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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 14 - 19 OCTOBER, 2024
Hello and Welcome,
Meetings This Week
2024/10/15 — 10:00-12:00 — October, Tue — Tuesday Group
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 Next Week
NO MEETINGS
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:
New YouTube Channel — Update
See the InfoPackets article by Dennis Faas on October 4, 2024, at 02:10 pm EDT.
Dear Infopackets Readers,
Last Friday, I posted an article detailing ideas for a new Infopackets YouTube pilot program.
The videos posted on the new YouTube channel will highlight Microsoft Windows-related remote desktop technical support (provided by yours truly). You email me an issue you're having through our website, I call you to discuss the issue, and then I connect to your computer to resolve the problem for you. The phone call and video will be recorded, edited, and then uploaded to our future YouTube channel, which currently does not exist.
Below is an update to that announcement.
Surprise! Web Server Hosting Fees Just Doubled
A few days before making the announcement, I received an email from my web hosting company stating that they would be doubling my dedicated web server hosting fees come November 4th due to "skyrocketing electricity costs." This was despite having a contract already in place with a fixed monthly fee, and having been with the company for over 10 years.
After some back-and-forth, the current hosting company generously offered 10% off their newly doubled price if I paid the entire year of hosting upfront. My response was: "No thanks!"
After much research, I found another host and am currently moving over the entire Infopackets server infrastructure (a dedicated server with a /29 subnet) to all new hardware and all new infrastructure in another country (Germany).
To put it succinctly, this is a monolithic task and will take some time to complete.
Newsletter Deliverability Issues
Because I am moving to a new host, I am forced to acquire a new subnet of IP addresses. This means that I will lose my stellar IP reputation as a legitimate bulk emailer with my current provider, which means that there will be deliverability issues at the new provider until the kinks are worked out.
Based on experience, reacquiring a new IP reputation will most likely take 14-30+ days or more. I predict that our email newsletters will get blocked by some email service providers and — hopefully — eventually let through.
YouTube Videos: Need More Ideas, Please
As for the YourTube technical support videos, I am asking that you please send in ideas for videos that you are currently having that can be resolved only using remote desktop support. In this method, you email me a concern you have, I call and discuss the issue with you over the phone, and then I connect to your PC remotely and resolve the problem for you. Note that I do not offer Mac support — MS Windows only.
Respectfully, I am not looking for emails that are generic enquiries such as "Can you please make a video on how to do this ..." as that does not involve calling you to discuss the problem, connecting to your PC, and then implementing a fix to highlight my remote desktop support service.
This endeavour aims to (a) educate those who have similar, specific issues and (b) highlight my remote support service so that others seeing it on YouTube will email me and ask more questions ... and the entire process repeats. Proceeds from these videos will go toward hosting fees and the cost of living.
Priority (Paid Service) vs Non-Priority (Free Service)
I am offering paid and free service for remote technical support issues.
If you enjoy our website and content, please consider paying for a paid service to support our efforts. Paid service inquiries (priority support) will receive a guaranteed email or callback, whereas those requesting free service may or may not receive a response. First-time users of the paid service will receive a 50% discount and an option for another 50% discount on a second call if they refer a friend or post a BBB (Better Business Bureau®) review.
Reminder: No YouTube Channel — Yet
I would like to remind everyone that this is a pilot program. I currently do not have a YouTube channel for the videos because no videos have been made (other than a few I posted over ten years ago that are unrelated to what I'm suggesting now). I need ideas to follow up on, so please send in your ideas. If not enough interest is generated, then this pilot program may never materialize.
Many thanks for your understanding.
Sincerely,
Dennis Faas,
CEO | Chief Editor and all-around nice guy
Google Fibre Has Arrived in This New City
See the How-To Geek article by Jorge A. Aguilar | Published Oct 5, 2024
Google Fibre has arrived
Google Fibre has expanded its service to Pocatello, Idaho. This is a big deal because it's the first time Google Fibre has entered the state. The initial rollout includes the Alameda neighbourhood, with plans to expand to other areas as network construction progresses.
Google Fibre is the company's big way to get into providing internet services, and expansion means it's doing well financially. This is a big step for Google Fibre because it's finally pushing further into the northwestern United States. Google is expanding its service areas from Utah. Residents of the Alameda neighbourhood now have access to Google Fibre's high-speed internet service, which offers various speed tiers, including 1 Gig ($70/month), 2 Gig ($100/month), 5 Gig ($125/month), and 8 Gig ($150/month), all with symmetrical upload and download speeds. All service tiers include equipment and installation, and no annual contracts or data caps exist. Google Fibre also offers business internet service plans, limited to 1 Gig ($100) and 2 Gig ($250) speeds.
The company has partnered with local officials in Pocatello, including Mayor Brian Bland and the city council. Essentially, Google wants to ensure that the expansion and its services roll out smoothly with the help of those in charge. Google says that its expansion will benefit both residents and businesses in Pocatello by providing them with access to reliable and high-speed internet connectivity. Fibre internet speed is crucial in today's age, so it's hard to argue against that point.
While the Alameda neighbourhood is the initial launch point, Google stated it is actively working on expanding its Fibre network coverage across Pocatello and neighbouring Chubbuck. Any residents who want to keep track of the construction progress and service availability can do so on the official Google Fibre website. This is also good news for anyone outside of Idaho because it means Google Fibre is reaching more states.
Source: Google
Telegram Will Share User Data With Cops
See the InfoPackets article by John Lister on October 7, 2024, at 12:10 pm EDT.
Telegram
The head of the controversial messaging app Telegram says it will now comply with some legal requests for user information. Russian business owner Pavel Durov announced the policy change weeks after being arrested in France and charged with enabling criminal activity.
Telegram is a messaging app similar to WhatsApp in that messages are encrypted, so even the app's operators can't read private messages. However, it has a couple of significant differences that likely affect the type of people who use it.
One is that unlike WhatsApp's limit of 1,000 people in a messaging group, Telegram allows up to 200,000 membersr. At the same time, individual users can have a personal "channel" to send messages to millions of people. That means information — and misinformation — can spread incredibly quickly. (Source: bbc.co.uk)
12 Criminal Charges
The other is that, until now, Telegram has generally been highly uncooperative with law enforcement authorities seeking information about users. The result has been a distinctive user base that includes people trying to communicate without detection by authoritarian regimes seeking to silence political critics and people engaging in activity that would be recognised as criminal in most countries.
Last month, Durov was arrested at an airport near Paris, questioned for several days, and charged with twelve counts relating to Telegram enabling illegal activity by users and his failure to cooperate with the police. The indictment said Durov had made it possible for users to share software for attacking databases, distribute indecent images of children, and engage in drug trafficking.
Court Orders Respected
Durov now says Telegram will change its privacy policy, and the company will share users' IP addresses and phone numbers with law enforcement authorities if and when they get a valid legal request such as a court order. (Source: theguardian.com)
He added that the app will now use artificial intelligence to identify and hide potentially illegal content in search results. However, that may not be enough to satisfy laws in some countries that require such messages and posts to be removed or blocked altogether.
What's Your Opinion?
Do you know anyone who uses Telegram? Is it a smart move to change this policy? What information should apps and websites be forced to give to law enforcement agencies, if any?
Comments
And there you have it — Submitted by Doccus on Mon, 07/10/2024 — 16:39.
The thin edge of the wedge is here.. and it's a severe problem for freedom worldwide. The only tool left to people seeking sanctuary from oppressive and totalitarian regimes is the ability to communicate anonymously. It's no surprise Russia did it first, either. From now on, anyone using programs such as that could be considered involved in "criminal activity", even when they're not. I have been dreading this development for years, as it's the first step to worldwide totalitarianism. IMHO, it'll be too late if people don't say no now and stand up for freedom from intrusive government activity.
Sheeple — Submitted by OadbyPC on Mon, 07/10/2024 — 19:28.
I recently realised that most people don't want to be free! Humans are herd animals, and the majority aren't just willing to accept an overlord; they actively wish for someone to tell them what to do!
Fun Facts:
Electronic "Gadget" with no Power Cord or Power Pack
This "Gadget" is one we've mentioned before in these pages.
It's an Amazon KVM (Keyboard, video and mouse). The brand name is AIMOS, and it is from China.
Eight Port KVM
I wanted to find an 8-port KVM in case I needed it.
Imagine my surprise when I saw it in the Amazon photos but could not figure out how it was powered.
Count the cords:
1 From left to right on the back of the KVM: Eight (HDMI and USB) cables coming in from the 8 Computers.
2 One HDMI OUT cable going to the Screen.
3 Keyboard and mouse USB cables are coming from the KVM to the now-single keyboard and mouse on the desktop.
And that's IT.
Have a look at the AIMOS KVM page on Amazon. There are seven photos that you can enlarge to study in minute detail.
Give up?
It's straightforward. There are NO POWER connections.
The power comes from the 8 USB cables from the computers.
What a clever company! To power the computers you only need an eight or 9-pin power-board. There is no tenth connection under the desk to heat everything up.
And only $95.99 as of 12/10/2024.
— Ed.
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Bob Backstrom
~ Newsletter Editor ~
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