Scams
Leaflets
Phil supplied a copy of the recent Age UK Cheshire
East Scams Awareness Update:-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K_feZuuWMN_z4VIQ6-Yeb2IMR8tDrG9c/view?usp=sharing
Also, this GetSafeOnline scams leaflet is worth a
look:-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mMysD8pY_W3-LoBK3gyLE3mZ9rX7qvnj/view?usp=sharing
Spelling/Grammar Errors
You can often spot a scam message because it contains the odd spelling mistake or grammatical error. Scammers are quite clever, so these ‘errors’ are often there deliberately. The scammer believes that the people who respond to these messages in spite of the errors may be sufficiently gullible to fall for the rest of the scam. Effectively, this helps to filter out the replies to just the ones the scammer wants.
Reporting Scams
As requested last time, you can pass information on scams to Phil on:-
shadohqs@gmail.com
On a national basis, you can report phishing
messages to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) at:-
report@phishing.gov.uk
Reporting Fraud
If you have been a victim of online
crime/fraud, you should report this to:-
www.actionfraud.police.uk
Click on the Report Fraud link.
Alternatively, you can phone ActionFraud on 0300 123
2020
Read more about reporting scams at:-
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/report-suspicious-emails
Google Photos
On 11 November, just as we were doing the last
Computer Club, Google issued a blog post detailing some changes to Google
Photos:-
https://blog.google/products/photos/storage-changes/
At the moment, anyone with a Google account gets 15GB of free online cloud storage on Google Drive. You can use Google Drive to store any files you wish. It also stores the backups of your Android and Chromebook devices. By using the Google Photos app on your mobile device, you can automatically upload any photos you take (when connected by wi-fi) to Google Drive, but these photos do not count towards the 15GB of storage, so there is no limit to the number of photos you can store.
From 1 June 2021, photos uploaded with the Google Photos app will count towards that storage limit. However, all the photos uploaded prior to 1 June next year will still not use any of your allocation. So, from 1 June, you have 15GB to store newly uploaded photos, device backups, and any other files. For most people, that’s probably enough space, so nothing will change. If you do need more than 15GB, you can purchase more space using a subscription plan called “Google One”. To get 100GB costs £1.59 per month or £15.99 per year.
Google’s free storage allocation still remains relatively generous compared to Apple’s iCloud and Microsoft’s OneDrive, both of which only provide 5GB free.
Google also say they will provide some new software tools to help you manage your photo library, for example, by identifying blurry pictures that you might want to delete.
Facebook Security Settings
There was some discussion about Facebook security settings. It is worth spending a few moments looking through and maybe tightening up these settings. Since the meeting, I have found this article by security company Avast which offers some guidance on the subject:-
https://www.avast.com/c-change-facebook-privacy-settings
Scam Phone Calls
Brian raised the issue of numerous nuisance calls on his landline. Ofcom have a web page on nuisance calls and messages:-
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/problems/tackling-nuisance-calls-and-messages
This site provides some information on how to block such calls and how to report them.
Editing PDFs
This topic cropped up and we had some discussion around it. I recall that we covered this topic before and I have now found it was at the Computer Club on 12th July 2017:-
https://computerclub100.blogspot.com/2017_07_09_archive.html
Adobe Flash
John raised the fact that Adobe Flash Player reaches its end of life on 31st December 2020 and will no longer be updated. Flash was used to enhance some web pages, but is no longer necessary with modern HTLM5 web pages. Most web browsers will discontinue support for Flash by the end of the year.
Wireless Mouse Problem - Windows
Tony had an issue, seemingly after a recent Windows update, where the wireless mouse fails after a reboot until the dongle is unplugged and reconnected. My suggestion was to look for a driver on the mouse manufacturer's web site and install that. I have found this web site which both explains how to update the driver and also suggests disabling fast startup:-
https://thegeekpage.com/fix-wireless-mouse-not-working-on-windows-10-solved/
Windows
10-1903 – End of Support
Support
for Windows 10-1903 ends on 8th December, meaning those systems will
cease to get security updates and fixes.
Any systems running 1903 should be updated as soon as possible. See this ZDNet article for more:-
https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-microsoft-starts-forcing-windows-10-1903-pcs-up-to-version-1909-not-20h2/
Rob asked how the roll out of Windows updates works. I believe Microsoft use the telemetry from the PC to determine if it can accept a given update without causing any issues. Even if the machine is capable of accepting the update, Microsoft still phase the process to avoid too many systems updating at the same time, presumably to reduce the load on their update servers. What criteria they use for this I don't know - it could be processor type, for example.
In general, it is probably best to allow the update to take place through this automatic process. However, as we have discussed before, you can always download the latest version of Windows and install it or create installation media with the Media Creation Tool.
Yahoo
Mail – Free Forwarding Ends
If
you use Yahoo mail, from 1st Jan 2021 you will not be able to automatically forward your email to another account for free. (You can still forward an individual email manually). If you want to continue using automatic forwarding
after that you will need to upgrade to Yahoo Mail Pro which costs
£2.09/month. See this for more:-
https://help.yahoo.com/kb/feature-longer-free-yahoo-mail-users-sln35503.html
Fancy
Building a PC?
John
has a kit of donated parts that can be put together to make a tower PC. You could then install Linux to prove it is
all working. If you would like to try building a PC, just for the fun and experience, please let me know and we can arrange to get the kit of parts to you.
Restoring Hard Drive Image
Brian questioned whether a Windows image backup could be restored onto a dissimilar drive. I think this is possible if the new drive is larger than the old one. Acronis provide disk imaging software and they offer a technique for restoring an image onto a completely dissimilar system - this article explains more:-
https://kb.acronis.com/content/35681
Age UK Cheshire - iPad Loan Scheme
We mentioned a scheme which Age UK Cheshire are currently developing to loan iPads to clients who are currently 'digitally excluded'. Selected clients will receive an iPad on loan for 6 weeks or so and an IT support volunteer will contact them and hopefully introduce them to the basics of using it. Unfortunately, in the current circumstances, we can only provide this training remotely.
Storing
Your Own Data – SOLID
For
some years, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the World Wide Web, has been trying
to develop a better way for individuals to control their own data. The project, known as SOLID (Social Linked
Data) is based on individuals storing their personal data in one single
secure place known as a Pod (Personal Online Data
store). Instead of providing data to every
company you deal with for them to store, you would simply allow them to access
the relevant data in your Pod.
Some
features of this are:
- Companies don’t have the cost and responsibility of storing your data.
- If something changes (e.g. your address), you only have to change it in one place – your own Pod.
- If you no longer wish a company to use your data, you can revoke access to your Pod.
This
article explores using the SOLID technology for your medical records:-
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-54871705
Currently, different organisations may hold various medical information relating to you. However, sharing relevant information across differing NHS and private systems is problematic. If you hold the data, you can allow relevant organisations access to it where appropriate.
Facebook, Google, Amazon etc may not like to relinquish their hold on your data, but if new companies adopt this system, these current big names could eventually become the ‘dinosaurs’ of the future industry.
Next Session
Wed
9th December 2020 at 2 pm by Zoom.
