KeriBlog

Do You Pay the Ransomware?

Oct 29 2015

Of all the malware, Ransomware terrifies me… imagine your entire digital life is held hostage.

The Attack

How it works: a message takes over the screen > hi your entire computer is locked, along with all your files > want the key? > pay the ransom > get key, unlock (more here)

The bigger problem is whether or not to pay, because there’s no definitive evidence which is more successful.

Possible Scenarios – pay, they want more, withhold key / pay, they keep their word and send key / don’t pay, and you haven’t backed up in 7 months, imagine the cleanup and rebuilding

The keynote speaker at the recent SecTor security conference manages the Secret Service’s Cyber Intelligence Section, and even those guys haven’t seen a pattern. Jason B. Brown says it’s consistently 50/50 the key will actually be sent, so they don’t feel comfortable advising either way.

(how to edit a photo before uploading here)

The Defence:

– Think before clicking

– Weekly backups

– Strong passwords, stored in a password manager

– Surf stupid sites on a laptop that’s independent of your online life. No using it to log into email or social media accounts. Photos and documents are moved to your main computer, then deleted. Oh you locked up my empty hard-drive? Wipe & rebuild.

Blog tag = SecTor

All Good Canadians Have a Junk Drawer

Oct 29 2015

This is mine.

Non-Canadians: no dramatics, the “junk drawer” is a real thing. Homes across the nation have one, dedicated drawer that all odds and ends get tossed into.

Mine is probably tidier than most.

It’s a Good Time to Buy Masks #Hallowe’en

Oct 29 2015

$3.99 / each. The one above is extra spooky eh, the clear ones always are.

It also leaves a lasting impression, “all I remember is this bright blue eyeshadow…” good, good.

Jokes aside, Hallowe’en must be the most dreaded day for law enforcement…

“Legitimately Mask Up Day”

CCTV footage is useless… masks bring bravado… to mobs of highly energized people… be glad I’m not in charge, I’d cancel the whole thing.

Cancelled.

The 2016 Chevy Trax LT AWD

Oct 28 2015

2016 Chevy Trax LT AWD

1.4 Litre, 4-cylinder engine
6-speed automatic transmission (manual available!)

138 hp
148 lb.-ft. of torque

Starting at $20,880 (2015 price)
This one $29,875

The Trax falls in the subcompact crossover segment, the hottest, and most competitive, segment right now. It’s got some stiff competition, but there’s…

3 Reasons the Trax holds its own

Reason #1 – it was one of the segment’s first-to-market, therefore its had a couple more years to iron out the manufacturing kinks.

LT is the 2/4 trim and the one I’d recommend buying. Anything higher, or more feature-rich, and the Trax’s good value starts to diminish.

In my tester, note the addition of the +$840 LT Plus Package, which adds a 6-way power driver seat and rear park assist, and the +$1,615 Sun and Sound Package, which adds a power sunroof and Bose speaker system.

I can’t be sure if the Bose addition is why this Trax is the loudest radio I’ve had in years, but regardless, I’d take that money and instead upgrade to All-Wheel Drive.

Top left > clockwise

– door pocket storage for days

– centre console

– don’t let the simple 7″ screen trick you – the Trax’s infotainment system can connect to the internet, turning the dash into a WiFi 4G LTE Hotspot, and standard on all trims. Chevy is the one of first-to-market with this feature, and that’s Reason #2

– 4 cupholders, plus 2 in the second row armrest

The Trax offers an abundance of storage, and that’s Reason #3. 11 cubbies, non-car nerds: that is a _lot_. And it keeps going outside the photo’s frame.

Also.

Why don’t more vehicles have drawers beneath the passenger seat?

It’s the best.

When overtaking a semi, the 1.4 L engine will get the job done, a little loudly and with the smallest pause before it kicks in, but it will. But the Trax excels in an urban centre as a downtown people mover. It was genuinely fun to drive it in downtown Toronto, I had this guy dancing through rush hour.

The seating position is high, but not enough to feel disconnected from the road, there’s more oomph in the lower revs, and the tiny turning circle means toss it here there, haha I beat you to the last parking spot.

In this LT trim the side mirrors are heated, air conditioning and cruise-control are standard, there’s more steering wheel buttons and it’s wrapped in leather, and remote keyless entry, and a ton of airbags inside.