COMPUTERS, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY

[Tripps]

It's to ensure those using the service have a TV licence.

That's not what they say on the registration form - seems it's all for my benefit.

"Why we’re asking you to sign in
You now need to sign in to watch and listen to things on BBC iPlayer and iPlayer Radio. And the same goes for some other parts of the BBC. This is so we can make the BBC more relevant and personal to you."

[Big Kev]

It's to ensure those using the service have a TV licence.

That's not what they say on the registration form - seems it's all for my benefit.

"Why we’re asking you to sign in
You now need to sign in to watch and listen to things on BBC iPlayer and iPlayer Radio. And the same goes for some other parts of the BBC. This is so we can make the BBC more relevant and personal to you."

They have such a lovely way with words

[Stanley]

Everybody is chasing data these days. They'll be selling us to someone. See Tiz posts on it. We are now commodities!

[Tizer]

I sent Stanley a copy of a Philip Aldrick article from The Times titled `Data is the real cryptocurrency that big corporations can't get enough of'. Aldrick mentions: "Samsung smart TVs recording living room conversations ans storing them, along with viewing habits. Robot vacuum cleaners send room dimensions and furniture details to manufacturers. Smart fridges relay dietary preferences." He describes data as "a means of exchange or a store of wealth. Money in another form. The more data collected the more valuable it is. Google does not offer us the option of paying for using Google Maps and keeping our personal information private because the data is more valuable." He also points out that none of this shows up in official economic data and therefore it raises questions over the meaning and value of GDP.

On another matter, the FT this morning reports:
`UK spymasters raise suspicions over Kaspersky software’s Russia links'
GCHQ concerned by snooping potential of anti-virus product used by 2m Barclays clients.
British spymasters fear that anti-virus software given away for free by Barclays to more than 2 million customers may be being used as an intelligence-gathering tool by the Russian government.

[Stanley]

It was a good article.....
The thing that bothers me as I learn about what is possible and see things like Alexa sitting in people's homes and 'personal assistants' on smart phones is that we are never fully aware and what we know about is certainly the tip of a very large iceberg. Looking at the selfish ethos of the large companies that Janet warned me about so long ago I have no doubt that they will take maximum advantage, she was four years in front of the curve.
Also, from experience, these same companies will be using the technology against each other leading to escalation in order to keep up. We are long past Orwell's 1984 and we can only wonder where it will end. Whole generations are being treated like lab rats and manipulated, look at the impact of the overt technologies like advertising and then consider the effects of the covert like the Samsung TV that eavesdropped and the personal assistants.....
I'm getting old aren't I!

[Pluggy]

I've said it before and no doubt I'll continue to say it. I'm glad I'm in the Autumn of my life and not the spring.......

[Tripps]

I suppose I'm in the foothills of the winter of my life - to mix metaphors - but have managed to retain some optimism.

Yes Tesco have a lot of information about my shopping - much good may it do them - but they pay me for it. I have just redeemed £15 worth of their vouchers for a £30 Senior Rail Card. I think that's a fair enough deal. They send me special 'tailored' offers from time to times. I just bin them - in order to confuse their marketing people.

Memo to self - use the card this time. . .

[plaques]

Two e-mails rightly or wrongly treated as scam.
1) How did you enjoy your recent bank visit. Fill this form Bla Bla Bla. ( haven't been in the bank for ages.)
2) Renew your Amazon account details. or we will cancel your account and goods in transit will be stopped. Click here to fill this form in. (If this is genuine then Amazon can get st....d if this is the way they treat customers.)

[Stanley]

I delete anything that I don't recognise. As for the ones that purport to be from a provider asking for action I just ignore them.
When my mate Daniel worked for the BBC the IT department got on to him and told him he should deal with over a thousand unanswered mails in his account so he binned them.

[plaques]

Opened up my Windows 10 laptop and was faced with the usual 'configuring' don't switch off your computer. No problem, wait a few minutes until it does its stuff and then back to normal. Except, in this case there was a message ' Update failed' go to etc, etc. Then like a fool I did what they asked, big mistake, This wasn't the normal common or garden service update but a full installation of Windows 10 Version 1709 Fall Creators. 12 hours later and with much starting and 'continuing' of downloads and updates it finished. It would appear that even on the fastest connection plus supper fast processors and massive RAM you may get away with 6 hours. For lesser mortals it could take up to 19 hours. Beware! not an option to jump into lightly, get your house in order before you press this particular button.

[Pluggy]

Welcome to the big downside of Windows 10. It has some upsides, being delightfully easy to install from cold comes to mind but the near perpetual updates can get tiring......

I'll stick with Ubuntu as my main operating system.

The latest incarnation of Windows 10 won't fit on a standard DVD, doesn't seem long since I was whinging that Ubuntu no longer fit on a CD.

International English Windows 10 - 4.7 GB, Ubuntu 16.04 1.5 GB. (Does all languages).The very latest Ubuntu 17.10 (non long term support) is 1.4 GB

[chinatyke]

Opened up my Windows 10 laptop and was faced with the usual 'configuring' don't switch off your computer. No problem, wait a few minutes until it does its stuff and then back to normal. Except, in this case there was a message ' Update failed' go to etc, etc. Then like a fool I did what they asked, big mistake, This wasn't the normal common or garden service update but a full installation of Windows 10 Version 1709 Fall Creators. 12 hours later and with much starting and 'continuing' of downloads and updates it finished. It would appear that even on the fastest connection plus supper fast processors and massive RAM you may get away with 6 hours. For lesser mortals it could take up to 19 hours. Beware! not an option to jump into lightly, get your house in order before you press this particular button.

Funny, I'm on Windows 10 latest version and haven't had any lengthy updates though 3 were installed on 15th Nov. Just looked and I'm on Windows 10 Version 1703 x64 but when I checked for updates it says I'm on the latest version.

[plaques]

Yes China that's exactly where I was on 1703 everything up-to-date then on the 19 Nov came the 'configuring' and I was suckered into this missed update. Version 1709. Have a look in your > settings.> updates, but don't go any further or you'll never talk to me again.

[chinatyke]

It should be an improvement according to this article but I'll take your advice and wait a while to see what happens:

https://www.groovypost.com/news/microso ... -features/

One of the improvements is easier installation of Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store.

[Stanley]

I sympathise with you in your problems. I had a big Linux update this morning, must have been a serious one as it required my password before it would install. The new version of the updater downloads the code before you are asked to accept it and then does it in less than a minute. Restart and that's it. Simples..... Mind you, the FM3 might have a hand in this. Pluggy did a good job when he built this one!
By the way Pluggy, let me know when you think you can build a better one with the latest solid state drives...... Things are easing a bit and I'm getting sort of interested!

[Tizer]

The big Ubuntu updates are fast on our PCs too. We get many of them nowadays which is not surprising when you think of all the malicious activity out there.

[Tripps]

This might explain how I got an ad for Sainsbury's as I entered their branch in Thetford recently, with the location function switched off.

Google spy

Odd - writing that reminds me of a night club at the bottom of Drake Street in Rochdale which was called The Google Eye - a long time before the search engine.

[Stanley]

Ahh..... Drake Street. I spent a lot of time there at HQ of Manpower Services my main labour resource for Ellenroad.
I refuse all attempts to get me to set up 'Google Sync' on the grounds that if they want me to do it it's dodgy. They won't get much joy tracking my phone, it never moves off the kitchen table!

[Tizer]

If you're concerned about that, Tripps, then you need to see also this news from yesterday...
`More than 480 web firms record 'every keystroke' LINK
`Hundreds of web firms are tracking every single keystroke made by visitors, a study from Princeton University has suggested. The technique - known as session replay - is used by companies to gain an understanding of how customers use websites. More than 480 websites used the technique, according to the study. Experts questioned the legality of using such software without user consent. "These scripts record your keystrokes, mouse movements, and scrolling behaviour, along with the entire contents of the pages you visit, and send them to third-party servers," the researchers said in a blog. "Collection of page content by third-party replay scripts may cause sensitive information such as medical conditions, credit card details and other personal information displayed on a page to leak to the third party as part of the recording. This may expose users to identity theft, online scams, and other unwanted behaviour," they added.'

[Big Kev]

This will get your paranoia up a bit. An article sent to me by a friend in Florida Tech Republic Article

[Pluggy]

Anytime Stanley. To be honest just swapping the HDD for an SSD in the FM3 would reap most of the benefits of changing the whole machine. Which probably isn't what big Kev wants to hear. But you're the customer Stanley. The FM3 is still a good machine. High end machines age well.

[Tripps]

I think I've solved the google tracking problem. I'll try stopping use of the 'smart' phone outside the house.

As part of my trial of replacing pay monthly to pay as you go, I've costed phone calls, and checking email . Both were what I consider to be a reasonable price, and would put me in a 'win' situation. However I needed to know the result of a race at Lingfield Park yesterday - I got the information from the Racing Post website, but it cost me about £2. That won't do.

For the little I use it for internet access, I will go back to just a 'mobile phone'. That will give me 95 % of what I need. The fancy bits - photos etc , can still be done on the smart phone, but all internet connection can be done via wifi, when I get back home.

That'll teach 'em.

[PanBiker]

Aye, data roaming and mobile internet can cost a fortune, I use my smartphone the same way WiFi only. One of the most stupid things you can see is someone using an Ipad or similar huge tablet type computer to make a phone call. It always reminds me of the Dom Jolly character back in the 80's shouting into the hugely oversize doorstop mobile phone clamped to his ear.

[Stanley]

Those links on spy-ware and hacking confirm what I already believed about 'internet security'. Bottom line is that it is all high risk and someone is always watching you. The only protection is to be as uninteresting as me..... Mind you, they could probably tell you how many times I have watched porn ...... I am reminded of what Janet said about four companies setting out to monitor and control the world four years ago.....
Pluggy, sound advice I suspect. God knows I have no issues with speed. Give me a quotation for replacing both HDD wit SSD. I know I'm old fashioned but I like my data and OS on separate drives..... End of December when I do my annual back up could be a good time. If you have any other mods that would improve things let me know.
One thing you could do please is to explain why SSD are better than HDD. I think I know but would like confirmation.

[Big Kev]

Which probably isn't what big Kev wants to hear.

I'm still running Stanley's old machine, no issues at all (famous last words). It's used mainly used for Photoshop and a couple of photo album build programs. It handles Windows 10 very well with no driver issues when I updated from 7. The only issue I had with Windows 10 was losing some of the functionality on my combined scanner-photoprinter, it still does basic scanning and printing but no 'bells and whistles' like neg scanning but that's not really an issue.