Computer Support Blog

Social networks were once online spaces that people used to communicate only with their friends and others in their immediate social circle.  That is no longer the case as companies like Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr have all made social networks completely open and public.  Now, when a user shares an update, link, or set of pictures on any of these sites, they are sharing it with the world, not just their friends.  People still want private online spaces to communicate only with their close friends.  Cool person in technology Brendan Mulligan has responded to this demand with his mobile app Cluster.  Cluster allows users to create digital spaces that are invite-only.  People create a Cluster space on their smartphone and then invite all the specific friends and family they want to have access to that space.  Each invitee receives a notification on his or her phone to join the new Cluster group.  In these private spaces, users can share pictures, links, media and other information that they want to share but would not be comfortable doing so on publicly open sites such as Facebook.  Anyone who has trouble inviting people to their spaces via Cluster should find a source of mobile tech support. Read more »

Following the rise of consumer and privacy activists to defeat the Stop Online Piracy Act earlier this year, the reaction to the defeat both online and in the tech sector has been interesting to watch.  Many of the leaders who organized the fight against SOPA have formed organizations, like the Internet Defense League, to create watchdog positions and communications networks to prevent future SOPA-like legislation from passing.  Many businesses decided to beef up their legal department so they could better understand the potential consequences of such legislation to their specific business.  Amazon.com hired Jamie Gorelick to its Board of Directors. Read more »

The fight over Internet security and intellectual property reached some new highs in December with the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act garnering quite a bit of press and controversy.  The debate is a classic Freedom of Speech position taken by those who want the Internet to remain independent of laws and restrictions versus protecting the business interests of large companies.  One of the big multinational companies supporting SOPA in the U.S. is Sony.  Sony’s chief lawyer is Nicole Seligman.

Nicole Seligman’s official titles are Executive Vice President and General Counsel of both the Sony Corporation and the Sony Corporation of America.  She is also the Corporate Executive Officer for the Sony Corporation and something of a celebrity in the field of corporate law.  Seligman has been vigorously fighting to protect Sony copyrights and patents for films, music, video games and video game platforms since Sony Corporation of America CEO Howard Stringer personally hired her in 2001.

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Yet again, big names in the technology world are getting heat for wandering into the still grey area of online privacy. As most of our communication rapidly shifts into the cyber medium, and as we continue abandoning communication methods that can’t keep up with the powerful, interconnected nature of smartphones, tablets, and computers, we might as well get used to constantly hearing about privacy and Internet security issues.

In a milestone step in the debate over data collection and transparency, Facebook recently reached an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission about how Facebook now has to clearly ask users to opt-in to its new programs, as opposed to changing privacy settings without anyone knowing. The move doesn’t affect the social network giant’s past actions, but it does threaten to fine the company $16,000 a day for future violations. Well, that’s a relief, at least partly. It’s good to know that someone in the government is looking out for us. Similarly, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner’s office is currently subjecting the company’s international headquarters in Ireland to an audit based on user concerns over the amount of information that the company stores on users. Once, again, good on you, Irish authorities.

Android developer Trevor Eckhart recently exposed an equally serious threat to user privacy. The threat comes in the form of a built-in app called CarrierIQ that runs on most Android, BlackBerry and Nokia devices. The app records immense amounts of data on smartphone users such as keystrokes and locations without asking permission first. The supposed aim of the app is to provide carriers and developers with data to better manufacture their products, according to The Atlantic Wire.

After an intense back-and-forth between Eckhart and the app’s developer in which the latter denied Eckhart’s claim and ordered him to cease-and-desist from discussing the app in the blogosphere, Eckhart finally showed in detail how the company was violating users’ privacy. So now we are faced with a new problem; not only are companies spying on people under the guise of product development, but they’re also denying it. This adds a whole new level of eeriness to the increasingly powerful technological big brother.

In many ways, the invasion of our Internet and technological privacy is necessary for the continued development of technology based on user trends and the likes. Atlantic Wire’s article presents a very interesting dilemma that we now face. The question, then, becomes, where do we draw the line? Do we stop now and slow down technological advancement, or should we let Facebook, Google, apps likes Carrier IQ, among many others to read us like open books, all in the name of progress? You see, there’s no easy answer.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Many new apps are signaling the actual arrival of a technological era previously restricted to the realms of sci-fi films and stories. Face-to-face calling was a thing of the future in films like “Back to the Future,” and asking a phone where to get coffee was a feat only accomplishable by Sam Beckett in “Quantum Leap.” Today, though, technologies that Hollywood used to portray as products of the very distant future have already arrived. One such technology is facial recognition.

Thanks to cloud computing, many devices—especially smartphones—can now run advanced software or applications that used to only run on very powerful hardware. Powerful tech support no longer needs to come from the device itself, as it can come from the cloud. Facial recognition, for, instance, used to require both complex machinery and sophisticated software. Today, all that apps need to perform facial recognition is a connection to a network service and access to a camera.

Among the more creative uses of facial recognition technology is a smartphone app called SceneTap. The app, which is still in its early experimental stage, works to give its users information about local bars. SceneTap works by identifying the gender and age of people going into participating bars by using cameras installed at these locations. The app then gives users access to information like how crowded a bar is, the ratio of males to females, and the average age of the people there.

Many people will surely find this app to be the coolest thing since sliced bread, and maybe they’re right; once more bars opt to participate by installing cameras to identify incoming crowds, people will be able to avoid the hassle of going to a bar and finding it too empty or too crowded. Users can also chat with each other to get advice before heading out to the bar scene.

Users can search for a bar that is “Chill,” “Social,” “Hoppin,” or “Crazy.” They can also search by gender and age ratio, as well as look for special deals, certain events, and check out a bar’s sports affiliations.

Of course because SceneTap performs facial recognition on everyone going into a bar, many people are concerned about privacy issues. The app’s creators maintain that all the app does is identify age and gender (and generate statistical data based on them). Still, as the app communicates data over wireless connections, hackers can potentially steal information as it passes between cameras, servers, and smartphones.

Right now, the app works in Chicago, with over 50 bars already signed on. The app has been featured in or highly reviewed by several news organizations including Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, MSNBC, CNN, the L.A. Times, and Reuters. If you live in Chicago, give it a try. If not, looks like you’ll have to wait, for now.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Facebook, the world’s number one social networking site, will hold a news event tomorrow at its corporate headquarters, to announce its new location-based service.

While Facebook has confirmed little, it has been rumored that the social networking site might be partnering with Foursquare, which Facebook attempted to buy earlier this year. Read more »