History of Windows
Prior to the start of the last meeting, John and Linda were reminiscing about previous versions of Windows. For anyone who might be interested, I have since found this very nice, 7-year old, Guardian article which takes you through all the versions from Windows 1 in 1985 up to the introduction of Windows 10:-
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/02/from-windows-1-to-windows-10-29-years-of-windows-evolution
Virus Scam on iPhones
This PC Risk article describes a fake virus warning that can pop up on iPhones (and Macs) by visiting compromised or malicious websites:-
https://www.pcrisk.com/removal-guides/17596-3-viruses-has-been-detected-pop-up-scam-mac
Linda experienced this particular scam. It is essentially harmless, thanks to the security of iPhones, but it tries to scare you into installing potentially malicious apps. To avoid this happening, ensure you have Block Pop-ups and Fraudulent Website Warning turned on in Settings. If it has already happened, go to Settings, Safari, Advanced, Website Data, Remove All Website Data.
Installing Windows 11 on Older PCs (NOT Recommended)
Most users should simply wait for the Windows 11 upgrade to be offered to them through the Windows Update process. You can check if your PC meets the requirements for Windows 11 by either:-
Going to Start, Settings, Update & Security, or
Download the PC Health Check app.:-
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/windows-11
Scroll down towards the bottom of the page and click on Download PC Health Check App.
If you are prepared to take the risk that it might not work correctly or might not be supported by updates, you could, in some cases, force the upgrade by using the Windows 11 Download page – this is the equivalent of the Media Creation Tool for Windows 11:-
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows11
Even if you have an older PC with an older processor or without TPM 2.0 (you must still have at least TPM 1.2), Windows 11 can still be installed by making the Registry edit described on this page:-
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ways-to-install-windows-11-e0edbbfb-cfc5-4011-868b-2ce77ac7c70e
Note that Secure Boot must still be enabled. This is a Microsoft Support page which describes how to circumvent Microsoft's own minimum specification requirement! Reports from people who have upgraded a non-qualifying system suggest that, so far, updates are still received by those systems.
Update Using Rufus
Dave pointed that you can now use Rufus to create a bootable USB drive with the Windows 11 install software which disables the TPM and Secure boot requirements. So, even on an old machine without a TPM and without Secure Boot, this should work. Rufus is a well-known free program that will create bootable media from an ISO file. It runs as an exe file without being installed. You can download Rufus 3.17 (or later) from:-
https://rufus.ie/en/
You can download the Windows 11 ISO from:-
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows11
When running Rufus, select the Windows 11 ISO and then, in the Image Options box, select "Extended Windows 11 Installation (no TPM/Secure Boot)". If you are aiming to install Windows 11 on a non-UEFI system, set the Partition Scheme to MBR and the Target System to BIOS. Once the bootable USB drive has been created, you can insert this in the target PC and boot from the USB drive to perform a clean install. You can find more detailed guidance here:-
https://nerdschalk.com/how-to-use-rufus-to-disable-tpm-and-secure-boot-in-bootable-windows-11-usb-drive/
A clean install means all existing settings, apps and data will be removed, so I would suggest you only try this if you have an old PC that you no longer use.
Google 2-Factor Authentication
We have discussed 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) on a number of occasions. 2FA requires an additional factor (usually a Time-based One Time Passcode or TOTP) when you log into an account. Usually, this is only needed the first time you log in on a new device/app/browser. This would prevent a hacker from logging into your account, even if they had acquired your password. It is particularly important that you use 2FA for your (main) email account. Email is often the route which other accounts (e.g. a shopping site) would use to reset a password. So, if someone can gain control of your email account, they could potentially reset passwords on your other account to gain access to them too.
Google announced earlier this year that it was going to start “auto-enrolling” users into 2FA, which they call 2-Step Verification (2SV), for qualifying accounts. They have now started to do this on a gradual basis. You will be sent an email advising that you must enable 2SV within 7 days.
You can read more in this Ars Technica article:-
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/11/google-wants-every-account-to-use-2fa-starts-auto-enrolling-users/
You can find my article explaining more about 2FA on my website in the Tech Hints and Tips sections:-
bit.ly/rogersdocs
I would suggest that you turn on 2SV/2FA on your Google account now – don’t wait to be forced into it. In fact, you should turn it on on other accounts, where possible such as Amazon, PayPal, Microsoft, eBay, Facebook, etc.
Bequeathing Your Data
Google
At the Club on 22nd July 2020, we discussed how you can control what happens to the data in your Google account after it has been inactive for a period of time. You can see a summary of that discussion here:-
https://computerclub100.blogspot.com/2020_07_19_archive.html
You can also find this information on my website:-
bit.ly/rogersdocs
Look in the Tech Hints and Tips section for Backup & Control Your Google Data.
Facebook
Facebook can “memorialise” an account when they are notified of the account-holder’s death. Shared content in a memorialised account remains visible to those it was shared with, but no one can log into the account. You can nominate a Legacy Contact who can view private posts, respond to new friend requests or apply for removal of the account. See this page for more details:-
https://www.facebook.com/help/103897939701143
Microsoft, Apple, Dropbox
As far as I know, neither Microsoft, Apple or Dropbox offer any comparable service. They each offer advice on what to do when someone has died.
Microsoft say:-
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/accessing-outlook-com-onedrive-and-other-microsoft-services-when-someone-has-died-ebbd2860-917e-4b39-9913-212362da6b2f
Note that a Microsoft Account will automatically be closed and deleted after 2 years of inactivity.
Apple say:-
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208510
Dropbox say:-
https://help.dropbox.com/accounts-billing/settings-sign-in/access-account-of-someone-who-passed-away
Note that a Dropbox account will be automatically closed and deleted after 1 year of inactivity.
LinkedIn
You can request to close or memorialize the account of a deceased LinkedIn member - this site explains more details:-
https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/2842/deceased-linkedin-member?lang=en
End of Support for OneDrive App on Windows 7 & 8
Microsoft is ceasing support of the OneDrive desktop sync app on Windows 7 and 8. Updates to the app will stop at the end of this year and syncing on Windows 7 and 8 will cease on 1st March next year. See this site for more:-
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-onedrive-blog/end-of-support-for-onedrive-desktop-application-on-windows-7-8/ba-p/2929066
Next Session
Wed 8th December 2021 at 2 pm by Skype.
