BOL blogs have now moved to Facebook.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
With "friends" like this...
The Electronic Frontier Foundation, used the Freedom of Information Act and found that law enforcement agencies are following criminals on social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter. When interviewing a suspect who provides an alibi, a post on one of these sites might confirm it. Posts also depict the suspects in photos with stolen jewelry, on a spending spree and posing with guns and cars that may not be theirs.
Federal authorities were able to arrest a man wanted on bank fraud charges after he started posting Facebook updates about the fun he was having in Mexico. Maxi Sopo posted that he was "living in paradise" in Mexico. A federal prosecutor in Seattle was also following his posts. Bragging about where you are when there is extradition is not a good idea.
Officers from different law enforcement agencies coordinate with one another so they don't step on, and damage another agencies investigation. Many times they do "friend" the suspect so they can get more information than may otherwise be available. This is a big step forward from the days of sitting in AOL chat rooms looking for sexual predators.
But it does make us think about those claims we see in the bank. Does the customer claiming not to have made those ATM withdrawals in Vegas have any posts saying they were in Vegas? Could Reg E claims be helped here? While we don't recommend posing as a friend, posted evidence is certainly worth verifying.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation, used the Freedom of Information Act and found that law enforcement agencies are following criminals on social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter. When interviewing a suspect who provides an alibi, a post on one of these sites might confirm it. Posts also depict the suspects in photos with stolen jewelry, on a spending spree and posing with guns and cars that may not be theirs.
Federal authorities were able to arrest a man wanted on bank fraud charges after he started posting Facebook updates about the fun he was having in Mexico. Maxi Sopo posted that he was "living in paradise" in Mexico. A federal prosecutor in Seattle was also following his posts. Bragging about where you are when there is extradition is not a good idea.
Officers from different law enforcement agencies coordinate with one another so they don't step on, and damage another agencies investigation. Many times they do "friend" the suspect so they can get more information than may otherwise be available. This is a big step forward from the days of sitting in AOL chat rooms looking for sexual predators.
But it does make us think about those claims we see in the bank. Does the customer claiming not to have made those ATM withdrawals in Vegas have any posts saying they were in Vegas? Could Reg E claims be helped here? While we don't recommend posing as a friend, posted evidence is certainly worth verifying.
Friday, January 08, 2010
I haven't posted in this Geek Blog is some time. Much of my good techie content goes to Tech Talk right away. But I wanted to remind readers about Tech Talk and point out my unofficial broadband test.
From my home office I tested my iPhone and my Time Warner cable modem connections. This was in response to a story on broadband and how they compared for different devices. I believe its all better than the old 28.8 super fast modem I used to use. But at times I do miss the sound of that hardware handshake we all came to love.
In a nutshell, wireless "broadband" beats not having it, and if you're on the couch it beats getting up and booting a PC, but the cable modem wins hands down. On my Wi-Fi connection, the iPhone was one-third as fast (12 Megabits per second) as the PC (34 Mbs). On 3G only (no wi-fi) it was 1.5 Mbs.
Please check out Tech Talk, it is delivered to your email box every Friday and best yet, it is free!
From my home office I tested my iPhone and my Time Warner cable modem connections. This was in response to a story on broadband and how they compared for different devices. I believe its all better than the old 28.8 super fast modem I used to use. But at times I do miss the sound of that hardware handshake we all came to love.
In a nutshell, wireless "broadband" beats not having it, and if you're on the couch it beats getting up and booting a PC, but the cable modem wins hands down. On my Wi-Fi connection, the iPhone was one-third as fast (12 Megabits per second) as the PC (34 Mbs). On 3G only (no wi-fi) it was 1.5 Mbs.
Please check out Tech Talk, it is delivered to your email box every Friday and best yet, it is free!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tweet Tweet, your bank is being robbed
When a bank is robbed you expect to read about it in the newspaper or see it on the news. But when an HSBC branch in New York was recently robbed, Twitter had it first. Annemarie Dooling, 26, was in line two people behind the bank robber. The robber passed a note to the teller who gave the man cash, and he fled.
Dooling, a self-described "social media junkie" was tweeting about the crime in minutes as she was a witness. Some thought she was posting about the crime as it happened. One of her posts, later hidden from view on the Twitter site, expressed her desire to leave the crime scene and go about her business as she wrote "I'm locked in the bank still ... police just arrived ... they wont let us leave the bank ... i didnt even notice and he was two people in front of me ... can we GO?!"
When a bank is robbed you expect to read about it in the newspaper or see it on the news. But when an HSBC branch in New York was recently robbed, Twitter had it first. Annemarie Dooling, 26, was in line two people behind the bank robber. The robber passed a note to the teller who gave the man cash, and he fled.
Dooling, a self-described "social media junkie" was tweeting about the crime in minutes as she was a witness. Some thought she was posting about the crime as it happened. One of her posts, later hidden from view on the Twitter site, expressed her desire to leave the crime scene and go about her business as she wrote "I'm locked in the bank still ... police just arrived ... they wont let us leave the bank ... i didnt even notice and he was two people in front of me ... can we GO?!"
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Wireless Security
Many of us have wireless networks at home. Some of us secure them and use strong passwords in place of the default codes. Some don't. I know people who believe they have secured their computers and see no reason to restrict access to the internet connectivity. Well, here is one reason to reconsider that.
In Philadelphia, Gail Hoffmaster was ready to take her kids to school. She was stopped by the police knocking on her door. She was told about an investigation that was under way where an officer, posing as a 13-year old girl, had online chats with a pedophile. This went back to January when the girl provided a picture of herself at the mans request. He told her she looked hot. As time progressed, so did the chat sessions when the man actually showed his genitals to her through photos and a web cam. He also told her to keep their relationship a secret.
The investigation revealed that the Hoffmaster's internet connection was the point of origin. And while Mr. Hoffmaster could easily have been a prime suspect based on this, Christopher Brian Mcgee, the backyard neighbor, had provided a real picture of himself in one of the chats. Mcgee was using the unsecured wireless connection unknowingly provided by the Hoffmasters. Neither Gail nor her husband were cognizant of the risks they exposed themselves to. Neither claims to be internet savvy.
Mcgee, aka "Horndogg69761" is charged with three counts of unlawful contact with a minor and one count of criminal use of a communication device. Each charge is a third-degree felony punishable by up to seven years in prison. Mcgee is also being held as he tries to raise $750,000 for bail.
Many of us have wireless networks at home. Some of us secure them and use strong passwords in place of the default codes. Some don't. I know people who believe they have secured their computers and see no reason to restrict access to the internet connectivity. Well, here is one reason to reconsider that.
In Philadelphia, Gail Hoffmaster was ready to take her kids to school. She was stopped by the police knocking on her door. She was told about an investigation that was under way where an officer, posing as a 13-year old girl, had online chats with a pedophile. This went back to January when the girl provided a picture of herself at the mans request. He told her she looked hot. As time progressed, so did the chat sessions when the man actually showed his genitals to her through photos and a web cam. He also told her to keep their relationship a secret.
The investigation revealed that the Hoffmaster's internet connection was the point of origin. And while Mr. Hoffmaster could easily have been a prime suspect based on this, Christopher Brian Mcgee, the backyard neighbor, had provided a real picture of himself in one of the chats. Mcgee was using the unsecured wireless connection unknowingly provided by the Hoffmasters. Neither Gail nor her husband were cognizant of the risks they exposed themselves to. Neither claims to be internet savvy.
Mcgee, aka "Horndogg69761" is charged with three counts of unlawful contact with a minor and one count of criminal use of a communication device. Each charge is a third-degree felony punishable by up to seven years in prison. Mcgee is also being held as he tries to raise $750,000 for bail.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Two things on social networking.
In Zurich, a woman who works for a Swiss insurance company was fired recently. She called in sick and said she couldn't work at her computer. She needed to be in a dark room and rest. When it was seen that her Facebook was being used and updated, her employer said they lost all trust in her. She countered that she was using her iPhone in bed, and that her employer was spying on her. (She is still fired.)
Next, how young can you tweet on Twitter? Do you think a baby, in the womb, could tweet? Here is a video of one man who didn't want to miss any kicks his unborn baby was going to make. He rigged a wireless device that signals Twitter when there is a real kick. Personally, this may be more of an exercise in technology than a way to communicate with the baby, IMHO. Reuters has the video.
In Zurich, a woman who works for a Swiss insurance company was fired recently. She called in sick and said she couldn't work at her computer. She needed to be in a dark room and rest. When it was seen that her Facebook was being used and updated, her employer said they lost all trust in her. She countered that she was using her iPhone in bed, and that her employer was spying on her. (She is still fired.)
Next, how young can you tweet on Twitter? Do you think a baby, in the womb, could tweet? Here is a video of one man who didn't want to miss any kicks his unborn baby was going to make. He rigged a wireless device that signals Twitter when there is a real kick. Personally, this may be more of an exercise in technology than a way to communicate with the baby, IMHO. Reuters has the video.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Don't Text and Drive
Near Seattle, WA, Federal Way Police Chief, Brian Wilson was involved in a traffic accident. He rear-ended another car. The reason this is news worthy is because he was using his cell phone to check email at the time. It is illegal in his state to send, read, or write messages while driving. He was stopped at a red light, thought traffic was beginning to move and he took his foot off the brake and accelerated slowly. There were no injuries or damage, but it was still illegal. Well, law enforcement personnel are exempt from this law because they use these means to communicate for work. By his own admission though, this was not work related. But it drives home the point that this is an unsafe practice. (Pun intended.)
Many severe traffic accidents are attributed to cell phone use while driving. This can range from the distracted driver going to fast and not being attentive to the most important task at hand - driving, to the one who slows down thinking that is safer, while aggravated drivers line up behind them. They're still not focused on operating their car and driving to slow is a cause of accidents too. It is also a contributor to road rage which can lead to even more problems.
The Governors Highway Safety Association has a table, by state, of those with cell phone and text messaging restrictions. (Maryland just passed a new law on this.)
Additional restrictions may apply to your area. In my area, Fort Hood, which is federal property, prohibits the use of a cell without it being hands free.
Bankers are always trying to multi-task and more and more is demanded of them. Does your bank have a policy on cell phone use while driving?
Near Seattle, WA, Federal Way Police Chief, Brian Wilson was involved in a traffic accident. He rear-ended another car. The reason this is news worthy is because he was using his cell phone to check email at the time. It is illegal in his state to send, read, or write messages while driving. He was stopped at a red light, thought traffic was beginning to move and he took his foot off the brake and accelerated slowly. There were no injuries or damage, but it was still illegal. Well, law enforcement personnel are exempt from this law because they use these means to communicate for work. By his own admission though, this was not work related. But it drives home the point that this is an unsafe practice. (Pun intended.)
Many severe traffic accidents are attributed to cell phone use while driving. This can range from the distracted driver going to fast and not being attentive to the most important task at hand - driving, to the one who slows down thinking that is safer, while aggravated drivers line up behind them. They're still not focused on operating their car and driving to slow is a cause of accidents too. It is also a contributor to road rage which can lead to even more problems.
The Governors Highway Safety Association has a table, by state, of those with cell phone and text messaging restrictions. (Maryland just passed a new law on this.)
Additional restrictions may apply to your area. In my area, Fort Hood, which is federal property, prohibits the use of a cell without it being hands free.
Bankers are always trying to multi-task and more and more is demanded of them. Does your bank have a policy on cell phone use while driving?
Monday, March 02, 2009
Pandora
I know that the term "bankers hours" generally means half-days. And when you work bankers hours you get to choose if you'll work the first half of the day or the second. Yes, that often includes weekend, holidays and extends to when you are on the road or even catching up at home. Well, this tip may make some of those long days more bearable, especially when you don't have customers or coworkers in the area.
I first learned of Pandora internet radio on my iPhone. It works on that very well, but also works well on your PC with speakers. It is nice because you choose the music you like. You can choose a group and it will play some of that group's music, and then similar music to that. You can rate each song so Pandora learns what you do and don't like. And you can set up many different channels that suit your mood whether you want music that is smooth and light or fast and hard. Best yet, it is free.
Check out Pandora.
I know that the term "bankers hours" generally means half-days. And when you work bankers hours you get to choose if you'll work the first half of the day or the second. Yes, that often includes weekend, holidays and extends to when you are on the road or even catching up at home. Well, this tip may make some of those long days more bearable, especially when you don't have customers or coworkers in the area.
I first learned of Pandora internet radio on my iPhone. It works on that very well, but also works well on your PC with speakers. It is nice because you choose the music you like. You can choose a group and it will play some of that group's music, and then similar music to that. You can rate each song so Pandora learns what you do and don't like. And you can set up many different channels that suit your mood whether you want music that is smooth and light or fast and hard. Best yet, it is free.
Check out Pandora.
