Onto my next book. Since my last post, I have read a few books, but am in the middle of a interesting read name “Cyber Wars” by Richard A. Clarke who has an extensive background in Government IT. This, coupled with the recent “Top Secret America” Washington Post expose has led me to believe that we are reaching the boiling point of interest on these converging subjects.
Cyber Wars details the history of Cyber attacks launched by suspected nation states, details the various international (formal and informal) hacking rings, and discusses openly how software, hardware, and infrastructure vulnerabilities may lead to some serious trouble. Clarke offers some opinions on why the US is ahead on ‘cyber-offense’ but way behind on ‘cyber-defenses’ particularly because American civilization has become so reliant on our technology – EVERYTHING is connected to the internet, and that is the root of our security challenge.
What to do? Unplug everything? Disable all broadband access? Create a China-like “great Firewall”? I don’t think the majority will trade convenience for security, which is ultimately the sacrifice we all make. How often do we just click “Yes” to any/all system screens? Clicking Yes to changing in Terms and Conditions, Privacy changes, etc. without at least scanning the material is perilous risk that people take.
Cybersecurity on the government scale is still taking shape. Gen. Alexander earned a 4th star on his way to taking the new CYBERCOM command, but overall, the US seems to be reluctant to sign up for protecting private industry, at least that is the public stance. Cost and politics aside, citizens must be more aware of the digital footprints we leave behind. most of us at least shred our bank documents before thrashing them – we all should do the same when banking online too. Clicking the ‘Log-out’ button reduces the chance of a “man in the middle” attack by shredding (digitally) your user session. Simple steps like these will greatly lead to a more knowledgeable and secure digital nation.
Here is a Topic Block to more information:
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September 24th, 2009
Dave
Between CISSP studying and developing new projects, I have been much amiss in writing here. I spent the summer (the un-fun part) delving into the world of Web 3.0 and Semantic Technologies. What is Web 3.0 and Semantic tech? Unforgivable, but accurate, Wikipedia quote:
The Semantic Web is an evolving development of the World Wide Web in which the meaning (semantics) of information and services on the web is defined, making it possible for the web to understand and satisfy the requests of people and machines to use the web content.[1][2] It derives from World Wide Web Consortium director Sir Tim Berners-Lee’s vision of the Web as a universal medium for data, information, and knowledge exchange.[3]
Welcome to the world of Linked Data. From the Data.gov initiative, to climate change findings, to spotting financial trends – linked data/semantic web/web 3.0 is the new “new”. To keep things simple here, I will stick to using the Linked Data phrase as my subject.
Linked data allows users of disparate systems and underlying technologies to process and consume data because of standards such as the Resource Description Framework (RDF). Using specifications such as RDF and standard semantic queries or SPARQL(SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language) queries users can easily query other data sources of the semantic web without having to understand programming languages or data structures.
Semantic Web offers a dearth of opportunity, especially in today’s data overloaded world. The folks who are able to create the most compelling mashups of different data, may profit handsomely, or may simply receive an award at a conference such as the ISWC2009.
Anyhow for some more details on the semantic web look at the Semantic Web Gang podcast.
Also, for a display on the Data.gov effort, and mashups that can be created with government data see Sunlight Labs appsforamerica2 – the winning app takes home $10,000.
Till next time…
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Following Wikinonmics, I picked up another Web 2.0 book based on the MySpace craze. The book is titled “Stealing MySpace: The Battle to Control the Most Popular Website in America“. I’m about 1/2 way through and am amazed at how the MySpace theme originated as a blatant ripoff of the original successful social media tool, Friendster.
Besides marketing, the book argues two main reasons for the sucess of MySpace over Friendster: Control and Anonymity. Friendster would limit the “degrees” of separation between friend requests, something both Facebook and MySpace dont do. Also, Friendster (originally) explicity forbid anyone from registering as a fictituous character, or organization. This upset some who believed that anonymity was part and parcel to free speech. They led an effort and published a “Fakester Manifesto” that echoes the Declaration of Independence:
“Identity is provisional. Who we are is whom we choose to be at any given moment, depending on personality, whim, temperament, or subjective need. No other person or organization can abridge that right, as shape-shifting is inherent to human consciousness, and allows us to thrive and survive under greatly differing circumstances by becoming different people as need or desire arises. By assuming the mantle of the Other, it allows us, paradoxically, to complete ourselves. Every day is Halloween.”
Read more about the struggle between the Friendster, MySpace, and Facebook phenomenon at: http://stephenlaughlin.posterous.com/struggling-with-an-online-identity#ixzz0DKCP3HQQ&B
The book is an easy and entertaining read that documents the brazen SDLC (software development lifecycle) methodologies that were employed. Release early, release often, functionality over quality….though not recommended or subscribed to here, it allowed the team to focus on features that users adopted, and can those which no one used.
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After reading WIkinomics, I decided its time to get back to blogging about tech again. Wikinomics is a book that we can all learn something from. The book describes the trend of mass collaboration and how the tools or “Weapons of Mass Collaboration” are allowing companies to innovate faster, cheaper, and better. Wikinomics teaches us that the open source model is not the taboo that once was, but an economical alternative to the vendor lock in that the large software houses seek to impose on fat enterprise budgets (read Microsoft, Oracle, SAP).
Companies and the Government are awaking to see that enterprise software doesnt always have to be a $10 million compromise of the IT budget and for good reason. Many times, the functionality required for a project can be discovered and implemented using an existing Open Source platform.
WIkinomics describes how systems that were built with Peer Production or “Pro-sumer” input has created vibrant user driven communities that surpass the technical support you would pay for from a “big 3″ vendor (MS, ORACLE, SAP).
The bottom line? Software should not be a top heavy budget item. With the proper assistance, companies and government agencies can successfully adopt open source platforms and dramatically increase their ROI.
You can buy the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Wikinomics-Mass-Collaboration-Changes-Everything/dp/1591841933/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207324794&sr=8-1
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My neighbor recently acquired a used Dell inspiron laptop which became infected with the now well known and documented AntiVirus2009 Internet explorer malware.
The AntiVirus2009 program malicously attacks a user IE web browser and attempts to extort money from it’s victims. Cleverly disguised as an ad that you are infected; av2009 tricks users into believing they have to pay $70 to remove the “virus”.
The best defense is ensuring you have an up to date mailcous software detector installed. While symantec and mcafee are great; adAware by lavasoft and Spybot are great AND free.
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Yes, I am a believer. WordPress can be used to build a corporate web site. Within a week, IRT can not only build your site to your specifications, we can train you how to manage your web site. No more late calls to a web developer. If you can send email, you can update a WordPress site.
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After a download of a WordPress app i’m taking my site mobile. Yes, I can now update this site from the palm of my hands.
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Goodby 2008, hello 2009. This will be my new place to expose my thoughts and discoveries Web 2.0-3.0, Open Source Tech (LAMP), and other musings as necessary. I will welcome all comments and suggestions.
This first post is the result of launching into WordPress, quite possibly the best invention since GoogleMaps. I am looking forward to empowering businesses through internet technologies. After working with Joomla, I do believe that WordPress is smoother thus far…
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