Posted on 12/15/2013 10:27:34 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
“Everything I have is going to stay within the confines of my computer!”
Yeah, me too! That way at least I will know who’s reading my stuff; that being the NSA! I’m thinking that those who “really” want or need autonomy will have to figure out a way to communicate off the grid. Will be difficult where speed is required though. I’m thinking maybe pigeons, pony express, tin cans on a string? Don’t have a clue what a good alternative may be. Ideas?
Imagine my alarm when I logged into my Quickbooks account residing on my computer and noticed a new tab to upgrade to 2014. I've never used the online service or backup. How did this happen?
“Cloud computing and big data would have been big, until it was revealed that the NSA was spying on all internet traffic. This has cut into the foreign cales of IBM and Cicso already, and will continue until trust can be restored”
That has also put a pall over worldwide sales of US products. This has been reported in the financial statements of several high-tech companies (so far!).
Everything I have (outside of MP3's, video files, etc..) stays within the confines of REMOVABLE MEDIA which is inserted when I need something, saved back to that removable media, and then that removable media is removed from my computer.
I also maintain multiple COPIES of my removable media so I don't have a single source of failure for my information.
If anyone (NSA, etc..) is going to hack into my computer they're not going to find jack squat.
Yes, I know my actions are rather extreme however extreme times call for extreme measures.
I think your procedures are sensible and are maintained for good reason.
But if someone is looking to bring harm, a way around your measures can be found.
For work, I have two 21" screens and at times that is not enough real estate. NO WAY could I do any real work on a tablet. In fact, just last night I decided to not finish something I was working on with my 15" laptop and wait until I got into work this morning to my big screens. Not big spreadsheets, just multiple files that I need to see side by side, not flipping between on a tiny screen.
Tablets will not replace the ginormous business PC market anytime soon.
Cloud computing positives. It lets any device you have access data and perform work not limited by the device itself. Forgot to finish a document at work, do it sitting on the train on the way home using your phone, tab, laptop etc. Makes computing power a commodity which should decrease the cost of FLOPs.
Cloud computing negatives. Leads manufacturers to make less capably devices, I’m looking at you HTC (I want my memory expansion back). Makes your personal information fundamentally less secure. Social impact of being connected to work all the time.
You are basically right except they bring more to the table this time.
Where is the “like” button?
In my case, they'd have to break into my home and know where both copies of my data are (one secured in a safe, another secured in a locked drawer.)
Then they'd have to know the password to unlock and unencrypt the files. Good luck with that. ;-)
Keep talking ... keep talking ...
And then, they'd have to get by my two large Rottweilers both of which I intentionally keep very hungry.
I'm done. ;-)
Ever take that computer on the Internet?
I can’t keep up with all this tech advancement, I can’t even figure out how to take a picture with my flip open cell phone.......I am so screwed.
Seriously, yes I do. The point is I do not keep personal PRIVATE/Confidential data on my computers. That means you can hack my computer all day long, turn it into your personal b*tch all you want --- you won't find a single shred of personal financial, medical, family, etc.. data on it. I keep all that data OFFLINE on removable and encrypted media that requires a key to access it.
With that data all offline and encrypted, I feel much better about my "internet security." It also makes it pointless for someone to hack me. They may get into my computer, they won't however find anything "useful" to them.
BTW: I'm a certified CISSP, Firewall 1/CheckPoint 1 certified IT Professional. So I know a little something about Internet Security and as of last summer, defeating DDOS attacks at a large scale thanks to a bunch of Iranian hackers who couldn't do more than knock on the doors of my employer looking for exploits.
Some may consider my guarding of my personal financial, family, etc.. information a little extreme. I do it because I know what's possible and because I assume I'm not always the smartest guy on the block.
Thus my statement: I do it because I know what's possible and because I assume I'm not always the smartest guy on the block.
My precautions are because I assume there's someone out there smarter than I, and no matter how I lock down and secure my computer (short of unplugging it from power and the internet) someone will find a way in.
No pride here, caution.
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