New daily tablet offers hope to MS youngsters: Treatment reduces symptoms such as blurred vision and bladder problems by 80 per cent

MS attacks a layer which protects and surrounds nerves in the brain and spine

Young people with the disease suffer a range of serious spontaneous attacks 

There are no treatments for MS specifically approved for use in children 

A small study of 215 children aged from 10 to 17 produced promsing results

By Hilary Freeman for The Mail on Sunday

Published: 17:01 EST, 11 November 2017 | Updated: 17:46 EST, 11 November 2017

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Young people with MS have symptoms which include blurred vision, mobility issues and bladder and bowel problems, stock photo

Children with Multiple Sclerosis could soon see a reduction in debilitating symptoms such as blurred vision and bladder problems – thanks to a daily pill.

Experts have hailed the results of a trial of the drug Gilenya as 'some of the most promising ever seen'.

In MS, the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, the layer that surrounds and protects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. This damages and scars the sheath, and potentially the underlying nerves, meaning messages travelling along the nerves are slowed down or disrupted.

Most young people with MS have the relapsing/remitting type: spontaneous attacks of symptoms including blurred vision, mobility problems, and bladder and bowel pr oblems.

Yet there are currently no treatments specifically approved for children and teenagers, meaning that their treatment is based on drugs and research carried out on adults.

The new research is the first time an MS drug has been trialled specifically on young people.

The study involved 215 people aged between ten and 17 from several countries around the world. Half were given a daily pill of Gilenya and the remainder received the standard treatment for MS – a weekly injection of a drug called interferon.

While interferon produces proteins that may reduce inflammation in the body, Gilenya suppresses the immune system, and so has a stronger effect.

The results showed that those given Gilenya had an 82 per cent lower relapse rate compared to those given the standard injection.

Those receiving the pill also had a significant reduction in the number of brain lesions and less brain shrinkage – both of which are linked with increased relapses and disability – compared to those given interferon.

The drug, also known as fingolimod, is already licensed for adults with MS, and has been shown to reduce the relapse rate in this group by about 50 per cent compared to those taking a placebo.

Experts believe Gilenya, pictured, can provide a major boost to young patients, file photo

Makers Novartis will now apply for a separate licence so that the drug can be prescribed to children, hopefully by the middle of next year.

The research was presented at a conference on Multiple Sclerosis research and treatment in Paris.

Dr Cheryl Hemingway, consultant paediatric neurologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London – one of the centres involved in the trial – said: 'The data on Gilenya is some of the most promising we have ever seen.'

She added: 'Being able to reduce MS activity by more than 80 per cent means these young people could have more time to live their lives free of significant, disabling symptom s. Our hope now is that this will enable us to fundamentally change the course of this disease earlier than ever before.'

About 500 under-18s in England and an estimated 10,000 children worldwide have MS, but it is likely there are many more undiagnosed.

The number of young people with the condition is also increasing.

Among those taking Gilenya is Isabel, 15, from Hertfordshire, who was diagnosed with MS two years ago after several years of symptoms including a numb hand, double vision and facial droop.

She says: 'Overall, this medication has made life a lot easier. I feel happier and more confident – and hope other children can benefit from it.'

 

Source: New daily tablet offers hope to MS youngsters: Treatment reduces symptoms such as blurred vision and bladder problems by 80 per cent

How to keep mooches and spies off your Wi-Fi network and out of your files

A sign advertises Wi-Fi service in the Times Square Subway station in New York, April 25, 2013. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid)

People love to mooch Wi-Fi. They don't mean any harm. They just find an unprotected signal and sign on. Why not? It's free, and nobody will even know. Your neighbor won't mind if you steal a little broadband to watch Netflix, right?

But criminals also love unsecured Wi-Fi, and they do mean harm. They use your network to attack your gadgets and steal your personal information. They download illegal files through your router, making you vulnerable to a police investigation. To add insult to injury, intruders slow down your connection, causing buffering and making it harder for you to finish online tasks.

Still, it may not be mooches causing a pokey connection. Click here for three router tweaks to speed up your Wi-Fi.

"Wardriving" has been going on for years. Hackers drive around hunting for an unprotected Wi-Fi network they can exploit. How do you protect against such random attacks?

Here are a few tips for securing your Wi-Fi router against unauthorized hitchhikers.

Check for connected gadgets

Time to look at your network. First, you'll want to log in to your router's administration console. Basically, you are "logging in" to your router, the same way you'd log in to any computer. Every router has a different way of doing this, so check your manual for specific instructions.

(If you don't have your manual anymore, check the manufacturer's site. Or tap here to visit a fantastic site that has thousands of manuals for anything under the sun, including routers.)

Make sure your device is connected to your router wirelessly or by cable. Open a browser and type in the router's IP address, a set of numbers whose default depends on the router's manufacturer. The common IP addresses are 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.2.1.

Check the DHCP Client List or Attached Devices section that shows what gadgets are connected to your router. Typically, they are listed by IP address, MAC address and/or Name. Once you've surveyed this list of connected gadgets, figure out which ones belong to you. You should recognize the name of your main computer, and your tablet or smartphone should have the name of the manufacturer or model.

If you can't make sense of the list or you can't identify certain devices, simply turn off each gadget one by one. You can also disable each gadget's Wi-Fi. For tracking purposes, jot these network details down or take a quick pic using your smartphone so you can reference them later. If you've switched everything off and still see unknown gadgets, you know you have a culprit.

Now, there's a much simpler way: You can use the aptly named Wireless Network Watcher, a free program that gives you a list of gadgets connected to your Wi-Fi network. You can quickly fire it up whenever you want to check or just leave it open for real-time monitoring. Easy.

Encrypt your connection

You may find intruders, or you may not. Either way, you can protect your Wi-Fi connection (and your personal data) by encrypting your connection.

Every router on the market offers several encryption options. One type to avoid is "WEP," which is outdated and easy to circumvent. Instead, look for any encryption that starts with "WPA2," the most recent being "WPA2-PSK AES." The WPA2 family of encryption should protect your router from any run-of-the-mill hacker. Click here for more detailed instructions for securing your Wi-Fi against intruders.

It's possible that your network is already encrypted, yet outsiders are still accessing your Wi-Fi. If so, change your password immediately. You can also reset your router to factory settings (consult your manual) and set up your Wi-Fi signal from scratch.

This will mean changing the default password, enabling encryption, picking a new network name (SSID) and turning off any remote management features. Just remember, if you change your encryption password, you'll have to update the password on all your devices as well.

Even WPA2 encryption isn't perfect. Cybersecurity experts recently discovered a massive Wi-Fi hack called KRACK. Click here to learn how to protect your network from this new attack.

Fence out your guest network

Friends and family always want to use your Wi-Fi. They ask politely, phone in hand because they hate to burn up their data plans when they can just use your connection. Instead of handing them your real password, use your router's "Guest Network."

This feature lets you share your internet connection with your guests while keeping them off your main network, preventing them from seeing your shared files and services. To avoid confusion with your main network, set up your guest network with a different SSID and password.

Although the guest network is available to guests, maintain the same level of security as your primary network. This means developing a strong password and restricting access to your shared files and devices. Make sure that "local access" is set to "off," which will prevent guests from tampering with your system.

Want a really cool tip? You don't have to give out your passwords at all. Here's a way that you can share your network's password using a QR code.

Turn off remote administration

"Remote administration" is a feature that allows you to log in to your router and manage it over the internet. If you've ever called tech support, you may have experienced something similar: A faraway technician speaks with you on the phone and operates your computer as if he's sitting right next to you.

Remote administration is a handy tool, especially when you need to fix a problem, but it leaves your computer vulnerable to hackers. Unless you absolutely need it, turn this feature off. You can find it under your router settings, usually under the "Remote Administration" heading. You can always switch it on again if the need arises. The last thing you need is to invite strangers on to your home network.

What questions do you have? Call my national radio show and click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to the Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet or computer. From buying advice to digital life issues, click here for my free podcasts.

Copyright 2017, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.

Learn about all the latest technology on the Kim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com.

Source: How to keep mooches and spies off your Wi-Fi network and out of your files

Problems with several issues on my tablet, includeng a cracked screen.

SOLVED: Problems with several issues on my tablet, includeng a cracked screen. - Samsung Android Tablet - iFixit

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Comprehensive set of repair manuals for Android tablets manufactured by Samsung, including the Note 10.1 and the Tab.

2068 Questions View all

What does it cost to have a cracked screen replaced and have the tablet checked for bugs, viruses and problems with operating the tablet. Tablet has been turning off and back on all by itself. Playing words with friends seemed to have the most problem so I uninstalled the game completely.

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Best thing to do is hard factory reset the device, you can download apps that remove virus but some don't always work.

If you have important pictures on the device you can transfer them onto a computer with a cable, but considering your device may have a virus, make sure the computer your using had virus protection enabled.

To reset, Their should be a small hole, pin size, located either on the side or the rear, maybe under the back case of the device.

After a factory reset the device should be free of infestation of any kind.

As for the cracked screen, prices vary, depending on who fixes it, could be somewhere from $75-250USD. All depending on how old the Tablet is too.

Goodluck, if you need any help. @mayer is amazing and can assist you. :)

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Speak out for your right to repair. New York,

New Yorkers stand up for what they believe in. And we're asking you to stand up for repair.

This year, New York could be the first state in the nation to pass the Fair Repair Act, A8192 and S618. We have a chance to guarantee our right to repair electronic equipment—like smartphones, computers, and even farm equipment. We have a chance to protect local repair jobs—the corner mom-and-pop repair shops that keep getting squeezed out by manufacturers.

It's not going to be easy. Manufacturers are standing in the way. When your stuff breaks, they want to be the only people allowed to fix it. So far, they've managed to stop Fair Repair legislation before your representatives get a chance to vote on it. We've got to be louder than their lobbyists.

The Fair Repair Act, known as A8192 and S618, requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair businesses with fair access to service information, security updates, and replacement parts. Tell your state representative to support S618. Tell them you believe repair should be fair, affordable, and accessible. Stand up for your right to repair.

It's time to speak out for your right to repair. Massachusetts,

The people of Massachusetts have always stood up for their right to repair. In 2012, voters passed a law that ensured residents' right to repair their car wherever they wanted. Now, it's time to do the same for electronics and other equipment.

With the Digital Right to Repair Act, H.143 and S.96, we have a chance to guarantee our right to repair electronics—like smartphones, computers, and even farm equipment. The Digital Right to Repair Act requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair information businesses with fair access to service information, security updates, and replacement parts.

But we need your help. Big manufacturers don't want this bill passed. And they're working hard to defeat it.

If you think you have a right to repair your products, find out who represents you in the Massachusetts legislature. Tell them repair is good for the environment, good for consumers, and good for business. Tell them you support the Digital Right to Repair Act, S.96 and H.143.

It's time to speak out for your right to repair. Nebraska,

This year, the people of Nebraska have a chance to guarantee their right to repair their equipment—like tractors, farm equipment, digital equipment, and even cell phones.

It's yours. You own it. You shouldn't have to beg the manufacturer for permission to fix it when it breaks. The Fair Repair Act, or LB 67, is simple. It requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair businesses with fair access to service information and replacement parts. So you can fix the stuff you own quickly—and get back on with your life.

But manufacturers don't like that idea. When your tractor breaks or your cell phone stops working, they want to be the only people who can fix it. And they get to set whatever prices they want for parts and service.

It's time to fight for your right to repair and defend local repair jobs—the corner mom-and-pop repair shops that keep getting squeezed out. Find out who represents you in the Nebraska state legislature. Tell them you support the bipartisan Fair Repair Act, LB 67. Tell them that you believe repair should be fair, affordable, and accessible. Stand up for the right to repair in Nebraska.

It's time to speak out for your right to repair Dear Minnesotans,

Minnesota has a chance to become the first state in the nation to pass "Fair Repair" legislation. SF 15, or the Fair Repair bill, guarantees our right to repair digital equipment like computers, refrigerators, cell phones and tractors. It requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair shops with access to repair information and replacement parts—so you have the resources you need to fix things quickly and affordably.

But we need your help. Manufacturers don't want a Fair Repair bill. When your tractor breaks or your cell phone stops working, they want to be the only people who can fix it. And they get to set whatever prices they want.

Find out who represents you in Minnesota's legislatures. Tell them that you want the right to repair your purchases. Tell them you support a bipartisan Fair Repair bill, SF 15. Tell them repair is good for the environment, good for consumers, and good for businesses.

It's time to speak out for your right to repair Dear Kansans,

Kansas has a chance to become the first state in the nation to pass "Fair Repair" legislation. HB 2122, or the Fair Repair Act, guarantees our right to repair digital equipment like computers, refrigerators, cell phones and tractors. It requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair shops with access to repair information and replacement parts—so you have the resources you need to fix things quickly and affordably.

But we need your help. Manufacturers don't want a Fair Repair bill. When your tractor breaks or your cell phone stops working, they want to be the only people who can fix it. And they get to set whatever prices they want.

Find out who represents you in Kansas' legislature. Tell them that you want the right to repair your purchases. Tell them you support a bipartisan bill. Tell them repair is good for farmers, good for consumers, and good for businesses.

It's time to speak out for your right to repair Dear Wyomingites,

Wyoming has a chance to become the first state in the nation to pass "Fair Repair" legislation. HB 199, or the Fair Repair Act, guarantees our right to repair digital equipment like computers, refrigerators, cell phones and tractors. It requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair shops with access to repair information and replacement parts—so you have the resources you need to fix things quickly and affordably.

But we need your help. Manufacturers don't want a Fair Repair bill. When your tractor breaks or your cell phone stops working, they want to be the only people who can fix it. And they get to set whatever prices they want.

Find out who represents you in Wyoming's legislature. Tell them that you want the right to repair your purchases. Tell them you support a bipartisan bill. Tell them repair is good for farmers, good for consumers, and good for businesses.

It's time to speak out for your right to repair Dear Washingtonians,

Washington has a chance to become the first state in the nation to pass "Fair Repair" legislation. The Fair Repair Act guarantees our right to repair digital equipment like computers, refrigerators, cell phones and tractors. It requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair shops with access to repair information and replacement parts—so you have the resources you need to fix things quickly and affordably.

But we need your help. Manufacturers don't want a Fair Repair bill. When your tractor breaks or your cell phone stops working, they want to be the only people who can fix it. And they get to set whatever prices they want.

Find out who represents you in Washington's legislature. Tell them that you want the right to repair your purchases. Tell them you support a bipartisan bill. Tell them repair is good for farmers, good for consumers, and good for businesses.

It's time to speak out for your right to repair Tennessee,

This year, the people of Tennessee have a chance to guarantee their right to repair their equipment—like tractors, farm equipment, digital equipment, and even cell phones.

It's yours. You own it. You shouldn't have to beg the manufacturer for permission to fix it when it breaks. The Fair Repair Act is simple. It requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair businesses with fair access to service information and affordable replacement parts. So you can fix the stuff you own quickly—and get on with your life.

But manufacturers don't like that idea. When your tractor breaks or your cell phone stops working, they want to be the only people who can fix it. And they get to set whatever prices they want for parts and service.

It's time to fight for your right to repair and defend local repair jobs—the corner mom-and-pop repair shops that keep getting squeezed out. Find out who represents you in the Tennessee General Assembly. Tell them you support the Fair Repair Act, SB 888 in the Senate and HB 1382 in the House. Tell them that you believe repair should be fair, affordable, and accessible. Stand up for the right to repair in Tennessee.

It's time to speak out for your right to repair Illinois,

This year, the people of Illinois have a chance to guarantee their right to repair their equipment—like tractors, farm equipment, digital equipment, and even cell phones.

It's yours. You own it. You shouldn't have to beg the manufacturer for permission to fix it when it breaks. The Digital Fair Repair Act is simple. It requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair businesses with fair access to service information and affordable replacement parts. So you can fix the stuff you own quickly—and get on with your life.

But manufacturers don't like that idea. When your tractor breaks or your cell phone stops working, they want to be the only people who can fix it. And they get to set whatever prices they want for parts and service.

It's time to fight for your right to repair and defend local repair jobs—the corner mom-and-pop repair shops that keep getting squeezed out. Find out who represents you in the Illinois General Assembly. Tell them you support the Digital Fair Repair Act, HB3030. Tell them that you believe repair should be fair, affordable, and accessible. Stand up for the right to repair in Illinois.

It's time to speak out for your right to repair Iowa,

This year, the people of Iowa have a chance to guarantee their right to repair their equipment—like tractors, farm equipment, digital equipment, and even cell phones.

It's yours. You own it. You shouldn't have to beg the manufacturer for permission to fix it when it breaks. Iowa's Right to Repair Act, HF556, is simple. It requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair businesses with fair access to service information and affordable replacement parts. So you can fix the stuff you own quickly—and get on with your life.

But manufacturers like John Deere and Apple don't like that idea. When your tractor breaks or your cell phone stops working, they want to be the only people who can fix it. And they get to set whatever prices they want for parts and service.

It's time to fight for your right to repair and defend local repair jobs—the corner mom-and-pop repair shops that keep getting squeezed out. Find out who represents you in the Iowa legislature. Tell them you support the Right to Repair Act, HF556. Tell them that you believe repair should be fair, affordable, and accessible. Stand up for the right to repair in Iowa.

It's time to speak out for your right to repair North Carolina,

This year, the people of North Carolina have a chance to guarantee their right to repair their equipment—like tractors, farm equipment, digital equipment, and even cell phones.

It's yours. You own it. You shouldn't have to beg the manufacturer for permission to fix it when it breaks. North Carolina's Fair Repair Act, H. 663, is simple. It requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair businesses with fair access to service information and affordable replacement parts. So you can fix the stuff you own quickly—and get on with your life.

But manufacturers like John Deere and Apple don't like that idea. When your tractor breaks or your cell phone stops working, they want to be the only people who can fix it. And they get to set whatever prices they want for parts and service.

It's time to fight for your right to repair and defend local repair jobs—the corner mom-and-pop repair shops that keep getting squeezed out. Find out who represents you in the North Carolina legislature. Tell them you support the Fair Repair Act, H. 663. Tell them that you believe repair should be fair, affordable, and accessible. Stand up for the right to repair in North Carolina.

It's time to speak out for your right to repair Missouri,

This year, the people of Missouri have a chance to guarantee their right to repair their equipment—like tractors, farm equipment, digital equipment, and even cell phones.

It's yours. You own it. You shouldn't have to beg the manufacturer for permission to fix it when it breaks. Missouri's Fair Repair Act, HB1178, is simple. It requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair businesses with fair access to service information and affordable replacement parts. So you can fix the stuff you own quickly—and get on with your life.

But manufacturers like John Deere and Apple don't like that idea. When your tractor breaks or your cell phone stops working, they want to be the only people who can fix it. And they get to set whatever prices they want for parts and service.

It's time to fight for your right to repair and defend local repair jobs—the corner mom-and-pop repair shops that keep getting squeezed out. Find out who represents you in the Missouri legislature. Tell them you support the Fair Repair Act, HB1178. Tell them that you believe repair should be fair, affordable, and accessible. Stand up for the right to repair in Missouri.

It's time to speak out for your right to repair New Hampshire,

This year, the people of New Hampshire have a chance to guarantee their right to repair their equipment—like tractors, farm equipment, digital equipment, and even cell phones.

It's yours. You own it. You shouldn't have to beg the manufacturer for permission to fix it when it breaks. New Hampshire's upcoming Right to Repair Act is simple. It requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair businesses with fair access to service information and affordable replacement parts. So you can fix the stuff you own quickly—and get on with your life.

But manufacturers like John Deere and Apple don't like that idea. When your tractor breaks or your cell phone stops working, they want to be the only people who can fix it. And they get to set whatever prices they want for parts and service.

It's time to fight for your right to repair and defend local repair jobs—the corner mom-and-pop repair shops that keep getting squeezed out. Find out who represents you in the New Hampshire legislature. Tell them you support the Right to Repair Act. Tell them that you believe repair should be fair, affordable, and accessible. Stand up for the right to repair in New Hampshire.

It's time to speak out for your right to repair New Jersey,

This year, the people of New Jersey have a chance to guarantee their right to repair their equipment—like tractors, farm equipment, digital equipment, and even cell phones.

It's yours. You own it. You shouldn't have to beg the manufacturer for permission to fix it when it breaks. New Jersey's upcoming Fair Repair Act, A4934 is simple. It requires manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair businesses with fair access to service information and affordable replacement parts. So you can fix the stuff you own quickly—and get on with your life.

But manufacturers like John Deere and Apple don't like that idea. When your tractor breaks or your cell phone stops working, they want to be the only people who can fix it. And they get to set whatever prices they want for parts and service.

It's time to fight for your right to repair and defend local repair jobs—the corner mom-and-pop repair shops that keep getting squeezed out. Find out who represents you in the New Jersey legislature. Tell them you support the Fair Repair Act, A4934. Tell them that you believe repair should be fair, affordable, and accessible. Stand up for the right to repair in New Jersey.

Source: Problems with several issues on my tablet, includeng a cracked screen.

How to keep mooches and spies off your Wi-Fi network and files

Columnist Kim Komando guides readers to making sure intruders aren't clogging their bandwidth. Kim Komando, Special for USA Today

Hackers can use Wi-Fi to access home devices and files. Here's how to keep them out.(Photo: Getty Images)

People love to mooch Wi-Fi. They don't mean any harm. They just find an unprotected signal and sign on. Why not? It's free, and nobody will even know. Your neighbor won't mind if you steal a little broadband to watch Netflix, right? 

But criminals also love unsecured Wi-Fi, and they do mean harm. They use your network to attack your gadgets and steal your personal information. They download illegal files through your router, making you vulnerable to a police investigation. To add insult to injury, intruders slow down your connection, causing buffering, and making it harder for you to finish online tasks. 

Still, it may not be mooches causing a pokey connection. Here are three router tweaks to speed up your Wi-Fi. 

"Wardriving" has been going on for years. Hackers drive around hunting for an unprotected Wi-Fi network that they can exploit. How do you protect against such random attacks? 

Here are a few tips for securing your Wi-Fi router against unauthorized hitchhikers. 

Check for connected gadgets 

Time to look at your network. First, you'll want to log into your router's administration console. Basically, you are "logging into" your router, the same way you'd log into any computer. Every router has a different way of doing this, so check your manual for specific instructions. 

(If you don't have your manual anymore, check the manufacturer's site. Or tap here to visit a fantastic site that has thousands of manuals for anything under the sun, including routers.) 

Make sure your device is connected to your router; it doesn't matter whether this is through a wireless connection or by cable. Open a browser and type in the router's IP address. The IP address is a set of numbers and the default depends on your router's manufacturer. The common ones are 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, or 192.168.2.1. 

Check the DHCP Client List or Attached Devices section that shows what gadgets are connected to your router. Typically, they are listed by IP address, MAC address and/or Name. Once you've surveyed this list of connected gadgets, figure out which ones belong to you. You should recognize the name of your main computer, and your tablet or smartphone should have the name of the manufacturer or model. 

If you can't make sense of the list, or you can't identify certain devices, simply turn off each gadget one by one. You can also disable each gadget's Wi-Fi. For tracking purposes, jot these network details down or take a quick pic using your smartphone so you can reference them later. If you've switched everything off and still see unknown gadgets, you know you have a culprit. 

Now, there's a much simpler way: You can use the aptly named Wireless Network Watcher. This free program gives you a list of gadgets connected to your Wi-Fi network. You can quickly fire it up whenever you want to check or just leave it open for real-time monitoring. Easy. 

Encrypt your connection 

Jefferson Graham offers 4 tips on how to protect your home network from a hack on #TalkingTech.

You may find intruders, or you may not. Either way, you can protect your Wi-Fi connection (and your personal data) by encrypting your connection. 

Every router on the market offers several encryption options. One type to avoid is "WEP," which is outdated and easy to circumvent. Instead, look for any encryption that starts with "WPA2," the most recent being "WPA2-PSK AES." The WPA2 family of encryption should protect your router from any run-of-the-mill hacker. 

Read more detailed instructions for securing your Wi-Fi against intruders. 

It's possible that your network is already encrypted, yet outsiders are still accessing your Wi-Fi. If so, change your password immediately. You can also reset your router to factory settings (consult your manual) and set up your Wi-Fi signal from scratch. 

This will mean changing the default password, enabling encryption, picking a new SSID and turning off any remote management features. Just remember, if you change your encryption password, you'll have to update the password on all your devices as well. 

Even WPA2 encryption isn't perfect. Cyber-security experts recently discovered a massive Wi-Fi hack called KRACK. Click here to learn how to protect your network from this new attack. 

Fence out your guest network 

Friends and family always want to use your Wi-Fi. They ask politely, phone in hand because they hate to burn up their data plans when they can just use your connection. Instead of handing them your real password, use your router's "Guest Network." 

This feature lets you share your Internet connection with your guests while keeping them off your main network, preventing them from seeing your shared files and services. To avoid confusion with your main network, set up your guest network with a different network name (SSID) and password. 

Although the guest network is available to guests, maintain the same level of security as your primary network. This means developing a strong password and restricting access to your shared files and devices. Make sure that "local access" is set to "off," which will prevent guests from tampering with your system. 

Turn off remote administration 

"Remote administration" is a feature that allows you to log into your router over the Internet and manage it. If you've ever called tech support, you may have experienced something similar: A faraway technician speaks with you on the phone, and then operates your computer as if he's sitting right next to you. 

Remote administration is a handy tool, especially when you need to fix a problem, but it leaves your computer vulnerable to hackers. Unless you absolutely need it, turn this feature off. You can find this under your router settings, usually under the "Remote Administration" heading. You can always switch it on again, if the need arises. The last thing you need is to invite strangers on to your home network. 

More: One mistake people make using public Wi-Fi

More: Wi-Fi connection problems are the worst. Here are three ways to solve them.

More: 6 ways to speed up slow Wi-Fi

What questions do you have? Call my national radio show and click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to the Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet or computer. From buying advice to digital life issues, click here for my free podcasts.

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Source: How to keep mooches and spies off your Wi-Fi network and files

Trump Versus CNN Noise Misses the Bigger Problem With Time Warner-AT&T Merger

U.S. President Donald Trump. RHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

The Trump administration may be leveraging the powers of federal agencies to damage CNN, at least that's how the narrative goes. Closer examination reveals an unregulated landscape rife with lawsuits, takeovers and network control.

On Monday, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson met with Makan Delrahim, the Justice Department's new anti-trust chief confirmed by the Senate in late September, to discuss the company's acquisition of Time Warner. According to three people briefed on the conversation, Delrahim told Stephenson that if AT&T wanted the Justice Department to green-light the merger, he would have to either sell Turner Broadcasting, the parent entity of CNN, or DirecTV, the satellite provider AT&T acquired in 2015.

"Until now, we've never commented on our discussions with the D.O.J. But given D.O.J.'s statement this afternoon, it's important to set the record straight," a spokesperson for Stephenson told outlets. "Throughout this process, I have never offered to sell CNN and have no intention of doing so."

Sources at CNN and AT&T told Vanity Fair the merger might be blocked for political reasons, citing Trump's public feuds with CNN, and that Stephenson intends to fight the Justice Department through the legal system. But many experts believe this political narrative masks the merger's far-reaching ramifications across the media landscape.

"There is a theory of the case based on vertical foreclosure and concerns about media concentration that may lead to too few voices and preference for the merged firms's products," Eleanor M. Fox, New York University Law professor of Trade Regulation, told Observer. "That theory is not consistent with a more traditional laissez faire policy."

Mega-mergers are by no means new. In 2000, Time Warner acquired America Online for a staggering $165 billion, later writing off nearly $99 billion in losses. At the time, it was hailed as a merger between equals where content owners could merge with content distributors; regulators did not envision the kind of power such a company could wield over information. As the Internet became the medium of choice, proliferated by tablets and phones with video and Internet access, the media distribution and content creation landscape changed, along with the public and regulatory experience.

Under the Obama administration, a new standard for vertical integration emerged following the approval of Comcast's 2009 acquisition of NBC Universal: Giant content distributors could acquire giant content creators, but only under conditions set by the Justice Department. However, federal regulators have accused Comcast of regularly violating these parameters, and the company has been forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines to the F.C.C.

The AT&T-Time Warner merger would create a combined company with wireless and broadband Internet services (AT&T), movie studios (Warner Brothers), cable providers (DirecTV), premium cable channels (HBO), news networks (CNN), and sports networks (NBA on TNT). AT&T-Time Warner could withhold these channels from other broadband providers like Verizon, blocking customers from viewing content independent from their infrastructure.

To prevent what happened with Comcast, the Justice Department is trying to head complications off beforehand by forcing the sale of either Turner Properties from Time Warner or DirecTV from AT&T.

"I can now say that the timing of the closing of the deal is now uncertain," AT&T CFO John Stephens acknowledged at an investor conference on Wednesday.

With talks of a FOX-Disney merger, Discovery Communication' $12 billion acquisition of Scripps Networks, and Sinclair Broadcast Group's attempts to acquire Tribune Media, the media landscape is undergoing a massive transition amid rapid changes in how people consume content, leaving the government to play catch up. In a Thursday op-ed for the New York Times, F.C.C. chairman Aijit Pai states, "Media ownership rules presume the marketplace for news is defined entirely by pulp, rabbit ears and transistor radios. In this archaic world, Americans get their news only from newspapers and broadcast television and radio stations, and the internet doesn't exist."

An AT&T-Time Warner merger needs to be discussed in terms of the role corporations play on information distribution; partisan hit pieces framed as Trump versus CNN distract from the larger issue of consolidated corporatism. Those railing against a totalitarian state under Trump would be best served to re-visit their roots in decrying an unregulated free market.

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Source: Trump Versus CNN Noise Misses the Bigger Problem With Time Warner-AT&T Merger

Technology could help opioid addicts in rural America, but a federal rule needs changing

For President Donald Trump's national emergency on opioid abuse to get traction in Appalachia and the rural South, the treatment effort will have to overcome some stubborn logistical barriers — and an obscure legal hurdle complicated by the president's own push to reduce regulatory burden.

A shortage of treatment options, transportation limitations and widespread poverty have made opioid abuse hard to stop and even tougher to treat in rural areas where the problem has hit hardest.

To help make anti-addiction medications more available in rural areas, Trump's emergency declaration called for expanding "telemedicine" services that allow addiction specialists to treat rural patients remotely through video consultations rather than in-person visits.

The National Institutes of Health is even funding a $1.7 million study of a mobile phone and tablet app called "emocha" that could help doctors remotely monitor rural patients' adherence to daily drug treatments that help fight opioid addiction.

The technology allows patients to use their phones to record themselves taking the anti-addiction drug, buprenorphine, and send the video to medical personnel for verification. Patients can also use emocha to report cravings, side effects or other symptoms of addiction without compromising their privacy.

"Folks who are addicted to opioids tend to often be very disenfranchised generally, not just geographically but in many other ways, and often have a difficult time managing their medications. The value of emocha is that it works as well in urban Baltimore as it does in rural West Virginia and elsewhere," said Dr. Robert Bollinger, who first conceived emocha while working in Uganda as director of the Center for Clinical Global Health Education at Johns Hopkins University.

The university licensed the technology to Baltimore-based emocha Mobile Health in 2014. The app is also being used to monitor the treatment of patients with tuberculosis and Hepatitis C, said Sebastian Seiguer, CEO and founder of emocha Mobile Health.

Other emerging technology, such as online digital counseling apps, along with pharmaceutical innovations including longer-lasting doses of buprenorphine could help bridge the geographic and clinical gaps faced by opioid abusers in isolated areas.

Last week, an advisory committee of the Food and Drug Administration recommended the agency approve potential weekly and monthly injectable doses of buprenorphine that could lighten the drug regimen for patients now using the daily pill or oral film formulation, which is applied under the tongue.

But before these potential advances can be realized fully for rural opioid patients, the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration must address a problem with the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008. And one of Trump's executive orders — discouraging the creation of new rules — could be getting in the way.

The Ryan Haight law was designed to stop inappropriate prescribing by shady internet pharmacies, but critics say it goes too far, blocking doctors from prescribing controlled substances and anti-addiction medications without first having an in-person evaluation.

For nearly a decade, the American Telemedicine Association has been asking the DEA to waive that requirement so doctors can prescribe for far-flung patients based only on video consultations.

"This was one of those unexpected consequences from a law that was not very well written originally nine years ago," said Peter Yellowlees, president of the American Telemedicine Association. "And every year since, we've been trying to get the waiver. It's been a long process and the DEA, in my view, has been very slow with this."

The DEA under President Obama "never delivered on its initial Unified Regulatory Agency intention to promulgate" waiver guidelines in October 2015, the ATA noted in a letter to the DEA.

Yellowlees said he knew of no special-interest groups that opposed the measure. The American Medical Association supports easing federal certification requirements for physicians to begin prescribing buprenorphine and says doctors who prescribe other drugs should be able to prescribe the drugs used to help opioid addicts.

"It's very strange," said Yellowlees, a psychiatry professor at the University of California, Davis. "I've had personal meetings with DEA staff. DEA people have come to our conferences at our request. And there is a very simple way of modifying this, but for whatever reason they've just never gone down that pathway. I don't understand it."

DEA spokesman Rusty Payne said the agency is working on the waiver guidelines, but it's unclear when the waiver will be ready and what it will entail.

A senior DOJ official suggested the effort could be delayed by a Trump executive order that discourages creation of new rules by requiring agencies to eliminate two rules for every new one created.

But in a statement, a White House spokesperson said the executive order applies to regulatory actions and may not affect the proposed telemedicine waiver which "could potentially be a deregulatory action if it imposes no costs or results in cost savings."

Resolving the legal obstacles could prove critical for rural Southern towns that account for 22 of the 25 cities with the highest rates of opioid abuse and 17 of the top 25 cities ranked by misuse of opioid prescriptions, according to a study by Castlight Health, a medical benefits platform provider.

Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas have multiple cities in both rankings.

With more than 2.5 million Americans who abuse opioids, there simply aren't enough clinics to provide the necessary treatment. And about half of those who take buprenorphine to beat their addiction drop out of treatment after eight weeks, Seiguer said.

"We're trying to see if emocha can change that," he said. Watching someone take their meds is the only proven way to make sure they do, Seiguer added.

"People perform better when they're observed," Seiguer said. "And (with emocha) the patient now has somebody who is in touch with them and who is contacting them and somebody who actually cares. That social support angle is what keeps the patient in care longer."

Source: Technology could help opioid addicts in rural America, but a federal rule needs changing

Google in a pickle of Pixel problems

Mario Queiroz, Vice-President of Product Management at Google, speaks about the Pixel 2 phone during a launch event in San Francisco, California, earlier this month. – Reuters

October 29, 2017:  

If you had been a fly on the wall at Google's launch party held recently in Delhi, you wouldn't have guessed there were any issues with the new Pixel 2 phones that have just gone up for pre-order. Google set up an arena for the invitees to click selfies, low-light photos, use the Lens app and more, while they made merry.

But in the background, there was the lurking shadow of various issues that accompanied the second gen of Pixels' entry into the world. After all, one would want them to be Pixel-perfect, so to speak, at upward of Rs 61,000 for the Pixel 2 64GB and touching Rs 82,000 for the 128GB Pixel XL. That's a big ask to begin with, but a serious one if there's talk of problems.

The bigger of the two Pixel 2's has the bigger problems, it would seem. One of these is that when you tilt the phone even by 15 degrees there's a 'blue shift' and you see colours like white and pink get a sheen of blue over them. Now there is always a bit of a shift in colour with every device and that's what we mean when we say that the viewing angles are fine on a device. But in this case, people are complaining that it's far too much and could interfere with viewing and editing anything that involves accuracy of colours such as photographs or art work.

Sitting here with four Pixel phones around me — old and new — I do see this shift on the Pixel 2 XL, but I have to say that I don't find it a deal-breaker. I may be lucky with my review device, which by chance doesn't have that problem really pronounced, but speaking from my experience with this device, I don't think it should bother anyone if they don't have a special need for editing colours. The device's screen is fine when you look at it straight on. Google, which was silent on the subject at first, has now said on various user forums that it will issue an update to fix this problem or give the user more choice on how to see the display, but many are sceptical about whether this is just a software fix for a hardware problem.

I would think that it doesn't matter as long it is a fix. Personally, I wouldn't avoid buying the phone because of the blue tint (specially if there's a workaround coming) if I had the money — which I don't.

Another more lethal sounding problem is that there's a 'burn-in' on the screen, much like you may have seen with old laptops and computers. The ghost of an image remains on the screen and eventually deteriorates the quality of the display. I can't comment on this problem with short-term usage, as it would take a little time. Again, it is apparently only with the Pixel 2 XL, according to reviewers who have seen it in other parts of the world. That should be a more difficult one to issue a fix for.

While we're still on the beleaguered screen, users have reported that it isn't bright enough. There seems to be some truth in that. Compared with the original Pixel from last year, both new devices seem to be a tiny bit less vibrant, but since you can turn the brightness up, I'm not convinced this is a deal-breaker either.

Tinkering with brightness level, I was able to keep all four Pixel devices to roughly the same intensity, though the Pixel original was a little ahead.

Google has upped the warranty to two years and promised fixes for just about everything. But meanwhile, a new problem has cropped up, this time with the Pixel 2 XL's audio in video recordings. Some users reported that the background sound goes warbled for certain periods and that the sound is in any case thin and sharp. I didn't find the sound on the Pixel 2 XL its strongest point, that's for sure. Even on a call, the other person could hear me better than I could hear her. While video recording, yes, there's a little static crackling like sound in the background and faint warbling. I found there's some bit of hiss in almost all phones with this task, but on the Pixel 2 XL it was certainly more muddy. This too is supposed to get a fix, but one will have to wait a few weeks.

Apart from these issues, these devices are as fast and smooth as expected and have a lot of Google Assistant running the show, including with a little squeeze to the phone's sides. The purity of Android on these devices is refreshing, being absent of all the painful customisations other manufactures put in. The camera, a marquee feature, is sharp and capable, but I didn't find it a huge leap over the previous year's Pixel. In the end it's just a lot of money, so one can't be faulted for wanting a device which is flawless.

Much more on the Pixel 2 phones in subsequent issues.

(This article was published on October 29, 2017)

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Source: Google in a pickle of Pixel problems