App Store Will Soon Be Changing, Again!

Apple Bytes: 

For all of you that use Apple products there will be some changes coming to the App Store with the release of iOS 13 this fall.

Read about it on the Apple Users Group site using the tab above or > HERE.

Ransomware: Cities Have Become A Big Target & It'll Get Worse

A number of US cities have paid ransoms of hundreds of thousands of dollars after getting caught out by hackers - and if the business model is working, cybercriminals will keep exploiting it.

Ransomware once seemed to be on the decline, but it's now gained a new lease on life - and additional notoriety - after crooks identified a lucrative new set of targets for their file-encrypting malware.

Once content to target individuals' PCs, cybercriminals have extended their reach upwards after realizing that they can make tens of thousands of dollars at a time by encrypting the entire networks of small and medium-sized businesses and other organizations, and holding them to ransom.

While some cybercriminal gangs shifted away from using ransomware in favor of other attacks such as cryptojacking or trojan malware, those specializing in file-locking campaigns kept plugging away, developing more highly targeted - and much more effective - attacks.

Cities and local governments, particularly those in the US, have fast become regular victims of ransomware campaigns. Recently, Riviera Beach and Lake City paid $600,000 and $500,000 after ransomware took down their systems.

They're paying because it's the quickest way to get your operations back up and running. If you look at some incidents that have impacted critical services, those are highly disruptive and definitely felt by the citizens of the city. That's probably factoring in to cities decisions to pay.

And, because targeting cities is bringing in lucrative paydays, cybercriminals are going to keep attacking them with ransomware. Ultimately, these guys are conducting these operations because they want to make a profit - they wouldn't be doing so if it wasn't working.

The best option for such cities - and the one which protects their budgets in the long run - is to invest in security before falling victim to an incident. That's not without cost and pain, however.

Read the complete article > ZDnet.com

July Meeting Presentation

The July 17 meeting presentation was "Computer Backups" by Alan Marcus.

You can view a PDF version of Alan's slideshow, with talking points, on the Resources tab (above). When the page opens, scroll down to the 'Class, Lecture and Meeting Presentations' section (#4) and click or tap on the link.

If you would like to ask questions or add to the discussion please use the comments feature of this post, below.

Executive Board Minutes

Computer Technology Club, Inc. – Executive Board Minutes
July 12, 2019

Alan Marcus, President, called the meeting to order at 9:00AM. Members in attendance: Bob Leiner, Jim Trimboli, Bob Kenlay, Ron Kenyon, Linda Tingley, Bill Balch, and Alan Marcus.

Secretary’s report read by Bob Kenlay. No corrections or additions necessary.

Jim Trimboli read the Treasurer's Report. The current balance is $1246.39.

Bob Leiner reported on the club audio equipment and the letter from DECCA Cable (Robert King). Bob suggested we continue to use our existing audio system.

Future meeting topics:

July 17 - "Computer Backups" by Alan Marcus
Aug 21 - “Big Data Mining” by Burt Stephens
Sept 18 - “Digital Estate Planning” by Phil Davis (OTOW)

Jim Trimboli presented his volunteer program for club members. It was agreed that the club members could be approached and asked if they would be interested in helping or being backups to current club meeting positions. (Mic runner, Badge checker/greeter and question or subjects for future meetings, 50/50 ticket seller, 50/50 and gift card distributor, assistant to program chairman, other club assistance)

The meeting adjourned at 9:50AM.

Respectfully submitted,
Bob Kenlay, Secretary

Advantages of a Tesla Model 3

Tech News and Views

Many people ask me about the advantages of owning an electric car. I couldn't explain the advantages any better than the writer of the following, very long, but excellent article about the Tesla model 3.

Is the Tesla Model 3 worth buying? How long do Tesla cars last?
Rosario D'Souza, Ph.D. Computer Science & Statistics, Georgia Institute of Technology (1994)

I don’t like buying expensive things. What’s more, I positively hate buying hugely expensive things. When my wife says, “Honey, let’s buy this expensive dining table,” I ask, “What is wrong with the inexpensive one we have right now?” When she says, “Let’s buy a new set of bedroom furniture to replace this set that we’ve had for the past 22 years, I turn to her with a deadpan expression, and ask, “Why?”

Before I bought my spanking new Tesla Model 3, I owned two cars – a 1999 Honda Odyssey EX (with 140K miles) and a 2004 Honda Accord EX (with 70K miles). I was very happy with these cars, and had no intention of buying another. I watched Tesla from a distance, and always considered the Model X and Model S outside my modest budget.

In all these years, it’s not that I couldn’t afford to buy a new car. I could pay cash for one if I wanted to. But I saw no need to buy a new car – because they offered me nothing more than what my existing old cars already provided me.

Then one day, my wife said, “SRP (our local electric power company) is hosting an EV (electric vehicle) event. They will have all kinds of hybrids and EVs available for display and test drives.” You can see my wife has become incredibly smart when it comes to dealing with me. No more, “Let’s buy a ...” Instead, it has become a, “Let’s look at ...” And what man can resist test driving cool, new technology?