Not even our skies are immune to a hack attack. According to one US government watchdog organization, our air traffic controllers are vulnerable to a major hacking that could spell catastrophe.
There is a 42 page document called Information Security: FAA Needs to Address Weakness in Air Traffic Control Systems. This document states there are problems with air the Federal Aviation Administration’s cyber security that could hinder safety in our skies. While certain actions have decreased vulnerabilities somewhat, more needs to be done to toughen the cyber barrier between their computer systems and hackers. The document says controls for protecting system boundaries, sensitive data encrypt, and monitoring FAA operations are weak, especially when it comes to preventing unauthorized access to the air traffic control system. This scathing report says FAA security systems don’t even meet 2002 requirements, and plans haven’t been updated since 2010. We’ve come a long way technologically since 2002, and even 2010 for that matter. But the report doesn’t just scold the FAA; it gives ways to make it better. It suggests better training, strengthening protocol, better record keeping, and better data monitoring to detect unauthorized access. The FAA has actually responded to the document and vowed to do better job increasing cyber security.
This is a huge, huge eye opener. To think that a hacker with bad intentions could cause a major tie-up with our flights all over the country is chilling. Even more chilling if the flights are already in air if a hack attack starts. How are they going to land or find a place to land? ?The FAA needs to incorporate these suggestions…yesterday! I don’t report on this to scare anybody. But there is strength in numbers. If more of us write to political leaders and government and insists the FAA do all they can to keep us safe, I think they will get the message. Millions of people take to the skies every day. Why wake for tragedy to strike before addressing this potential threat?
ISIS: It’s a name that strikes terror in the hearts of freedom loving people around the world. They murder, torture, rape, and pillage innocent human beings wherever they go. Now they target social media.
Terrorist group Isis and their sympathizers are threatening Twitter, their employees and even co-founder Jack Dorsey. The social media giant has received hate email and death threats because they block accounts with ties to Isis. They released a post on website JustPaste.it telling Twitter, “…your virtual war on us will cause a real war on you.” They cursed Twitter for closing their accounts. ?They claim by taking this act, Twitter became targets for their supporters scattered among them, even hinting their might be Isis supporters close to them. But Twitter’s policy clearly states direct, specific threats of violence will not be tolerated on their site. So the extremist group decided to get around that by using Twitter as a recruitment tool. Twitter soon caught on and blocked them, despite the extremist group trying to get back on. It’s been a cat and mouse game for months, because every time Twitter shut an account down, an Isis sympathizer would restart one. A Twitter spokesperson said their security and law enforcement are investigating such threats.
Hurrah for Twitter! I’m glad Twitter is taking a stand to such brutality and tyranny. I encourage Jack Dorsey and other Twitter leaders to stay strong. The bully picks on those who can’t and don’t fight back, and thank goodness for Twitter fighting back. To say Isis and their supporters are bullies is a major, major understatement. These extremists often use social media to lure people to their sadistic cause. They lure men, even from Europe and the US to fight for them. They lure women and teenage girls to marry into their group. They even put up a vlog of them serving ice cream to children. We’re not dealing with barbarians eating rats living in mountains. Isis is a well organized, sophisticated organization led by very educated and charismatic sociopaths who will do anything to grow their twisted cause. Thank goodness Twitter is putting a stop to it. Shouldn’t we encourage other social media conglomerates to do the same?
In China, a major censorship crackdown is underway. Here in America, Google found itself in hot water and reversed a controversial decision. Is online censorship near?
Earlier this week, it was announced Google would ban sexually explicit content from their Blogger site. Days later, they reversed that decision, claiming it would have negative effects on those who express themselves with nudity and adult content. This ban would affect those with Blogger accounts for 10 years. Instead, Google’s Blogger will crack down on commercial porn. I wonder did Google reverse this decision because they know Blogger users could easily go to Tumblr and other social media sites.
Then there’s the latest Chinese crackdown on the Internet. New laws are being passed to further tighten their government control over the Web. To make way, more than 60,000 online accounts are being deleted. But it’s Chinese Internet conglomerates that lead this censorship charge, such as Alibaba Group Holdings and Tencent Holdings. But they’re telling the Chinese people the crackdown is to combat terrorism, porn, ID theft and other social ills. Effective March 1, laws will go up throughout China to prohibit ‘deceitful’ identity and demand online users to submit personal information while registering for online services. If you’re approved by the registry, then you’ll be able to use the Internet…under a watchful eye.
These are just two reasons I wonder if online censorship is closer than we think. I’m thankful Google reversed their original decision. I’m convinced they did it because a lot of Blogger users cried foul and some probably even threatened to take their business elsewhere. But China has one of the strictest online policies in the world. I’m concerned about social online ills as much as anybody, but forcing the people to register is hardly going to change anything. Whose to say an online hacker or predator won’t slip through the cracks even after he/she registers? Can China’s strict online policies come to the US? Or is that too far-fetched?
Iconic actor Leonard Nimoy passed away earlier today at the age of 83, after a courageous battle with the lung disorder chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Nimoy will forever be known for his role as Spock on the historic TV and movie franchise Star Trek. Spock was a half-man half-alien character with pointy ears, V finger salute, and a logical tone. Though the original TV show Star Trek only lasted three years (1966-69), Spock will go down as one of the most beloved TV characters of all time, thanks to cartoons, movies, spin-offs, and Star Trek festivals that go on to this day. But Nimoy was so much more multi-talented and versatile than Spock. Let’s honor Mr. Nimoy’s legacy by looking at five ways he blessed us through his talent.
1. He Appeared in Many Guest Roles: He was born in Boston and attended Boston College before moving to Hollywood in the early 1950s. In the years that followed, he won guest roles on Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Outer Limits, and The Twilight Zone.
2. He Was Proud To Be in a Groundbreaking Show: Nimoy took pride in the fact that Star Trek broke so much ground in the 1960s. It was one of the first shows to regularly feature African-Americans as equals. Star Trek gave us the first interracial kiss in TV history.
3. He Narrated TV Documentaries: He narrated In Search Of (1976-82), a weekly showcase of mysteries and history. He also narrated History Channel’s Ancient Mysteries (1995-2003).
4. He Was An Accomplished Director: Nimoy directed two of the six Star Trek movies. Those were Star Trek III: In Search of Spock (1984) and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986). He went on to direct Three Men And A Baby (1987), one of the highest grossing films of that year.
5. He Was A Best Selling Author: In the 1970s, he published an autobiography called I Am Not Spock. In the ’90s, he published a second one called I Am Spock.
Leonard Nimoy is survived by two children, six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Computer users have been on the hunt for the most secure and stable apps and operating systems out there, and the shocking truth about which Apps and Operating Systems are actually the most stable may surprise you.
As far as operating systems go, sorry all you MAC lovers, the award for the most vulnerabilities no longer goes to Microsoft, but to Apple Mac OS X, followed by Apple iOS and then Linux kernel. The numbers to date show Mac OS X had 147 vulnerabilities - 64 being rated as high severity. Numbers also show there were 127 in iOS - 32 of those rated as high. And lastly, Linux kernel had 119 security vulnerabilities - 24 being rated as high severity.
As far as Apps go, Microsoft cannot gloat too much about being the most secure, as Internet Explorer had nearly twice as many flaws as the second most flawed app on the list ? which was Chrome. This comes as a shocking truth, as many people have viewed Chrome as the most stable and secure App. Internet explorer had 242 security flaws - 220 of those being high severity. Chrome had 124 total bugs with 86 of those rated as high.
So, as you can see users need to be aware, and choose carefully when installing Apps and Operating Systems on their computers. There are always going to be bugs out there, because nothing out there will ever be ?perfect?, but if you run into some trouble with your computer, know Computer Geeks is always there to help. Some good news is that that the percentage of vulnerabilities rated as ?high severity? dropped to 24% in 2014. So at least there is some hope going forward!
Months ago, Kevin Bollart from San Diego, California was arrested on revenge porn charges: identity theft, extortion, conspiracy. The United States is cracking down on revenge porn, and now another one goes to jail.
Earlier this week, Hunter Moore, 28, pleaded guilty to revenge porn related charges, including identity theft and aiding and abetting. Moore now faces over five years in prison. His co-defendant, Charles ‘Gary’ Evens, has also been charged. Evens allegedly stole nude photos from victims and made $200 a week from it. By the time of their arrests last year, hundreds of emails were compromised and many nude photos came from disgruntle exes in the name of revenge. Hunter Moore’s website was called IsAnybodyUp. He was inspired by Bollart’s revenge porn scheme, which allowed people to put up other people’s nude, sexually explicit, or other embarrassing photos on their site, for a small fee, without the victim’s knowledge or approval. Moore’s website and reputation became so notorious Rolling Stone magazine called him the most hated man on the Internet. Here is the part that struck me the most: Hunter Moore’s IsAnybodyUp made up to $10,000 a month in ad revenue alone. This revenge porn site got an estimated 30 million views.
There lies the problem. The fact that a revenge porn site got this much money and this many reviews is disturbing. If the demand for such filth is this great, we’re going to see more Hunter Moore’s and Kevin Bollart’s in the future. I’m happy laws and governments are doing something to combat revenge porn. But it starts with us as the consumer. When we stop logging on to such sites that violate peoples’ basic rights and scar them for life, maybe they’ll get the message. When we boycott advertisers that support revenge websites and tell these advertisers why we’re boycotting them, maybe they’ll get the message. Hopefully, Bollart, Moore and Evens are getting that message now. Will this help to prevent the next revenge pornographer?
