Selected TechNotes – November 2004

Gone Phishing - Identity Theft
There are an increasing number of horror stories about various forms of identity theft these days. Identity theft involves theft of enough personal data that enables a criminal to do things such as open credit accounts and spend money, which then is billed to you. The account may be opened using your address and then the account’s address changed so that you don’t even know someone is spending money in your name! Shocked into action? Take care with your personal information. Important information is sometimes displayed on credit card receipts, which one might drop in a rubbish bin (waiting for someone else to find and use). Social security or identity numbers used in some countries can be used to gain access to your personal information – don’t carry this information if it can be used against you in your country. When you receive an email from a bank or company asking you to follow the link provided to update your account details – don’t trust it! Go to the company’s original website (without using the link in the email) and check this properly. If in the slightest doubt, telephone the company concerned. And never save usernames, passwords and other critical information in word processor files on your computer! There’s a lot said about these issues on the Internet. If you want to find out more, see: http://www.csoonline.com/read/030104/idtheft.html

More Domain Names
It seems two more domain names are on their way for use in early 2005. These are ".post" and ".travel". Others that are said to be under discussion are ".asia,", ".jobs,", ".xxx.", and ".eu". There are about 250 domain names at present, many of which are for country suffixes. If the domain of your 1st choice is not available for purchase, you could try one of the lesser-known names that have become available. You can find out about registering domains at many sites such as http://www.register.com/. Website hosting can frequently be purchased at the same time. If you don’t register the most suitable domain name for your organisation, someone else might do this, taking it out of your reach or expecting you to pay exorbitant amounts to buy it from them.

Beware also of a procedure change being implemented by the organisation that sets the rules for domain names, ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). The new procedure is reported to allow the transfer of ownership of a domain five days after notifying the original owner via the email address on record. No response would mean a “yes” to the transfer application. The important thing to do is to ensure your correct details are recorded so that you receive any notices regarding your domains in time and act immediately. Some prominent companies have let their domain registrations slip (renewal not paid in time) and have had trouble regaining control over their names. Someone in your organisation needs to be responsible for this important task. See: http://theage.com.au/articles/2004/11/10/1100021855873.html?oneclick=true


Another Free Open Source Alternative
The tech headlines are buzzing with the news of the release of “Firefox”. This is an alternative for MS Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. The program is free and appears to work well. Amongst the main reasons given for making the change is the belief that FireFox is more resistant to the hacker problems that plague Microsoft programs. It can have multiple tabs in the same browser window, which can help to keep track of multiple windows more easily. Multiple search engines are built right into the toolbar, reducing the time to run searchers. If you are considering trying this option, the place to go is: http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Uses of RFID
I mentioned the widening availability of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) last month. A use that has now been reported is to place a RFID chip in passports. The USA is said to be planning to issue new passports with RFID from 2005. Privacy activists are very concerned about the information that could be extracted from these passports without the holder’s knowledge that their passport is being read. Encryption, they feel is not enough to make them feel this is safe against fraudulent use and theft of peoples’ identities. Another possible use mentioned recently is the tagging of children by having them wear a bracelet or having the chip imbedded in clothing. While it could be very useful, it sounds like one has to go to great lengths to ensure people are protected from criminals.

Cell phones Outstrip Landlines
Developing countries like India, Kenya and South Africa are finding that the expansion of cellular phones is outstripping the expansion of landline phones. Cell phones are carried by highly mobile people and are more accessible than landlines. Short Message Services (“SMSs” or “Text messages”) have become very popular on cell phones in the face of high charges for voice calls. This creates a significant difference between the way cellular phones are used in North America (for voice calls) compared to the rest of the world, especially amongst poorer people. A poor person can frequently afford to buy a cell phone instrument, but must be very economical when it comes to making calls. The text message alternative makes communication affordable for large numbers of people, especially those who learn to say things in few words or abbreviations.

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