cis275 Topics: Citizen journalism

cis275 Topics: Citizen journalism: PowerPoint presentation Skills: none Concepts: citizen journalism, use of Usenet, blogs and social media by citizen journalist, news ar...

Benjamin Bratton: New perspectives: What's Wrong with TED Talks? at TEDxSanDiego 2013 - Re:Think by TEDxTalks

Benjamin Bratton, Associate Professor of Visual Arts at UCSD and Director of The Center for Design and Geopoltics at CALIT2, asks: Why don't the bright futures promised in TED talks come true? Professor Bratton attacks the intellectual viability of TED, calling it placebo politics, middlebrow megachurch infotainment, and the equivalent of right-wing media channels. Does TED falsely present problems as simply puzzles to be solved by rearranging the pieces? In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

How to Convert Locked Files Using Free Opener - wikiHow

How to Convert Locked Files Using Free Opener - wikiHow

How to Find and Delete CPU Hoggers

How to use Windows Task Manager Effectively  

I installed a volunteer program that actually uses my bandwidth whenever my PC is idle. After some months and being informed my small netbook bandwidth wasn't helping, I decided to uninstall it. But whenever I run my defragmenter, the program's name was still flashing and for some reason, I found it hard to locate the program file to delete it. But thanks to the problem I finally learned how to use Task Manager to the full.

Here is how to find and delete stubborn CPU hoggers:  

1. Open Task Manager: ctrl+shift+esc

2. Click on 'Processes'

3. If you don't find the file you need, click 'Show processes from all users'

4. When your target file name appears, right-click on it then click 'Open file location'

5. When your file appears, you can delete it by clicking on 'Organize' (top left corner) then choosing delete. Or you can use your deleting or uninstalling app too.

Finally, my CPU isn't running 100% all the time! I have no idea how my netbook withstood that.

Developing and stuff: Is www.apple.com discriminating through your User ...

Developing and stuff: Is www.apple.com discriminating through your User ...: Left: Safari, version 6.0.5 (8536.30.1) Right: Chrome,version 29.0.1547.32 beta Both pages loaded at more or less the same time. Tried...

Overwrite your Deleted Data for Safety

Did you know that all your deleted files could still be hacked unless you overwrite them?

This tutorial will show you how to securely wipe or overwrite free disk space on any partition or disk using the inbuilt cipher command in Windows

Steps:

1. Open (an elevated) command prompt or press Windows icon + R

2. Type the command below, and press Enter

The syntax required is: Code:

cipher /w:[drive]:\[folder]

where [drive] = drive letter, [folder] = folder name

If you want to wipe ALL free disk space on a particular drive, use this simpler syntax:

Code:

cipher /w:F:\

link:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/276046-cipher-command-overwrite-deleted-data-

windows.html

Another Adventure in False Positive

I think this PC problem was solved with a prayer. Read first before you say 'corny'.

I was normally surfing online when I noticed my battery monitor -- I was running on it, not with electric power. I tried to fix that then my PC suddenly shut down. When I tried turning it on, it would shut down again at Windows load. This happened about 10 times before Windows gave me the option of checking Startup. I allowed that and after the check, Windows said my 'registry is corrupt'. I thought how could that be when I stopped tweaking my registry a long time ago knowing it's a no-no. Windows allowed me to restart, did that, and the PC shut down again.

I tried turning it on again and again but it was no use. I gave up and assumed that my registry is indeed corrupted. I rested then tried blowing dust inside the PC away to make sure overheating is not the cause. I was taking a bath when it occurred to me that since the problem started with power malfunction, maybe the problem is my outlet socket.

My power adapter is connected to an octopus outlet. I took away the multiple outlet and inserted my adapter directly. My Pc turned on and worked again. That simple. It was just another 'false positive' from Windows -- again.   

My analysis: either my socket malfunctioned or a hacker used the socket. Hackers could do that -- especially when you’re on power smartmeter.     

The Importance of Dusting Inside of PC

You're working on an important manuscript you haven't saved. Then suddenly your computer screen blanks out. There is no possibility of recovering any file you haven't saved when that happens.  

I was lucky when it happened to me. I just tried to restart five times then my netbook went normal again. I researched how and why it occurred and the answer I found was so simple it surprised me: Dust stopped the fan inside netbook and overheating crashed or blanked it out.

So if ever this happens to you, don't panic and call your techie at once. Try first the tutorial below which is the most probable answer.

Additional tips:

You can use the SpeedFan app which monitors voltages, fan speeds, and temperatures in computers

Put dust-trapping cloth mats around your computer

video

Official Google Webmaster Central Blog: A reminder about manipulative or deceptive behavio...

Official Google Webmaster Central Blog: A reminder about manipulative or deceptive behavio...: Webmaster level: All Our quality guidelines prohibit manipulative or deceptive behavior, and this stance has remained unchanged since the...

Make Your Netbook Run Smoothly

How to increase system performance of Netbooks

All these tips are applicable to laptops and desktops too

~Avoid brightness of screen

That is not only eye-straining but also damaging to screen

~Update OS Service Packs regularly

~Update all programs and apps regularly

Same reason for both: if not done, entry of malwares would be easier

~Customize all start-up programs, as minimum as possible

The more start-ups, the slower your system (same with the next 3)

~Show minimum folders on desktop

~Delete temporary files stored in .tmp folder of system

~Clear browser cache and cookies

~Empty your recycle-bin regularly

At least when trash files reaches 50MB

~Run system cleaner on regular basis

~Defragment your system at least once a week

~Scan system for Virus or Malware regularly

~Do not store data in OS(Operating System) drive

We can never be sure if a virus is hiding inside a file

~Do not run external drives without scan

To be sure that those drives are not infected

~Drain your battery after eliminating virus or malware

One way of making sure a virus is dead

Computer Safety and Infection Prevention

Malwarebytes (MBAM) Portable

The importance of having a portable AV

This app might have saved my PC from virus twice. In both cases, MBAM caught a deadly virus that eluded both Microsoft Security Essentials and SuperAntispyware. The last time, it caught a nasty Trojan that prevented me from connecting to the Net and gave me trouble for more than 48 hours straight. And the probable reason why MBAM was successful is that it isn’t installed (local) in my PC. It’s in your portable flashdrive which makes it hidden to viruses. You’re taking a great risk if you don’t have MBAM Portable.

Problems a Trojan Virus Bring

1. Will interfere with everything you do with your PC and slow it down

2. Will prevent you from connecting on-line

3. Will even interfere with your online games while you are playing

What Hackers Do With Your Stolen Password

How they steal passwords then hijack accounts

The first thing hackers do is get your email address -- which is very easy if you are on social networks. Then they send you spam mail (when you sign in to any of your accounts, observe from time to time the dots that hide the characters of your password. If you notice that the first dots have erasure marks, someone has already started trying to hack your password for sure). If they succeed in cracking one of your weak passwords, they hijack your account by changing the password, own the account or site, and use it for scams. Then they can transfer money (if available) and make purchases.

Losing a hacked account -- especially an email account -- is heart-breaking enough. Losing your hard-earned bank cash will break your heart more.

Using Your eMail Safely

The Best Backup and Trick eMail Services

These are very useful services and each has a different function. As for photographers, there are rush times you need to send your works to clients before the photos are copyrighted. At those instances, using Safe-mail or Privnote would be wise.

Safe-Mail

As its name implies, Safe-mail is a highly secure communication system because your messages

are automatically encrypted. Security has been designed into the system -- not as an add-on.

Safe-mail has two services:

Private Mail

You can get the free account before opting to a premium one.  

Business Mail

No need saying that business mails should be secure so this is really where Safe-mail must be used. Safe-mail will provide you with multiple email addresses under your own domain.  

Try Safe-Mail here:

http://www.safe-mail.net/

Azigo

I call it the 'pleasure mail box' because it's where you transfer non-hectic, non-business messages.

There are messages that need to be read at once and others which need not be. If all those messages are boxed together, you will have to sort them out and waste time. Azigo solves that problem. Azigo will give you a domain (you@azigo.com) where you can transfer all your 'pleasure' mails from all email providers. No more wasting time sorting clogged business mail boxes. It’s a fast, visual way to see more of what you like.https://azigo.com

PrivNote

The 'James Bond' email. The one to use if you want to send sensitive messages the safest way. How 'safest'? The message you send self-destructs after being read! (So I suggest the recipient to copy details of the note with pen and paper. Making a digital copy of the message defeats the purpose of Privnote!)  

How it works:

After writing your note, Privnote will provide you with a link. Then you copy and paste that link into an email (or instant message) that you send to the person who you want to read the note. When that person clicks the link for the first time, they will see the note in their browser and the note will automatically self-destruct after being read. No one (even that very same person) can read the note again. The link won't work anymore.

https://privnote.com

Recovering Missing Files Isn't Hard Anymore

With so many excellent back-up and recovery apps, losing and recovering your deleted or missing files isn't scary anymore. You also have the safer option of copying your important disk and files into an external disk or USB flash. But there is still one dangerous way of losing an important file: when you forget to save your manuscript after typing it -- nothing deleted that file -- the file vanished because it was NOT SAVED. And as of now, I haven't seen someone or an app solve that recovery problem. Or maybe this app could do that:  

A Great Free File Recovery App: UndeleteMyFiles 

UndeleteMyFiles is a quick and easy way to find and recover deleted media and digital devices.It employs a simplified two-step process that enables you recover any files that used to reside on your system.

Features:

File Rescue Wizard - a quick and easy way to find and recover deleted files.

Media Recover - Recover media files in a couple of easy steps.

Deleted File Search - Specialized filters that allow you to find specific deleted information.

Files Wiper - Allows you to delete any files permanently without any chances of recovery.

Mail Rescue - Mail Recovery Wizard. 

www.seriousbit.com/undeletemyfiles/

Another great app option is iDrive.com

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=20

2 Great Tools for Multiple Posting

Image via CrunchBase

If you have multiple sites and want to post and/or share a your single article to all, you can do that with these 2 excellent tools:

Dlvr.it (deliverit)
Deliverit is an app where you can transfer your article link, or more importantly, a blog or message to multiple sites or networks. These are 'destinations' which you have to link to manually. You can even schedule when you want your message to be published.
http://dlvr.it/   

Shareaholic
Shareaholic is a browser extension unlike Deliverit. Shareaholic is limited to just sharing a page whether it's yours or not - you can't share a personal message. But Shareaholic's advantage is it has much more sharing destinations than Deliverit.

Since this piece is not a personal blog or message, I will use Shareaholic to post it to multiple sites.
https://shareaholic.com/

End Times && Forbidden Knowledge: Mind Control. It's all around you.

End Times && Forbidden Knowledge: Mind Control. It's all around you.: Remote Neural Stimulation and Recording The type of "mind control" we talk about at MoFK has nothing to do with subconscious messages ...

How to Convert Locked Files Using Free Opener - wikiHow

How to Convert Locked Files Using Free Opener - wikiHow

Playing Games on Local Host

I copied the Raze HTML files into my documents so I could play it offline in case of  power outage or Internet disconnection.That's when I learned about Local Hosting Network. It refers to the local computer that a program is running on. For example, if you are running a Web browser on your computer, your computer is considered to be the "localhost."

Opinions about Local Hosting Network (LHN) in contrast to Online Hosting Network (OHN):  
Local Hosting Network
A supposedly "zero drag" network connection to a gaming server achieved because of the lack of internet dependency. Game play is naturally much smoother on a Local Hosting Network.

Online Hosting Network
An network connection to a gaming server characterized by drag that may interfere with gaming performance.
People claim that the drag from the Online Hosting Network is noticeable enough to interfere with game play, but I do not agree. I can't tell the difference between playing on an OHN and a LHN.
Any opinions of your own?


Install Portable Apps to Dropbox
Xinorbis is a disk analyzer for Windows file system. I'm using it as an example just to prove you can install portable apps to Dropbox. Go to Xinorbis .com and try.

How To Use CMD To Learn Commands: the code you need to type in is shutdown -i

How To Use CMD To Learn Commands: the code you need to type in is shutdown -i: the code you need to type in is shutdown -i

How to Hide and be Private On-line

English: A screenshot of Vidalia running under KDE. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How to Hide and be Private On-line
Most of the methods taught here should be done with guidance from a technician. If you're not a geek or techie, you will surely endanger your PC without it. Also, most of the tools and apps I mentioned or recommended here are freeware. And although they are efficient enough, I suggest you use the paid versions for more efficiency.

1. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
With a VPN, your IP address is hidden
Most techies endorse TOR VPN. But recently, a cybergang successfully used it to hide their racket and tarnished TOR's name. Some good alternatives to TOR are Hamachi and CyberGhost.

2. Use an Anonymized Browser
Websites use cookies to track you and hackers to ID you. To prevent that, use a particular browser (I use Firefox) and set it to wipe cookies every time you close the browser.

3. Use a Web Proxy
I really don't use proxies because operating systems and websites make it hard to use. But if you want to, some apps you can try are Privoxy, Anonymouse, Proxify, and Hide My Ass.  

4. Turn Off Internet When You Can Work Offline
Getting tracked and hacked is easier when you are online. One of my tiny and most useful app is InternetOff. With just two clicks, you turn Internet on and off.

5. Use an External Disk
On-line data is getting more and more easier to hack and that's where external backups become useful - no one can see them online. You don't even have to buy big-sized external disks. There are megaload USB sticks available now which have up to 64GB capacity. Imagine too if you have no external backup and all your files online suddenly vanished for some freak reason.

6. Control Cookies
Instead of anonymizing a browser, you can just control the cookies it accumulates. But even tech gurus are divided on whether it's worth deleting cookies. One thing I'm sure of: deleting them will speed up your PC.

And here's a warning: be careful what cookies you delete or you might find your unfinished online data and your saved games gone. Whenever I delete Firefox cookies, my saved online game on Opera gets deleted too! I'm not sure yet how that happens but I saved the game as an HTML doc so I can play it offline.

7. Use HTTPS
Simply use HTTPS instead of just HTTP. You can automatically do that now with all major browsers. But again, just like with controlled cookies, you won't be able to connect to some legit websites if you use it.  

8. Encrypt your Data and Disks
Even strong passwords and firewalls are getting easier to hack now. Solution: disk encryption. Encrypt your data first before moving it to be extra safe. I use AxCrypt for documents and TrueCrypt for disks.
These last methods are strictly for the computer-savvy so don't try them without guidance

9. Use Steganography
Steganography is another form of encryption but which is stricter and more complicated. Visit OpenPuff to get an idea of how to do steganography.

10. Create a Tails Boot Disc
This is about turning your PC into an encrypted and private operating system. With a tails boot disc (or USB), you will leave no trace of your ID and whatever you did. Lifehacker has a great tutorial on this.
Definitely Optional
Commit Internet Suicide and Disappear from the Web Forever
Again, see how at Lifehacker

Related articles

• How (and why) to surf the web in secret

Real Nasty Apps to Avoid

Yesterday, I ran ESET Online Scanner and was surprised when ESET found a threat - YouTube Downloader - that two of my other AVs had already deleted. It was only a 'threat' but the fact that it keeps coming back makes it a major threat that should be destroyed. And again, 2 of these threats came from Cnet downloads

Here's the ESET scan result:
C:\Program Files\Direct YouTube Downloader\nv.exe a variant of Win32/Somoto.A application cleaned by deleting - quarantined
C:\Users\Pocholo Peralta\Downloads\cnet_iecv_zip.exe a variant of Win32/InstallCore.D application cleaned by deleting - quarantined
C:\Users\Pocholo Peralta\Downloads\cnet_setup_listen_n_write_free_1_2_0_2_exe.exe a variant of Win32/InstallCore.D application cleaned by deleting - quarantined
C:\Users\Pocholo Peralta\Downloads\freefileviewer_518.exe a variant of Win32/InstallIQ application cleaned by deleting - quarantined
C:\Users\Pocholo Peralta\Downloads\installfreefileopener_553.exe a variant of Win32/InstallIQ application cleaned by deleting - quarantined
C:\Users\Pocholo Peralta\Downloads\Unlocker1.9.1.exe Win32/Adware.ADON application cleaned by deleting - quarantined
C:\Users\Pocholo Peralta\Downloads\YouTubeDownloaderSetup33.exe a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Widgi application cleaned by deleting - quarantined

Power of We

I'm taking part in this year’s Blog Action Day so netizens can have the idea of using crowdsourcing for empowering ourselves. That is what The Power of We means to me. http://blogactionday.org/

On-line People Power According to experts, social media has become the main media source for hundreds of millions of people(infographic link below) 
Crowdsourced Disaster Response (CDR) can be used in politics (for both good and bad) and for volunteer public service. And crowdsourcing simply means using social media to ask for support for a particular social event. The best example to me is the live case of Rimsha Masih -- the 9-year-old girl who was framed for blasphemy by a Pakistan Imam and sentenced for execution (link) http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/02/us-pakistan-blasphemy-girl-idUSBRE88101320120902 Before the Imam was caught, Rimsha's father 'crowdsourced' an Avaaz.org petition to save his daughter from execution (link) That's one good example of CDR or crowdsourcing.

Propagandas in Social Media 
Now to the bad examples. iRevolution.net used the ousting of former Philippine President Joseph Estrada as an example of successful Crowdsourced Disaster Response. I'm not saying that iRevolutions example is bad. What I want to say is that the ousting of the former Philippine President was bad crowdsourcing. My proof? The ex-President Arroyo who instigated the rebellion against Estrada was proven more corrupt and was legally impeached for corruption. When ex-President Marcos suffered the same of Estrada, online crowdsourcing didn't exist yet but that is another bad example of people power. I'm still deeply regretting that I was lured to risk my life and join the rebels against Marcos. Filipinos didn't learn from that lesson and repeated with Estrada. iRevolution link Infographic link

Crowdsourcing for Business 
Is Social Media Ruining Marketing? According to Alex Goldfayn, CEO of the Evangelist Marketing Institute, it is. Social media and networking 'has spawned a generation of young professionals who talk instead of listen.' He suggests that they should identify their audience, understand what motivates them, and develop powerful messaging to address those motivations instead.