T-Tech Talk: Recent Episodes
Tannim Hallman
We take the time to answer computer-related issues in a non-technical manner. There’ll be no technobabble here. We speak common English, not just Geek.
FIrmware is the layer of software below the operating system. In computer motherboards, it is called BIOS or UEFI. For phones, printers, graphics cards, network cards, and everything else, it is simply firmware. It's what actually controls your device, and tells the components how to interact with the software.
Why does this matter? Like everything else, firmware can have security holes. FIrmware updates patch those. In addition, they can give more functionality, and improve performance.
We don't really have passwords for sale, but a lot of people do. You can find them on the dark web easily. The worst part is, they're cheap. Odds are, more than one person has purchased at least one of your passwords. Because of poor password hygiene, those people can do a lot of damage. They can get into your social media profiles, bank accounts, shopping site accounts, and a whole lot more.
What can be done about this? We're going to look at how to minimize the risk of your passwords ending up on the dark web, and how to minimize the damage when they end up there.
Ransomware is a plague of the computing age. One wrong click and some shadowy entity encrypts your data and holds it for ransom. They want money, usually in the form of Bitcoin, to decrypt it. The problem is, if you pay, there's no guarantee they will give you back your data. They will, however, be encouraged to do it again to someone else.
How do you protect yourself from ransomware? Be careful what you click on or open. Use good antivirus protection. Keep secure offline backups. Today, we're going to talk about backups.
There have been several reports over the years of baby monitors, and similar devices, being hacked and the video being streamed over the internet. This is a terrifying concept. Imagine for a moment having your baby monitor or nanny cam publicly viewable.
Fortunately, that doesn't have to happen. By following these simple tips, it is possible to secure your home network and all the devices in it.
In this episode, Tannim explores the different types of social engineering and phishing attacks.
In this episode, Tannim discusses the basics of phishing. Learn how to identify phishing attacks, and how to avoid them.
In this episode, Tannim discusses the difference between account hacking and cloning. He also discusses the dangers of each, how to prevent them, and what to do when they happen.
In this episode, Tannim discusses the basics of Virtual Private Networks. Learn what they are, when you might want to use one, and why you don't need them nearly as much as the security panicked say you do.