Fighting War on the Digital Frontier: Methods of Attack

With more and more devices connecting to the internet- the number is expected to reach into the trillions this year- and just about every type of infrastructure tied to computers somehow, there are many potential ways to attack a country through cyberspace. A few of the biggest threats include:

• Attacking the power grid. We’ve already seen- through movies and real life- what knocking out the power to a particular area can do. Imagine plummeting the entire East Coast- home to at least 9 of the top 25 most dangerous cities in the US- into complete darkness for an undetermined amount of time. Even a single night may be enough to completely destroy thousands of businesses and lives. Looting and widespread panic along an entire seaboard can do far more harm than a single bomb aimed at a single city, and all it would take is the right code into the right system.
• Attacks on banks. Let’s face it, money, not love, makes the world go round. Without money, we don’t have roofs over our heads, food in our stomach, or clothes on our backs. Attacking the money of a nation is pretty much the same thing as attacking the citizens themselves. Banks are pretty much completely reliant on computers to keep track of how much money is in all their accounts. Wipe out those computers, and you essentially bankrupt the nation. As a bonus, attackers can write code to redirect the funds into their own accounts, given them more of the precious green substance to buy bigger and badder weapons.
•  Attacks on nuclear facilities. For the old-school tyrants who still miss the Cold War and threat of a nuclear apocalypse, attacking a nuclear facility can be even more deadly than sending a nuclear bomb via special delivery…and far more cost effective. Building a nuclear bomb takes money, time, and resources that many smaller nations just don’t have. Plus, with the UN watching the movements of rogue nations, it’s not exactly easy to fly under the radar. Attacking a nuclear power facility and causing the reactor to blow, on the other hand, takes far less money and effort.

Of course, there are many other potential avenues of attack that could be used in a cyberwar, and all of them are equally as scary as a weapon of mass destruction. Building a strong cyber defense is becoming more important than ever before.

Strokes can cause a wide range of unusual behavioral symptoms in patients, but one of the most common issues is the inability to properly communicate. The symptom is called dysphagia. Basically, during a brain injury such as a stroke or traumatic blow to the head, the brain loses the ability to send proper messages to the area that controls speech. The victim can speak, but the words that come out typically make no sense to anyone else. Often, the victim doesn’t even know that he’s not speaking normally. The symptom affects the victim’s writing abilities as well.

Researchers are calling the new variation of the symptom “dystextia.” While it will be much more difficult to determine if someone is having a stroke based on their lack of texting ability, it can still offer valuable insight for those who know the sender well. For example, if your spouse refuses to resort to “text speak” and typically types out her messages carefully and with proper grammar, but suddenly starts sending a message filled with strange and uncharacteristic words or errors, it is reasonable to assume that something may be going on. Perhaps that something is as simple as her trying to multitask while writing a frantic message to pick up milk on the way home, but it could theoretically indicate something far more serious as well.

Of course, it isn’t really a good idea to start calling an ambulance every time you get a misspelled text. The smarter thing to do is to try and get in touch with the person over the phone and further assess their need for immediate medical attention based on their speech pattern itself. Researchers also warn that features like autocorrect can make anyone sound a bit off their rocker. Indeed, there are entire websites devoted to posting the random strange things that come out of autocorrect.

Those who are at risk for brain injuries may be doing themselves a service by turning off the feature. In fact, the whole world would be doing themselves a service by simply learning how to spell properly and getting rid of autocorrect entirely! It could save your life one day, even if it means losing a widely popular source of entertainment.

Google Takes On Apple

Google is already doing pretty well in the mobile device department, especially since Android devices are pretty much the victor in the OS war. While Apple may currently have a more diverse range of apps, Google Play is catching up pretty fast. The problem is, Apple actually makes devices through their own company, whereas Google only partners with other device manufacturers to create devices. When you buy an Apple device, you know you’re getting an Apple device. When you buy a Google device, you may be getting a Samsung , an LG, or whoever else they decide to partner with. While those are excellent companies, it’s about transparency. Tech users- especially advanced users- like to know what they’re getting. They could pull off the take-down with a shift in focus, but that’s a risky move as well.

Fiber-Optic Internet and Television Service at an Affordable Price

Perhaps one of the most exciting changes in Google’s 2013 plan is the rolling out of broadband internet and television provided over fiber optic cables. Kansas City gets a taste of the new service early next year. Google will be offering amazingly fast speeds and a pretty decent cable television package for around $120. Sadly, the rest of the country is going to have to wait, as only about 180 neighborhoods are on the agenda to be wired in the first part of the year.

Retiring old products

Get ready to say goodbye to your customized iGoogle page come November, 2013. The product will be completely phased out at that time. Google apparently feels that you have plenty of other options for customizing your home page, as long as you use the Chrome browser. Several products designed to help you sync your calendar and devices are also being phased out. GoogleVideo and GoogleChatback are on their way out the door too. While these products will no longer be available, similar features in Google+ will allow you to do the same thing. Google is basically trying to streamline their features to make them easier to use.

Google is an ever-evolving company that seems to like to try new things. While that’s great for users who enjoy change and excitement, it does make some users a little nervous about trying out new services. After all, what if you get used to it and Google pulls the plug? Still, it will be interesting to see what they come up with next in 2013.

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and nearly 13 years after appearing as the hottest new gaming system on the block, Japan has decided to stop producing the PS2. While the system won’t be built any longer in the country that originally released it, it isn’t yet evident as to what Sony Computer Entertainment America plans to do. The PS2 will likely still be sold in other countries who are slightly behind the times when it comes to electronic devices.

While it’s sad news for PS2 fans- if their old system breaks, they’re left with no viable option for purchasing a new system- it’s perhaps been a long time coming. GameStop, the video game retail giant, recently took PS2 systems off their shelf to make room for new systems in many markets. PS2 games, however, are still extremely popular and will likely continue to be developed.

The good news for fans of the system is that the PS2 seems to have a longer lifespan than just about any other gaming system. On a personal note, I purchased my system back in 2002 and played it hard for many years. In 2006, after the birth of my son, it got cast aside and left to gather dust. In 2010, it was put into storage in a cold, damp garage. When our DVD player (which was only 6 months old, by the way) died unexpectedly, I dug out the system for storage, thinking there was no way it would still work. Yet, even after the beating it had taken over the years, once plugged in it ran just fine.

So even if you can’t find a new PS2 system anywhere next year, purchasing a used system made within the last few years should give you plenty of time to play all your favorite games and find a new favorite system before the PS2 becomes completely obsolete.

Why would avid readers prefer an eReader device over a more diverse tablet? Actually, for more reasons than you might think! First, eReader devices like Kindle, Nook, and Kobo have a significantly longer battery life on a single charge. You can charge your Kindle to full power, read for hours, turn it off and forget about it for a few days, and the battery will likely still be just fine.

The screen experience is completely different between eReaders and Tablets too. eReader devices typically have screens that look more like the pages of a book, while tablets are full-color and “busier.” Avid book readers tend to prefer the font and design that looks more like the paper-based books they’re used to reading.

Size is also a factor to consider for many people. eReaders are fairly light-weight, weighing about the size of a typical paperback novel. Tablets, on the other hand, are a bit heavier. Holding a tablet like a book for an extended period of time can get tiring, whereas holding an eReader like the Kindle isn’t quite the strain on the hands. Plus, the Kindle won’t weight your bag or purse down quite as much as a tablet.

The one thing that really is no longer a major factor is price. While eReaders used to cost significantly less than tablets, the prices are about comparable now. For example, an Amazon Kindle Fire retails for about $200, depending on the time of year and special offers. You can easily pick up a tablet for about $50 more, sometimes even less depending on sales. Then again, if you just want a very basic eReader, you can pick one up for under $100.

Tablets, on the other hand, can perform a wide variety of tasks. Depending on the model, you can not only read eBooks on them (and access the same large selection as you can with an eReader), you can take photos, capture video, check in to all your social networks, play games, get directions, and so much more. Still, for those who just want to read their books in peace, eReaders will remain a popular choice for the foreseeable future.

Say you have a long-lost friend that you think you just found on Facebook. You want to send that person a message first to make sure they are who you think they are. After all, basic Facebook security measures include be selective in who you choose to friend. Now, in order to find out if said person really is that great long-lost friend, Facebook may charge you a dollar for the privilege of using their service to reconnect.

Technically, you can still send the message for free, but if you’re not friends with the person, your message will end up in their “other” folder- a place where messages go to die on Facebook. They won’t receive notification of your message, and there is a good chance they don’t even realize they have such a folder. Paying the $1 guarantees that your message will end up in their regular inbox, so they’ll actually see it.

If it seems ludicrous, consider all the other things that Facebook is now charging you for. Personal users can pay money to make sure their status updates actually show up in their friend’s news feeds. The average charge is $7 per status update. Facebook page owners have it much worse. Companies and bloggers who worked hard to build a huge following on Facebook are incredibly frustrated to find that only about 1% of their fans actually get to see their content. Unless, of course,  the owners want to pay fees to get their messages out to their fans.

The whole issue of paying to use the features that Facebook is best known for is kind of funny, considering the rumors going around over the last few years that Facebook would begin charging for its services. Back then, Facebook assured users that it had no intention of going to a subscription-based service. Now, many users are wishing that they would charge something as simple as a subscription fee’ It would be a lot less expensive than paying $1 per message every time you want to plan a family reunion, $7 every time you want all your friends to actually see an important update, and hundreds of dollars a day to reach every one of your fans.

Has Facebook jumped the shark with this last stunt? Some would say they jumped it long ago. With so many other options available, it seems ludicrous to think that anyone would actually pay to use Facebook, but then again, people do get used to certain networks and may go for anything to maintain their routine. Time will tell.

Pros of the Samsung ChromeBook

• The price.  This is perhaps the most attractive feature, especially for those on a tight budget. It’s at least $200 less expensive than the Series 5 Samsung ChromeBooks, and a good $100 cheaper than the Series 3, making it the most affordable option so far.
• The underlying operating system.  Although the OS is officially labeled as Chrome OS, the bones are actually those of Linux. For fans of Linux (and there are many), this is a definite plus.
• Long battery life. The average ChromeBook will last about 6.5 hours on one charge, longer than most traditional laptops on the market.
• Fast boot-up.  Like tablets, the ChromeBook boots up almost instantly, making it convenient for those who need access to their system quickly.
• Great option for kids. If you have a child that is constantly stealing your laptop or begging for computer time, the ChromeBook makes a great device for their needs. Kids can play web-based games, do research for their homework, and hang out on their favorite social networks without you dropping $500 or more for a whole new system.
• Highly portable. While it isn’t as small as, say, a tablet, the ChromeBook is light and thin, making it a great option for those constantly on the go.

Cons of the Samsung ChromeBook

• You get what you pay for. In this case, the lower price-tag comes at the expense of processing power and overall quality.
• It can be slow. If you’re just going to use the ChromeBook for light Internet surfing, minor office work, or more casual uses, it’s fine. However, if you’re the type who needs dozens of browser tabs open at any given time, you’ll be disappointed in the speed of the ChromeBook.
• Average resolution. If you’re looking for a vibrant HD screen, you’re not going to like the ChromeBook very much. The screen resolution and picture is about average, nothing special but not horrible either.  The maximum resolution is 1,366×768 pixels.
• Below average sound system. The speakers are mounted on the bottom of the laptop, a terrible place if you want to listen to music loudly or watch a video while holding it on your lap. In those cases, you’ll need headphones to get a fuller effect.
• Limited functionality. Since the ChromeBook is more of a browser-based system, you can use a lot of Google’s apps and a few other web-based apps. However, you can’t use certain popular programs, like Skype, Microsoft Office or Photoshop.

The petition demands that the government secure the necessary funding and begin building the Death Star by 2016. For those who somehow managed to avoid the entire franchise by living on a deserted island for the last 30 years and are unfamiliar with Star Wars, the Death Star is the massive, moon-shaped and sized superweapon used by the villainous Darth Vader and the Empire in the Star Wars Franchise. The weapon was destroyed at the end of the first Star Wars film, when the rebels exploited a single, rather silly weakness in the construction. Just goes to show that security holes can bring down even the biggest and baddest infrastructure in the galaxy.

The petition reads: “By focusing our defense resources into a space-superiority platform and weapon system such as a Death Star, the government can spur job creation in the fields of construction, engineering, space exploration, and more, and strengthen our national defense.”

Theoretically, the petition is half-right when it comes to unemployment rates. It would take, according to CNET, about 800,000 years to come up with the amount of steel alone required to construct the Death Star to its original specifications. Those in the steel-smelting industry would never face unemployment again.  Boost one major industry, and many others also see an increase in revenue. Of course, taxes would have to be raised significantly to allot the funding required for such a massive project, so while more people would be working, they’d also be taking home much less money. Just how much would it cost to create the Death Star? Somewhere in the quadrillions!

While we’re not likely to see even the start of the construction of the Death Star in our lifetime, it’s still fun to ponder the implications of such a feat. On the other hand, the US government has far more important issues to deal with than responding to tongue-in-cheek petitions and science-fiction ideas. Then again, many technological advances that we have today were once considered science-fiction by those who came before us, so who knows what could happen?

Rovio recently signed on John Cohen as the producer for the upcoming film. Cohen is best known for his huge success with Despicable Me, featuring a cynical wanna-be super villain in the role of slightly less than nurturing father figure to a few orphans. Cohen will be joined by David Maisel, former Chairman of Marvel Studios, as executive producer.  The two have extensive experience in creating a movie outside of studio influence, which is important because it means Rovio will maintain full creative control over the film.

Although details are still sketchy-no pun intended- the film is going to be a 3D computer-graphics animated feature. It doesn’t really make sense for a CG game to be translated into any other than a CG movie, after all. Since the creators of Angry Birds will retain creative control, the movie will likely be true to the game in the strongest sense possible. Then again, how on earth do you turn a game about slinging birds at pig-built structures into a 90 minute film? It should definitely be interesting to see how this feat is accomplished.

The biggest concern with the Angry Birds movie should be the fact that it doesn’t come out for at least another 3 years. It’s slated to appear in theaters in mid-2016. By then, will anyone really care about the ticked-off birds? The world of casual gaming, apps, and the Internet in general is an ever-changing, rapid-fire environment where something is hot one day and completely forgotten the next. Three years might as well be a century when it comes to pop culture. The only real hope Rovio has of making sure people still care about Angry Birds in 2016 is to keep continuously updating the game and creating new ways to amuse users. Honestly, though, how many ways are there to sling a bird?

What Happened to Instagram?

The clamor started when users noticed new wording in Instagram’s user agreement that seemed to indicate that Instagram could sell user photos at will without asking permission, notifying the users, or providing monetary compensation. The language also indicated that Instagram should share personal information with affiliates, including Facebook, the new owner of the service.

Almost immediately, the news hit social media networks, with users threatening to shut down their accounts if the policy wasn’t changed. Instagram responded by basically saying that it was all just a big misunderstanding. They had no intentions of selling your photo of your child to, say, a kid’s clothing company. They simply wanted to use your pictures to let others know how much you love a business, and why they should too.

While that scenario doesn’t sound much better, it’s already being used by Facebook. When you “like” a business, your face may show up on your friend’s sidebar stating that you like this company, so maybe they should too. This happens without your permission or knowledge, and although Facebook receives a sizeable amount for the ad, you don’t see a dime of that money. It should come as no surprise that once Facebook bought Instagram, the same would happen on that network.

How Does it Affect You?

If you just take random pictures of your family and friends, and aren’t really concerned about how those images are used on the social media network, then the terms don’t really impact you at all. However, many people use Instagram for blogging, sharing their professional photos, and other purposes that involve a little more concern over how images are used.

Despite the backpedaling and the claims that Instagram doesn’t intend to use your photos for nefarious purposes, the wording is still quite open-ended and vague. It still grants permission to the photo sharing network to do exactly what it’s saying it won’t do. Agreeing to the terms in hopes that they’ll keep their word opens you up to having your pictures used for monetary gain without your permission.

Users now have a big decision to make: they can either stick with the network in hopes that their images won’t be ripped off, or they can jump ship and go to a new network. For bloggers and other social media professionals who have spent countless hours trying to develop a following on Instagram, the choice may not be as easy as it sounds.