Tech Bones

If you are a network manager, a computer systems administrator or a computer security specialist, you have undoubtedly heard about the Flame trojan, a malware program that redefines ones concept of espionage and warfare on the cyber front. In a recent post on The Weekly Standard magazine's Web site, Jonathan V. Last provides an interesting perspective of the Flame pertaining to what Flame means in terms of the evolution of malware. Bride of Stuxnet Webcraft as spycraft. http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/bride-stuxnet_646424.html While accurately describing Flame as " the most spectacular computer worm ever made ", Jonathan Last minimizes the true threat it presents by categorizing it as " the perfect spy ." Aside from the obvious espionage threat this malware poses, its potential evolution as a disruptive and destructive threat is far more ominous. The current Flame trojan could be merely a first release in the wild, a recon version on a spy missi...

What seems like a lifetime ago, but in reality was only a generation, when Saturday Night Live was in its prime, Eddie Murphy portrayed a character named Velvet Jones. As an entrepreneur, Velvet offered instructional books on several subjects. In an SNL sketch titled the "People's Court," Velvet was forced to defend one of his books against accusations that it did not deliver sufficient instruction to achieve success. Velvet Jones on the People's Court (NBC's Saturday Night Live - Season 7, Episode 9 - 23 January 1982) When I read pitches for co-founders or chat with people who believe they have the idea for the next great startup, the image of Eddie Murphy comes to mind. While I admire their enthusiasm and encourage their pursuit of the dream, I sense these potential entrepreneurs have skipped a few chapters along the way, trying to jump from the premise of having an idea to counting their first million. If only they would take the time to re-read the book...

As I've pointed out in the past, activity tracking and data mining are increasingly becoming more sophisticated. Once they approach being a real science, maintaining personal privacy becomes less feasible. The following article in Forbes' demonstrates how close we are to that time... How Target Figured Out A Teen Girl Was Pregnant Before Her Father Did http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/02/16/how-target-figured-out-a-teen-girl-was-pregnant-before-her-father-did/ If you think your browser settings protect you from such efforts, think again... Google tracked iPhones, bypassing Apple browser privacy settings http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/02/17/google-tracked-iphones-bypassing-apple-browser-privacy-settings/ It's getting harder to maintain any sense of privacy. . . .

A picture is worth a thousands words... Or explanations.

With apologies to the producers of the movie 'Top Gun', no better example of "The Need For Speed" has ever existed than a technology user, as exemplified by the following cartoon...   Thanks to Jorge Cham at http://www.PHPComics.com for illustrating this point so well. . . .

I have come to the conclusion that there are basically three types of technologists: Inventors, Innovators, and Imitators. Inventors advance technology to the next plane. Innovators push the vertical plane of technology, typically inspiring inventions. Imitators broaden the horizontal plane of technology, frequently driving innovations. All three overlap to some degree yet define a distinct approach. For example, the invention of the computer chip involved a technically innovative way to use transistors that advanced technology. Similarly, innovation uses, combines, or improves upon existing products often simulating a newly invented technology. Imitations can involve slight changes or extensions initially appearing to be innovative, even inventive, but in essence merely expand upon a copied premise. Many true innovators, including Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, are also considered inventors. While both had the vision to recognize how existing technology could be combined, enhanced, and ...

In visiting with the founders of a few new startups recently, I sadly discovered that the most frequently expressed "business plan" involved building a product markedly similar to an existing, successful one. Even more disappointing, none of the plans focused on improving the copied product but rather in duplicating its functionality to the point of attracting sufficient attention to result in the company being acquired, allowing the founder to cash out. Money reigned supreme over innovation. Endeavoring to expand functionality or improve a concept was shunned in favor of seeking a quick buyout and a big payday. The thrill and pride of creating something unique, like a piece of art, was absent. Money, from imitation not invention or innovation, was the resounding mantra. The shortcut to success by today's standard. It only takes a little more work than playing Lotto, with about the same odds of winning. Where is the next Steve Jobs whose passion fueled his novelty and...