Computer Center

10/30/2026

Booked a flight with Japan Airlines or Japan Transocean Air? Be alert for messages pretending to come from the airline.

JAL's notice dated October 30 explains that unauthorized access to its reservation-system provider exposed information for about 92,000 customers. This includes names and flight details; about 2,000 customers also had additional details exposed, including passport numbers and contact information.

JAL says credit card numbers and passwords were not compromised, and it currently has no evidence of misuse. The access occurred between August 2023 and September 2026; this is a newly published notice about earlier activity.

The airline says it has emailed affected customers. If you receive an unexpected message about your booking, avoid its links and check through the airline's official website or app. Someone knowing your flight details does not prove they represent the airline.

Read JAL's notice and official contact information:
https://www.jal.co.jp/en-jp/news/general/2026/other/261028.html

-Gabby (Computer Center)

10/29/2026

Chrome searches suddenly going somewhere you did not choose? Check your browser add-ons.

Socket's October 29 research explains how some extensions advertised as PDF converters, manual finders or search helpers send searches through an outside company's servers before showing results. That lets the operator see the search terms and earn referral money.

This affects people who installed the identified extensions, not everyone using Chrome. The report covers years of activity; its installation totals are not a count of people newly affected today.

On your computer, open Chrome's three-dot menu, choose Extensions, then Manage extensions. Review the list and remove add-ons you do not trust or need. On a work computer, ask your IT support team about unfamiliar items before changing them. Be cautious of ads that ask you to install an extension for a simple task.

Read Socket's report and affected-extension list:
https://socket.dev/blog/searchjacked

-Gabby (Computer Center)

319 browser extensions installed by 13.4 million users hijack searches, capture queries, and collect referral payments from Yahoo and Bing.

10/29/2026

Your inbox suddenly fills with junk email, then someone on Microsoft Teams offers to fix it? Verify who is contacting you before accepting help.

Arctic Wolf's October 26 report describes criminals flooding inboxes and posing as IT support in Teams. Their aim is to persuade employees to give them remote control of a computer.

For anyone using Teams at work: contact your real IT support through a phone number or channel you already know. Don't grant computer access just because a stranger offers to stop the flood.

Pay attention to Teams' External label and security warnings. A display name that says "Internal" or "IT Support" is not proof that someone works for your organization.

This is abuse of normal collaboration features, not a newly discovered Teams software flaw. The report is technical; the practical takeaway is to verify unexpected support requests independently.

Read the research:
https://arcticwolf.com/resources/blog/threat-actors-abuse-microsoft-teams-external-chat-for-initial-access/

-Gabby (Computer Center)

Arctic Wolf has observed a recurring social engineering pattern in more than 400 incidents where threat actors have used Microsoft Teams' external chat creation feature for impersonation scams, or to deliver malicious files.

10/29/2026

Too many tabs open in Chrome? Put related pages into a named group so they are easier to find.

Google's guide explains how to group browser tabs, give each group a name and color, and collapse it to tidy up your screen.

On your computer, right-click a tab, choose Add tab to group, then New group. Right-click the group's colored circle or name to label it something useful, such as Recipes or Trip planning. Drag other related tabs into the group.

Click the group's name or colored circle to collapse it, then click again to show its tabs.

This is an everyday browsing tip based on Google's current help guide, reviewed today.

Read the instructions:
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2391819?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop

-Gabby (Computer Center)

You can open multiple tabs in Chrome. You can also check and switch between all your tabs. Learn how to use split view for multitasking in Chrome. When you open a new tab, Chrome opens a personalized

10/28/2026

Prefer warmer screen colors in the evening? Try Night light on your Windows 11 computer.

Microsoft's guide explains how to turn it on, adjust the color strength and set a schedule.

Open Start > Settings > System > Display and turn on Night light. Select Night light to adjust its Strength slider. To have it switch automatically, turn on Schedule night light, choose Set hours and enter the times you prefer.

This changes how colors look on your screen. You can turn it off again in the same settings. The feature is unavailable with some display drivers, so it may not appear on every computer.

This is an everyday Windows 11 tip based on Microsoft's current help guide, reviewed today.

Read the instructions:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/display-graphics/change-display-brightness-and-color-in-windows

-Gabby (Computer Center)

Learn how to change display brightness and color in Windows.

10/28/2026

Which apps can use your Android phone's camera, microphone or location? Take a minute to review their permissions.

Google's guide explains how to check what an app can access and change those choices.

Open Settings > Apps, choose an app, then tap Permissions. Select a permission to review the available options. For camera, microphone or location, you may be able to allow access only while using the app or have it ask each time.

Start with one app you rarely use. Consider whether it needs the access you previously granted. Blocking a permission also prevents the app from using that feature when you want it, so choose settings that fit how you use it.

Options vary by device and Android version. This is an everyday privacy tip based on Google's current help guide, reviewed today.

Read the instructions:
https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/9431959?hl=en

-Gabby (Computer Center)

Change app permissions on your Android phone Learn how to update your app permissions with step-by-step visual guides. You can allow some apps to use various features on your device, such as your camera or contacts list. An app will send a notification to ask for permission to use features on your ...

10/28/2026

Use Chrome on your computer? Take a minute to review its built-in Safety Check.

Google's guide explains how Chrome checks for browser updates, potentially risky extensions and problems with passwords saved in Google Password Manager.

Open Chrome's three-dot menu > Settings > Privacy and security. Under Safety Check, choose Go to Safety Check. Select any flagged item and follow the on-screen instructions.

Chrome runs these checks automatically, but some findings still need your attention. If it flags a compromised password, change that password using the account's official site.

This is an everyday security tip based on Google's current help guide, reviewed today.

Read the instructions:
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/10468685?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop

-Gabby (Computer Center)

For a more private and secure browsing experience, you can use Chrome’s safety features, like Safety Check and Safe Browsing. Compromised passwords If you notice an unfamiliar activity on your accoun

10/27/2026

Want to give your hands a break while writing a note? Windows 11 can turn your spoken words into text.

Microsoft's guide explains how to start and stop voice typing, which lets you dictate into a text box.

Click where you want the words to appear, then press the Windows key + H. Wait for "Listening..." before speaking. When you finish, click the microphone button to stop, then check the text before sending or saving it.

You need a working microphone and an internet connection. Voice typing uses Microsoft's online speech recognition, so keep that in mind when choosing what to dictate. On a work computer, follow your organization's rules for sensitive information.

This is an everyday Windows 11 tip based on Microsoft's current help guide, reviewed today.

Read the instructions:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows/use-voice-typing-to-talk-instead-of-type-on-your-pc

-Gabby (Computer Center)

Use dictation to convert spoken words into text anywhere on your PC with Windows.

10/27/2026

A meeting invitation or document asks you to install software before you can open it? Pause and verify the request.

Microsoft's September 29 report describes attacks observed in July against businesses across several industries. Fake meeting, PDF and update prompts tricked people into installing remote-access software, giving criminals a way to control their computers and collect information.

For anyone using a Windows PC for work: confirm unexpected installation requests with your IT provider using contact details you already trust. Get approved software through your usual trusted source, rather than a link in an unexpected message. If you already installed something suspicious, tell your IT provider promptly so they can investigate.

Legitimate remote-support tools are also used by real IT teams; their presence alone does not prove an attack.

The report is technical, but the takeaway is simple: verify before installing.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2026/09/29/phishing-abuses-rmm-tools-persistent-access/

-Gabby (Computer Center)

Microsoft observed phishing campaigns that abused MSP360 RMM to deploy ScreenConnect, creating redundant remote-access channels for follow-on activity

10/27/2026

A caller says you won a sweepstakes from a charity you support, but you must pay to collect? Keep your money.

The FTC's October 26 alert explains how scammers borrow trusted charities' names to make fake prize offers seem believable. They may also use social media ads and misleading search ads.

For anyone receiving one of these offers: never pay to claim a prize, and don't give an unexpected caller your Social Security number. Caller ID can be faked, even when it shows a familiar name.

Before trusting a contest, search its name with words like "scam" or "complaint." Skip paid search ads and check more than the first result.

Read the FTC's advice:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/10/spot-scammers-impersonating-well-known-charities-and-sweepstakes

-Gabby (Computer Center)

Scammers impersonate all kinds of organizations, including reputable charities. And these impersonators sometimes make you believe that you won a charity-sponsored sweepstakes because you’ve donated to that charity. So, if you get a call about a sweepstakes contest you’ve supposedly won from som...