Advanced Computer Group Meeting

21 January 2014Phil Verity

Mike Hender

Technology Directions in 2014

Download this information from:

http://www.hender.net/u3a

NB: 15 MB

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What we’ll cover

• The changing face of technology in the home

• Desktop, Laptop, Tablet, Smartphone– What should I be getting?

• Android or Apple – Which is the best?

• In April, no more security updates for Windows XP and Office 2003– What should I do?

• Keeping your systems secure– What should I be using?

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THE CHANGING FACE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE HOME

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Unsettling Observations

• Sales of PCs have declined for the last 7 quarters

• Windows 8 has not been well received

• Smartphones and Tablets are everywhere

• The majority of people in the UK are – On the internet– Buying stuff online– On Facebook or Twitter– Concerned about security

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Why would I want a Smartphone or Tablet?

• Lightness, Size, Convenience

• Stay connected wherever you are

• Email anywhere

• Camera always to hand

• Read newspapers

• Read books (Kindle)

• Watch BBC iPlayer even on planes

• Listen to Podcasts while travelling

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Age Distribution, Smartphones vs. Tablets

Tablets:

• Evening use, longer periods

• More media and entertainment

• Even Male/Female split

• 7pm to 10pm use

• Games popular

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What are Tablets best for?

• ‘Lean Back’ devices

• Consumption not Production

• When travelling

• ‘Second Screen’

• Newspapers

• Books

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What are PCs best for?

• ‘Lean Forward’ devices

• Production not Consumption

• In the home office

• Composing longer emails

• Word documents

• Excel documents

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OK I’VE DECIDED TO BUY A TABLET . . .

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How do I choose between the dozens of Brands?

• Main decision is between Android and Apple ecosystems

• Very early days for Windows ‘Surface’

• Apple iPads: ‘just work’, reliable, expensive

• Android: huge variety shapes, sizes, quality, price

• Apps now level pegging on the two platforms

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APPLE VS. ANDROID PRIMER

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Rival Ecosystems

Microsoft Windows

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Rival Ecosystems

Microsoft Windows

AppleIOS

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“But I want to use Google Maps and read Kindle eBooks on my iPad and share photos with my PC”

Rival Ecosystems

Microsoft Windows

AppleIOS

GoogleAndroid

Example: The Apple Ecosystem

Anytime, Anywhere Photos, Videos, Documents,Share!

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DEMO

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A short ‘Blue Sky’ detour on Google

Search, Ads, Android, Play . . . +

• Nest for $3Bn

• 8 Robotics companies

• Self-driving cars

• Motorola

• Gigabit internet access

• Google Glass, Diabetes Contact Lenses

• Google Loon

• Google CalicoLarry Page Vision

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So what’s driving these enormous market changes?

First let’s define what we mean . . .

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Who Builds What?

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Who Builds What?

Android

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Who Builds What?

Android

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A Key Difference between Apple and Android ecosystems

Apple Hardware

Apple Software

HTC Hardware

Android Software

HTC‘Skin’

Samsung Hardware

Android Software

Samsung‘Skin’

Plus:AcerAmazonArchosAsusBarnes and NobleSonyToshibaViewSonic. . .

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Android Ups

• Lower cost

• Huge choice of manufacturers and models

• Market penetration

• Easy to transfer files directly between PC and device

• Easier to modify if you have the skill and inclination

• Good choice of Apps

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Android Downs

• Choice anxiety

• Greater risk of malware

• Many different user interfaces

• Slow to upgrade to latest software

• Who owns your problem? Google? Manufacturer? Phone company? Retailer?

• Disjointed ecosystem

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Your Security

Mobile Threat Report Q4 2012 by F-Secure

Android malware . . .

. . . In the fourth quarter alone, 96 new families and variants of Android threats were discovered, which almost doubles the number recorded in the previous quarter.

. . . As for the other platforms, i.e., Blackberry, iOS (Apple), Windows Mobile, they may see some threats popping up once in a while. But most likely, the threats are intended for multiple platforms.

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Apple IoS Ups

• Reliability and quality

• Ease of use – ‘It just works’

• Bulletproof ecosystem

• Still the largest choice of Apps

• Fast problem fixes and upgrades

• One company to deal with

• Best customer service in the industry

• Apple Stores

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Apple IoS Downs

• More expensive

• Simple file copy more difficult

• Less ‘buzz’ – spend less on marketing

• Less modifiable for those with the skill and inclination

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Conclusions – Android

Buy Android if:

• Low price is key

• Friends and family have Android devices

• Simple file transfer

Which supplier?

• Samsung, Nexus, HTC, Sony, Amazon*

* Amazon not pure Android

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Conclusions – Apple

Buy Apple if:

• You value face-to-face customer service

• Friends and family have iPhones and iPads

• Simplicity of use

• You’re prepared to pay a bit more

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Contract or PAYGO

• Depends on your circumstance: contract cheaper up front, more expensive in the long term

• Contract will lock you into one phone company for 18 – 24 months

• PAYGO typically ‘unlocked’ and you can move phone companies when you want

• PAYGO easier when you’re abroad and want to use a foreign (cheaper) SIM

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Where do I go for help?

General

• Google!

Apple

• Apple store – Watford is a good early morning mid-week– ‘The Square’ Eden Centre High Wycombe

• Apple Web Site

Android

• Your retailer – (e.g. John Lewis, Carphone Warehouse,

Vodafone, etc.)

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WINDOWS XP

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The End of Support for Windows XP

8 April 2014

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End of Support Timetable

•Windows XP . . . . 8 April 2014 •Office 2003 . . . . . 8 April 2014•Security Essentials 14 July 2015•MSRT* . . . . . . . . . 14 July 2015

* Malicious Software Removal Tool

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Letter to the Guardian

“I've just found out about, and am incensed at, Microsoft's decision to stop supporting Windows XP with security updates from April 8, 2014. What about the thousands of people who still happily use XP? I have two PCs (Dell and HP) that my family uses on a daily basis.

It appears that I may be able to upgrade both PCs from Windows XP, but to what? Windows 7 or 8? Will this completely kill performance, as I assume Windows 7 and 8 are more resource hungry than XP!”Andy Roberts

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Jack Schofield replies

“Windows XP support is ending as part of Microsoft's standard software lifecycle, and Microsoft has stepped up its warnings over the past year.

I don't think you should be incensed, because you've had a very good deal. Dell and HP probably paid Microsoft about $45 each for these copies of XP.

In return, you have had 10 or 12 years' use, three major updates -- Service Pack 1 (in 2002), SP2 (2004) and SP3 (2008) -- plus new browsers and other free programs such as the Windows Live Suite.

However, in the 12 years since you bought your Dell, you haven't paid Microsoft a penny, so threatening to withdraw your custom isn't going to cut much ice.”

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Areas of Malware Attack

Operating System(Win XP, Win 7, Win 8)

Browser(IE, Chrome, Firefox)

Office Programmes(Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

All levels should be patched using the latest

updates

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If you do nothing

Windows XP won't suddenly stop working in April, but many people think it will come under attack.

Malware writers will look at the security holes that get patched in supported versions of Windows and know that they are not patched in unsupported XP.

That will make XP systems easy targets, but if you run Google Chrome (not IE8) and do plenty of anti-virus checking, you may survive.

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Upgrade Solution – 1

• Win 7 and 8 aren’t guaranteed to run on older systems because they require new hardware support features

• Download the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant, which will check both hardware and software for compatibility. For further advice, see the Update to Windows 8.1: FAQ.

• Windows 8 on Amazon - £74*

• Windows 7 on Amazon - £55*

* these change daily!

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Upgrade Solution – 2

• Buy a new PC

• Mainstream (Lenovo, HP, Dell etc.) with Win 8

• Business systems (Dell) with Win 7

• Alternative suppliers offering systems with Win 7

• Win 8 Pro can be downgraded to Win 7 (free)

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Some Recommended Windows 7 Suppliers

Personal experience:

• Chillblast – Andrew Clark, Phil Verity

• PC World – Ron Price

• R L Supplies, Watford – Brian Dunn

Other suggestions:

• Novatech Dell – Ann and Paul Rasinsky

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E.G. Dell Business Site (ex VAT)

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Buy Win 8 Pro Downgrade to Win 7 Pro

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Amazon Prices

• Win 8 Standard £74

• Win 8 Pro £108

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ONLINE PRIVACY AND SECURITY

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Online Privacy and Security

• Securing your computer

• Staying safe online

• Solving security problems

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https://maps.google.com/locationhistory/b/0

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Think Defensive Rings1. Physical access• Burglars• Lost phone• USB Sticks• Written passwords

2. Network access• Wi-Fi security• Passwords on devices• Firewalls• VPNs

3. Device and file access• Passwords• Antivirus• Backup

4. Common sense• Phishing• Scams• Backup

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Securing your computer

• Antivirus and security software

• Network security

• Backing up your data

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Some more definitions

SPAM

• Multiple unwanted (normally commercial) messages

PHISH

• Fishing by Phone for your secure details

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Phishing and Spam expeditions

• Email:– “Dear brother in Christ . . .”– “You have a tax refund . . .”– “Please click here to verify your

security details. . . “– Strange emails from a friend– Bodily extensions, Surgery, Drugs . . .

• Phone:– “I’m from Microsoft Support . . . “– “I’m from Sky . . .”– . . .

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Detecting phishing emails

• Bait – a familiar name

• Who was it sent to? One? Many?

• Your details correct? Address? Account number?

• Check the links – hover don’t click

• Bad grammar

“If it sounds too good to be true it probably is”

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Eventually I decided to click on the link on my iPad

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Next, Who’s Stalking Me?

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https://maps.google.com/locationhistory/b/0

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https://www.icloud.com/#find

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Watching you while you surf . . .

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Security Software

• Anti-virus software – essential

• Firewalls – essential

• Anti-phishing software – essential but built in to modern browsers

• Anti-spam software – most mail services provide this

• PC tuning software – not worth it

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Example – Fake virus alert

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Security software for PCsDennis Technology Labs Report Dec 2013

http://www.hender.net/u3a/new-tech/DennisReportDec2013.pdf

New!

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VPN – Virtual Private Network(For the truly paranoid)

• An encrypted internet link that ‘tunnels’ through the internet

• It protect all your messages from prying eyes

• The sites you visit cannot trace your PC

• E.G. You can access US sites as though you are in the USA

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Recent Changes to UK Internet Content Blocking

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WHAT ABOUT PHONES AND TABLETS?

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Viruses on Phones and Tablets

A recent report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security highlights the fact that Google's Android platform accounts for the vast majority of mobile malware, warning government agencies that Android phones should have antivirus software installed as a precaution.

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Android Security

• Only download Apps from Google Play and Amazon

• Use Apps with lots of ratings and with ratings of 3 and above

• Think about what permissions the App is asking for

• Don’t access links in mass broadcast emails

• Use your ‘Phishing’ common sense

• Get some security software e.g. : Avast, Lookout, Norton

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Network Security

• Secure Wi-Fi ON

• Use WPA2 setting

• NB: Cable connect faster, more stable and secure

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BACKUPS

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Many Types of Backup Storage

Your PC

Your Files

Windows Files

Second Hard Disk

USB Hard Disk

DVD

NetworkHard Disk

Cloud Service

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Types of Backup

• You do the work– Manual file copy using File Explorer

• An App does the file copy, e.g.– Backer – Second Copy

• An App copies and compresses changes to files– Windows Backup– CrashPlan– Acronis– Many, many more

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Backing up IOS (Apple)

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Simple Summary

• Backup, Backup, Backup!

• If done manually, have a diary date!

• If automatic, check it really is backing up what you think it is!

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QUESTIONS?

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End