While the world has been rushing to deal with the Wannacry ransomware attack, a recent vulnerability in Intel's AMT software, (CVE-2017-5869) has been making equally significant waves, although it is somewhat less widely reported. We're here to explain what AMT is, why it makes you vulnerable to hackers, and how you can mitigate this risk.
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Intel's Active Management Technology: a "We Told You So" Moment
Posted by Caitlin G on Thu, Jun 01, 2017
Could Somebody Track My Location Using My Cell Phone's IP Address?
Posted by Chris Allard on Thu, Oct 24, 2013
Dear Techie,
Is it possible for someone to track my location if they had my cell phone's IP address? Someone I know asked me for it recently and I thought it was odd.
- Unsure in Idaho
Can Someone Track My Location When I Send Them An Email?
Posted by Chris Allard on Sat, Aug 03, 2013
I would like to understand if an IP address on an email gives away your location to an ordinary person, or a person with some reasonable IT savvy. I was given to understand that a computer's IP address is embedded in a header somewhere in emails sent out. If I am in city X and send out an email, and I go to city Y and send out another email to the same person, would they be able to discern that my location has changed? And if yes, how? And I wonder if you wouldn't mind answering the same question if I am using my IPhone to send emails. Would it be discernible to the same person that my IP is no longer in city X, but in city Y?
I went on vacation with my boyfriend last year and we both took our laptops. At one point, my boyfriend wanted to use my laptop because he said his didn't have online connection. I said sorry but I have personal stuff on my laptop and I wouldn't let him use it. I went out for a while and when I came back, my laptop was stacked right on top of his laptop on the table. When I asked why my laptop was sitting on top of his laptop, he said he didn't know, it could have been the hotel housekeeping that put it there.
Hi Techie,
I've been hearing about viruses that attack smartphones. Is this just scary digital campfire stories, or do I have something to actually worry about with all the things I do on my phone?
Sincerely,
Digital Worrier
Hi Techie
I have an old HP scanner/fax/printer. I recently heard that my printer can store your personal info inside somewhere and you should remove it before getting rid of it? I called HP and they said they don’t think that it could store anything. I want to believe them, but I also want to be sure. Help! – Jane
Dear Techie,
Being bored and an insomniac, I happened to come across a late-night commercial for a service called Carbonite. It claims to automatically back up all my data so if something happens (or as they say "Before disaster strikes") my data is all protected. I just can't really get my mind around what the service is. I have a few gigabytes of photos and documents stored on my PC and I am worried that it will die on me one day and I will be left without copies. Should I use this service? Will disaster strike me? Did I leave the oven on? Why is the number 42 important? The suspense is killing me!
— Freaked out non-geek
Dear Techie,
I work from home and as a result end up with a lot of things on my hard drive that I want to securely delete. I know that when I “delete” something it goes to my Recycle Bin. How do I make sure that when I get rid of something it cannot be brought back?
Thanks,
D. Liet
Dear Techie
I have an older computer that keeps saying my disk space is low. I haven’t installed anything on my computer that takes up space. What should I do?Thanks,
Spaced Out