Google Filter Bubble — Google creates a profile built on one’s browsing history — including places like Facebook and Youtube — to direct one’s searches using its product.
This is why people searching for the same word often end up with different first pages when using Google.
Google makes assumptions on what one might be looking for hence one might never find what one wants.
Mountain View Monster Email Escape — Google has obvious issues for those concerned about privacy. Paoli-based DuckDuckGo is an alternative for browsing the web but what about for those who depend on an email service like Gmail?
Unlike with DuckDuckGo, which we use constantly, we can’t vouch for them from experience. We strongly suspect they are better than something associated with Google, however, and are certainly a starting point for those wishing to wean themselves from the clutches of the Mountain View Monster.
Hat tip Bob Small of Delco Debates.
Mountain View Monster Email Escape — Google is Watching Google is Watching BillLawrneceOnline.com BillLawrenceOnline.com
Iconic Computer Geek Mystery — This picture has been flying around the internet almost from the time the World Wide Web came into existence.
The computer appears to be an IBM XT, which was produced from 1983 to 1987. The printer is dot matrix, the brand of which we can’t identify. The boxes contain 3M 5.25-inch floppy disks and there is a phone jack screwed to the wall presumably for a line for a dial-up modem.
What makes the photo iconic, though, is the guy behind the keyboard. The cigarette, the hairstyle, the glasses, taste in clothes and overweight slouch screamed that here is someone who spent all his days and nights acquiring arcane skills and dealing with the problems to keep the machines working.
And drinking a lot of carbonated, caffeinated sugar water.
Many uncharitably assume the cheap paneling is in a basement rec room. We always figured it was in a small business maybe because we worked at one once about that time with that decor.
No name was supplied though. He deserves one. He’s part of history.
Here is the alleged before and after shot.
If you know his name let us know.
Update:We have been told that the icon’s name is Dave Aho and the second guy is not him. Obviously, we cannot provide a definitive judgement but here is Dave’s photo from Facebook.
Ad Blocking Praise — Auto-play video and pop up advertisements have made some websites unusable hence the increasing popularity of ad blocking software.
This stuff has long been available for desktop systems but Apple late last summer made it practical for mobile and did the pigs squeal.
With a little less greed, though, there would not be a problem.
The point of advertising is to expose one’s product to potential customers. If a website is a bad experience and chases away viewers, exposure is not going to happen no matter how often an ad pops up or how loud the video auto-plays.
And really, isn’t it a tad unethical to sneak trackers onto the computers of potential customers without their full informed consent?
We use Firefox as our browser with the free plug-ins Ghostery and No Script. We see comments on sites cursing the pop ups and the slow loading and wonder what the fuss is. We check the site in another browser without the blockers and learn.
Now, commerce isn’t bad and advertising goes back to the days of the Pennsylvania Gazette.
And websites need support. If a website were to restrict advertisements, however, to .jpgs with a clickable link or even just written classifieds as per Ben Franklin’s paper, products and services would get the necessary publicity, readers would not be chased away and the websites would get the funding they need.
And of course there is nothing wrong with asking for the occasional donation either:
But making people miserable by trying to squeeze every cent one can from them is a pretty lousy way to go through life.
Ad Blocking Praise — Ad Blocking: It’s A Good Thing
It must be remembered that Ashley Madison’s sign-up process does not require verification of an email address to set up an account, so legitimate addresses might have been hijacked. Also there were those who signed up out of curiosity.
And most of those who signed up did not follow through on anything so mull that before calling a divorce lawyer.
Just the same, if the hack ends up destroying Ashley Madison and its parent company Avid Life Media, the world will be a better place.
For those who think surfing habits are anonymous go to this site and take the test. Yes, privacy is dead on the web unless one takes special precautions that most of us find aggravating and feel unnecessary.
Granted, though it is nice to know that there are precautions one can take if one should feel the need and these can be for very good reasons i.e. a dissident in an Islamic nation, not just for perverse or violent ones.
In a related matter, Apple is collaborating with U.S. researchers to launch apps that would get their DNA tested.
Give credit where credit is due but we have received this great Apple Phishing solicitation. It reads: Dear customer, You’ve placed your Apple ID under the risk of termination by not keeping your information up to date. To complete the process, we just need to verify your information. Simply click the link below and sign in using your Apple ID and password to start the process. It provides a link “Verify Now” then continues: “Wondering why you got this email? When you don’t regularly update your Apple ID information, Apple will require you to sign in by following the link in a verification email and update your information. This is to help protect your identity and keep your account secure. For more information, see our frequently asked questions. Thanks, Apple Customer Support.
What is brilliant about this particular scam is that the return address in the email is to service@Apple.com and frequently asked questions link is to Apple.com. The Verify Now link, however, is to https://server45.host-argentina.com.ar/~pazfenor/administrator/Apple/WebObjects/iTunesConnect.html and the sign in page looks like this:
When you sign in the bad guys get your Id and can rack up what they want at the iTunes store.
Beware of links in unsolicited emails and always check the address before typing in information. Here is a description of “Phishing”
Pennsylvania State Sen. Tom McGarrigle (R-26) is hosting a panel on cyberbullying, 7 tonight, April 8, at Marple Newtown High School, 120 Media Line Road, Newtown Square, Pa. 19073.
Google Filter Bubble — Google creates a profile built on one’s browsing history — including places like Facebook and Youtube — to direct one’s searches using its product.
