All Things Tech

Network Security: Social engineering

2011-09-05T10:35:00.000-05:00

As part of the Network Security class I am taking I was required to respond to a case study in the Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals textbook. I thought the case study presented a realistic example how social engineering can be used to gain access to a companies network and included a summary of the case study and my response below.

CaseProject 2-6: Community Site Activity

Caseproject 2-6 involves reading a security case study involving anauditor who was hired to determine if he could gain access to thenetwork of a corporation. The CEO of the corporation proudlyproclaims the auditor will not gain access to the corporate networkbecause the network is secure and the company operates in aconfidential and secret manner. The auditor uses social engineeringto discover information about the CEO, then uses the information tohave the CEO willingly open an email attachment, opening a back doorinto the corporate network (Ciampa, 2012, p. 77). The full casestudy can be found on page 77 of Security+ Guide to Network SecurityFundamentals.

Afterreading the case study, the following questions are asked: Whatwould you say to the CEO? Why? What recommendations would you makefor training?

Accordingto the case study, the auditor was able to determine some informationabout the CEO via Facebook.com. I would recommend the CEO not havean account on Facebook.com, but if the CEO insists on having aFacebook account he limits the amount of public information to onlyhis name. Unfortunately, Facebook does not make it easy for users tochange security settings and verify their account is not sharing moreinformation than the user wishes to share. According to a June 2011post by GrahamCluley from at Sophos, “Most Facebook users still don't know how toset their privacy options safely, finding the whole system confusing.It's even harder though to keep control when Facebook changes thesettings without your knowledge”(http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2011/06/07/facebook-privacy-settings-facial-recognition-enabled/). I would also recommend the CEO limits the amount of publicinformation available on other websites (e.g. Twitter, Flicker,blogs, etc) as easy access to information about the CEO is whatallowed the auditor in this case study to penetrate the corporatenetwork.

Ithink it would be advantageous for all companies to hold quarterlysecurity training. Since the world of network/IT security ischanging at such a fast pace, 15,000 – 20,000 new phishing attacksare launched each month (Ciampa, 2012, p. 60), IT professionals mustcontinually educate end-users as to what the new attacks are and howthey operate. Another recommendation is for companies to create acorporate intranet where new security attacks are updated on a weeklybasis, thereby, allowing end-users to stay on top of the latestsecurity threats.

Finally,security training must educate end-users on both the softwarevulnerabilities (e.g. inserting a USB drive from home into a companycomputer), and the social engineering vulnerabilities such asproviding a caller with information about the company computer (e.g.type of operating system, vendor of anti-virus, etc). Unfortunately,companies regularly place tools with company secrets and access tocompany networks (computers, smart phones, tablets) in the hands oftheir employees without continually educating the employee how tosecurely use the tools they are given. While no company will ever be100% safe from malicious attacks on their network and devices, we canminimize the number of successful exploits by continuing to educateend-users.

Verizon and the CR-48

2011-03-04T13:16:00.000-06:00

As many of you know by now, I am one of the fortunate ones who received a Google CR-48 notebook computer. I recently activated the 100 free megabytes per month promotion that comes with the notebook; activation was easy and only required me to create a Verizon account.

I decided today to inquire how I might add more data to my monthly allowance, and I contacted Verizon via phone. After spending nearly 30 minutes with 3 different Verizon representatives explaining what the CR-48 is and how I receive 100MB of data each month for free with Verizon, I was finally told that Verizon has never head of this arrangement, but would treat the data usage as pre-paid mobile broad band. The last gentleman to help me also informed me that mobile broad band is relatively new and therefore, very expensive. See below for the rates and data usage amounts I was quoted. The Verizon representative continued to explain that if I planned on watching any Youtube videos 5GB was not going to be enough, adding that none of the data plans would really allow me to do much on the Internet.

Rates and usage as quoted by Verizon representative

5GB for $80
1GB for $50
300MB for $30
100MB for $15

After ending my call with Verizon, I did what I should have done in the first place, I Googled CR-48 and Verizon. Upon reading some posts in a CR-48 forum, I came across the following post from Google, http://www.google.com/chromeos/features-connectivity.html . According to this post, the rates are much different than what the Verizon representative quoted me (see below). Although I'm still not sure how increase my monthly data allowance, the post by Google give me hope that I can afford to purchase some more bits!

Rates and usage as quoted by Google

Data plans
Plan Price
100MB of data per month¹ Free
Limitless day pass² $9.99 per day
Additional 1GB of data³ $20 per month
Additional 3GB of data³ $35 per month
Additional 5GB of data³ $50 per month

Plan	Price
100MB of data per month¹	Free
Limitless day pass²	$9.99 per day
Additional 1GB of data³	$20 per month
Additional 3GB of data³	$35 per month
Additional 5GB of data³	$50 per month

Flow

2011-02-19T08:14:00.001-06:00

I received my beta invite to Flow, a new task manager that claims it will change the way I work; I'm not sure if the developers realize just how big of a task they have in organizing my life. Setting up my flow account was super easy, and 2 of the 3 fields required for account set up were pre-filled.

I am impressed by the sleek looking user interface, and the handwritten description of what a tab or button does makes the interface appear really friendly.

I rely heavily on my Android phone as my go to device, the one device I always have on me. Unfortunately, Flow does not mention anything about developing an Android app at this time, although, they state an IPhone app is in progress. Until I am able to access my grocery list on my phone while I am at the grocery store, I'm not sure how practical flow will be for my everyday use. However, I am looking forward to giving flow a try for my non-mobile tasks.

Anyone looking for a new task management application should head over to http://getflow.com/ and register for a beta invite so you can give Flow a try for yourself.

Verizon to sentence top users to reduced bandwidth

2011-02-06T07:27:00.001-06:00

After reading an Engadget post about Verizon's plan to throttle its top 5 percent of wireless data users, I'm left pondering the if the 5 percent stated by Verizon is truly 5 percent? According to the terms of service posted on Engadget, "if you use an extraordinary amount of data and fall within the top 5 percent of Verizon Wireless data users we may reduce your data throughput speeds periodically for the remainder of your then current and immediately following billing cycle to ensure high quality network performance for other users at locations and times of peak demand." To summarize, the top 5 percent of wireless data users will have their bandwidth speeds reduced for the remainder of the current billing cycle, and the following billing cycle. Theoretically, if the top 5 percent of data users are placed into a pool of reduced bandwidth users, a new top 5 percent of data users could, and should, emerge. For example, if I am a heavy wireless data user and my bandwidth speed is now filtered, it will now take me longer to download the same amount of content as it did before the filtered bandwidth sentence. Therefore, my wireless data usage should naturally drop as a result of the sentence, thereby allowing someone who was previously in the top 6 percent of bandwidth users to take my place in the top 5 percent pool. The question is what is the true bottom of the 5 percent pool?

The other question is will Verizon disclose to its customers sentenced to reduced bandwidth that indeed their bandwidth is reduced, or will the customer be required to call Verizon customer service to complain about slow download speeds, only to find out they've been sentenced for using too much of the service they are paying to have?

Setting static IP address on network printer

2010-03-31T11:01:00.004-05:00

The printer I was working with was a HP CP1518ni. The first step was to select an IP addresses that is not part of the dynamic IP pool. Then I used the printer menu on the printer itself to set the static IP address I selected in step one. I was also prompted to set the subnet mask and gateway too so be sure to have this information available. Because this printer previously had a dynamic IP address, I went to the ports tab on the printer configuration menu (in XP - Start/Printer & Faxes/right click on printer and select properties) and placed a check in the box next to the new static IP address I selected in the previous step. Finally, I printed a test page to verify the printer was properly configured.

Happy printing!

Hello 2010

2010-01-01T17:30:00.003-06:00

I saw the following post by Peter Aursnes on twitter the other day and I think his statement can help inspire us to achieve our goals in the new year. Happy New Year!

Beware of always learning and never doing. Trust yourself- that you already have the seeds of greatness inside of you.

- Peter Aursnes

Toothpaste

2009-07-26T07:19:00.006-05:00

As I was brushing my teeth this morning, I decided to read the information on the tube of toothpaste to pass the time. The tube I am using is a sample size of Crest Sensitivity, given to my wife at her last dentist visit. I discovered a couple points of interest under the Drug Facts heading.

1: Warnings: when using his product do not use longer than four weeks unless recommended by a dentist.

I have only used this toothpaste for two consecutive days so I am safe from the dangerous reprocussions of using this product past the four week mark, but this raises a question: what happens after using this product longer than four weeks without a dentist's recommendation?

2. Keep out of the reach of children. If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Now that I am done brushing my teeth, and enjoying a fresh cup of coffee, what did I put in my mouth? As I sip my coffee, I can't help but wonder if I'm swallowing any poison that maybe left in my mouth. I fell alright, so I guess my body is able to handle small amounts of poison, just not more than what is used for brushing?

3. Directions:

do not swallow
12 yrs. & older: Apply at least a 1-inch strip of the product onto a soft bristled toothbrush. Brush teeth thoroughly for at least 1 minute twice a day (morning and evening) or as recommended by a dentist. Make sure to brush all sensitive areas of the teeth.
do not use in children under 12 yrs.

A couple of questions come to mind:

Applying at least a 1-inch strip of product is recommended, but what amount is considered more than used for brushing?
What happens if a child at 11 years of age uses this product? What occurs within our bodies between the age of 11 and twelve helps us fight off the dangers those under 12 years of age face when using this product?

I am not singling out Crest, this just happens to be the tube of toothpaste I grabbed this morning, and I believe I would find similar warnings on other brands of toothpaste. I guess the bottom line is while I meet the general requirements: over 12 years of age and will not use longer than four weeks, I do not meet the main criteria for this product; my teeth are not sensitive.

The Dash

2008-10-12T09:12:00.000-05:00

I was sent this poem in an e-mail, and was would like to share this poem with all of you. I found this poem to be inspirational, motivational, and perfect for self-reflection. Enjoy!

The Dash
copyright 1996 Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth...
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
the cars....the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they
say about how you spend your dash?

Time Management

2008-08-22T14:13:00.001-05:00

I just finished watching the Randy Pausch Time Management Lecture, and what a great lecture it is. For those who may not know, Randy passed away July 25, 2008 after a battle with Pancreatic cancer. Randy gave this lecture earlier this year, knowing his time was limited, and therefore has instant credibility of knowing how to manage time.

If you enjoy the Time Management video, you may also enjoy Randy's Last Lecture video.

Enjoy!

Pheasant hunting in Minnesota

2008-07-10T06:39:00.001-05:00

According to an article published in the St. Cloud Times, last year was the best year for pheasant hunting in Minnesota since 1964! I wish I would have taken more time to go pheasant hunting last year. According to the article, 655,000 rooster were shot in 2007. Does this mean 2008 will not be as productive?

You can read the full article here - it's a quick read.

Gas Saving Tips

2008-07-10T00:25:00.001-05:00

Concerned about high gas prices? No, don't join the "put Exxon out of business" campaign, I think Exxon appreciates all the free publicity from chain-mail. Instead, read this money saving article by lifehacker. You may be surprised to know that according to the article, using your air conditioner makes little if any difference on your fuel efficiency! I also found the online gas trackers like GasBuddy.com, and GasPriceWatch.com interesting.

Just encase you feel you're beings squeezed at the pump, I included a reader's comment from the lifehacker article belo. See, we don't have it so bad.

digitalgravy at 04:24 AM on 06/10/08 *

hah! $4 a gallon?! it cost me 116.9p (£1.17) a litre! that's £5.31 / gallon which works out at $10.39 a gallon!! You guys over the pond have it easy!!
grrr!

Where would you go?

2008-07-09T13:51:00.000-05:00

I saw this question asked asked on another blog by Paul Kedrosky, and I thought, "I wonder how my friends would answer"? So here's the question asked on Paul's site.

A question for people to ponder: Say you were 22-years-old, unattached, and recently graduated and looking for your first job. You want to be part of something big and dynamic, a truly dynamic economy where you're going to be able to rise up with it.

The U.S. has long been that place, and maybe you think it no longer is -- or maybe you do. Whatever. Where in the world -- visas aside -- would you go?
How about you? Where would you go, from San Francisco to Sao Paulo, from Singapore to Shanghai, from Sydney to Slovenia to Saskatoon. The world is changing rapidly, and the "right" answer from 1998 isn't likely the right answer in 2008.

DNA Testing

2008-07-09T13:35:00.000-05:00

Here is an interesting article from the New York Times about government oversight for DNA testing. What do you think? Should the government regulate DNA testing?

Bumper stickers and your car

2008-07-07T15:49:00.000-05:00

Interesting short read on personalizing things in our life. http://replicatorinc.com/blog/?p=35

Naps

2008-07-03T12:36:00.000-05:00

You will enjoy reading this interesting study on napping, published by the Boston Globe. According to the study, napping is good for our mind and body, and feeling sleepy mid-afternoon is normal. You can read the complete article at http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/naps/ Now, I just need to sell my boss on the benefits of an afternoon nap. Oh wait, I am the boss; I hereby mandate all employees take a 45 minute nap every afternoon from this day forward!

Twitter

2008-06-08T13:50:00.001-05:00

After resisting for as long as I could, I finally broke down and registered for a twitter account, and I'm hooked! For those who may not know, Twitter is a mini-blog/social networking site that allows you to post your status with 140 characters or less. Twitter asks a simple question, "What are you doing?", and your responses are logged. The neat feature Twitter offers is the ability to follow others. While the thought of "following" others is somewhat stalker like, the advantage is you see what others are doing as soon as they submit their post. Although many people on twitter post exactly what they are doing right now (i.e eating ice cream), I find the most interesting posts are those that are informational (i.e. Barack Obama just clinched the Democratic Nomination).

If the concept of Twitter does not sound interesting to you, I encourage you to try it before making your decision final. Just head over to www.twitter.co m and register for a free account. You can then follow me, troythetechguy to get a feel for how Twitter works. By the way, here is a little jargon you'll want to know. When you post an update on twitter, it's called a tweet!

XP copy Tip

2008-04-14T18:44:00.000-05:00

I know I discuss Linux a lot, and that's because Linux rocks! However, from time to time we may have to use Windows. Here is a quick tip when copying in Windows XP.

http://www.online-tech-tips.com/cool-websites/windows-no-to-all/

How The Internet Works

2008-03-26T21:37:00.000-05:00

While searching for a video on youtube.com to help me understand a networking concept for one of my classes, I came across this neat video by the History Channel explaining how the internet works. You can watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0WGGa2gIws

How to use Photoshop

2008-02-24T07:51:00.000-06:00

I found this neat video on how to touch up photos using Photoshop. CAUTION: This video is not for those with low self-esteem.

Enjoy!

Click here to watch the video

The worlds cheapest car

2008-01-20T06:41:00.000-06:00

With close to $3.00 per gallon gas, this car could give American car manufactures a run for their money! According to the short article on Crunch Gear, this car cost s $2,500, and gets a energy efficient 50MPG! Click here for the full story.

Linux Distributions

2008-01-08T07:24:00.000-06:00

Are you new to Linux and don't know what distribution to start with? Have you used Linux for awhile and are ready to try a different distribution? The following link will take you to a web site that will help you select a Linux distribution that is right for you. I personally took the test, and found the results to be accurate to my wants and needs for a Linux distribution. Not sure what a Linux distribution is? Click here for an explanation.

Click here to take the test.

Funny facebook video

2007-12-17T15:43:00.000-06:00

This funny facebook video is bound to hit home with even the newest facbookie. Enjoy! http://www.wallstrip.com/2007/12/17/12-17-07-facebook/

Now stop wasting time, and start watching.

Open Source Saves Money

2007-12-16T22:00:00.000-06:00

If you're still tied to the world of M$, and are searching for a reason to break the chains of propriety software, how about saving money! According to an article by engadget, the Netherlands is expecting to save millions of dollars each year by switching to open source. The Netherlands government unanimously approved the change, which will take place in April of 2008.

Opening Christmas Gifts

2007-12-03T13:41:00.000-06:00

This Christmas when you are fighting with that plastic packaging that even a dog can't chew through, all to free you new prized possession. Alright, you just want to play with the damn toy! Lifehacker .com has a handy tip that may allow you to loose the plastic wrap and start playing a whole lot sooner, and not to mention save your hands from a trip to the ER.

Christmast Gift Ideas

2007-11-29T14:02:00.000-06:00

Alright, I know I said I did not want any gifts for Christmas this year, but if you are feeling inspired to buy me something, I'll take one of these. Please contact me for shipping information!

Holy Wii

2007-11-19T07:49:00.001-06:00

According to engadget, Nintendo is producing 1.8 million Wiis per
month, and they still think there might be a shortage this holiday
season. For Christmas this year, I want 1 share of Nintendo: it will
be worth more than the Wii in the long run, and I assume it's easier
to get than the Wii is.

Your future health

2007-11-17T11:56:00.000-06:00

Tech Crunch has an interesting brief about a new start-up called 23andme. The company will start selling DNA analysis, allowing you to see what health issues are likely to be in you future base on you DNA.

The good I see in this technology is it may allow us to prevent certain health issues we're at high risk of attracting. However, is there a downside? How can insurance companies use this information? Would you want an analysis of your DNA?

You can read the Tech Crunch article here
www.google.com/reader/m/view/?i=4217947493988525249&c=CLKp74rw448C&n=1

Shocking News

2007-11-02T12:35:00.000-05:00

Slashdot states the Australian Army is using technology to energize the troops. You can read the short article from Slashdot here.

Want to save money on your car insurance?

2007-10-30T07:14:00.000-05:00

An article from Techdirt explains how insurance companies are offering their clients discounts on car insurance, if you're willing to allow your driving habits to be monitored! Personally, I don't think it will be too long before auto manufactures start including GPS monitoring systems in new vehicles, which will allow real-time monitoring online, thereby giving parents the ability to monitor their child's driving habits and whereabouts. Although, allowing your spouse to know your whereabouts may end poker night with the boys!

Teaching the Techno-kid

2007-10-21T07:29:00.001-05:00

The Technology Evangelist has an interesting video and article about teaching in today's technical world. I've been thinking a lot lately about how we are educating today's youth. Are we using outdated techniques, ways that served their purpose of years past? Is it punishment to force a child, one who's mind is hyper-active and constantly seeking stimulation, to sit through a hour class with the teacher using a chalk board as an aid? Should we change our ways of teaching so they relate to today's youth? What are your thoughts?

How life has changed

2007-10-15T15:18:00.000-05:00

Around one year ago I would have never thought to visit a web site about environmentally friendly diapers, yes diapers. As I was in my Google Reader browsing some of the blogs I'm subscribed to, I was intrigued by a blog titled, "Easy Ways to Live Grener". It just so happens I've been thinking a lot about diapers, and before you tell me to seek mental help, understand my "thinking" is due to tossing 8 diapers in the trash each day. According to "Easy Ways to Live Greener", there is a environmentally friendly diaper you can flush, or compost. What a great idea! You can watch a demonstration by click here, then click on watch.

Car of the future

2007-10-15T06:55:00.000-05:00

Slashdot has an interesting article about the new Nissan automobile. According to the article, a "birds-eye view" of what's behind you. I'm waiting for the day when you enter your vehicle, say your destination, and sit back and enjoy the ride.

Create an instant .PDF file

2007-10-11T06:40:00.000-05:00

The LBlog has a slick tip for instantly creating a .pdf file using Linux. If you are new to Linux, I recommend you visit http://linuxbasics.org. Linuxbasics.org is a great community dedicated to helping people use Linux.

Keep your software up to date

2007-10-08T13:47:00.000-05:00

Lifehacker.com has a useful article on an application called appsnap. According to lifehacker, appsnap allows you to keep your installed applications up to date by notifying you when new versions are released. Unfortunately, appsnap is available for Windows only, but I look forward to trying it out anyway.

Searching for a new career?

2007-09-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

Slashdot posts that cybercrime surpasses worldwide illegal drug trade in value! I'm not sure what the qualifications are for employment, but I'm sure a criminal mindset is a must.

The polar bear

2007-09-09T08:51:00.000-05:00

Just released is a new report showing the detrimental affects global warming is having on polar bears. I'm glad we don't have to take any of this global warming stuff serious. Maybe if we just continue to ignore the problem, it will go away on its own!

Hospitals & cell phones

2007-09-06T09:10:00.000-05:00

If you've been to a hospital in the past few years, you undoubtedly saw the "NO CELL PHONES" signs posted throughout the hospital. If you inquired as to why you were prohibited from using your cell phone in the hospital (like I did), you were probably told because your cell phone interferes with the hospital's electronic equipment. If you are anything like me, you probably refrained from testing this theory due to the causing sever problems for the patients attached to the electronic equipment.

Today, techdirt.com reveals new research that shows using a cell phone in a hospital is not as dangerous as once thought, and using the cell phone on hospital grounds may actually be beneficial. You can read the entire (short) story here.

I wonder who conducted the study that defied the "all knowing" hospital?

Is it real?

2007-08-25T22:33:00.000-05:00

I stumbled upon this picture and found myself asking, is this real? I studied the picture for a period of time and did not any discrepancies. Post your opinion: is it real?

Staying Green

2007-08-23T11:38:00.000-05:00

While I'm not sure this qualifies as a tech story, I have to imagine a lot of technology was used to create this home. www.treehugger.com has a story about someone in the Netherlands who converted a water tower into their residence - now that is recycling!

Recycle your water

2007-08-21T16:05:00.001-05:00

Speaking of saving the planet, check out this short article and video clip from lifehacker.com. While the video certainly brings recycling to a new level, I'm not sure it will catch on real quick.

Global Warming

2007-08-20T07:32:00.000-05:00

I saw the movie, An Inconvenient Truth the other night. While this movie does not have the latest in special effects, I found myself asking, "are we really doing this to ourselves"? As much as I wanted to accept the movie as 100 % true, I was skeptical about how much of the "Truth" was distorted. After all, this is a movie, and movies are made to make money, right?

As I was skimming through the news headlines yesterday, I came across an article titled, "Arctic Sea Ice Shrinks to Record Low". After reading the article, I was struck with the harsh reality of An Inconvenient Truth! The facts and predictions in the movie was now appearing as headline news. While a great movie blurs the lines between cinema and reality, this is not the kind of reality any of us wants to see. Do what you can today to make a change!

Fire Fox Tips, Pownce, and We Need Girlfriends

2007-08-15T10:22:00.000-05:00

Is Fire Fox your web browser? If not, there is another discussion that needs to take place regarding why you should be using Fire Fox. However, if you are still reading, I assume you are using Fire Fox!

The following link from lifehack.org will show you 15 tips and tricks you can use to make Fire Fox faster, and easier to use .

On another subject, I found this awesome "internet only" show called We Need Girlfriends. Last night I watched episode #8 on my ipod as I was laying in bed. CAUTION: watching We Need Girlfriends before falling asleep can cause involuntary wetting of the bed from sporadic laughter in your dreams - I'm NOT writing from experience or anything, just a word to the wise: empty your bladder before falling asleep!

While I could fill a bunch of space giving my interpretation of We Need Girlfriends, the best thing for you to do is check it out for your self at http://weneedgirlfriends.tv/

Finally, I received my Pownce invite. Pownce is the latest and greatest social networking site! Hop on over to http://www.pownce.com/ and see it for yourself. Membership to Pownce is by invitation only, and I just happen to have a few invites left. So, if you want to be my friend, and are interested in pownce, send me an e-mail.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot... Did you hear about the paper battery? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6945732.stm

Our world is changing all around us, and you found the place to stay connected, abreast, and hip with the latest gadgets and gizmos.

I want your feedback!

Troy the Tech Guy

Universal Service Fund

2007-08-13T09:36:00.000-05:00

Have you looked at your phone bill lately? If you look at the line items, you'll notice a little charge for the Universal Service Fund. The amount charged is not a large amount, and according the the FCC's web site the Universal Service Fund was established to help the poor and children - a noble cause. However, if you are like me and actually pay attention to your phone bill, you'll notice the USF (Universal Service Fund) adds up over the course of a year, and the shocking truth is the telephone companies are required to pay the USF fee, but choose to pass the cost along to the consumer. Why you ask? The political correct answer is that each telephone company makes a business decision on how they will handle the USF fee, the blunt reality is because they can!

I encourage you to take a quick look at this article and commentary I found regarding the USF fee. The article does a nice job of explaining the details of the USF fund, and the commentary does a good job of putting the USF into perspective. Keep in mind, many of us pay the USF fee twice, once for our land line provider, and once for our cellular provider. Maybe we can deduct the amount we contribute to the USF fund from our taxes at the end of the year - a charitable contribution?

If you have a thought about the USF fund, post it in the comments.

Peace

2007-08-13T08:09:00.000-05:00

Although the topic of peace is technically not a tech topic, I did find the Tips For Keeping the Peace on the internet at http://lifehacker.com. My thoughts for adding this is that we can all use a little more peace, and a little less conflict in our lives.

Keep the peace,

Troy the Tech Guy

Linux on the move

2007-08-06T13:58:00.000-05:00

After Dell started selling machines with Linux installed, it was only a matter of time before other big computer manufactures followed Dell's lead. According to Reuters, Lenovo, the world's # 3 PC maker will start selling laptop computers with Linux later this year! Say hello to a new world of FREE and Open Source Software.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSWNAS010720070806

Google searches cell phone industry for growth

2007-08-03T12:02:00.000-05:00

Here is an interesting article discussing the possibility of Google creating it's own cell phone network, and providing service for FREE! No more roaming charges.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/213328/Report_Google_Working_on_Cellphone_to_Compete_in_Mobile_Market

How to get your computer back in shape

2007-08-03T09:11:00.001-05:00

If your computer is slow and cluttered with programs you never use, you can get your computer back in shape by doing a fresh install of Windows. This first thing you want to do is back up your data files (pictures, word documents, music, etc). Before you actually do the back up, I recommend installing AVG anti virus and running a virus scan to make sure you're not copying a virus.

After you back up all data files, it's time to reformat the drive. Reformatting the drive removes, deletes, and destroys any and all files on the drive. The reason you want to reformat is because your system may have spyware and or a virus, and the only sure way to remove spyware and any viruses is to totally wipe the drive clean by reformatting. I use a program called Darik's Boot and Nuke to wipe my hard drive. I also found a program called Ultimate Boot CD which appears to include Darik's Boot and Nuke plus other utilities.

After you reformatted the hard drive, then you simply put your W indows XP disc in the CD ROM drive, it will ask you a few questions, then start installing. AS SOON AS THE INSTALL IS COMPLETE YOU MUST TELL WINDOWS TO CHECK FOR NEW UPDATES. More than likely, the Windows XP disc you have does not contain the many updates Microsoft released to patch security holes (i.e. Service Pack 2). After installing updates, you'll have to reboot your machine, and then tell windows to check for updates again. I recommend you continue to check for updates until Windows says there are no more updates (sometimes you have to check for updates 3-4 times before you get them all).

After you have all updates installed, the next step is to install an anti virus, I recommend AVG. Personally, I don't install a firewall because Windows XP has a built-in firewall, and I am behind a router - which is a firewall. At this point if you want to install any anti spyware program, now is the time to do so.

The final step is to copy your data files back to your desktop, and install any programs you use (i.e. MS Word, Excel, etc). Here are some of my favorite programs:

Web browser - Fire Fox
E-mail - Thunderbird
PDF viewer - Foxit
Office Package (Word processor, Spread sheet, etc) - Open Office

Money saving idea

2007-08-02T09:54:00.000-05:00

This week's entry comes from my PDA since time is limited. I have always liked Linux because it is a secure operating system, but did you know how much money you can save by using Linux? Here is a real example from a company you may have heard of, IBM. http://slashdot.org/palm/19/07/07/31/238219_1.shtml (this is a very short read)

Some food for thought: if one company can save millions by switching to Linux, how much can our schools and government save? Maybe instead of implementing another tax increase or cutting another vital program, our government leaders should consider a FREE alternative to the cost burden , vulnerable, filled with problems (Okay, I'm a little bias) Microsoft operating system currently in place. The alternative is Linux!

Maybe a tax refund is in our future. :)

The iPhone

2007-07-24T08:03:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I had my first encounter with the iPhone, and now I'm trying to convince my wife the iPhone is something the whole family can enjoy! Starting out with the phone features, I was impressed at how the iPhone handles voice mail. First of all, the iPhone has a caller id-like feature for voice mails, and when you look at your list of voice mails, you can select the specific voice mail you want to hear, rather than having to listen to all previous voice mails to get to the one you really want.

I was a little skeptical about the interactive touch screen before actually trying it, and after only a few minutes I was a pro at navigating the menus and entering text.

The real star of the show was the photo application. When viewing a picture, I was able to increase the picture size (zoom in) by simply pinching my thumb and index finger together at the center of the picture, then expanding my thumb and index finger towards the corner of the screen, and wammo! the picture size instantly increased.

Finally, I was impressed with the ability of the iPhone to open .pdf and other files. Although I did not try opening a MS Word document, I read on many websites that the iPhone will open MS Word documents too! Side Note: as an alternative to MS Office, try OpenOffice - it's FREE and allows you to open and save files in the proprietary MS format.

While my review of the iPhone barely scratched the surface (this is such a cliche`, and what does it mean to "scratch the surface" anyway? Was this the way wood was refined before sandpaper was invented? Ouch, talk about slivers under your nails!) of the many great features of the iPhone, I encourage you to get your tech on and play with one today!

ooma

2007-07-20T07:55:00.000-05:00

Could ooma be the next big thing in the telecommunications industry?

del.icio.us

2007-07-19T16:46:00.001-05:00

It's del.icio.us! What is del.icio.us? Del.icio.us is a place for you to store all your favorite websites with the ability to access them from any location. You can think of del.icio.us as an online bookmark.

To get started, go to http://del.icio.us, click on register, and complete the simple registration form. Once registered, you'll be given the option to add the del.icio.us icon to your web browser. I added the icon to my browser tool bar, and I stay logged into del.icio.us as I surf the web. When I find i website I want to bookmark, I simply click on the del.icio.us "TAG" icon, and the website is added to my del.icio.us account. As you add websites to your account, you can easily categorize your bookmarks by "tags" - you can think of a "tag" as a main folder containing many sub-folders. For example, you might create a tag called financial, and under financial have your bank's website, the website you use for stock quotes, and another financial related website. Using this set-up, when you click on financial, you will see all the websites you tagged with the word financial, making organizing your favorite websites easy.

Another great feature of del.icio.us, beyond being able to access your bookmarks from any computer, anywhere, is del.icio.us is a social bookmarking site. A social bookmark site means you can share your bookmarks with your friends, family, and co-workers. As an example, say you find a really great website explaining the fundamentals of molecular biology or quantum physics, you want to share with your friends. Tag your site, and send your friend the link to your delicious site. You can view my del.icio.us bookmarks by clicking here. You can find out more about the many other features of del.icio.us by visiting http://del.ciio.us/help.

Enjoy your tech. Catch you next week!

Troy

Power Freaks

2007-07-03T08:40:00.000-05:00

This week I decided to discuss the underlying "power freaks" who moderate craigslist.org. When one of my ads was "flagged for removal", I was instructed to visit help forum. Upon visting the help forum, I found the help forum was not very helpful, and moderated by "power freaks", I suppose I should define a "power freak". A "power freak" in computer terms, is a person with a considerable amount of knowledge in a particular topic or subject that uses their knowledge not to help others, but as a display of greatness and power. As an example, it was once common in the Linux community to respond to new user questions with, "Read the F***** Manual". However, as the Linux community continues to grow, more and more people are experiencing the helpful attitude that is now a monument of the Linux community: kindness towards others.

My early impressions of craigslist.org can be categorized as good vs evil: the FREE craigslist.org was combating the evil newspaper conglomerates who monopolized the classified advertising industry for years. However, upon searching for help in the craigslist's forum, I was unpleasantly surprised that craigslist allowed power freaks to run the help forums. As an example, here is the response to a question regarding why an ad was flagged for removal (not my ad),

"You don't know much about craigslist < --- > 07/02 23:11:40

You're obligated by the terms of use (that you agreed to and hopefully read) to flag inappropriate ads.

Your ad sucked worse than theirs for some reason. Aren't you curious what that reason could be? ".

I'm not sure how stating, "your ad sucked" is helpful in knowing why the ad was flagged. Imagine calling the newspaper and asking why your ad was not published, and being told it's because your ad sucks. Here is another example of an answer to the same question, "why was my add flagged for removal".

"in all cases:

suggestions for improvement to our system are extremely important & needed.

however, please don't ask for an explanation of why your individual posting was removed -- 'cause we don't have one!

thanks!"

If I understand this post, craigslist recognizes the need for suggestions to improve the site, but is not willing to improve their system by providing an explanation of why an ad was removed! Well, enough with the examples, you can read the rest if you like at http://forums.craigslist.org/?forumID=3

Although craigslist.org is a FREE service, does this mean the newer users should not receive helpful customer service? I think craigslist.org is a great service for connecting buyers and sellers, an online garage sale if you will. However, craigslist definitely needs to improve it's customer service by first and foremost removing the power freaks, and providing an adequate explanation of why an ad was removed. As a proactive measure, maybe craigslist should list the top 10 reasons why an ad is removed before allowing the user to submit an ad. Of course, if you want to find out why your ad was removed, you can always ask in the forum, but don't be surprised if your question is answered with, Read the Terms of Service! Does anyone actually read the Terms of Service?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Please send your comments to troythetechguy@gmail.com

Have a great week!

Internt music & the cat command

2007-06-12T19:57:00.001-05:00

Happy day to you!

This week I'll introduce you to a web site where discovering new music is automatic and fun. However, you must check out this web site soon because the unjust royalty rates demanded by SoundExchange is sure to delete internet radio.

Also this week, I'll cover the Linux cat command. Now before all you anti-cat folks start to form some not so Gandhi opinions, the Linux cat command is your friend, and will help you to see files in a new way!

Internet Music

If you enjoy listening to a certain style of music, and discovering new artists, then you have to visit www.pandora.com. According to the faq (frequently asked questions) on pandora.com, "the name Pandora means 'all gifted' in Greek", and was chosen as the name of the site because, "In ancient Greek mythology, Pandora received many gifts from the Gods, including the gift of music, from Apollo. She was also, as we all know, insatiably curious."

Enough about ancient Greek mythology (side note - I love Greek salads!). So here is how pandora.com works. When you first go to pandora.com, you are asked to enter the name of your favorite artist or song. After clicking the "Create" button, a new station is created for you, playing music you'll enjoy! Upon my visit to pandora.com, I entered Dave Matthews as the artist. After a few seconds, a station called "Dave Matthews Radio" was created for me. The first song to play was a Dave Matthews' song, and I was shown a brief description of the characteristics of Dave Matthews's music. When the Dave Matthews's song was finished, next played a song by Mike Holden, an artist I never heard of until using Pandora. Pandora figured if I like Dave Matthews, I may also like Mike Holden, and Pandora was right!

Pandora.com has some neat features such as, creating up to 100 stations of customized music, the ability to vote songs "thumbs up or thumbs down" - refining your listening preferences, and hours of commercial free music. In conclusion, pandora.com is superior to conventional radio by allowing you to choose from a wide variety of music what you like best, and the ability to discover new artists and songs.

As a preface to the Linux cat command, I should probably give a little more information on Linux. Linux is no longer the operating system for 'geeks only'. Linux has evolved to the point where if you know how to use a computer running Windows, you can easily run a Linux computer. (Side note - I have a crazy fly buzzing around me as I write, so please excuse me if I have to step away for a moment).

For those of you who have never seen Linux, I encourage you to head over to www.ubuntu.com; here you will find a great overview with screen shots and a list of some of the applications that come with Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a Linux distribution. Unlink Windows where you have one choice (i.e. Windows XP or now Windows Vista), Linux offers its users a wide variety of choices, and Ubuntu is one such choice - did I mention it's FREE! Anyone who's interested in trying out Ubuntu, feel free to contact me and I'll help you.

Linux Command Line Command

cat - concatenate files and print on the standard output

Now for the command of the week, the cat command. The technical definition of the cat command is, "concatenate files and print on the standard output". What the heck does that mean? Let's say you have a file called resume.txt (.txt meaning it's a text file). If you want to see the resume, you can type [cat resume.txt] and press enter. You will now see the contents of the resume file on your screen. I included an example below for your reference.
Example
troy@emac:~$ cat resume.txt
This is my resume.

That will do it for this week. Please join me next week for another exciting web site and a new Linux command line command. Please continue to send your great links and comments to troythetechguy@gmail.com

Have a great week!

Introduction

2007-06-03T21:23:00.001-05:00

Hello,

Welcome to the "What's New" blog for Troy the Tech Guy. My purpose is to cover new and interesting developments in the technology world, with a strong emphasis on computers, Linux, social sites, and fun stuff.

I am currently working my way through an introduction to Linux book, but I've been bogged down the past couple months on the chapter covering Vim. Each post into the blog, I will discuss a Linux command and how to use it.

Linux Command Line Command
ls - lists the contents of a directory

To use this command, open a terminal and type the command at the command prompt, and hit enter. Your screen will now display the contents of your current directory.

Example
practice@emac:~$ ls
Desktop Examples mydata.txt test.txt

I hope you will join me by sending your great links, comments, and suggestions to troythetechguy@gmail.com