Blue Keep Bluekeep what is it?

Patch early and Patch often!

Microsoft is continually sending out patches and security updates. These should be applied as soon as possible to your system in ANY version of the operating system whether it is 7 or 8 or 8.1 or 10.

I keep reading that :

Unpatched Windows 7 is vulnerable to the Bluekeep exploit.

Which means if you have not installed all your windows updates you may be at risk of an unknown person or persons gaining access to your system via the remote desktop service in other words, there is a way for someone using a specially crafted command to get into your system and cause you problems.

Turn off the Remote access services. There is a how to here in another page of the Blog. If you really need it in the future you will be given a prompt to allow access to it again, giving an extra "Pause for breath and realitiy check" if someone asks you to allow access.

Windows 7 may be coming to the end of support but if you are still using it, make sure its updated and up to date and start thinking about what steps you need to take to before the end of January 2020.

Have a great weekend.

Comments!

Comments on this blog are always appreciated.

However, any comments that contain external links will be deleted.

The links I put up myself I know are real and are not malware links.

If you see a deleted comment on this blog it will be because it contained links. 

Windows 10 - May 2019 update - remove USBs

So the Laptop...

I tried several times to update to 1903 and every time i had the same result.  

I tried updating from Windows Update.  Didn't work.

I tried updating from a USB Stick.  Didn't  work.

I tried updating from a directory on the HDD.  Didn't work.

At some point in all this I uninstalled my Antivirus.

Tried the other usual tricks like swearing at it, giving it a really hard stare and as a last resort clicking the mouse over and over again.  Didn't work either, surprisingly!

I read a few articles about the update and what had and had not worked for others.  Removal of USBs seemed to be high on the list for troubleshooting.  I use a wireless mouse which has a USB.  I have never been a fan of track pads, I'm old school and like a proper mouse.  

I unplugged it and turned the trackpad on to start again.  

I ran Windows Update and walked away.  Then I left it overnight to get on with it.

The next day I checked it.  It had worked.  

It was showing 1903 in Settings --> System --> About.

I had thought that removing USBs referred to just memory sticks and connections to other devices, but no, it meant everything. 

So my recommendation for updating to the newest version of windows 10 on your laptop is remove EVERYTHING that is connected by USB.  USB sticks - remove! Mobile phones - Remove! Wireless Mice - REMOVE! Wireless Keyboard - Remove! Printers, WiFi Dongles, Bluetooth dongles - remove remove remove. 

I did not have this with my desktop, but the motherboard is newer.  However if you have issues with updates on a desktop try the same thing.

Windows 10 - May 2019 update 1903

With the new round of Windows 10 updates happening soon, Lamas Design is waiting.

Waiting for the update!  Waiting for the clients to call and say : "It started to update and then it came up with a picture of Grumpy Cat/dancing unicorns/Blue Screen/Automatic repair/crazy frog/(Insert problem here)..

I know which one I would prefer.

RIP Grumpy Cat 😢

I don't often get comments on this blog.  In fact, I think it is only read by one or two people as an alternative to sleeping tablets and the occasional desperate person looking on page 22 of a google search for a solution when they have tried everything else!

Imagine my surprise today when I received a comment telling me how much they enjoyed the blog.  They also included a bunch of links which led to scam websites.  No thanks - deleted.  I have email accounts to collect spam I don't need it here as well!!

The first PC has been updated, TriggersBroom, my workhorse that has recently been upgraded to a board with the Z270 chipset.  Downloaded and installed within a couple of hours without much assistance or interference from me.  That is obviously the way i like it to happen.  

My laptop however, is a slightly different kettle of fish. I did an extra special clean up on it yesterday. Including, disk cleanup, virus check, malware removal, although most of this is done on a very regular basis anyway.  It still took hours to download, install and then, subsequently, fail.  

It gave me various different error codes and in the end I have given up for the time being. The error codes as usual mean very little and do not give a clear indication of what the problem may be.

Watch this space for further updates.





   

Penalty Charge Notification and Cyber Crime Agency!

I always look in my Spam folder because there is always something interesting and amusing.

This week I received a Penalty Charge notification dated on my birthday in a place I was at least 400 miles away from!  None of the vehicles are connected to an email account at the DVLA so how did they get my email and which vehicle did it relate to and and and..

The other one was from some kind of Cyber Crime agency that was going to reward me compensation because I had recently been scammed!  The compensation was some astronomical amount which I would receive once they had my processing fee of 450, I cant remember whether it was US$, GPB or Euros.  It matters not!  It was a scam!  The upfront charges are a dead give away.

I did not get the other email, the one that had video of me and proved it by supplying an out of date password.  (My webcam on the laptop is covered when I'm not actively using it and my desktop does not have one!!) Still, I felt a bit left out!

Ask the simple questions when you receive these kind of emails: is what they are suggesting really a possibility.  

No!  

Just laugh at them, delete them and move on!

Housekeeping!

Look at your computer in the same way you look at your home. 

You like your home to be clean and tidy and everything is where it should be, household running smoothly, everyone has a clean shirt etc.

Keep your home this way takes a bit of regular housework, dusting, vacuuming or sweeping, washing, cleaning and so on.

If you want your PC to run well you will need to do similar tasks.  

• Regular Antivirus scans with up to date software.
• Malware and spyware removal with up to date software
• Disk defragmentation
• Disk cleanup
• Driver updates. 
• Make sure system restore is running

Most of these things can be automated.  Most of these things can be done with free software.  Sometimes you can find software that is both!

One of the most important things is (Here it comes, you've been expecting this one) is a back up!

And yes - I heard the collective groan.  

The times I've heard Will I loose all my pictures? or some version of that. 

Back up of data is imperative.  Disks are not infallible, but unlikely to all go down at the same time.  But you know all of this, you have been told this time and again.

What is also as important is a system image.  Windows can do this without additional software.

You spend ages installing all your software, putting all the serial numbers away in that safe place (I always think of the room of requirement when he hides the Potions book, because "Safe Place" I can never remember exactly where it is!!)

And then Microsoft gets involved and gives you updates, some minor, some major, and that is when it starts becoming a problem.  Minimise the problem by performing the housekeeping.

If you have a system image there is a very good chance that your system can be restored to its former glory with little fuss if a system has a backup.  

I hate it when I have to return a system to a client with just a bare copy of Windows 10 and their data.  Obviously I put AVs and stuff on as well, but it does not look the same as it did and nothing is where they left it.

If you would like some help or recommendations please contact me.  My advice costs nothing, a system rebuild is so much more expensive in many ways.

Have a good weekend all.