Prevent Your Computer From Getting Hacked
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Computer security experts warn that anyone conducting sensitive information on a laptop computer should not use a public wireless hot spot.
Interhack, a company that advises customers about how to protect computer systems, conducted a test for 10TV News.
As part of a test, they set up their laptop computers in one corner of downtown's Café Brioso, one of dozens of public Internet spots in the area, Consumer 10's Chuck Strickler reported.
Interhack's Matt Curtin could spot all the unprotected areas. He brought software to intercept data from other people's computers.
"It's easy to find," Curtin said. "It's easy to download. It's pretty easy to use."
Curtin said that it is perfectly legitimate to have tools that can do what he was doing.
"The issue is how you're using the tools," Curtin said. "It's kind of like a wrench. You can use a wrench for good things. You can use a wrench for bad things. It's all to do with how you employ it."
Ohio State University law professor and privacy expert Peter Swire said that looking at someone's information on a free, public Web site is OK but stealing that information is where the crime starts.
"Once you've set up the password - once you've tried to encrypt it - if the bad guys come
and try to break it, that violates what's called the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, 18USC1030 - and that's a hack attack," Swire said.
Keith Morris just sent an e-mail to his brother, Justin, who lives in Canada. Within minutes, Curtin intercepted his response on Curtin's computer.
"We're able to find anything they're sending or receiving over the Web if they're not using encryption," Curtin said.
Morris surfed the Web unprotected, Strickler reported.
Curtin showed Strickler the Web site that Morris was viewing. Morris later said that he was not surprised that everything he was doing on his computer in a public hot spot was being intercepted.
Brad Lawson, a medical student, was also surfing the Web at the café.
Curtin pulled up information about the Manchester United soccer team. When we checked his laptop, Lawson was checking out the soccer team.
"It's a bit unnerving that somebody could see what you're doing that easily though it's something I'm not surprised by," Lawson said.
Curtin and Strickler then tried to intercept Lawson's e-mail through the protected Ohio State University Medical Center Web site.
"It looks like what he is doing is using a session that is encrypted so he's actually protected against this kind of attack," Curtin said.
Experts said that if a person is comfortable with shouting the information that he or she is working with on their computer from a tall building for everyone to hear, then there should not be an issue. Otherwise, he or she might be taking chances.
Stay with 10TV and 10TV.com for additional information.
Showing posts with label low-cost notebooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label low-cost notebooks. Show all posts
Monday, May 12, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Ultra Low-Cost Notebooks Destined As Second Computers
Ultra Low-Cost Notebooks Destined As Second Computers
The most compelling reason to own the small device is to avoid carrying around a heavier and bulkier regular notebook, IDC analysts found.
The ultra-low-cost notebook, a clamshell device with a screen measuring 7 to 10 inches, is likely to find its place among consumers looking for a second computer for accessing the Web on the road, a market research firm said Thursday.
While the sub-$500 notebooks were expected to be potential solutions to the digital divide in developing countries, IDC believes they are more likely to be used as a tool for accessing the Web in Wi-Fi hotspots in developed nations.
More Hardware Insights
White Papers
* High Availability for SQL Server 2005 Using Array-based Replication Host-based
Mirroring Technologies
* Backup and Recovery Best Practices for Microsoft SQL Server2005
* Optimizing HP Servers with Microsoft SQL Server 2008
The ultraportable notebooks, as defined by IDC, run a full operating system, support third-party applications, and include a keyboard and wireless broadband connectivity. Examples include the Asus Eee PC and the One Laptop Per Child XO.
The most compelling reason to own the small device is to avoid carrying around a heavier and bulkier regular notebook. The low-cost notebooks offer a true Web browsing experience, which sets them apart from smartphones and other handheld devices, IDC said.
The smaller notebooks are not expected to attract the majority of consumers, IDC said. Most of them will opt to pay a bit more for a full-size notebook that will become their only portable. The only market that the research firm sees the ultraportables used as a primary computer would be for schoolchildren from kindergarten to the eighth grade.
In addition, PC vendors wary of the very small margins on the low-cost devices are expected to promote them as a second PC, not as replacements for current machines. Even then, vendors "will still face challenges in making them a profitable business," IDC analyst Bob O'Donnell said in a statement.
Worldwide shipments of ultra-low-cost notebooks will grow from less than 500,000 units last year to more than 9 million in 2012, IDC predicts. Because of low average selling prices, revenue will be less than $3 billion.
As a percentage of the total consumer PC market, the devices will remain under 5% through the forecast period, the analyst firm said. However, the notebooks could eventually capture more than a third of the education market by 2012.
The most compelling reason to own the small device is to avoid carrying around a heavier and bulkier regular notebook, IDC analysts found.
The ultra-low-cost notebook, a clamshell device with a screen measuring 7 to 10 inches, is likely to find its place among consumers looking for a second computer for accessing the Web on the road, a market research firm said Thursday.
While the sub-$500 notebooks were expected to be potential solutions to the digital divide in developing countries, IDC believes they are more likely to be used as a tool for accessing the Web in Wi-Fi hotspots in developed nations.
More Hardware Insights
White Papers
* High Availability for SQL Server 2005 Using Array-based Replication Host-based
Mirroring Technologies
* Backup and Recovery Best Practices for Microsoft SQL Server2005
* Optimizing HP Servers with Microsoft SQL Server 2008
The ultraportable notebooks, as defined by IDC, run a full operating system, support third-party applications, and include a keyboard and wireless broadband connectivity. Examples include the Asus Eee PC and the One Laptop Per Child XO.
The most compelling reason to own the small device is to avoid carrying around a heavier and bulkier regular notebook. The low-cost notebooks offer a true Web browsing experience, which sets them apart from smartphones and other handheld devices, IDC said.
The smaller notebooks are not expected to attract the majority of consumers, IDC said. Most of them will opt to pay a bit more for a full-size notebook that will become their only portable. The only market that the research firm sees the ultraportables used as a primary computer would be for schoolchildren from kindergarten to the eighth grade.
In addition, PC vendors wary of the very small margins on the low-cost devices are expected to promote them as a second PC, not as replacements for current machines. Even then, vendors "will still face challenges in making them a profitable business," IDC analyst Bob O'Donnell said in a statement.
Worldwide shipments of ultra-low-cost notebooks will grow from less than 500,000 units last year to more than 9 million in 2012, IDC predicts. Because of low average selling prices, revenue will be less than $3 billion.
As a percentage of the total consumer PC market, the devices will remain under 5% through the forecast period, the analyst firm said. However, the notebooks could eventually capture more than a third of the education market by 2012.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
