Monday 31 December 2012
Tuesday 15 May 2012
Osama Bin Laden didn't encrypt his computer files - not such a mastermind then..
Osama Bin Laden didn't encrypt his computer files - not such a mastermind then..
Some of the documents seized during the raid on Osama Bin Laden's hideout in Pakistan last year have been made public for the first time.
As CNN reports, a small number of the 6000 documents seized have been made available on the Combating Terrorism Center at West Pointwebsite.
The 17 electronic documents, which were found on USB sticks, memory cards and computer hard drives after US Navy Seals killed the terrorist chief in the May 2011 raid, are being released in their original Arabic alongside English translations.
A short report provides an overview of the material.
The final document is dated just one week before the raid on Bin Laden's Abbottabad compound which resulted in his death, and discussed the "Arab Spring".
So, why are we writing about this on Naked Security?
Well, because it appears that none of the files were encrypted.
If they had been securely encrypted, and the passwords were secured, the US authorities probably wouldn't have been able to read them.
Because of Al Qaeda's sloppy attitude in regard to data security - a problem that reached the highest levels of the terror organisation it appears - internal communications and potentially valuable intelligence are now in the hands of America.
Something we can all probably be pleased about.
Remember folks - whether you are a business, an individual or a terrorist,encryption is one of the tools you should probably be using to keep better control over who gains access to your confidential data.
It shouldn't take a mastermind to realise that that's just common sense.
(Not that many will be shedding a tear about Osama Bin Laden's lax attitude to securing his data, I suspect. Lets hope other terrorists follow his lead..)
Want to see who has viewed your Facebook profile? Take care..
Want to see who has viewed your Facebook profile? Take care..
I'm increasingly being asked by folks on Facebook if it's possible to tell who has been viewing their Facebook profile. A number have been attracted to webpages and Facebook applications that claim to be able to give you a secret insight into who is spying on your profile.
Well, if you're one of those people who are curious about who might be watching you online, take care.
Right now we're seeing a significant number of Facebook users posting messages such as:
OMG OMG OMG... I can't believe this actually works! Now you really can see who views your profile!!! WOAH
and
See who views your Facebook profile in real-time!!!
However, like the "Justin Bieber cell phone number" scam and the "This mother went to jail for taking this pic of her son!" scam, the links pointed to in your friends' status updates are not to be trusted.
If you make the mistake of clicking on the link to one of these pages offering to tell you who is viewing your Facebook profile, you will find that the people behind the "services" want you to do a few things first.
For instance, they'll ask you to "Like" their pages (which means you are spreading the link to friends in your social network), and they will ask you to advertise their site by posting an "OMG" message (with a link) to at least five different places on Facebook.
After all that hard work you would hope that they would give you access to the powerful Profile Spy app wouldn't you? But I'm afraid your luck is out.
They'll next ask you to hand over your personal information by taking numerous surveys - before ultimately trying to trick you into handing over your cellphone number which they'll sign up to an expensive premium rate service.
Remember, this scam doesn't work as the result of clickjacking, or a vulnerability on Facebook. The scammers are achieving their ends because of human gullibility - pure and simple. If people considered what they were doing and thought twice about the possible consequences then we would see nothing like as many of these attacks occurring, and our news feeds on Facebook would see less spam.
Do your bit for the public good and share this page on Facebook to warn your online friends about scams like this. Press the button at the side to share this article if you're a Facebook user.
Interestingly, the pages that this particular scam points you to aren't on Facebook, but still display a fake Facebook header at the top. You will notice if you visit them that although the top menu options are there, they cannot be clicked on - which clearly makes the pages look even more suspect.
Ultimately you have to have your wits about you to avoid scams like this. If you or your friends keep falling for these sort of confidence tricks, or want to learn more about security threats,
Seeing ads on Wikipedia? You may have malware
Seeing ads on Wikipedia? You may have malware
Wikipedia has issued a warning to its many millions of daily visitors that if they are seeing commercial adverts on its webpages, that it may be an indication of a malware infection on the user's computer.
Criminals aren't shy of earning affiliate cash by injecting unwanted adverts into webpages or redirecting users to sites or search results that innocent users didn't mean to visit.
Despite its colossal popularity, Wikipedia has always resisted putting ads on its pages. The site prefers to ask the public for donations and runs fund-raising campaigns from time-to-time.
As Wikipedia explains in its official blog:
We never run ads on Wikipedia. Wikipedia is funded by more than a million donors, who give an average donation of less than 30 dollars. We run fundraising appeals, usually at the end of the year. If you're seeing advertisements for a for-profit industry (see screenshot for an example) or anything but our fundraiser, then your web browser has likely been infected with malware.
So, if you begin to see adverts in unexpected places on the net, check your browser's plugins and disable any add-ons and browser extensions that may be causing the problem.
In addition, run an up-to-date anti-virus to make sure that whatever might have introduced the unwanted ads isn't also up to other malicious behaviour behind the scenes
Sunday 13 May 2012
Friday 4 May 2012
World Environment Day
An umbrella over earth (Bhoomikkoru- kuda) and Thimmakka
Today (5th June 2010) will be no more than just a day that will fall after 4th; because it is ‘The World Environment Day’. The last chance we have got to hear the cry of our mother earth. In accordance with the global celebrations; here in Kerala; Malayala Manorama -the leading daily and Kerala Forest Department have jointly decided to launch a scheme named ‘Bhoomikkoru kuda’ (an umbrella over earth). Throughout the state; the slogan ‘One man to plant one tree’ will be heard calling one person to plant and nurture one tree; there by holding millions of umbrellas over the parched land. It is hoped that the wide influence of leading publisher joining hands with resourceful Kerala Forest Department may garner public participation paving way for efficient execution of the project.
Social Forestry
About 15 years back the Forest Department of Kerala launched a scheme by name ‘Social Forestry’ and spent millions; all ended up as mere farce. Those planted saplings were non-indigenous varieties of trees like eucalyptus, acacia etc which turned out to be a bigger problem. On the congested roadsides of Kerala these trees still stand as nightmares. Those tall and weak rooted eucalyptus trees go on falling on electric lines and nearby building at the blow of a breeze creating blackouts and loss of lives. People living nearby spent sleepless nights thinking which tree may fall on which ones roof-top. The acacia trees their profuse allergic pollens create allergies and asthma to poor residents! It is hoped even at this time they may avoid past blunders.
Just for attaining target
It seems strange what motivated the officials to select those useless trees for planting in this state; as it was government money on their disposal; they would have thought it fit to experiment anything. If a tree does not give cool shade, fodder to animals, or bear fruits or good timber; it is not worth to be planted; not to talk about if they are causing diseases and havocs! That sapling planted under and electric line was sure to create problems when it grows; here for lack of space –Kerala being a crowded state- officials were forced to achieve targets by planting whatever saplings supplied at wherever there was space; whether it was below an electric line did not matter!
A name fast forgotten
Thimmakka Chikkaiyah was an ordinary woman – an illiterate quarry worker and her husband (Bikkalu Chikkaiyah); a cattle herder; the couple had no children as their own. The old lady decided to plant banyan trees on the three km barren roadsides along the Kudur – Hulikal State Highway that passed nearby their hut. That poor couple had no resources like Kerala Forest Department but had a farsightedness; the Forest officials lacked. After years of dedicated efforts they planted 400 saplings of banyan trees; of which three hundred grew up and the rest fell to stray cattle and marauders. This happened despite all the protection they offered to the saplings like raising fence around them. They lugged water from wells located kilometers away on all summer-days to ensure the plants’ survival.A proud mother
All these happened 60 long years back; at present Timmakka is a proud mother of surviving 284 huge banyan trees standing proudly along the sides of Kudur – Hulikal National highway giving rich shade to the passers by. Her husband Bikkalu Chikkaiyah (affectionately called Chikkanna) had died years back and she lives alone in her humble hut in a small plot of land awarded by the Government of Karnataka. After her selfless efforts were brought to the notice of the outside world; many awards and accolades came in search of the poor woman - who became famous in synonym ‘Saalumarada Thimmakka’ meaning Thimmakka of rows of trees. She in her old age is still invited for many eco -programs held in nearby places and still active in construction of tanks for rainwater harvesting. Media persons often talk about how much thousands these trees are worth now but for Thimmakka they are not commodities to be valued; these being her own siblings.
She too has a dream
 |
Thimmakka standing proudly in front of the trees she planted
She cherishes a dream of constructing a hospital in her native village; as the nearest hospital is eight km away many of her neighbors die on way to hospital. “If you get a rebirth what life you wished to be reborn” is a common question asked to her by the visitors especially media persons; to which she has a simple and straightforward answer; “I wish to be born as a banyan tree”; because all her surviving 284 children are banyan trees! (Hindus believe in rebirths and as per books the soul is eternal and that is allowed to take many physical lives as old clothes are discarded for new; one person may get a series of rebirths as animals, plants or any living form)
Tail-piece
In many of the literatures that appear in the media encouraging people to plant trees, in connection with The World Environment Day, benefits of trees of environment etc no where any mention of this grand old Indian lady seems to have appeared; hence the author dedicates this article to that grand old Thimmakka and her late husband Chikkanna; who planted those saplings, built fence around them and lugged bucket full of water for ensuring the survival of those blessed trees; which act as an abode for many birds and small animals which build nest on them and feed on its Fruits. Banyan trees bear abundant small fruits; being not consumed by human beings; are left for birds, ants and squirrels etc to eat. These trees are considered sacred by Hindus for many reasons; one of them may be that its fruits are for the animal life.
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