Anonymous is preparing to make an attack on the internet, confirms one source. Check out the story HERE. The date they're going to strike? Tomorrow, March 31st!
Hope your hard drive isn't one of the unlucky ones...
Friday, March 30, 2012
Today I watched Robin Williams in "Man of the Year." It was playing on network TV and I figured, why not? Just a quick synopsis -- the movie is about a presidential election that, because of a computer error, puts the wrong man, a comedian played by Robin Williams, in the Oval Office.
Sure, it's just a comedy, and some of the technical jargon, I'm sure, was far-fetched. But still... it made me think. Today ballets are cast on computers. Made up of ones and zeros. And when that's the case... there's always someone willing to try and crack the code. Cheat the system. Cause chaos.
The Presidency of the United States is the most prestigious position one can hope to achieve in this country. Imagine not ever being able to know if the man, or woman, with access to the largest nuclear stockpile of weapons might not have been the democratic choice, but instead the choice of some hacker sitting in a basement.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Even in communist China, where they restrict Internet access to the masses, hackers find ways of cheating the system. Read the story HERE.
Goes to show you college kids will work really hard to not have to work hard.
The Future...
I hear they're going to have nano-robots that are injected into our bodies! Ending disease. Stalling aging. People will live to be hundreds of years old. There will be no difference between us and our P.C.... because we'll be the P.C.!
Look around, and you might find the future all around us. People plugged into their Ipods, Iphones, Ipads, Ilives. No one talks on the bus anymore. (A few crazies yell, but let's not count them...) We wear Bluetooth earpieces, wrist bands with GPS trackers to gauge our progress jogging. We're half-human half-computer already!
Perhaps the future is inevitable. The further technology advances, the faster it advances, forever and ever, until we're all cyborgs. Imagine being able to increase your memory with a surgical implant. Better your eyesight with an upload. These things sound like fabrications of some Science Fiction writer's imagination, and to an extent they still are. But the future is coming. There's no stopping that. What we do with that future, that power... remains anyone's guess.
Also -- in the future, they finally discover the cure for the common cold. No, not chicken soup. It's a virus software update.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
I love a good cup of coffee. I love sitting down at a coffee shop even more. I can enjoy the fresh air. Answer my emails. Take a look at my blog. Surround myself with strangers.
What I notice above all is this -- we're all on laptops! Hunched over, sipping our Grande mocha frappe chinos and wondering what the person next to us is doing on their computer. Homework? Watching Youtube? (Which in my case turns out to be true...)
But with some many people concentrated in a single area, and with so many hard drives exposed, no wonder so many people are victimized by hackers each year. Now, I'm not going to even try to sound like I know how wireless routers work, because I don't. But with literally dozens of different computers accessing the Internet -- emails, bank accounts, Facebooks, etc. -- it's almost inevitably the lines will get crossed.
Hackers, of course, cross a moral line when they pry into other people's private information. Often times, they disguise their acts by saying it's "for the cause." For liberty. For freedom. For transparency. But I say, "What freedom? What liberty?" When you have to worry about who might get into your Internet history, who might be opening a credit card in your name -- that's not freedom. That's fear.
Fascists rule with fear. In a democratic society, we should feel safe to enjoy our individual freedoms. So don't be afraid of hackers. You're only making them stronger.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
A Nobody: Part II
"A man's name used to mean something," says the old man at the coffee shop counter. I'm trying to explain the latest social network craze, but he'll hear nothing of it. "What do you mean a 'username'? Last I checked my name's--"
"But did you have a choice in that name?" I ask him. "This is a profile. It's different. Besides -- what's in a name?"
He says, "There's history in a name," but before he can elaborate, I'm talking about how FaceSpace is the next big thing. The tool that's going to connect us all in a way never thought possible.
"We can reinvent ourselves," I tell him. "Play God from the couch."
"I like myself," is the old man's response. "And I'm not God."
"But did you have a choice in that name?" I ask him. "This is a profile. It's different. Besides -- what's in a name?"
He says, "There's history in a name," but before he can elaborate, I'm talking about how FaceSpace is the next big thing. The tool that's going to connect us all in a way never thought possible.
"We can reinvent ourselves," I tell him. "Play God from the couch."
"I like myself," is the old man's response. "And I'm not God."
171,000 Military accounts hacked!
Reading the L.A. Times this morning. Check out the article HERE.
The group known as LulzSec is back after months of inactivity, claiming to have hacked into the accounts of nearly 171,000 members of the military on a matchmaking website. LulzSec is the same group responsible for 2011 hacks of the FBI, CIA, Sony and PBS. If multi-national, powerful corporations and organizations like these have difficulty keeping their secrets safe from hackers, what hope does that hold for the rest of us? Something needs to be done. Changes need to be made -- and those changes start with each and every one of us taking responsibility for the information we're sharing and the sites we're visiting.
Think twice before you send your next e-mail. You never know what unexpected eyes might be reading it...
Monday, March 26, 2012
Microsoft teaming with the U.S. Marshals
Microsoft and U.S. Marshals have recently raided two Zeus botnet server farms that stole more than $100 million from U.S. citizens and infected 13 million PC's with malware. No matter how top of the line you think your virus detection software is, there's always someone out there a little bit smarter, faster, ahead of the curb. Detection isn't enough. Prevention and protection with something like Vault Revolution is the way to go. That way, even if hackers wiggle their way into your hard drive, they won't have access to your files, your pictures, your memories.
Don't be one of the 13 million Americans who wish they'd taken steps to secure their family or personal computer. Read more HERE.
Enjoy privacy. Be an individual. Be you.
Don't be one of the 13 million Americans who wish they'd taken steps to secure their family or personal computer. Read more HERE.
Enjoy privacy. Be an individual. Be you.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Just last week I was talking about Facebook and your employer's right not 'snoop'. Now look who's talking about it -- click HERE.
Just because we live in a transparent society doesn't mean we have to sacrifice privacy or individuality. Take a stand.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Is technology having an adverse affect on intelligence? You'd think that with unlimited access to information at a click, our culture would be getting progressively smarter. This, however, is simply not true.
Test scores have flat-lined since the 1960's, in both poor and rich schools, so it's not just a matter of public versus private institutions. Kids are more concerned with sending text messages and playing video games than figuring out how things work, taking things apart -- you know, what kids used to do. Explore. Get into scrapes.
In fact, it's gotten so out of control that our children's creativity is now in jeopardy. Newsweek reports that for the first time in recorded education, creativity scores are dropping. Kids are having difficulty thinking outside the box. And it's more than just inspiring the painting of pictures, making of music, expression of self. It's about critical thinking. Being a decisive leader. What does this say about our future?
Read more about the problem HERE.
If you have children, or are still a child at heart, don't add to the problem. Make sure technology isn't being used as a replacement for imagination. Expand your mind. Put yourself to the test.
Test scores have flat-lined since the 1960's, in both poor and rich schools, so it's not just a matter of public versus private institutions. Kids are more concerned with sending text messages and playing video games than figuring out how things work, taking things apart -- you know, what kids used to do. Explore. Get into scrapes.
In fact, it's gotten so out of control that our children's creativity is now in jeopardy. Newsweek reports that for the first time in recorded education, creativity scores are dropping. Kids are having difficulty thinking outside the box. And it's more than just inspiring the painting of pictures, making of music, expression of self. It's about critical thinking. Being a decisive leader. What does this say about our future?
Read more about the problem HERE.
If you have children, or are still a child at heart, don't add to the problem. Make sure technology isn't being used as a replacement for imagination. Expand your mind. Put yourself to the test.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Tyler Clementi
This case in New Jersey caught my attention.
A former Rutgers University student is facing criminal
charges after broadcasting a video in which his roommate engaged in consensual
sex with another male. At the time, both individuals were still in the closet,
so the invasion of privacy came at twice the price.
What gets me most about this case is that, the kid who was
the victim in all this, Tyler Clementi, wasn’t even upset over the fact that
people found out he was homosexual. He was upset with the fact that his
roommate, whom he trusted, could break his trust and confidence so easily… and
NOT think there was anything wrong about it.
Read more HERE.
It raises the question: can technology be inherently evil?
Or does it come down to how we use it? Yes, the atomic bomb is a weapon of mass
destruction – yet when simplified, it’s no more than a metal shell encasing a chemical
reaction. The fact that governments use the atomic bomb to level cities and
kill millions – there is no way to simplify that.
My point is: we must always be aware of the responsibility technology carries with it. Above all, be good each other, and stop the demonizing. Demonizing is man's way of deflecting attention away from his own shortcomings.
My point is: we must always be aware of the responsibility technology carries with it. Above all, be good each other, and stop the demonizing. Demonizing is man's way of deflecting attention away from his own shortcomings.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Be careful who you work for...
Some companies are asking applicants for their Facebook username and password. Don't believe me? Check out the story HERE. Has privacy gone the way of the dodo bird? Now that every single commercial on TV ends with, "Follow us on Facebook and Twitter," does that mean we have some sort of obligation to create an online identity? If so, are we also obligated to share EVERYTHING with the rest of the online world?
The answer, quite simply: NO! Of course not.
Technology is a tool -- not a means to suppress individuality. Technology should unite the world -- not divide us. Everyone should have a right to use technology as they see fit without having to worry who's looking over their shoulder, who's judging.
Regardless of whether or not you even have a Facebook, don't allow your employer abuse technology as an excuse to spy.
Imagine a world where a computer virus and the common cold are one in the same. Fortinet thinks that day might not be so far off. Check out the story HERE.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Watching the news here in Los Angeles late at night, and I swear there's no avoiding the topic of identity theft! Check this out:
Homeless man poses as woman for 13 years!
Makes you wonder, if it's that easy to get a medical insurance card in someones name, what else is at risk?
Homeless man poses as woman for 13 years!
Makes you wonder, if it's that easy to get a medical insurance card in someones name, what else is at risk?
Thursday, March 15, 2012
On Demand vs. Internet Piracy
I love how many on demand platforms there are nowadays. TV, Redbox, Netflix, and now Walmart offers you the chance to burn DVD's from your PC. What great ways to protect the integrity of the artists' work. Nice to see that technology is trending in this direction. Help put an end to illegal downloads.
Walmart's newest addition to on demand platforms.
Walmart's newest addition to on demand platforms.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I love my fans! Can't get enough of your kind emails. I'm glad you're pleased with the file security software I've been promoting. I first partnered up with Vault Revolution because I wanted to make sure my music was safe. I knew then that I wanted to protect what was mine, but I wasn't aware of how many people are devastated by hackers and identity theft every year. An essential part of freedom is being able to maintain privacy. With Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube nowadays, be careful what you put out there for the world to see. Be careful what you click. You never know who might be lurking, just waiting to crack into your hard drive. So I urge you to protect yourself, protect your family, and download the Vault.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Check out this story:
Justice Department might sue Apple...
Stories like this remind my why it's so important to keep the Internet free and safe. It allows us to exchange ideas. Learn. Express ourselves. It's our only weapon against big business which tries to squeeze every last penny out of the consumer. So protect your files. Make sure you have the software to keep your computer free of viruses. Have a fighting chance in this corporate world.
Justice Department might sue Apple...
Stories like this remind my why it's so important to keep the Internet free and safe. It allows us to exchange ideas. Learn. Express ourselves. It's our only weapon against big business which tries to squeeze every last penny out of the consumer. So protect your files. Make sure you have the software to keep your computer free of viruses. Have a fighting chance in this corporate world.
Friday, March 9, 2012
A Nobody
“Life should be intercourse, not masturbation.”
That’s her response when I tell her I’ve deleted my FaceSpace account.
I’m tired of reading about hackers stealing people's identities, I tell her. I’m tired of being the internet’s concubine. I’m tired of all the updates. The lack of privacy. The Spam. You name it.
With so many lives to keep track of, I’d begun to lose sight of my own.
So no more pictures of ex-girlfriends, I tell her. No more reminders of their new boyfriends. No more Shakespearian exploitation in 140 characters or less.
“But how will you stay connected?” she asks, this girl I’ve just met at the coffee shop downtown. We’re sitting at small, round tables in the corner, surrounded by yellow wallpaper and high-definition screens. The one behind me lists the day’s specials. The rest run stock tickers and sports highlights and news coverage of big businesses trouncing the little guys. But this redhead seems too preoccupied with her CrackBerry to notice it all. She’s calmly looking up her horoscope while simultaneously texting her boss.
“Connected,” I laugh. The thing is- I don’t want to ‘stay connected.’ I want to disconnect. “What on earth did people do before FaceSpace…?”
“I can barely remember,” she says. “But you’ve got to embrace innovation. Embrace the perks of social networking. Or else you might end up alone, living the masturbator’s life.”
She tweaks a smile to one side and mechanically draws the coffee to her lips, her elbow never breaking its rigid right angle. She taps a dime-sized device in her ear she answers, “Hello?...No…I already emailed that over…Tuesday…He does?...What’s his profile?...Ok…I’ll send a request immediately…Affirmative.” She taps her ear again. A blue light flickers. Looking at me she apologizes and asks, “Where were we?”
“Nowhere. I don’t even know your name.”
“Why do you want to know my name?” she sneers. “I haven’t been asked that in ages.”
“You don’t see something wrong with that?”
She comes back with, “What’s in a name? All of my friends have profiles and the guys I usually date- well, I hate to tell you this but, they’re all online, too. I’m in touch with the world from right here in this coffee shop.”
Watching her recheck her CrackBerry, which she’s encased in a space-aged plastic made to withstand nuclear winter, I realize I’m the only person in the coffee shop not plugged into some wall, or entranced by some cell phone. The only person here to simply drink coffee. Disconnected from everyone and everything.
A nobody.
That’s her response when I tell her I’ve deleted my FaceSpace account.
I’m tired of reading about hackers stealing people's identities, I tell her. I’m tired of being the internet’s concubine. I’m tired of all the updates. The lack of privacy. The Spam. You name it.
With so many lives to keep track of, I’d begun to lose sight of my own.
So no more pictures of ex-girlfriends, I tell her. No more reminders of their new boyfriends. No more Shakespearian exploitation in 140 characters or less.
“But how will you stay connected?” she asks, this girl I’ve just met at the coffee shop downtown. We’re sitting at small, round tables in the corner, surrounded by yellow wallpaper and high-definition screens. The one behind me lists the day’s specials. The rest run stock tickers and sports highlights and news coverage of big businesses trouncing the little guys. But this redhead seems too preoccupied with her CrackBerry to notice it all. She’s calmly looking up her horoscope while simultaneously texting her boss.
“Connected,” I laugh. The thing is- I don’t want to ‘stay connected.’ I want to disconnect. “What on earth did people do before FaceSpace…?”
“I can barely remember,” she says. “But you’ve got to embrace innovation. Embrace the perks of social networking. Or else you might end up alone, living the masturbator’s life.”
She tweaks a smile to one side and mechanically draws the coffee to her lips, her elbow never breaking its rigid right angle. She taps a dime-sized device in her ear she answers, “Hello?...No…I already emailed that over…Tuesday…He does?...What’s his profile?...Ok…I’ll send a request immediately…Affirmative.” She taps her ear again. A blue light flickers. Looking at me she apologizes and asks, “Where were we?”
“Nowhere. I don’t even know your name.”
“Why do you want to know my name?” she sneers. “I haven’t been asked that in ages.”
“You don’t see something wrong with that?”
She comes back with, “What’s in a name? All of my friends have profiles and the guys I usually date- well, I hate to tell you this but, they’re all online, too. I’m in touch with the world from right here in this coffee shop.”
Watching her recheck her CrackBerry, which she’s encased in a space-aged plastic made to withstand nuclear winter, I realize I’m the only person in the coffee shop not plugged into some wall, or entranced by some cell phone. The only person here to simply drink coffee. Disconnected from everyone and everything.
A nobody.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Check out this story:
Hollywood strikes back!
Hollywood strikes back!
The fight to protect artists and their creativity has raged for over a decade now. Isn't it time we take action? Start by protecting your home computer. Every file you share could be disguising a virus...
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Check out this story:
FBI won't shut off your Internet... for now.
FBI won't shut off your Internet... for now.
There are millions of virus infected computers out there! Make sure your hard work -- your business docs and school papers and that novel you've been working on your whole life -- is protected. We all know how awful it feels to lose unsaved information. Imagine losing everything.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Layoffs
This is exactly what happens when big corporations face tough economic times. Their answer? Layoffs. They'll gobble up the competition then get rid of all the jobs.
Yahoo Breaking News
Yahoo Breaking News
Ex's
Had a very interesting conversation with a woman at a bar this weekend. She tells me she's drinking away her sorrows after dealing with a crazy ex-boyfriend who'd hacked into her Facebook and other accounts and written some pretty embarrassing things. Just goes to show you - sometimes enemy become friends, and friends become enemies. Better be careful who you share your sensitive information with.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
So many passwords!
Is it me, or do we have to remember a million passwords nowadays? One for the bank, another for email. One with an upper case letter. One with a symbol. When we forget what password goes with what, we're forced to reset them, and an automatic response email gives hackers all the information they'd ever need to steal your log in. My computer's protected with Vault Revolution. How about yours?
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)