Suramya's Blog : Welcome to my crazy life…

March 10, 2006

Google: A giant hard disk in the sky?

Filed under: Computer Related,My Thoughts,Tech Related — Suramya @ 12:52 PM

There have been rumors to the affect that Google might be releasing a new service that allows users to store unlimited amount of data on their servers and access it from anywhere… While this sounds really neat and useful there are a couple of issues with it that you might want to think about (If you are planning on using it. I am not)

1. First as soon as the data is off your computer and on google’s they have full access to it, they can scan it to generate targeted ads. (They already do that with your email). If a google employee wanted to they could read you private documents (You tax returns, your love letters, your whatever… ). Not saying that they will just they can.

2. Storing it on Google’s servers will make it easier for law agencies/lawyers to get search access to your data using a subpeona. Adam Fields has a good writeup on why storing your data on google is a bad idea.

So if you still want to store stuff on google feel free to, but I am not. I might store encrypted files for a short time if I needed to free up space for something, but for a more long term solution I will stick to my DVD burner. 🙂

Original Article: Google: A giant hard disk in the sky?

– Suramya

March 9, 2006

New Biometrics scanner released

Filed under: Computer Hardware,Computer Security,Tech Related — Suramya @ 11:01 PM

This is an interesting new biometrics scanner that uses the layout of the veins in the user’s palm to authenticate them. Apparently its more reliable than fingerprints and safer. Couldn’t find any pricing information but I bet they are expensive right now. Hopefully the price will go down a lot so that I can afford to get one to play with.

Synopsis:

Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc. on Wednesday announced the global launch of its PalmSecure biometric authentication system. The contactless system identifies users by examining the layout of the veins in the palms of their hands.

The PalmSecure device uses a near-infrared beam, similar to that used by television remote controls, to map the layout of veins carrying oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart. According to Joel Hagberg, vice president of marketing and business development for Fujitsu, those vein patterns are unique in every person — even more so than fingerprints or DNA.

Complete Story: For security, Fujitsu talks to the hand – Computerworld

Thanks,
Suramya

February 18, 2006

CollageGen Ver 0.5 released

Filed under: Software Releases,Tech Related,Website Updates — Suramya @ 5:13 PM

Released Version 0.5 of the Collage Generator. This time the source code for the script is also available for download at the site.

I do have a working demonstration page but it don’t works if one person uses it at a time, because it queues up each request it recieves and process it in a FIFO (First In First Out) format, so if too many people are using it at the same time the page time’s out. Will probably switch to a threaded model to allow parallel processing of requests.

ChangeLog:

  • Rewrote the Backend Script to speed up the collage generator faster
  • Added XML-RPC support to allow better communication between the frontend and the backend

Your Feedback/Comments would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Suramya

February 14, 2006

Free Geek: Helping the needy get nerdy

Filed under: Interesting Sites,Linux/Unix Related,My Thoughts,Tech Related — Suramya @ 4:43 PM

This is a really good program that combines volunteer work with computer education with helping underprivilidged get computer access.

Free Geek volunteers are a part of one of two programs, the Adoption Program or the Build Program. The Adoption Program gives each person, after 24 hours of volunteer service, a FreekBox, consisting of a rebuilt computer running Linux, as well as basic software, a monitor, keyboard, mouse, one year of tech support and classes on how to use it all. For the Build Program, which takes about 100 hours, volunteers build five computers and get to keep the sixth one, leaning more towards an educational focus.

They also have a couple of other projects you can help with. Check out How to Volunteer for details.

Unfortunately most of the projects require you to be in the Portland, OR area which kind of sucks as I would have loved to help out with this project. Luckily they do have a Coder section that lets people who are located remotely help out with the project. I am joining this mailing list as a volunteer, lets see how much fun/interesting its going to be. I will keep you posted.

URL: Free Geek: Home
Some media Coverage: Designtechnica.com

– Suramya

February 10, 2006

Police blotter: Patriot Act e-mail spying approved

Filed under: Computer Security,My Thoughts,News/Articles,Tech Related — Suramya @ 12:27 PM

Another not so useful move by the US govt in the ‘war’ against terrorism. My cooking can be described as a lethal weapon so I guess they need to check my email to make sure I am not a terrorist.

Abstract:

A federal judge recently approved a prosecutors’ Patriot Act request for e-mail surveillance without any evidence of wrongdoing by the target. The Patriot Act’s amendments authorize that type of easily obtainable surveillance of e-mail. All that’s required is that prosecutors claim the surveillance could conceivably be “relevant” to an investigation.

Complete Article: Patriot Act e-mail spying approved

– Suramya

January 27, 2006

Deleting code

Filed under: My Thoughts,Tech Related — Suramya @ 3:30 PM

Pretty interesting article on why its important to delete code you don’t use. I never thought about it before reading this but now that I think about I don’t like deleting code either.

Even though I have subversion that I have started to use as a source control repository I still comment out code and leave it in there. Sometimes I do it because I am not sure the new code will work and then it jsut stays behind as “dropping’s” until I remove them (Which is not that often) I am not as bad as some of the examples depicted but I guess I have to improve on this…

Overall an interesting point of view.

Original Article: Ned Batchelder: Deleting code

– Suramya

December 7, 2005

20 ways to Secure your Apache Configuration

Filed under: Security Tutorials,Tech Related — Suramya @ 11:36 PM

Finally a decent guide on how to secure an Apache installation. I am not maintaining any apache server’s right now but if I was this would have been a great help.

Complete Article: 20 ways to Secure your Apache Configuration

– Suramya

November 9, 2005

Building extra secure Web applications

Filed under: Security Tutorials,Tech Related — Suramya @ 4:30 PM

Interesting article from IBM that offers a new security design framework that covers two common types of vulnerability: action tampering and parameter manipulation (also known as data tampering).

Check it out: Build extra secure Web applications

– Suramya

November 8, 2005

Reducing browser privileges for a user

Filed under: Security Tutorials,Tech Related — Suramya @ 10:31 PM

This article shows a simple approach of reducing privileges for Internet-facing applications on such as IE, Firefox, IM and email clients when the user must operate as a Windows administrator.

Reducing browser privileges

November 2, 2005

Windows XP services that can be disabled

Filed under: Computer Security,Security Tutorials,Tech Related — Suramya @ 9:53 PM

One of the most effective ways to secure a Windows workstation is to turn off unnecessary services. This reference sheet lists the Windows XP SP 2 services, describes each service’s function, specifies whether you can safely disable the service, and outlines the ramifications of disabling the service.

Good Information. Check it out.

Downloading Windows XP services that can be disabled – TechRepublic

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