Are Baltimoreans Computers' Secure?

Computer Security

Computer security, also known as information security, is a branch of computer technology that applies to computers and networks. The objective of computer security is to protect information and property from theft, corruption, or natural disaster, while still allowing the information and property to remain accessible to the user. Computer system security is the processes and mechanisms which protects sensitive plus valuable information and services from publication, tampering or collapse by unauthorized activities or untrustworthy individuals and unplanned events. Computer security strategies differ from most other computer technologies because the objectives are polar opposite. The purpose of computer security is to prevent unwanted computer behavior instead of enabling wanted computer behavior like general computer technology aims to do.

Computers are very important devices which most of us cannot live without. Subsequently, our PC computer security is just as important or maybe more. There are numerous examples of individuals who have reported being affected by computer security such as: emails, websites or other online accounts being hacked, and other ways their computers have been invaded. While making use of a computer, it is vital to ensure maximum computer security. It is good to always remember that as long as there can be a security breach, there can be security. Therefore, all computer users should follow a couple key steps in order to protect themselves from hackers.

Step 1) Update Your Computer

The first step to ensure computer, and Internet security is to regularly update your computer. It is critical that a computer be in no way outdated and that users apply the appropriate and correct hardware and software. Usually hackers attempt to breach computer security by targeting weak spots and this is often accomplished by exploiting outdated computer components. However, by keeping your computer updated, it will be really difficult for a hacker to get results.

Step 2) Use an Antivirus

Many individuals believe that antiviruses actually cause problems for their computers instead of protection. However, with the right antivirus and the right measures there is no way a user should experience problems because what an antivirus does is make computer security tight, not vulnerable. After installing a good antivirus it is also very important to keep on updating it everyday. An antivirus is just another piece of software if it is not updated, but it can also be a powerful weapon against hackers and computer threats if it is regularly updated.

Step 3) Only Use Trusted Software

If users download trusted software, then there will be no reason for computers to be hacked. Nevertheless, a lot of computers get hacked because the users downloaded the wrong application. That is why users should only install trusted software applications on their computers and not because they just think they should or because others recommend it.

References:

Mutula, S. M., & Wamukoya, M. J. (2007). Web Information Management. Oxford: Chandos Publishing.

http://www.techtipsdigital.com/pc-computer-security/1924/

Baltimore City's Digital Citizens

Digital Literacy Education & Technology

Education in Baltimore City presents a challenge because of the distribution of poverty. The resources are scarce and the student performance is alarmingly low due educational needs that include: student materials, teacher salaries, management problems, and especially technology. As a result, Baltimore City faces a huge issue in trying to promote digital literacy in its schools. Digital literacy is the process of teaching and learning technology and the use of technology.

Today, focus is on what technologies must teach as well as how it should be used. Workers in many different occupations need to be digital literate, however new technologies are generally not being taught in schools. For instance, videoconferencing and online sharing spaces such as wikis are mostly taught in specific technology degree programs in higher education. Nevertheless, all citizens should be taught how to learn in a digital society. In other words, people must be taught to learn anything, anytime, anywhere. As new technologies emerge, individuals need to learn how to use that technology quickly and appropriately. Digital Citizenship involves educating people in a new way and these individuals need a high degree of information literacy skills.

Digitally literate people can communicate and work more efficiently, especially with those who possess the same knowledge and skills. In addition, these skills help individuals the ability to locate, organize, understand, evaluate, and analyze information using digital technology. This involves knowledge of current technology, and an understanding of how it can be used. Plus, digital literacy helps a person in society because they are more conscious of the technological forces that affect culture and human behavior. Digital literacy entails not only being literate at using a computer, but is concerned with wider aspects associated with learning how to effectively find, summarize, use, evaluate, create, and communicate information while using digital technologies. It encompasses all digital devises such as: computer hardware, software, the Internet, and cell phones. Consequently, a person using these skills to interact with society may be called a digital citizen.

References:

Mutula, S. M., & Wamukoya, M. J. (2007). Web Information Management. Oxford: Chandos Publishing.

http://www.library.illinois.edu/diglit/definition.html

http://khokanson.blogspot.com/2007/09/define-digital-literacy.html

St. Patty's Day in Baltimore City

Searching for Information on the Web (Delicious vs. Google)

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated not only by Irish-Americans but all Americans. It’s not hard to see why people like the holiday- the drinking, drinking, and more drinking! Thus, the purpose for my online search was to see Baltimore on St. Patty’s Day. There were unique differences while using both Delicious, a social-bookmarking site, and a search engine like Google. Each website offered various types of content and sources.  

After conducting the search, there was only one similar link that appeared on both site’s results page, a Baltimore Sun article. In fact the information placed in the search box in Delicious had to be altered because it could not find any information under “St. Patrick’s Day events in Baltimore City.” However, when the information said, “St. Patrick’s Day events,” it was able to put two different stacks. Therefore, it seems that Delicious does better with general topics or subject versus being very specific. In addition, the site seems to be used more for searching for information than events or activities.

Both Delicious and Google seem to have a range of older and current information. Delicious is however, very organized because they put their information into stacks (groups of similar information). Google is different because their information is organized more based on presenting articles or news related information first. The website can also further a user from their search because it pulls any information which has the search word in it, thus it could even be unrelated. As far as reliability, both have credible and non-credible sources. Yet, Delicious might be an initial stop because it seems to be like Wikipedia, where the information provided is more like an introduction, guide, or reference. Google, though has the ability to search under Google scholar which presents academic resources.

Neither Delicious nor Google is better. The important question a user must ask is, “What am I searching for?” After answering that question then the user can decide which tool would suite them better. Generally, Google’s is my preference because of its user-friendly layout and my familiarity with it as well. Nevertheless, trying out Delicious for future searches would also be a good idea since it is very useful in organizing information by analyzing the users’ search topic. In addition, the site also compares the topic being searched to what other online community users have been searching for within that same topic. However, this would be for information gathering rather than searching for something to do in Baltimore.

DELICIOUS SCREENSHOT

GOOGLE SCREENSHOT

Baltimore Inner Harbor Boats

Uploading Photos to Blogger vs. Embedding Images from Flickr


Uploaded Image



There are various advantages and disadvantages for uploading images to blogger versus embedding images from Flickr or similar photo websites. For instance, the image in this blog is an example of an uploaded photo while the image in the previous blog has an embedded picture. Below is a list of both the advantages and disadvantages of using each of these methods for placing an image into a blog.

Advantages for Uploading:

> Uploading is much quicker since the user doesn't need to go to another website to upload the image. The user can upload the image instantly.

> Blogger also permits the user to access images from all types of images including both the web and the users own computer.

Diadvantages for Uploading:

> This process does not allow for an image-editing option. This means that the pictures will look just like when they were first viewed.

> Images uploaded through Blogger can only be done one at a time. Therefore, if a user s trying to upload many images it will most likely take a lot of time to do so.

Advantages for Embedding:

> Embedding an image from Flickr or similar photo websites allow for advanced editing preferences like the size, color, clarity, and sharpness.

> This option also permits a user to upload more than one image at  a time.

> Furthermore, embedding Flickr images lets a user directly access their Flickr account from Blogger by simply clicking on the embedded image.

Disadvantages for Embedding:

> Flickr images that are embedded need to be stored on the user's computer before they are uploaded which means that a user may not upload images directly from the Web.

Baltimore Natty Boh Beer

Embedded Image

National Bohemian Beer, also called Natty Boh, Nationaled Boh' or just plain Boh', is an American beer originally brewed in Baltimore, Maryland. This Bohemian-style beer's slogan had long been "From the Land of Pleasant Living," a reference to the Chesapeake Bay.

Baltimore City Hall

Baltimore City Hall invites visitors to explore Baltimore, a vibrant city on the water where they will find something new around every corner. This is a city that is growing and evolving with new hotels, and new and expanding attractions. Whether a resident living in the area or a guest planning a visit, this city is a destination filled with surprises and hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered.

Baltimore’s world-renowned Inner Harbor is surrounded by historic neighborhoods where residents or visitors will find city living at its best with unique shops and restaurants for every style and taste. The city enjoys a vibrant arts scene and embraces its history and influence on American culture.

There is something for everyone in Baltimore. According to Visit Baltimore, Baltimore City hosted 12 million visitors, a seven-year high. They spent 2.96 billion dollars, an all-time high.

Baltimore Loves Movies

Pixar Uses Wikis

I love watching movies and I can't think of anyone who doesn't. Baltimore City actually has some wonderful historically old movie theaters like the Charles and the Senator. Watching movies in theaters like those really make it an extra special experience. So, it's interesting to see the new types of technology and special effects that movies are using in them. However, before a movie is a movie, it begins from an idea. Today, companies are using all different ways to extract ideas from their employees such as wikis.

Wikis have numerous uses and the companies that decide to use them, almost always benefit from them. Usually, top management tries to force a generic solution for thier workers by throwing some type of new technology into the mix. However, if management took a moment to really listen to their employees they could get a better grasp of the issues they face and collaborate with other departments like IT to solve them. In return, this would not only solve the problems but improve productivity.

One way to do this, is to implement wikis. By adopting wikis programs an organization can help gather the already informally scattered groups, teams, and departments throughout the company. Initially, wikis were small scaled pilot programs but they have grown from a dozen of users to hundreds or thousands of users. For instance, the best-known public wiki is Wikipedia and millions of people worldwide go to the site for all types of information.

Another example, is Pixar, the iconic producer of animated films that has won many academy Awards. This company introduced a wiki and now uses them to internally to manage film production. A recent Wall Street Journal article (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118194454386837188.html) explained that the company used a wiki, “to help coordinate new computerized animation tools for the studio’s 2008 release of a film called “WALL-E.” The movie became a success! Pixar used a wiki because it is a versatile tool that allowed them to collaborate between the hundreds of animantion designers and experts. In addition, it provided project mnagement to building vast repositories of knowledge.

Websites for Baltimoreans

World Wide Websites

1) Baltimore City Newspaper
http://citypaper.com/

This site is an electronic version of Baltimore City's weekly newspaper. It is a guide for the best of Baltimore's news, blogs, arts, music, film, eats, calendar, neighborhoods, jobs, dating, classified's, and so on. Every Wednesday, by habit I pick up my city newspaper on my way into work. As I settle in and drink my cup of coffee, I read the articles and look through the highlights of week's upcoming events. However, if I happen to misplace my torn newspaper pages with the events I circled, I simply click onto their website and search for them. Most of the things I end up doing during the week or weekends come from the things I find in the city paper. It's a great resource.

2) Groupon and Living Social
http://www.groupon.com/baltimore/ and http://www.livingsocial.com/deals/how_it_works

Groupon and Living Social negotiate huge discounts—usually between 50-90% off—with popular businesses. Then they send the deals to thousands of their subscribers by free daily email, so we can purchase and enjoy them. The discounts can be anything from a restuarant to a clothing store to a great vacation destination. Plus they send the businesses a ton of new customers, too. That's the Groupon and Living Social magic. After getting a suggestion from a friend to purchase discounted tickets from Groupon to one of my favorite museums in Baltimore, I was hooked and have been since. Again, the best thing about these sites is that you can customize them to send you recommendation based on your interests. So, that's why I'm signed up to get discounts from Baltimore businesses.

3) Pandora Radio
http://www.pandora.com/

I love music! Who doesn't? Whether I'm listening to my ipod on my walk to and from work or my itunes- I am listening to music all the time. That's why I listen to Pandora Radio while I'm working at my office in downtown Baltimore. While I can't blast hip-hop and club music, I take that time to enjoy a another part from the eclectic mix of music I enjoy like jazz, blues, and instrumental music. So, stopping by my cube somone might hear Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra or something similar.

Baltimore is the "Charm City"

Baltimore is known as Charm City and it’s easy to see why. It's a friendly city with rich history and culture. And from seniors to singles, there is a wealth of things to do, places to visit, and activities to match everyone’s interest. Throughout the blog I will illustrate the things that make Baltimore a great place to live. I actually can't get enough city life! I love city life!

I am originally from Washington, DC. and was raised in Montgomery County most of my life. Then when it was time for me to go to college- I came to Baltimore- and this began my love affair with the city. After graduating college I stayed in Baltimore to continue my Master's degree. After a year of working as a full-time graduate assistant and studying full-time as well, I decided to pursue a job in Baltimore. This way I would be able to both begin my professional career and life in Baltimore City, too. And so my dreams were realized...

My blog will include a list of activities, restuarants, events, and various other spots all Baltimoreans and those visiting Baltimore should do at least once. My wish is that everyone who encounters Baltimore can appreciate it the way I have come to love it. This city has found a place within my heart and I hope that it can give something to everyone. Now, get out there and live BALTIMORE!!!