Consultant Technologies Blog

Silly, Smart and Stealthy: 5 Fun USB Gadgets

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:39:00 +0000

The number of accessories available for you to plug into a USB port is truly incredible. Ranging from the silly to the smart, these gadgets allow users to personalise their PCs and introduce a range of new functions.

Creative Commons Image Credit: darktek13

All the toys listed here are available online with a quick search. The only thing that limits you is the number of ports you can access…

Gadget number one: The StealthSwitch

Do you ever mess about on Facebook in the office? Ever play Patience when you are meant to be sorting out that report for your boss? No, of course you don't - but in case you know someone who does, you may want to invest in the StealthSwitch.

These devices plug a foot-operated switch into a computer's USB port, which then sits under the desk – kind of like the pedal on a sewing machine.

Should your boss make a surprise trip to your part of the office, one swift tap can minimise all the job searches or auction sites you are browsing.

You can even set it to hide certain windows while leaving others open – meaning your work spreadsheets are maximised, while your game of Tetris vanishes.

Gadget number two: USB keystroker

This is a fun toy for winding up colleagues or family members but should really only be used on those with a sense of humour.

When it is plugged into the PC, it will delay for a set period of time and then cause mayhem on the victim's PC.

It will suddenly lock the CAPS button, move the mouse uncontrollably and even hit random keys, depending on what you have set it to do.

A word of warning, though: it is advisable to remain in the room when perpetrating this mayhem. The last thing you want is for your hapless victim to decide they have a virus they can't fix and wipe their hard drive. That would rather ruin the comedy.

Gadget number three: The Ecobutton

Perhaps one of the most useful USB-powered developments, this button serves as a helpful reminder to shutdown your computer at the end of the day.

You plug it into your computer and sit the green, illuminated button on the desk, next to your keyboard.

It does not just remind you to shut down your desktop, though, this gadget monitors how much energy is saved through turning off the computer and keeps an on-screen tally to keep you motivated.

Since, according to the Big Green Switch campaign, putting computers into standby mode instead of turning them off could cost an extra 17 per cent in energy consumption over seven days, this green gadget can help you save money and emissions.

Gadget number four: The USB-powered fridge

Sometimes a gadget is so unnecessary that you cannot help but want it. The USB-powered fridge is one such toy.
Big enough to fit just one can of drink, this miniscule cooler looks like a scaled down version of the real thing.

With four feet of wire, it can run straight from your USB port to your desk and provide the ultimate in geek chic on those hot summer days.

It works with both Macs and PCs, meaning everyone can use this unfathomably unnecessary gadget.

Gadget number five: USB-warmed slippers

For those older technophiles, or anyone shivering in an inadequately-heated office, these unlikely slippers may be just what you need.

They contain heat pads and plug into your USB port to charge and warm up. Once they are charged, they can be easily disconnected, allowing the wearer to enjoy full mobility at the same time as toasty toes.

Alas, these slippers are not particularly snazzy, so the wearer may not look particularly cool. You should get extra geek points, though, for finding a way to plug feet into a PC.

Obsolete Equipment: 5 Ethical Ways to Dispose of PCs

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:15:00 +0000

Greening IT is an issue for many companies looking to reduce their carbon footprints. However, for many people, this means looking at the energy their technology uses rather than taking into account its lifespan and the environmental costs of its construction and disposal.

CC Image Credit: Flickr

Businesses usually want up-to-date computers, meaning they bring in the latest machines and throw away PCs which could still have a useful life.

So, what are the options? How can a company safely and ethically dispose of equipment it no longer needs?

Reuse

The first thing to do is check whether or not a PC can be used elsewhere. Alright, if you're the CIO of an engineering firm then it may be up to you to ensure your engineers have the newest equipment, but perhaps your admin staff can use the older machines.

It could even be an upgrade to their technology and means the company does not have to worry about parting with computers containing corporate information.

Another option is to look at upgrading the computers so they meet the needs of your team. Look at all the options before ditching the equipment.

Offer to staff

It may be that your staff would leap at the chance to rehome an old PC. Perhaps they have a computer themselves but could do with one for their offspring. Maybe their niece is starting at university and needs one, however old and however clunky. You won't know until you offer them.

Allowing staff to take home unwanted computers can be a perk for your team, making them happier, as well as ensuring the PC is used for the longest time possible. You could even sell the computers at a discounted rate and give the proceeds to a charity or to a carbon offsetting organisation.

Freecycle

Freecycle is an online community devoted to keeping useful items out of landfill.

Essentially, people with unwanted but potentially reusable items give them away by offering them on a forum.

As strangers will be gaining access to your equipment, you may chose to exercise extreme caution and only give away keyboards, monitors and so on.

However, if you remove the hard drive and check no one has left a disc in the tray, this can be a safe way to ensure PCs are reused.

Offer to the community

By giving old computers to local schools or other organisations in the local community, a company can get some decent press coverage and have the satisfaction of knowing its computers are being reused by those who can really benefit from them.

It is worth asking around your community to see if anyone has a use for the equipment. This may cost you some time and effort, but it is worth it for the benefits to your corporate image.

Donate

In response to the high levels of electronics that end up in landfill, a number of charities have sprung up which take unwanted PCs to developing world countries to allow schoolchildren and start-up firms to make use of them.

Some of these organisations will wipe your information for you, others request the PCs are data cleansed before they receive the equipment.

A quick web search will throw up a variety of charities offering this service. Many will offer photos of the equipment in use, which can be extremely useful for internal or external publicity.

A word of caution

However you choose to dispose of your obsolete PCs, it is not enough to simply delete all the files they contained. It is not that difficult to retrieve information from a hard drive and the last thing a company wants is an altruistic gesture to result in an embarrassing data loss incident.

There exist programs which can wipe files but many firms may prefer to destroy hard drives. Whatever you do, make sure you are confident your company data is safe.

Gone Phishing: 5 Frequents Online Frauds

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:56:00 +0000

Just when the world got savvy to emailed viruses and people thought it was safe to go back in the water, the phishing menace reared its head.

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It is a frustrating fact that for many of us, email has always been a platform we have to view with suspicion. Banks find it difficult to use the medium without encouraging fraudulent emails and whole online communities have sprung up to share warnings and even fight back.

But what are the worst phishing emails to date? Continuing our 'worst ever' theme, we have chosen the five frauds listed below. Do you agree? Feel we've missed a worse one? Feel free to add your thoughts in a comment.

First frustrating phishing fraud: The Spanish Lottery

If you have an email account, chances are you've been hit by this gem. You may never have entered the Euro Millions Spanish Lottery International draw but that does not stop the organisers wanting to pay you hundreds of thousands of euros.

These benevolent individuals do not need anyone to buy a ticket, they attach random email addresses to various numbers and then simply give the cash away. What are the odds?

More seriously, these crooks will demand the bank details from susceptible recipients and perhaps even request an initial payment. While most people are now aware of this sort of scam, many internet newcomers are not and the news often carries tales of gullible grannies losing their savings to these scammers.

Second frustrating phishing fraud: Nigerian heir

Dear friend. I have never met you, have no connection with you and yet would like to deposit my family's entire and substantial fortune in your bank account while I fight the courts/avenge my father's death/flee persecution.

There are a range of these emails but they all come down to the same thing – we will give you a large amount of cash, please send us a deposit and your bank details first so that we know you are honourable.

Perhaps the worst thing about these messages is that they try to sound trustworthy by declaring that sender trusts the recipient – even though they do not know them! "Though, I do not know you in person but I still maintain my father's philosophy that business is people and contacts. Business is always based on trust and open mindedness and it is on this note I act."

Excellent copywriting too, these emails!

Third frustrating phishing fraud: Update your bank details now!

One of the more common phishing techniques is for the cybercriminal to pretend to be a person's bank. They claim the recipient needs to verify their details or their account could be closed. Some will sound convincing, others will be filled with the kind of laughably bad grammar seen only online.

Because of the numbers of people falling for these messages, however, many banks had to scrap using email altogether. Some of the fraudsters even added security messages to their emails, and directed recipients to elaborate fake websites, where the victim would willingly enter all of their bank details.

Fourth frustrating phishing fraud: Fakebook

Social networks have been plagued with phishing issues, particularly the massively popular Facebook – its size making it a prime target for online villains.

Fraudsters use email or the website's own messaging system to post teasers designed to entice the user to explore further. "lol i cant believe these pics got posted….its going to be BADDDD when her boyfriend sees these," gushed some of these messages, directing the recipient to a fresh login page which looked like Facebook, acted like Facebook, but wasn't Facebook.

Of course, once that victim's account is hacked and their personal details stolen, these fraudsters would also contact that person's friends, family and associates, meaning whole communities were put at risk.

Fifth frustrating phishing fraud: HMRC… or not

Everybody wants to believe that there could be a rebate coming their way and that makes the public additionally vulnerable when it comes to phishing.

In the US, the IRS is constantly warning people not to be taken in by these messages and here in the UK, HM Revenue & Customs is also fighting an ongoing battle with scammers.

Unlike the Spanish Lottery or Nigerian billionaire-type emails, many of these are plausible and well-written, containing HMRC logos, banners and ID numbers.

They inform the recipient that they are owed a refund and invite them to click on a link which transports them to a credible website and then proceeds to steal vast quantities of sensitive data from them.

Cloudy Issue – The Pros & Cons of Cloud Computing

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:06:00 +0000

Whether you are a fan or critic, there is a growing buzz about the possibilities of cloud computing. This is where the internet hosts the extensive services and resources any one firm may need, and users simply connect to them as and when necessary.

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Although opinion is divided on whether this move towards cloud computing is a desirable thing, the majority of commentators agree that this is the future of information infrastructure.

But what are the arguments for and against this computing innovation? We decided to take a look at a few of the main benefits and concerns. Do you think we have missed any of the bigger issues? Why not leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts?

Pro: Easy to increase capacity

With cloud computing there is no need to install endless additional servers as your organisation grows and staff demands increase. Instead, you can simply pay for greater capacity.

Similarly, if you anticipate a major but temporary spike in use, you do not need to install a load more hardware which will then be redundant once the upturn is over.

Pro: Gives back time to inhouse IT

With an external provider taking care of your server and storage, your IT staff can focus their efforts on work which will add value to the business and benefit the organisation.

Alternatively, you may find your IT team is less in demand and you can cut back in staffing costs.

Pro: Increases mobility

In certain industries, particularly some government departments, it makes no sense to tie staff to their desks in the old-fashioned, accepted way.

Should your staff need to travel - between offices or around the world - cloud computing can allow them to access all the information they need without returning to a desk.

Con: Greater dependency

With a cloud computing system, your organisation will undeniably become more reliant on your provider – if they drop the ball, your business could suffer.

Although having another company responsible for your server, storage and so-on can be good in terms of freeing up your inhouse IT staff, it does also mean relying on an external supplier.

Con: Won't work without web

It can happen to even the best of businesses – at some point your organisation is likely to suffer a temporary loss of internet.

While some firms can simply work on through such web failures, a company relying on cloud computing may be left in a position where staff cannot perform any tasks at all.

Con: Security fears

This is a pretty contentious issue as a number of commentators argue that cloud computing offers security benefits.

However, many people have expressed fears that it allows potentially sensitive data to be stored outside of the company to which it is entrusted, potentially even in a different country.

A firm is likely to be considered responsible for the security of its data, even if it is a cloud provider which loses it.

Cloudy future

It seems likely that, despite the concerns some have over cloud computing, it will continue to grow in popularity. Until some of the finer points are ironed out, it may be that some companies will chose not to move into cloud computing.

However, providers of the service are keen to prove that all and any cons are surmountable, so even if you decide this is not for you at present, it is worth watching the field for developments.

Seven of the Deadliest Data Loss Sins

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Over recent years, the world has been buzzing with sinister new phrases such as identity theft and data loss.

Part of the reason for the increased awareness is a number of high profile data loss cases – situations where organisations that people have entrusted their details to lose them, leaving their clients potentially at risk.

But what have been the most infamous data loss debacles? Here are seven of the deadliest data loss sins to date.

Number one: The Ministry of Defence

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In October last year, news broke that a MoD computer drive, containing vast quantities of information, had vanished.

The portable storage device held personal information of around 100,000 service personnel, as well as family details, red-faced officials admitted.

If that was not enough for the beleaguered ministry, just this month it admitted that a "large quantity" of personal data has been lost, or rather, nicked – when a Royal Navy officer had his laptop pinched.

Number two: HM Revenue and Customs

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Infamous for how easily avoidable it should have been, HMRC's biggest data loss disaster was revealed to a disbelieving public in November 2007.

It emerged that two discs containing the details of those Britons claiming and receiving child benefits were sent to the National Audit Office using the department's internal post system.

Among the lost data were national insurance numbers, addresses, names, dates of birth and even bank account details.

Number three: Deutsche Telekom

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You see, despite what some newspapers may suggest, it is not just government bodies shedding data.

Deutsche Telekom, the parent company of T-Mobile, was forced to admit that it too had mislaid customer data, with the records of 17 million German customers going missing on a disc.

It admitted the lapse last year but the actual information had been lost back in 2006. Any hope that the press would be sympathetic, quickly vanished when it emerged the company had only admitted the disc's disappearance after Der Spiegel magazine broke the story.

How did it discover the data loss? By spotting the details for sale online.

Number four: TK Maxx

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Oh TK Maxx, home of fashion, furnishings and a data security foul-up.

The company admitted in spring 2007 that some of its customers were at risk of credit card fraud after a data security breach resulted in the theft of financial details from a number of the firm's UK consumers.

It gravely explained that more than 450,000 people could potentially be hit by the problems, following the discovery of a lengthy data security breach.

However, TK Maxx sought to look on the bright side of data theft by explaining that much of the information stolen was out of date.

Number five: HM Prison Service

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HM Prison Service was left blushing after being forced to admit that a portable hard-drive had gone missing that contained the details of as many as 5,000 prison staff.

The information included names, dates of birth and national insurance numbers, but was apparently missing for 12 months before the contractors informed the Prison Service and the government.

Newspapers warned that prison officers risked being placed in danger if criminals were able to access their details, prompting justice minister Jack Straw to launch an enquiry.

Number six: Home Office

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Well, it is not just prison staff details going missing. In August last year, it emerged that contractor PA Consulting had lost a memory stick containing personal information relating to thousands of persistent offenders.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg told the Guardian: "I'm just gobsmacked like everyone else is that the government can be so systematically incompetent in failing to keep our data safe." Ouch.

Just this month, the Home Office was reprimanded by the Information Commissioner for the loss and has been told to pull up its data-security socks.

Number seven: Marks & Spencer

CC Image Credit: Flickr

This is not just a security issue; it's a Marks & Spencer's security issue.

In 2007, Marks & Sparks revealed a laptop had been stolen from a contractor, containing unencrypted details of 26,000 staff.

The information included names, addresses, pension plans and salaries. However, the Information Commissioner's Office acknowledged that there was no evidence any employees had fallen victim to identity theft as a result of the theft.

Top 5 Computer Security Hoaxes

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:17:00 +0000

Although the web is filled with very real computer security dangers, one of the less obvious threats is the hoax warning. These can lead to as much time being spent fixing non-existent problems as would be spent recovering a system from a major malware assault. Here are a few of the worst.

The Merry Christmas Hoax

Goodness knows what Grinch thought this one up. Last year an email warning began circulating which claimed that any email received with the title "Merry Christmas" was in fact one of the most destructive viruses of all time. Across the world, people deleted their festive e-cards and family newsletters for fear their machine would contract the non-existent malware.

The AOL4FREE Hoax

This email was particularly unpleasant as it used a hoax warning double bluff to deliver a nasty Trojan to a number of machines. First of all, a hoax alert hit inboxes, claiming that a virus disguised by the name AOL4FREE was being sent around the world. Shortly after this was revealed to be a hoax, a real Trojan bearing the same message was sent. In the resulting confusion, the malware compromised a far greater number of machines than it otherwise could have.

The Teddy Bear Hoax
It seems that some malware creators are now lazy as well as malicious and spread emails which cause the hapless recipient to damage their own software. The Teddy Bear Hoax warned that a person's PC had been infected with the made-up jdbgmgr.exe virus and provided instructions to delete it. Unfortunately, the file it specified is a legitimate windows file and – although its deletion would not cause problems for the majority of non-professional PC users – the number who followed the instructions and erased it highlights the potential threat of such crafty messages.

The Phantom Menace Hoax
This one was flagged up by McAfee, whose weary security team once again begged recipients not to forward it on. Like most such emails, it claimed that one of the world's most powerful viruses was on the loose and that no anti-virus program had yet been developed to combat it. However, by asserting that the fictitious malware was going by the name of a Starwars film, the perpetrators ensured that the email raced around online fan communities.

The Olympic Torch Hoax
First widely distributed in 2006, this fraudulent message urged recipients not to open any emails with the subject "Invitation" as doing so would unleash the Olympic Torch virus onto their machine, "burning" all their files. It untruthfully cited CNN and McAfee, adding to its credibility. There is a good chance this email will rear its head again soon as the world prepares for the Beijing Games.

Photo credits to Flickr for the Merry Christmas, email, teddy bear, star wars and olympic torch images.

5 Emails You Really Wish You Hadn't Sent

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:16:00 +0000

The trouble with the information highway is that is just takes an inexperienced or malicious employee to click a few too many times and suddenly sensitive and embarrassing information is emailed to half the world. Such blunders are made even worse by the haste with which bloggers gleefully comment on the mistake, ensuring that the embarrassing story a firm may try to bury is rapidly global knowledge. Here are just a few emails which probably keep their writers awake at night.

The Claire Swire Ranchy Email

It is hard not to feel sorry for someone whose name is now synonymous with online smut. It appears that Claire sent a few raunchy emails to a previous fling, attached to a shared joke. After exchanging several fairly explicit messages with one another, her partner in grime 'accidentally' forwarded the whole lot to a number of colleagues, who naturally emailed the exchange to everyone they knew, causing it to race round the web like wildfire. The story even received coverage in national newspapers, leaving Ms Swire adamantly declaring it was an unpleasant hoax and her employer's reputation rather bruised.

The "Short and Crappy" Email

A Client Relations Manager reportedly emailed a colleague about the potential attendees of a conference, describing the list as being "short and crappy". The Gods of painful justice were in full swing, however, as Silicon.com reports that the email was inadvertently sent to all the would-be guests. It would be interesting to know how they managed their client relations after that blunder.

The 'Its My Party and I'll Insist on Ridiculous Stipulations if I Want To' Email

Sometimes there is no need to feel sorry for the perpetrator of a much-mocked email. Lucy Gao, an intern in the City, sent her friends very rigid instructions for attending her birthday bash at the Ritz. In addition to listing staggered arrival times and a carefully planned itinerary, Miss Gao added: "It goes without saying that the more upper-class you dress, the less likely you shall be denied entry." Ouch. The email was quickly sent around the globe.

The Richard Phillips £4 Email

Mr Phillips made global email fame after sending his secretary a message demanding she stump up £4 to dry clean his trousers after spilling ketchup on them. The world may have been more forgiving of the City solicitor had it not emerged that he earned well in excess of £100,000 a year and that his secretary had been away from work burying her mother while he chased her for the cash.

The Pentagon's Leaky Email

In 2003, Devon schoolgirl Claire McDonald logged into her email account to discover that she had been inadvertently added to a Pentagon list which contained information not for the eyes of civilians. Despite informing the US department of the error, they continued to be sent – including information such as communications issues with British warships. Finally it emerged that Claire had been added to the distribution list as a result of a typo!

Top 5 Biggest IT Blunders

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:13:00 +0000

IT staff often occupy a unique position within a company. They are the witchdoctors of the modern era, able to fix the problems which others struggle to understand and they can justify their actions using inexplicable jargon which leaves many office workers running for the water cooler. So it can be quite fun when they mess up on a grand scale, particularly when – in this age of information – knowledge of their howler quickly spreads around the world. Here are five of the worst such blunders, all very different from one another. Because computers are used everywhere and for everything, computing mishaps occur in every sector and cause wildly differing problems.

Number One: Bill Gates and the Blue Screen of Death

While this sounds oddly like a Harry Potter novel, it was without a doubt one of the world's favourite screw-ups. The blue screen of death is a message Windows throws up when it has encountered a critical system error. When Mr Gates proudly displayed part of the Windows 98 system to a live studio audience prior to its release, the dreaded screen immediately flashed up, causing the audience to roar with laughter at the blushing billionaire.

Number Two: Government Data Loss

This Great British embarrassment was less funny and more frightening as the government admitted the loss of two discs containing 25 million child benefits records. These included sensitive information such as birth dates, addresses and even bank details. It led to an abject apology from Gordon Brown and a rise in the number of people seeking advice on identity theft.

Number Three: Infected Digital Photo Frames

Recently, Insignia had to admit to its clients that it had inadvertently shipped a number of digital photo frames which were infected with a virus. When the proud new owner plugged their NS-DPF-10A into their PC to load up their pictures, it compromised their machine with a rather unpleasant malicious program, leading to grovelling apologies all round.

Number Four: Nuking the Moon

It is difficult to know whether or not this is web-spread mythology or if it is true, but if it happened then it easily counts as one of the greatest computing blunders of all time. The US and Canadian NORAD early warning system was built during the Cold War to alert the countries to any unexpected missiles or satellites heading towards their shores. Unfortunately, so the story goes, no one told the computer about the Moon, leading it to sound the World War Three alarm as night fell and cause a considerable amount of panic among staff.

Number Five: The Wrong Kidney

While many of these top blunders have affected globally renowned businessmen, large firms and countries, number five on the list illustrates the dangers of human error combined with computing to the individual. Earlier this year it emerged that a patient had to have a new kidney removed just a few hours after the transplant took place. An error had been made on the database and the wrong blood type had been recorded, leading to a useless kidney being installed.