Tech View: How’s ransomware doing? Just fine, thanks
The bad guys have also fine tuned their game such that ransoms are actually right sized to the business. Read more
Latest Stories by John Agsalud
Tech View: Proper protocols can defuse artificial intelligence scams
One of the hottest tech topics of the day is artificial intelligence, or AI. Debates rage about its merits and detriments, depending upon its application for specific uses, such as education, law and entertainment. Read more
Tech View: Printers and Bluetooth are among the things that IT people hate
Do you ever get a big sigh when you ask your IT staff for help? Don’t take it personally, chances it’s the piece of technology you’re working with that causes the angst. Read more
Tech View: Cutting the cord for cable not always the best idea
When Netflix recently announced it would be cracking down on subscription sharing, many cost-conscious TV viewers were left in a tizzy. After all, Netflix had practically encouraged, if not outright endorsed, the sharing of subscriptions in the past. Read more
Tech View: Videoconferencing now plays key role in today’s business
The aftereffects of the pandemic are far too long to list, and largely inappropriate for this space. One relevant phenomenon, however, is the advent of videoconferencing. What have we learned as this technology has matured? Read more
Tech View: Eliminate old tech clutter that has no usefulness
Many folks, including businesses and government organizations, have a pile of old tech gear lying around. While we won’t go all Marie Kondo here, it’s always interesting in seeing the tech gear to which people hang on, most of which is useless. What can be tossed and what should be kept? Read more
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Tech View: Multifactor authentication still best way to keep data safe
With all of the data breaches in the recent past, one characteristic stands out. Very few accounts that are protected by multifactor authentication, or MFA, are hacked. And those that are hacked are usually violated with the aid of social engineering. Read more
Tech View: Changing password manager seems prudent after breach
By now most folks, and especially regular readers of this column, have heard of password management software. Using a password manager is one of the four pillars of defense against bad actors on the internet, the other three being MFA, endpoint protection and off-site backups. Read more
Tech View: ChatGPT is latest foray into artificial intelligence
Although it doesn’t have as cool a name as Alexa, Siri or even Hal, ChatGPT is the latest and most advanced foray into the technology known as artificial intelligence, or AI. What exactly is ChatGPT, what’s it good for and why are some folks scared of it? Read more
Tech View: Turmoil at Twitter leads to a bump in fake news
To say Twitter is in chaos might be the understatement of the year. While the jury is still out as to whether new owner Elon Musk can bring the company under control, one byproduct of its current state is an increase in fake news. Read more
Tech View: What to look for when purchasing a smart TV
While this may be a clever excuse for this column running the day after Cyber Monday, the fact of the matter is that the holiday buying season is now several weeks long. Read more
Tech View: Emails undergoing changes as instant messaging evolves
With the maturation of texting and instant messaging platforms such as Slack, Google Chat or Microsoft Teams, folks have adapted, and continue to adapt their use of email. Keeping in mind that email platforms also have continued to improve, what does the communication landscape look like now? Read more
Tech View: New Windows 11 is boring, but it is an easy transition
When Microsoft somewhat surprisingly announced the release of Windows 11, many were caught by surprise. After all, hadn’t Microsoft said Windows 10 was going to be the last version of its venerable operating system? Now, about a year after its introduction, the initial fanfare has calmed, but folks are still wondering whether they should take the leap. What’s the verdict? Read more
Tech View: Quality of videoconferencing is essential for organizations
As the aftereffects of the pandemic settle down and we embrace the new normal, one technology-related trend has become readily apparent: Videoconferencing is here to stay. Read more
Tech View: Protecting your DNA data could pay off in the future
With genealogy sites all the rage, many folks willingly submit DNA samples to see their family trees. For a few, unintended consequences have surfaced, at least anecdotally, some taking on the status of the urban legend “What do you mean my dad was the postman?” But it’s the unknown unintended circumstances that give us pause. Read more
Tech View: Logs can track web activities as well as ID your location
How many times have we heard the warning, “Be careful what you do on your computer, it’s all logged.” Is this true? Should folks be concerned that big brother is looking over their shoulder? What exactly is a log, and what’s in it? Read more
Tech View: Is ‘https’ good enough to avoid getting hacked?
More and more we hear stories of folks being victimized by hackers who steal information seemingly out of thin air. The good news is that there are a few things the average Joe can do to minimize their exposure to such dangers. Read more
Tech View: Disaster recovery crucial in the age of ransomware
Ransomware, like most other technologies, continues to evolve and become more effective for its nefarious purveyors. At its advent, ransomware merely encrypted your data and charged a ransom to un-encrypt it. Read more
Tech View: Staying safe in the age of remote work
When cameras were first made standard fare on laptop computers a few years back, it was common practice for discerning folks to physically block the camera to ensure they could not be unknowingly spied upon. Read more
Tech View: Dealing with price increase of cloud applications
A few months ago Microsoft announced a price increase to its flagship cloud applications suite, Microsoft 365. The reckoning has come, and the increase, of about 20%, kicks in for most folks this month. Read more
Tech View: University of Hawaii’s next head football coach should have been Mark Zuckerberg
The recent hiring of Timmy Chang as the next University of Hawaii football coach, along with all its twists, turns and drama, has dominated local news — so much so that another rather significant story seems to have not gained as much attention. This is the donation by Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg of $50 million to UH to help study the impact of climate change on the ocean. Read more
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