Chapter Eight

So, just now looking at the email from Mr. Gentile, I realized that I haven't posted this blog. So here goes.



Chapter Eight: Security Issues, Ethics, and Emerging Technologies in Education

The chapter begins with viruses. I was aware of the concepts of viruses, but never knew exactly how to discover them. I also, being slightly paranoid, often suspect that my computer may be infected. I enjoyed learning about the different types of viruses and ways of keeping my computer safer. I also was familiar with the concept of hackers and unauthorized computer use, though I never have experienced this firsthand. About passwords, nowadays programs are requiring us to make our passwords mroe complicated, usually mroe than 7 characters and they require a number. The FSU passwords require one of the Shift versions of the numbers in their passwords. I really like the idea of computers with biometric devices and possesed objects, even though I have never encountered one. I learned some from system failure. The desktop at our house used to fail frequently, and sometimes wouldn't boot; we'd have to reinstall the software and lose all saved files. I still haven't learned the cause for this. We had a surge protector, and now use backup disks, as the book recommends. There was alot of information in the "How to Safeguard Personal Information" section that I'd never heard before, like blocking your number from caller IDs and requesting free copies of medical records once a year. I've encountered phishing and spamming, more in myspace than email. All of the acts and laws are helpful to the people, though boring to read about. I think the third type of objectionable material, incorrect websites, is the most frequently stressed in school--they constantly lectured on making sure the site was good to use. Also, filtering software made me laugh, because our county used one: certain websites weren't allowed, such as Google images. We overcame this obstacle by going to Google.ca--Canadian google. The health issues worried me, because I fear that our generation, as a computer using generation, will develop Carpul Tunnel Syndrome or RSI. I think some days already I have suffered from CVS, Compiter Vision Syndrome.

I haven't really learned anything new this week.

Do any fellow classmates know any good antivirus programs or firewall programs? Thanks!