12.06.00
I'm indulging in a little fear-mongering today, but I trust that my
readers will forgive me. The issue? Security, in several senses. We
have access to more people and more information than we've ever had
before. Unfortunately, so do the bad guys, and the slime-balls that
make a profit from others' evil intentions.
By now you probably have heard that Social Security Numbers and other
sensitive information are for sale on sites all over the place. For
those who want to spend a little more, there are "detective" services
that will look up data on anyone you pay them to find. Not to
overdramatize the point, but someone could get the goods on you and
you'd never know it. It's in your interest to be prepared. This issue
should help you get on the way. I hope you enjoy it.
I'm always interested in getting article submissions from readers. If
you have some insight you'd like to share about technology and the
way it can shape our lives, please send it along to my email address,
below, in an article 300-500 words long. I look forward to it.
Sincerely,
Betsy Boyd
Editor, HiTechEdge
 Just so you don't think I've forgotten what time of year it is (18
shopping days left, folks), I'm including a quick, one-stop link to
gifts for just about anyone for whom you could want to buy anything
remotely gadget-y. The gift guide at CNet offers great holiday
inspiration, so take a look. Some are security-oriented, and some are
just for fun.
Gift Guide
Splashy stories about identity and important document theft often make
headlines these days. For most people, it's still a fuzzy reality that
information vital to your financial safety is available to anyone with
the time and cash to find it. Ask someone who has been a victim, and
the reality hits home. A friend of mine had this happen, and she
reports that repairing the damage isn't nearly as bad as "the
helplessness you feel right after you discover it. I couldn't get the
credit card companies to believe me at first. They laughed in my
face."
Compared to the cost of fixing it when someone decides to mess with
your credit, it pays to get a credit report periodically to head off
any strange activity. The most common problem isn't so much people
stealing the cards you have--it's people stealing your identity to get
new cards. Here is a great source that will tell you what you need
to know about getting a credit report.
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Security while you are computing is another issue all together. Most
home computer users don't need to worry about this, yet, but it you
have a DSL connection that means you are "always on," it's very
 possible that you could have your computer's security breached, and
sensitive data (like your account information from Quicken) could be
at risk. One way to protect yourself is to set up a "firewall" which
is basically a program / code mixture that blocks unwanted users from
getting in to your system.
According to one expert, Ryan Detert, firewalls act like screens that
only let certain combinations of information into and out of your
computer. It can help you limit where users can go on the Internet,
for instance, if you want to keep your kids away from questionable
content. You can find out how to set one up by reading one of our
other ezines, NetworkNewz.
In the business sector, security needs are more physical. You don't
want unauthorized users working on systems. American Biometric Company
 has been developing this technology for a while now, but this
version of an identifying mouse is certainly slicker than the last
one I saw. It's a basic security device that reads fingerprints as
access codes, instead of relying on passwords. Until bad people catch
up with the movies and people start stealing fingerprints, this is as
secure as you can get. And, it screens out the "oops!" factor of
employees who might have forgotten passwords, thus freeing up your
system administrators to do other things.
The world seems a little scarier to me when I contemplate the many
ways my information is at risk, but I'm trying to keep it in
perspective. The trick is to keep on top of the technology as it
changes, because that which gives us more access to information, also
makes us more vulnerable. Awareness is half the battle.
 Thank heavens there's a wireless way to let you watch over your space
in color. Born out of the technology that originally let lights
and other basic systems communicate through the power lines in your
house, x10 applications are growing. x10 technologies has several
cameras available. This wireless version lets you keep an eye on
your kids or your employees, wherever you like. The enclosed 2.4GHz
transmitter can send its signal through walls. A small size lets you
put it just about anywhere. To see the camera itself, and specs
about it, click here.
For a review, click here.
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