Archive for June, 2005

Most Identity Theft Is Low-Tech

Most Identity Theft Is Low-Tech

Se Young Lee’s article itself, as the article appeared in the online edition of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, does not pertain to technology. However, what Se Young Lee’s article does illustrate, mind you, is a form of exoneration for the Internet with the influx of computer crime-related articles that have been posted lately.

Se Young Lee of the Minneapolis Star Tribune describes a horrific situation in which Minneapolis/St. Paul resident Chad Jones applied for a home mortgage four years ago, only to discover that there were “too many marks” on his credit report.

According to Lee,

“Jones’ credit report showed that he had more than $2,000 unpaid in utility bills at places he had never lived in. His mother, with whom he had a falling out, had been putting the charges in his name without his knowledge.

“My own mother,” said Jones, who now lives in Ramsey. “I didn’t know what to say.” (Attempts to reach his mother last week were unsuccessful.)

The basic premise to protecting oneself from the perils of identity theft is that you should trust the merchant from whom you are procuring goods and services.

Source: The Minneapolis Star Tribune (http://www.startribune.com)

26 June, 2005 | 1 comment

Customers Win In War Of Online DVD Rental Firms - The Boston Globe - Boston.Com - Business

Customers Win In War Of Online DVD Rental Firms - The Boston Globe - Boston.Com - Business

Monthly fees have fallen as services have improved

By Bruce Mohl, Globe Staff | June 26, 2005

The battle between Netflix and Blockbuster for supremacy in the fast-growing online DVD rental business is a dream-come-true for consumers.

26 June, 2005 | No comments

At PartyGaming, Everything’s Wild - New York Times

At PartyGaming, Everything’s Wild - New York Times

Kurth Eichenwald of the New York Times writes about the potential perils, pitfalls and rich rewards to be found within the spectrum of the online gaming industry.

26 June, 2005 | No comments

Worry. But Don’t Stress Out. - New York Times

Worry. But Don’t Stress Out. - New York Times

Henry Fountain of the New York Times attempts to reassure his readership that the recent onslaught of theft cases involving proprietary consumer information is not worthy of overstressing or excessive worrying.

26 June, 2005 | No comments

The Newspaper Of The Future - New York Times

The Newspaper Of The Future - New York Times

In the wake of Jayson Blair’s termination, as well as ousted former executive editor Harold Raines at the New York Times, one might surmise that the credibility of America’s most prestigious print publication was irreparably tarnished.

Notwithstanding, the following article authored by Timothy L. O’Brien pertaining to the “Newspaper of the Future” appeals to my interests, using the Lawrence Journal-World in Lawrence, Kansas, as a benchmark.

Enjoy.

26 June, 2005 | No comments

CNN.Com Decides To Offer Free Video — Again

CNN.com Decides to Offer Free Video — Again

In her “Web Watch” column for the Washington Post, technology columnist Leslie Walker discusses the recent announcement that CNN.Com, the official web presence of the Atlanta-based Cable News Network, will unveil a new round of 24/7 live streaming media services.

26 June, 2005 | No comments

Pop-Up Ads Shed Blocks, Tackle Consumers

Pop-Up Ads Shed Blocks, Tackle Consumers

By Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
Special to The Washington Post
Sunday, June 26, 2005; Page F05

There was a time not so long ago when you could barely open a Web site without being buried with pop-up ads — unwanted windows advertising everything and anything up to and including the kitchen sink.

They existed for one very good reason: Annoying as they were, they worked.

26 June, 2005 | No comments

Viruses, Security Issues Undermine Internet

Viruses, Security Issues Undermine Internet

Viruses, Security Issues Undermine Internet
Experts Contemplate New Version

By Ariana Eunjung Cha
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 26, 2005; Page A01

DENVER — E-mails were flooding in from all over the country. Something strange was going on with the Internet, alarmed computer users wrote. Google, eBay and other big sites had suddenly disappeared. Kyle Haugsness scanned the reports and entered crisis mode.

Part of the Internet was broken. For the 76th time that week.

Ariana Eunjung Cha of the Washington Post stresses the importance of guarding against online crime and fraudulent schemes that are pervasive on the World Wide Web.

In many respects, it is my hope that the University of Michigan’s fledgling Internet2 initiative will alleviate the burden of unscrupulous users on the new framework of the Internet.

However, for the time being, the problem is felt directly by me whenever I am attempting to persuade the elder members of my family to partake of the marvels of the Internet. Inevitably, the computing systems are improperly maintained and serviced, leaving them susceptible to a myriad of nascent online attacks.

26 June, 2005 | No comments

Survey: 50 percent of U.S. firms dealt with computer porn | InfoWorld | News | 2005-06-21 | By China Martens, IDG News Service

Survey: 50 percent of U.S. firms dealt with computer porn | InfoWorld | News | 2005-06-21 | By China Martens, IDG News Service

An earlier post about companies checking their employees e-mail made me remember coming across this article. In actuality I think the actual number of companies that deal with this issue is much larger. It is just that some choose to ignore it because this can become a bigger issue. Is it wrong because of a moral issue or a legal issue? We all know what type is illegal, so the solution for that is easy, turn it in to the FBI. But if it is legal than what is the difference between viewing this material or a sports website? Well, the chances are slim of a “hostile work environment” lawsuit based on CNNSI, but should an employee of the opposite gender (yes it works both ways) walk in on this material and the company not do anything, they open themselves up for a large lawsuit.

When discussing this issue as a Ph.D. candidate at Auburn, a good friend had some good advice, he said he would not have anything open on his computer that he would not have sitting on the corner of his desk for people to glance through while he is on the phone. This is a great rule of thumb. If your employer would not approve of ESPN the magazine sitting on your desk, you probably shouldn’t go to that site either.

The inherent problem with the internet is the appearance of anonymity, while in actuality you are less anonymous that in the “real” world. You can go into a store a purchase a magazine with cash and few would know it was you … unless the store had a video camera. However on the internet every site you view leaves behind your IP address.

What do the readers think? Anyone?

25 June, 2005 | 1 comment

Get Digital: The Secret Lives Of MP3 Players - Sunday Times - Times Online

Get Digital: The Secret Lives Of MP3 Players - Sunday Times - Times Online

Between them, the Internet and the ubiquitous MP3 player have transformed the way we listen to music any time, anywhere. Whether they favour Beethoven, the Beatles or Britney, more than one in three under-35s in the UK owns an MP3 player. What’s less well known is that these gadgets can jump through many other useful hoops. While Apple’s iPod has become shorthand for a generation of music players, it has scores of rivals, and most are multitasking marvels that can help you surf the net, keep appointments or reschedule your favourite radio shows — as the actor Martin Clunes has learnt.

25 June, 2005 | 1 comment

JS Online: More Criminals Trolling The Web

JS Online: More Criminals Trolling The Web

$68 million lost to fraud last year
By DAVID DOEGE
ddoege@journalsentinel.com
Posted: June 24, 2005

Like everything else about the Internet, cyber crime’s growth is exploding.

The number of Internet crime complaints in the nation last year climbed about 67% over the previous year, from 124,509 to 207,449, according to information from a clearinghouse set up by the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center.

The total loss from all reported cases of Internet fraud in 2004 was $68.14 million.

25 June, 2005 | 1 comment

SignOnSanDiego.Com > News > Technology — Making Internet Waves

SignOnSanDiego.Com > News > Technology — Making Internet Waves

S.D. company helping eBay, others reach niche audiences with online radio

By Kathryn Balint
Kathryn Balint: (619) 293-2848; kathryn.balint@uniontrib.com
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

25 June, 2005 | No comments

HoustonChronicle.com - Employers tracking e-mail, Web use

HoustonChronicle.Com - Employers Tracking E-Mail, Web Use

Surveys show more companies are monitoring their workers

By ANDREA COOMBES
Marketwatch

SAN FRANCISCO - The time you spend at work surfing online or shooting off e-mails to friends and colleagues may feel like an island of private time in the public sea of your workday, but don’t trust that feeling.

25 June, 2005 | 1 comment

Geek.Com Geek News - Microsoft To Enforce Sender ID On Hotmail

Geek.Com Geek News - Microsoft To Enforce Sender ID On Hotmail

Everyone in my e-mail address book lamented my change of e-mail address from an MSN Hotmail account that I was using since my collegiate tenure.

Perhaps the following threaded article from Geek.Com will provide insights as to my modus operandi for inherently distrusting the Microsoft Corporation and its MSN Hotmail messaging system.

25 June, 2005 | No comments

Oracle Hires Ex-Microsoft CFO - 06/25/05

Oracle Hires Ex-Microsoft CFO - 06/25/05

The Associated Press

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. — Business software maker Oracle Corp. on Friday tapped former Microsoft Corp. executive Gregory B. Maffei to be its new president and chief financial officer.

25 June, 2005 | 1 comment

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