The Internet

The Trouble In Firefox Paradise

August 12, 2015 — Leave a comment

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Here is a bad news for all Windows and Linux Mozilla users. There is a security flaw in Firefox JavaScript sector, which leaves an open door for hackers to exploit. What is happening with Mac users? Well, for the time being, their apple Apple is safe from harm.

What can we do about it? According to Mozilla, all what you have to do is to upgrade your Firefox to the latest version available. On the other side, there is no point of crying over the spilled milk in the earlier versions, is it? Is that all cyber-folks?

Apparently, it is. The business is going to be as usual for Mozilla. The users, who are going to experience a couple of privacy related inconveniences here and there, will not have a decent chance to complain. In the matter of days, we are very likely to forget this most recent trouble.

So, what is the moral of this story? Well, it is good to be fully aware about the imperfections of our existing cyber-empire. But, at the same time, you should not worry too much about it. Why? Because, there is not much you can do about it.

Avira Web Browser

July 15, 2015 — Leave a comment

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Here is a different approach to online security. Instead of special extensions for browsers, what do you say about a web browser, which is entirely dedicated to web security? As a matter of facts, how about a web browser, which is entirely designed, launched and run by the cyber security company?

We are talking about Avira. It seems that Avira got tired of its extensions. Therefore, they have decided to come up with something different and more powerful. Their browser is based on Google Chrome, and it is fully compatible with Microsoft, Mac, and Linux environment.

So, what is next? Kaspersky will also launch its own web browser? To tell you the truth. We do not care. We just want to be safe. Can Avira guarantee such a thing? Well, you will get a fair warning that a website you are trying to access is not reliable. This is supposed to ring a bell for you.

On the other hand, we are pretty much convinced that Avira is up to something serious. This is not supposed to be one more marketing trick. Either our cyber-guardians will have to come up with browsers of their own, or we will have to see some teaming up in order to keep us safe. There is no third option. Right?

PayPal Your Digital Pal

July 9, 2015 — Leave a comment

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PayPal has quite a notorious reputation, when it comes to its refunding policies. However, for what is worth, PayPal has improved its protection for the so-called “digital goods”. So, what is this supposed to mean exactly? Do we need to use some plain English expressions in order to explain?

From now on, you will be able to complain, when something you order and you cannot exactly touch it with fingers, such as music or a movie, is not exactly in accordance with your expectations. This is a huge and important change, which should have taken place earlier.

Apparently, some busy little bees in PayPal have realized that the money has gone mobile these days. If you want to make your users to spend more, then you have to ensure that they are protected and secured properly. This kind of an “investment” always pays off in the long run.

We presume that our financial transactions and credit card details are safe and protected, as well. Right PayPal? This is a simple cause-and-effect situation, where the more safe you feel, the more you are willing to spend. Right again PayPal? Our hats off for this one, that is for sure.

Mozilla’s Suggest A Privacy Unrest

May 31, 2015 — Leave a comment

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Sooner or later, this way or another, you are going to be ad-stabbed-back by all those shiny, friendly and colorful service providers. This has already happened with Google, and the history repeats itself with Mozilla. We have to admit, we are a little bit heartbroken. All great ideas have greedy endings.

Mozilla is about to introduce the thing called Suggested Tiles. So, what is the big deal about it? Well, this is a new kind of advertisement. You are going to search, and Mozilla is going to suggest. If you do not like it, you do not have to use it. As simple as that. When you put it this way, it sounds like a fair deal.

However, there is a catch. Mozilla’s suggestions are actually based on your browsing history. Now, it does not sound so fair, does it? We do not care about the things you advertise. Nevertheless, we have a right to ask, how did you create your offer? Based on what data?

Somehow, we have a feeling that this particular corporate greed is going to hit back Mozilla like a boomerang. Mozilla’s power is directly derived, or even better to say, borrowed from us, the users. No users. No trade. You have to maintain a careful balance. Otherwise, we will have to migrate to some other ad-free place.

AdultAdAttack

May 16, 2015 — Leave a comment

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The ads are annoying. The ads are running your good mood. Yet, the notorious world of ads can be surprisingly innovative when attracting your attention is an absolute must for their basic business survival. Now, put some of the adult websites into this story and what do you get as a result?

The worst case scenario, that is for sure. If you can help yourself against the overwhelming online porn impulses, then you should be fully aware of the most recent changes in this field. It turns out that as soon as you visit some of the adult website you are already “adoomed” before you know it.

What is that supposed to mean exactly? Well, in order for your system to get infected with the ads you would not consider looking under the normal circumstances, you do not have to interact with a certain adult website. The simple visit is all what is required. And unfortunately, that is only the beginning.

These ads are going to be patient for a while before launching their merciless campaign of an endless annoyance. It seems that the bad-ad-boys did a proper homework. In case, you are already wondering how to get rid of these ads, we have to warn you. This is a hot topic for one of our next posts.

The Pirate Percentages

May 7, 2015 — Leave a comment

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Imagine a world with no cyber-pirates. Imagine a moment where all computers all over the world will use and run only the fully legitimate and legal software and licenses. Would not that be a sight? Yet, what could this unrealistic scenario change for real? Does it mean that you would be a happier person?

Or, maybe you will have less money to spend on other things? Why? The pirate software version is substantially cheaper, by default. Here is a catch. In the EU alone, more than 70 million jobs, which is almost one third of its entire labor market, depends one way or another on the proper protection of the intellectual property rights.

When you mess up with the intellectual property and copyrights in the wrong way, there is no win-win scenario. Someone will always lose. Strong legal pressure means that we will pay more. Cyber loopholes can allow pirates to give us cheaper functional alternatives. Yet, that is a loss for the corporate world.

And, here we are where we are, where we have been all of this time. There will be some cosmetic changes, but the main troubles will remain the same more or less. Pirates are not going to disappear, and a software is not going to be offered for free. Our cyber seas will be restless for quite some time.

Big Gun China #1

May 3, 2015 — Leave a comment

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Here is our word of advice. If you plan to read this post, then you should listen ACDC. You do not have to guess twice, which song in particular, do you? Oh dear, if you thought that the so-called Great Firewall of China is something special, then wait until you hear about the Big Cyber Gun.

The busy little Chinese bees in charge of censorship have really done something amazing. Now, not only are they capable of blocking the entire Internet traffic, but also they can redirect it and manipulate according to their wishes with all kinds of malicious software solutions.

One serious rumor has it that compared to the Big Gun, the notorious Great Firewall of China looks and works like an outdated toy. However, this is not something you say our hats off for a respectable achievement. It is actually a sad fact. Just imagine resources and time required for its development and maintenance.

All of that, for what exactly? So, you can monitor and control your own citizens? Unfortunately, we have every reason to believe that the Big Gun made in China is going to give all kinds of crazy ideas to their US colleagues in the NSA. The Internet and freedom. Oh, that is such a bad joke. Indeed.

The Pessimistic Percentages

April 11, 2015 — Leave a comment

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Here is a disturbingly disappointing news. For the seven percent of all Americans their smartphone is the only Internet source. This may seem as an acceptable figure at the first glance. However, when you take into consideration that we are talking about almost 20 million users, then you get our point.

So, what is that supposed to mean? The land, which gave birth to Apple and Google, limits the option of people less fortunate to earn less than $30,000 a year. They do not have any kind of the Internet at home. All they have and use is a smart device in the palm of their hands. No more. No less.

The sad thing in this story is that we have the third world Internet conditions for a significant number of people, who live in, the number one country out of all first world countries – the one and only USA. We can talk all day long about our fascinating progress, but all of that is actually in vain.

The proper access to the Internet with a decent connection speed is the very mirror of our current level of achievements. So, the moral of our dark-cloud-story is that the busy little US bees have to find a way to “wire” this mobile-Internet-nation. Until then do not brag around, because it sounds bad.

The Certification Wars

April 9, 2015 — Leave a comment

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Google has a new cyber enemy made in China. The CNNIC or the China Internet Network Information Center is at least to say furious about Google’s rejection to accept its web certificates. So, what is the big deal with these certificates? Does it really have to be this way for these “old cyber friends”?

Do we really need an additional chapter in the book of conflicts between Google and China? Well, it seems that there is no other choice. This can be a disturbing and annoying thing for the Chinese website owners. Why? Each time someone uses the Chrome to check out your website, there is a surprise.

As a matter of facts, this surprise is not a nice one. You get a warning that this particular website does not play by the Google web security certification rules. You do not have to be a rocket scientist to guess twice how is this tiny detail going to affect the number of total visits, do you?

Maybe, this is a Google way of paying back some old dues for all the inconveniences associated with the rigid, but extremely profitable Chinese market. Unfortunately, while these two giants are fighting, we, the mortals, are going to suffer either way. What happened to a magical word called compromise?

The Self-Destructive Cyber Desires

March 22, 2015 — Leave a comment

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There is one busy little cyber bee called Matthew Rothenberg, who has run an interesting experiment. He launched a self-destructive website called the Unindexed. So, how does it work? This website is alive and healthy, as long it has not been indexed by Google at some point in time. And then, what?

The code inside it does not allow for a website to survive, once it is being indexed by Google. Again, why it is so important? Well, in the first place, this gives you an orientation how long it takes for Google to catch your website in its indexing structure. For your information, around three weeks, give it or take.

Matthew had a goal to examine how long we can express our thoughts in the cyber place, with no fear that our posts will be indexed, and therefore “immortalized”. Now, you see what was this all about. It can work with the apps. Just think about the Snapchat and its self-destructive messages.

However, once you get on the Web, you have the Google rules of indexing you have to deal with.  So, what is our only option? You have to launch a new website every three weeks. It does not sound like a good plan, does it? How to hide effectively from the bad indexing Google boys? Any ideas?