Security

This vendor is supposed to be installing its software and doing work for a local government — and things aren't going well. Actually, that's putting it mildly.

I'm not much into purchasing health and beauty products online (or pretty much anywhere for that matter) but for those of you who are, be wary. The National Retail Federation reports that over two dozen such products are actually stolen goods - and worse, they may be contaminated. A theft ring was busted in Florida, after they'd stolen from retail and grocery stores and then sold those stolen goods online.

An AT&T spokesman confirmed for me by e-mail on Wednesday what Glenn Fleishmann at Wi-Fi Net News had already told me: that you'll be able to use two different Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously during a single two-hour session at Starbucks.

The bright side is that while you are syncing your schedule and e-mail on your iPhone (AT&T, which will provide the Wi-Fi, is the exclusive carrier of the iPhone in the U.S.), you can also surf the Web or compose an e-mail on your laptop at the same time.

This organization's IT security officer leaves and isn't replaced. A year and a half later, the organization suffers a Web page defacement and malware attack -- and no one is really surprised.

I'm always getting jokes in my email box and most of the time - my friends knowing my sense of humor - I really can get a good chuckle. Sure lots of the stuff is recycled humor I've seen before, but for a really good joke, that doesn't matter since a good laugh is always welcome.

I've always been good at building things. When I was little, I used to build elaborate Lego creations. I even built a complete small block Chevrolet plastic model V-8 engine when I was eight. So, when the late 70s and early 80s ushered in the computer era, I quickly fell in love and started playing with PCs.

In 1998, I decided to take the CompTia A+ exam and passed with flying colors. For practice, I used to go to local computer shows and buy cheap used parts and assemble computers. Then, I'd just give them away.

A reader of my story this week on how indie cafés feel about Starbucks' plan to offer two hours of free Wi-Fi access a day had a clever idea.

"Instead of buying a [Starbucks] card," wrote SQLGuru at Slashdot, "find someone who is done with their card (esp. if it has just a few cents on it) and get free wi-fi without paying anything......maybe start an after-market market for Starbucks cards."

There are some very good reasons why it's a sensible idea to back up the contents of your hard disk and either erase or encrypt all the stuff you won't want others to see when handing in a PC or laptop for repairs.

Lots of discussion on e-mail once again, and how to effectively manage it, but it all comes down to sound RIM policies and practices

A UK Microsoft executive expressed surprise and fear at the hacking of an upatched and unprotected Windows XP machine. OooooooK....

One good place to look for what might be coming in Windows 7 is an early planned feature list of Vista (then called Longhorn) back in 2003. If one intriguing feature, called Location Awareness, makes its way into Windows 7, it could track your every move...and that could be a good thing.

It's the early days of desktop computers, and at a big regional bank, this pilot fish gets the word: It's time to go PC, and the board of directors wants a hands-on demonstration of these new computers.

Good news was announced Tuesday out of the collaboration between the Defense Department and the General Services Administration as both attempt to shore up the safeguarding of their data. In the wake of publicized laptop thefts, both agencies have joined to purchase encryption technology to protect information stored on laptops and thumb drives. If you remember, the Office of Management and Budget posted a memorandum that required all agencies to encrypt all sensitive data on mobile devices after hundreds of laptops were stolen from several agencies a couple of years ago.

Did you know that your printer may be leaving identifiable marks on every page you print? Do you care? Well, apparently the European Union does.

A digital Day of Reckoning is approaching, especially in government. Its arrival may be facilitated by a hurricane, or maybe a terrorist attack, a flu pandemic or even a series of simple retirements. We ain't the Krell