Changes in technology: What you should know
Aysë Stenabaugh
Jesters Computers
(1/2021) Technology is changing at such a rapid rate that we often find ourselves left behind when it comes to understanding what charges are occurring and why. As we enter 2021, we are ushering in a plethora of new security standards that may alter how you do things. Of those changes the most notable that have raised questions for many include the end of Adobe Flash Player support, iOS 14 wireless security warnings and data caps for Comcast Internet users.
Support for Adobe Flash Player ended on December 31 which means websites that utilize Flash Player and have not found alternatives (such as HTML5) to display information will no longer work as intended come January 12th. Last June, Forbes estimated that users of millions of websites will experience issues due to flash content being disabled if left unresolved. So, what does that mean for you, the end user? Not much really, Adobe is strongly recommending that users uninstall Adobe Flash player prior to it being completely disabled. If you’re wondering WHY flash player is no longer supported, you may recall when Apple’s Co-Founder Steve Jobs revealed his thoughts on Flash which ultimately led to support for Flash being pulled on all Apple devices, this was just one stepping stone to the applications final demise. It’s no surprise that support for flash has finally ended, over the past few years Flash player has been a growing
target for malicious downloads and security vulnerabilities.
It is always recommended that you keep your devices up to date and Apple’s mobile devices are no different. In addition to a slew of new features iOS 14 has changed the security requirements when connecting to Wi-Fi. This does not mean you have to change anything to continue to use your home or public Wi-Fi networks, you will however receive a notification on your phone that will indicate that your wireless security is weak. If you navigate to settings and do not have the recommended wireless security when you view your wireless network, you will see "weak security" and will have the ability to tap on the i symbol to the right for additional information. A
s indicated by this notice the Wi-Fi network you are connecting to uses WPA2 (TKIP) encryption and Apple wants you to increase your wireless security by changing your router or gateway settings to use either WPA 2 (AES) or WPA3 security types. Beyond that you will not get much help from Apple as these settings are controlled by your physical hardware located in your home. You can contact your Internet Provider, research how to access your routers settings or seek help from a professional. To resolve the issue, you will need to be connected to your network, so you won’t be able to take your phone to a repair shop for help. Instead, you can consider having a support professional you trust connect to your computer remotely to resolve the issue. At Jester’s Computers we provide remote support services for $1 per minute with a $10 minimum. If you decide to update your router settings on your own be sure to backup any settings before
you make changes.
Comcast recently received a lot of backlash after announcing that they will be adding data caps to 15 states including Pennsylvania, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Beginning March 2021 Comcast internet customers will have a limit to the amount of data usage (or internet traffic) included each month. That limit is 1.2 Terabytes of data which is a lot for most users and comcast estimates that roughly just 5% of their customers will be affected by the change. Now that many of us are working and schooling from home and relying on streaming for television instead of Cable TV, that usages has increased.
We recommend that you check your usage history before Comcast enacts the change in March so that you can be prepared. Your data usage can be monitored by logging into your account on the Xfinity website or by checking your usage on your monthly bills. If you go over your monthly data allowance the first time in a 12-month period Comcast will provide a courtesy credit and will not charge you for exceeding your data limit. If you have exceeded that limit more than one time in a 12-month period, Comcast will be billing $10 for every additional 50 GB of data used within that month period up to a maximum of $100. For example, if your monthly bill is $80 and you use an extra 200GB of data over your limit you would be billed an additional $40 for that month’s bill which would then come to $120 with overage fees. Alternatively, Comcast is offering that you can add unlimited data if you have one of their xFi routers for $25 extra a month
or $30 extra month for those that are using your own modem equipment.
Technology can be scary but it doesn’t have to be! At Jester’s Computer Services we pride ourselves on gauging our customer’s experience and needs to provide the best recommendations. In addition to offering upgrades from Windows 7 to Windows 10, all customers unfamiliar with Windows 10 receive a mini one-on-one tutorial to help answer
questions you may have when using Windows 10 for the first time. Visit www.jesterscomputers.com to access our free tutorials, tips and tricks! We can be reached at 717-642-6611 or visit us at the shop located at 5135 Fairfield Road Fairfield, 17320.
