False Brother Printers Advertising

On several TV channels this week, I’ve seen a lot of advertising for Brother printers. Their advertising can only be considered true if you use the Windows operating system. If you have decided to switch to Linux, then their advertising could not possibly be more misleading!

Their ads, of course, focus on creating an emotional experience on your TV screen. They imply that only a Brother printer can meet all your printing needs. They imply that you will be thrilled with all the colorful flyers you can produce with their high-quality printer!

But choosing a Brother printer is the worst possible choice when you are using Linux as your operating system. This is not an accident. Brother has never been “open source friendly” at all. They don’t have any significant Linux support.

If you choose Linux as your operating system, you should choose a Canon printer! The Canon website has all the open-source drivers for EVERY single one of their printers!

I have quite a bit of experience installing Brother printer drivers on Linux. And, believe me, it is NOT a fun process! And only a few Brother printer models can be made to work with Linux. Most models won’t work at all!

Malware Warning!

The impact of malware targeting the BIOS can extend far beyond the individual user; it affects industries, economies, and even national security. With the rise of remote work and online gaming, the potential for widespread disruption increases significantly. Businesses may face operational halts, and data breaches could lead to legal repercussions. The financial costs of recovering from a BIOS-level attack can be crippling, prompting some companies to rethink their entire cybersecurity strategies.

A New Kind Of Malware

There’s a brand-new kind of malware affecting mostly high-end gaming machines running Windows. This malware is not the kind you can just clean off your hard drive! No, it gets installed into your BIOS chip on the motherboard! Once it gets installed, this malware prevents your computer from booting up at all! It turns your motherboard into a useless paperweight! In recent times, the sophistication and stealth of such malware have increased, making it a real nightmare for users.

I’ve had two clients so far who asked me to repair their systems, but I had to tell them I couldn’t repair the motherboards because of the BIOS. The implications of this are substantial, especially as more users rely heavily on their machines for both work and leisure.

Think This Is Just A Bad Dream?

In case you think this is too “far-fetched” to be true, please take a look at this article on the “badBIOS” malware discovered by Ruiu, a computer security expert.

A Wake-Up Call

This malware threat is a wake-up call for all users, prompting a need for ongoing dialogue within the tech community. We must continue to push for innovations that enhance security and hold manufacturers accountable. Together, we can mitigate the risks posed by this evolving threat and ensure that our technology remains a source of empowerment rather than vulnerability. The time to act is now. Users must demand better security features in their devices and advocate for industry standards that prioritize protection against BIOS-level malware. Let us not wait until we become victims ourselves.

Always be aware of malware symptoms, keep your software up to date, and engage with your community to raise awareness of malware risks. This collective effort can foster a safer digital environment for all users, ultimately minimizing the risks posed by infections targeting critical hardware components such as the BIOS. Remember, staying informed is your best defense.

As we continue to navigate the evolving technological landscape, vigilance and education will play significant roles in defending against the next wave of malware threats. It’s essential not only to protect your own devices but also to advocate for industry-wide changes that prioritize consumer safety and hardware design integrity.

Preventative Measures

In light of the increasing threat of BIOS malware, it’s crucial for users to adopt preventative measures. Regularly updating your operating system and firmware can also reduce vulnerability. Moreover, participating in community discussions about hardware security can lead to more awareness and shared solutions. Engaging with open-source projects and contributing to discussions can help develop more robust defenses against these types of attacks. Cybersecurity is a collective responsibility, and every action counts in the fight against malware.

To better understand how damaging this malware can be, consider the examples of recent attacks reported in various tech forums. Users have shared their experiences of waking up to find their systems unresponsive and their data inaccessible. Many have expressed frustration and helplessness due to the lack of available solutions. Additionally, the broader repercussions of such malware attacks can lead to significant financial losses for gaming companies and developers, as players may be unable to play their games or access their accounts.

This kind of malware can be used against ANY operating system! It can be used against any version of Windows, macOS, or Linux! The only hope of dealing successfully with this problem is for a standardized open-source version of BIOS to become commonplace and be easily reflashed by most home PC users, even after infection. This is unlikely to happen any time soon due to financial concerns.

One possible solution is to make the BIOS chip permanently “unwritable” by ensuring it is a “burned” ROM rather than a rewritable one, and by using only the “minimum” instructions to make the PC motherboard “bootable”.

If you are concerned about malware threats, here are some proactive steps you can take. First, ensure you have a reliable antivirus program that is frequently updated. Second, regularly back up your data to an external drive or cloud service. This way, in the unfortunate event of a malware infection, you can restore your system without losing essential files. Additionally, consider using virtual machines for software testing or internet browsing, as this can add a layer of security by isolating potential threats. Educating yourself on the latest cybersecurity trends and threats can empower you to make informed decisions about your technology usage.

This situation is extremely serious and very troubling! What can you do to help? Try using Linux! Even though it is possible to get a Linux machine infected with this kind of malware, it is far less likely to happen on Linux because of how Linux works!

You can also learn about open-source BIOS projects like “CoreBoot” and others. You can talk with people at various PC and laptop manufacturers and let them know you would like to purchase hardware that has already been designed to eliminate the possibility of a BIOS infection! This is something that manufacturers can easily accomplish, and I’m sure that they will listen if enough people request this feature. So get out your phone and let them know what you want!

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Year Of Linux Desktop Arrives!

Other Resources: DistroWatch.Com, My Favorite Distro: Pop!_OS

Windows 11 Is Rejected!

Windows 11 has been firmly rejected by most large corporations worldwide! Some of these former customers are staying with Windows 10, and others are switching to Linux. But Windows 11’s market share peaked at 68% and has since steadily and rapidly declined! New record-setting numbers of downloads are occurring on a daily basis for the most popular Linux distros!

Linux Is Too Easy!

Funny thing, however, the calls that I thought I would be getting for Linux help have not yet materialized! Evidently, Linux is so easy to install that nobody needs my assistance! I’ve seen a few YouTube videos where the narrator said that Linux was “easier to install than Windows”! And I have to agree with that assessment!

Do I Need A New Focus?

Perhaps I should refocus my efforts on Linux training, security, and tech support? What do you think? Well, if you want me to install Linux for you, let me know! Or you can install it yourself and call me if you have questions. Whatever you choose, I know you’ll be much happier with Linux than with Windows! I’ve already converted about 90% of my computer consulting clients from Windows to Linux since 2014, and only 3 have gone back.

Two of those who returned were over 80 years old, didn’t like computers at all, and have since passed away. The 3rd one must log in to her office machine remotely while working at home, and her “tech support” guy from work only wants to support Windows. Her employer pays the tech support guy, so… she wants to keep the OS on her machine at the office.

Please Help Me Stay Busy!

What about all the people that I helped to switch to Linux? Well, they haven’t really needed me very much! They get everything done they need to! Their computers are “like new”, snappy, fast, reliable, very customizable, and fun to use!

Unfortunately, that leaves me with quite a bit of spare time! So, please call me up and put me back to work a little bit! And you can discover just how happy you can be with your Linux installation!

If you want training on using Linux, call me! I offer personalized one-on-one training at your home or business for only $20 per hour!

Think Windows 11 Is OK?

If you think I’m making this stuff up, take a look at other YouTube videos and find out how many people say Microsoft Windows 11 is a “failure”. Find out how many corporations are switching to Linux. There are a lot of them!

Arthur Baldwin
(909) 367 – 8003

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Windows Is NOT A Viable Option!

First, Windows 10 won’t be updated anymore after October 14, 2025! You can still use it, but there will be no more security fixes. Second, Windows 11 cannot be installed on most computers that are still in use in the USA today. Why? Because they are too old! Either they don’t have a TPM chip, don’t support UEFI, or both. Third, because Windows 12 is going to have CoPilot (Microsoft’s AI assistant) completely integrated with the entire operating system! This means CoPilot cannot be removed or turned off!

Unfortunately, CoPilot will automatically report any “misuse” of your computer to the proper authorities, based on the goals that Microsoft trains it to recognize. In short, if you still value having ANY privacy, then you should immediately abandon Windows, because Microsoft does NOT want you to enjoy ANY privacy!

For many years now, I have recommended Linux Mint Cinnamon as my favorite Linux distro. But since LMC delivered a very bad update quite recently, I’ve done quite a bit of testing of other distros and selected a new favorite distro to recommend to my clients. The new distro I’m recommending is called “Pop!_OS,” and it is made by System76.com.

I specialize in helping my computer consulting clients make a smooth, successful switch to Pop_OS! For only $80, I will come to your home or office, back up your existing user files, install Pop!_OS, restore your user files, and provide you with one hour of training on your new OS. Since a “house call” is $60, that means you are getting 3 hours of my work for only the remaining $20! And you won’t find a better deal anywhere in the whole USA than that!

By the way, I charge $300 to install fully licensed Windows 10 and 11, but I will never install version 12 of Windows on ANY computer! Why not? Because Windows 12 represents the evil principles that are invading our society, and I won’t support that in ANY WAY! See the advantage of using Linux?

My business slogan is “When You’re With Us, You’re Family!” We take that message very seriously! Don’t know how to do something in Linux? We’re a quick and free phone call away to help you “get it done!”

So, there’s no need to stress over losing your privacy! We’ll help you retain at least some of it! Sorry, we don’t have any Linux-ONLY privacy phones yet… but I’ll let you know if we find one that is practical, low-cost, and actually available!

There are a few so-called Linux-ONLY phones out there, but the prices range from $1,200 to $9,000, and they are unlikely to arrive for at least 3 months, if EVER! So, in my opinion, it’s not a great idea to buy one just yet.

Give us a call anytime…we are here to help you!

Cell: (909) 367 – 8003

PS. Got a laptop with a broken screen? Is the charging port on your laptop not working? Call my friend, Eric, at iPhix Cell Phone Repair (909) 803 – 0430. They are located at the SE corner of Baseline Road and Day Creek Blvd.

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Forking WordPress

I’m interested in forking WordPress because I like PostGreSQL much better than MySQL or MariaDB. PostGreSQL has enough features that it can almost function as a CMS all by itself!

If you’re not familiar with WordPress, find out about it here: WordPress.org

So, I’m going to call this new project “pgCMS!” I’m not going to use any paid plugins. All of the plugins I develop will be completely free of charge and will remain so forever.

I’m looking for people to help me with this project. Don’t have any money to offer you, unfortunately. But this project is something I firmly believe is desperately needed.

I’m just getting started with learning PHP, which I’ve heard is the primary programming language used in WordPress. I’m not the best programmer, but I’m a self-taught Electronics Engineer since the age of ten, and a self-taught computer programmer since 1983.

I’m looking for some altruistic programmers, willing to work on this, not for money, but because they believe in this, and they want to work with a good friend.

I’m also not going to use GitHub or anything similar…just local copies of “git” and FTP. Everything will be licensed under the GPL Version 2, unless someone can demonstrate that this is not a legal option. And if necessary, I will use GPL Version 3.

I hope that we can come up with very creative ways to use PostGreSQL with PHP to provide much better performance than WordPress can provide.

So, if you are interested in this project, please send an email to Support@MobilePCClinic.Net.

Sincerely,

Arthur Baldwin

See also: Computer Services