Category: Tech

Technology

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Re-configuring Email for Modern Authentication and MFA

I slowly lost some of my email functionality over the past year and just didn’t have time to fix the problems until now.

The first problem was no longer being able to use Thunderbird for updating my offline Mbox format email archives for my job. I handle all current email, work and personal, via web clients. But for long term storage and future readability nothing beats Mbox, my archive goes back to 1997. My client of choice for my Mbox archives is Thunderbird.

Over time as the security for Office 365 tightened I stopped being able to connect and move current mail to the archives. I’d searched a bit for solutions but all I found either didn’t work or was too insecure for me. Today I looked again and found these great instructions. Configure Thunderbird for Modern Authentication and MFA

The other problem was with my first custom IoT device, a monitor for the basement dehumidifier. My cable ISP provided an IP secured SMTP server since the beginning but over the last year it slowly has been changed. This meant the daily status, and water collection tray full, emails were no longer working.

I’ve settled on the App Password solution for my custom Python code as described here: G-Mail and less secure sign-in technology – Raspberry Pi Forums. I would like a more secure solution but so far I haven’t found one that’s free.

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A Spot On Review Geek Article

I can’t even quibble with any of the details in the article. To be environmentally friendly, I use rechargeable AA’s & AAA’s in most of my devices.

It’s getting harder to find battery-powered keyboards. And I mean keyboards that run on AA or AAA batteries, not the rechargeable monstrosities that constantly beg for a USB cable. Wireless keyboards that use disposable batteries last longer than their rechargeable counterparts, and frankly, they’re a lot better for your wallet and your sanity.

Go read the whole article: Why Wireless Keyboards Should Use AAA Batteries – Review Geek

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Bad Design Practices from the Aviation Industry Ruin It for the Rest of Us

The aviation industry skimped on designing their altimeters by not including bandpass filtering to prevent interference from outside of their authorized operating band. Now it’s short sighted reckless drive for profit has caused so much economic disruption for the Telco’s that the FCC may have to double the regulatory burden on ALL electronic receiver manufacturers who use any radio band for any purpose including simple toys.

The aviation industry’s slowness in fixing altimeters may lead to the FCC cracking down on bad wireless receivers. In April, the FCC voted unanimously to launch an inquiry into poorly designed wireless devices that receive transmissions from outside their allotted frequencies.

The inquiry could result in new receiver regulations similar to the rules that already require wireless devices to transmit only in their licensed frequencies. “To avoid harmful interference, we typically have rules about how and when transmitters can operate,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said at the April meeting. “But wireless communications systems involve transmitters and receivers… so we need to rethink our approach to spectrum policy and move beyond just transmitters and consider receivers, too.”

Source: FAA: Airlines must retrofit faulty altimeters “as soon as possible” | Ars Technica

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This is why I voted No on the last Right to Repair ballot question

Josh Siegel, an assistant professor of engineering at Michigan State University who studies connected-car security, says the automakers might be right, and the system envisioned by the law may not be technically doable. Siegel says the ballot measure may have been “well intentioned,” but it wasn’t written “with a full understanding of the complexity of automotive telematics systems.” Those systems give access not just to data about what’s broken and why but also to the driver-assistance systems that enable emergency braking and elements of the drive-by-wire system that helps drivers control their cars. Asking the automakers to pull together a safe and open telematics system in just a few months wasn’t realistic, Siegel says.

“I think that they could create a platform that would meet some of the requirements of what the legislation is calling for,” he says, “but I wouldn’t want it in my own car.”

Source: A fight over the right to repair cars turns ugly | Ars Technica

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Great Commentary from Hackaday

The $2500.00 (MSRP) Kick Ass PC I had built by HP 4-1/2 years ago exceeds all of Microsoft’s performance requirements for Windows 11. However, because the 3.4GHz, quad core, 8 processor, CPU that I can never load more than 50% with intense CAD and multimedia work, is not a new enough Intel i7, I won’t be able to run Windows 11. 😦

I’ll probably migrate to a Linux Distro in 2024 especially since most of what I run can already run in *nix and I already use VM’s to run older Win32 CAD packages.

Unfortunately for the majority of people on the planet this won’t work for them. Instead many will trash the old systems leading to this potential outcome:

A NEW OS SHOULDN’T CAUSE AN E-WASTE CRISIS

Source: The Great Windows 11 Computer Extinction Experiment | Hackaday

I understand that Microsoft and it’s PC manufacturing partners need to sell new hardware. However they really should think more carefully what they are doing to the planet with this rather arbitrary forced obsolescence based on processor age, not performance. (My i7-6700 3.4GHz is way more powerful than many of the supported CPU’s)

Of course given the longer term industry trends this may backfire and force many more Windows users to switch to Chrome books and boxes, which frankly are a better choice for ordinary users. It seems really weird that Microsoft doesn’t seem to recognize that their migration of everything to the cloud has removed the need for a Windows PC for the vast majority of people on the planet.

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SolarWinds hackers Clearly Indicate They Think the Most Gullible US Citizens are Trump Supporters

On Tuesday, Nobelium blasted 3,000 different addresses with emails that purported to deliver a special alert from USAID concerning new documents Former President Trump had published about election Fraud.

Only fools who do not understand what USAID is and believe the silly election fraud confidence trick would click the link.

Source: SolarWinds hackers are back with a new mass campaign, Microsoft says | Ars Technica