Introduction to Internet Safety and S...

How the internet works

1. The Internet is made up of a lot of nodes.
2. Individual users, Internet Service Providers, Backbones (Universities, Gov't, Telcos), Underwater Cable to Other Continents
3. Each computer to some degree is assigned an IP address (ex.: AOL.com -> 205.188.142.182, 64.12.50.151, 64.12.193.85, 207.200.94.38)
4. Some IP address are mapped to domain names (ex.: AOL.com -> 205.188.142.182, 64.12.50.151, 64.12.193.85, 207.200.94.38)
5. DNS Servers - Are the indexes in which IP address are matched up to Domains
6. A host of servers or computers may sit behind an IP range or Domain
7. Entities, usually companies, map their given IP address to a specific name

Common attacks

1. Virus - Embeded in .exe or document file, attachments to e-mail
2. Phishing - Social engineering designed to trick you into giving sensitive information (Bank, Credit Card, Health Info.)
3. DNS Poisoning - Non-authoritative DNS server (replacing the trusted lookup server with a compromised one)
4. Cross Site Scripting - Browser attack in which on site grabs parallel data from a concurrently browsed site (Don't browse while you're doing activities that require security
5. Buffer Overrun - The router is sent large amounts of bad data in order to overwhelm the router and put it in a defaulted state that can be taken can be taken over remotely

Securing your DNS

1. OpenDNS
   1. Filter out by type
   2. White/Black list
   3. Growing community screening new sites and classifing them
2. Make sure you use the settings recommended by your ISP (usually obtain from DHCP)

Securing your network

1. Wired
   1. Make sure your Router is properly secured with a strong password.
   2. Make sure you only allow people you know well on to your network
   3. Keep your important personal data behind some sort of strong password
   4. Make sure each machine on your network requires a password to access
   5. Keep your router firmware reasonable up-to-date
2. Wireless
   1. Wired security rules still apply
   2. Only allow people on to your network that you would trust with your life
   3. Enter the key for them
   4. Make sure you use secure with a passphrase using the latest common denominator of encryption
      1. WPA2 PSK TKIP
      2. WEP with at least 64 Bit Encryption
   5. Choose a passphrase that's hard to guess
   6. If possible, hide the broadcast of the SSID

Securing your computer

1. Use a secure account and password
2. Do not have open shares
3. Use the built-in firewall, or port security software, on your operating system below are links to articles about the different Operating System firewalls
   1. Windows
   2. Mac OS/X
   3. Ubuntu 
4. Virus/Malware Scanning Software
   1. AVG
   2. Trend Micro - PCillan
   3. Microsoft One Care
   4. ClamWin
   5. Google Pack
   6. ISP will often provide free security software as part of their service

1. Keep your machine updated regularly
   1. Windows Update
   2. Ubuntu Update Manager
   3. Mac Update releases
2. Use modern operating system
   1. Windows Vista/7/XP SP3
   2. Ubuntu 8 or newer
   3. Mac OS/X
3. Make a full backup of your machine from when you know it was in a good state

Good Habits

1. Keep the computer in a public space, not in bedrooms or far off corner of the house
2. Use the buddy system, make sure the computer use is during times when everyone is around, so no one is tempted to participate in inappropriate activities
3. Limit the amount of time you or your family spends on the computer for leisure activities (Click Here for instructions)
4. Install reputable well tested web site filtering software (K9, Microsoft Family Safety Software, OpenDNS)
6. Do not over estimate people's will power where illicit/pornographic material is involved
7. Go through the logs of sites visited generated by the web safety/filtering software regularly, either weekly or semi-weekly (available with OpenDNS, and Microsoft Family Safety Software)
8. Phones/SmartPhones/iPods are computers, treat them as such, monitor their access and usage
9. Things as They Really Are - Elder David A. Bednar, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 
10. Use “Private Browsing” when doing things like banking or private health related activities, only do one activity per private session, after the activity is done, close the private browsing session and open another if you have another activity to do
1. Internet Explorer – only available in IE Version 8 (hot key: ctrl + shift + p)
2. FireFox – Private browsing isn’t supported in the current release but is slated to come out when version 3.1 is released
3. Chrome – is available in all versions and is called “Incognito Mode” (hot key: ctrl + shift + n)
4. Opera – no standard private browsing session feature

Know your computer

1. Recognize when it's behaving slowly or unresponsive
2. Be comfortable that you have enough security
3. Some security like Window User Account Control, will be somewhat annoying, but it does add a measure of safety; The worst security you have is the security you disable
4. Be willing to do the maintenance or have someone do the maintenance regular like updates, patches

What to do if you think you've got problems

1. Unplug the internet connection
2. Run virus scan
3. If you've recently installed something prior to the problems, uninstall it
4. Run Task Manager and see what seems to be running (advanced)
5. You may have to have someone take a look at it.

Update: I just added section 10 under “Good Habits” about private browsing and browser that support

Watch your head, uhhh...camera...

For those of you who haven't had a chance to use Google Maps Street View, I would have to say that you're missing out.

It's pretty nice to be able to really see the building or place that you might be headed to. I've used it a few times, and I like knowing what the destination building actually looks like.

Google has hired a fleet of cars/vans/trucks, with cameras on top, to build these street "views. The cameras are usually mounted on the top of the vehicle.

This is where the entertainment of this entry begins. Things are kind of funny when something gets knocked askew. Things are even funnier when they happen with photographic evidence. I only wish it were a video camera on top of the car this time.

Google Street View camera + low bridge = uh-oh Webware - CNET

Car Stereo Thieves Phone Home...

Okay, so one of my pet peeves is people stealing things from other people.

It's kind of the epitome of the parasitic nature of the "terrible" society we live in.

This article does bring a smile to my face, because sometimes the dumb people take themselves out of the game.

Technically Incorrect - CNET News: Kid's cell calls police while he allegedly boasts of burglaries

Fire-Breathing Robot Babies

This is one of those things that defies descriptions. In fact, it bets to be judged entirely on its own merits. I will say that this is one of the reasons I consider living in Japan:

Gigantic Fire-Breathing Robot Babies Have Taken Over Roppongi

Think before you Tweet...

A little while ago I did a few blog entries about Twitter, a micro-blogging/personal broadcast tool.

While I found it entertaining, I realized that my "Tweets" would be broadcast into the ether. I wasn't sure that everybody needed to know everything I was doing or doing.

Well, apparently some people just don't learn that water is wet until they jump right in.

Here's an interesting article on the deliterous effects of Tweeting before Thinking:
Twitter gets you fired in 140 characters or less - Technotica- msnbc.com

Academic Research Paper Aggregator

I don’t personally read a lot of academic papers.

Actually, I don’t read a whole lot of anything on paper, but apparently a company that builds an organizer/aggregator seems to be doing pretty well.

It just secured another round of funding from VC, and from the screen shots, looks to have put together a nice application.

So if any of you want to give it a try let me know how it goes.  I might even start reading again, if it’s a nice enough application:

http://www.mendeley.com

Je ne sais quoi...

This is a video I cam across from the robot blog on Makezine.

I don't know that I would call it disturbing, so much as beyond understanding.

I do believe that the Japanese bring interpretive art and robots together far to often for my tastes.

Here's the link to the exercising robot.

Religious Programming

I realized a long time ago that people, developers in particular, are fanatic about the way they practice their professions. Programmers especially tend to be religous or dogmatic about the particular tenets of their programming language or development methodologies.

This article kind of brings into focus, plus it's funny if you're a nerd.

Creepy music aside...

I came across this post from Engadget the other day and just barely found time to pass it along.

It's about an "OS" that replicates the interaction made famous by the movie "Minority Report".  There's also a pretty in depth video to go with it, although the music that's used in the background is a little too esoteric.

It's pretty impressive. I would install it as an add-on to just about any operating system out there, if it were available.

g-speak overview 1828121108 from john underkoffler on Vimeo.

We can all have our own Nuclear Reactors!

Okay, maybe we can't have our own reactors, but a neighborhood or two could all pitch in on one.

This new design from Hyperion Power Generation could be the ticket for cheap, local power.  Plus it's "fun" sized.

A car that makes me wish I had to drive more often...

This may be the smallest version of the Batmobile that I've ever seen, but it's definitely worthy of the name.  This is one of the cars that was on display at SEMA 2008.

Click on the image below if you'd like to read the original blog entry.

Thanks to Rich for finding this gem.

Should the people who are successful be treated fairly, too?

I suppose I can't let this election go without posting at least one interesting politically charged topic go by.

One of the proposals out on the table, I won't mention who is championing it by name, is that we tax people who make more than $250,000 more heavily.

I found this article, on the Fortune Magazine's website, that gives a perspective on who these "rich" people are.

I'm always worried when plans that come up that make those who work hard and excel pay extra for working hard and excelling. Don't they deserve fair treatment at the very least?

You should also look closely at the chart of the distribution of the amount of taxes paid by the higher income brackets. Taxes are already largely disproportionately paid by the upper brackets.

Crib Safety Recall

This actually has nothing to do with the theme of my blog at all, but I figure that sometimes it's good break with tradition.

I saw this video on Hulu about a recall on some hazardous baby cribs. We don't have one in particular, but if any of you do, I'd rather have this video out there at least one more time just in case it saves even just one person some grief.

The New Star Trek Movie

I found this post on the upcoming Paramount release of the Star Trek Pre-quel:
http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/10/15/exclusive-new-star-trek-movie-photo-with-kirk-spock-sulu-and-the-uss-enterprise-bridge/

It seems to me like the cast look reasonably like their older selves. I couldn't get a good enough feel for the visual quality of the film from the photos, but they do give a good idea of the general look of the movie.

They're had better be a lot of explosions in space and aliens. Any science fiction movie with out explosions and aliens automatically gets low marks from me.

The Greatest American Hero

I know this post is linked to an older post from another blog, but I just found it today.

It has some pretty good info about a Greatest American Hero movie set to begin filming in 2009. In conjunction with the film, some animated episodes and "comic" novels will be release towards the end of this year.

It's kind of fun when the people, who were kids at the same time I was, decide to make movies based on stuff that was cool when I was a kid. It's like getting to live my childhood over again, except I can drive. Legally, that is.

http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/the-greatest-american-hero-ralph-hinkley-to-return-in-comics-animation-and-movie/

So who wants to get free stuff?

Microsoft is getting on the free stuff bandwagon with the SearchPerks program.

All you have to do is sign-up, let them watch you via small application (assuming you don't mind that sort of thing), and you get "tickets" as a reward for each search. Up to 25 tickets per day.

This kind of like Skee-ball for searching.

I think I'll test try it out. More on what I find later.

* You will have to use you IE 6+ to participate.

Robots should be useful...

I found this very in depth video on a new robot.

It rides a unicycle.

That's it.

I can't figure out why anyone would want want of these. I think it would be far cheaper and healthier to buy your own unicycle.

On my "cool electronic lawn mowing dog" scale, this gets a low 1.5, because it does almost nothing to further the dream of the electronic lawn mowing dog.

Cool Anti-"Pork" Website...

I was watching the Presidential Debate yesterday, and Senator McCain mentioned a website that lets you know what people in the Legislative Branch are adding the most line item spending items (a.k.a Pork Barrel Spending).

The site lets you sum up the amount spent in each bill by individual, state, party, or the entire legislative branch. The numbers are astronomical.

I recommend you look over what the people who represent you have been doing with your money.

Here's the link: Citizens Against Government Waste

It's good to have competition...

At long last, T-Mobile has brought out a good competitor to the iPhone.

It's called the G1. It's based on the Android OS by Google, and looks to have a good set of features that makes you actually want to use the darned thing.

It's designed to let you decide what you want to put on your phone, not what Apple wants you to put on your phone.

Oh yeah, and it's hundreds of dollars less than the iPhone.



If you want a lot more information, you can watch the press conference. It's boring, but it still has the most info on the G1 out there.

Wowee!

Well, you know I can't resist an entry about a cool robot.

This one is kind of like a Roomba, only useful.

It can wander around your house, has a camera that you can adjust the vantage point and allows you to command and get telemetry from a web browser.

It's called the Rovio, and it's really going to be quite affordable ($299 U.S.).

I'm one step closer to the Electronic Lawn Mowing dog...except this one doesn't mow the lawn.