What happens when powerful lobbyists prevail? Just look to Japan and it's recording association. While the people who place pirated material on the Internet have been targeted by this assinine group (that's the RIAA in the U.S.) Japan is going after everyone, no matter how guilty or innocent.

Embedded Link

Japan rolls out stiff fines and jail times for illegal downloads
Japan has changed its copyright law to criminalize downloaders for the first time, raising what were previously civil penalties to criminal penalties of up to two years prison time or fines of up t……

Google+: View post on Google+

Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.

And this is the way it was, and still is….

Google+: View post on Google+

Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.

Punch in your zip and it will give you a rough idea who you will see on the election ballot in November.

I'm just happy Daniels is no longer on the ballot. God save Purdue. Now it's time for Tony Bennett to step down.

Embedded Link

Indiana Sample Ballots, Candidates & Election Voting Information
Indiana sample ballots using voter’s address with side-by-side comparisons of candidates’ pictures, bios, social links and positions and views on the issues.

Google+: View post on Google+

Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.

I can't believe any company would put their reputation on the line by creating spyware to invade the privacy of their customers… Just wow…

Embedded Link

Companies agree to stop spying, taking secret photos on rented home computers
The US Federal Trade Commission has reached a settlement with a remote monitoring software firm and its customers over what the agency said was flagrant computer spying on customers of the rental s……

Google+: View post on Google+

Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.

Well, I was planning to push out this critical Internet Exploder patch when it arrived this week, only to have to deal with a bad Sophos AV update that caused it to quarantine its own updater. After reading the bulletins Sophos released, and reading through the quarantine logs I was finally able to figure out the problem and develop an automated script to repair the damage done by Sophos, but not after screwing up the AV on my workstation. Now I've got to figure that out next week.

I'm glad it's Friday!

Google+: View post on Google+

Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.

Lately every time I heard the word 'patent' it makes me think about Apple and Samsung, and about how us consumers are going to get railed. I've read a bit on it, which goes way beyond the U.S., and there is no innocent party (even 'do no evil' Google).

But here is patent abuse for you – patents on food supplies!

Of course the problem might get fixed when the government gets fixed, so it won't happen within my lifetime.

Embedded Link

Growing Patent Abuse by Corporations
Some large corporations are now using patents to gain monopoly control of products that have been used by traditional societies for hundreds of years. These patent abuses are particularly alarming in …

Google+: View post on Google+

Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.

This is an interesting article about modern vehicle On Board Diagnostics (OBD) security. I never thought about the fact that this port opened up security issues, though it really isn't all that surprising.

What I do find rather surprising is that vehicle manufacturers have not come up with a way to secure the wireless connections. Perhaps they are concerned with the support aspect of it, but even the thought of forcing a vehicle owner to come up with a unique – let's call it a 'system pass code'. Something that requires at least 6 digits, and secures the OBD port and all wireless systems.

But hey, I'm not a car engineer – and I'm thankful for that. The fear of being lynched by anyone who tries to work on a car would drive me over the edge.

Embedded Link

Your BMW can be stolen by any idiot with a $30 hacking kit
The security holes in on-board diagnostics security systems are nothing new. But an easy-to-use kit, containing a reprogramming device and a blank key, is now available over the net, allowing even ……

Google+: View post on Google+

Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.

Ever have one of those days?

Reshared post from +ThinkGeek

Disapproving elephant disapproves. That is all.

Google+: View post on Google+

Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.

Can you verify who sent you that email, or the link that it has in it, or the attachment?

Anytime an email that you were not expecting has an attachment you should be cautious, no matter what the file is. If the file has a '.exe' (as well as a few others) at the end it should sound alarm bells.

And you should never click on a link that is inside an email without hovering over it and checking to see if it goes where it says it's going – check the URL.

Embedded Link

Malware attack blasted out in “Important Changes to Microsoft Services agreement” email
If you received an email, apparently from Microsoft, claiming to be about “Important Changes to Microsoft Services Agreement” would you trust it?

Google+: View post on Google+

Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.

Looks like the RIAA is bearing teeth like rabid dogs again! It's really just my opinion, but excessively suing people for downloading (or, actually, sharing) music is not good for PR.

Embedded Link

Minnesota woman fined $222,000 for 24 illegal song downloads
It's the latest twist in the first RIAA shakedown, and it could be the final say, unless the US Supreme Court agrees to pick it up. Meanwhile, the association has turned from its Dr. Evil pursuit o……

Google+: View post on Google+

Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.