John Agsalud, Author at Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Tech View: How’s ransomware doing? Just fine, thanks

John Agsalud — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 10:05:00 +0000

What used to be the No. 1 worry of IT folks has become the No. 1 worry of the highest levels of management within an organization. That’s right, we’re talking about ransomware.

Tech View: Proper protocols can defuse artificial intelligence scams

John Agsalud — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 10:05:00 +0000

One of the hottest tech topics of the day is artificial intelligence, or AI. Debates rage about its merits and detriments, depending upon its application for specific uses, such as education, law and entertainment.

Tech View: Printers and Bluetooth are among the things that IT people hate

John Agsalud — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Do you ever get a big sigh when you ask your IT staff for help? Don’t take it personally, chances it’s the piece of technology you’re working with that causes the angst. While no authoritative studies have been published, anecdotal evidence points to a few components that take a disproportionate amount of time to support. In other words, these are the things that IT folks hate to work on.

Tech View: Cutting the cord for cable not always the best idea

John Agsalud — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 10:05:00 +0000

When Netflix recently announced it would be cracking down on subscription sharing, many cost-conscious TV viewers were left in a tizzy. After all, Netflix had practically encouraged, if not outright endorsed, the sharing of subscriptions in the past. In fact, this sharing of subscriptions promoted, if not originated, the concept of “cutting the cord.” As other providers are sure to follow suit, will the cutting of the cord be a thing of the past?

Tech View: Videoconferencing now plays key role in today’s business

John Agsalud — Tue, 16 May 2023 10:05:00 +0000

The aftereffects of the pandemic are far too long to list, and largely inappropriate for this space. One relevant phenomenon, however, is the advent of videoconferencing. What have we learned as this technology has matured?

Tech View: Eliminate old tech clutter that has no usefulness

John Agsalud — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Many folks, including businesses and government organizations, have a pile of old tech gear lying around. While we won’t go all Marie Kondo here, it’s always interesting in seeing the tech gear to which people hang on, most of which is useless. What can be tossed and what should be kept?

Tech View: Multifactor authentication still best way to keep data safe

John Agsalud — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 10:05:00 +0000

With all of the data breaches in the recent past, one characteristic stands out. Very few accounts that are protected by multifactor authentication, or MFA, are hacked. And those that are hacked are usually violated with the aid of social engineering.

Tech View: Changing password manager seems prudent after breach

John Agsalud — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 10:05:00 +0000

By now most folks, and especially regular readers of this column, have heard of password management software. Using a password manager is one of the four pillars of defense against bad actors on the internet, the other three being MFA, endpoint protection and off-site backups.

Tech View: ChatGPT is latest foray into artificial intelligence

John Agsalud — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 10:05:00 +0000

Although it doesn’t have as cool a name as Alexa, Siri or even Hal, ChatGPT is the latest and most advanced foray into the technology known as artificial intelligence, or AI. What exactly is ChatGPT, what’s it good for and why are some folks scared of it?

Tech View: Turmoil at Twitter leads to a bump in fake news

John Agsalud — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 10:05:00 +0000

To say Twitter is in chaos might be the understatement of the year. While the jury is still out as to whether new owner Elon Musk can bring the company under control, one byproduct of its current state is an increase in fake news. How can a critical thinker wade through the shibai and decipher what’s really going on in the world?

Tech View: What to look for when purchasing a smart TV

John Agsalud — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 10:04:00 +0000

While this may be a clever excuse for this column running the day after Cyber Monday, the fact of the matter is that the holiday buying season is now several weeks long. Gadgets and electronics are always on sale during this period, and TVs always seem to lead the pack. With the supply chain finally getting back in sync, at least as far as electronics go, so-called smart TVs have taken over the market.

Tech View: Emails undergoing changes as instant messaging evolves

John Agsalud — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 10:05:00 +0000

With the maturation of texting and instant messaging platforms such as Slack, Google Chat or Microsoft Teams, folks have adapted, and continue to adapt their use of email. Keeping in mind that email platforms also have continued to improve, what does the communication landscape look like now?

Tech View: New Windows 11 is boring, but it is an easy transition

John Agsalud — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 10:05:00 +0000

When Microsoft somewhat surprisingly announced the release of Windows 11, many were caught by surprise. After all, hadn’t Microsoft said Windows 10 was going to be the last version of its venerable operating system? Now, about a year after its introduction, the initial fanfare has calmed, but folks are still wondering whether they should take the leap. What’s the verdict?

Tech View: Quality of videoconferencing is essential for organizations

John Agsalud — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 10:05:00 +0000

As the aftereffects of the pandemic settle down and we embrace the new normal, one technology-related trend has become readily apparent: Videoconferencing is here to stay. While it was OK in the early days of the pandemic for folks to struggle with videoconferencing, those days are over. Especially for businesses and government agencies, a (relatively) modest investment can go a long way.

Tech View: Protecting your DNA data could pay off in the future

John Agsalud — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 10:05:00 +0000

With genealogy sites all the rage, many folks willingly submit DNA samples to see their family trees. For a few, unintended consequences have surfaced, at least anecdotally, some taking on the status of the urban legend “What do you mean my dad was the postman?” But it’s the unknown unintended circumstances that give us pause.

Tech View: Logs can track web activities as well as ID your location

John Agsalud — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 10:05:00 +0000

How many times have we heard the warning, “Be careful what you do on your computer, it’s all logged.” Is this true? Should folks be concerned that big brother is looking over their shoulder? What exactly is a log, and what’s in it?

Tech View: Is ‘https’ good enough to avoid getting hacked?

John Agsalud — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 10:05:00 +0000

More and more we hear stories of folks being victimized by hackers who steal information seemingly out of thin air. The good news is that there are a few things the average Joe can do to minimize their exposure to such dangers.

Tech View: Disaster recovery crucial in the age of ransomware

John Agsalud — Tue, 17 May 2022 10:05:00 +0000

Ransomware, like most other technologies, continues to evolve and become more effective for its nefarious purveyors. At its advent, ransomware merely encrypted your data and charged a ransom to un-encrypt it. Ransomware has now progressed to the point where the bad guys not only encrypt your data, but also render parts or all of your systems inoperable. What can one do to protect against such transgressions?

Tech View: Staying safe in the age of remote work

John Agsalud — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 10:06:00 +0000

When cameras were first made standard fare on laptop computers a few years back, it was common practice for discerning folks to physically block the camera to ensure they could not be unknowingly spied upon.

Tech View: Dealing with price increase of cloud applications

John Agsalud — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 10:05:00 +0000

A few months ago Microsoft announced a price increase to its flagship cloud applications suite, Microsoft 365. The reckoning has come, and the increase, of about 20%, kicks in for most folks this month.

Tech View: University of Hawaii’s next head football coach should have been Mark Zuckerberg

John Agsalud — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 10:05:00 +0000

The recent hiring of Timmy Chang as the next University of Hawaii football coach, along with all its twists, turns and drama, has dominated local news — so much so that another rather significant story seems to have not gained as much attention. This is the donation by Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg of $50 million to UH to help study the impact of climate change on the ocean.

Tech View: Apple decision could open ‘right to repair’ floodgates

John Agsalud — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 10:05:00 +0000

Last week Apple surprisingly announced that it will facilitate “do it yourself” repairs for Mac computers and iPhones. Consumers and independent tech shops will soon be able to order genuine replacement parts and manuals.

Tech View: Cookies store information from visiting multiple sites

John Agsalud — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 10:06:00 +0000

Last time around, we wrote about cookies and how one should deal with them. Like many technology-related topics, it was a bit abstract. A reader, let’s call him Keone, wrote in with a specific example of how cookies have affected him. It’s an interesting tale to tell, and perhaps better illustrates how internet tracking mechanisms work.

Tech View: What’s all the fuss regarding cookies on your computer?

John Agsalud — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 10:05:00 +0000

Anyone who’s surfed the internet in the past 18 months or so should have noticed a new annoyance, usually presented as a small banner at the bottom of the screen, with a message similar to “This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to our use of cookies.” It will have links to the site’s privacy policy and a button to click signaling your acceptance. What’s all this about and how should you respond?

Tech View: Consider computer’s use when buying one during the pandemic

John Agsalud — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 10:05:00 +0000

As the pandemic wears on, so too do the associated supply chain issues. Technical goods are one of the most affected markets, and this is often felt most when purchasing computers. What used to be a straightforward process, taking just a few days from time of order to delivery, now takes weeks or even months. What can folks do to simplify such acquisitions?

Tech View: Try a mesh Wi-Fi system to achieve better coverage

John Agsalud — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 10:05:00 +0000

With many of us still working from home for the foreseeable future, now might be a good time to adapt or upgrade your technology to improve the remote work experience. Chief among things to consider is your wireless network.

Tech View: Windows 11 is a signal to upgrade your system

John Agsalud — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 10:05:00 +0000

A few years ago Microsoft announced that Windows 10 would be the last version of the Windows desktop operating system. So with Microsoft being Microsoft, it really came as no surprise when it announced the upcoming release of Windows 11. What does this mean for folks running older versions of Windows? Is an upgrade necessary?

Column: Anti-ransomware is needed to keep the bad guys at bay

John Agsalud — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 10:05:00 +0000

The recent, highly publicized ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline Co. was one of the latest in a string of attacks that have plagued businesses and government agencies. The Colonial incident was just the tip of the iceberg, concealing numerous other, less publicized events. Such attacks are ramping up at an ever-increasing rate. What can folks do to avoid such an attack?

Column: Several tools can measure speed of internet connection

John Agsalud — Tue, 18 May 2021 10:05:00 +0000

Since the dawn of broadband internet, folks have always wondered, is my connection as fast as advertised? Is there any way to get an unbiased measurement? Obviously, the answer is yes. Otherwise, this would be an awfully short column. How, then, does one go about keeping the internet service provider honest?

Column: Protecting yourself online requires proper backups

John Agsalud — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 10:05:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, it was discovered that data stolen from Facebook was available on the dark web. While the data was stolen in 2019, it can still be effectively used by bad actors today. Individuals and organizations should see this as a wake-up call to take care of their data themselves instead of assuming that everyone else will keep them safe.

Column: Hiring an IT provider can come down to cost

John Agsalud — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 10:05:00 +0000

Businesses and government organizations that don’t have a dedicated information technology staff typically engage an outside consultancy to support their computer operations. Back in the day, the primary method in which these consultancies were engaged was under a “break-fix” model. When something broke you called the IT folks, and they came in and fixed it. In recent years, however, the ubiquity of internet access has made the “managed services” model a popular option.

Column: How scammers work is worth understanding

John Agsalud — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 10:05:00 +0000

Our past few missives here have focused on computer security solutions. What’s the point of all of this? Out of fear of losing sight of the forest for the trees, let’s try and tie all of that together. How do the bad guys really try to pull off their nefarious schemes, and how do the tools we talk about stop them?

Column: Multifactor authentication is a necessity in today’s world

John Agsalud — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 10:05:00 +0000

As everyone knows, we in IT love our acronyms. One of the latest that’s been thrown around is MFA, which stands for multifactor authentication. In our cloud-based world, MFA goes a long way toward improving security. But what is all the fuss about?

Column: The traits that make for a good IT engineer

John Agsalud — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 10:05:00 +0000

So you have a computer problem, and you or your organization has just engaged a new IT engineer. Of course, you are skeptical as to their abilities. What are some telltale signs of whether the engineer is worth their weight in salt?

Column: Wi-Fi network’s safety depends on connection

John Agsalud — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 10:05:00 +0000

With so many folks working remotely nowadays, we are often questioned about the safety and security of Wi-Fi networks. Should one be worried when conducting sensitive business over Wi-Fi?

Tech View: Buying extended warranty might not be worth the cost

John Agsalud — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 10:05:00 +0000

Since the advent of the personal computer, businesses and individuals alike have pondered the question, Do you want the extended warranty with that? Not all extended warranties are created the same, and their cost can run anywhere from 10% to 25% of the cost of the computer. What, then, are some of the things folks need to take into consideration when evaluating the purchase of an extended warranty?

Tech View: Microsoft’s Edge Browser is new and improved

John Agsalud — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 10:05:00 +0000

If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. That seems to be the sentiment of Microsoft when it rather quietly introduced its new, open-source-based version of its Edge browser earlier this year. Inquiring minds want to know, how does the new Edge stack up against other browsers? Are there any “gotchas” to be concerned about?

Column: Remote support benefits kids in distance learning

John Agsalud — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 10:05:00 +0000

Online learning from home, combined with parents who have to go to work, has created a quandary for many families. What if the kid needs help, either with their lessons or just plain old tech support?

Tech View: TikTok security ups ante in U.S.-China relations

John Agsalud — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 10:05:00 +0000

Last time around, we talked about security and privacy concerns surrounding Zoom, the videoconferencing app du jour. Another product that recently had gained tremendous popularity is TikTok, an app for creating and sharing short videos typically with musical backgrounds. Like Zoom, there have been concerns raised regarding the security of TikTok, so much so that President Donald Trump has gotten involved. What’s with all the fuss?

Tech view: Zoom has cleaned up its act following security concerns

John Agsalud — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 10:05:00 +0000

Zoom, the videoconferencing application, has experienced a meteoric rise in usage through the pandemic, as many folks work from home. It has come under fire, however, for privacy and security concerns. Do you need to be worried?