Wednesday, 14 October 2015

Week 1 [12-18.10.2015] Technology

Read an article at http://www.bbc.com/news/technology  and present it here. Encourage its discussion.

17 comments:

  1. Topic" Thieves net £20m in online banking raid"

    The article presents the problem of virus that collects information about our banking details and uses them to steal money from uor online bank account .



    Nowadays, you really have to be careful "live on the internet". Without a good anti-virus computer connected to the Internet will have a lot of viruses already after a week.
    Top stay safe and do not open mail from an unknown recipient. In Poland recently was similar action of viruses that were transmitted in e-mails of " Polish Post "

    E-mail informed that the package was sent to us , and you can track it to the specified URL.By accessing the url you downloaded automatically virus that stole our data bank .

    Life online is dangerous...on the other hand I admired all these hackers. They have to be mega " brains " if they can do such things :)...instead of ruining our lives they should work with the FBI and help solve crimes.


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    1. Nothing gives 100% protection against attacks this type. Having an antivirus program is not enough. People should safely use the "bounties" of the Internet to minimize becoming a victim of thieves and crooks. We should use safe web browser, be careful in opening attachments on websites. Currently, when we surf the Internet we also see the window with the slogan "open here", "you win", "click to receive the award" - they also hide viruses.

      Cyber thieves are very clever: once they urge to give personal data by pretending to be a bank or an online store, sometimes they use fake websites that are imitations of their original counterparts. They dont ceasing in efforts to develop malware, inventing new ways to circumvent security tools and stealing information of users.

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    2. As a computer specialist I admire this type of software manipulation skills .
      Unfortunately, the behavior of these hackers are simply a crime that should be prosecuted like any other.
      Of course I agree, we must be open-eyed on the Web.

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    3. That's the problem with keeping money in the bank. You think that you have them but all we need is just a hacker, a few clicks and suddenly you have nothing. We rely on new technologies, but we should learn to use them. Just as they gave in the article we need to remember only a few things and we are in 90% able to protect ourselves from attacks. First of all, you have to read everything that comes to us because sometimes we agree to something you did not even read. Admit how many times have you clicked quickly something without even reading it?
      As you can see, today grandmothers who all laugh that they keep the money in socks, it's not so silly. I hope that it won't happen that at one point only money from socks will be in circulation.

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    4. Nowadays this problem is becoming more and more important in IT world.
      I think that users should be more careful. I agree with @Klaudia Telak that antyvirus program on the computer is not enough.
      Primarily users should be more conscious for example when they open e-mail from bank where password to bank account is required.
      Another thing is to use dedicated URL addresses for banks. It is not good practise to search bank's website in Google, because you can be redirect to fake website and your credentials can be stolen.

      To sum app I would like to say that every user should have antyvirus software for protecting computer against any unwanted programs and what is more important - users should be more careful and conscious when they do their internet banking transactions.

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    5. As the time goes by, more and more people use computer for every task they are doing. That means every day there are more potential victims for cyber-thieves whose methods always adapt to the security measures taken against them.
      It's quite a pickle since besides protecting your computer with anti-virus software and having a head on your shoulders you can't really protect yourself from a crime executed in a fashion mentioned in the article. Most of the victims of that crime probably didn't even noticed anything happened.
      Good thing is I never really open any email attachments that I don't expect. In fact, I don't even open suspicious emails at all.

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    6. As the time goes by, more and more people use computer for every task they are doing. That means every day there are more potential victims for cyber-thieves whose methods always adapt to the security measures taken against them.
      It's quite a pickle since besides protecting your computer with anti-virus software and having a head on your shoulders you can't really protect yourself from a crime executed in a fashion mentioned in the article. Most of the victims of that crime probably didn't even noticed anything happened.
      Good thing is I never really open any email attachments that I don't expect. In fact, I don't even open suspicious emails at all.

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  2. Yea. You have right there is no safety guarantee on Internet. We can have long, crazy passwords and this will not help. Almost every day planty of 0 day exploits are detected. 0 day means that there is no fix to this bug and these bugs can be fixed after few weeks. even there are some special marketplace where we can buy these. If some hacker will use it we almost dont have change.

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    1. About passwords. It’s funny that people try to pick their passwords that are easy to remember and that’s why most common passwords on the internet will be: pet’s name, name of a loved one, children’s name, „password”, „qwerty”, dates of birth or place of birth.
      Have you ever used any of these passwords?

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    2. yea, I think happend to all users. Some long time ago I dont know the consequences of what I do with password and I think it only password to some site. Now it change dramaticly. I try to use different to each site, each should have some special lettes. I use software to help me with this for example 1password that can fill in fields of login form, can generate random password and I try to use 2 step verification. Sometimes it take more time to be secure but it is worted. Look what happend to few celebrities and they icloud accounds. They have some private photos, mails and all of them leaked just becouse they use easy passwords.

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  3. I've picked an article about mobile security: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34536921

    It was quite interesting article, but in my opinion is not only the problem of mobile phones apps, but all kind of devices. FBI can turn on laptop cameras if they are suspecting someone (http://gizmodo.com/fbi-can-secretly-activate-laptop-cameras-without-the-in-1478371370). Even you can turn it on in case your notebook had been stolen – simple software will do the trick, so tracing with mobile phone is not a big problem.

    After reading this I'm glad that I try not to keep any data on my phone – contacts, messages, some photos – that’s all what I have. As many people I also have on-line bank account, but it’s better to use security token rather than text messages to confirm a transfer, because as you can read in the article - it can fail. In many bigger corporations you even receive one in order to access any data or site. Many websites are also blocked such as Facebook or others to prevent any leakage of information, but nowadays it's getting harder and harder.

    When we are speaking about mobile security area, I would like to warn you about electronic pick pocketing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POIMXohFYSQ or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAwhtYd4tko).
    Most new cards use RFID System (Radio-frequency identification) nicely called Pay Pass or Pay Wave , with which, you can be easily robbed basically anywhere. It can be prevented, but if you want to know how… Watch my videos :)

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  4. I choose article: Tesla launches 'autopilot' update but urges caution. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34535604
    Article is about new software for Tesla’s cars, it’s enabling the vehicle to have an ‘autopilot’ mode. The software uses radar, cameras, ultrasonic sensors and mapping data to determinate cars position, navigate, change lanes, adjuct speed, scan for a free parking space and then park itself. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said “The autopilot was designed to incrase driver confidence on the road”.

    This solution it’s not as perfect as it seems. First of all, while using this software users shoud exerice caution, isn’t this mean that we can’t trust an ‘autopilot’ mode? In case of car accident, the driver is still responsible. Unfortunately, as more gadgets get fitted to cars as it generally makes drivers lazy and careless. Besides if it's computerized, it can be hacked.

    There are many limitations to the software, I have feeling that it is still in ‘beta version’ and should not be launched too quickly. Watch some interesting test of this feautures here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yCAZWdqX_Y

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  5. „The dangerous art of the ultimate selfie”

    Selfie evolving.
    In 2015, the network appeared variation of this type of pictures called dangerous selfie. This shows us how crazy ideas people can have, only for somehow exist on the network.

    Unfortunately, some people do not use the brain before they plan the execution of such pictures which ends in death for them. For example, in Russia the scale of this phenomenon is so serious that involved the Interior Ministry. They organizing a campaign to make people aware of the consequences of such irresponsibility.

    On the web there is a video that shows the 25 most dangerous selfie in history, you can watch it below:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_aPgPq6hMM

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  6. I’ve read an article about Uber (link here: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-34549700)

    I’m glad to say that Uber is becoming more and more popular but I still know people who don’t know that exactly Uber is. If you are one of them here is a short definition: Uber is a company connecting people who have a car with those who need a ride and are willing to pay for it. Sounds familiar? That’s right, it’s another taxi service.

    What differs it from a standard taxi service is the fact that you know the exact price you will pay for a trip before you call a car. You can also choose a car (more luxurious ones will obviously be more expensive) and a driver. Uber provides a system of comments so you can check if a driver is trustworthy and how many people recommend him.

    But Uber struggles with many lawsuits. This particular one described in an article was about taximeters. Transport of London argued that Uber’s mobile application acts like a taximeter which can be used only by black cabs. Using a meter by private hire vehicles to calculate fares is illegal, because they can’t be checked, states TfL.

    The judge ruled for the benefit of Uber that mobile application calculates customer fares based on distance from a GPS signal and few other matters (which I described above) so it can’t be considered as a casual taximeter.

    In my opinion, as a customer, Uber acts much more transparent in contrast to standard taxi service in terms of price for a ride. They've just noticed that Uber is attracting more and more customers so they are trying to stop it using such ridiculous lawsuits as described in the article.

    Personally I’m a huge fan of this concept from the day I’ve read about it so if you also would like to try it here are links to the Uber’s applications:
    (Google play) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ubercab
    (App Store) https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/uber/id368677368?mt=8

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    1. I’ve read this article too and I want to say my opinion about using Uber in Poland, and about how it struggles with law in our country.

      First of all, I want to say that I used Uber a few times after coming back at night from Warsaw. It was very easy because you only have to download an application on your smartphone and connect it with your credit card. I think, this way of calling taxi is safer for the users, because you don’t need to have any money with you. If you want to call a taxi you only have to indicate from which place, a taxi driver, will take you and after indicating a target place you will see a cost of travel. Another big Uber’s advantage is price to the taxi service (are much more cheaper), about 10-20% less than licensed taxis.

      Uber has the other side of coin as well. Of course all taxi drivers have his own profile and you can read what other users say about them. But this people are not licensed taxi drivers and they don’t have permissions to carry people. If during the your ride with Uber police will take a driver to control, it will have effects on a customer. The customer will have to take part in court case associated with illegal transportation of people. Another problem is that Uber’s cars don’t have required cash register or registered business activity in Poland, so if the tax office will check, they will face penal revenue proceedings.

      I think that the reluctance of the authorities towards Uber arises not only from the desire to ensure the safety for passengers, but only with the hassle of company tax. So in my opinion it is all about money, but for me, as a user of Uber, it’s better to pay less.

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  7. "Drone Defender"

    This week there was a new rifle gun presented by Battelle Company. It is called Drone Defender. What makes it so special is the fact that it is not a conventional weapon. It is constructed to disrupt remote control drone (such as quadcopters and hexacopters) and take it safely down to the ground. If You aim at "intruder" you can take control over him by interrupting waves from pilot controller.
    Drone Defender was invented because nowadays there are many drones on the market, and this could make potential risk for example in terrorists purpose. At the beginning of this year unknown drones has flew over the nuclear reactor in France. Of course, it could be taken down be a traditional gun, but not always situation is such clear that You can fire.
    On the other hand, last time I have read about Amazon, who presented their new system of delivering packages. It uses drones. Imagine, what could happen, if Drone Defender fall into the wrong hands? I think that Amazon should take measure of such a possibility.
     
    You can see the Drone Defender at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX4XXLb_Vuw

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  8. The article I choose is about Apple having been sued for patent infringement and loosing - the fine is huge, 234million Euros. Although the patent violated is a technology used for upgrading processor performance, and the prosecutor (the University of Wisconsin) had already sued Intel for the same reason, I find it funny, as Apple is known for copying ideas, from the very beginning of the company's existence (the basic ideas are said to be "borrowed": http://dottech.org/85881/these-are-all-the-ideas-apple-stole-from-other-companies-or-people-and-sold-for-billions/). Don't take it the wrong way - I value some apple products myself, because of the efficiency and good quality of their products. It is just interesting, that Apple followers take the "new" and "original" ideas blindly as an innovation (example: "Completely familiar. Entirely revolutionary. Introducing Apple Pencil for iPad Pro". - pencil that is btw very expensive).

    It's also interesting, that new electronic products are based on a technology that has been under patent protection since 1998 and no one in Apple seemed to notice. Or no one cared.

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