MacKethan Computer Consulting

05/04/2020

“We Know Your Password” SCAM

This is an old one that seems to be rearing its ugly head again. The email reveals a password that you are using or may have used in the past. It then says how they have your entire address book and have been monitoring your internet activity, and unless you send them some specified amount of bitcoin, they are going to humiliate you in front of your friends, family and all-over social media. Sound familiar?

I have had several calls from clients about this one in the last week or so. Here are the facts.

1) Yes, they have a password that you used to or still use. Most likely it is a password from long ago or one you have been using for a very long time. People on the “dark web” acquire these passwords from systems that were hacked years ago. You may recall that AOL was compromised once, as was Yahoo. There are many instances where thousands of passwords have been stolen from compromised systems over the years. It is one reason that we are encouraged to change our passwords every so often and to not use the same password for multiple accounts.

2) No, they have not been monitoring you and have nothing on you.

3) They are banking on a couple things.
(1)You are still using that password.
(2)You have been doing inappropriate or embarrassing things on the internet.

Out of the hundreds of thousands of recipients of these emails, they are bound to hit a few that fit the bill.

What should you do?
1) Delete the email.
2) If you are still using that password or some variation of it on any account, change it, and make it unique. Don’t just increment a number.
3) If you happen to be using that password for a bank account it would not hurt to call the bank and ask them to monitor your account, but most likely nothing will happen.

I would also encourage you to explore the use of a password management utility. I use LastPass but know that Dashlane, Zoho and Keeper are good products as well. These programs keep track of your passwords, let you generate random passwords and will auto fill username and password fields on websites and even on apps on your mobile devises. And they are much more secure than letting your browser save your passwords. The idea is that you only need to know one password, and that is the password to unlock your password manager. I actually do not know most of my passwords because they have all been randomly generated for me, but I can get to them easily enough through LastPass.

I hope this information is useful. Stay safe.

03/28/2020

Be aware. With this new bill there will be scammers calling and emailing you, posing as the IRS, saying that they need your bank information so they can process your direct deposit stimulus check. I have already heard from a couple people who have received such a call.

The IRS is not going to call or email you. If they don't have what they need to do a direct deposit, they will just mail you a check. Never give out any personal information over the phone or via a link in an email.

Be safe and be smarter than the nasty opportunists.

12/08/2019

Looking for a last minute stocking stuffer? How about giving the gift of technical support. Contact me to get your's today.

05/11/2019

I had an interesting opportunity to do some pro bono work over the last few weeks. I heard a presenter at Rotary a month ago who, with very limited resources, collects clothes, school supplies and hygienic products to give to needy children in his neighborhood. I was so inspired by his actions and it was evident that he did not have the technological resources to take advantage of online crowdfunding so I decided to help him build a gofundme.com account.

I encourage you to follow this link and read his story. It is amazing what one man can do. And if you are so inclined, maybe make a donation.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/6m9au-khris-mapp-project

The Khris Mapp Project is a small non-profit dedicated to helping elementary school kids get clothing, school supplies and items for personal hygiene that they need and otherwise cannot afford. I am a one man show and my current area of focus is in Mt. Clemens, Michigan but I hope to replicate t...

01/31/2019

A Message from your Computer Guy with a Bow Tie.

All good things must come to an end, even Windows 7. After January 14, 2020, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or support for PCs running Windows 7. So what are your options…

1) Buy a new computer with Windows 10.
2) You can purchase a copy of Windows 10 and upgrade your PC so long as it has the basic requirements.
3) If you have Microsoft Office 365 Business you can upgrade your Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 for free.

You can continue to use Windows 7, but once support ends, your PC will become more vulnerable to security risks. Windows will operate but you will stop receiving security and feature updates. Support for Internet Explorer on Windows 7 devices will also be discontinued on January 14, 2020.

How do you know if you have Windows 7? Look in the lower left hand corner of your computer.

Colorful Microsoft Flag = Windows 7
White Microsoft Flag = Windows 8 or 10

10/19/2018

I just received my new hard drive crushing tool. It is called Pure Leverage Crusher. It has a simple but very effective design. As I have told many of my clients, the best way to make sure that no data can be recovered from your old hard drive is to damage the cylinders inside. Some people will take a hammer to their old HDD and work out their frustration while others will use a drill. I always felt that these methods, though effective, were labor intensive. So I was so glad to have found the Pure Leverage Crusher. Rather than my trying to explain it in words, Follow this link to see pictures of it in action. http://www.mackethanconsulting.com/2018/10/hdd-terminator/

07/27/2018

My mission statement is, “Strive to empower my clients through my support, not enslave them to my service.” Some say it is a bad business model but the educator in me says, “Who cares.” It does, however inspire me to write about mesh networks.

Without getting technical, a mesh network system, like Eero, Linksys Velop, or Netgear Orbi, is the best solution to total WiFi coverage in your home with minimal setup and maintenance. It just works!

Click below to read more.

Mesh Networks – They Just Work! July 27, 2018UncategorizedEero, Mesh Network, Oribi, Velop, WiFiPhilip MacKethan My mission statement is, “Strive to empower my clients through my support, not enslave them to my service.” Some say it is a bad business model but the educator in me says, “Who c...

05/31/2018

I have some really amazing and kind clients.
Many of whom I can call friends.
I just found this testimonial posted on my website. Counting my blessings.

Ken Welch May 31, 2018 at 2:43 pm Read all of these reviews and believe every single one of them. The guy with the bow tie is outstanding. He’s exactly what most of us who simply don’t get it when it comes to computers need. I myself am so lame with tech stuff that I asked him to post my review ...

03/08/2017

I just install a new gadget. The Amazon Dash Button. A conveniently located device that allows you to order a common item at just the push of a button. In this case, toilet paper. I have strategically place this button on the inside of the closet door were we store our extra TP. Yes, I buy my TP online thanks to the fact that GP Kroger stores only sell the jumbo size rolls. Don't they know that most of us have old houses around here where jumbo rolls do not fit into the dispensers?