Tech Help and Discussions

Toshiba laptop. The Toshiba logo comes on when booted. Then screen goes black. Computer continues to boot. Using a flashlight to shed some light onto the screen, I can see that the graphics are working. I can see that there was a problem and Windows is trying to repair it. I pulled the hard drive. Again, the Toshiba logo comes up and then the backlight just quits. I can see the BIOS text on the screen if I shine a flashlight onto the screen. So it looks like the backlight is working during the POST and then it shuts down. Can this be a board problem? btw: it's fluorescent, not LED. Maybe it's the inverter.

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Mommalina replied February 14, 20168 yr

A fed-up homeowner got sweet revenge on a commuter who parked on her drive by blocking his car with a one ton bag of gravel. Infuriated Julie Geue parked the bag behind the unwelcome car after the commuter had left his vehicle on her drive in Crowborough, East Sussex, before heading to a nearby train station. Geue’s driveway was due to be gravelled when the man parked in her drive, meaning works could not carried out. So the 48-year-old took her retribution by using the gravel meant for her four-car driveway for an entirely different reason. It was two days before the hapless commuter moved his car. Geue said the driver, who returned to his car after work …

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N3 replied February 14, 20168 yr

As of 01 February 2016, Windows 10's status as an update on Windows 7 and 8.1 systems changes from Optional to Recommended and there is one setting in Windows Update on both systems you need to change to make sure you do not get upgraded before you are ready. It was last fall when Terry Myerson, Microsoft's Executive VP for the Windows and Devices Group, laid out details about controlling the Windows 10 upgrade. Shortly after his blog post the Windows 10 Upgrade on Windows 7 and 8.1 became an optional update in Windows Update in order to make it easier to find the upgrade. This occurred because they were ending the reservation process that had been in place since be…

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IceMan37 replied February 14, 20168 yr

Dr.Web, a Russian antivirus maker, has detected a new threat against Linux users, the Linux.Ekocms.1 trojan, which includes special features that allow it to take screengrabs and record audio. Discovered four days ago, Linux.Ekocms is only the latest threat targeting Linux PCs, after the Linux.Encoder ransomware family and the Linux XOR DDoS malware had caused a large number of issues last autumn and put a dent in Linux's status as impermeable when it comes to malware infections. Linux.Ekocms takes a screenshot every 30 seconds According to Dr.Web, this particular trojan is part of the spyware family and was specially crafted to take a screenshot of the user's desk…

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IceMan37 replied February 14, 20168 yr

During the research for their annual Tech Support Showdown, the folks over at Laptop Magazine learned that many support reps for various OEMs are addressing a wide variety of system issues by telling users to uninstall Windows 10. Windows has long taken the brunt of blame when it comes to system issues – even when a computer's problem doesn't rest with the operating system. Think about it - most everyday users of a Windows based system that crashes due to bad drivers or software say that Windows crashed. A large number of users will not necessarily understand that those crashes were caused by third party hardware or software. So the "Windows crashed" message builds the…

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IceMan37 replied February 14, 20168 yr

Cortana integration with third-party apps means more opportunities for voice-command fun and convenience. It might feel weird to talk to your computer, but that's something you should really get over when it comes to Windows 10. Otherwise you'll miss out on all the ways Cortana, its built-in digital assistant, can help you out: creating reminders, making calendar appointments, sending an SMS (in conjunction with a Windows 10 mobile device or Cortana for Android), and even performing chores in certain third-party apps. Yes, Cortana can be integrated with third-party apps from the Windows Store, if the feature is enabled by the developer. When it's available, …

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IceMan37 replied February 14, 20168 yr

Fabian Wosar, Emsisoft security researcher at day and ransomware killer at night, has made two new victims after releasing a new decrypter for the HydraCrypt and UmbreCrypt ransomware families. Both ransomware families are new and were first detected this year, first HydraCrypt, and then UmbreCrypt. At their core, both stem from the CrypBoss ransomware variant that somebody leaked last year, putting its source code on PasteBin. With its source code out in the open, security researchers quickly cracked its encryption algorithm and provided decrypters for the original variant and all of the subsequent mutations that evolved from the PasteBin leak. Despite encrypti…

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starbuck replied February 13, 20168 yr

A new Android malware family is targeting users to show unwanted ads and forcibly install dangerous applications, Check Point's security team has discovered. Called HummingBad, this threat was first seen packed inside adult-themed applications downloaded from third-party app stores. The app is part of a trend in the Android malware ecosystem, one that includes malicious applications that were built specifically to show ads and install other apps, for the monetary gain of their creators, who are part of various shady affiliate and referral programs. HummingBad works just like Brain Test and Ghost Push Previous Android malware families that employed this tactic …

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starbuck replied February 12, 20168 yr

Microsoft’s Start menu is a big deal. It’s the first thing many people think of when they think of Windows, or even Microsoft. The simple Start menu has existed for more than 20 years now. It started off as a way to make Windows easier to use, and now it’s the center of how we interact with Windows on a daily basis. Whether it’s launching apps, searching for documents, or simply shutting down your PC, you probably use the Start menu more than you think. Microsoft’s Start menu made its first appearance with Windows 95. It quickly became the go-to menu to find everything you needed from your PC, and it changed very little until the blue-and-green theme of Windows XP. The…

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allheart55 Cindy E replied February 12, 20168 yr

Users looking to protect their online payments via special security apps may be in for a surprise, finding themselves infected with an SMS-stealing trojan instead, mobile security vendor Zscaler reports. Most of these infections are occurring in China, via Android applications hosted on third-party stores. The app in question is named AliPay-Security Controls, which is advertised as a security tool to safeguard payments made through AliPay. AliPay is a third-party online payments platform, activating in 14 countries, supporting 65 financial institutions, and serving over 300 big brands. The company is Chinese, and as with anything Chinese, the platform is a clon…

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AWS replied February 12, 20168 yr

This isn't your typical Android security story. Most articles about Android security tools focus on malware-scanning suites like Lookout, Norton and AVG. But with the layers of protection already built into the platform, those sorts of apps are arguably unnecessary and often counterproductive -- or even needlessly expensive. For most Android users, the seven tools below should cover all the important bases of device and data security. Some are third-party apps, while others are native parts of the Android operating system. They all, however, will protect your personal info in meaningful ways -- and without compromising your phone's performance. Plus, all but t…

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AWS replied February 12, 20168 yr

Today, malware is everywhere. Spreading across the web, infecting desktops, mobile, and tablets – it’s the modern, cyber equivalent of the plague. So how did we arrive at this place? A place where it’s estimated that, in 2015 alone, close to half a billion types of malware have been identified – that’s 1.4 million types each day and seven million a week – staggering numbers when put into perspective. Much of this malware is designed and distributed through a complex ecosystem of organised crime, out to attack innocent victims and profit from ordinary people’s lack of knowledge of how to protect themselves online. Well, to understand the present, you have to under…

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Tony D replied February 10, 20168 yr

A Stop Payment On A Check Only Lasts About Six Months By Laura Northrup February 8, 2016 http://consumerist.com/2016/02/08/a-stop-payment-on-a-check-generally-lasts-about-six-months/#more-10231192 When you write a check and it’s lost, stolen, or you have some other reason to do so, you call your bank and ask for a “stop payment” on it, usually incurring some kind of fee. Stopping the payment means that no one can ever deposit or cash that check, though, right? No: generally, the order lasts about six months. The rules and laws vary between states and even from one bank to another, but you can only expect a stop payment order to last about six months. One woman fea…

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DSTM replied February 10, 20168 yr

Has anyone tried this? Your opinion, please. Thanks. http://fakespot.com/ Tired of products that don't match the review hype? Just paste in the link to the product or page.

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allheart55 Cindy E replied February 9, 20168 yr

Can you run Windows 10 on a PC that's eight years old? Oh yes, and it runs spectacularly well. Internet-based keyboard commandos are fond of making claims that are built on nothing more than a guess or prejudice. One such claim that I've been coming across regularly is that Windows 10 is a total pig on older systems and should be avoided at all costs because otherwise you'll run into all sorts of problems. Well, I just happened to have an old system lying about, so I decided to install Windows 10 on it just to see what would happen. First, a little bit of history about the system in question. This is a PC that I built back in January of 2008. For its time…

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Tony D replied February 9, 20168 yr

Four different versions of Android.Loki are working together to root devices and install unwanted applications A class of Android trojans have found a way to inject themselves into system processes and are leveraging their newfound access to carry out a series of malicious operations. Detected by Russian antivirus maker Dr.Web as Android.Loki, this trojan family has evolved over time and has gained the ability to inject some of its code in a system process, and by doing so, obtain root privileges. Four different trojans, all working together Four different versions have been detected until now: Android.Loki.1.origin, Android.Loki.2.origina, Android.Loki.3,…

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starbuck replied February 8, 20168 yr

There is no such thing as a free lunch” has been the mantra of those cynical about the true cost of ‘free’ Windows 10. But as Microsoft increases pressure on users to upgrade, it turns out the real cost of Windows 10 lies somewhere far less expected… Windows 7 and Windows 8. Yes, the operating systems which users already paid for (either directly, or indirectly in the cost of a new computer) are getting more expensive by the day. The cost comes in terms of lost productivity, flexibility and enjoyment as Microsoft does its best to make life for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users so unbearable they give in and upgrade to Windows 10. Prior to February 2016 the cost was…

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allheart55 Cindy E replied February 7, 20168 yr

Microsoft's ambitious plan to get Windows 10 running on a billion devices within the next few years depends to a large extent on the success of its free upgrade offer. When the company first announced the terms of that offer last May, it literally included an asterisk and fine print. Those terms have changed slightly over the intervening months, but one element has remained constant: The offer is good for one year after the availability of Windows 10. Here's the actual wording of the offer, as it appears today: It's free and easy Upgrade confidently - 100+ million fans have upgraded and are loving it. You'll have a free, full version of Windows 10 -- not a tri…

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AWS replied February 7, 20168 yr

A new backdoor trojan is making the rounds, coming equipped with features that allow it to steal files, take screengrabs, and record Skype conversations. The trojan, named T9000, is an evolution of an older backdoor called T5000, spotted in the wild in 2013 and 2014 targeting human rights activists, the automotive industry, and governments in the Asia-Pacific region. This time around, Palo Alto Networks researchers say T9000 has been spotted inside spear phishing emails received by US organizations, but that it is versatile enough to be used against any target the attacker wants to compromise. The malware is infecting computers via malicious RTF files that exploi…

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starbuck replied February 7, 20168 yr

Happy 12th birthday, Facebook! As you’d expect, the site looks completely different now compared when it first launched on February 4, 2004. But in case you haven’t been a loyal user since the beginning, we’ll give you a little tour of how the site evolved. Check it out: (Former Business Insider reporter Megan Rose Dickey also contributed to this piece.) Remember when Facebook was called Thefacebook? It started at Harvard and slowly opened up to other colleges. Mark Zuckerberg originally described himself as not only the founder of Facebook, but also as the “Master and Commander” and “Enemy of the State.” We love this gem about “poking” from …

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allheart55 Cindy E replied February 6, 20168 yr

BleepingComputer is a valuable asset to the Internet, in my opinion, as it is often one of the first sites to warn of newly reported ransomware; volunteer security professionals also regularly provide answers to any number of other computer questions. Yet BleepingComputer is seriously under fire for daring to engage in free speech as Enigma Software is suing the site over a negative review of Enigma’s flagship anti-malware program SpyHunter. But hey, “freedom isn’t free” and being sued implies needing money for a defense, as BleepingComputer’s owner Lawrence Abrams said, “If BleepingComputer does not get the help we need and we lose this battle, it will only embolden…

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allheart55 Cindy E replied February 5, 20168 yr

After all these years of Amazon Prime being around, most of us know that a major perk of the subscription service is free, expedited shipping. But it looks like Amazon’s focus on getting packages to Prime customers has resulted in slower deliveries for shoppers who didn’t ante up $99/year for Prime. This is according to online retail analysts at StellaService, who recently told Forbes that Amazon’s regular shipping is starting to slip. “There are 40 companies on our list, and Amazon has always been in the top 10,” explains Kevon Hills, VP of research for StellaService. “This year, we’ve seen them fall outside of the top 10, which is the first time we’ve seen that ha…

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AWS replied February 3, 20168 yr

Malwarebytes says it will take about a month to deploy a patch to fix vulnerabilities found by Google's Project Zero bug hunters. Malwarebytes has now launched a bug-bounty program, offering up to $1,000 to researchers who report flaws in its products. Malwarebytes says it could take three to four weeks to fix security flaws found by Google in its popular anti-malware product . Google's bug-hunting squad, Project Zero, first notified the internet-security firm of the four vulnerabilities in November but on Tuesday went ahead and detailed the separate flaws and attack methods in a redacted report published on the group's bug repository. Project Zero research…

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starbuck replied February 3, 20168 yr