Futureproofing [CEID100 Final PT6]

Authored by: Winston Chow

Photo: Matt Katzenberger via Flickr (SOURCE: http://bit.ly/V4Ny3C)

Over this series of posts, we’ve talked about a variety of topics. To recap everything, we’d like to conclude on the following three points:

Be Aware

Peter Parker’s uncle Ben known for his quote “With great power, comes great responsibility” – something that certainly applies to our digital world. As highlighted in earlier posts, there are a myriad of threats and crimes that are often attempted against us with or without our knowledge on a daily basis. It’s important to stay vigilant about the daily happenings of both your own digital space and the digital world in general. Keeping yourself aware, informed, and secure will help to enhance not only your digitally-enabled lifestyle, but also those around you.

Make It

One of the benefits of living in an digital space is that it’s so easy to create content to share and distribute – either to share within our own private networks or in a public-facing environment. If there exist any remaining issues to flag when it comes to content creation, it’s the notion of intellectual property, for the ease of creation and distribution also enables the ease at which to copy and remix digital content. Be sure you’re aware of the legality surrounding the content that you’re using, such as copyright and leverage opportunities such as Creative Commons to define how you’d like your content shared, and specify the kind of content you’re looking for.

Big Data, Big Opportunity

Lastly - while not overtly discussed earlier -.it should become natural to understand that with the proliferation of devices across multiple platforms and with the expansion of digital footprints, it’s important to keep an eye out for “Big Data”, a developing trend and general idea to which we’re moving towards. Big Data essentially entails the analysis and manipulation of large sets of data so large that it can only be done with a computer. Certain industries like retail have already begun using it to develop a better understanding of their customers, while other industries like healthcare and infrastructure are looking towards it as a means of building efficiency into their processes. As such, it’s a major topic worthy of being aware of, as the application of Big Data concepts to these industries stand to allow us an opportunity to really further enhance the way we live our daily lives by optimizing and utilizing digital information to its fullest.

The Other IP [CEID100 Final PT5]

Authored by: Winston Chow

Phoito: Winston Chow

The proliferation of digital media came about in various waves and forms during the 2000s. Myspace and iTunes helped reinvent and reshape the way we thought, bought, and consumed digital music. YouTube, Twitch, and Vine made video content of all lengths and forms video content available to the masses. Kindle and the iPad brought the virtual bookshelf to reality.

It goes without saying that “going digital” has helped many creatives get their work out there onto a global platform. However, What sometimes gets lost amongst the buzz of the internet is content ownership. The ease at which we can distribute content online via digital portals, file sharing websites, and peer-to-peer transfer methods (e.g. torrents) goes both ways, with theft becoming an issue and the notion of remixing – taking someone else’s content and modifying it – emerging as a bit of a grey area.

For clarity, Intellectual Property (IP) as defined by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) in 2014 states as “…anything relating to an idea, which have a commercial value similarly to a tangible asset.” The advent of digitizing old media means that much of this content winds up becoming interoperable as well, causing a myriad of IP-related red tape that often makes even legally acquiring content difficult.

As a result, the advent of Creative Commons (CC) has made it easy for content creators to alternatively search and acquire content that has its usage terms pre-determined by the author. There are different levels that specify how the content can be used, and creatives can search through a variety of content including images, video, music.

Canadian Intellectual Property Office. (2014, January 15). Understand the Basics. Retrieved August 8, 2014, from Canadian Intellectual Property Office: 
http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr03585.html

Next Part: Futureproofing

Secure Connection (Part 2) [CEID100 Final PT4]

Authored by: Samantha Lee Chan

Photo by W Rebel via Wikimedia Commons(Source: http://bit.ly/1oMWR3J)

Although we have been talking a lot about how unsafe the Internet can be, there are ways that you can protect yourself online.

For one, choosing a proper web browser can make a difference in blocking unsafe websites. Browsers such as Firefox and Google Chrome are more secure than browsers such as Internet Explorer. They also have the option of add-ons that can help you discover threats, and overall make your web browsing more secure. Installing antivirus software on top of having a secure web browser will help add extra security, and better detect malware. 

Even though antivirus software can protect your computer from malware, it is up to you to be alert and detect a threat. You can stop the problem yourself, if you can detect an unreliable source. Here are some tips to help you stay vigilant:

·         Do not open emails that you are not subscribed to, or are not from a sender you know

·         Do not send private information via text message or over the Internet

·         If your browser is telling you there is a threat, do not ignore it

·         If the email address or website URL does not look legitimate, it is most likely an act of phishing or spoofing

·         Choose secure passwords, and do not use the same one for different accounts you may have

Another issue on the Internet is cookies. Cookies store information, and can help make your experience on a webpage more efficient, however the main issue is that your web activity is being tracked. A way to prevent this is by blocking them from your web browser, and clearing them on a regular basis. There are many resources online that give guides to safely using the Internet, such as the RCMP’s guide to Cybercrime Prevention.  

Next Part: The Other IP

Secure Connnection (Part 1) [CEID100 Final PT3]

Authored by Samantha Lee Chan

Photo by Larry D. Moore via Wikimedia Commons (SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1sFKPdT)

Cybercrimes refer to offenses that occur through the use of the Internet. In Canada, it is against the law to access personal information via a computer system. Here are the four main types of cybercrimes:

Malware

This is the most common form of cybercrime, where unwanted code is uploaded to your computer resulting outcomes that can vary from adware to criminal theft of private information. Malware is installed accidentally by accessing websites or programs that are not secure. With the increase of interoperability, malware has become an issue as it can possibly spread to other devices that are connected to the one that has been affected.

Phishing

Phishing is a way that malware is spread, as well as collecting private data. Emails, phone calls, or text messages are sent out that ask for private information such as passwords. Links can also be sent that when opened, will install malware onto your computer.

Spoofing

This is a type of phishing in which impersonations of reliable websites and companies are used to gain the trust of the user. They will either be prompted to install an “update”, or enter login information.

Spam

Spam is unwanted email messages that are sent to you without your consent. These emails often contain malware or phishing requests.

These forms of cybercrime can result in identity theft. This is the action of using the accessed private information to commit a form of criminal activity. This can range from access to bank accounts, using your identity to cover their criminal activity, as well as using any benefits you have for their own gain. It is incredibly damaging to be a victim of identity theft; in the next post, we will discuss ways to identify these threats.

Next Part: Secure Connection Part 2

Logging On [CEID100 Final PT2]

Authored by Samantha Lee Chan

Photo: Composite by Winston Chow, original images by Enoc vt via Wikimedia Commons (SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1kiej0u and http://bit.ly/1phfWLH) 

Social media is a trend that has allowed us to connect with one another through the online world. This makes way for many positive opportunities, such as interacting with individuals across the globe that share your same interests. This can contribute to social change, as well as innovation and new ideas that would not have existed without the Internet.

Although there are many benefits to social media, it is important to be aware of its permanence. What you share on the Internet can be used against you, so it is necessary to maintain an online identity that will not be destructive. Once something is uploaded to the Internet, it is very difficult to completely erase.

You have a lot of power to protect your online identity through what you share. It is important to companies to keep your information private to maintain customer loyalty, however your information is not always completely secure. Information such as spending and searching habits can be sold to third parties to help further their business. Sometimes attacks to a company’s system can cost a widespread compromise of user information. Examples of this are seen in the hack of Sony’s PlayStation Network in April 2011, as well as the more recent hack of eBay that caused millions of users to change their passwords. Both cases exposed private information such as home addresses and credit card numbers.

The best way of managing what you share is to be your authentic self, while keeping in mind if what you are about to post is appropriate to expose to the public. Here are some questions you should ask yourself before sharing online:

1.     Future employers have the potential to access this information; will what I am about to share have the ability to cost me a job?

2.     Is it necessary to share this information? Where can I withhold information about myself to maintain anonymity?

3.     Is this what I would like to be known for? Can this negatively impact my future?

Next Part: Secure Connection Part 1

Connect [CEID100 Final PT1]

Authored by: Winston Chow

Photo: Winston Chow

We live in a digitally interconnected world. Whether you’re in Sweden or Saskatchewan, you’re able to connect from anywhere in the world with devices such as your mobile phone and receive the same experience that fifteen years ago was limited to large bulk desktop towers and bulky cathode ray tube monitors.

For better and for worse, the growth of digital has helped to enhance and augment the way we live our daily lives through productivity gains, entertainment, and convenience. On the other hand, it’s also made us dependent on them, and – more often than not – vulnerable to malicious acts often referred to as “cybercrime”. We’re surrounded by devices that constantly transmit and receive data 24-hours a day, seven-days a week, 365-days a year. In a March 2014 report released by the Pew Research Institute, researcher Stowe Boyd predicts that by 2025, “People’s compenian devices – the 2025 equivalent of today’s phones and tablets – will be the first thing they touch in the morning and the last thing they put down to sleep.” (Anderson et al., 2014)

Boyd’s prediction may be somewhat modest, considering myself and many others out there are already following this habit, setting our phone alarms before we go to bed and then rapidly hammering the snooze button a few hours later. In all seriousness, while it’s all well and exciting to look at the potential that future technology holds, it’s also important for us as a society of everyday technology users to inform ourselves on the risks and benefits of technology and to ensure we utilize it to its fullest.

Anderson, J., Duggan, M., Rainie, L., (2014). Digital Life in 2025. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/03/11/about-this-report-3/

NEXT PART: Logging On

Segment Absolutely Everything

Infographic designed based on content found on Avinash Kaushik's blog, Occam's Razor.

http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/excellent-analytics-tip2-segment-absolutely-everything/