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.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Greed will get 'em
Alan Heuss was making a cell phone call outside a Columbus, OH restaurant when an armed man got in on the passenger side of his car. Heuss left his cash and his phone behind as the armed man and two others car-jacked the BMW Huess was in.
Heuss went back into the restaurant and called police. He then stayed there with some friends who decided to take matters into their own hands. They sent a text message to Huess' phone, impersonating a woman with cocaine. As luck would have it, Heuss also received a call from a female friend who picture appeared on the screen as a part of his caller ID. This added credibility to the text message.
While Heuss had gone home, his friends received a reply from the thieves. They coordinated their efforts with the police. The thieves gave them their address and the police were able to apprehend all three men, still in the BMW. The three are suspected of additional car thefts as well.
Alan Heuss was making a cell phone call outside a Columbus, OH restaurant when an armed man got in on the passenger side of his car. Heuss left his cash and his phone behind as the armed man and two others car-jacked the BMW Huess was in.
Heuss went back into the restaurant and called police. He then stayed there with some friends who decided to take matters into their own hands. They sent a text message to Huess' phone, impersonating a woman with cocaine. As luck would have it, Heuss also received a call from a female friend who picture appeared on the screen as a part of his caller ID. This added credibility to the text message.
While Heuss had gone home, his friends received a reply from the thieves. They coordinated their efforts with the police. The thieves gave them their address and the police were able to apprehend all three men, still in the BMW. The three are suspected of additional car thefts as well.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Smile - you're on a stolen camera
In the June 12, 2008 post below I blogged how stolen technology could could virtually phone home. Well, the stories continue. And it almost makes you want to subscribe to a service so that if your tech toy is lost, it too can provide you with its location, complete with pictures.
Ashlee Hutchens was driving around Cincinnati and was lost. When she pulled over to reorient herself, a man stole her cellphone. Giving up all hope of recovery Ashlee and her mom went to buy a new Sidekick model to replace the stolen one. They were able to download the memory from the old phone, to the new phone. And Ashlee identified one of the new camera phone pictures as the man who'd stolen her phone. She commented he was even wearing the same shirt. The picture was on the local Crime Stoppers and the thief was identified and apprehended.
Martijn Van Es, who is a Web editor for Amnesty International in the Netherlands, lost his phone. Martijn subscribes to ShoZu which automatically uploads pictures taken from his phone to his Flickr account. Friends were asking why he was uploading photos of teenage boys. Well, Martijn wasn't, but the kids who had his phone were. Police said that even if they could identify these kids, they wouldn't know if the kids stole it, or found it. The former is a crime, the latter is not. So they were of no help.
Martijn decided some "crowd-sourcing" was in order and he began putting the photos on his blog in hopes they could be identified, and he could get his phone back. Soon his hit count went from 250 to 28,000. The buildings were identified and soon he was getting emails from those who knew these kids, offering to see if one person could ask another if they if a third person had actually stolen the phone. Personal comments and attacks about the kids were being made. Remember, ironically Martijn works for for Amnesty International. Eventually a swap was made. The photos were taken down and Martijn had his phone back. He said he wouldn't do this again. It wasn't worth it and the phone was broken six months later.
In the June 12, 2008 post below I blogged how stolen technology could could virtually phone home. Well, the stories continue. And it almost makes you want to subscribe to a service so that if your tech toy is lost, it too can provide you with its location, complete with pictures.
Ashlee Hutchens was driving around Cincinnati and was lost. When she pulled over to reorient herself, a man stole her cellphone. Giving up all hope of recovery Ashlee and her mom went to buy a new Sidekick model to replace the stolen one. They were able to download the memory from the old phone, to the new phone. And Ashlee identified one of the new camera phone pictures as the man who'd stolen her phone. She commented he was even wearing the same shirt. The picture was on the local Crime Stoppers and the thief was identified and apprehended.
Martijn Van Es, who is a Web editor for Amnesty International in the Netherlands, lost his phone. Martijn subscribes to ShoZu which automatically uploads pictures taken from his phone to his Flickr account. Friends were asking why he was uploading photos of teenage boys. Well, Martijn wasn't, but the kids who had his phone were. Police said that even if they could identify these kids, they wouldn't know if the kids stole it, or found it. The former is a crime, the latter is not. So they were of no help.
Martijn decided some "crowd-sourcing" was in order and he began putting the photos on his blog in hopes they could be identified, and he could get his phone back. Soon his hit count went from 250 to 28,000. The buildings were identified and soon he was getting emails from those who knew these kids, offering to see if one person could ask another if they if a third person had actually stolen the phone. Personal comments and attacks about the kids were being made. Remember, ironically Martijn works for for Amnesty International. Eventually a swap was made. The photos were taken down and Martijn had his phone back. He said he wouldn't do this again. It wasn't worth it and the phone was broken six months later.
