Internet Security

Until now, i have just mentioned the new useful innovations related to Internet, however, today I would discuss with you guys about the malignant threats consumers face by using these products.

When a computer connects to a network and begins communicating with other computers, it is essentially taking a risk. Internet security involves the protection of a computer's Internet account and files from intrusion of an unknown user.Basic security measures involve protection by well selected passwords, change of file permissions and back up of computer's data.

Cyber criminals are budding everywhere as they know that a successful attack can be very successful and profitable. Professional hackers are available today to hack into profiles of important companies and banks to get critical information and profit from them. This does not only affect the company or the bank but also their clients.

There are may types of cyber crimes. We have discussed a lot about it in the class. However, did you know that there is a special section of cyber crime in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). According to the FBI website, in the Cyber Investigations sections the FBI talks about its mission.

The FBI's cyber mission is four-fold: first and foremost, to stop those behind the most serious computer intrusions and the spread of malicious code; second, to identify and thwart online sexual predators who use the Internet to meet and exploit children and to produce, possess, or share child pornography; third, to counteract operations that target U.S. intellectual property, endangering our national security and competitiveness; and fourth, to dismantle national and transnational organized criminal enterprises engaging in Internet fraud. Pursuant to the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace signed by the President, the Department of Justice and the FBI lead the national effort to investigate and prosecute cyber crime.

When I browsed through the website, I found out that there are ways in which we can complain about cyber crime online with just a click on the 'File an Internet crime complaint'. Also, the website gives us information on how to protect our computers from these crimes. Along with it, the site also fishes out useful information on New E-Scams & Warnings, Common Internet Frauds, Risks of Peer-to-Peer Networks, Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety, and More Protections.

It does not end there! Besides these features, the site also gives information on online crime statistics, the FBI online security surveys etc. This site ensures me that the case of online crimes is not hopeless and that there are fores out there who are bent on protecting others from the vicious criminals who may not directly or physically harm others but may still do great damage!

Please do go to this site: http://www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/cyberhome.htm

This will educate us as consumers to be better prepared to avoid such cyber crimes!

the FBI Fight Cyber Crime?

Google Books!

Google Books!

Bookmark, Organize, Share

Google Books is a service from Google that allow users to conduct searches throughout the full text of books that Google scans, converts to text using optical character recognition, and stores in its digital database.

When relevant to a user's keyword search, up to three results from the Google Books index are displayed above search results in the Google Web Search service (google.com). A user may also search just for books at the dedicated Google Books service. Clicking a result from Google Books opens an interface in which the user may view pages from the book as well as content-related advertisements and links to the publisher's website and booksellers. Through a variety of access limitations and security measures, some based on user-tracking, Google limits the number of viewable pages and attempts to prevent page printing and text copying of material under copyright.

Google Books are becoming more popular as its database continues to grow.By March 2007, Google had digitized one million books, according to The New York Times at an estimated cost of USD 5 million and by October 9, 2009, Google announced that the number of scanned books is over ten million!

Google has its own "Google Books Library Project" which is an enhanced card catalog of the world's books. Google is working with several major libraries to include their collections in Google Books and, like a card catalog, show users information about the book, and in many cases, a few snippets - a few sentences to display the search term in context.

When you click on a search result for a book from the Library Project, you'll see basic bibliographic information about the book, and in many cases, a few snippets – a few sentences showing your search term in context. If the book is out of copyright, you’ll be able to view and download the entire book. In all cases, you'll see links directing you to online bookstores where you can buy the book and libraries where you can borrow it.

According to Google, The Library Project's aim is simple: make it easier for people to find relevant books – specifically, books they wouldn't find any other way such as those that are out of print – while carefully respecting authors' and publishers' copyrights. Our ultimate goal is to work with publishers and libraries to create a comprehensive, searchable, virtual card catalog of all books in all languages that helps users discover new books and publishers discover new readers.

I hope this was interesting information for you guys! As i LOVE reading books, Google books is something which after some time may make it a hundred time more easier to find the books I want.

Refrences: http://books.google.com/googlebooks/library.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Book_Search

E-Learning for Kids

Like the society and business, the field of education has also benefited a lot from the introduction of Internet to the public. Today, with the introduction of Google Documents, it has become really easy to share your documents or write one together. Along with that there are online courses; universities provide which students can complete within a semester in the comforts of their homes. Also, there are online courses available which allows students the liberty to be in another country altogether and still learn the same things that other students all over the world are learning!

However, online education does not only pertain to students who are from high-school and above. Younger children who are in their Kindergarten also have the option available to them and their parents. Internet makes it a lot livelier to teach children may it be from a site or taking contents from a particular sites and using it in the physical classroom.

According to the website 'e-learning for kids':

"In today’s complex world, children’s futures are determined by their ability to master the basics of reading, science, math and computers. Yet costs, class sizes and other issues often prevent children access to quality online learning that can support and reinforce these essential skills.

Our vision is to be the source for childhood learning on the Internet – available from anywhere and without charge. Established in late 2004, e-Learning for Kids is a global, nonprofit foundation dedicated to fun and free learning on the Internet for children ages 5 - 12. We offer free, best-in-class courseware in math, science, reading and keyboarding; and we’re building a community for parents and educators to share innovations and insights in childhood education.

E-learning for Kids isn’t only for kids, though; it’s also a site where:

• Parents get more engaged in their kids’ education
• Educators and experts champion e-learning and contribute their knowledge on how kids can learn better.
• Commercial education and game developers contribute to the next generation.
• Corporations and associations channel their social responsibility efforts.
• People with a passion for childhood education make a difference.

Programs are designed for children ages 5 through 12, developed by leading e-learning vendors and qualified instructional designers, and reviewed by members of the Advisory Board and Quality Assurance teams. Schools can incorporate our tested online courses into their curriculum; teachers can work with their students on specific skills; and children can access the self-paced programs independently. The programs are designed to engage children at the level where they can perform successfully.

Videos like the one given below can really get the message across to kids which are the key factor of key learning.

Reference: http://www.e-learningforkids.org/aboutus.html