Windows Update Knocks Out Internet Connections

Just a few years back, users used to eagerly wait for the updates which will help them in unlocking the new features on their existing devices or software or programs. However things have changed drastically in the past year because a number of updates and upgrades have resulted in driving people nuts with making some serious affects on the devices as a whole. This has resulted in poor user experience and this ugly trend creeps into Microsoft’s popular operating system called Windows with the latest update.

ISP reports internet connectivity difficulties in European region

A recent update to the Windows OS has brought painful and unwanted internet connectivity issues on a number of devices. This has been widely reported by innumerable internet service providers in European region who has stated that they customers were unable to connect to the internet. This isn’t affecting any particular kind of router box rather its is rampant. On other hand Virgin Media has come with a detailed solution which allows users to connect with the internet and it has been provided to the customers. Microsoft also came into action after this and it issued a guidance to the users in effectively connecting to the internet.

Microsoft comes into action

Microsoft has well noted this development and brought some crucial guidance at dealing with it though it has only affected a certain number of users with Windows 10 OS. At first users are required to restart their system and if it doesn’t help then they can get more detailed alternatives by visiting Microsoft’s website from other device. Microsoft has zeroed out the problem in the system’s inability to connect with the network by automatically picking up addressing system in the broadband routers.

Steps compiled by Virgin Media to get connected with Internet

Here is complete set of guidelines issued by the Virgin Media which will help all the affected users in connecting with the internet in a swift fashion. At first users are requested to restart their system by going to the Start followed by Power and Restart. Once the system is booted up again then try to connect to the internet, if it doesn’t work then you will be required to reset the IP address and here are the necessary steps.

1.  Click on Start button. 
2.  Click on Run or press Windows Key along with letter ‘R’ 
3.  Type ‘CMD’ and press enter 
4.  A command prompt will appear on the screen. Now type in ‘ipconfig/release’ and press enter. 
5.  Now users can try to connect with the internet and hopefully this set get them connected.

In case this trick doesn’t work for you then the below mentioned steps which will help in clearing up the DNS settings.

1.  Click on the Start button 
2.  Click on the Run or press Windows key along with letter ‘R’ 
3.  Once again command prompt on the screen. Now type in ‘ipconfig/flushdns’ and press enter. 
4.  Now hopefully your connection will start working and you will be able to connect with the internet.

Later KB3206632 update was released to fix the fault.

Popcorn Time Ransomware Offers to Restore Your Files for Free — If You Infect Two Friends

Instead of luring users into clicking on the link and then asking for money hackers has come up with an innovative approach. Ransomware has been in vogue for almost a decade where modus operandi has become standardized. This has helped hackers in doing way with billions of dollars in last decade by taking way the control over the files or networks and devices leaving user’s at hacker’s wisdom. Most of the time user decides to pay upfront and get back the critical data or simply lose it by wiping up the machine. With constant campaign against such malpractices and attacks people have vigilant and the ransomware cases started to die down but didn’t went way at all.

Hackers have come up with an innovative alternative wherein the ransomware offers an opportunity to recover the files by simply making your two friends victim of the same.

New Ransomware ‘Popcorn Time’

This new ransomware has been named ‘Popcorn Time’ which offers a lucrative deal to the victims by asking them to infect two other friends in order to safeguard their own data. This ransomware is designed to find all the files present on the desktop along with the files present in My Documents folder and encrypt them using the AES-256 encryption.

Like every other ransomware this one also asks users to pay up in Bitcoin in order to salvage their files and the price is set at just 1 Bitcoin which amounts to $780. Secondly the warning screen also lays down the instruction for paying in the Bitcoins in case a user is not so familiar with this popular cyrpto currency. Even after paying the money users should understand that entering the decryption key wrongly for more than four time will result in losing all the data.

Apart from it this malware also offers an opportunity to get back the files by simply infecting any two of your friend’s system. Victims are simply required to click on the link containing the unique ID which will help in downloading the malware. Simply forward it to your friends and save your files is the modus operandi here.

Hackers living up to their bargain

Most of the promises made by the hackers are not kept but this ransomware originators are showing never seen before honor among the hackers attitude. When a user pays the ransom then he gets a decryption key which helps in restoring the files and it is old school. If ransom is unpaid then that data is lost forever. In a number of cases affected users even after paying up the ransom users were unable to get their data back.

Security analysts and firms are actively working towards finding decryption keys for some of the popular ransomware infections which will offer a free way of getting back the files to the victims. But such initiatives will become obsolete if hackers start using Popcorn Time or its enhanced variants in future which encourage towards making other infected in order to save their skins.

5 Gifts Tech Fans Will Love This Holiday Season

Since it seems the whole world's gone high-tech, it's no surprise that Christmas lists are full of the latest gadgets designed to make life easier and more efficient. From tech jewelry to the latest smart technology, there are scores of gifts that get the adults just as excited as the kids because, in addition to making life run a bit more smoothly, tech toys and gadgets are entertaining regardless of age. Consider all the good girls and boys on your list this year, and if you're at a loss for what to buy, consider going high-tech this holiday season.

Lose the Forgetfulness With a Bluetooth Tracking Tag

Bluetooth technology is extraordinarily helpful, especially for folks who either get lost easily or lose their possessions in the blink of an eye. With a Bluetooth-enabled tracking tag, nothing will ever get lost again. You can attach the tag to your keys, the TV remote, your luggage, your phone, a purse, or a person. There are dozens of brands available that are compatible with every type of phone and operating system. Using the app associated with the tag is arguably one of the best parts, as typically it's like playing Pokémon Go, except you find your own stuff.

Live in the Future With the Amazon Echo Dot

Amazon is serious about allowing people to finally live in a Jetsons-style future. The Echo Dot basically controls the entire house, and it's voice-controlled, which is perhaps even cooler. Imagine telling the lights to go on, and they do it. Picture queuing up your favorite song and having it play through your headset like magic. The Echo Dot can wake you up, remind you to take your biscuits out of the oven, or play the perfect mood music with but a word. Who wouldn't love to live in a home where they never had to flick a light switch again?

Get Smart With the iPhone 6s

There's almost always a new iPhone on the market, but you can give the gift that keeps on giving without a second thought. For example, gifting the iPhone 6s from T-Mobile gives the recipient the opportunity to trade and upgrade whenever they like, as well as the ability to save on accessories and additions, such as extra space, exclusive apps, and compatible gadgets. Mind you, this is the gift you give to someone with whom you don't mind being in a group chat. You're welcome.

Any Type of Wearable Tech

It all seemingly started with the Apple iWatch, but wearable tech is its own niche now. Sleek smart watches still top wish lists, and they're especially popular gifts for guys, but for the most stylish and discerning tech lover, the jewelry choices are endless. Instead of a watch, why not present someone with a sleek unisex bracelet, such as the Misfit Ray? A quick peek at any gadget or tech shop reveals a surprising selection of chic, fashionable jewelry that can count steps, pay for purchases, sync with your phone, receive calls and texts, and surf the web.

Try a 3D Printing Pen

The person who receives this gift will adore you forever. It's ideal for both tech lovers and artists, as well as anyone with an inventive mind and a creative imagination. 3D pens work by putting out a warm thermoplastic material in a stunning range of colors, so whatever you dry basically comes to life. The best part is that, unlike 3D printers, these are easily affordable — you can generally find them for $100 or less. This is one tech treasure that's perfect for kids as well as adults. Anyone who enjoys drawing or creating will love this present.
Tech gifts make it easy to buy something even for the impossible-to-please recipients on your list because there's literally something for everyone, depending on their needs, wants, and hobbies. Keep in mind that there are also accessories and add-ons galore, including Bluetooth-enabled showerheads and app-driven security systems. Have you thought about going the gadget route for your loved ones this year?

5 Common Internet Marketing Mistakes and How to Fix Each One

Internet marketing can be a tricky endeavor. There is no official strategy or guidebook that guarantees automatic success. This means it’s entirely up to you to take chances and hope your efforts are rewarded.

That being said, there is one way you can at least guarantee the odds of your success in internet marketing will be higher than they would be otherwise, and that is to avoid simple mistakes that other website owners commonly make. By avoiding these mistakes, your website will be in a much better position to rank higher on search engines and receive more daily traffic.

Here are the five of the most common internet marketing mistakes to avoid:

1. Believing That SEO Strategies Will Have An Immediate Effect

Many internet marketers perfectly understand the importance of SEO and even how to apply it correctly, but the mistake they make is they believe the SEO strategies they utilize will immediately have a positive effect on their website.

The reality is that you need to be patient. If you use proper SEO techniques, you will see positive results, but not overnight. Instead, you will witness those results slowly but steadily as you create more content and continue to use good SEO practices over the next few weeks and months.

2. Researching SEO Keywords Only Once

Many internet marketers also understand the importance of integrating popular SEO keywords and phrases into their content and researching what those keywords are. The problem is they conduct this research only one time and consider themselves good.

Researching SEO keywords needs to be an ongoing process because the specific keywords that are popular today are the not the ones that were popular yesterday. Make it routine to research keywords at least once per week.

3. Not Using an SEO Checker to Analyze Your Marketing Campaign

The old saying goes that there’s always room for improvement, and that could not be more true with internet marketing. Every once in a while, you would be wise to use an SEO page analysis checker, which will provide you with reports telling you each of the errors in your website’s SEO to fix, as well as marketing checklists of what you need to do to improve your site’s rankings.

4. Ignoring Social Media 

Hopefully your website has a page on each of the social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram already. You’ll want to be updating these pages on a daily basis so you can reach out to users you otherwise couldn’t have. Social media provides you with an excellent opportunity to share your articles, gain followers, hold contests, and spread the word about your site in general, so it’s an opportunity you can’t afford to miss.

5. Having Low Quality Content 

Low quality content isn’t just content that’s poorly written. It’s also content that doesn’t help or provide value to the reader.

When someone visits your website, they’re doing so for one primary reason: they need solutions to their problems. Not only does your website need to be visually appealing and well written, it also needs to be packed with content that your visitors will find value from.

Get Ahead Of The Game 

By simply avoiding the mistakes that we have outlined and discussed in this article, you will make it easier for everyday internet users to find your website. Since it’s possible that many of your competitors are using at least one of these mistakes right now, the fact that you’re avoiding them gives you a significant advantage.

Quick Draw: Interactive Drawing Game Guess What You're Doodling in 20 Seconds

Google’s Pictionary Style Experiment – Quick Draw’

A terrifying game developed by Google tends to utilise artificial intelligence to guess what one could be drawing from sketches. The Pictionary style experiment known as `Quick Draw’ tends to prompt users in drawing a famous object or phrase in around 20 seconds by using a mouse cursor on a desktop or by utilising their finger on a mobile device.

 Google’s new AI tools are impressive and the game is built with machine learning according to a tutorial site. It informs that one can draw and a neural network tries to guess what one is drawing though at times it does not seem to work. However the more one plays with it the better understanding they gain from it. It is just an example of how one could use machine learning in an amusing way wherein the computer game adopts artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to assist the user and shows the user how good they can be at it.

The software tends to guess what the player intends drawing depending on machine learning which can be tried by the user. Developed by using neural networks, the software tends to improve as it progresses, functioning in the same way to handwriting recognition software. Performers are invited to draw a series of six sketches and are provided with 20 seconds for each of it.

Impressive Image Recognition Software

The software tends to begin with words or phrases which it presumes the user would be utilising in illustrating till it obtains the appropriate one. These suggestions are portrayed towards the bottom of the screen and it also tends to call them out. Jonas Jongejan, creative technologist at the Google Creative Lab had mentioned in a video accompanying the game that it does not always work which is because it’s only seen a few thousand sketches.

The more one tends to play with it, the more it will learn and improve at guessing.The impressive image recognition software tends to identify also the reduced quality sketches offering a clue at what AI could be capable of.

The game achieved to guess six out of six Mail Online’s sketches that had been of blueberry, scissors, church, squirrel, swan and Eiffel Tower. Jonas Jongejan, Henry Rowley, Takashi Kawashima, Jongmin Kim together with friends at Google Creative Lab and Data Arts Team were responsible for its construction and the challenge has been a part of the newly released AI Experiment site of Google.

Thing Translator

The site comprises of several machine learning experiments which also includes one that permits users to take a picture of something in order to identify how it is said in another language. The intention is that anybody could attempt the experiment though the site also tends to inspire coders to give in their own contribution. Google’s AI Experiments – Quick Draw had been designed to show the amusing side of artificial intelligence and machine learning to users. Besides this other experiments comprise of the Thing Translator that informs you what the image of the object taken is called in another language together with the AI Duet that enables you to collaborate with the playing melodies on the computer.