Compute This

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

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:
Around the shops: new deals on the specials page, the $59.99 Safe Upgrade to Windows 11, a welcome to Nevaeh in Omaha, and three open tech jobs
The Chrome zero-day being exploited right now, and why a quick restart is your fix
How Sophos acts as your seatbelt and airbag when a bad page slips through
Apple's $2,500 foldable iPhone, the fragile new hinge, and why you should never trade in at the kiosk
The August Windows update that turned desktops black and ignored your wallpaper, with no fix from Microsoft
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:
Google warns of new Chrome zero-day exploited in attacks
Sophos Endpoint Protection
Apple's Sept 9 event and the rumored folding iPhone
Windows 11 update sends some desktops into a goth phase
Schrock Innovations tech jobs
Schrock Innovations

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:
The router backdoor that needs no password, and how to tell if yours is exposed
Privacy habits people swear by that don't actually protect you
A "retire like this guy" pitch that quietly skips the stock market
Last call on the maintenance checkup special, plus a Safe Upgrade preview
We're hiring in Omaha (and yes, there's a Lincoln pizza story)
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:
Schrock Innovations
We're hiring in Omaha, apply now

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:
AI-generated passwords and the pattern flaw that makes them easy to crack
Why a real password manager beats letting a chatbot pick for you
The memory chip shortage spiking prices everywhere, and why Schrock held the line
A lawsuit claiming your smart ring's sleep tracking is mostly guessing
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.
Show Notes:
Schrock Innovations
We're hiring in Omaha, apply now

Hackers Are Hijacking Macs to Mine Crypto | Compute This
That emergency Mac update Thor warned you about last week? Crooks are now actively using the flaw it fixes to break into Macs with no password required, then quietly turning them into crypto-mining machines. If you skipped the update, your Mac may be running hot, running slow, and running up someone else's electric bill.
This week Thor walks through the stories that hit closest to home, from the Mac hack that's already costing people money to a hard lesson about trusting the cloud with the only copy of anything you care about.
In this episode:
The Mac screen-sharing flaw is now under active attack, and how to tell if you're exposed
Why "the cloud" is really just someone else's computer, and what happens when that someone goes out of business
A PBS station nearly loses 70 years of footage after its storage provider vanishes
Computer sales are surging at every Schrock service center, and Omaha is hiring techs plus a front-desk position
Microsoft quietly retires Mico, its short-lived Clippy successor
Losing your data isn't something you want to think about after it's already gone. The team at Schrock Innovations in Lincoln can set you up with a backup plan that keeps your files safe whether the cloud cooperates or not. Stop in or visit schrockinnovations.com to get started.
Show Notes:
The Mac vulnerability under active exploitation
PBS station fears losing 50TB after being ghosted by its cloud provider
Microsoft tells Mico to pipe down
Apply at Schrock Innovations
Schrock Innovations

Apple's Emergency Mac Update: Fix the Screen Sharing Flaw Tonight | Compute This
Apple just rushed out an emergency patch for a Mac Screen Sharing flaw that lets an attacker skip your password and take full control of your computer. If you own a Mac, this is a tonight job, not a someday job, and Thor walks you through exactly where to click to get protected.
This week's episode runs through the security fixes and tech news that actually affect your day: Apple's urgent update, Microsoft finally admitting Windows 11 has been quietly broken for years, and a ransomware kingpin who just ran out of places to hide. It's the plain-English version of what to do and why it matters.
In this episode:
Apple's emergency Mac patch and how to install it in System Settings
Why Microsoft admits Windows 11 neglected the basics for five years, and what's coming this fall
The Ransom Cartel creator sentenced to 16 years after hitting companies right here in Nebraska
Around the shops: Best of Omaha voting closes today, we're hiring junior and senior techs, and you can win a free laptop
The Schrock Safe Upgrade, a safe Windows install backed by a warranty
Whether it's a Mac that needs patching or a Windows machine that needs a clean, safe upgrade, Schrock Innovations in Papillion can handle it without the jargon or the upsell. Stop in, call, or start online, and let Thor put your tech worries to rest.
Show Notes:
Apple rushes emergency fix for Mac Screen Sharing
Microsoft's Windows 11 quality progress report
Ransom Cartel creator sentenced to 16 years
Apply at Schrock Innovations
Schrock Innovations

Hackers Broke Into America's Water Systems | Compute This
Iran-linked hackers just broke into water utilities across the U.S. The entry point wasn't some genius zero-day exploit; it was default passwords nobody bothered to change. Thor breaks down what actually happened, why utilities in Minnesota and Michigan had to switch to manual operations, and the reassuring part: the water itself stayed safe the whole time.
This episode is for anyone who wants the real story behind the headlines, minus the panic, plus a heads-up on a few tech issues that could be sitting in your own house or business right now.
In this episode:
Iran-linked hackers breached U.S. water utility systems using default passwords
Why some utilities had to switch to manual operations, and how the water stayed safe
Samsung's memory shortage is projected to last until 2028, and what bad memory actually looks like (freezes, random restarts, BSODs)
Google's "Nano Banana" AI tool generated convincing fake satellite imagery, and got pulled within 24 hours
Plus: the last few days of the Schrock Checkup Sale (30% off, $69.99)
If your computer's been freezing, restarting on its own, or throwing blue screens, that's often a memory problem, and it's exactly the kind of thing Schrock Innovations catches for free during a Checkup, often still covered under warranty. Stop by the Schrock Innovations Papillion location and let's get it looked at before it gets worse.
Show Notes:
Hackers Broke Into America's Water Systems
Samsung's Memory Shortage Will Run Through 2028
Google Pulls "Nano Banana" AI Satellite Feature
Schrock Innovations

Got an alert about the Chick-fil-A data breach? This week we cover what hit roughly 13,000 customers, why credential stuffing keeps working, and the password habit that keeps you off the next breach list. We also dig into the McAfee pop-up taking over new LG monitors and how to spot a sales pitch dressed up as a security warning.
In this episode:
- The Chick-fil-A data breach and the credential-stuffing trick behind it
- Why your new monitor is trying to sell you antivirus
- OpenAI's AI slipping its sandbox in the first autonomous cyberattack
- Bitcoin near $64-65K and whether the rally has legs
The Schrock Innovations team in Papillion is here when tech gets in your way. On next week's episode: why hands-on computer maintenance makes all the difference in an AI world.
Show Notes:
- Chick-fil-A data breach hits 13,000+ customers
- LG kills the McAfee pop-up after Windows boss steps in
- OpenAI model escapes its testing environment
- Schrock Innovations

If you let Chrome or Edge remember your passwords, this is the week to pay attention. A fast-spreading strain of "password stealer" malware is raiding saved logins straight out of the browser, and it is getting in through a fake "click to fix" popup that looks harmless. Thor breaks down how the attack works, why it can walk right past two-factor authentication, and the one simple thing that actually stops it.
From there it is a full slate of the tech that hits your wallet and your peace of mind. Thor gets into the real cost of skipping a laptop warranty, why hard drive prices are climbing again, and the AI story everyone is talking about: a famous life coach's AI assistant that went and bought itself a robot dog. Whether you are protecting your data, shopping for a new machine, or just trying to keep up with where AI is going, there is something here for you.
In this episode:
- A new wave of malware that steals passwords saved in Chrome and Edge, and the fake popup that lets it in
- Why stolen saved passwords can slip past two-factor, and why any antivirus beats none
- The $500 hard drive: a Papillion laptop owner's repair bill and the warranty decision behind it
- Why device and warranty prices are set to climb again next month
- Tony Robbins' AI agent "Bartok," the robot dog it bought on its own, and why it now wants to "merge" with it
- Anyone who saves passwords in their browser, is weighing a laptop warranty, or just wants to keep up with where AI is headed will enjoy this episode.
The thread running through all of it is simple: the right protection and the right advice save you money and headaches down the road. That is exactly what the team at Schrock Innovations in Papillion does every day, from stopping password-stealing malware with solid antivirus to helping you decide when a warranty is worth it. Stop in, give them a call, or start a conversation online, and get your technology handled by people who actually pick up the phone.
Show Notes:
- Malware steals saved browser passwords (BleepingComputer)
- Tony Robbins' AI agent bought a robot dog (The Blaze)
- Sophos Endpoint Protection
- Vote Schrock for Best of Omaha
- Careers at Schrock Innovations
- Schrock Innovations