Ink Jet Printers

Original quote:

A significant number of Canon-printer owners had print-head failures soon after the one-year warranty expired. There seemed to be a pattern, which prompted a class-action lawsuit. Though Canon denied any wrongdoing, they agreed to pay $930,000. Each class member will receive $50 in cash or $75 for a Canon store voucher. Canon also agreed to extend the warranty period by nine months for those who have print-head issues.
To see the particular models involved, and to get listed as a lawsuit class member, go to the settlement information site before Nov. 24.

For years now I have said that ink jet printers seem to be a scam to sell massively overpriced ink. In the long run you generally are way better off with a faster laser printer.

Other than that I have no comment.

2015-10-22 WBKV Talking Points

Avast antivirus caught with severe vulnerability. Update, update, update.

Old cell phone? Make sure you erase ALL data!
Massive amounts of personal data recovered from 35% of discarded cell phones

Microsoft has silently fixed a massive authentication blunder.
Before the fix EVERY email account

@msn.com,
@live.com,
@outlook.com and
@hotmail.com 

These accounts could have been hacked because of an error in the authentication routines.

Many web sites offering software downloads are nasty malware slingers.

Don't buy a laptop right now; prices seem sky high! Maybe it gets better with Thanksgiving sales.

2015-10-08 WBKV Talking Points

AVG changes Terms of Use per October 15^th:

Original quote from those Terms
We collect non-personal data to make money from our free offerings so we can keep them free, including:

• Advertising ID associated with your device.
• Browsing and search history, including meta data.
• Internet service provider or mobile network you use to connect to our products.
• Information regarding other applications you may have on your device and how they are used.

Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Shockwave again fix numerous vulnerabilities.
The sad thing is there are no alternatives to Flash & Shockwave because these formats are so widely used on the Internet.
Officially “current versions as of October 7^th: Flash 19.0.0.185, Shockwave 12.2.0.162

17 web sites of 23 republican presidential candidates woefully UNSAFE.
From no privacy policy to openly admitting to share donor info, even passport numbers(!) with unaffiliated third parties.

Affected candidates among others: Hillary Clinton (Dem), Carly Fiorina (Rep), Donald Trump (Rep), Rand Paul (Rep), Lawrence Lessig (Dem), and Marco Rubio (Rep).
Simple solution: Don't give online, don't “sign up” on heir web sites.

Watch out: Spam emails disguised as messages from a local mail carrier (USPS, DHL, UPS, FedEx) on the rise!

Malvertising (malicious advertising) spreads from Yahoo, MSN, Drudge et al to xxx rated web sites.

Hilton Hotels cash registers hacked! Have you or your relatives/friends stayed at a Hilton Hotel lately and paid with a credit card? Better get a new card with a different number.