Beware of Fake CAPTCHA Scam

We’re all familiar with CAPTCHA, the security test used on websites to distinguish between humans and bots. Did you know that clicking on the wrong CAPTCHA can install malware on your phone or computer in under 10 seconds? There’s a new scam going around where scammers are creating fake CAPTCHA tests that pop up on your screen, asking you to press specific keys in a certain order. For example, you may be challenged to press the Windows key and R, then Ctrl V, and then Enter. If you follow those instructions, you’ll actually download malware straight onto your phone or computer. That means that hackers will then be able to steal your passwords, your banking information, and your personal data. Here’s what you need to know: A real CAPTCHA will only ask you to click on images or type in some words…….that’s it. A real CAPTCHA will never tell you to open windows, press special key combinations, or give you a list of commands to follow. If you see anything that looks like instructions with keyboard commands, close that window immediately and get off that website.

 

An example of a fake CAPTCHA

 

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Move Over Y2K — Now We Can Worry About the Year 2038 Problem

Who can forget the Y2K problem, when a massive global computer flaw caused by a common programming practice where software stored 4-digit calendar years using only the final two digits, making the year 2000 indistinguishable from 1900. Now there’s the 2038 problem, which is a time computing problem that leaves some computer systems unable to represent times after Jan. 19, 2038. What that means is that any system using 32-bit time has a risk of failing. That includes computers, Macs, iPhones, and Androids. There is no universal solution for the Year 2038 problem. Most operating systems today are designed to run on 64-bit hardware, and by the year 2038 most software should be updated to use at least a 64-bit representation of timestamps.

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South Korean Parents Are Hiring Bodyguards to Protect Their Children From School Bullies

South Korean parents are hiring muscular, tattooed men to pose as fake “uncles” to protect their children from bullies at school. Multiple companies are offering different packages — ranging from $450 to $1,790 a day — to desperate parents to ensure that their children are safe from aggressive classmates. For the straightforward “uncle package,” a man in his 30s or 40s will reportedly walk the student to and from school and sternly warn bullies. The so-called “evidence package” offers an upgrade where the “uncle” will film the bullies in action and present the findings to the school Under this deal, the “uncle” will threaten to make the video public if there’s no remedial action. Meanwhile, the “chaperon package” deploys a more high-profile tactic of visiting the parents of bullies at their workplace and publicly shaming them. This new and unusual service has come about because of the rising incidents of suicide stemming from bullying. The issue first sparked public alarm in 2011 when Kwon Seung-min, a 13-year-old student, jumped to his death from an apartment building after leaving a note that described how he had been subjected to extreme bullying. The tragedy raised awareness of the problem, but recent figures suggest that it has still not been adequately addressed.

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Does a Green Sky Mean a Tornado is Coming?

The sight of an eerie green sky before a thunderstorm is sometimes perceived as a warning sign of an approaching tornado, but forecasters say this long-standing myth might not be true. Scientists aren’t completely sure why some intense thunderstorms turn the sky green, but researchers at the University of Wisconsin say it could be linked to two factors: the color of the sky late in the day and the amount of rain in the storm. The first factor is sunlight, particularly as evening approaches and the sun is low in the sky. Around sunset, sunlight interacts with the earth's atmosphere in a way that can make the sky look orange or red. The second factor is a tall thunderstorm with an abundance of rain. The way reddish light before sunset interacts with the large amount of rain in the storm could explain the ominous green clouds. Massive thunderstorms with enough moisture to create a green sky are often severe enough to produce large hail and sometimes even tornadoes. However, seeing a green sky does not necessarily mean that a tornado is imminent. It's also not a reliable indicator of a storm's intensity, since the change in color is likely linked to the time of day. So, while a green sky doesn't always mean a tornado is coming, it is a sign that you should take cover from an approaching thunderstorm.

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