Google “600GB of personal data”

Once upon a time, there was this little search engine. It’s most recent project was to use “Street View” vehicles to snap pictures to add more precisecontent to their Maps utility.

Except those same vehicles were using Wi-Fi discovery software called Kismet, to allow the search engine to automatically collect information about wireless networks, like the ones behind looked doors (inside people’s homes).

They collected about 600 gigabytes of data, about the same as 600 movies downloaded from the iTunes store. Some of this information includes whether the routes are encrypted or not. It also could include things like credit card numbers, bank account data, texts from personal chat sessions, email or personal photos.

Supposedly though, mapping people’s private wireless networks was the only goal.

If they managed to walk away with 600GB of personal data because of a bug in their system that they company was unaware of (other than the programmer of the rogue software and/or hacker) it begs the question of what else this search engine has missed or is unaware of?

The software to capture Wi-Fi data in neighbourhoods across Canada is called Kismet and the search engine that was infected with a rogue software running in tandem with Kismet, is Google.

Another piece of the story which (up till now) I had forgotten is that Kismet, while used primarily by network administrators, is also used by hackers who participate in “War Driving”.

War driving: People ride through neighbourhoods looking for networks that are free so they can hop on and access the internet. Sort of like leaving the sprinkler on and having random people come by with buckets to fill up. That’s water that you’ve paid for, like the Wi-Fi and router is your privately owned equipment.

This is a major problem since many people do not have encryptions on their wireless home networks.

Apparently the whole point of mapping people’s home networks was to improve Google’s geolocation services as an alternative to GPS. Therefore the unique ID of a wireless router will help locate a person’s home on a map – making it public infrastructure.

Something definitely upsetting Canada’s privacy commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart.

In essence, Vito Pilieci (the writer) argues that the issue boils down Goggle’s initiative to create an alternative to GPS by piggybacking on private Wi-Fi networks.

The government will be dealing more closely with newly risen questions such as

• Should any tech company be able to derive a benefit and turn a profit by piggybacking on a service on privately owned equipment?

(Information thanks to the Vito Pilieci of Gazette)

Bazinga!

The Gazette recently published an article about one of my favourite TV shows.. If the title didn’t give it away, I’m sorry to say you have been deprived of the best nerd humour offered on television – ever.

Additionally, it’s not only priceless but the scripts are sent to David Saltzberg, a professor of astrophysics at the University of California for scientific approval. On one occasion, the script was even sent to him in Antarctica where he was conducting experiments in particle research.

The Big Bang Theory is riding a “wave of popularity and adulation”.

• It consistently place in the Top 10 in the weekly ratings, in both the U.S. and Canada.
• It is one of the very few programs that performs almost as well in reruns as it does in first-run episodes.
• It is respected, as well as loved, and has the Emmy, Golden Globe, and TV Critics Association nominations and wards to prove it.

When Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper) arrives at Comic-Con, he starts riots.

Forget Justin Bieber – Cooper is adorable, funny, and wickedly intelligent.

I’d like to congratulate them on taking something only seen as properties belonging to extra-terrestrial creatures, bringing it to everyday life, and having universal appeal.

Gen

“With the friendship clause of our roommate agreement nullified, you are no longer entitled to accompany me to go swimming at Bill Gates house should I be invited.”

Sheldon Cooper <3

Aiding Haiti, one SunSpring at a time..

Recently in Fast Company there were a series of articles about companies that are developing technologies that make relief efforts more effective in places like Haiti and Chile affected by earthquakes. One of the examples is Innovative Water Technologies who produce portable, solar-powered water-purifying systems called SunSpring. As shipping bottled water is not a sustainable option nor environmentally-friendly, they created the SunSpring unit which produces more than 5,000 gallons of microbiologically safe water per day. It constantly stores energy so it will run at night or on a cloudy day. One unit costs $25,000, but it lasts for ten years; and if you sell the water at just four cents a gallon – 20% of what water is going for right now in Haiti – the payback period would be four months. At the same time, they suggest creating a local micro-finance model where NGOs can help support hospitals, community centers, or schools. Therefore, a SunSpring can be sustainable within itself.

Worldwide Partner Conference… whaty whaty?

S2B delegate in the house eh?

I’m an S2B delegate at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference this year!

REPRESENTIN’ CANADA

What is the S2B experience??
It’s a community initiative connecting Microsoft, Microsoft Partners and Customers, with tech students from leading universities and colleges.
It provides students with business related training to assist them in gaining employment.
To get an idea, follow all the delegates from :
Spain, Romania, USA, Canada, Germany, Finland, Italy, Columbia, Taiwan, India, France, Brazil, Poland, and South Africa – as we cover Microsoft’s World Partner Conference with special guest Bill Clinton, and Keynote speakers Steve Ballmer and Allison Watson.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=130997130251675&ref=ts

Join the event and follow on facebook ladies and gents!

Or… (drum roll please)

Follow “WPC” on twitter (the delegates will be connecting their tweets to this profile)!

If you have any questions about the conference you’re welcome to peruse http://digitalwpc.com/

Or check in for my new vlog concerning wpc in a bit!

This is GEN, Loggin’ out.

Success by Design: Apple’s “Secret”

Success by Design: Secret to Apple’s $200+ billion price tag – REVEALED.

(now $242.6 billion as the iPhone 4 was just released today)

I’m a huge fan of the FAST COMPANY magazines and after my first trip to vegas for CES I started a subscription. This month was an article about “Apple Nation” since on May 26 at 2:30 pm Apple became the largest technology company in the universe. Other than the fun fact that in 1997 Microsoft invested 150$ million in Apple to keep them from an almost certain demise, I have figured out the true secret to Apple’s success… EVEN THEIR BAGS ARE SOFT! How can you avoid logic like that?

Women predominantly control the finances in North American households and my personal tastes usually influence me to buy what’s light – bright – and white! Apple products are smooth, clean, and organized.  However, i will go into better detail about the “Apple Nation” including ‘heretics’ like Jason Chen from Gizmodo who stole the iPhone 4 thunder with the lost prototype and ‘big name Apple loyalists’  like Ellen, Jolie, and Ferrell in a later blog so check back in for that Friday!

Due to a lot of questions, I would like to remind everyone that Microsoft still runs on nearly 90% of computers. They have not mastered where all cpus/devices are going: mobility. The Windows phone is coming out later this year but  in a Fortune 500 interview with Steve Ballmer, the head of Microsoft made it clear that they were focusing on cpu advances as opposed to any mobile innovations.

Some may argue that that isn’t the brightest plan considering that everything’s turning mobile.

For example, MacBook => iPad.

Rather a clear indication of what consumers expect for the future. A “desk-less” cpu!