Can someone take down our Internet? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. It wouldn’t be that hard to do either. I just read an article that gave me chills.
Some people, or some organizations, have been probing Internet security and defense companies. They’re learning how these companies defend themselves and their clients. Not because they want to imitate their strategies. They’re learning defense tactics because they want to take the Internet down. Ever hear of DDoS (distributed denial of service)? This attack blocks users from websites, well, at least the ones that are supposed to be there. Some online companies have seen an increase of DDoS attacks. They’re being attacked by several culprits in several different areas. That means the online companies have to work harder to defend themselves. Hackers are seeing if they can manipulate the Internet addresses and routers, and seeing if online defenders will do something about it. This sounds like something worse than your typical cyber criminal or hacktivists. Could this be the work of mega corporations, or foreign governments?
This article wasn’t written by some stoner in his mom’s basement. This article and research was written and conducted by Bruce Schneier. He’s one of the most respected cyber security techs in the world. He’s written book, essays, and scholarly articles dedicated to online security. Schneier is the CTO (Chief Technological Officer) of Resilient Systems Inc. So if Bruce Schneier sounds a warning like this, the warning needs to be taken seriously. Schneier believes foreign governments could be behind this probing, like Russia and/or China. How many articles have I written about Russian and Chinese hackers? How much tensions have we seen between these nations over the last several years? Yes, this could happen. Yes, it will mean catastrophic things for our Internet if the bad guys are successful. Can this threat be stopped?
We’re less than two months away from the most contentious election in my lifetime. It’s probably the most contentious in American history. That’s why all Americans eligible need to to vote this year. Some embrace a new technical phenomenon called online voting. But should online voting happen?
This concept is getting so popular it’s being offered in thirty states this year. Online voting is aimed primarily at absentee voters. Such voters usually live overseas or in a state different from where they’re registered. Thirty-two states have some kind of online ballet. No states had that in 2000. Don’t everybody think you’re just going to vote on your computer come November 8. Alaska is the only state where anybody can vote at home. Utah just started online voting. The Utah caucuses of March 2016 was the first time Republicans could vote via computer. There were a bunch of mishaps and errors. Despite this, some claim this experiment was successful. Problems included eight or nine tries to get the electronic ballet through. Some were falsely approved. Then there was the 30 digit pin number they had to type in. Let’s just say the pin number had a mind of it’s own. Some believe online voting is a huge technological step. Some say it’s a necessity. I saw one person say, “If I can shop online, why can’t I vote online?”
Because it’s not safe to vote online. I’ve reported on international governments hacking US interest. What makes you think foreign nations won’t hack our electronic ballets? It’s not just foreign nations you have to worry about. People are so passionate and so desperate about this election they will do anything to make sure their candidate wins. I mean anything! This includes tamper the ballots, messing up our electoral system. There are those at the very top who will pay someone to hack these ballots. Don’t you know there are hackers that will buy, sell, and trade your information for only $5? What if a Republican, or Democrat, with big pockets pay a hacker $100,000 to swing elections their way? So I ask again, should online voting happen?
This is the time of year phone companies promote new smartphones. Apple is releasing their new device soon. Then there are Samsung Galaxy woes. The Samsung Galaxy woes couldn’t have come at a worse time.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 developers discovered a battery problem. They’re melting the phones like ice cream on a summer day. According to one South Korean Note 7 customer, he awoke to a burning smell. That smell was his burning Galaxy Note 7. He used his Galaxy Note 2 to take the picture. The picture shows the phone charred beyond recognition. He wasn’t the only one. Here in Massachusetts, a medic had his Galaxy Note explode on him. Of every one million Galaxy Note 7’s already sold, ?24 have burned due to faulty a faulty battery. So far, Samsung ?received 35 complaints. That may not sound like much. It’s enough to get Samsung leadership’s attention.
The battery crises affects sales in ten countries from the United States to South Korea. The defunct batteries will take two weeks to repair. Samsung offers free products to replace the Galaxy Note 7, such as Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge. It will refund the cost of Note 7 accessories and give $25 gift card or credit to Note 7 customers. Retailers across this country have stopped or suspended Samsung Galaxy Note sales. This includes all US mobile carriers. If you purchased a Galaxy Note 7, return it to your retailer at once! Ask what they can do for you as far as refund or exchange.Your chances of owning an explosive Note 7 are rare. But don’t take the risk. Just ask that Massachusetts medic. As stated, this came at the worst time for Samsung. Apple expects to sale their new smartphone next week. The Samusung Galaxy Note was probably their biggest form of competition. Also, the Samsung owner is devastated. This phone was to sale for $850.
In conclusion, Samsung owner said the battery crisis “…is heartbreaking.” If you were a CEO and hemorrhaging $850 sales, with your top competition selling smartphones like hotcakes, wouldn’t you be heartbroken too?
I’ve reported on some disturbing consumer trends, from sextortion to government hacking. Well, the disturbance keeps on coming. This is a consumer alert: the USB Killer is coming to a computer near you.
This isn’t a movie plot or a sci-fi novel. There really is a device called the USB Killer. It made news last year. Now, there’s an even stronger version floating out there. It sends 220 volts through a computer, whether it be a desktop, laptop or tablet. That much voltage kills a computer within a few minutes. According to it’s own creators, the USB Killer can destroy 95% of all computers. This includes Macs and other Apple based computers. Promoters say this killer device is for surge protection. But it could be used for more sinister purposes. There are things that equally add to the disturbance. One USB Killer promoter is rumored to by Dark Purple. He’s allegedly one of the most notorious hackers in Russia. We don’t really know the company behind this killer device. Tech media company Mashable contacted the mysterious makers. They’re based in Hong Kong. That’s all they were able to find out. The USB Killer will cost only $55.
The USB Killer’s creators are unknown. The USB Killer’s promoters could be Russian hackers. And it only cost $55 to destroy a computer. Yes, it could be used for surge protection. Let’s say you want to wipe out your own computer. To ensure nobody interferes with the data, and to ensure your privacy isn’t blasted on social media, you could use the USB Killer for good. But that’s the best case scenario. What’s the worst? A competitor, or even a disgruntal colleague or former employee, could wipe out important machines. This could sabotage or even destroy a business. A hacker could wipe out a computer, for money or for spite. Whole government agencies can wipe out critical classified information. What if Russian, Chinese, or Iranian spies go to Washington and use the USB Killer to wipe out critical military, security, or economic information? These are just a few of the malicious way this thing could be abused. Is the USB Killer a good idea or a weapon of destruction waiting to happen?
Last night, I saw a rather disturbing technology based ad. Not only does it promote a tracking device, it describes how scary this device is. ?It tracking method vs. privacy. Which one will you choose?
The device being promoted was the TrackR. It’s a GPS system the size of a quarter. You install the TrackR app on your smartphone. Connect the app to your device. Attach the quarter like system to your keys, wallet, phone, tablet, spouse, significant other, child, employee, or anything or anyone else you wish. If you lose something, open the TrackR app. Tap the ‘find device’ function. The app tells you where your misplaced item is. The ad gave the scenario of being in a big parking lost. You forgot where to park (okay, that is very real situation). The TrackR would tell you where your car is. Another scenario used is the stolen bicycle. You use TrackR app. The app leads you to where your bike is now. How much will this tracking device costs? That’s the most tempting, yet disturbing thing about TrackR. I hope this doesn’t encourage you to get it, but one can purchase a TrackR app online for as little as $29! No, I’m not giving you the address!
Okay, the ad doesn’t say attach the quarter size device on your spouse, child, employee, or any other human being. I’ll give them that much credit. But don’t you see where this can lead? Yes, you can find your wallet, phone, bike or car. Those are best case scenarios. Think about the worst. People can sneak this device onto an unsuspecting human being. They will be able to track that human being wherever they go. A violent ex can track down his wife/girlfriend. An enemy can track down an enemy. A bully can track down his victim. A sex offender can use this device to track a child. All he’d have to do is slip this on the child’s book bag or in his coat pocket. This is why I’m scared to death of TrackR and what it could lead to. We already have our government and foreign governments watching our every move. We already have surveillance watching our every move. Do we really need this? It’s tracking method vs privacy? Which one will you choose?
This is a McDonald’s happy meal toy alert. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 29 million McDonald’s fitness tracker toys are up for recall. This comes after 70 complaints of child skin irritation, from rashes to blisters.
The CPSC recommends parents return this toy to McDonald’s and ask for a replacement toy and a desert, such as apple slices or yogurt tube. The toy was an attempt to teach kids about physical fitness. It was supposed to get them interested in fitness and technology at the same time, and do so at an early age. The plan backfired. One mother in Arkansas named Casey Collyar?complained her son suffered burns. The son had the watch on for ten minutes. She thought the battery was the culprit. Through social media, Collyar urged parents not to get this dangerous fitness tracker. According to a McDonald’s leading spokesperson, the toys have been discontinued. A full investigation is being conducted. It’s also speculated certain skin allergies and sensitivities could be the cause. The Good Housekeeping Institute, ?a popular consumer rights’ organization, suggested parents check the watch’s materials. They should be soft, durable plastics. Consumers should also switch up wrists.
You can’t fault McDonald’s for trying. This fast food franchise has been under the gun for making our kids and our nation obese. Is that true? Well, it’s debatable. I grew up on happy meals back in the day, and got toys too. We weren’t worried about obesity. But I believe McDonald’s was sincere in releasing this smart wrists toy. They wanted kids to be tech savvy at an early age. They should be. McDonald’s is sincere in trying to get kids healthy again. This toy was meant to get kids active and teach them the value of good health. There is an old saying: The road to (destruction) is paved with good intentions. Does this saying explain the McDonald’s toy fiasco?
