There has been an ongoing campaign since the February of this year in Norway, started by Finn.no, to warn users of IE6 (Microsoft Internet Explorer 6) that they need to upgrade their browser. The information campaign has even been mentioned in computing websites as Wired and PCWorld.

About 20% of the users out there still are stuck with IE6. They probably use it at home and don’t know better, or they use it at work, and their system admin will not let them upgrade, because all the wonderful web apps they use only work in IE6.

Will we ever see the end of these terrible practices? Now a days it seems we’re very keen on being aware of product recalls and also for FDA alerts regarding food and drugs. Yet when it comes to our financial and personal information we’re loosy-goosey without a care in the world. Then, when the inevitable happens, we’re quick to shift the blame on those bad hackers.

Who’s really to blame? As everyday computer users we are quick to download those MP3s. We’re quick to open any kind of attachment from people we may not necessarily know. We fall into the trap of clicking on that link on the email from a bank to confirm our account details (as if the banks really needed you to do that).

Recently hackers have begun targeting social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. Once they can gain access into an account, they begin sending out messages and links to virus and spyware-filled sites. You can imagine why these social sites are going to be more and more popular to hackers. You’re already trusted by the friends you have on the site so people assume that if a friend has sent you something, it must be something safe right? Wrong.

Another social-engineering scam that has been on the rise is contacting people and claiming that a relative has been in a critical accident and that they need medical attention, only before they can receive it, they need financial information before they can be accepted at the hospital or clinic. Sounds serious right? except for the fact that it’s illegal to deny an individual medical attention because of not having financial details available for payment. Once the individual has given over the financial information, they’re sunk.

Scams, hacking, social-engineering is on the rise and will be as we move into a more technological world. The solution isn’t necessarily bigger and heavier programs to filter and scan and block things from us, it’s better education on our part. In most instances, a little probing, question asking, and information gathering, goes a long way in helping shield ourselves from these threats.

I admit, I am a Twitter user. I’m not, however, one of those fanatics that has to post everything. You won’t see the following:

fm005: “Eating Cheerios for Breakfast” <YAWN>

I have too much respect for Twitter and most importantly for other people’s time and attention. I think that all of the Twitter criticism comes from the improper use of Twitter. If used correctly, it is a great tool that lets you stay connected with people you otherwise would not. It also lets you get to know other people with similar interests, hobbies, and ideas but without having to develop relationships with people through other means in order to get to know them. It remains a strictly “business” relationship.

It’s only a matter of time because you see the following:

JoeSchmo: “Going to the bathroom…”
Posted on 5/1/2009 – 7:53 AM

You may have already see this before, and if so, my condolences. Twitter lets me be able to stay in touch with people I otherwise would not. It also lets me know what those individuals are up to, are thinking, are reading, and are discussing without having to pick up the phone and having an actual conversation or without having to sit down and writing an email. Let me know what you think about something, what you’re doing (if it’s interesting), or send me a link to something you liked. I may respond but I don’t have to. If you send an email it then become common courtesy to have to write something back. I’ve been guilty in the past of hitting reply and saying: “Great.” To which I was repremaned for sending such a short email.

In any case, Twitter is a great tool. So before you join the critical crowd, give it a try.