Compute This

The Router Ban Everybody Got a Hall Pass From | Compute This The government's router ban was supposed to bring factories home, but Netgear, Asus, eero, Starlink, and MSI all got exemptions and not one new US router factory has opened. This week on a live show, Thor breaks down the router ban hall pass, TP-Link's billion dollar plant pitch, and why Nebraska is suing TP-Link anyway. Thor also explains why the clock on security patches is now measured in minutes, after AI found a massive website flaw and crooks used it the same day. Plus, the world's most expensive ping: a carrier pigeon internet packet that sold for $4,000 at Christie's. In this episode: Around the shops: what to look for in a holiday laptop, memory prices up sevenfold, a price reveal coming soon, and open positions The router ban, the exemptions, and TP-Link's Mississippi plant offer A critical website flaw the feds say to patch now, and why waiting weeks no longer works The 2001 carrier pigeon internet and the packet that went under the hammer After Schrock: crypto ahead of the Fed, Starlink, gas and diesel shortages, and the Zacharia firing If your IT provider is still waiting weeks to patch, or you want help picking a holiday laptop that is all power and no fluff, the team at Schrock Innovations is ready to help. Stop by our Omaha service center or visit schrockinnovations.com for real answers from real people. Show Notes: TP-Link pledges to assemble routers in the US CISA: Critical PHP vulnerabilities require immediate patching Pigeon-powered internet packet goes under the hammer at Christie's Crypto forecast for October 26 to 30 Omahans report local gas outages Press secretary Katie Zacharia fired Podcaster's "pistols firing" remarks toward JD Vance Open positions at Schrock Innovations Schrock Innovations

North Platte Cyberattack Shuts Down City Phones | Compute This A cyberattack knocked out phones and computers for the city of North Platte and Lincoln County, and Nebraska's governor declared an emergency and sent in the National Guard's cyber team. This week Thor breaks down what happened, why 911 stayed up while offices closed, and why your own town's computers could be next. Thor also has a reminder to get Windows 26H2 installed if you still haven't, plus news that the Holiday Special is coming back. Kimberly stops by to announce Flagship, the new home for Schrock's business division, and shares plans for its event and training space. Thor closes with a smart lock you crank like a Model T. In this episode: Around the shops: Safe Upgrade gets you current, repairs for older computers, custom PC and laptop builds, and open positions The North Platte and Lincoln County cyberattack and the National Guard's cyber response Why you still need Windows 26H2, and why memory costs way more this year Kimberly announces Flagship, our new business division home, and what's ahead for its event and training space Ring's new smart lock with a crank for when the battery dies Whether you need an older computer brought up to date, a repair, or a brand new custom build, the team at Schrock Innovations is ready to help. Stop by our Des Moines service center or visit schrockinnovations.com for real answers from real people. Show Notes: Governor issues emergency after cyberattack in North Platte Ring's smart lock you can recharge with a crank Open positions at Schrock Innovations Schrock Innovations

The Fake ChatGPT That Hands You a Virus | Compute This Searched for ChatGPT and clicked the top result? Scammers are buying ads that open a convincing fake, then ask you to paste a "human check" command that quietly steals your saved passwords. This week Thor shows how the trap works and the simple habit that beats it: type chatgpt.com yourself. Thor also walks through Windows 26H2, the update that finally fixes the things people hate about Windows, and why skipping it means no security updates past 2027. Plus, Microsoft's own X account got hacked, and Clippy came back asking for crypto. In this episode: Around the shops: Safe Upgrade is ready for Windows 26H2, rebuilt from the ground up, with free remote help if an upgrade fails The fake ChatGPT ad that steals your saved passwords, and how to stay safe Windows 26H2: move the taskbar, turn Bing off in search, remap the Copilot key, and more Microsoft's X account gets hacked and Clippy makes a crypto comeback Whether you want Windows 26H2 installed the right way or a second opinion on something that popped up on your screen, the team at Schrock Innovations is ready to help. Stop by our Lincoln service center, now open until eight, or visit schrockinnovations.com for real answers from real people. Show Notes: The ChatGPT scam that hands you malware Microsoft's 26H2 update fixes the parts you hate most about Windows Microsoft's X account hacked, posts Clippy crypto memes Schrock Innovations

Microsoft Update Breaks Office You Already Bought | Compute This Paid for Microsoft Office outright? A recent "optional" Microsoft update installed itself anyway and left some people staring at an "Unlicensed Product" message, or missing Office altogether. This week Thor explains what happened with update KB5002907, why Microsoft hit pause, and the simple fix: your original product key. Thor also takes a fun look back at tech predictions that never came true, from Einstein on nuclear power to Ballmer on the iPhone, and asks who benefits from today's AI doom headlines and data center scare ads. Plus, the robot store that handed out a snack and then refunded it. It's a fast, plain-English show for anyone who wants the real story behind the tech headlines. In this episode: Around the shops: Safe Upgrade is ready for Windows 26H2, only 430 of 600 spots left, and new jobs posted for the new flagship A Microsoft update deactivated Office for people who bought it outright, and how your original product key fixes it The tech predictions that flopped, and why fear makes better headlines than facts The AI doom campaign and data center fear ads: follow the money LAX's robot store, a $1.29 Perrier refund, and the robot that is supposed to end humanity Whether an update knocked out your Office or your computer needs some care before the next big Windows release, the team at Schrock Innovations is ready to help. Stop by our Des Moines service center or visit schrockinnovations.com for real answers from real people. Show Notes: Microsoft pauses KB5002907 update after Office license deactivations AI doom: a brief history of bad tech predictions A robot arm handed me a snack at this LA convenience store Schrock Innovations

Your Apple Watch Is Recording Conversations | Compute This Your new Apple Watch might be listening more closely than you realize. This week Thor breaks down how the latest Watch can capture snippets of conversation, replay the last fifteen seconds on demand, and even summarize your whole day with Siri, all without the other person ever agreeing to be recorded. In eleven states, that is a legal problem, not just an awkward one. Thor also covers what is happening around the shops, why cutting your tech staff to chase AI could cost you more than it saves, and the tech world's funniest marketing stunt of the week. It is a fast, plain-English tour of the news that actually affects your devices, your privacy, and your wallet. In this episode: Around the shops: Safe Upgrade is ready for Windows 26H2 (officially landing in October), production has caught up the backlog, and Schrock is hiring a senior tech in Omaha The new Apple Watch can record conversations and summarize your day, and eleven states require both people to consent Gartner warns that companies cutting jobs for AI may rehire a third of them by 2029, at a premium, after institutional knowledge walks out the door Samsung trolls Apple by hiring a regular guy from New Zealand, also named Tim Cook, to endorse its foldable phone Whether it is a privacy question on your wrist or a Windows update that needs a careful hand, the team at Schrock Innovations is here to help. Stop by our Papillion service center or visit schrockinnovations.com to get real answers from real people. Show Notes: New Apple Watch can record conversations without consent Gartner: AI job cuts could come with a costly undo button Samsung hires a 'Tim Cook' to troll Apple Schrock Innovations