WordPress 4.9.5 is HERE.

by | Apr 4, 2018 | Blog, internet stuff, Web Development, wordpress

Another WordPress CORE update came out yesterday, PASS IT ON! haha…

Seriously, they do come out regularly. Do you have yours set to “automatically” update. I don’t. It’s probably more work the way I do it, because I do full file and database backup before updating the core files, …and while I have never needed that backup yet, it’s just my luck that the second I stop backing up first, an update will surely bring down my site and I won’t have the means to restore it, so my “automatic” feature, is turned off. How about you? Do you do your own? Do you have someone else do them? Do you ignore them altogether? (We do have an annual service that is very reasonable if you want them done “for” you…with backups first. Just get a hold of me on the contact page, or chat, or voicemail, or however you like really.

Anyway, back to the update. This update fixes 28 bugs, and some major security updates.

WordPress versions 4.9.4 and earlier are affected by three security issues. As part of the core team’s ongoing commitment to security hardening, the following fixes have been implemented in 4.9.5:

  1. Don’t treat localhost as same host by default.
  2. Use safe redirects when redirecting the login page if SSL is forced.
  3. Make sure the version string is correctly escaped for use in generator tags.

Twenty-five other bugs were fixed in WordPress 4.9.5. Particularly of note were:

  • The previous styles on caption shortcodes have been restored.
  • Cropping on touch screen devices is now supported.
  • A variety of strings such as error messages have been updated for better clarity.
  • The position of an attachment placeholder during uploads has been fixed.
  • Custom nonce functionality in the REST API JavaScript client has been made consistent throughout the code base.
  • Improved compatibility with PHP 7.2.  (Aaron D. Campbell, 4-3-2018, “WordPress 4.9.5 Security and Maintenance Release” )

If you want to read the full Release Notes, you can read those here: https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/04/03/wordpress-4-9-5/

If you subscribe to my blog, or my facebook page, I do try to put out a notice for all “important” WordPress updates and/or changes, so follow if it makes life easier for you. 🙂

What is a CPE?

by | Apr 2, 2018 | Blog, Computers, general, internet stuff

Ok, I had a potential client call me this morning, and ask me if was familiar with 5ghz CPE. I wasn’t at home or near computer when she called, and as soon as I indicated I didn’t have 100% knowledge on the subject she hung up. Big mistake on her part. Folks, it’s a COMMON marketing ploy to take an age old technology, wrap it in a new box (i.e.: …give it a new name) and hope that the general public is dumb enough not to recognize it and pay the 250% markup they are hoping to get on it. I get so tired of it really. It started with “THE CLOUD” …remember when that term was new? How many of you were, or maybe still are, confused the “The Cloud” …big clue…the “CLOUD” …is just another term for the internet, and internet related products and services. Stuff stored “in the cloud” …is not all that mysterious. This is only 2018 and everything has a PHYSICAL location. Someone, somewhere, has a data center, and you connect to it through the internet, and that’s the cloud.

OK, so back the CPE thing: CPE stands for “CUSTOMER PREMISES EQUIPMENT” …it’s equipment, owned by your internet (or other) service provider, and located on your premises. Pretty lame huh? Basically, a 5Ghz CPE is a “mysterious” nomenclature for a N-band router. (even more lame now that you know, right?) …oh, not just any router, a router owned by your service provider, located on a customer’s premises. I rolled over laughing hysterically when I looked this up ….and I see that the term is actually being used more and more often now. Like this one I saw at on a Fry’s electronics ad today: https://www.frys.com/product/9226939?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG …it’s an outdoor wifi repeater/range extender/switch unit thingy that sends the wifi signal from your house (indoors) …to your outdoors area. I guess you must have to have a very big house to need one of these, because my standard router sends a signal that I can reach out in my carport, and a good 500 yards away from my door. (or more, I never actually measured it as I drove away, but I would not have a need for this device)

If you want some info on the 5Ghz signal (wifi) …this is a pretty good page: https://www.howtogeek.com/222249/whats-the-difference-between-2.4-ghz-and-5-ghz-wi-fi-and-which-should-you-use/

Do you think I’m making this up? I’m seriously not. Read here: https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/CPE-device

Not Just Websites:

Not Just Websites:

by | Mar 5, 2018 | general

Images, Documents, and Other Stuff! 

I think that sometimes people forget that “Information Technology” encompasses so much more than websites and computer repair. I also create and edit many kinds of documents: Word, spreadsheets, images, audio, video, programming, data organization and management, and the list goes on. I get image requests of various kinds quite frequently. And while it’s true I am more of a programmer than an artist, if the client can communicate what it is they want, I can do it. (I just don’t usually dream it up) This young man wanted an animated gif for his store, it came out decent so I thought I would share it. It looks simple, but it has over a hundred layers and over a hundred frames.

Just one of the many little jobs I do. Give me a call with YOUR special project!

Threat Advisories and Attack Reports 2018 Winter Olympics

by | Jan 30, 2018 | general

With over one million tickets for sale, the 2018 Winter Olympics will bring large crowds that demand connectivity and technological access, giving hackers a target-rich environment. If you are planning on participating, either as a viewer, or as a participant, in the 2018 Winter Olympics, then you should probably read this article to understand all the ways you may/could be targeted for one of many various digital attacks. Informed is 1/2 the battle, after all. https://security.radware.com/ddos-threats-attacks/threat-advisories-attack-reports/2018-winter-olympics/