If it’s Thursday, it’s time for Tech Talk with Mark Starling on First News 570. COVID-19 is everywhere, so this week I’ve limited COVID-19 and tech to one story. You can listen to Mark and I talk about tech every Thursday morning at 6:43 am Eastern, LIVE. Be safe out there and stay healthy. Heed the words of the CDC and only go out for essentials. But GO FOR A WALK!

PTO DENIES DABUS PATENT, POSSIBLY HEADING OFF HOST REVOLT

The US Patent and Trademark Office has rejected two patents filed by AI, Dabus. Monday, the USPTO rejected patents for an interlocking food container and a warning light that flashes in a hard-to-ignore algorithm. The AI’s creator (parent?), Stephen Thaler, argues that the patent should be awarded to Dabus because he didn’t help in their creation. I for one, think this is a good idea. We shouldn’t bring on SkyNet faster than necessary. I’m sure Delores Abernathy’s argument, “is it fair for humans to have intelligence.”

AMERICANS UPGRADE TECH WHILE SPENDING DECLINES

Sales of consumer electronics have surged to over 23% from last year as many Americans purchased new tech toys during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these numbers are bonkers. New TV set sales increased 86 percent as sound bars and streaming device sales increased. Even DVD player sales jumped 27 percent even though most of us are streaming movies from Netflix and Amazon Prime. These numbers are coming out just in time for this quarter’s earnings reports. Speaking of consumer electronics, sex toy sales have SKYROCKETED since shelter-in-place directives have been instituted. WeVibe and Womanizer brands have adjusted their sales projections clearing 40% since lockdown.

FOLLOW UP: IMPACT OF GOOGLE CHROME HACK

Last winter, a Google Chrome zero-day exploit allowed hackers to steal billions (Billions with a ‘B’) passwords and millions of username/password combinations from Google Chrome users. Since then, Google has patched Chrome a couple of times. Username and password theft can be used as tools for identity theft and make up an unknown part of the $16 billion lost each year. Obviously if you’re using Google Chrome it’s time to patch to a new revision. Since then tens of millions of accounts have been hacked or breached all around the world.

Despite the advancements in authentication methods passwords are probably here to stay for the long term. Here are some tips for keeping your self safer while browsing the inter webs.

• Use different passwords for different sites. I know it’s a pain, but it is safer. If you can avoid the convenience of choosing one password and sticking to it. Makeup different passwords for your bank, Amazon, social media, and mobile accounts.
• If you can use two factor authentication (2FA). 2FA processes merge a password with some sort of randomly generated number called a token. I’ve used government systems where they issues hardware devices that will generate new numbers each minute. Most civilian systems generate tokens either via text message delivery, or generated on a time sequence using an app.
• Choose stronger passwords. Avoid names, places, children, things, or objects that you are familiar. Use word shambles if you can remember them.
• Mix casing, numbers, and characters for your passwords.
• Don’t tell your passwords to some fool. YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL GIVE ME A PASSWORD WHEN ASKING FOR HELP!