ZDNet : Do you really need antivirus software?

"Do you need antivirus software on your PC?
If you’re not sure of the answer to that question, then the short answer is yes. The longer answer is that security software is only one piece of what should be a simple, straightforward, and systematic approach to your PC’s health. I’ll outline my recommendations in this post. If you’re visiting the family over the holidays, you might want to take my list along with you." ~ Ed Bott

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/do-you-really-need-antivirus-software/2685?tag=content;search-results-river

I understand where he is coming from. I also see his strategy is fairly well thought out. Yes, the security software industry is sort of a protection racket, however, it is still within your best interests to invest in their software.

While I do not place my money into McAfee's or Symantec's hands as of late, I do believe they are trying in their own ways. The whole industry needs to go back to basics on their software. They also need to see that we want a good product at a decent price. I can protect 3 PCs well with Kaspersky Internet Security at $60, while Symantec sells Norton 360 for $80 for 3 PCs ( which is mediocre in my opinion).

Maybe it is our fault at the consumer level that some products have gotten so big. I do still believe that if the focus were to shift into better products, instead of how much they could milk out of us for them, they would make more money. Again this is my opinion.

ZDNet : Mac users can't afford to have their heads in the sand over malware

"Mac might not be under attack from as much malware as Windows, but according to security firm Sophos, users can’t afford to have their heads in the sand." ~Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/mac-users-cant-afford-to-have-their-heads-in-the-sand-over-malware/10503?tag=content;search-results-river

Just trying to pass along a bit of info. Remember, even Mac and Linux users are able to be attacked. So the whole idea of defense through obscurity may not work in today's market. Keep in mind that Apple has opened the door to themselves in other categories too. Others being the tablet and phone market.

XKCD - The Wikileaks comic

Ok this one I just found amusing.

Check it out here.

http://xkcd.com/834/

Tech News World : War and Revolution

"As we end 2010, 2011 is looking to be a relatively violent year when it comes to technology and technology companies. As I write this, there are folks calling the attacks by Wikileaks supporters a cyberwar, but I think it is more of a cyber-revolt, and the difference is important." ~Rob Enderle

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/War-and-Revolution-71422.html

This opinion intrigues and scares me a bit. I am a Information Security student, that being the case I know that this will most likely be something that can bite me in the arse. I know that this will be part of our future, especially finding ways to protect against attacks like those that Wikileaks supporters enacted.

BBC NEWS : Is your operating system a girl?

"The urge to anthropomorphise our computers and software can be irresistible, especially when systems run slow, or are difficult to manage.

The operating system on a computer, say Microsoft Windows XP or Linux, is the interface you look at every day.
On discussion boards and fan sites with bases around the world, these systems are discussed not as to how their code works, but as anthropomorphised characters, drawn in the Manga style." ~ Jamillah Knowles

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11900389

I can't help but laugh a bit at this post. I find it funny and also a bit like another thing many of us do to our cars. We name them, or at least call the "girl"/"boy". I don't think I have gone this far with a computer, but then again I just might not have noticed that I do it. If you do nothing else with this article, check out the pictures they are actually decent Manga style images.

BBC News : Anonymous Wikileaks supporters explain web attacks

"'Coldblood', a member of the group Anonymous, tells Jane Wakefield why he views its attacks on Visa and Mastercard as defence of Wikileaks.

A group of pro-Wikileaks activists who coordinated a series of web attacks have explained their actions.
The Anonymous group said they were not hackers but "average internet citizens" who felt motivated to act because of perceived injustices against Wikileaks.
The group said it had no interest in stealing credit card details or attacking critical infrastructure.
The details were posted online by one of the many factions claiming to carry out the attacks.
"Anonymous is not a group, but rather an internet gathering," it said in a statement published on 10 December."
~ unknown

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11971259

Note to self (and everyone else) : DO NOT PISS OFF THE NET!

To some this statement may seem... over dramatized. But hey, it is a fundamental piece of knowledge that many in our legislature forget. We are in a technology based society now. This means that many people in it can or will destroy you on the net. So be careful what you do and to who. I am not defending Wikileaks, in fact I do not agree with them. I do feel that information should be available, but there should also be some discretion on what to make public. Not all knowledge should be easily accessible. 

Top Tech News : Pentagon Bans Removable Drives on Classified Network

"To avoid more documents going to WikiLeaks, the Pentagon has banned the use of removable drives on its classified SIPRNet. The Pentagon said data transfers "routinely occur," but didn't disable removable media due to logistics problems. The Pentagon previously banned removable drives in 2008, but lifted that order early this year." ~ Barry Levine

http://www.toptechnews.com/story.xhtml?story_id=0310036D8DOB

Well now, what do we actually say to this. In my mind I would have to state that I feel this should have stayed that way before. As a security student and computer user, I understand the need for removable media. But we are in the technological age and most people are relatively unintelligent. I am not saying most people are stupid, that is something different in my mind.
I am mainly of the opinion that in many cases, when bad things happen in a struggle ( I am using a light word here), I do not want to know about the civilian casualties. I remember reading about the world wars, and how much different the media was back then. In my opinion, if you feel that your 5 year old child should not be seeing it, it should not be broadcast. And I know there are some parents that feel that everything they watch their children should be able to as well. To you I say, shame on you.
If we really are a society of people who think that the video games and music are what make us violent, then we must also hold our news media accountable for it as well. There are many violent images there, in many cases more. I am a gamer also, and like many addicted to WoW ( if you don't know, you aren't one). In this game what do you do, you run around doing errands for NPCs ( Non-Player Characters, for those that may not actually know). That's about it. But do I feel that this causes me to be violent, no, I think it is more of a way for me to vent. Some of us need to find good ways to vent our anger, or at least better. Some have their FPS (first-person shooter), and some have puzzle games, both can be helpful.
I am going to end here, as I didn't really want to get into political stuff here.

Network World : Microsoft routes around its own COICA damage

"After the hack Microsoft said it was going to "work closely with law enforcement and product safety groups to keep Kinect tamper-resistant," which sounded pretty threatening. But when CNN interviewed two Microsofties after the incident and asked, "So no one is going to get in trouble?" The reply was, "Nope. Absolutely not."" ~ Mark Gibbs

http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2010/120610-backspin.html

It seems both Microsoft and Apple are setting themselves up for these problems recently. It's kinda like the old saying "If you make something IDIOT proof, someone has to go and make a better IDIOT". But in this case hack proof. Now MS and Apple have their own sets of problems and claims, but it doesn't matter. Whenever someone claims to have the best protection, someone has to do everything they can to break into where they are not supposed to be. I would just like to see the look on the face on the hacker, after someone places high security measures on a BS file.