Can I Use a Power Supply with a Higher Wattage Rating on my Laptop?

Swapping power supplies

It can be kind of complicated and confusing if you’re not familiar with how a power supply (and to some degree, electricity itself) works.

The short rules boil down to this:

The output connector must match.

The polarity of the output connector must match.

The output voltage must be the same.

In addition,

The output amperage must be greater than or equal to that required by the laptop.

or:

The output wattage must be greater than or equal to that required by the laptop.

Source: Can I Use a Power Supply with a Higher Wattage Rating on my Laptop? – Ask Leo!

Ransomware Gang Claims Fortune 500 Company Hired Them to Hack the Competition | Motherboard

Ransomware—computer viruses that lock a victim’s files and demand a payment to get them back—has become so common that experts believe it’s now an “epidemic.”

Security experts have always assumed that ransomware hackers are in it for the ransom. But a shocking claim made by one ransomware agent suggests there may be another motive: corporate sabotage.

In an exchange with a security researcher pretending to be a victim, one ransomware agent claimed they were working for a Fortune 500 company.

“We are hired by [a] corporation to cyber disrupt day-to-day business of their competition,” the customer support agent of a ransomware known as Jigsaw said, according to a new report by security firm F-Secure.

Ransomware Gang Claims Fortune 500 Company Hired Them to Hack the Competition

Source: Ransomware Gang Claims Fortune 500 Company Hired Them to Hack the Competition | Motherboard

Scam Of The Week: Illegal Game of Thrones Download

There is a current email phishing scam going on where you get an official-looking email forwarded by your ISP, which states you have violated HBO copyrights and illegally downloaded Game of Thrones.

The email has a link to a website where they say you can pay the fine. Don’t fall for it. The message was sent by cybercriminals and they would get any money you pay.

In general, it’s a bad idea to illegally download shows and movies for two reasons. First, you are indeed violating copyrights which can turn out to be very expensive when you get sued. Second, the websites promising these downloads are often compromised and infect your computer with all kinds of malware.

If you receive such a notice and want to verify if this is for real or not, contact the real IP-Echelon directly which you can do here: https://www.ip-echelon.com/contact-us/

Remember: Think Before You Click!

PS: If you are looking for IT Outsource Services please visit goITgeeks.com

Pokémon app

You have probably heard about the new Pokémon app. It’s going viral and sends people on the street to catch these little virtual creatures. There are some risks if you have the “gotta catch ’em all” fever.

First, please stick to the vetted app stores, do not download the app from anywhere else. Why? Bad guys have taken the app and infected it with malware, and try to trick you downloading it from untrustworthy websites.

Second, anyone using the app, and especially kids should be VERY aware that they are not lured into a real-world trap which could lead to mugging or abduction. Other players can track you in the real world using this app so be careful.

Third, there are possible privacy issues if you use your Google account to log into the app. Create a throw-away account and use that to log into Pokémon, not your private or business account .

As always, Think Before You Click!

How much RAM do you need, should you upgrade it, and will it speed up your PC? | ExtremeTech

How much RAM do you need?

How much RAM you need in a system depends on what you intend to do with it, how long you intend to keep it, and whether or not you can upgrade your memory post-purchase. This last point is important, as many high-end laptops have eliminated user-upgradeable RAM in order to reduce system thickness by roughly six nanometers.

Adding additional RAM to any laptop generally increases power consumption by a measurable (if small) amount, but this shouldn’t be an issue for most users. It’s also better to have a bit too much RAM than too little, as whatever you gain in power savings you’ll promptly lose to increased disk paging.

Apple’s MacBook Air offers 4GB of RAM, but most of the systems from Dell, HP, and other OEMs start at 8GB, and I think that’s the better sweet spot. That’s not to say you can’t get by on 4GB — you absolutely can — but 8GB gives you a bit more breathing room.

Check out the full article ↓↓

via How much RAM do you need, should you upgrade it, and will it speed up your PC? | ExtremeTech.