Computer piracy is probably more common than people admit. Especially in the business world. All those companies have tons of money, so no problem, right? Sorry, afraid not. Yarrr! Its illegal! Obviously, yeah. You want to save some money, but it could get you in trouble with the law. Employees (especially disgruntled ex-employees), even customers who know you’re pirating can actually report you with the possibility of getting a cash reward/bounty if you get busted. nopiracy.org The fines can be pretty bad (they’ve got rewards to pay out). https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/10/software-piracy-claims-can-ruin-your-business-and-reward-those-responsible/ While unlikely, a software vendor could possibly request an audit to make sure you’re in compliance. https://redmondmag.com/articles/2010/09/01/beware-the-bsa.aspx Its not safe! Trojans, malware, and viruses oh my! Many common programs have inexpensive alternatives, even free/open-source ones. LibreOffice or OpenOffice (OSS). GIMP, Inkscape, and Scribus for some of Creative Cloud. Affinity and others for cheap. Do you really NEED the big fancy name software? Being paid/legit means you can get support from the company. Important for updates. Important for compliance within your industry (HIPPA).
Looking a little more at Web Email! (2/15/20 Part 1)
So, webmail. Webmail – A comparison Its easy to get, easy to use, but is there more to consider about it? Do you have to move a lot? Are you getting ready to change ISP? Do you have special features you need? Yeah, there’s lots to think of! https://itsfoss.com/secure-private-email-services/ https://thatoneprivacysite.net/email-comparison/ http://blogs.mdaemon.com/index.php/2017/02/09/email-safety-tips-for-end-users/
Fake News, Fake Snooze… (2/15/20 Part 2)
Fake news. Fake News! Or is it? Whether we like it or not, its now a part of our cultural landscape, just like annoying reality TV shows and pop songs that get stuck in your head. “No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.” ~H.L. Mencken Newsguard, one of our favorite plugins, is getting a subscription. It might be worth checking out. And some fun links to help examine your thinking: https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/ https://yourbias.is/ The podcast and the Wednesday replay is brought to you by Audible! Get a free audiobook and 30-day trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/MauiOnline !
Online Self-Defense 101 (1/25/20 Part 1)
In case you missed it, Jeff Bezos (yes, THAT Jeff Bezos) might’ve been hacked recently. How Not to Get Hacked – Part 1 So, what is non-billionaire you to do? Fear not, Jonathan talks about just that! Including his basic password recipe for anyone to use!
Keeping Safe Online 101 (1/25/20 Part 2)
Jonathan and LD continue talking about computer security basics for everyday people like you and me! How Not To Get Hacked – Part 2 Simple things, things to look for, and more!
Fact Checking 101 for 2020! (1/18/20 Part 1)
We’re in an election year, and that means brushing up on our fact checking! So, of course, we’ve got some handy-dandy reading for you while you’re listening to the show! Fact Checking 101 https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2018/01/how-to-fact-check-the-atlantic/551477/ https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2014/aug/20/7-steps-better-fact-checking/ https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/2016/07/20/the-10-best-fact-checking-sites/?fbclid=IwAR0FTgj6Z2WMvlTAlkp2g_-tsQfs8JN2gP6X1PFX120ek4_haJ1ErQXS6L0 https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/ https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/The_Dragon_in_My_Garage https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/03/baloney-detection-kit-carl-sagan/
Windows 7 is Dead! Don’t Panic! (1/18/20 Part 2)
No, really, don’t panic! But do have a plan. Still with Windows 7? What to do? Windows 7’s end of life is no secret, but it still snuck up on us. There’s always something more important going on. So, what’s going on? What to do? Just remember to don’t panic! You can also come to Q&A at 270 Lalo St #104 in Kahului or call in at (808) 871-5925 or (808) 243-7600. Monday through Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm.
Our predictions for 2020! (1/4/20 Part 1)
Last week we graded ourselves on our 2019 predictions. We nearly broke 60% right as a group, but not quite. Predictions 2020 – Part 1 How will we do this year?
The Price of Not Upgrading (12/7/19 Part 1)
Sure, your old computer has been faithful. You’ve had it for years. But are you doing yourself any favors by keeping it? Upgrade or Replace? Old computers become harder to fix, more expensive to maintain, and software support gets harder to find. And lets not start about protecting it…! Jonathan, LD, and Sam talk about the Price of Not Upgrading in this hour!
The Time Has Come for Windows 7. Now What? (12/7/19 Part 2)
Windows 7 is being retired. It will no longer be receiving updates. Is it time to move on? Yes. Yes it is. Time to Change OSes Jonathan has finally been won over, and we talk why you should move over. Benefits of Windows 10, how to change the interface, and more! https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 http://www.classicshell.net/