News
August 25, 2024: I am extremely dissatisfied with the current desk phone system at my office, which has been plagued with problems since day one of this system almost three years ago. I barely ever use it, and some of the phones still don't work, which irritates me because I'm paying a not insignificant amount per month for the VOIP subscription. It occurred to me to simply bring phone calls into each person's computer so that they can receive and place calls directly from the computer desktop. They also may get the ability to have SMS/text-style messaging from their computers without revealing staff's personal phone numbers. This is possible with a system called an on-premise virtual PBX, which is a server that goes in the I.T. closet. Everything else is handled in an app on their computer. I'm taking a survey internally and this will be a fun project.
August 23, 2024: Ian Docherty continues to play my Purple Rain guitar in shows. This one was attended by about 1,000 people, and I love the candid shots he posted on IG. The Mark II guitar will have higher performing paint, but this is a great look even with the prototype. It's gratifying seeing this instrument in the hands of such a talented player.
July 12, 2024: Scam warning: offshore criminals are impersonating me in a gift card scam by registering fake Gmail email addresses and putting my name in the From: field, and asking prospective victims for phone numbers. They then send iMessages/text messages to victims who reply. The requests are illegitimate requests for money that have nothing to do with me. Note that I do not use an iPhone and have no devices that send iMessages. Accordingly, verify all emails purporting to be from me with SPF/DKIM/DMARC, which are available in the raw source/headers of all legitimate emails from me and my law firm. Confirm by phone any unusual requests or instructions, such as making payments or advancing money. Note that I only use my 415 number (+1 (415) 261-8527) and not Google Voice, for this very reason. I have added a filter on my email server that should catch all emails with my name in the From: field but the wrong sender address. That protects folks within the law firm, but third parties are on their own. This same thing happened to another local attorney whose email got hacked and used for a major phishing campaign. Fortunately, I have my own server and will be immune to that, but vigilance is still required. Forward all suspicious emails to abuse@google.com and cc me at andrew@andrewwatters.com.
