Not a cent for ransom thanks to Windows
Even home computers can get hit with ransomware. That’s when the bad guys ask you to pony up if you want your files back. But Windows now offers free ransomware protection.
To turn it on, type “Windows Security” into the search box on your computer or find it in “Settings.” Now click “Virus & Threat Protection,” then “Ransomware Protection.” It safeguards your folders and files. Gamers will want to add their apps to an access list, however, or they might not be able to open saved files.
Given the juicy targets out there, it must be rare for a home computer to be held for ransom. But two years ago, a ransomware attack targeted home users through a fake antivirus update, according to ZDNet. In some cases, it demanded $2,500. The article didn’t say whether the victims ever got their money or their files back. But it’s a good idea to install updates only from trusted sources. In other words, check the web address before you click.
Normally, hackers go for big targets, like United Health Group, the biggest U.S. health care payment processor. A few weeks ago, it was hit with a ransom request. Lifesaving prescriptions went unfilled. Doctors, pharmacies and patients panicked.
Around 1.58% of state and local governments have also been ransomware victims. Only 20% stopped an attack from succeeding. Just last November, according to Malwarebytes.org, almost the entire population of Maine was affected by a ransomware attack. The criminals may have obtained names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, driver’s licenses, state identification numbers, and taxpayer identification numbers, as well as medical information.
LastPass blues
When LastPass, the password manager, failed a friend of mine, I talked her into switching to Google Password Manager. After all, I couldn’t figure out how to fix LastPass either.
What’s worse, its tech support service, my friend said, had the feel of a fly-by-night company. When she recognized the area code in Texas, for example, the tech guy refused to say where he was, though he was eager to take over her computer functions remotely.
I prefer Google’s Password Manager to LastPass for two reasons. First, it’s free for an unlimited number of devices. LastPass charges $36 a year for two devices. Second, Google’s Password Manager is easy to use and includes a free password checkup. I’ve had trouble with every other password manager I’ve tried.
Google’s Password Checkup gives you a list of weak, duplicated and compromised passwords. My list has no compromised password but includes 284 reused and 180 weak ones. I’ll get around to changing some of them one of these days. But nearly all are sites I no longer go to. They don’t have my current financial or personal info.
Google’s Password Manager works best in the Chrome web browser or browsers based on Chrome, such as Microsoft Edge and Brave. But there’s no reason you can’t use two browsers. I have six.
Getting phone advice from a cabbie
I never expected phone advice from a cab driver in Arizona. But he did a great job explaining why he loves the Samsung Galaxy S24.
For starters, its live translation is handy when passengers don’t speak English. In a demo on the web, an English speaker taps the S24’s microphone symbol and says: “It’s my first time in Korea. What would you suggest doing?” This gets immediately translated into Korean text. When the Korean answers, his words appear as English text. Both translations face the one they’re aimed at, so you don’t have to turn the phone around. Of course, it isn’t perfect. According to theVerge, the S24 wrongly translated a Japanese line about a cat. Instead of “Petey is eating my chair,” it said: “I am eating my chair.”
Going beyond translation, the S24 has a bright screen that can be read in direct sunlight. It also has a new feature called “Circle to Search.” Using a finger, circle anything you see on your phone, such as an exotic cartoon animal or a purse in a movie, and you’ll get a list of Google links. The S24 also has a 200-megapixel camera system, an extra-durable display and at least seven years of operating system and security updates, as well as seven years of Samsung tech support. On the downside, it costs $1,299.
Smartwatch saves time
The Garmin Venu 2 smartwatch handled cardiovascular assessments at a British hospital recently, freeing up valuable time for doctors and nurses, according to a research study cited by Engadget.
The Garmin’s six-minute “Walk Test” diagnoses pulmonary hypertension, which can be fatal if left untreated. When the walk was finished, a nurse or doctor tested the patient’s heart rate and blood oxygen. That still saved time compared to other diagnostic tools. But ideally, the researchers conclude, you would do the walk test at home, then use a blood oxygen test and a heart rate monitor, both available on Amazon.
The biggest battery
If you want a smartphone with a huge battery life, check out Avenir’s Energizer Hard Case P28K. It weighs a pound and a quarter, has nearly a 7-inch display, Android 14 and a 28,000 mAh battery. It has a talk time of nearly five days, and a standby time of almost 100 days. But it probably wouldn’t fit in your pocket.