Privacy
Delete your stuff after using public computers
When I am traveling, I sometimes use a public computer in a library, hotel business center, or other public place. I have always been surprised by how much private information previous users have left behind for anyone to see. Public places have been getting better about rebooting or otherwise removing previous information but you [...]
Health records online with Google?
It seems to be a trend. Big guns like Microsoft, and now Google, want you to store your medical records online with them. In theory, having a central repository where authorized medical professionals anywhere can access your medical records makes a lot of sense. One big catch, however, is that word “authorized”. Can you [...]
Is your online address book really yours?
Many of us use one or more Web services that include our personal list of addresses and contacts. This is information that is stored online rather than on our own computer. Whether it is a social networking site, a Web email service, or whatever, the question arises about who actually owns the information. [...]
Even encrypted Web-based email is in danger of wireless eavesdropping
Here’s some more unpleasant news about Internet security. If you use Web-based email programs such as Gmail on a wireless connection, even encoding by SSL isn’t as secure as once thought. George Ou writes about the problem at ZDNet:
What’s really sad is the fact that Google Gmail is one of the “better†Web 2.0 applications [...]
Google search links may not be what you think
Two months ago I posted about hackers putting malware sites into the top rankings for some common searches. This form of malware attack is a very serious concern since using search engines is a major part of Internet activity. The hackers have used some pretty sophisticated methods and a new article at PC World discusses [...]
Microsoft’s uber-spyware
I have no idea where Microsoft is going with this but a patent application reported by the UK Times gives me the creeps:
Microsoft is developing Big Brother-style software capable of remotely monitoring a worker’s productivity, physical wellbeing and competence.
The Times has seen a patent application filed by the company for a computer system that [...]
FTC approves DoubleClick purchase by Google
Google’s move to ratchet up its share of the advertising market took a big step forward today when the FTC approved its buy-out of DoubleClick. Microsoft has bitterly opposed the move. Google still faces opposition from Europe. Wouldn’t it be ironic if Microsoft got help from those same European courts that have been giving Microsoft [...]
Alternate data streams - the hidden file feature you didn’t know about
How many of you are aware that it is quite easy to hide a second file, even a program, inside another file in any Windows XP or Vista system that uses NTFS? NTFS has pretty much replaced FAT as the file system for most PCs, unless you are running Windows 98/Me, and it has a [...]
Advertising for your eyes only
More and more emphasis is being placed on ads that are tailored to the individual. Your tastes and preferences in Web viewing are tracked, tabulated, and processed. You are then presented with ads that some algorithm perceives as appealing to the real you. Even the readers of news reports are fair game. A story in [...]
How to hide your email address from spambots
Robot programs called “spambots” are constantly trolling the Internet for email addresses to add to spam lists. If you ever post your email address on any site that spambots can get to, you’ll soon be getting a mailbox full of spam. That would include forums, chatrooms, blog comments, or anything public. One possible solution is [...]