It’s about time!!!

Talk about waking up to danger years after the war is already lost..

* US declares cybercrime a ‘national emergency’, threatens sanctions against hackers, online espionage

“Sanctions will hit cyber criminals where it hurts – in the pocket – says the White House.” Read more..

But.. better late than never.. right?

Wonder how/if that’ll affect relations with China.. or, since they own us, and manufacture all our goods, they’ll get a pass? (Since we know they’re major actors.)

(Sounds good, but good luck with that.)

Kinda related: No free pass for Google

• San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Apr 2015

“Google’s vaunted “Do no evil’’ credo is taking a beating. Leaked documents show that Federal Trade Commission investigators wanted to sue the search giant on antitrust charges, but the push melted away into modest changes after Google executives made numerous trips to the White House.” Read more..

Today’s quote: “Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone.
Kindness in another’s trouble,
Courage in your own.” ~ Adam Lindsay Gordon

Copyright 2007-2015 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

---

>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<

---

All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

Another Website In The News

* FTC Pounds Spokeo

While the FTC never seems to be carrying a particularly big stick, it has been threatening hard knocks on Internet companies that play fast and loose with user data. Spokeo is the latest enterprise to be licking its wounds. Read more..

most recent post: Mary Jander… One of the big turnoffs for me personally is the listing by some “people finder” sites of relatives,…

Spokeo.. I think I have heard of that one.. let me see. Ah, yes. It is one of those I have been talking about this week.

Spokeo is a social network aggregator website that aggregates data from many online and offline sources (such as phone directories, social networks, photo albums, marketing surveys, mailing lists, government censuses, real estate listings, and business websites). This aggregated data may include demographic data, social profiles, and estimated property and wealth values.

Yes.. people finders. The Information Age. No such thing as reasonable privacy. Here’s another good read/factoid.

* Hacking as Usual

“With all the excitement about state-sponsored superworms, cyberspying by government agencies, and legislation designed to take away all our freedoms in the cause of making sure Bono gets his royalties, we shouldn’t overlook the fact that hackers are going about their business as usual.” Read more..

So, again, today, I am going to follow my own advice, and get outside as much as I am able. (Glad it’s Friday!)

What you might see if you unplug your TV

… Never thought I’d be cheering for the FTC …

You could win: Folks, I was informed of a special promotion that’s happening now, and there’s a chance you could win a solid-state hard drive. Catch is you have to “Like” the company on Facebook and/or Twitter. Kinda boggles my mind how important (some people think) “like” votes are these days, (organizations are willing to buy them, I guess.. I saw one website giving away a car..) but, what the hey. This SSD retails for $80 $77.89, so you might want to participate, here. Take a look at the software while you’re there, too.
(And, yes. From what I understand, solid-state drives are the bee’s knees.)

Today’s quotable quote: “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.” ~ Mother Teresa

The weekend’s almost here!

Hmm.. maybe I was wrong. Maybe I should stay at my computer… I wouldn’t want to miss any important messages..

Right?

Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

---

>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<

---

All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

Stop Spam Calls – National Do Not Call List

As I mentioned in Spam, spam, spam, spam, spammitty spam…, I do not like spam. I do not like it in my e-mail. I do not like it for breakfast. And I especially don’t like it on my telephone.

Psychologically, the telephone is different than my Inbox. It is more important, and usually more urgent.
I am not going to drop whatever I’m doing and run to my computer if I hear a “ding. You’ve got mail!” But I will do so for the phone.

So, a long time ago now, I registered my phone number(s) on the National Do Not Call List.

By doing so, supposedly, telemarketers would be barred from calling me, and if they broke the Law, I could simply report them and they would be prosecuted (sorry; probably just fined. I know you were thinking Public Flogging). More information on what the service, and law, does and does not do, is available here.

Wonderfully, the suppers interrupted by real live salespeople has been greatly reduced. Regrettably, I had to use the word “supposedly”, because I still occasionally get spam (recorded) phone calls– at least one a week from “Daisy” at some carpet cleaners, some “urgent” call about my credit card (in both a male and female voice), and one that tells me my car’s warranty is about to expire.

Fortunately, I have only experienced “annoyance” calls, and no really dangerous con artists are going after me or my getting-up-in-years parents (I registered their numbers as well).
I cannot – with certainty- say if this is directly attributable to the No Call List. But, I can’t say it isn’t, either.

Tip of the day: If you have not already done so, click the link (above) and get your (and maybe, your loved one’s) phone number(s) on the list. It is an easy two-step process.
1) Enter up to three numbers on the form, and provide a valid e-mail address. (If you have more than 3, revisit the page.)
2) Copy the URL link in the e-mail you receive from Register@DoNotCall.gov, and paste it into your browser’s address bar.

That completes the registration process. You will have to wait for the legalities to cover you, so don’t delay. These kinds of things only work for us if we use them!

[update: A reader has left a comment which provides more information about new legislation inre recorded phone spam. Worth a look-see. Thanks, Ex-telemarketer!]

Today’s free link: a quite excellent resource page, Do-it-yourself: Stop junk mail, email and phone calls – A free guide to reducing unwanted or intrusive advertising

Copyright 2007-8 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

Share this post :