Our first story just broke today. More than 300,000 routers world-wide have been hi-jacked by criminals. I have published stories here before about some wireless routers being vulnerable to attack and takeover. It didn't seem quite real at the time, but now we now it is real and serious.
While most of the focus of these attacks is in Europe and Asia right now, you can bet it is coming our way. What can you do? Not a great deal as the attacks focus on internal vulnerabilities of the routers themselves. But a few months ago, I published an article on the 8 things you can do to secure your router as best you can. I suggest you read it right away and do what the article suggests.
Also, last week many journalists and bloggers (including me) condemned Comcast for forcing Netflix to cut a deal for better throughput and more money. Quite frankly, we didn’t present all the facts…probably because we did not know them. Netflix did the deal to cut out a middleman who was slowing down the bandwidth (too complicated to explain it all). In fact, this deal with Comcast will save Netflix a lot of money. They should shortly be cutting the same deal with a couple of other major carriers. My apologies for not presenting all the facts.
There are some other good articles also included here that might just solve a problem or two for you, so I suggest you take a good look at this edition. Thanks for being a reader. -JRC
News and Opinions
More than 300,000 wireless routers hijacked by criminals in global attack
The attackers are altering the DNS configuration on these devices in order to redirect victims’ DNS requests and subsequently replace the intended answers with IP addresses and domains controlled by the attackers.
Roku Streaming Stick vs. Google Chromecast: how do they stack up?
Roku's new Streaming Stick is clearly aiming to take on Google's Chromecast, but both streamers have their strengths and weaknesses. Here's how they compare so far.
IE10 Falls Below IE9, Firefox Down, Chrome Up
An interesting, in-depth look at how today's browsers stack up against each other in terms of use
Microsoft hints at new apps for Office suite
Microsoft executives signaled that Microsoft is working to add new apps to its Office suite, as well as versions tailored for new platforms.
Leading to the gigabit promised land?
Commentary If the United States wants to be a leader in the 21st century information economy, we need to stop debating the past and start figuring out the future.
Computer Tips and Tricks
Avoid the Trash Heap: Great Uses for an Old PC
If that laptop or desktop is from the last 10 years, you'd be surprised by just how much life you can get out of it.
How to keep your PC secure when Microsoft ends Windows XP support
After a legendary dozen year run, Microsoft will stop providing security patches for Windows XP on April 8, 2014. Without Microsoft’s protection, all those WinXP PCs will have targets painted on their hard drives.
Microsoft finalizes Windows 8.1 Update 1, improved desktop features available next month
While the update is ready, it’s not clear exactly how Microsoft intends to brand the final version. The company announced Update 1 as a ‘spring’ update for Windows 8.1 during a press event at Mobile World Congress last week.
Google lets PC users search the web using voice in Chrome
Users of the Chrome Beta on Linux, Mac and Windows will be able to open a new tab or visit Google.com and say "OK Google", followed by what they want to search for.
Skype for Outlook.com rolls out worldwide with new HD video call support
Good news, social butterflies! Nearly a year after Microsoft first added Skype functionality to Outlook.com on a preview basis, the communication tool is officially rolling out to inboxes throughout the world—complete with new HD video calling capabilities.
Mobile Computing
Android snagged 62 percent of tablet market in 2013
Android has become the biggest tablet operating system with 62 per cent of the market. In 2012, Google’s OS trailed Apple’s iOS by a margin of about 8 million tablets, but by the end of last year had turned that into a 50 million-unit lead
Best Twitter apps for iPad: Twitterrific, Echofon Pro, HootSuite, and more!
When it comes to Twitter we think all of the reviewed apps here are winners in their own right, it just depends how you use Twitter.
Pixlr Express - Edit Your Photos Like a Pro
If you're looking for a high quality and comprehensive photo editing app for Android and iOS, look no further than Pixlr Express - photo editing. It's great that such a highly regarded company is providing a useful tool for free with no ads. Judging by its popularity in the app stores, this is the only photo editor you'll ever need.
Mobile World Congress (MWC) Wrap up
Here are the highlights of all the mobile products you missed seeing by not going to Barcelona last week
Think mobile phones are boring? You’re missing the point of technology
But the most exciting thing about technology today is not the gadget...it’s how much, collectively, they have changed the world in recent years, and how soon they will have a much greater impact for an ever-widening number of people across the world.
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