Top 12

I would say that I practice most all of the 12 point discussed in this article. Generally speaking, I tend to fly pretty low on the radar. I am not on Facebook, I don't tweet, and I haven't blogged until now. I have always thought about how powerful the internet is and how putting loads of personal information out there can be potentially very dangerous. Birth dates, location, preferences, place of education and employment, and many other details are posted everyday. We buy and sell online giving away credit card information, address and phone numbers hoping that the source is secure and trust worthy. All of this information would be very valuable if it fell in the wrong hands.

This article really focused on how important it is to avoid spam and mass e-mails while keeping personal information secure with encryption software, alternate e-mail addresses and a bit of caution. I have been fairly lucky so far, knock on wood, and have not dealt with many viruses or had any personal information fall into the wrong hands... that I know of. I like to think because of my low profile on the web and use of caution, that I have remained somewhat secure, although this could all be wishful thinking and somewhat is hacking my planet as we speak.

Hack The Planet!

As fun as Hackers is to watch, it is riddled with inaccuracies and exaggerations when it comes to computers and and hacking.  The most obvious detail is how the Graphical User Interface is presented in the film.  Hackers would have you believe that when navigating through a site looking for data and backdoors, you are taken on a journey through a neon landscape of data and codes.  Once the protagonists of the story find the important files there screen is flooded with glowing patterns and designs indicating that they have hit to mother load.  Within this inaccuracy I found it interesting that that data shown looked like mathematical equations with greek symbols and so on.  I would figure that within this hyper computer world they would at least show the code as binary, with 1's and 0's.  All this is Hollywood trying to glam up what would normally be mundane and tedious on screen.

Another problem that I found was an extremely common technique of using sound effects for every single keystroke and event that happens on screen.  To make computers more sexy, film makers often over enhance computer technology with bleeps, bells and whistles.  As I am writing this I wish my computer made these sounds.  Another instance of the film makers making hacking more interesting and sexy is the first duel between Acid Burn and Crash Override.  When they are battling in the TV station mainframe, they make it seem as if the two were battling like  two pirates over control over the tape deck.  Mess with the best, die like the rest.

Passwords were a big part of this film and I have a feeling that the most common passwords of the film (sex, god, and secret) are a bit off base.  I would assume that a techno-wizard would know that these passwords of 3-6 characters would be easily cracked by others trying to gain info.  The mega corporation in the movie would most likely not have all of their information protected by a simply 3 character password.  Maybe it's just me, but it seems ridiculous.

"The Medium is the Message"

Post 1

This article about Marshall McLuhan can be summarized by say that all forms of media become an extension of us, all in different ways. What I found interesting was his point that with all of these technology advances to make out lives easier and more convenient, these advances also "amputate" skills and qualities we once had. For example, our archery skills have all but vanished with the invention of guns. This skill was once essential for the survival of humans by allowing them to hunt and provide meat. With the gun, the bow and arrow became obsolete and no longer important to learn.

There was another example in this article how writing skill have diminished with the advent on the telephone and I would argue that these skills have been further depleted in the last few years with the global takeover of the internet and text messaging. Today, people are even opting out of talking on the phone and choosing to write short abbreviated messages via texting. Human interaction on the whole is becoming a thing of the past with the internet and texting. You no longer have to actually talk to someone on the phone anymore, instead you can text, email, chat online, post on facebook or twitter and so on.

I also found the section on how our looks and self preservation (especially in females) has been driven by advertising. I think about this frequently as we live in a major U.S. city and marketing and advertising are literally everywhere we look. Not only that, but the majority of the advertising is sexually driven and always reminding you that you could be better and look better. Advertisers was you to look better so you will subscribe to there ideals and buy there products. The funny part is we should be exercising and eating right to stay healthy, but we probably do it for the looks so we can find sex or a job or achieve more power.