Moore’s Law refers to the predictable increase in computing power over time – or more specifically, that the amount of transistors in a dense integrated circuit will double roughly every two years.  This has been proven year after year.  There has been debate over whether or not there will be a physical end to Moore’s Law, however for the time being it is a contributor to the increase in computing power and a reliable observation of how information technology will become faster and more powerful over time.

The present day dissemination of information compared to ten or twenty years ago is strikingly different.  The cost of information storage is negligible, and the ability to share that information through self publishing on the internet leads to an almost immediate worldwide audience.

When Daniel Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon Papers in 1971, the magnitude seemed enormous, over 7,000 pages in  7 printed volumes. Snowden, by contrast, took between 50,000 and 200,000 documents, according to former NSA Director Keith Alexander.  Today a 64 gigabyte thumb drive costs less than $30, and holds over 4 million pages of text.  One full thumb drive is a gusher, not a leak.”  Peter Swire in The Declining Half Life Of Secrets

Hence, the risk to government agencies is much, much higher.  The ability to unleash a rather large quantity of information quickly to a huge audience is unprecedented in humanity until now.

Another aspect to this change is the culture in which this unlimited information disclosure is happening.  When it comes to the opinion of how “free” information should be there is a huge divide in culture between the government and its associated agencies and Silicon Valley.  The litmus test seems to be Edward Snowden, who is regarded as a traitor among government information intelligence personnel and government agencies but a whistleblower among those in Silicon Valley.  Silicon Valley is a culture entrenched in the protection of user privacy as well as the complete freedom of information.  The government relies on cutting edge technologies from Silicon Valley however it is becoming harder and harder to get proprietary technology as well as the ability to hire those with the opinion that the government should be able to have at least a few secrets.

Methodology of secret activities is also becoming harder and harder as high end technology gets cheaper and cheaper and is available to the general public.  Computing power that was once the domain of only the government is now available to teenagers using their parent’s desktop.  Combining resources allows internet communities to track things such as government satellites, drones, and , making it harder and harder for the government to conduct activities in secrecy.

The entire topic raises quite an interesting debate.  Should the government have the ability to keep some secrets in the interest of national security?  In some sense it seems logical that this should happen.  The public can’t seem to be trusted with important decisions (case in point, Donald Trump coming so far in the election cycle).  However the interest of personal privacy in opposition to the huge increases in surveillance technology is somewhat at odds.  Add to that the antiquated laws that are being applied to current technologies like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.  Laws are notoriously slow to be updated, and can’t quite keep up with the pace of technology.

How do you feel about the conflict of government secrets and the freedom of information?  Leave a comment below.

The terms have come into even more interest lately as hackers have hit world news once again.  It turns out the government paid a “grey hat” hacker for a security hole that he had found (a “zero day” hole) in the iOS 9 software that allowed the government to break into the phone of the San Bernardino shooter.  So what are these hats and what do they mean?

A black hat hacker is a hacker that most people think of when they hear the term.  These hackers search for exploits for profit and destructive “fun”.  They will find security holes and then create viruses or malware programs that will cause destruction or havoc on the victims computers.   Sometimes the hackers stop there, merely causing problems for the sake of it or to prove some sort of point.  Other times hackers will attempt to make a profit, either by stealing credit card or other personal data, or locking up files behind an encryption code and demanding a ransom in exchange for the “key” to get the files back as was the case with several hospitals earlier this year.

A white hat hacker is a hacker that will work to find bugs and holes in code and software but will give this information directly to the vendor or software manufacturer.  They used to only get some free swag or a pat on the back, but these days companies often pay these white hat hackers for their finds.  Some companies even have bug bounty programs or contests.  These hackers ply their trades and use their knowledge for the greater good of the tech community.

Grey hat hackers are fast becoming more recognized.  These hackers will find security holes and flaws but rather than sell the info to the companies or to criminals, they sell them to governments, intelligence agencies, and militaries.  These are the hackers that helped the government crack into the phone of the San Bernardino shooter.  They paid the still-anonymous hacker a hefty one time fee in exchange for the hole.  It was considered a zero-day vulnerability because apparently the hacker was the first to find it and nobody knows now except him and the FBI.  Apple still does not know what the hole is.  These hackers are called “grey” because although they sell them to governments with the presumed intent that they will be used for the public good, the information is sometimes used to spy on dissidents or other governments, take down key areas of public utilties, or simply keep tabs on informants.  It’s a complicated transaction.

All these different breeds of hackers certainly makes the world of tech a bit more interesting.  It’s a little bit like good witches and bad witches in the Wizard of Oz.  We can only hope that with the advent of bug bounty programs as well as security contracting companies that hire hackers in order to package up exploits and sell them to governments that more hackers will lean towards the white or grey end of the spectrum rather than the black.

Have you invested in Bitcoin?  I invested unwittingly in July of 2016 by buying a small portion of Bitcoin (you do not have to buy whole bitcoins, you can buy a fraction of a bitcoin) in order to purchase a Hungarian domain name.  I wanted to purchase this domain anonymously and so I thought Bitcoin might be an interesting way to do so.

Bitcoin made quite a name for itself a few years ago by being the main currency used on Silk Road, a massive black market of drugs, weapons, and hitmen.  Since Bitcoin is relatively anonymous and untraceable depending on how you set up your wallet and obtain your bitcoin, the black market was a great place for this internet currency to thrive.

However, once people started to invest in the currency properly, it began to creep upwards in value.  Media mentions and big name investors jumping into the pool meant that FOMO ruled the day (fear of mission out) and many people jumped aboard the bandwagon.

Thanks to Coinbase making it relatively easy and fast (depending on the day) to purchase Bitcoin, it was easy for anyone with an iPhone and the Coinbase app to purchase Bitcoin with a credit card or bank account.  Thanks to the holiday rush Bitcoin rose to incredible heights, jumping from 6000 to almost 20,000 in a matter of weeks.

Bitcoin has since pulled back, but is still hovering around 14,000.

Besides Bitcoin there are other currencies and coins, dubbed “altcoins”.  The biggest at the moment are Litecoin and Ethereum.  Both of these coins also made huge jumps in recent weeks along with Bitcoin.  And now Ripple is making headlines with its recent run up from .25 to 2.50 USD.

Are these currencies here to stay or are they a huge bubble, a la the dot com bubble of the 90’s?  The truth is nobody knows.  I personally have invested a small amount of money into the various coins on the markets.  It’s a lot more fun than the stock market, although not nearly as safe or stable.  Although stock prices can jump or fall, they are not as volatile as the cryptocurrency markets.  However, there is a much greater chance of making big gains in crypto, and that is what is making it very attractive to a lot of people at the moment.

I will not attempt to make any prediction as to the future course of the markets, however I am definitely along for the ride.

If you’re looking for information on how to buy Bitcoin and other altcoins, then check out my guide on how to buy Bitcoin as well as how to buy Ripple and how to buy altcoins.

The cryptocurrency exchanges are a bit mixed up right now, but it’s kind of fun as it’s truly the wild west, and those are the most fun times to be a part of any new technology.

The new bill is just another piece of the long issue regarding privacy rights and the ability of the government to “oversee” the populace, in theory, to prevent mass terrorist or other crimes.

The privacy debate is certainly not new.  Until now Apple has refused to unlock or decrypt iPhones or other devices, sticking securely to their staunch pro-privacy stance.  Google has also followed suit, however in certain cases they have been forced to turn over certain user data.

Certain apps such as iMessage are encrypted, and Apple cannot even allow the government access to the information.  However these new proposals would make sure that there would be a “backdoor” type of access.  For example, the US Wiretap laws force phone companies to comply with government access to phone lines.  The new bills would force Apple (and other encrypted device makers) to allow a “wiretap” feature to iMessage.

CEO Tim Cook said that he would “never allow” a backdoor access to the iMessage services.  However some security researchers have said that there are some security vulnerabilities with iMessage that would enable access.  Some of those flaws reside in the way that iPhone users “verify” each other and also the way that cloud storage of iMessages is enabled (often by default) for users.  Cloud data could be subpoenaed or hacked.

So could the government potentially force Apple to comply with their demands?  The threat of heavy financial fines and sanctions could eventually make Apple fold to demands.  However, voters and the public could also rally and vote down these bills and new laws – after all, don’t the voters decide how the government should be run?  Perhaps in a perfect world, but still.

Most people seem staunchly pro-privacy.  However I find that I am in more of a middle ground.  With nothing to hide, I prefer the minor loss of privacy (I never feel as though the government would be spying on me, and I wouldn’t care because all they would find are texts to my friends about where to meet for dinner) in exchange for greater public safety and protection from the growing threat of hyper violent terrorist attacks.  But then that of course leads to the slippery slope of “big brother” and 1984 type government institutions becoming too powerful.

What do you think?  Do you believe that people should have ultimate privacy when it comes to electronic communication?  Do you think that current federal wiretap laws on “land lines” should be repealed?  Do you think that a tradeoff in minor personal privacy for public security is a fair trade?

I understand that in liberal circles it would be very untrendy to be anti-privacy (even a little bit).  However I can see the benefits of allowing the government to access certain communications.  I don’t believe that they would spy on average citizens, however maybe I am too naive.  The film “The Lives Of Others” is a great example of how government surveillance could just go too far.

It’s not just a war in the traditional sense with men and guns, but also with computers and hacking and recruiting via online message boards and social media.

The move to the cyber-front has countries such as the United Kingdom doubling its investments in cyber defense, totaling £1.9 billion (equivalent to $2.9 billion USD) over the next five years or so. It will cover things such as disarming the underground criminal marketplace (the so-called “dark net” or Tor systems where black markets reside and criminals tend to ply their trades in arms, drugs, and illicit merchandise such as counterfeit items), strengthening the National Cyber Crime Unit and installing more and stronger defenses to government and public systems. Britain has also stated that it will be open to sharing these improvements and the technology and systems behind it with France.

Britain is also interested in passing a new bill that will increase the government’s rights to access browsing histories and internet actions of citizens. In the wake of the Paris attacks some are interesting in trying to fast track the bill.

Of course these changes cause conflict to those who fight against the slow disintegration of personal privacy. It’s a balancing act between national security and the personal privacy of citizens.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is urging Silicon Valley to help in the defense against terrorism but stopped just short of demanding “weaker” encryption.  There is a debate surging over the pros and cons of high-end encryption, however the fact remains that it’s impossible for the intelligence community to monitor communications that are encrypted in certain ways, even if given the keys.  In the wake of widespread public terrorist attacks in Western nations such as France, however, public opinion could quickly turn in favor of more government security and less encryption.

The problem with the encryption debate is not that Silicon Valley is making stronger and stronger encryption and not giving the government access out of spite or some idealistic stance, but rather the fact that you can’t make encryption “weaker”  or include built in security flaws or backdoors in an effort to let just one party in—doing so would weaken the entire thing.  This quote sums it up nicely:

You can’t install backdoors for good guys without making communications vulnerable to innumerable bad guys, just like you can’t put a screen door on a submarine and hope that just certain tiny fish will get in but not the fatally smothering ocean.

Probably one of the most surprising developments in the fight against ISIS is the fact that Anonymous has dropped its hat into the ring. This may be the first time that a group of (literally) anonymous hackers has entered as an element in a global war. Anonymous has vowed to shut ISIS out of the internet and has apparently already crippled thousands of ISIS Twitter accounts.

Interestingly enough, despite the largely bombastic and public claims from the Anonymous hacking group, the group that’s actually doing the most work against ISIS on the cyber-front is GhostSecGroup, now known as Ghost Security Group. It’s a collective of hackers that had split off from Anonymous and now works closely with US government agencies in the cyber security department.

GhostSecGroup has told online news website MIC that the sudden interest of Anonymous could end up “costing innocent lives”. This is because they work in a more slow and methodical manner where the goal isn’t always to dismantle or cripple websites and accounts but rather to gather intelligence so that the pieces of the whole can be constructed and used in a more versatile way. Rather than cripple an ISIS forum, for example, they will silently lurk and gather intelligence about whether or not there are any attack plans or coordination. Taking down the message board would only erase that sensitive and perhaps useful information and not necessarily prevent an attack.

Another rather interesting fact is the fact that ISIS even has its own helpdesk to assist members in their missions.

Counterterrorism analysts affiliated with the U.S. Army tell NBC News that the ISIS help desk, manned by a half-dozen senior operatives around the clock, was established with the express purpose of helping would-be jihadists use encryption and other secure communications in order to evade detection by law enforcement and intelligence authorities….

At a congressional hearing in October, FBI Director James Comey said the FBI is extremely concerned about ISIS’ increasing ability to “go dark.” Comey told the House Judiciary Committee that the U.S. is ” confronting the explosion of terrorist propaganda and training on the Internet.”

If that’s not a reason for government access to encrypted data, I don’t know what is.  Until groups such as ISIS are stamped out, there seems to definitely be a need for covert monitoring of these channels.

The future truly is now, with wars being waged not only in the physical world but in the binary world as well, where soldiers are just as deadly when armed with a keyboard as with a rifle.

I purchased and iPad several years ago in order to try to have a PC on the go, something that I could take with me on trips and I could leave my laptop at home.  However the iPad was disappointing in that the mobile iOS operating system was clunky to use.  As someone who needs to publish quickly to multiple online portals such as Wordpress, and check up on VPN servers through Javascript, the iPad was useless.  It was basically a larger version of my phone.

My ears perked up when the Surface Pro 3 was starting to get some steam and popularity, however I was told that the new Surface Pro 4 would be coming out soon.  Much to my surprise the Surface Book also accompanied this release.

It was a tough decision between the Pro 4 and the Book, however I had to remind myself that portability was the biggest necessity for me and the Book is a notch heavier and bigger than the SP4.  Also, I couldn’t imagine using the 13″ screen as a tablet – it would just be a bit too big.

I opted for the Surface Pro 4 with 256 Gig of solid state disk space, 8 gig of RAM, and the i5 Intel 6th generation processor.  That would be enough power for what I have to do on the road.  A lot of web browsing and publishing, minor Photoshopping, and watching movies.

So how does my new Surface Pro 4 hold up vs. my Lenovo Thinkpad T420s?

So far I am loving the Surface Pro 4.  There are a few things that I have to get used to vs the Thinkpad T420s (which was a magnificent machine by the way, and has been rock solid for 3 years).

The first thing is the lack of the Thinkpad trackpoint in the middle of the keyboard.  Wow, do I miss that.  If anyone at Lenovo is listening, if you want to make a bluetooth keyboard for SP4 users with a trackpoint I will buy it.  Once you got used to that thing it’s almost impossible to live without it.  IBM/Lenovo users will undoubtedly agree with me on this one.

The other thing is the glare of the screen.  After using matte anti-glare screens on laptops since the beginning of time, the glossy screen of the SP4 is a bit straining on my eyes.  However, the trade off is a brilliant display with excellent color saturation.  Also, the resolution is nearly double that of my Thinkpad, so it’s quite nice to look at.  Using it outside or in a bright room is taking me a little getting used to.  I think I will be considering matte screen covers, however I have heard that this makes the Surface Pen hard or impossible to use.

The Microsoft keyboard attachment serves as a cover for the tablet, and I would have a hard time thinking that someone would be able to use the Surface effectively without this attachment.  The keyboard is fairly nice, although the button spacing is slightly different and it’s taking just a little getting used to.  Lenovo users are also very picky about keyboards, as IBM/Lenovo has been best in the business for a long, long time.  However I’m finding that I can type quickly and accurately on the Surface keyboard and it feels natural.  I like the key sensitivity and feedback feel.

The trackpad on the keyboard cover leaves a little to be desired and some fiddling with the settings got it to a comfortable usability, however it’s leagues beyond the trackpad on the Thinkpad.  I was never a fan of trackpads, opting for the trackpoint or a mouse.  I ended up buying the Microsoft Arc Touch bluetooth mouse, the one that folds over.  Not sure if I like this better than my trusty Logitech, but I’m giving it a fair shot.  The design leaves you without a lot to grab onto, and I am wondering if I’m going to get hand cramps from holding it.  I’m eyeing the latest Logitech bluetooth mice as an alternative.

Battery life on the SP4 is much better than my T420s, which was only getting about an hour and a half usage time before I needed to plug it in.  This was making it hard for me to really take it on the road.  So far the Surface Pro 4 is holding up well, and I’m getting about 5 hours out of it with a lot of web browsing and loading websites.

Windows 10 itself is pretty nice.  I am liking the new interface, and everything seems pretty snappy.  I had a few glitches with my SP4 and the folks in the Surface Reddit seem to be having similar issues.  The worst is a display driver glitch that changes the color temperature of the screen when using certain programs.  The Edge browser and a settings screen in Windows were the two offenders I found so far.  Browsing in Firefox does not give me this problem.

Another problem is a speaker pop that randomly happens, and this seems to be another well documented issue with new SP4 users.  Hopefully Microsoft can get these issues sorted out in the next few days with new updates.

As I went through my workday tasks today I found the Surface to be extremely snappy and fun to use.  I have to admit, who doesn’t like getting their hands on a new and fancy piece of technology?  As a lifetime Windows user I am happy to see that Microsoft is putting out some must-have products once again.  I was never a huge fan of Apple and their superiority complex.

Overall I highly recommend the Surface Pro 4 and if you’re looking for something portable with the productivity of your regular laptop or PC, look no further.

In real life, you have a lot more than a laptop to place. You have a desktop or two, or three. You may have sets of speakers to go with each desktop computer. Depending on the ages and needs of your family members, you may have multiple printers for printing out school reports or scanning work documents.

Study Space

Pick a house that has space for a study for you and your partner, especially if one of you works from home. If you have school-aged children, each of them needs a spacious bedroom, one that can accommodate a desk. The desk must be big enough for them to do their written homework, plus it needs an area for the laptop, for computer-related assignments.

Gaming Grotto

Got a gamer in the family? Look for a recreation space in a basement or in an extra-large bedroom where your gaming enthusiast can set up a massive gaming rig, complete with high-quality speakers, multiple monitors, and a big, comfortable chair.

Socket Census

When you view a house, take careful note of the available electrical sockets and internet jacks. In older homes, electrical outlets are not always abundant. Think about the lamps, chargers, printers, monitors, speaker sets, and other electronics you plan to have, and decide whether or not the house can comfortably accommodate your lifestyle.

Cable Conundrum

You’ll be frustrated if you move in only to discover that you have to purchase ultra-long cables and run them every which-way in order to get enough power sources for your computers, speakers, and other items. Ideally, your new home should be arranged so that the spot where you want to put your computer desk has all the right outlets and connections right at your fingertips. Think about how your furniture will fit in the space and whether or not you’ll have space to hide away power strips and cords.

ISP Interests

Make sure that the local internet support is excellent. If you choose a home located far outside the city, the selection for an internet service provider may be severely limited, and the speeds you get may not be as fast as you would like. Weigh the advantages of the area against any potential difficulties with your ISP and your internet speeds at the new place.

Tech-Savvy Team

It’s not a decision you can make alone! Get your family members, roommates, or the other members of your household involved in the choice of a new home. Each person has a different perspective, and someone may see an issue that you have overlooked, saving you from a costly mistake. Working as a team, you and your family can find the right home for yourselves and for your tech.

The Open Letter

The CEO of Mozilla, Chris Beard, apparently sees Edge as a threat to Firefox, because he sent an open letter to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. He claims that Windows 10 confines users, giving them fewer choices and making it difficult for them to have the experience they desire, rather than the experience Microsoft intends for them to have.

Windows 10 is currently available for free to Windows 7 and 8 users. When people do the upgrade, the Edge browser is set as the default. The process does not include a step where users can choose their preferred browser. This apparent lack of flexibility is what offends Mozilla CEO Chris Beard, since it appears to force the Edge experience onto the new Windows 10 user.

The Response

Microsoft claims that users can switch to a different default browser anytime they like, including popular choices such as Chrome and Firefox. The company defends its decision not to include browser choice as one of the steps in the upgrade process, citing their desire to make the upgrade as quick and simple as possible.

The Comparison

Is Edge really such an amazing browser that Mozilla is terrified of users trying it out? Experts and reviewers have been testing and comparing browsers, with some interesting results. Using the Peacekeeper benchmark and Speed-Battle, one tester saw Firefox outstrip Chrome and Edge. However, when testing page load times, Edge defeated the other two easily. For practical speed and performance, Edge does indeed rank the highest among the three big ones.

For sheer user-friendliness with a helpful layout, Firefox ranks first. However, Chrome wins out when it comes to special features, support, and extensibility. Edge lacks the right-click options that other browsers include, while Chrome fails to offer a sharing option integrated into its system, instead forcing users to make use of extensions, bookmarklets, or widgets.

The Bottom Line

What’s the verdict? Each of these “Big Three” browsers include helpful features, and their variety doesn’t make any one of them a poor choice. Each one caters to a different set of internet users with their own specific likes and dislikes. Try out all three options to discover your personal favorite.

How Much Power Does Google Really Wield?

Google is clearly the most powerful of the search engines. Industry insiders estimate Google processes between three and four billion queries every day. Yahoo, Bing and Asia’s Baidu combined have fewer users than Google. That degree of dominance allows the organization to set policies defining how search engines are structured. It also puts them in a position to collect an enormous amount of data without users even realizing they are sharing information.

To be effective, a search engine must collect some data. If it didn’t, search results would be haphazard at best. However, Google admittedly goes far beyond analyzing what sites visitors go to and what they are likely to buy. Newer applications are so invasive users’ personal information, photos, travel habits, and other data are collected, often without users even realizing what is happening.

Are There Ways Users Can Avoid Being Tracked?

The short answer is yes. Users can take steps to minimize the digital trail they leave, but average users often don’t, as doing so would eliminate some conveniences. Online shopping is pervasive, with, for example, Amazon’s sales threatening to top $100 Billion this year, providing evidence users find the convenience worth some loss of privacy. However, Google’s tracking of email, travel habits, and other online personal data concerns a lot of users. At this point, the very nature of Google and online shopping makes it virtually impossible to eliminate tracking.

Where will Google tread next? With the company’s forays into other business venues, it’s uncertain where and how user data will be used in the future, but it is a certainty the net cast by Google’s collection practices will continue to expand unless actions are taken, at some level, to curb the organization’s insatiable appetite for information. So, Is Google Evil? There are many who would argue the company’s efforts need to be reined in, but others suggest data collection is valuable for both users and the search engines. The boundary between good and evil is yet to be determined but, until it is, users need to be more aware of how their personal information is being collected and used.

There are more programs available for PCs than for Macs.

There may have been some basis for that argument in the past, but for the past several years there is little difference between the two. In fact, when the ability of Macs to run software developed for PCs is considered, Macs gain the edge. In addition, top software developers like Microsoft and Adobe now offer programs to run on both operating systems.

Macs cost more than PCs.

Again, there is some truth in the argument that Macs do, in fact, cost more initially than PCs. However, that cost differential is mitigated by two important factors. First, PCs typically require more repairs over their lives than Macs, which makes the total cost of ownership more equal over the life the devices. In addition, Mac is now offering versions of its products that are closer in price. The difference here is that PCs offer some features, even on entry level models, that Macs do not.

PCs are more prone to malicious software than Macs.

For years, hackers targeted PCs simply because they were more plentiful and easier to attack. Viruses commonly found in PCs simply did not show up in the Mac world. Recently that’s changed, as Macs have experienced some pretty sophisticated hacks in the past couple of years. As a rule, PCs are still more prone to malicious attacks, but no Mac owner can take for granted that Macs are immune from viruses and other malware.

There are many myths on both sides of the mac vs pc debates. While some enjoy a modicum of truth, the majority are easily debunked. There is no real “best” computer, as users do not share the same needs or expectations from their devices. Before making any buying decisions, users should carefully examine the good and bad points of both platforms.