Angry Birds is Big Brother

Here’s some food for your mind.

* The NSA Is Using Angry Birds to Spy on You

“Many popular smartphone apps are being mined for user data by the government, and authorities are using them to track your sexual habits.” Read more..

* The Only Thing Scarier Than Self-Driving Cars Are the Hackers Waiting to Attack Them

“A new study claims that nearly 54 million autonomous vehicles will be sold by 2035. But as smart devices proliferate across all categories, risks abound.” Read more..

* Malicious intent can turn Chrome speech recognition into spying device

“A speech recognition expert contends malicious players can turn Google’s Chrome web browser into a remote listening device.” Read more..

* The Real Reason Why Google Bought Nest for $3.2 Billion

“Here’s a hint: It has to do with things people do ‘twice a day.‘” Read more..

* Did you miss it? Tuesday was Data Privacy Day.

Yes, that’s right. Data Privacy Day. Sponsored by the National Cyber Security Alliance (aka staysafeonline.org).

“Today the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) is officially kicking off Data Privacy Day 2014, along with federal and private sector leaders. The theme for Data Privacy Day is Respecting Privacy, Safeguarding Data and Enabling Trust and will be echoed during numerous local and online events taking place globally and around the country.“

I did not notify you of this important event. Why?

“NCSA is teaming up with Facebook to broadcast the Data Privacy Day Kick Off event live online for the world to watch.“

ROTFLOL. Facebook???? It sure seems to me… somebody just isn’t “getting it”.
* Facebook CEO Admits To Calling Users ‘Dumb Fucks’

“Mark Zuckerberg admits in a New Yorker profile that he mocked early Facebook users for trusting him with their personal information.” Read more..

* Privacy no longer a social norm, says Facebook founder

“The rise of social networking online means that people no longer have an expectation of privacy, according to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.” Read more..

There’s some important things to know in the information above. I hope you’ll do some reading, and then tell your friends/family. (Because yes, the lunatics are running the asylum.) I apologize, Dear Reader, for reprinting that naughty word, but I do believe there’s good cause.

* Work From Home Like a Boss: Top Tech for Your Home Office

“Here are four tech tools to help telecommuters work harder, smarter and, yes, more comfortably, too.” Read more..

[Question: will these devices really help someone be more productive?]

Today’s quote: “If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it. That’s all it takes to get people to win football games for you.” ~ Bear Bryant

It is incumbent upon us to use the brains we have …

Copyright 2007-2014 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories. Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of. And please, never forget – one person can make a difference.

Using The Computer At Your Job

• The computer at your place of employment is not yours, it is the company’s. You are using it as a guest would.

• Everything you do it on it can be (and probably is being) watched (aka “monitored”).

This week (Monday and Tuesday) I have already had to explain this fact to three callers to my Tech Support biz.

They wanted to make changes, and install programs, and were puzzled by the fact the machines were not letting them, or failing to show menus, that their machines at home would let them make.

One wanted to install Hulu’s desktop app.

At work.

I was polite to these people, and explained to them that business machines are often ‘locked down’ by the IT department: that I could not/would not help them. And though it pained me (biting one’s tongue can hurt) I did not say anything other than they needed to ask their boss or IT department. (Which I knew they were not going to do: that’s why they had called me.)

• Every word you type can be read – even the log in to your webmail

Please think about that.

Every chat. Every email. Everything.

If you have checked your personal email while at work, your employers now know how to read your mail. Facebook. Whatever. I suggest that when you get home, you change your passwords, and stop doing personal stuff, and/or “recreational” stuff, when you are at work, getting paid to do the company’s business activities (aka “work”).

If they bother to look, yes, they can tell exactly (to the millisecond) how many minutes a week you play solitaire and Angry Birds. That might be a factor in their thinking when it’s time for the next round of layoffs. (I know it would be if I were boss and had to cut employees..)

Once again, I can’t believe I have to write this stuff…

Hulu? At work?

Today’s “Don’t miss out“: on the chance to enter my latest software license giveaway drawing!

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*** Win A Valuable Prize! ***

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The folks at Softland have generously donated ten licenses for Backup4all Professional to me, to award to my readers.

“Backup4all is an award-winning data backup software for Windows. This backup utility was designed to protect your valuable data from partial or total loss by automating backup tasks, password protecting and compressing it to save storage space. This backup application is feature rich and offers an intuitive interface making all features easily accessible for both beginners and professionals.“

To enter the drawing, please see: Backup4all License Giveaway Drawing

Today’s quote: “You will never go broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.” ~ P.T. Barnum

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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