Protecting Your Identity on the Road

When I travel I usually pack my laptop.  There are several reasons for this:  I write for a living, so I need my tools with me.  But I also use my laptop to access all my sensitive information while on the road -- especially banking.  The thought of using an internet cafe to check my bank balance is terrifying.  You never know who might get access to your account information and passwords.

But using my own laptop to connect to an open WiFi network in a coffee shop or library isn't as safe as I thought.  In fact, as the (always excellent) travel blog Gadling reports, hackers can easily gain access to your non-encrypted traffic.

This is what they say:

"Now, however, sites like Facebook and Twitter are encoded with such simple technology that web developers can write apps to steal random social media passwords -- all inside of a simple web browser. This means that any old person with Windows XP and Firefox can boot up their browser, turn on an application and start poaching Facebook data. Five minutes after sitting down with your tall non-fat latte you might find yourself with a new fancy status message, group of friends and password to boot." 

[ click here for the full article]

I tried it and it works.  Seriously.

So what can you do?  Be very careful or use a hardwired connection.  Resist the urge to use unsecured WiFi in public places.  And if you can't, be prepared for the consequences. 

Cheers!

from the "make it so" dept.

Sir Patrick Stewart riffs on his love of the iPhone, the temptation of video games and his abhorrence of life in 140 characters. A great video from a great actor.

from the "picture this" dept

Ah, school pictures. I doubt there are many of us who were happy with our yearbook snaps... especially decade(s) later.

But it's a ton of fun to try to create some truly horrendous images. And YearbookYourself.com makes it easy to create embarrassingly delicious photos like these:

Now, go waste some time!

Cheers!

from the "T.L.F." dept.

Oh Internet, how I love you. I keep thinking you can never top yourself in creating awesome new ways for me to kill hours upon end. But somehow you manage to do it, each time-waster being more awesomely awesome than your previous time-waster.

A case in point: Squirrelizer!




You rock, Internet! True love forever! And tomorrow, I'll tell you how to make these:


Cheers!

from the "i can has cheezburger" dept.

According to Wikipedia, the term internet meme refers to:

A phrase used to describe a catchphrase or concept that spreads quickly from person to person via the Internet, much like an esoteric inside joke. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although this concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.

Dipity.com has created an interactive timeline of the best known internet memes. From dancing baby to lolcats to United Breaks Guitars.

You can zoom in and out of the timeline -- and there are direct links to some of the great memes of the past. Here's the LINK.