Instead of showing your drivers license anymore, you can simply have it scanned by someone with a scan machine. The technology originally used on many devices, and most notably the EZPass (a driver’s mechanism that automatically pays when you go through tolls so you don’t have to stop) has been transferred to Identification cards, and is raising some eyebrows even though it is supposed to be there for convenience.

This technology actually collects data automatically from anyone in a bar setting, who is consuming alcohol. This scanner saves data such as phone numbers, drivers license numbers, names, photos, gender, and even the amount of alcohol consumed! Many bar users and privacy advocates alike have revolted against this technology; while it has good intentions, it presents a large hazard to the ones being scanned as they will then have so much sensitive and personal information floating around.

While this technology is being used in Vancouver and is disliked by the people, the privacy commissioner proposes to allow bars to use the technology, just with a couple of modifications. The commissioner asserts that the ID tag and information collection helps to find drunk drivers, and keeps tabs (no pun intended) on the frequent bar users of Vancouver. Also, without this ID tag, kids are much less likely to be able to try and get an illegal drink at a local bar, since they will not have been issued an ID yet. Forget about faking the ID either as is popular in youth culture; these futuristic super identification cards have a specialized bar code strip hidden on the back and many other safe guards to show that the card is real, and keep imposters from leaking through.

Tweet This Post

This popular axiom applies to many things. Perhaps it means don’t fit the mold, and be an individual. Perhaps it means to strive for what you aspire to. We are going to speak of it in the context of online privacy and security systems. Don’t use the standard protection on your computer. Well, don’t let it be your only line of defense. When people get a computer, they check it for many features, but Internet privacy isn’t usually one of them. Whether it be ignorance or just a nonchalant attitude towards online privacy, it is a real risk. Imagine if one didn’t bother to set up their security systems at all or did so completely incorrectly; they might as well be surfing the Internet with a “Hack me” sticker on their back. Hackers can detect if any security systems are present in one’s computer, and they strike where it would be easiest to get in.

While having absolutely no security protection is a bit farfetched, (as most systems come automatically equipped with something)  some people might as well have nothing. These are the people who rely solely on the cheap and bugged technology that came installed on their computers when they got them. Most people don’t buy any extra software, and hackers will prey on these people. No matter what brand the computer is, these stock security systems are all very similar; if a hacker can break one, he can break them all. It doesn’t even take a really skilled hacker to do so either; these people often just read online tutorials on how to do this stuff and just get on their computer and mess with someone’s connection until they get in. It is usually that simple, and once they can do one of them, they can break into pretty much any Internet user’s connection and steal their data.

Tweet This Post

Iran is known nationally for its tight ship on Internet communications. They have been known to oppress their people by blocking them from many different sites. Whether it be an adult entertainment site, an American glory site, even a rebel’s group site, the Iran citizens have been blocked from it at some point or another. This puts them in a state of complete disarray, and defeats some to the poing where they don’t even want to try anymore, and they just follow any order the government gives without question or regret; exactly what they want. Still, there are others who are non-conformists, and will fight order to the end. These people know how to get around the Internet blocks, and can do so pretty easily.

They have a tool of the trade; an anonymous proxy. This is a program that allows a user to get by any Internet blockade, no matter who instated it. They are either software based, or we-based. Either way, fire up your proxy and type in the address of the site you wish to go to that is blocked normally, and the private proxy will act as a middle man, and retrieve the site for you. This way, you are allowed access to the site because your browser which blocked you just sees that you are going to the un-blocked proxy site. This serves two purposes; first, the site is yours and you have uncensored access, and second, it leaves trace of you visiting on your computer.

Tweet This Post