Notes from 13-Sep-2015 SIG-Computing Meeting

Thank you for the great discussion today! Notes from the meeting are below:

Windows 7/8.1/10 – possible excess telemetry, automatic downloads of Windows 10 even without accepting a reservation​

Mac OS X “El Capitan” out September 30, needed to close security hole​

Follow-up on Drones – check out Lily at https://www.lily.camera/

APCUG VTC16 presentation handouts at http://apcug2.org/apcug-2015-summer-virtual-tech-conference-vtc16/​

Linux Mint 17.2 released since last meeting. Stability/cleanup release. See http://www.linuxmint.com/​

As weather changes, some of us are winterizing summer cottages. Good article on water sensors at: http://www.howtogeek.com/227980/how-to-protect-your-home-from-water-damage-with-smart-home-sensors/

Please keep the discussion going! semcoug@yahoogroups.com will reach all of us!

Best,

Jeff

APCUG PUSH articles – September 2015

Thanks to APCUG, APCUG-member organizations and their newsletter editors, and Bob Clyne, there are several very interesting articles available to us as SEMCO members.

Due to content restrictions from the author/publisher, the linked posts below are not available to the public. Please join SEMCO as a paid member to view the contents of these posts. Our members have full access to APCUG PUSH General Articles and Reviews.

If you are a SEMCO member, please log in for full access.

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More Security Vulnerabilities Disclosed for Android and iPhones, as well as Carriers by Ira Wilsker

Smartphone-security

If you are like me, I carry my cell phone everywhere, carrying on voice conversations, sending and receiving text messages, utilizing countless apps, and surfing the web. Until recently, I gave very little heed to the security of these external communications as our smart devices are supposed to be somewhat secure. GSM carriers, such as AT&T and T-Mobile, utilize encryption to make communications secure; CDMA carriers, such as Sprint and Verizon also claim to have secure networks. Yes, I do have a major security app on my Android phone which scans new apps and text messages for malware, as well as protects from hazardous websites. Google created Android to be secure, with apps running in a somewhat closed memory space, called by some a “sandbox”, which is supposed to prevent purloined apps from talking over the phone. iPhone fanatics, along with many Apple fans in general, believe that their devices are immune to attack, as Apple would not dare to allow any threats to harm their beloved devices.

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New Security Exploits May Threaten 950 Million Android Devices by Ira Wilsker

Android

In recent weeks at least two potentially frightening new exploits have been discovered that could threaten an estimated 95% of the one billion devices running the Android operating system. The good news is that as of this writing, there have been no documented attacks on Android devices that take advantage of these two security vulnerabilities. The bad news is that now that information on these security vulnerabilities has been widely published as well as presented at the recent Black Hat hackers’ and security convention in Las Vegas, it may only be a matter of time until some bad guys start to take advantage of these security vulnerabilities. Google, the progenitor of Android, was promptly made aware of the vulnerabilities as soon as they were uncovered, and has produced patches and fixes for many of the Android devices that have these vulnerabilities. The problems is that with the exception of a few models of Nexus smart phones supported directly by Google, it is up to the phone manufacturers or the cell phone carriers to release the upgrades and patches to close these vulnerabilities. At present, none of the major third party security software publishers provide any protection from these exploits, leaving many of us vulnerable to these exploits.

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September 13, 2015 – SIG-Computing: Using Your Smartphone for Everything, SIG-Linux: Introduction to Scribus

smartphone

SIG-Computing
Topic: Using Your Smartphone for Everything:

Bill James, VP of Operations, Computer Club of Oklahoma City & APCUG Advisor, Region 8, will present via webinar some uses of smartphones.

The smartphone is no longer just a portable computer in your pocket. It has become the remote control for your life. Want to flip off the living room lights, unlock your front door or get a reading of your blood pressure? All of this can be done through mobile apps that work with accessories embedded with sensors or an Internet connection.

For several years, technology companies have promised the dream of the connected home, the connected body and the connected car. Those connections have proved illusory. But in the last year app-powered accessories have provided the mechanism to actually make the connections. That is partly because smartphones have become the device people never put down. But it is also because wireless sensors have become smaller, cheaper and ubiquitous.

This presentation will look at some of the Apps that are available on smartphones that allow you to work, play and really use your smartphone for virtually everything. Although the Android phone will be the primary instrument used in this presentation, the concepts can be applied to both Apple and Android products.

Bill James, VP of Operations, Computer Club of Oklahoma City & APCUG Advisor, Region 8, first became involved in a PC User’s Group in 1992 when he joined the Oklahoma PC User’s Group now known as the Computer Club of Oklahoma City (CCOKC) to learn more about the computer he purchased. He has been a member of the clubs’ Board of Directors since 1998. Bill was elected President of the CCOKC in 2000 and served two terms. He is currently on the club’s Board of Directors, serves as VP of Operations and newsletter editor, and frequently gives presentations on new software to his club. Bill attended his first APCUG Fall Conference in 2003. He is a past APCUG Region 6 Advisor (KY, IL, IN, MI) and Treasurer and served on the APCUG Board of Directors from 2006 to 2009. Bill currently is serving as the APCUG Region 8 Advisor (AR, KS, LA, MO, OK, TX). If Bill isn’t working with technology, you’ll find him driving his Mustang; he is the Vice President and Parade Coordinator for the Oklahoma Mustang Club. He is also an active member of Toastmasters International Club #627. Bill is also a current member of the Board of Directors for North Care Center, a private non-profit behavioral and social services facility located in Oklahoma City. He retired from the Federal Aviation Administration as a Supply Systems Analyst for the FAA Logistics Center in Oklahoma City, OK in 2007 where he worked for 38 years.

Also: Questions and Answers.
When: Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 1:30 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

scribus_splash

SIG-Linux
Topic: Introduction to Scribus:

SIG-Linux Chairman Brian Brodsky will begin, what will probably become, an ongoing set of presentations of Scribus. Scribus is an open source and freely distributed desktop publishing program. It is available in many platforms including Linux, FreeBSD, PC-BSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, OpenIndiana, Debian GNU/Hurd, Mac OS X, OS/2 Warp 4, eComStation, Haiku and Windows. All are welcome.

When: Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 4:00 P.M.
Where: Map to meetings at Altair Engineering

Free Wi-Fi available.

September 19, 2015 – SIG-Programming: Python

snake-312561_1280

Topic: Python:

We are learning Python using the book “Learning Python” by Mark Lutz. It is an O’Reilly book http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920028154.do, but can also be purchased at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Python-5th-Mark-Lutz/dp/1449355730/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416007152&sr=1-1&pebp=11416007164251.

We are to read Chapter 12, “if Tests and Syntax Rules” for the next meeting. If you have any questions contact Richard Jackson (see below). All are welcome to come.

Where: Richard Jackson’s home. Call Richard Jackson at 248-546-3694 for directions.

When: Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 2:00 P.M.

New Products Can Eliminate Most Annoying Robocalls by Ira Wilsker

Nomorobo11-DoNotCall-dot-Gov

I have not heard from “Rachael, at Credit Card Services” recently, nor have I recently received the calls that I will receive a free medical call alert system. I am sorry to say that I will no longer be informed that I have won a free cruise nor will I be told that I can save having my mortgage refinanced at super low rates, or that my computer is infected with hundreds of viruses. The reason is that I am using a free service connected to my phones that automatically blocks most robocalls.

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New Amazon Competitor “JET” Combines Online Shopping with Local Sourcing by Ira Wilsker

wilsker-jet

You could not watch any local or network show last Tuesday (July 21) without hearing about a new online shopping service that claims it will undercut Amazon, Costco, Sam’s, Walmart, and all other online and local retailers. In beta testing for several months, this new online shopping service “Jet” (jet.com) went live to all on July 21. Claiming to outdo Amazon Prime, by undercutting its prices, and providing reasonably fast delivery, Jet offers some substantial money saving benefits over Amazon Prime, claims to have 4.5 million items available on its website at jet.com (soon to be over 10 million items), has an annual membership fee of $49.99 which is about half of Amazon’s $99 Prime membership fee, and offers very easy rebates (applied to future Jet purchases) from purchases made on over 600 other online and local sellers.

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Prepare for the Windows 10 Deluge – Microsoft Offers Free eBooks on Windows 10 by Ira Wilsker

image008

A few weeks ago I wrote about Microsoft’s commitment to officially release Windows 10 on July 29. Microsoft has emphatically stated that Windows 10 will commence its rollout of Windows on July 29, but do not expect to get your copy on that date. Due to the sheer volume of Windows users that have reserved a free download copy of the PC version of Windows 10, along with the release of the tablet and phone versions of Windows 10, it may take quite a while for users to actually be able to receive their copies of Windows 10. For those of you who did reserve a copy of the PC build, Microsoft will notify you when your particular copy (a 3GB download) may be available for download.

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