The Everything I.T. help forum that was recently created, went down shortly after being created because the software wasn’t compatible with the latest version of PHP…but it’s back up and running again. So if you have any questions you need help with, you can post there and get help for free.
Today I was cleaning out some stuff, and I found an old camera SD card with a bunch of old photos on it. This is just one image that shows how long I’ve been repairing computers and other electronics…and how much LESS junk I accumulate now that things are shrinking in size, and BOY am I GRATEFUL! And notice all the USPS boxes I used to have to hang on to to ship leftovers I sold on eBay. I stopped that a long time ago also.
I’m glad I don’t need all this space any more.
I try to stay up on what some of the most drastic compromises are, and today, WordFence put out another notice, this time about 8 compromised GOOGLE CHROME EXTENSIONS, and how those hacks where used to compromise websites via CLOUDFLARE again. This is the 2nd time Cloudflare has come up in a new discoveries list of compromises. (see my other post) I’m sure glad I never used it. I even thought about it after the last one, because I thought “well, they’ve plugged the holes, maybe it’s good now” …but luckily, I didn’t pursue that. This Cloudflare compromise is big, and affects 4.8 million users. And even though I do use “1” of them, probably the most common one, Web Developer extension, I think I’m ok, because it’s .4.8 that is affected, and I’m on version .5. So keeping things updated, obviously pays off. If you want to read the article and want to know what the other 7 extensions that are affected are, READ HERE: https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2017/08/chrome-browser-extension-attacks/?utm_source=list&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=081717
Yep. That’s right. Version 4.8.1 is out…so keep your site secure, and go update it! Just my courtesy notification for you… I just tested it, updated the first 5 sites, and no glitches, not even one! 🙂
The forum is having issues after the site upgraded to php 7.1. please bear with us. If you have an issue, please use the chat link on the page to get help right away. Thank you.
Finally! A few months ago, I joined the GoDaddy customer feedback board, so that I could voice my, and others’ dissatisfaction with them for not giving shared hosting clients the PHP version 7 upgrade. They said it was too much work for shared hosting. When I joined this feedback team, they had said they were “working on it” but that it could be December 2017 or later before they finished. I had found many forums where people were complaining about it, and leaving GoDaddy because of it. Well I’ve been with them over 10 years, and this is the first issue I’ve really had with them, and when they started this feedback board, and solicited memberships, I got on the bandwagon, and I let them know. I’m sure it wasn’t just me, because there were likely many others as well, but I was pleasantly surprised this week to find in my inbox not only the ability to upgrade to PHP 7.0, but 7.1 as well. And it’s only JULY!! So GoDaddy does seem to listen to their long time clients, and they do seem to care whether we stick around or not. (Because I was going to leave too if it didn’t change, it was hurting my site) So, there you go, GoDaddy shared hosting clients…go run and upgrade your PHP. If my site is down any time this coming week, it means I’m doing mine, and there were issues. (I need a new theme anyway, so it probably will be down) …HAVE FUN!!
We search the web to find the best news to bring to you. Today I learned about this great new app that comes with a device that plugs in to your car’s computer, and it monitors your car, and will diagnose over 7,000 problems your car can have. It used to be only the dealers or a mechanic with a big computer could diagnose these things, but now you and everyone can. It syncs with your smartphone, and it is in simple language for everyday people. Check it out! It’s called FIXD
Perhaps, maybe. Though I don’t know the quality. Maybe if some of you have seen this or something similar, you will tell me how it works. I got all too excited when I saw on sale at Fry’s Electronics today, and actual HUD (heads up display unit) for vehicles. As an aircraft technician since the 70’s, I have been hoping for many years this technology would convert over to public vehicles, looks like maybe it has finally: http://www.frys.com/product/9163418;jsessionid=pRVTWBe5msti7AQjDKiV5g__.node4?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
This discount is currrently available on Retailmenot.com. There is a web address in the image, but if you have Retail Me Not, go check it out if you need a hosting plan!
I previously posted this post: What Is Quality Laptop Repair? Where I showed you one of the many laptops that come in thrashed from people not knowing how to open them up correctly. It was so destroyed in fact, that the top could longer be attached correctly, and not even a good epoxy job could fix it. It was so bad that not only were the plastic moldings holding the threaded inserts destroyed, but someone had “super-glued” the wrong size threaded inserts into the bottom 1/2 of the laptop, in a place where there shouldn’t even be one. So we fixed it right for her. We searched and searched, and found a very nice replacement very cheap for the client, and fixed the laptop correctly (In addition to reinstalling windows and restoring her data, the physical appearance was dramatically improved as well, and since we had some RAM laying around, we stuck that in also. When all was done, this is the laptop the client got back:
The old cracked and broken faceplate to the right of it…
And one last pic of the practically new looking laptop, because we only know how to do things ONE WAY, and that is the “right” way. So please don’t take your laptop to some hack, just because they are cheap…because you don’t know what will happen to your stuff if you do. Bring it to someone with a proven track record of doing things right. Before I got into computers full-time, I was a quality inspector, and I only know one way to do things…correctly.
Microsoft IS discontinuing support for Windows Phone devices (Windows phone 8.1), it’s true. It was built around the Windows 8.1 platform, which was never popular to start with. (MS has a habit of only releasing a good operating system, every “other” build release, and the other half are crap anyway) There are actually a number of MS products being terminated this year, you may be interested in the list. If you can’t see the picture, you can follow the link to the MS page: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4001737/products-reaching-end-of-support-for-2017 I have highlighted some of the most relevant ones for you:
First of all, if you don’t have WordFence plugin installed, install that firewall plugin immediately.
Second: make SURE that your administrative user name HAS NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with your website content.
Third, if WordFence is new for you, go down the list, 1 by 1, and secure your site.
Fourth: run scans regularly on your site to monitor for outdated plugins, changed/edited files, etc. Also check the section titled “failed Login attempts” …and blacklist any usernames that are being used to attempt to login on to your WordPress dashboard. A common one being used by bots currently on ALL/EVERY SITE I MANAGE right now, is “test” …make sure you blacklist that one, along with “admin” and also the name of your site (e.g. commonly used on my site is the username everythingit which is NOT a user. Monitor users if you have login enabled on your site. There is so much more. I realize I haven’t been monitoring as closely as I used to, because I guess I got tired of it, but I definitely see after looking today, that activity has DEFINITELY picked up! So keep an eye out on your site.
Stay Safe. 🙂
Ok…so you end up stranded somewhere in an un-drive-able car, with a dead cell phone, and no charger. What can you do? There is a big huge battery in your car, but you have no cell phone charger…so “how” can you charge your cell phone? This guy is a little off his rocker, but the information is solid. All you really need is a pencil, and maybe a couple strips of wire if you can find some. (borrow some, steal some from somewhere in the car where it’s not essential I guess) I don’t post videos often, but this was just wacky enough (and the science was accurate enough) to be worth posting. Have a watch:
An article on TechRepublic shows the best way to deter hackers, is to use SOLID password protocols in your business, and ENFORCE them, with penalties for failure to comply. The weakest links in security continue to be 1)common passwords, 2) short passwords, 3) re-used passwords, 4) shared passwords …if you want to get a good handle on security and deter hackers at the primary place of defense, and most likely, send them elsewhere; read these 2 articles: HOW TO DETER HACKERS and OVER 1/3 PASSWORDS WEAK ENOUGH TO HACK .
Why is there a difference in price? I had a lady bring in a laptop that wouldn’t boot. The UEFI partition ended up being corrupt in the operating system, and she didn’t have a backup. So the repair entails (1) complete disassembly of the laptop because the Dell Inspiron 5423 does not have an access panel for the hard drive, then (2) removing the hard drive, and backing up her data to another drive, (3) setting up UEFI and a secure boot installation media to reinstall Windows and configure it (4) install security, and all the freeware programs – Adobe, 7-zip, browsers, set up Windows 10 start menu, etc etc. (5) copy a few hundred Gb of files back to new user profile, (6) re-assemble, and clean laptop for client. It’s a job that takes a little bit, especially if done correctly, and carefully. The cheap version? …here’s what you may subject yourself to if you opt for the discount technician (not that I am outrageously expensive, I’m not, but it’s not a $50 job either) If you go with the cheapest guy you can find with no experience, this is what may happen to your laptop: (cracked edges, cracked plastic tabs on edges that hold it together, inside: broken tabs on tiny ziff connectors, missing screws, missing/torn rubber plugs & covers, missing protective tape, etc etc) So keep in mind, cheapest is not always wisest. 🙂 (this is the way this laptop came to me, she said it broke 4 times in one year… ) This is NOT the kind of work that Everything I.T. does! We take the time to a thorough, complete, and quality job for you, like it was our own computer.
Ziff connectors are handy, but they are very fragile. You have to handle them carefully, and they don’t all work the same way:
Some Ziff connectors are even tinier than that:
So the bottom line is, you don’t want just anyone working on your laptop. It takes time, and patience. many times there aren’t any directions on how to open it, and it takes someone with both knowledge and a gentle touch to work on your laptop without breaking it. Goes for phones and tablets as well. So hire your repair technician wisely. 🙂
NOTE: To read the follow up post, go to UPDATE ON QUALITY LAPTOP REPAIR
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