The Daily Teaser — 22-5-2016: Windows

Ye Gods … 

I  am glad I don’t have that sort of shift happening, today!

I’m working five in the evening: until half past nine.

I’m thankful, actually.

It means I can possibly — and sneakily — have a nap at some point, today.

Two long shifts, one after the other, are a bit heavy!

~≈†≈~

Actually … ?

Have you been watching the news?

If you have, you’d’ve seen the news of the EgyptAir plane that crashed on Thursday.

Since then?   We’ve seen reports that, apparently, smoke was detected in one of the toilets: and, not long afterwards, in the planes computer systems.

Obviously, there’s speculation about what could’ve happened.

But, ex-smoker that I am?

I’m wondering if someone on that plane sneaked into the loo to have a cigarette … which they stubbed out on the floor: setting off a catastrophic chain of events, when the stub burnt through the floor, and important bits of wiring … 

Who knows?

Certainly not me.

I just know I used to sneak into the loos for a smoke, on long trains journeys …

~≈†≈~

BBC News - Microsoft reveals details of its Windows Store plan

BBC News - Microsoft reveals details of its Windows Store plan

You know, that's the other thing I mean to tell you about!

Suddenly ... ?

EVERYBODY's doing it ... !

Well, I say everybody ...

I've got to admit, I came across that little article, a couple of days ago, now.

Basically, to the effect that Microsoft is planning to release its own version of an app store, with the upcoming release of Windows 8.

Hmmm ...

The times really are a-changin'.

I've got to admit, I'm vaguely pleased to hear it.

Although it does - long term - make my chances of finding a retail job in the software sector harder, it should - at least in theory - bring software prices down.

Here's hoping, anyway ... !

The Comantra Scam: Trust me, I’m WETTING meself …

Oh …

Dear …

Oh, deary, deary me …

And I say that, whilst ALSO admitting I’m trying not to wet meself, despite this being a serious subject.

You see …

Well, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve written — a few times, now — about a dodgy company based in Bangladesh, called Comantra.

Who’ve been phoning people, for at least a year, to try and con people into to giving them remote access to their PCs: installing some seriously nasty software, and then charging the innocent mark to remove it.

I first wrote about it, roughly a year ago, when a friend of mine, Kelly, got a call from them.

And, Kelly, being Kelly, she immediately started asking around, to see if anyone else thought it was as much of a dead rat as she did.

Of course, ever since then, the Gazette’s been keeping an eyeball peeled, and managed to report at least three of these attempts.

And I’ll be honest … ?

I’ve just had a call from them, myself, calling themselves Online PC Services.

Here … this is the email I sent to the Gazette about it …

Dear Sir

I’ve got be honest, I’ve been reading your articles about scam phone calls from people claiming to be able to remotely ‘fix’ your PC, with interest

As you may know, I’ve been following the story for a while, and written about it on my blog, after a couple of friends tell me about calls they’ve had.

Well, I’ve got to confess, I’ve just had a call from the same people: today, at 12:53.

Coming from a bad line, from a caller with a heavy Indian accent.

The chap — at least I believe it was a man, the line was very bad — identified himself as coming from Online PC Support, and told me their investigations showed there was a problem with my computer.

I got him to repeat that a couple of times to make sure I’d heard correctly.

He basically told me their records were showing them there was a problem with my PC.

And I’ve got to confess, I was trying desperately to NOT laugh at him.

Because — me being me — I immediately turned round and said “I haven’t had a problem with my Mac, for years”.

They put the phone down on me.

Which was rude, I thought. You’d EXPECT a bunch of scammers to be politer, after all.

But I’m going to thank the Gazette, here. It’s nice to see others beside me and tech fans, making people aware of this sort of scam.

It really does need continual highlighting.

Lets hope that gets published.

After all, I’m thinking this sort of thing really does need continual highlighting.

Comantra Scam

You know …

I’m blowed if I can remember which Teaser I mentioned it in, but I’m pretty sure that I have.

But you’re probably very aware that I’ve writing about Comantra, before now.

The Bangladeshi based company — who seemingly have a couple of Bradford based numbers — gave a friend of mine a call — in July of last year — and tried gaining access to her computer.

They didn’t, thankfully.

But I’ve been keeping an eye open for this sort of thing, every since.

And have come across two stories in the Brentwood Gazette about people who’ve almost been caught out by this sort of scam — seemingly from the same call centre in Bangladesh — and from two friends who also told me they’ve had the same phone calls.

Now coming across five such stories — all from the same part of the world — got me keeping me eyes peeled, understandably.

And even finding out, through an old schoolfriend I’ve been in touch with, via Facebook, that the company concerned seems to be doing the same sort of thing to a bunch of Australians, only masquerading as ‘SupportOnClick’.

Hmmm …

Talk about going global … !

Hmmm …

Now, I’ve got to admit …

I though this is starting to smell more and more like a dead rat.

Again.

What got me … ?

Is the fact that whoever’s behind this seems to ALSO have at least two Facebook pages.

So I’ve got to admit, I’ve got cheeky.

Here’s the message I sent them through the social site.

Sir,

I writing to you having seen that your group has started both it’s own Facebook page and group, and it’s own blog.

Over the past few years, I’ve taken a keen — if amateur — interest in technology.

And, on a par with many, developed a basic awareness of good security practise, when it comes to computer use.

So I’m genuinely aware that some unscrupulous companies are very keen to use unsavoury techniques to gain control of people’s computers.

Including — seemingly — a call centre in Bengal, with a UK based number, claiming to act in your company’s behalf: and on the behalf of Support On Click in Australia.

One that has made repeated claims to act on Microsoft’s behalf, that uses potentially unethical sales techniques, and manages to gain remote access to peoples computer by trickery.

I’d like to ask a few questions if your company is aware of this. I’d also like to know if this call centre is genuinely acting for your company.

If it is, are you intending to retrain any staff, so that they sell you products in a more ethical way.

If it isn’t, what are your company intending to do about it.

Please feel free to reply, through Facebook.

That way, I can happily tell people about your intentions through my blog.

Yours,

If I get any sort of reply … ?

I’ll let you know …

The Parking Saga … AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know, I’ve got to admit, one thing I forgot to do — in yesterday’s posts about the parking on Rollason Way — was to put up the relevant letters I and the rest of my neighbours got, recently.

And, as you’d’ve worked out from those self-same posts, I think — think — that the government plans to ban wheel clamping on private is going to be problematic.

At any rate, it’s nice to see that the letters actually outlines where we’re allowed — with the permits — to park.

Which, as I recall, wasn’t well explained when the scheme started.

Sara Bartleman — our Neighbourhood Officer — even included a map …

Handy …

Because one thing I do know, afterdoing a little asking around, is the costs of putting a barrier on each car-park.

Which amounts to roughly £10, 000. Per barrier.

For a total of £60, 000.

I dread to think what that’ll do to the Service charge. Because I think something like that may be the only viable alternative.

‹‹‹•›››

Actually, one more thing …

Remember — in the first of yesterday’s post about the parking — I also mentioned the Windoze refund … ?

Well, I found a couple of pieces on the technology section of the BBC’s website.

And also followed up on a link from PC makers, Dell, about Ubuntu, and a rather snotty open letter from Microsoft.

All of which makes it perfectly clear that you have to get any refund — for their product — from the makers of the computer. And only after you’ve ticked the box that says you’re refusing to use the pre-installed product.

Dead rats, anybody … ?

‹‹‹•›››

The Comantra Scam

You know, I’ve just been nattering to Kelly the Charmer, on Facebook, who’s confessed she had something of a worrying call …

From a company called Comantra, who say they are a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner.

Who’d ‘detected’ that her machine was running a touch on the slow side, and could give her a hand getting rid of any unwanted nasties on her version of Windoze …

On top of being a great singer and a competent musician, Kelly’s a bright woman.

And one with a nose for dead fish, bad eggs, and rats.

And flagged it up on Facebook, to see what she could dig up.

She’s also just told me that the actual call from this chap had a lot of interference for a call that — supposedly — originated in Bradford, and also stressed that the chap on the other end of the line got rather annoyed when she wouldn’t actually do anything, ’til she’d checked everything out.

Kelly’s a bright woman.

Kelly politely took the offered freephone number, and told him she’d call once she’d checked everything out: which, as I think I mentioned, she did by mentioning the call on Facebook, to see what she could see, and by Googling for any sort of information.

Looks like there’s a lot of that, for a company based in Bengal. None of it flattering.

»»»·«««

Now, I’m none too sure who’s you’d have to report this sort of thing to if you get a call from Comantra.

But from what Kelly’s told me … ?

It’s a scam.

And a great big smelly scam, at that …

»»»·«««

The News Zoo

OK, this is going to be as quick as I can possibly get it to be, but I’ve had a couple of things wander across me attention.

First off, I’ve been having a float ’round both the BBC teletext service, and their online news page.

Seemingly, Adobe have admitted that there’s a “critical security vulnerability” in its Reader, Acrobat and Flash Player products.

And that these are cross platform: in other words, the vulnerability affects versions of the software on Mac OS X, Windows and Linux distros.

Understandably, I’ve warned as many of my friends as possible.

It’s also why I’m telling you … !

If I’ve understood things correctly, by the way, Adobe are advising people to update to the most recent versions of the relevant software, AND update what virus protection we’re using.

Well … ?

Don’t just SIT there, this could be a bad one … !!!

•••••

Second into bat, is the news that — as most Apple developers will be able to tell you — today sees the start of Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference.

And my cynical side is turning ’round and wondering who’s complaining about the lack of iPhone support for Flash, now?

But I’ve got to admit, I’ve just had a look at some of Apple’s bumf about the new generation of iPhone, announced by Steve Jobs, at that conference.

It does look impressive.

But I can only hope that’s the boys from Cupertino have managed to clean up that water-damage problem Watchdog mentioned, a while back …

•••••

Finally, and with all due thanks to the team at Life, Dr Who and ComBom for mentioning this … !!

It looks like the BBC has commissioned a fourth series of Torchwood.

No guarantees, of course, as it’s in partnership with a US channel called Starz, but it looks like Russell T. Davies and Julie Gardner will be in charge.

Which, for those of us who are missing them, could be fun … !!

⌫⌧⌦