Weekly Tech Advisory 2018.05.14
A semi-weekly review of latest tech news that could impact your business.
This week on my tech advisory:
1. Microsoft releases their Spring Updates which includes a dangerously-insecure feature called Windows Timeline. Watch the video to learn how it could harm you and, better yet, how to turn it off.
2. A S/MIME attachment vulnerability exists for Microsoft Outlook, Apple Mail, and Mozilla Thunderbird. The bottom line is that using thick-clients for email jeopardizes your ability to maintain security.
3. Google is re-designing the user interface for Gmail and Drive.
4. Are iPhones more secure than Android phones? Yes. Learn why.
Weekly Tech Advisory 2018.04.27
My Weekly Tech Advisory discussing vulnerability announcements for 7-Zip and Microsoft Outlook, GMail gets a facelift, and why browser-based mail is just better.
Just a weekly advisory that I send out to my clients at the end of the week.
1. US-Cert Advisories concerning Russian brute-force attacks against infrastructure; 7-Zip vulnerabilities; Outlook vulnerabilities; MsOffice 2013 exits mainstream support.
2. GMail gets a facelift. New features and capabilities being rolled out over the next few weeks.
3. My commentary on browser-based vs thick client email.
Best Chrome Extensions to Help Protect You Online
Practice safe browsing: use Google Chrome with just five extensions to provide the reasonable performance, speed, and security to your web browsing experience.
Hey!
So you want to protect yourself while browsing online?
Great!
You say you're not technical and don't really want to bother with too much complexity.
Right on.
You want a minimalist, multi-platform solution that doesn't slow down your browsing experience on any computer?
Okay!
And you've no issues with Google - you generally trust the company?
Cool.
Here's what you need to do now.
1. Use Google Chrome. Yes, it's still the safest and most secure browser.
2. Delete all of your current extensions. You will want to manage/remove any existing Chrome extension that isn't from Google or that you're not familiar with.
3. Add the Chrome Extension HTTPS Everywhere. This extension will automatically try to secure your web browsing by using SSL encryption where it's available. You don't even have to think about it or know was SSL encryption is to take advantage of it.
4. Add the Chrome Extension Privacy Badger. Provided by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Privacy Badger attempts to negate third party tracking techniques that spoil your privacy.
5. Add the Chrome Extension Adblock Plus. This tool is used to block ads from appearing in your browser and potentially harming you.
6. Add the Chrome Extension DOT-VPN. A virtual private network tunnels your traffic through another server and encrypts your communication. This tool automatically handles the heavy-lifting making the use of a VPN relatively easy. DOT-VPN is free; ExpressVPN can be used by ExpressVPN customers but is also a great extension.
Naturally, there's a lot more you can do but these are reasonable, easy steps to help safeguard your Internet browsing activity.
R