uScam Alert: Microsoft Is Not Upgrading Computers To Windows 10 Through Emailr

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  This is what the scam email purporting to be from Microsoft looks like. Don’t fall for it.

  First and foremost: If you’re a Windows 7 or 8 user, Microsoft will not email you to upgrade to Windows 10. If you do get an email along those lines, it’s probably a scam and if you download what’s inside, bad guys could hold your computer’s files for ransom.

  Cisco Security’s Talos researchers discovered a new scam email, involving what’s known as ransomware, going around that offers to upgrade computer users to Windows 10 for free. While that Microsoft is upgrading Windows users for free, the company is only sending notifications to users via their desktops, and is not emailing anyone. If you see an email along those lines from someone purporting to be Microsoft, delete it immediately.

  Those that do download the “upgrade” from the email will instead find their computers taken over by ne’er-do-wells who will demand to be paid, likely with Bitcoin, as it’s untraceable.

  

  Example page of what users who download the attachment may see (via Cisco)

  A wait process for the real Windows 10 might make some users impatient, and therefore, vulnerable, Talos points out.

  “This threat actor is impersonating Microsoft in an attempt to exploit their user base for monetary gain,” Talos’ report says. “The fact that users have to virtually wait in line to receive this update, makes them even more likely to fall victim to this campaign.”

  Talos advises people to back up their data, and keep copies of those backups offline, where they’re safe from attackers. And again, if you receive an email that seems like maybe it could be from Microsoft offering a Windows 10 upgrade, just delete it.

  Your Files Are Encrypted with a “Windows 10 Upgrade” [Cisco blog]

  
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by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

uRegulators Investigating Harman Kardon After Remote Hack Of Jeepr

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  This vehicle was not hacked.  (FastFords)

  Following a report last month that suggested certain Fiat Chrysler vehicles were susceptible to remote hacks, the auto maker issued a software patch and a subsequent recall. Now, federal regulators are taking over, opening an investigation not into the car manufacturer, but the company behind the radios that provide an entryway for would-be hackers.

  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that it will probe Harman Kardon, the maker of the infotainment system used by two researchers to take control of a 2014 Jeep Cherokee from miles away, to determine if vehicles by other manufacturers could be at risk for remote hacks.

  According to a notice [PDF] from NHTSA, the investigation was opened to obtain information about the Harman-supplied Chrysler Uconnect units to determine the nature and extent of similarities in other infotainment products provided to other vehicle manufacturers.

  “If sufficient similarities exist, the investigation will examine if there is cause for concern that security issues exist in other Harman Kardon products,” NHTSA states in the notice.

  Regulators estimate that Harman has supplied infotainment systems of some kind for about 2.8 million vehicles.

  Fiat Chrysler (FCA) issued a software patch for its Uconnect onboard system in late July, though at that time it didn’t directly acknowledge the Wired.com report of what it was like to be inside a hijacked Jeep.

  Just days later, the company announced it would recall 1.4 million vehicles that include the Uconnect units.

  In a notice [PDF] to NHTSA regarding that recall, FCA detailed how software security vulnerabilities in the recalled vehicles could allow unauthorized third-party access to, and manipulation of, networked vehicle control systems.

  “Unauthorized access or manipulation of the vehicle control systems could reduce the driver’s control of the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash with an attendant increased risk of injury to the driver, other vehicle occupants, and other vehicles and their occupants within proximity to the affected vehicle,” the notice states.

  Customers affected by the recall will receive a USB device that they may use to upgrade vehicle software, which provides additional security features independent of the network-level measures.

   

  
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by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

uYour Overstuffed Carry-On Bag May Not Make The Cut On British Airways Planesr

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  (frankieleon)

  Facing the possibility of hefty checked-baggage fees, many travelers have resorted to testing the structural integrity of their carry-on bags — laptop bags packed with more clothes than electronics; purses bursting at the seams with shoes, food, books, and anything else that will fit. But one major airline is telling travelers to put some of their bags on a diet.

  British Airways recently announced that the maximum size for handbags and laptop bags — typically the secondary carry-on that you shove under the seat in front of you — to 16″ x 12″ x 6″. That’s a reduction in all three dimensions, from the airline’s current allowable size of 18″ x 14″ x 8″.

  The airline will be vetting bags at the gate. Those that are no larger than the new maximum dimensions will be given a yellow tag that indicates to the cabin crew that the bag is guaranteed to be allowed on the plane. Those bags outside the new size limit will be asked to gate-check the bag.

  So if you’re planning on flying BA, it wouldn’t hurt to take a measuring tape to your secondary carry-on before you find yourself having to remove your laptop and other expensive/fragile items at the gate.

  Earlier this summer, the International Air Transport Association proposed smaller allowable dimensions for carry-on bags, presumably in response to the number of travelers now using mid-size rolling suitcases that crowd overhead bins.

  However, only a week later the IATA backed off this suggestion, saying the blowback from airlines and some travelers was more immediate and negative than expected.

  [via USA Today]

  
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by Chris Morran via Consumerist

uKraft Recalling 36,000 Cases Of Cheese Due To Packaging Choking Hazardr

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  (Jeepers Media)

  True story: I had a friend in college who often wanted a snack while we were out and about on weekend nights guzzling Milwaukee’s Best Light. To curb her cravings, she’d often stick a few Kraft singles cheese slices in her purse, conveniently wrapped in plastic for individual snacking opportunities. Alas, that same convenient packaging is at the heart of a new voluntary recall from Kraft, over concerns that people could choke on the plastic wrapping.

  The Kraft Heinz Company announced in a press release that it’s calling back 36,000 cases of Kraft Singles, because the plastic wrap on individual slices might be a choking hazard, due to its tendency to stick to the cheese.

  “A thin strip of the individual packaging film may remain adhered to the slice after the wrapper has been removed. If the film sticks to the slice and is not removed, it could potentially cause a choking hazard,” Kraft says in a press release about the recall.

  So far, there have been 10 consumer complaints about the packaging, three of which included reports of consumers choking.

  The recall applies to 3-pound and 4-pound sizes of Kraft Singles American and White American pasteurized prepared cheese product with a Best When Used By Date of December 29, 2015 through January 4, 2016. Check the list here.

  “Consumers who purchased this product should not eat it,” the company advises. “They should return it to the store where purchased for an exchange or full refund.”

  Consumers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico can also contact Kraft Heinz Consumer Relations for a full refund, at 1-800-432-3101, Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm ET.

  “We deeply regret this situation and apologize to any consumers we have disappointed,” Kraft says.

  Anyone toting around cheese in your bag for a night on the town, take note.

  
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by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

uForget Listening To That Voicemail, Soon Siri Might Transcribe It For Your

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  (Vincent Lee)

  In an age of instant messaging and e-mail, some people still prefer to pick up a phone and leave a voicemail. But for the growing number of consumers who are voicemail-averse, Apple is testing out a new voice-text hybrid.

  Business Insider reports that employees of the tech giant are already experimenting with iCloud Voicemail, which uses Siri to answer, transcribe and send users a text of voice messages.

  The new system – which could be released next year if all things go well – aims not only to tap into consumers’ love of text messages, but also level the playing field for older consumers who continue to prefer voice messages.

  The voicemail-to-text network works when someone using iCloud Voicemail is unable to take a call. At that point Siri will answer instead of letting the call go to a standard digital audio recorder, Business Insider reports.

  iCould Voicemail then relays standard information – who you are, where you are, why you can’t answer – to the caller. Once the message has been left, Siri will transcribe the content into a text message for you to read.

  If a lot of this sounds familiar, it’s because Google Voice has been trying to do voice-to-text transcription for years, but with little luck. Between callers’ accents, speech patterns and phone connections, it’s not always easy for a computer to figure out exactly what’s being said.

  Apple is preparing to launch a voicemail service that will use Siri to transcribe your messages [Business Insider]

  
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by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

uWalmart, Sears, Amazon & Other Retailers Agree Not To Sell Realistic-Looking Toy Guns In NYr

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  A prohibited toy gun from Amazon, via the NY AG’s office.

  Almost eight months after New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent cease-and-desist letters to several retailers including Amazon, Walmart, Sears and Kmart, those companies have agreed not to sell realistic-looking guns in the state.

  The retailers have agreed to stick to New York City laws governing the sale of toy guns — they can’t be blue, black, silver or aluminum and must be brightly colored or translucent — as part of settlements with Schneiderman’s office to be announced on Monday. Federal law requires toy guns to have an orange stripe near the tip as well.

  The A.G.’s office found that more than 6,400 toy guns violated New York laws from 2012 to 2014.

  “Police officers can’t tell in a split second if it’s a real gun or toy gun,” Schneiderman told NBC News’ Today show (warning, link has video that autoplays) on Monday. “We’ve had 63 people shot in New York because law enforcement officers thought the toy gun was a real gun — that’s not acceptable.”

  It’s also an issue elsewhere in the country: in November, 12-year-old Tamir Rice was playing with a toy gun when he was shot and killed by a police officer in Cleveland.

  “There have been instances in states around the country in which police officers have mistaken toy guns for actual guns,” Schneiderman told the New York Times. “It’s an absolutely unnecessary risk, because toy guns, as New York law requires, can be easily distinguishable.”

  Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Nebraska and New York all introduced legislation to create or amend toy gun laws, while about a half dozen others already have laws on the books, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

  Walmart will be on the hook for the bulk of the civil penalties, because it was found to have violated terms of a 2003 agreement to keep the toy guns in question out of the state. None of its physical stores sold illegal toy guns, but Schneiderman’s office said consumers bought 149 of them through Walmart.com.

  “Once the New York attorney general expressed concern with certain items sold at Walmart.com we blocked the shipment of those items into the state,” a Walmart spokesman told the NYT, noting that Walmart beefed up its policies to keep the toys from being sold in the future. “We are pleased we were able to resolve this matter, along with several other retailers.”

  Sears Holdings said through a spokesman that the company is “pleased” to resolve the AG’s concerns, while Amazon did not comment.

  
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by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

u320K Dodge Chargers Recalled Because Airbags Shouldn’t Deploy When The Door Shutsr

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  (Bill Binns)

  For the past year, car makers have been plagued with airbag issues of some kind. Over the weekend Fiat Chrysler announced it was the latest company to encounter problems with the safety devices: unintended deployment when shutting a vehicle’s doors. 

  The latest recall for Fiat Chrysler, which has recently faced increased scrutiny and a $105 million fine from federal regulators regarding its recall practices, involves 322,000 model year 2011 to 2014 Dodge Chargers that may have airbags that can deploy unexpectedly when the door is slammed or kicked with excessive force.

  According to a notice [PDF] from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the vehicles’ side impact sensor calibration may be overly sensitive, and as a result, the side airbag inflatable curtains and seat airbags may unexpectedly deploy and the seat belt pretension may activate.

  If the airbags deploy without warning, it can increase the risk of crash or injury.

  Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by Fiat Chrysler and a local dealer will update the Occupant Restraint Control module calibration.

  
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by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist