Microsoft Says ‘It’s Your Fault’

Microsoft has identified the problem. The problem with malware is… “you!”.

“Software giant Microsoft has claimed user “complacency” is to blame for malware infections, and denied that its Vista operating system is less secure than Windows 2000.”

link: Microsoft blames users for Vista infections

And Microsoft probably thinks that your mother dresses you funny too.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

[tag]microsoft, malware, vista, security[/tag]

Minnesota Crisis Director Is Fired

In August, 2007, the I-35 bridge collapsed in Minneapolis. This was a horrid tragedy. It resonated within the internet security community because several of the regular contributors reside in the Minneapolis area. Thankfully, they were fortunate enough to have missed being involved in the bridge collapse. Many of their fellow citizens were not as lucky. The number of lives lost is now a matter of public record.

One of the consequences of that mishap is that the Minnesota Crisis Director, Ms Sonia Morphew Pitt, has been fired:

“…Most glaringly, far from rushing home to take charge personally when the bridge fell, Ms. Pitt stayed out of town for another 10 days, on a mixed business-and-personal visit to Washington and to Cambridge, Mass., before returning to Minneapolis and the mess.”

link: Minnesota’s Fired Crisis Director Stays Fired

An examination of Ms Pitt’s actions (or lack of same) is chilling. While fellow citizens were missing and searches being conducted in hopes that these people were alive, Ms Pitt was ‘away’. She has been relieved of her post and fired. Her behaviour is morally baffling. It may be criminally - and reprehensible.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

[tag]minneapolis, bridge collapse, crisis director, security[/tag]

Surveillance: Tracking You at the Mall

This is just creepy! - It seems that mall can collect tracking data on shoppers via their cell phones. It is covert surveillance:

“…The technology can tell when people enter a shopping centre, what stores they visit, how long they remain there, and what route they take as they walked around.”

link: Shops secretly track customers via mobile phone

Mall business will try to justify this by saying that it will increase the efficiency of their product placement and so forth. The merchants will frame the rationale in such a manner that it appears ‘customer friendly’. Nevertheless, this has extensive privacy implications. Couple this technology with radio frequency identification (rfid) tags and some data base will know every step you took in the mall and will know every purchase made.

This brings to mind a quote from Justice Louis Brandeis: “the right most valued by all civilized men is the right to be left alone”. For many people, even in this technological age, privacy matters.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

[tag]shopping, tracking, surveillance, privacy, cell phones, justice louis brandeis, rfid, data base, mall[/tag]

Utah Jazz: Three Things to Prevent an Early Summer Holiday

Friday night is Game Six of the Utah Jazz - L.A. Lakers playoff series. It is an elimination game if the Jazz lose. The game is in Salt Lake City, so the immediate advantage goes to the Jazz. Home court has been very kind to the Jazz this season. During the regular season, the Jazz were 37-4 at home. Nevertheless, the Jazz are returning home from a Game Five loss in Los Angeles and now the task is to win two games in a row, to advance to the next playoff round.

Three keys to Game Six are:

• the Jazz must continue to out-rebound the Lakers. Second chance points from offensive rebounds will be crucial. When the Jazz have dominated in the rebounding statistics, it seems to try the Lakers’ patience. That will lead to key Lakers having foul problems.
• the Jazz need to have some efficiency with their three point shots. When the three point shots are successful, the Lakers will have more trouble stopping Deron Williams from driving to the hoop. Deron Williams can beat his prime defender. The path to the hoop will be less congested if the Lakers have to be more concerned about defending the three point shot.
• the Jazz need to go to the foul line more than the Lakers. This will happen if the rebounding and three point shooting are effective. This also means that the Jazz will have to stay out of foul trouble and have unlimited playing time for their starters.

The Lakers have had trouble matching the physical play of the Jazz. They have had trouble stopping speedy point guards and Deron Williams has been a nightmare for them. The Lakers, though, are playing with one decided advantage. Game Seven is in Los Angeles if the Jazz win Game Six.

Catherine

Update: Final Score: Lakers 108 - Jazz 105. The Jazz came back after a huge half time deficit and could have tied the game with a last shot. It was several misses but it certainly gave the Lakers a scare.

Utah Jazz: Three Things to Prevent an Early Summer Holiday

Friday night is Game Six of the Utah Jazz - L.A. Lakers playoff series. It is an elimination game if the Jazz lose. The game is in Salt Lake City, so the immediate advantage goes to the Jazz. Home court has been very kind to the Jazz this season. During the regular season, the Jazz were 37-4 at home. Nevertheless, the Jazz are returning home from a Game Five loss in Los Angeles and now the task is to win two games in a row, to advance to the next playoff round.

Three keys to Game Six are:

• the Jazz must continue to out-rebound the Lakers. Second chance points from offensive rebounds will be crucial. When the Jazz have dominated in the rebounding statistics, it seems to try the Lakers’ patience. That will lead to key Lakers having foul problems.
• the Jazz need to have some efficiency with their three point shots. When the three point shots are successful, the Lakers will have more trouble stopping Deron Williams from driving to the hoop. Deron Williams can beat his prime defender. The path to the hoop will be less congested if the Lakers have to be more concerned about defending the three point shot.
• the Jazz need to go to the foul line more than the Lakers. This will happen if the rebounding and three point shooting are effective. This also means that the Jazz will have to stay out of foul trouble and have unlimited playing time for their starters.

The Lakers have had trouble matching the physical play of the Jazz. They have had trouble stopping speedy point guards and Deron Williams has been a nightmare for them. The Lakers, though, are playing with one decided advantage. Game Seven is in Los Angeles if the Jazz win Game Six.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

Update: Final Score: Lakers 108 - Jazz 105. The Jazz came back after a huge half time deficit and could have tied the game with a last shot. It was several misses but it certainly gave the Lakers a scare.

[tag]nba, l.a. lakers, utah jazz, playoff, elimination[/tag]

Salmonella Concern for Dog Owners

Pet owners will remember the concern over contaminated pet food. That is an issue that has not been resolved definitively for many pet owners who remain concerned about the safety of the pet food.

Now there is a concern that Salmonella infection is linked to dog food:

“An outbreak of Salmonella infections in people has been traced to contaminated dry dog food, the first time such a link has been uncovered, U.S. officials said Thursday.

And, Salmonella infections from dry dog food may be an under-recognized source of illness in people, especially young children, officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.”

link: Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Dry Dog Food

This does not help in regaining the confidence in pre-packaged pet food. Many pet owners have turned to making their own pet food instead of buying prepared food for their animals. If your household is feeding dry dog food, a precaution is to wash your hands each and every time that there is contact with the pet food. The dog’s food bowl and feeding area must be cleaned thoroughly. And, if there are children handling the dog’s food, the order of the day for the kids is wash… with soap.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

[tag]salmonella, pet food, dogs, security, washing, centers for disease control and prevention, contamination[/tag]