Was bound to happen..

I like this: http://joelfightsback.com/

Written in a slightly American "glorified" way but still a good read, non the less...

news...

It turns out that Phorm will not be rolled out accross the BT network... apparently there are more important financial issues for BT pending... at least that's something good that's turned out of the financial crisis!



******************************************


Also Jacob Nielsen posted an article about password masking, critising that's it doesn't really provide more security and makes it difficult for the user to access the area. Initially I would definitely agree. Not only is it difficult to remember all the password you have for different portals (that's if you are into security), you then have to remember how to type them because you certainly can't see what you're typing. That maybe acceptible for email and facebook but when you've only got three chances on your ever important banking online it can be disasterous. As Mr Nielsen mentioned... don't even get me started on trying to type your masked password on your mobile.

On the other hand, I personally hate it when people hang over your shoulder, trying to:

a) annoy you
b) see your password
c) guess your password
d) generally be nosey

Its moments like those that I just don't go anywhere on the web that's password protected.
I think Apple (yet again) have got it right with the option to show your password if you so wish.... Hopefully the choice will be implemented...

Drama drama drama!

Alfred Hitchcock said:

Drama is life with the dull bits cut out.

And indeed it's getting very intense with the report of Digital Britain defining what digital expansion in Britain will be introduced (hopefully... but with the political state at the moment I wouldn't hold my breath). On the other hand it promises to cramp down on illegal downloading. With the threat of "3 strikes and your out" at bay for the time being it's a worry what will become of Internet freedom and privacy in the UK. If these sorts of laws become reality I'm moving country.

As Cory Doctorow explains somewhat sarcastically:

I mean, it's not as though Internet access is something important right?

This trivial bit of kit is so unimportant that it's only natural that we
equip the companies that brought us Police Academy 11, Windows Vista, Milli
Vanilli and Celebrity Dancing With the Stars with wire-cutters that allow them
to disconnect anyone in the country on their own say-so, without proving a
solitary act of wrongdoing.

An excellent article.

Most problems are related to people not being able to afford CD's, DVDs, software extra. I happily pay for music on itunes or other media as its quick, reliable and affordable. I'll happily start using the DVD products as well, if only my broadband could handle it...

People now pay for downloads as the technology advances. It's quick, cheap and easy. With electronic distribution costing next to nothing, paying for downloads should become cheaper... (hint hint Apple...). Like any business model - offers, sales should be advertised... instead of spending money chasing down illegal downloaders.

Teenagers who don't have their own income and students are the biggest culprits for illegal downloading. If only these companies would take this in account. If only the CEO's of record companies remembered what it was like being strapped for cash. I'm not saying this is right but being a student if software was discounted enough, I paid for it. It's better than any illegal software, it gets updated and is safe to use. However offers like that are far and few in between.

I'm not saying that there aren't people around who download constantly and take the piss. Sure there are... but then so are many criminals roaming our streets, does that mean we should introduce house arrest and police should start patrolling the streets?

Why are we even considering introducing this on the Internet. Crime is part of social interactions, we have not eradicated it over the centuries in any other areas of human life.

The rant is nearly other but what I don't understand is that why this is all going on in the UK, France, US and other developed countries when the biggest offenders are in Asian countries where buying a pirate DVD may set you back... ohh I don't know, maybe 50p.

Personally I'm more ticked off MP's partners downloading porn and my hard working money paying for it, than a teenager downloading music he/she can't afford.

And a blogger on BBC agrees...

Maybe people would stop downloading illegally if this was condemned by some
of the most righteous people in the land. I am thus looking forward to MP's
condemning downloading as utterly indefensible yet admitting that they employ a
researcher to do their downloading and charge their wages to the taxpayer.
clive of india

Copyright and music - news

Oh this is soo amusing. I had to post it. Turns out that Barack Obama and the Queen are responsible for some shameful behaviour!!! Tut tut! This just really goes to show how complex and ineffective copyright laws with regards to the music industry are.

The is also uproaral about the "3 strikes" proposals on illegal downloading. As Billy Bragg describes this as moving the legal responsibility from the music producers to ISPs.

Billy Bragg represents the The Featured Artists Coalition. Read more about it to see what they are doing to protect artist and their stance on digital music distribution.

Freedom, privacy, democracy...

You have to wonder with the sorry state of affairs in the UK recently. I like to read some blogs on the different issues regarding privacy...

Some links you may find interesting:

• http://www.openrightsgroup.org/ - this organisation looks at the rights you have especially in the digital and media areas.
• http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/ - categorises recent Freedom of Expression requests. It's brilliant, because it tells you straight away with small symbols if the request was successful, declined or still pending. FOE requests have to be acknowledged immediately and answered in a specific time frame, the website shows how much time before the request is illegally overdue.
• http://www.idealgovernment.com/ - the blog talks about an ideal e-goverment and assess issues as ID cards, government databases and the digitisations of various state organisations, especially the NHS.

Pretty good reads. More to come...

A bit of humour

I know it's cheesy but I've been watching Britain's Got Talent recently. There have been some good surprises and some really talented people but the most hilarious thing I've seen in a while is the Stavros Flatley. If you want to have a laugh this is guaranteed!

Enjoy!

Just a quick post!

I regularly read a few blogs about privacy rights in the UK. I'll post the links up soon. One of them mentioned this website: Statebook.

Check it out, a brilliant parody of that a lot of us can relate too, and makes you aware of some of the privacy issues in the UK.

Enjoy!

The project!

So far working intensely on completing my Uni project. I'm writing about information security

in different types of organisations... lots and lots of information available but probably the most on the department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Helping me write are lovely crumpets and nutella. Enspired by Shoena. Try it, once you have one... with choc dripping through the holes you'll wonder how you could have missed out for so so long. Well, at least I did.

working away!

We’ll its amazing sunny day in Manchester. I’ve just interviewed an IT manager from a private limited company, which will be useful for my final year project at Uni. In the process of writing it – there is so much material on information security that I just don’t know where to start at times.

Also designing a website for a friend… its proving challenging but then I love a challenge. Getting loads of experience and help from Jez Daniels my uni collegue who happens to be very skilled in development.

Some inspirational websites for the web design beginner:

All about .htaccess
How to change brushes in Photoshop by Brusheezy

Off to a beer garden!