According to CNET News in the article, "Computer Security Problems Growing" it discussed the growing problems related to computer security. For instance, there was a study released that reported computer security breaches were up to 16 percent from 1996 to 1997, also that computer-related crime (this includes security breaches) cost 241 surveyed organizations $136 million last year. Do you think these numbers continued to rise in the last decade? There was also another study released that said personal security to be of "paramount interest to Internet users." After these studies came out, the report warned that "the resources necessary to conduct a cyber-attack are now commonplace. A personal computer and a simple telephone connection to an Internet service provider anywhere in the world are enough to cause a great deal of harm." This scares me as a rapid technology user and at this day and age depends on having my computer and phone for work, internet, email and many other important (as well as unimportant, such as online shopping or "facebooking" of course) reasons in my everyday life...what harm could someone like me be in? I mean we all know the risk of losing all your work, documents, music, pictures, credit card information, etc.; but is there more risk you could be in with all the new and innovative viruses and the complexity of a hacker's mindset?
With that being said, what can be done to many hackers stop? According to Peter Neumann of consultancy SRI International, "making it illegal doesn't stop hackers" and "if a terrorist wanted to take over all those Pentagon machines, it would be child's play, and that would be a serious problem." Which brings me to my last point, this problem of computer security, how do you think 9/11 effected this? What type of precautions do you think need to be made at this point, not only for the Pentagon and the US government, but on an even smaller scope for each and every one of us?
(This is the second time I am posting this because I am not sure if it worked the first time, so sorry if you are seeing this twice!)
I can't help myself, I have to defend Apple on this one. Apple was the first to deliver a multi-touch product with the iPhone, iPod touch and the new macbook trackpads. They made the technology useful, affordable and available to consumers, which Microsoft has yet to do with Surface.
ReplyDeleteBack to virus prevention, gotta give it up to Apple again. Mac OSX is notoriously secure. While maybe not as “virus-free” as people like to think, it is safer because it is a simpler (UNIX-based) system that is closely controlled solely by Apple, while Windows is accessible and caters to long lists of developers (Dell, etc.). While Windows (at least used to) automatically runs code in e-mail attachments and other instances, OSX requires users to physically type the admin password to install/change any important software, which makes it difficult for hackers to get their executables running on your machine. In the past few years, there have been some Trojan Horses designed for Macs, usually executable files disguised as a photo or video. HOWEVER, the user had to first download the software, choose to install it and then type their password to activate the malicious code. So no, I don’t think it’s possible to create perfect, impenetrable software. How could an OS really prevent an administrator user from voluntarily installing disguised but damaging software? To paraphrase one blogger, the biggest OSX security threat is the ‘hardware’ operating the keyboard.
[I got (and hopefully didn’t screw up in an attempt to summarize) the above info from: http://seekingalpha.com/article/52722-the-mac-os-x-malware-myth-continues and You can find more technical details there.]
So yeah, I’m a biased Apple-geek and you can take my opinions with a grain of salt. But it seems to me like Microsoft Surface is just Microsoft doing what they do – make sweet technology and dish it out to developers, not consumers – which is exactly what happened before, which is where all the holes and bugs in Windows came from in the first place. Not that I wouldn’t like to play with one of those “table computers,” just pointing out a key difference in Apple and Microsoft philosophies.
I agree with you that the potential devastation of hackers is absolutely terrifying, and I think we should be most concerned about the critical systems than our personal information… or maybe Die Hard 4 just scared me too much. As technology users, we have to know and accept that our systems are not flawless and back up our documents/music/photos preemptively in expectation of a crash, whether caused by malware or, as is the norm with me, from something stupid we do ourselves. I agree with Peter Neumann that “making it illegal doesn’t stop hackers,” but it doesn’t seem like there’s much anyone can do to prevent them from doing what they do. The important thing is to have the BEST hackers working on “the good side” and testing and retesting software for vulnerabilities before it hits the market.
I agree with Stewi in that it is truly amazing what computers can do. However, a part of me worries about what will eventually happen as computers become more and more powerful. It can already be seen that fewer and fewer people are needed in manufacturing jobs as production systems are increasingly automated. This brings up the problem of an increasing world population with a decreasing number of jobs. Furthermore, at what point will people be needed to perform tasks? I know this is pessimistic and brings up doomsday scenarios, but it is worth thinking about. I mean, at what point will computers be able to operate without us even having to control them?
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Stewi and Brad that it is incredible, and almost scary, what computers can do today. As Brad already brought up, as computers are able to do more and more, less people are needed for jobs. Not only is this a problem for work population, but it is also a problem for things like the increasing rate of obesity in America. In one of my previous classes at UNC, we discussed how with the increase of technology (especially in farming and agriculture) has caused humans to become more sedentary because they now have computers and machines to do the work in the fields that they used to do themselves. While this has not singlehandedly cause the increase in obesity that we have today, it certainly has contributed to it. This comment may seem a bit random in respect to our class, but it just goes to show that the increase in technology does not always work to our benefit.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with all three of you. First off, I was not trying to bash Apple because I am a new Mac user so I definitely love this (hopefully, virus-free) computer more than my old computer who conveniently crashed three times during exams! As for the last 2 posts...as a senior in this ever-so-troubling economy it is EVEN MORE SCARY to think that the job market is thinning when it always is hard enough to get a job!
ReplyDeleteEvery ones points are very good and the original post by Stewi is something that really got me thinking. I agree about how incredible technology is and what it can do is mind boggling to me at time. Sometimes I fear that this technology will end up creating some serious problems that we have no control over. Stewi mentioned how she always has her computer/phone etc. at hand, which most of us do making us all very dependent. If my computer crashed or I lost my iphone I honestly wouldn't know one persons number to call other then my parents who are in Colorado, so they wouldn’t be that helpful. This is just a small example, but would be a serious problem because I am so dependent on this technology that can easily be lost, be bugged or destroyed.
ReplyDeleteLastly 9/11 was a great example because we can all relate to this as it affected/affecting all of us, but how can we ever put a stop to it. Since 9/11 I think preventions and ways to minimize it is a number one goal, but I don't think it will ever go away. Making it illegal, creating harsher pentalties hasn't seemed to help so at this point technology still scares me more then interests me, but like one of you said there are a lot of benefits!
In response to Brad and E White, we will get into this more when my group presents on "Technological Singularity" at the end of the year. The basic idea is that computers will one day be smart enough to improve their own intelligence, and thus there will be a boom in the growth of computer intelligence/AI, etc/ The effects of smarter-than-human technology will be a major part of our discussion. Stay tuned.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is making fascinating leaps and bounds, but I think there is a basic issue with the Microsoft Surface that I haven't seen pointed out anywhere. It has a huge security risk for anything stored on it because it's a table. People put drinks on tables. Drinks get spilled. What is the point of having all these neat features when the basic construction of the machine leaves it so vulnerable?
ReplyDeleteThe concern with technology in general and the "lack" of technology that provides better computer security boils down to a much more general picture. You can think of it as an analogy to bacteria and diseases. As we find cures for certain strains, others become stronger and we must yet again find cures for those stronger ones.
ReplyDeleteWe have learn through sociology and the development of societies that technology is formed through the accumulation of knowledge from previous technologies. Just because we create better technology does not necessarily mean that tasks or problems will be resolved or will make life easier; rather, we only form more opportunities for other technologies along with its accompanying problems. Technology is obviously never perfect - with its imperfections like coding for computer programs, there will be gaps or errors that are inevitable and will result in the possibilities for people to hack and alter. Can we perhaps see that we as humans are imperfect and thus what we create reflect the errors we commit in what we make and how we judge and determine the purposes of technology?
And thus the question posed is whether we target in "fixing", through laws and such, the individuals that choose to manipulate the technology or must we fix by somehow perfecting technology itself? Is this possible? For now, I think it's a matter of limiting the damage rather than complete elimination of a problem that can not be completely eliminated.
Also, I do not think that the advancement in technologies will cause mayhem and is entirely bad. The thought process should be that we understand and figure out the consequences of a technology, if possible, before allowing it to pervade in society. I understand that a lot of technology is accidental and just little advancements of previous technologies, but I think a lot of technology is created with certain intentions of what we want it to do (the good), but not all that it could do (good and bad).
In regards to Microsoft Surface, I almost consider it as a battle move against Apple. I believe that society equates Apple products with high social status so Microsoft responded with an extravagant product that Apple has not invented yet.
ReplyDeleteI think the market needs to consider which products should be released to public, widespread use and what should be kept within the private sector. It's important to keep a check-and-balance system in order to ensure that people, not computers, retain employment and can make a living. There are lot of judgments that a human can make more accurately than a computer can; such errors are a big security threat to computer-mediated tasks. For example, doctor offices are now implementing an online medical record system, which was originally monitored by people and kept on paper format. What is to stop someone from hacking into the online system and releasing private information to the world wide web?
Some of these advances make us wonder where they’ll lead us and what potential problems they drag along with conveniences. I’m sure each one of us can list numerous predicaments and possibilities associated with Microsoft Surface, but that is how all advancements work. There are always glitches that need to be fixed and measurements that need to be made for extra precautions to prevent hacking and releasing of information. Even though Microsoft created this computer for competition, competition is what encourages developments. If people find ways to hack into these systems, they should also take the time to create ways to prevent the hackers.
ReplyDeleteThe capabilities of future technological advances are both exhilarating and incredibly frightening. The idea that a computer hacker in another country could access my medical records, including insurance and billing information, is very concerning. Likewise, a simple trip to the grocery store is a perfect example of computers replacing actual employees. Many patrons, including myself prefer to use the self-check out aisle to an employee operated line. Harris teeter in Carborro has 8 such stations- on a crowded day these computers could replace 8 employees. Security of transactions is not guaranteed on such devices.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand inventions such as Microsoft Surface can simplfy daily life and open up possibliites yet unseen. As a consumer it is important to be aware of technological capabilites and gain knowledge just as technology evolves.
Technology is amazing, but unfortunately I believe that there will always be hackers and evil people developing worms, viruses, etc. Those are the people who are just one step ahead or behind the innovations. The sad thing is, they are also the genius people who could be improving technology against these threats. Perhaps it is the developing technology that is taking away the face-to-face human contact that could prevent those geeky hackers from ruining our lives. Chicken or egg?
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