Compute This

Hackers Turned Supermarket Freezers Into Ovens | Compute This

Hackers forced hundreds of French supermarket freezers into defrost cycles, with some hitting 122 degrees, and it took no super hacker to pull it off. On this week's live show, Thor explains how old, unsupported controllers left on the internet with factory passwords became easy targets, and why a port scanner doesn't care whether you're worth attacking.

Thor also introduces the 25th Holiday Special, a desktop and laptop built to last ten years, not two, plus a DriveAdviser contest that could win you a free Core Upgrade. And yes, the FAA is still loading weather information from floppy disks.

In this episode:

Whether you want a computer built to last a decade or need help making sure your connected business equipment isn't an open door, the team at Schrock Innovations is ready to help. Stop by our Lincoln service center or visit schrockinnovations.com for real answers from real people.

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Binance's $6.3 Billion Crypto Theft Started With One Laptop | Compute This

The biggest crypto heist ever took just 20 minutes, and it all started with one compromised work laptop. On this week's live show, Thor breaks down how North Korea's hackers pulled $6.3 billion out of Binance and why a single unprotected computer can open the door to everything.

Thor also unveils this year's Holiday Special desktop and laptop, built to handle the next five to ten years of Windows without the overkill. Plus, the first insurance policy for home robots that go rogue, and what "safe disablement" might actually look like.

In this episode:

Whether you want a computer built to last or need every device in your business protected, 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.

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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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

Chrome Zero-Day Hackers Are Exploiting Right Now | Compute This

Google just confirmed a new Chrome zero-day that attackers are already using in the wild, and all it takes is one bad webpage to hand your computer over. On this week's Compute This, Thor breaks down the flaw, why Brave and Edge share the exact same hole, and the one dead-simple move that actually closes it: restart your computer so the patch can finish installing.

From a browser bug that hackers love to Apple's rumored $2,500 folding iPhone and a Windows update that dragged everyone's desktop into an unwanted goth phase, Thor covers the tech headlines that hit real people this week, plus what's fresh around the Schrock shops.

In this episode:

Whether it's a browser you can't trust or a Windows update that won't behave, the team at Schrock Innovations keeps your technology working the way it should. Stop by the Lincoln service center to talk Safe Upgrades, real protection with Sophos, or a fair trade-in value before you hand your old phone to a kiosk.

Show Notes:

The Router Backdoor That Needs No Password | Compute This

Some Chinese-made routers ship with a hidden backdoor that lets an attacker walk right in, no password required. Thor breaks down which devices are affected and what to do if one is sitting in your house right now.

It's a call-in week, so Thor also digs into the privacy tricks that feel safe but aren't, and a retirement pitch that claims you can skip the stock market entirely.

In this episode:

Whether it's a sketchy router, a privacy myth, or a deal that sounds too easy, the move is the same: ask someone who'll give you a straight answer. That's what the team at Schrock Innovations in Papillion does every day, in plain English. Overdue for a tune-up? The maintenance checkup special is still on, but not for much longer.

Show Notes:

AI Passwords Aren't as Safe as They Look | Compute This

Ask an AI chatbot to make you a password and it hands one over with total confidence. The problem, as Thor breaks down this week, is that those passwords tend to follow the same predictable pattern every time, and a predictable pattern is exactly what a hacker is hoping for. "Trust me" is not a security feature.

In this episode:

Whether it's a password, a wearable, or a warranty, the same rule applies: get a straight answer from someone who'll stand behind it. That's what the team at Schrock Innovations in Lincoln does every day, in plain English you can actually use. Running hot, slow, or just overdue for a checkup? The maintenance checkup special is still on.

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