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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 21 - 26 OCTOBER, 2024
Hello and Welcome,
Meeting TODAY
2024/10/19 — 14:00-16:00 — October, Sat — Web Design
SPCTUG Zoom Web Design Meeting
Time: Saturday, 19th October, 2024, 14:00 Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86141133224
Meeting ID: 861 4113 3224
Passcode: WebDesign
Meetings This Week
NO MEETINGS
Meetings Next Week
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Schedule of Current & Upcoming Meetings
First Tuesday 18:00-20:00 — Main Meeting
Third Tuesday 10:00-12:00 — Tuesday Group
Third Saturday 14:00-16:00 — Web Design
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Go to the official Sydney PC Calendar for this month's meeting details.
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ASCCA News:Tech News:
Facebook Fined for Password Failure
See the InfoPackets article by John Lister on October 11, 2024 at 12:10 pm EDT.
Facebook's parent company has been fined €91 ($100 million) for storing user passwords in plain text. Failing to encrypt the passwords breached Europe's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Meta, which runs Facebook and Instagram, broke the rules despite there being no evidence that anyone accessed the passwords without authorization or that anyone was then able to access accounts.
Delay In Coming Clean
The company was found to have breached the GDPR on four counts. Two involved failing to secure personal data adequately; one required correctly documenting these failures (classified as a personal data breach), and one required telling data regulators about the failure more quickly.
Storing password databases in plain text is considered a deplorable security practice, even if it does not present an immediate risk. If somebody were able to access the database without authorization (either through an external hack or through unauthorized access within the company), they would not need to spend any time decrypting the passwords.
The fine of €91 million came from the Data Protection Commission in Ireland, where Meta does much of its European data processing. It said, "It must be borne in mind that the passwords, the subject of consideration in this case, are particularly sensitive, as they would enable access to users' social media accounts." (Source: dataprotection.ie)
Drop in the Ocean
Whether the fine is excessive or will have enough of a deterrent is a matter of opinion and may depend on whether you consider Meta's finances. Based on its most recent financial reports, it's the same amount that it makes in profit in just 16 hours.
The same data regulator previously fined Meta more than a billion dollars for a previous breach of the GDPR. In that case, Meta failed to follow the rules for transferring data between Europe and the United States, which were designed to ensure that personal data is protected to the same standards in both places. (Source: bbc.co.uk)
What's Your Opinion
Is the fine appropriate? Does it matter that the passwords were for social media accounts? Should businesses have to follow data protection rules, or should it be up to customers to "vote with their feet"?
Comments
My Facebook is permanently disabled due to a linked Instagram account — Submitted by Dennis Faas on Fri, 11/10/2024 — 13:11.
On a slightly unrelated note:
Due to a Facebook vulnerability, my account has been permanently disabled even though I did nothing wrong.
A bot managed to link its Instagram account to my Facebook account without my permission. It linked my credit card to another account, purposely banned my Facebook, and charged my credit card $25 in Meta ad fees. Luckily, I was able to stop any more money coming out through PayPal. I was later able to dispute and file a chargeback.
The real kicker is that the only option to get my account back was to log in to the Instagram account that caused the ban and dispute it. Since I don't own the Instagram account, there is no other way to contact Facebook. I lost 10+ years of having a Facebook account, content, and all contacts.
I hope Facebook gets sued for billions and billions of dollars because of it.
There are literally hundreds of complaints on Reddit about this vulnerability, which was known as far back as May 2023. Facebook knows about it but chooses to do nothing about it.
Facebook users lose access after violations of linked spam Instagram accounts they don't own.
Another Fb Acct Permanently Disabled — Submitted by beach.boui on Fri, 11/10/2024 — 14:45.
My wife's Facebook account, which she had for 15+ years, apparently was hacked and resulted in being disabled. Somehow, Facebook decided she, at 63 years old, was underage and didn't follow Facebook rules or something like that. Facebook said she could dispute the issue to recover the account. But all the instructions to dispute the matter went in a useless loop, never being able to file a dispute. It was utterly and completely impossible to do as the instructions required. I spent hours researching how to file a dispute. What a waste of time. It all led back to the same place... Nowhereville. She was a very active Facebook user. She had contacts, both casual and professional, all lost.
Social Media — Submitted by nate04pa on Fri, 11/10/2024 — 15:37.
I have never established any social media accounts. No Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, etc. I have no regrets and do not want to miss anything important.
Anything you put on one of these sites will never go away. Too many people can access it and repost or forward it, so even if you delete it, it is still out there.
Facebook contact — Submitted by ronangel1 on Fri, 11/10/2024 — 16:28.
The one thing about Facebook is that if you break a rule you did not know existed and have your account suspended, it is impossible to contact them via email to get it corrected. After the account is no longer working. This also applies if trying to contact via another account about the matter this is a bad situation if the matter is a financial one. At least we are not paying for the account!
How to fix disabled — Submitted by hybridauth_Goog... on Sat, 12/10/2024 — 02:05.
Marie can be reached at infocyberrecoveryinc@gmail.com. I appreciate her work and think she can assist others with similar issues. Marie is knowledgeable about managing account-related issues on multiple platforms, including recovering lost or stolen accounts. She has recovered my lost account, so I highly recommend her services.
The Windows 11 24H2 Update Broke Some PCs
See the How-To Geek article by Arol Wright | Published 16 Oct, 2024.
Software update rollouts are usually staged for a reason — if something catastrophic happens, not everyone is instantly affected. In the case of Windows 11 24H2, an issue is plaguing a small subset of PC owners.
Microsoft might be about to temporarily halt the rollout of its latest operating system update, Windows 11 24H2, for some users after reports of Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors emerged. The issue is linked to specific Western Digital SSDs and their interaction with the updated storage drivers in 24H2. The Windows 11 24H2 update includes new File Explorer features, an updated Copilot experience, Wi-Fi 7 support, expanded availability for Voice Clarity audio, and much more.
Affected Windows users have reported encountering BSOD crashes with error messages related to NVMe storage drivers and RAID controllers. The problem stems from how Windows 11 24H2 handles Host Memory Buffer (HMB) allocation for certain WD SSDs like the SN770 and SN580. While previous versions granted limited HMB, 24H2 allocates the total requested amount, thus triggering the crashes.
Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and is working with Western Digital to identify affected hardware configurations. Microsoft is even reportedly considering halting the update for affected users, but it needs to be clarified if it has done so yet. If you have already updated and are experiencing BSOD errors, you can try a temporary workaround by manually turning off HMB allocation in the registry. This may impact drive performance, but the BSOD errors might stop.
Microsoft and Western Digital are expected to provide a permanent solution soon. In the meantime, if you happen to have WD SSDs, you should probably hold off on installing the update until the issue is resolved. We don't have a specific timeline on when we might see a new update pop up.
From Tom's Hardware:
Western Digital
According to reports from the Western Digital community forum since October 8, it seems that a significant portion of Western Digital NVMe SSD users are suffering from looping Blue Screens of Death as of the Windows 11 24H2 update, thanks to a misconfigured NVMe Host Memory Buffer.
The models most commonly impacted seem to be WD Blue SN580 and WD Black SN770, which rely on HMB. Host Memory Buffer for NVMe storage drives allows the drives in question to use system RAM as additional cache, usually about 64MB — but 24H2 has been seen allocating as much as 200MB, which seems to cause the instability.
Five Windows-Like Linux Distros You Should Try Out
See the How-To-Geek article by Dibakar Ghosh Published 16 Oct, 2024.
Are you tired of Windows but scared of Linux? But what if Linux looked like Windows and offered a user-friendly terminal-free user experience? Here are five Linux distributions offering a Windows-like experience so you can smoothly make the jump to Linux!
1: Q4OS: A Hidden Gem Among Windows-Like Distros
Q4OS is a Debian-based Linux distro with a focus on stability, reliability, and delivering a Windows-like experience. It comes in two main versions — KDE Plasma and the lightweight Trinity Desktop environment.
2: Zorin OS: Familiar Yet Different
Zorin OS is my favorite Windows-like distro. It's not trying to mimic the Windows look down to a T. Rather, it recreates the Windows layout style so you know where everything is and how to get your work done. However, the design and theming are a lot lighter and airy, giving Zorin its own personality.
3: Linux Mint: The Most Recommended Option
Linux Mint wins the People's Choice Award — if there was one — for the most recommended distro to Linux newcomers, especially Windows users. It brilliantly captures the essence of the pre-Windows 8 era, delivering an iconic user experience.
4: Linux Lite: Windows-Like for Older Hardware
If you want a Linux distro that's optimized for newcomers, looks like Windows, and also runs great on decade-old hardware, then Linux Lite was made for you. That said, it's not the most lightweight distro out there. Instead, it strikes a reasonable balance between delivering a modern user experience while being light enough to work on moderately old hardware — less than 10-year-old PCs.
5: Kubuntu: It's Ubuntu for Windows Power Users
Kubuntu is an official flavor of Ubuntu running KDE Plasma as the default desktop environment instead of GNOME — which is what you get with Ubuntu. I talked about KDE Plasma earlier when covering Q4OS. So what makes this Plasma-powered Ubuntu-based distro special?
Whether you're looking for a familiar interface, powerful customization, or compatibility with older hardware, these Windows-like Linux distros offer something for everyone. By combining the familiarity of Windows with the freedom of open-source, these distros will hold your hand as you cross over to the penguin's side!
Is 3G Still a Thing?
See the How-To Geek article by Ismar Hrnjicevic | Published 14 Oct, 2024.
3G
Key Takeaways
US carriers phased out 3G in 2022 to make room for faster standards like 4G and 5G.
3G is still used in many countries where shutdowns are still in progress or not planned yet.
Old 3G devices are not completely useless; they can still be used for various purposes, like dash cams or digital photo frames.
3G technology was the backbone of cellular networks in the 2000s and early 2010s, coinciding with the rise of smartphones. Apple even named their second iPhone after 3G to highlight its support for the technology. Fast-forward to today and 3G has mostly disappeared... or has it?
3G Has Been Phased Out in the US
3G is no longer a thing in the United States. Most of the major US carriers (T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint) shut down their 3G networks in 2022. UScellular was one of the last major carriers to make the switch, completing its 3G shutdown in January 2024.
3G has been phased out to make room for faster standards, namely 4G and 5G. This process actually has a name, and it's known as "spectrum refarming." Wireless network technologies like 3G and 4G use specific frequency bands within the wireless spectrum to operate.
The issue with the wireless spectrum is that it's a finite resource, so in order to advance the wireless technology, carriers have to "re-farm" the occupied bands. For example, 3G used 850MHz, 1900MHz, 2100MHz, and a few other bands that have now been repurposed for newer technologies.
This is an overall improvement, as you get to enjoy wider coverage of the faster standards. 3G was great for basic internet use, such as web browsing, GPS, and watching videos at lower resolutions. However, 3G can no longer meet our demands, as the bandwidth necessary to use modern apps has grown significantly.
To put things into perspective, 5G can handle a theoretical 10Gbps, 4G can do 100Mbps, and 3G is limited to just 3Mbps. So, even the aging 4G standard is still 33 times faster than 3G, so it's easy to see why it's been phased out. Side note: 3G got phased out before 2G, which some older devices relied on. It's also worth noting that the 3G shutdown affected many older devices and, most notably, cars, creating massive headaches for users.
3G Is Still Used in Many Other Countries
While US carriers have phased out 3G, that's not the case in all countries. Some carriers in developed nations have shut down 3G long before the US, at least for internet data. The Taiwanese government forced the 3G shutdown for data back in 2018 but kept 3G voice services operational until 30 June 2024. Germany's Telekom Deutschland and Vodafone shut down their 3G networks on 30 June 2021. India's Airtel shut down 3G in favor of 2G and 4G on 31 March 2020.
That being said, there are just as many countries that have only recently begun the 3G shutdown process. Several carriers in European countries plan to finish the shutdown by the end of 2025, so 3G devices still have another year to go before they become obsolete in those countries.
It's worth noting that many less-developed countries have no plans to shut down 3G anytime soon. I still see 3G standards like H+ fairly regularly in rural areas of my country; 4G is only present in more developed areas, and 5G in city centers.
Remember, while 5G is fast, it also has a very short range, so implementing it requires numerous cell towers, antennas, and other pieces of infrastructure. Spectrum refarming doesn't just involve switching to a newer technology; it's an expensive process. The same applies to 4G, though to a lesser extent, which is why 3G will remain in use in developing countries for the foreseeable future.
Does That Mean Your Old 3G Devices Are Useless?
If you have an old smartphone that doesn't support 4G lying around your home, you should know that it's not completely useless. While you can't use the phone to make phone calls, send texts, or even dial 911, you can still connect it to the internet via Wi-Fi. Just be aware of the security issues that old phones face when connected to the internet; don't store any personal information on the device. Consider only turning on the Wi-Fi to download apps or files.
So, what can you do with that old 3G phone or tablet? Lots of things, actually. You can use it as a dash cam for your car, security camera, digital photo frame, kitchen tablet, camera for kids, or even just a cheap MP3 player to take for a run. Put that old phone to work and squeeze the most you can get from it. Once you've had your fun with it, make sure to dispose of it responsibly.
Fun Facts:
Travels around Gadigal Metro Station
Gadigal Station
Adding 32 GB RAM to my Mini PC
I wanted to change my Mini-PC from 32 GB RAM to 64 GB. See below for details.
From our nearby Clubroom on Pitt Street, I walked down to Bathurst Street to one of the entrances to the Gadigal Metro Station, an imposing building. The "halls" split up left and right, one direction going to the North Shore, and the other to Sydenham.
The platforms are a full Street apart, each going under a different Street. Under Castlereagh Street, the line goes to Central, and under Pitt Street, it goes to the North Shore.
The Chinese IT Shops
I took the train one stop to Central, where I found the Chinese IT shops on George Street in Haymarket.
64 GB of DDR5 RAM
He found two 32GB sticks of DDR5 RAM, installed them, and used my power pack to fire up the machine. He hit the DEL key a few times to go into the BOOT setup. There, he could see the memory size, and he used his phone to take a photo of the screen, showing me the installed RAM at 65537 GB. No passwords were required to bring up Windows 11.
Back to Central, Sydenham and on to Sutherland
Finally, getting back to Central, I found the Metro platforms, went to Sydenham and transferred to the Sutherland line to finish my adventure.
Why was 64 GB RAM needed?
I was running the integer factorising software CADO-NFS, and to factor 150-digit numbers, I needed more than 32 GB. On a previous run, it crashed at the end of the run when it needed extra memory to handle the large matrices involved.
Now running with 64 GB, I noted the memory used with Windows Task Manager and saw that it peaked at 33.5 GB / 64 GB, so 32 GB was so close!
This means that even larger numbers will now be possible to crack.
CADO-NFS is very advanced software from the French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation, INRIA
[ In French: CADO-NFS = Crible Algébrique: Distribution, Optimisation — Number Field Sieve and in English: Algebraic Sieve, Distribution, Optimisation — Number Field Sieve ]
— Ed.
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