon fire TV takes voice commands, which might be fun, if it works, and I’m intrigued by its claim to buffer programs it thinks you’ll want before you hit play.
We love our old Roku, but if you haven’t taken the plunge to streaming video this looks pretty good. Check out more info at Amazon.
Why Upgrading a PC to Windows 8 is Not an Option
I saw your notice about Windows XP, both my laptop and my roommate’s desktop are running XP. Can I buy one operating system with two licenses? Do you know if I can and where AND what will help me decide for Professional or Home Premium?
I wish I could give this client a simple, “Click Here to Buy new Windows” link.
The initial, huge problem is that Microsoft itself writes that, “Very few older computers will be able to run Windows 8.1, which is the latest version of Windows.” (see Microsoft’s page on upgrading from XP).
That Microsoft page gives lots of details and things to check. One program will test your computers to see if they are beefy enough to run the new operating system. (Download “Windows […]
More on the Death of XP
My opinion posted yesterday that people running Windows XP should either upgrade or unplug from the Internet has resulted in some excellent challenges. I’ve been told that there is a reputable article published here or there that says that if you take some precautions you can keep running XP.
The most common rebuttal has been that the writer is running an antivirus program and they say that will protect them. And, the idea that an anti-virus program should keep you safe is very reasonable.
There are steps you can take that a consensus of experts say will give you good protection. However, I have not run across any expert that says simply using an anti-virus program is sufficient. I don’t understand the technical details, but apparently some holes in the operating system […]
You Have Two Weeks to Replace Your Windows XP PC
If you are running Windows XP on your computer you absolutely must upgrade it by April 8th or stay completely off the Internet.
If you use a Mac or have a PC running Windows 7 or Windows 8, you can click back to Facebook or Google yak breeding in New Zealand. This post doesn’t concern you.
For Windows XP users: This is not a drill!
Here’s why.
Microsoft has announced that it is discontinuing support for the Windows XP operating system on April 8th. Computers with XP will continue to run, but Microsoft won’t write any more code or offer any more fixes for that operating system.
That doesn’t sound very alarming. Your old computer will still work. The operating system has been around for a long time, it’s stable, […]