CHNO Technology

19/08/2022

SCAREMONGERING MEDIA!

You may have noticed reports of urgent security fixes for Apple recently. Firstly, I want to reassure everyone that these issues pop up from time to time for all IT companies (e.g. Microsoft, Google, and Apple), and the majority of them are fixed very, very quickly. Android users and Google Chrome users have all had similar security scares in the past few weeks. Please don't panic, just apply the security patches as advised.

As a general rule of thumb for Apple users, Updates can be found in Settings/General/Software Updates (or System Preferences/Software Update on the Mac) - if they are listed as SECURITY FIXES, I would recommend applying them as soon as you see them. If you need advice on what to do, please speak up!

25/09/2020

Hope everyone has now installed the NHS COVID-19 app on their iPhone or Android phones? Please remember that this app can only help us if as many people as possible install it........

If you want a bit more detail on what it does and how it works, there’s a good article on the BBC website:

The app will tell you to self-isolate or be tested or warn of an elevated local risk level.

24/09/2020

As of this morning the NHS COVID-19 app is live for contact tracing. It may. be the key to sorting the mess we're all in with this virus, and then again it might make no difference whatsoever......but it can't hurt to try it. I'd urge you to download it today and enable it on your phone (iPhone or Android).

On the issue of privacy and security of this app, it is powered by technology from Google and Apple, who for once are in agreement that user privacy is essential. Your movements, and data are not sent to anyone. If you test positive, the app uploads a marker for your phone to a central server that all users of the UK app check on regularly. As you move around, any phones you come into close proximity with send you their key (how the app identifies them). Then when your phone checks the database, if a phone matching someone that has been tested positive appears in your list of contacted phones, the app will notify you and guide you what to do next.

Simple, effective, and safe. Please try it.

16/03/2020

For the past 7 years I've worked from 'home', effectively being in the office no matter where I am (physically), by using technology that is available to all small businesses. If you need assistance to enable your small business to operate from one or many home offices using VoIP telephony, and other hosted services such as email and/or servers, please call us on 01923 555048 for a chat. We'd be happy to see how we can help you keep your business running as normally as possible.

09/10/2018

For those that don't understand my distrust of Google, perhaps this example of their behaviour will make it clear. I don't understand why, if they had a breach, it's taken 6+ months to disclose it, and (again, if it's true) why they aren't being prosecuted for this.

Google is shuttering its Google+ social networking platform due to a data breach, but didn't disclose that breach in fear of regulation.

16/07/2018

Almost passed me by, but just been reminded that today marks 5 years of working for myself at CHNO Technology. Time flies when you're having fun! Might have a cheeky Monday night glass of something (any excuse!) to celebrate :)

01/03/2018

Today Apple have shared a new support article (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201679) about Phishing scams particularly relating to iTunes type mails. But my video from a few years ago is still relevant - give it a watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEnTWpVfx84

My guide to not being caught out by Phishing scams.

29/11/2017

To all Mac users on High Sierra (latest OS), Apple have released an update that really needs to be applied ASAP to patch a security issue. No need to panic, but please update urgently by going into App Store and clicking on the Updates button. Apply the fix below.

Further info at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208315

06/10/2017

This kind of thing is EXACTLY why I always recommend you wait a good couple of weeks after a major Mac OS or iOS update before installing:

Apple today released a supplemental update to macOS High Sierra 10.13, the first update to the macOS High Sierra operating system that was released...

21/09/2017

So, iOS 11 update.......

The installation is typically easy, and I've seen no repoprted problems with failures like other years. It took me around an hour all in, and while the phone reindexes everything it has been slightly slower than normal and battery life has been reduced. This seems to be getting back to normal 36 hours later though (again, updates later).

There are a couple of gotchas though.

As I mentioned, 32-bits apps (older apps that haven't been updated in a while) are not supported in iOS 11. They will still show on your device, but will not load - you'll get a message that's all. If you're not concerned about any of the apps listed in Settings/General/About/Applications don't let this stop you going ahead when you are ready.

More importantly, if your mail is using an Outlook.com account or you use an Office 365 or Exchange account (in certan configurations), you may find that you are unable to send/receive mail under iOS 11. This is a problem that Apple and Microsoft are working to resolve, and I'll let you know when it goes away.

In my opinion, iOS 11 is not a major change at this stage. For a full description of what's changed, I've found this to be the best summary: https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ios-11/

iOS 11, released on September 19, introduces major design changes, new app features, and a complete interface overhaul for the iPad.

19/09/2017

Just a few words on the huge iOS update which will be on general release later today.....

1. Please don’t update immediately. The chances are that there won’t be any significant problems, but these have occurred before. Better to let someone experience this first, and you can update towards the end of this week, or later, when it’s clear that all is well.

2. If and when you do update, please be aware that some apps will no longer load. iOS 11 changes things below the surface, and as a result, apps that have not been redeveloped specifically for iOS 11 will not work. You can find a list of those apps on your phone right now (go to Settings/General/About and click on Applications) - if there are any apps listed there, they will not work in iOS 11. So if you need those apps, don’t update - get in touch with the app developers.

I’ll be updating later today, and will offer further advice based on my experience.