Lowcountry Computing, LLC

02/06/2026

We have tools to block untrusted flash drives

Seriously, don't!

Don't plug in that flash drive you:

Found in a parking lot
Received in the mail as a "free gift"
Bought from some random online seller

Scammers are using USB drives to deliver malware straight to your computer. The second you plug one in, it can automatically install ransomware, steal your passwords, wipe your data, or spread through your entire network. You might not even realize you've been infected until it's too late.

The mail scam is especially sneaky. Scammers send flash drives disguised as legitimate correspondence from the IRS (claiming tax refund info), health organizations, or companies offering promotional gifts.

They're counting on your curiosity or trust to get you to plug it in. Don't fall for it.

Found one lying around? That "lost" flash drive in the parking lot isn't lost. It's bait. Throw it away.

Got a suspiciously cheap flash drive online? It's probably reprogrammed to show fake storage capacity and will corrupt or delete your files. Or worse, it has malware on it.

Only trust flash drives you personally bought from reputable retailers. If you didn't buy it or specifically order it, throw it away.

Found one at work? Turn it in to your IT department. They can handle it safely and alert others if your workplace is being targeted.

Your data is worth way more than free storage.

Learn more about this scam in the latest edition of Inside the Star. Link in the comments.

01/24/2026

Headline: 48 Million Gmail Usernames & Passwords Leaked Online.
What? A database of names and passwords was found online with no password. It contained: Gmail = 48 m, Facebook = 17 m, Instagram = 6.5 m, Yahoo = 4 m, Netflix = 3.4 m, & Outlook = 1.5 m.
When? This appears to be a collection of previous password leaks and not a new mass exposure, shared yesterday 01/23/26.
Who? It was found by Jeremiah Fowler a cybersecurity research and shared on ExpressVPN blog.
Next? In your browser on Windows (Settings > Passwords > More/Advance) or in your key chain on Mac enable scan passwords for leaks.
Also, goto https://haveibeenpwned.com/ to see leaks your email has been involved in.
Caution! Google has announced it will notify users it a password has been leaked, No fake emails yet, but they will be sent soon!
Do not follow links in emails to reset passwords.
Do not reuse passwords on multiple sites / services
Do not enter passwords when you are not expecting to be prompted for one.

Have I Been Pwned allows you to check whether your email address has been exposed in a data breach.

08/31/2025

Experience Applied over aiWhile coping files to my new laptop I got an error: "Invalid MS-DOS function".
Since this is an error from the 90s I asked Co-Pilot; including that 'try again' button solved copy issue. It gave 3 likely causes. File System Differences / Long File Names or Paths / Network Glitch. I questioned; why as I would a new hire... on how File System Differences would be solved with Try Again, and then how Long File Names or Paths would be solved with Try Again. For both it reconsidered and gave a new possible reason. At the end I asked for a summary for troubleshooting and it again pointed the finger at File System Differences, even suggested using One Drive instead of Zoho drive mapping.
This is why one of our types of work performed is LowCo√/ai for Experience Applied over ai.

Co-Polit did not complete it's 3 month employment evaluation successfully.
[√] continued training and evaluation recommended
[√] not ready for 1st level support job

04/15/2022

After installing KB5012599 I got a 0xc0000022 error launching Edge, Firefox and Chrome, so they don't work anymore.

Uninstalling KB5012599 solves this problem.

1. Go to Windows Settings (Windows key + i) –> Update & Security –> Windows Update.
2. From the right-hand pane, click on View Update History.
3. Now click on Uninstall updates.
4. Select Update for Microsoft Windows (KB5012599) and press the Uninstall button.

09/28/2021

Nextiva and several other VoIP use bandwidth and were effected yesterday.

https://www.facebook.com/496045290414756/posts/4669907253028518/?sfnsn=mo

06/10/2021

Latest windows update adds current weather next to your system tray.

There is one change you want to make when you see this new addition!
1. Right click on the weather
2. From the menu click News and interest
3. Select Turn off
4. Go outside, even if it is raining
5. Repeat as needed

05/08/2021

Two things for today:
1. Your password expired yesterday on "World Password Day", go change them all.
2. Google announced a very bold move for account security. "Soon," the company says, it will start "automatically enrolling" users in two factor authentication (2FA), provided their accounts are appropriately configured.

On World Password Day, we’re providing a sneak peek at a future in which, one day, you won’t need a password at all.

04/17/2021

Problem: BSoD or boot loop caused by Windows 10 April 2021 Security Update KB5001330

Solution: Disable driver signature enforcement & uninstall KB5001330

Steps:
1. spastic-tap [F7] during boot OR the same on [F8] and select disable driver... from menu
2. Click start menu, type setting
3. Select "Update & Security" > "Windows Update" > "View update history"
4. Click "Uninstall updates"
5. Select "Security Update for Microsoft Windows (KB5001330)"
6. Reboot

01/27/2021

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212146

This document describes the security content of iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4.

11/10/2020

Before you purchase a black Friday deal to run your business...

One of the great myths about PCs that you hear people repeat time and time again is that there’s no real difference between their home laptop and the one they use at work.

08/23/2020

Shift in targets from individuals to governments and critical health infrastructure

08/07/2020

Now is when you do these:
* https://www.ready.gov/kit
* https://www.ready.gov/pets
* Confirm your data restore is working