All Shows

Show of 2-4-2007

  • Welcome to Tech Talk on WTWP
    • Actually we have been on two other stations in prior years
    • This is the beginning of our fifth year if you add it all together
    • Now WTWP is our home now
    • What to Expect
      • Latest Tech News from Space to Nanotechnology
      • Simple explanations of the “why” and “what” behind technology
      • MP3 files uploaded to the web (with Podcasts quickly to follow)
      • A Periodic Newsletter (the first already went our to 10,000 loyal listeners)
    • Check our Tech Talk website by going to www.stratford.edu
  • We Already Have Email
    • Captain Tom Logue, Associate Chair, Computer Science, US Naval Academy
    • Mark Cummings, Long time listener
    • Edward Woods, Long time listener
    • James Messick, Radio Show Host, with Podcast suggestion
    • Arnie McKechnie, a frequent contributor via email
    • Maggie, one on my WMAL listeners
  • What Kind of Trends Will We Watch?
    • Mainframe to PC to Web Apps (IBM to Microsoft to Google)
    • Web 1.0 (non-interactive) to Web 2.0 (interactive with Wikis, Blogs, YouTube)
    • The Rise of Social Networking (Facebook, My Space)
    • Evolution of IT in Business and it impact on jobs and careers
    • Outsourcing to India and China and how to protect your career turf
    • Impact of Convergence of Voice/Data/Video on the Internet
    • Legislation affecting Internet Access
    • Wireless Networking and Security
    • Home Theater Technology (what to buy and not to buy)
    • Space Technology like the Mars Rover
    • Developments in science like nanotechnology or string theory
    • Computer Chip Technology (breakthroughs and limitations)
    • Computer purchase decisions (this is the year of the laptop)
    • Anything else in the news that grabs our interest
  • My eBay Account Problems
    • My user account was suspended from eBay
    • “Because our records indicate your account was involved in activities that violate our policies.”
    • “If you feel you have been suspended in error or want to appeal this decision by providing additional information.”
    • Faxed credit card information, drivers license, appeal letter to eBay
    • Discovered someone else had set up an account with my name and had done something wrong.
    • Now I have been asked to clear up the other account that I don’t know anything about.
    • I’ll keep you informed as I deal wit eBay on this matter
  • Eyejot – Simple Video e-Mail Service
    • Website: www.eyejot.com
    • Create a free account
    • Use your webcam to make a simple video and email it to friends.
    • The video is stored on the Eyedot website.
    • They click on their email to view your video
    • Free service lets you have up to a 30 second video which is stored for 30 days
    • The Professional Version ($5 per month) provides unlimited storage and longer messages
    • The service was launched this week
  • Password Tips and Tricks
    • Weak password protection is one of the biggest security nightmares
    • What is a good way to select a password
      • Put two words together (with a juxtaposition that makes sense to you)
      • Capitalize some of the letter (not necessarily the first letter)
      • Place a symbol between the words ($, @, #)
      • Make the password at least 8 characters longs
    • How can you remember all these passwords?
      • Many people use a Password Storage Program
      • My favorite is Access Manager 2.0
      • Website (http://www.accessmanager.co.uk/)
      • Non-commercial licenses is free
      • Commercial license is $24.
  • Flog 2006 Awards Announced
    • The most flagrant “fake” Blog
    • The three finalists were
      • Sony with “Alliwantforxmasisapsp” promoting PSP
      • Macdonald’s with “4Railroads” promoting their Monopoly Game
      • Walmart, for “Walmarting Across America”
    • Sony was the winner of the “Golden Poo” award
  • Hackers Selling Vista Zero-Day Exploits
    • Underground hackers are hawking zero-day exploits for Microsoft’s new Windows Vista operating system at $50,000 a pop, according to computer security researchers at Trend Micro.
    • Here are some of the auction items.
      • Unpatched code execution flaws are in the $20,000 to $30,000 range, depending on the popularity of the software and the reliability of the attack code.
      • Bots and Trojan downloaders that typically hijack Windows machines for use in spam-spewing botnets were being sold for about $5,000.
      • A custom Trojan capable of stealing online account information can be bought for between $1,000 and $5,000, while a botnet-building piece of malware can cost between $5,000 and $20,000.
    • Site was penetrated by a Tokyo-based anti-virus vendor.