Smartphone Users Beware!

by PHILIP BLAISDELL » Mon Oct 05, 2009 2:46 pm

According to reasearchers at F-Secure and Trend-Micro, overseas cybercrime organizations are rapidly deploying malware for mobile computing platforms. Spyware and "bot-net-like" worms already exist for the iPhone as well as the Symbian OS, predominently used by Nokia. The head of Google's Android Security Team, states "Personally I think this will become an epiphany to the malware authors". This highlights the importance of utilizing some kind of data encryption for smartphone computing. The best advise may be not to use your smartphone for any transaction or other use the involves your financial or other confidential information. There are several open data encryption services for smartphones, such as Verisign's VIP Access While by all accounts this is an effective service, the number of participating product and service providers is still low.

Did You Know? A startling video about technology and our world.

Airline Security - More Common Sense

Within the tidal wave of analysis around the failed attack Christmas Day on NorthWest Airlines, I have yet to see the question asked - "Where were the Air Marshals?"  This flight, on an American carrier, having originated overseas, certainly falls within all criteria for a covered flight.  The presence of Air Marshals on this flight may or may not have prevented the bombing, had the attacker effectively utilized the device.  As the event unfolded, this would certainly have been an effective demonstration of Air Marshal capabilities.  My understanding is the integration of TSA Air Marshals, INS, Secret Service and Border Patrol, within Homeland Security, has resulted in a more flexible pool of agents but not enough to fill all needed roles.  One of the few constants in security management is the inability to prove a negative.  In this case, just because there have not been other recent, serious attempts to by a passenger, to bring down an airliner, did not mean there would not be new attempts or that Air Marshals have not effectively dissuaded previous attempts.  TSA Leadership has failed to maintain the force it was created to field.

So what about the body-scanners?  The technology is solid, the systems are available and the concerns are few.  Those there are, seem to be quite a modest price to pay for such improved security.  How is that so frequently we allow our most important goals (ensuring the safety of those we serve) to be compromised by a noisy few who in most cases are ill-informed to begin with?  

Why Bother?

This is a great article from the New York Times Magazine on 4/20/08 about reducing your carbon footprint and building community.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-lede-t.html?ex=1366516800&en=4c931d0a068a2a1a&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink