Computer Chronicles
Version 9.2 , October 2019
Tech or Treat
I've been approached by several of you to start up the Tech T-days again during your CPP time, but want to see if there enough interest first.
If you are not familiar with Tech T-Days, it's basically a short Tech PD that was held during CPP on Tuesdays and Thursdays (hence the name). You can visit here for what we've done in the past.
If you get a moment, could you please fill out this survey so I can get an idea if anyone would actually show up and what days actually work for you.
ES Survey: https://forms.gle/Eq1sGAnBZvcrkiiKA
MHS Survey: https://forms.gle/naxmfBnkKGD7gkrJ8
In addition, if you've got a topic idea, submit it here: https://forms.gle/mEWe12qMvE3Hgh4P6. I'd love to hear from you.
Michael
New Chrome Carts
You may have noticed two new carts in your building! Each cart has 30 of the latest CTL Chromebooks for your use. I've emailed everyone about the new charging plugs, but it bears repeating.
The new Chromebooks use USB-C charging.
USB-C is an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power. The new Chromebooks have 2 USB-C ports. One for power and one for data.
It is extremely important that you only use the USB-C charger in the power plug. I've attached a picture to this email to show you the correct input. Plugging the power into the data port could result in damage to the Chromebook.
Please be extremely vigilant when plugging these in. The power plug has a small light next to it, is marked with an electric plug icon and is on the same side as the audio input.
TL;DR: Don't plug power into the wrong port or you will break the Chromebook and make me sad.
Saying goodbye to Flash in Chrome
Earlier this year Adobe announced its plans to stop supporting Flash at the end of 2020.
For 20 years, Flash has helped shape the way that you play games, watch videos and run applications on the web. But over the last few years, Flash has become less common. Three years ago, 80 percent of desktop Chrome users visited a site with Flash each day. Today usage is only 17 percent and continues to decline.
Chrome will continue phasing out Flash over the next few years and eventually disabling it by default. We will remove Flash completely from Chrome toward the end of 2020.
If you regularly visit a site that uses Flash today, you may be wondering how this affects you. If the site migrates to open web standards, you shouldn’t notice much difference except that you'll no longer see prompts to run Flash on that site. If the site continues to use Flash, and you give the site permission to run Flash, it will work through the end of 2020.
TL;DR: Flash sites will stop working soon if they don't upgrade.
Proxies and VPNS
I have noticed an uptick in both students and faculty hitting sites related to Proxies and VPNS. I wanted to briefly explain the dangers of trying to use these and why they are blocked.
If you use a VPN or Proxy, when you access a Web page -- for example, your email, credit card or a bank account using a proxy server -- all the data that flows from and to your computer from that Web page has to pass through a third-party server. These third-party servers are not always recognizable or reliable and the data received by and released from your device is not always encrypted. Thus, malicious proxy servers can potentially record all the data heading from and towards your device and hijack sensitive details such as usernames and passwords of your online accounts.
They can log and keep track of all your content, your IP address, the types of sites you visit, etc. In addition you may experience slow browsing speed, unstable connections, data usage caps, and outdated encryption.
Please be aware of the sites you are using and think before you click.
Magni Momenti Notitia
- Did you know you can reset your own Gmail password? Click for more info.
- Got a problem you can't solve? Need a helping hand? Did you know you can book time with me? https://melson.youcanbook.me/
- Visit the Information Technology page on the district website for the latest news.
- "Think before you click."
- Got a tech problem? Please submit a help desk ticket here. Be sure to use the Google button to login.
- What do mummies listen to on Halloween? Wrap music!
Stuff I have been reading:
- Cherry Hill school district's computer network suffers possible ransomware attack - https://www.phillyvoice.com/ransomware-cherry-hill-school-district-computer-attack-ryuk-russia-based/
- Alexa and Google Home abused to eavesdrop and phish passwords - https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/10/alexa-and-google-home-abused-to-eavesdrop-and-phish-passwords/
"Always give 100% -- unless you're giving blood."
Michael Elson
Book some time: https://melson.youcanbook.me/
Text @elson to the number 81010 for Tech Updates via SMS (or click here)
Email: melson@sapublicschools.com
Website: http://www.sapublicschools.com/departments/information_technology
Phone: 732.387.3559
Twitter: @mjelson