Security

Google+ Growth, Dropbox Killer: Google IS the Tech News

February 9, 2012

Google has entrenched itself is so many areas of tech they have become the technology news of the day. First off, Google+ growth has been nothing short of fantastic, in part because the company has altered search results to put more emphasis on this social network. Every SEO/SEM professional has had no choice in the past few months to get up to speed on the latest social network from the search giant. And this in part is the reason why it has half the unique visitors of Twitter according to web traffic tracking site Compete.

In other unrelated news in the mobile market – hey wait, it isn’t unrelated at all – once again it features Google whose Motorola Mobility acquisition is about to get OKed – perhaps as early as next week.

The bad news now for those companies selling products with technology covered by Motorola/Google patents – you’re on the hook for 2.25% of every sale.

Posted in 4G, Android, Apple, Broadband, Cloud Computing, E-Commerce, Facebook, Financial, Gadget, Google, Microsoft, Open Source, Patent, Search, Security, Social Networking, Technology, Wireless

Positive LifeLock Experience

January 4, 2012

Being on the front lines of tech and communications news I am aware of so many data breaches that identity theft scares me. As a result I subscribed to LifeLock over a year ago and have questioned the investment a few times as they really don't provide a service I see.

Truth be told I do recall the system alerting me to a bunch of sex offenders who have moved into my city and/or the surrounding area. Another part of the service they provide.

I'm never quite sure what to do with this information though. I suppose you don't want to hire any of the people on the list as a babysitter so that is one way in which this information could be useful.

Well today my bank convinced me I needed one of their shiny new credit cards and I relented.

Posted in Security, Technology

Imagining a World with Electronic Passports

January 4, 2012

There is something – Oh I don’t know – let’s say backwards when it comes to traveling on an airplane. In an age of state-of-the-art electronics – smartphones with dual-core processors and amazing screens, why do we need paper passports and other forms of paper identification when we travel? We all know eventually the systems will become automated and recent news at the border of US and Canada may point to a trend which will make travel a bit less stressful.

Canadian Martin Reisch recently used a scanned photo of his passport as his identification when crossing from Canada into the US. Reisch did have a real driver’s license however so this wasn’t a pure paperless ID border cross.

I remember the good old days when coming over the border from Canada or Mexico was pretty painless – there wasn’t much questioning or even looking at IDs. After 9/11 that all changed and now travel has become a process most of us frequent travelers do not look forward to.

Getting rid of paper identification would definitely be a step in the right direction – of course if it can be done safely and securely.

But in the meantime if we can find a way to allow passengers to get through security without the whole shoe and laptop removal rules it would be much appreciated.

Posted in Consumer Electronics, Gadget, Security, Technology

Nokia says we are Fed up With iPhones

December 13, 2011

In an interview with Pocket-lint, Niels Munksgaard, director of Portfolio, Product Marketing & Sales at Nokia Entertainment Global said the youth of today are fed up with iPhones and Androids are too complicated and insecure. My informal analysis of the situation shows that yes, many people do think Android is too complex but I am not sure security on mobile devices is a main concern of consumers. Regarding Apple, it is very possible he is right but the flipside to this argument is that Apple consumers are locked in.

Consider the fact that once you switch to another phone manufacturer, your apps no longer work and your chargers don’t either. Then there are podcasts, iTunes music and the ecosystem of devices you may have such as alarm clocks with built-in connectors.

Posted in Android, Apple, Consumer Electronics, Gadget, Google, Microsoft, Security, Technology, Unified Communications, Wireless

Mood Detection Software Coming

November 29, 2011

If you haven't subscribed to TMC's week-daily Techfast newsletter fusing together the best of the day's early morning tech news and a recipe of the day, you might want to check it out.

Reading it today I learned about new software which detects your mood through voice analysis as well as challenges Groupon is facing with its stock price and the fact that 150 counterfeit websites were seized on Cyber Monday. Hope I didn't shop on one of them accidentally.

Additional resources:
Today's issue Subscribe

Posted in Consumer Electronics, E-Commerce, Security, Speech Technologies, Technology

Big Week for Tor and The Privacy Minded

November 16, 2011

Two big pieces of news are out this week for the privacy minded users of Tor who would like to surf anonymously to keep from the prying eyes of government – first off is a new iPad browser called Covert Browser which sells for $2.99. It is no frills, no Google search bar or bookmarks but you can switch from Tor servers in various locations with a simple drop down list. The list further includes flags so you know which country they are in and server bandwidth speeds are included as well.

Browsing Disney.IN and seeing a list of TOR servers on the right hand side of the screen (click to enlarge image)

Interestingly there is no way to clear the browser’s memory of recent pages – you have to physically shut the browser down by double clicking the home button and then clicking on the minus sign to close the app. I found the browser useful for tracking web speed in various countries as well as seeing which local ads run where.

Posted in Amazon, Broadband, Cloud Computing, Networking, Security, Technology

FreeWave Technologies Provides Secure, Long-Range Radio Communications

October 26, 2011

Submarine cable systems between the UK, Canada and Paris became essential in the 1850s as the British government found itself in a situation where it would fight wars, sign treaties and still have thousands of soldiers in the field fighting – totally oblivious to the end of conflict. This cost the UK a tremendous amount of money and reducing this cost became a priority. Once the cables were laid they also became invaluable to the shipping industry as they allowed ships to be rerouted to ports which would be more lucrative destinations.

Nowadays with 3G, 4G and WiFi networks overlapping in much of the developed world we take instant communications for granted but this is not the case.

Moreover there are many applications where secure, low-power and virtually instant communications is required but infrastructure to facilitate such communications may not exist. Think of a market consisting of the needs of industrial communications, military comms, smart grid and machine-to-machine (M2M).

One of the companies playing in these spaces is FreeWave Technologies and in a recent conversation with CMO Ashish Sharma he told me about how his company provides long-range data communications solutions to a range of markets including oil and gas, agriculture, clean water, wind and solar.

In a typical application – let’s say in oil and gas, a radio can be connected to equipment which measures pressure, temperature and other levels and at a preset interval – let’s say 15 minutes and can report back to a NOC tens of miles away regarding the status of the equipment in the field.

Posted in FCC, Gadget, IP Communications, M2M, Networking, Security, Smart Grid, Super WiFi, Technology, Wireless

UCONN Flexes Technology Muscle to Help Fuel CT Economy

September 2, 2011

Last week – as hurricane Irene was beginning its journey up the east coast, I spent some time with the faculty at the University of Connecticut (UCONN) to hear all the exciting things the university was up to since my graduation from the School of Engineering in 1989. The campus has grown tremendously in the last two decades with buildings seemingly coming out of the ground wherever you look.

I had a discussion with Reda Ammar, Ph.D, Professor & Department Head of Computer Science & Engineering, Don Swinton, Development Officer of the School of Engineering, Kylene Perras, Program Director, Leadership Giving, School of Engineering & Heidi Douglas Director of Engineering Alumni Relations I came away highly impressed with the progress the university has made.

I also had a chance to speak with Mun Choi, dean of the School of Engineering, a man who I have heard great things about and was honored to meet.

I learned the school is involved in a whole host of advanced technologies such as information security, networking and bioinformatics and is receiving millions of dollars in research funding. Moreover, the University is focused like a laser on finding jobs for students and is working with companies of all sizes to pursue joint research and even work to make a business out of idle patents companies have in their portfolio.

The tremendous demand to get into UCONN has resulted in the school becoming choosier. In fact, the average engineering student SAT scores for math and English has increased to over 1,300.

Posted in Science, Security, Technology

Electronic Health Records Only as Strong as Weakest Link

August 24, 2011

It is becoming commonplace to find that organizations of virtually all sizes are getting hacked and their data compromised. Sony and the CIA are just some of the latest we have heard of.

Let's be clear, these are some very high-profile sites and if they are hackable, it may be safe to say virtually all sites and are potentially vulnerable. Of course we know security is a journey and not a destination meaning companies need to install the latest patches and updates and monitor their code carefully for potential buffer overrun and related attacks.

One of the most recent areas of digitization is electronic health records and candidate and President Obama has discussed the potential benefits of going digital in the past. Then again, it isn't like the average consumer who has used LPs, tapes and MP3s doesn't understand that the digital format is the best for multiple reasons.

So when politicians finally read the Obamacare bill and start implementing it - we can bet there will be a heavy, heavy focus on electronic health records (EHR).

But wait, the EHR of 300,000 Californians have been floating around the Internet according to a story on TMCnet's HealthTechZone.

Posted in Broadband, Cloud Computing, Financial, SaaS, Security, Technology, Unified Communications

News Corp. PhoneGate Analysis and Suggestions

July 21, 2011

Based on the constant media coverage you should all be aware that reporters at a now shuttered News Corp. newspaper broke into voicemail accounts in order to get scoops. News Corp is certainly center-right in its reporting - depending on which brand of course. And it is also a very successful company with products like Fox News being monsters in terms of viewership.

Posted in AT&T, FCC, IP Communications, Security, Technology, Unified Communications, Verizon, Wireless

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