How they have been enabled and how they can be avoided.
In today's world, cyber security has never been more important for businesses, organizations and governments. Hacking has become a daily occurrence and caution needs to be taken in order to avoid it. Discussing the top 5 cyber security risks from last year, we can better understand how severe the problems are and what to do about it.
1. Ransomware, "a type of malware
which restricts access to the computer system that it infects –will
become increasingly sophisticated in its methods and targets, experts at
McAfee Labs warned" (Ellyatt, 2015). It has been predicted that ransomware variants that manage to evade security software installed on a
system will specifically target endpoints that subscribe to cloud-based
storage solutions such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.We saw this happen when famous celebrities had their private i-cloud accounts hacked and pictures were leaked online.
2. The Internet of Things, "the connection of physical devices such as home appliances and cars to
the internet -- will still be the 'Internet of Vulnerabilities,'
according to cyber experts (Ellyatt, 2015).
3. Cyber-espionage, is becoming the weapon of choice for many government organizations. Some predict that the next world war will be fought on a key board and that 2015 can expect more frequent cyber-espionage attacks.
4. Cyber-theft, Mainly the stealing of financial information has always been a major problem online. And not only credit cards, now that mobile payments or contact less payment are becoming the norm in most of our first world countries, hackers have a new opening, a new platform to work off.
5. Insecure Passwords, easy to crack passwords will still be a problem in 2015. It doesn't take a brainiac or seasoned hacker to crack a password. And not that its always a large scale theft issue, but high profile accounts like the celebrity i-cloud attacks recently is a good example of how bad it can get.
Recently, we saw that telecommunications giant, Apple, refused to enable their iOS hacking cloud for the FBI after a iPhone was discovered in the house of the San Bernardino shooters earlier this year. Their argument: it would compromise user privacy.
This is a debatable subject, but at least we know that more recent i-phones are becoming more difficult to hack. I mean, if the FBI cant even hack it, its safe to say that your content is safe, for now.
There are different kinds of data that companies can use. To name a few..
1. Conduct a security audit; If you don’t know what parts of your business are vulnerable or what data you have that needs to be protected, you can’t properly secure it. It is critical that you work with a professional to audit your entire IT infrastructure, computers, network, and mobile devices, to determine what you need to do to prevent hackers from accessing your network
2. Use strong and multiple passwords.
3. Backup; Ensure that your data is properly backed up, and test the backup to ensure that your data can be recovered when you need it.
4. Implement a multi-security-technology solution; Hackers, and their attacks, are more sophisticated than ever, and it is critical to have multiple layers of security technology on all your different devices.
Reference List
Ellyatt, H. (2015). Top 5 cybersecurity risks for 2015. CNBC. [Accessed on 31 April 2016] Available from: <http://www.cnbc.com/2014/12/19/top-5-cyber-security-risks-for-2015.html>
" Netiquette is network etiquette, the do's and don'ts of online communication. Netiquette covers both common courtesy online and the informal "rules of the road" of cyberspace" Netiquette Homepage, 2016.
10 Points of Netiquette & Examples
1. Remember the Human - Never forget that the person reading your
communication is actually a person with feelings and can get hurt.
Essentially never say anything online that wouldn't say to your reader’s
face.
2. Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real
life - Be ethical in your engagement and know that breaking the law is
bad netiquette.
3. Know where you are in cyberspace - The netiquette required will differ
from domain to domain. If you are in a forum of experts, your netiquette
should reflect respect. Whereas if you are in a chat room with a group
of friends (you know in real life) then the netiquette will differ.
4. Respect other people’s time and bandwidth - When sharing files or
documents, bear in mind the audience’s bandwidth. Furthermore, make sure
you read the FAQs first before asking mundane questions where the
answers already exist. If you disagree with a group’s discussion, don’t
waste their (or your) time by telling them how stupid they are: Just
stay away
5. Make yourself look good online - Check grammar and spelling before you
post. Most people judge others’ intelligence based on the use of grammar
and spelling. Only post on things you know about, it is not worth it to
look like the fool.
6. Share expert knowledge - Offer answers and help others where you can.
7. Help keep flame wars under control - Don’t respond to flame-bait, don’t
post spelling or grammar flames, and apologize if you have done so or
perpetuated a flame-war.
8. Respect other people’s privacy - Don’t give out other people’s details, online or offline.
9. Don’t abuse your power - The more power you have, the more important it is how you use it. 10. Be forgiving of other people’s mistakes - We were all once beginners and should accept that everyone has to start somewhere.
10 Points of Netiquette, (2015).
Penalties for failing to apply to 10 points of Netiquette
1. If these rules are not followed the first step would be to send the
user an automatic email stating that they are breaking these rules. 2. The next step would be to limit their time access to the internet. 3. If the rules are still continued to be disobeyed they would then need to attend a disciplinary hearing. 4. If the previous step has not corrected their actions then the final step would be to take legal action against the user.
10 points of Netiquette, (2015).
How to Enforce Netiquette
In the workplace I would put up pictures and flyers to create awareness.
Reference List
Netiquette Homepage. (2016). Netiquette. [Accessed on 30 April 2016] Available at: <http://www.albion.com/netiquette/>
10 Points of Netiquette. (2015). The Chronicles of A Digital Citizen. [Accessed on 30 April 2016] Available at: <http://15009701.weebly.com/the-chronicles-of-a-digital-citizen/10-points-of-netiquette>
The Social Economy: Unlocking Value Through Social Technologies
There are over a billion people on social media today. It has completely taken over the way we do things and broadcast news and messages.
There are various advantages and disadvantages of social media.
To list a few advantages; easy and effortless communication anywhere in the world, sharing political and worldly views and reaching a broad audience with ease.
There are 5 main advantages of social media and each one comes with a disadvantage, how ever the advantages usually over ride the disadvantages.
1. Worldwide connectivity
Individuals are able to stay in contact with any one at any time anywhere in the world. These connections can help with various things; finding romance, job applications, seeking assistance, assessing news in real time and finding support from like minded individuals.
2. Commonality of interest
When you opt to participate in a social network community, you can pick
and choose individuals whose likes and dislikes are similar to yours and
build your network around those commonalities. Sites like Pinterest are great platforms for sharing ideas with like minded people.
3. Increased Cycle-speed
Social networks has increased the news cycle speed drastically. It has made news instantaneous and opens up a platform for real time news sharing and discussions.
Some of the disadvantages...
1. Risk of fraud and identity theft
The information you post on the Internet is
available to almost anyone who is clever enough to access it. Most
thieves need just a few vital pieces of personal information to steal your identity.
2. Cyberbullying and crimes against children
Use of social networks may expose individuals to other forms of
harassment or even inappropriate contact. This can be especially true
for teens and younger children. Unless parents diligently filter the Web
content their family views, kids could be exposed to pornography or other inappropriate content.
3. Backlash
When sharing online
there will always be people who disapprove of your views. And there is
no way of stopping them from saying what they think online.
Question 2
Q.2.1
Homo Naledi, That Cousin We Didn't Know About.
On September 11, 2015, Wits University announced the discovery of a new human species, Homo Naledi.
Discovered by professor Lee Berger from the University of Witwatersrand, Homo Naledi is the single largest fossil hominid find yet made on the continent of Africa.
A bit of a Indiana Jones lookalike, Prof Lee Berger grew up in the USA and studied at Georgia Southern University and then moved to South Africa to further his studies at what is known world wide as the cradle of human kind.
It started in 2013, when two recreational cavers found a small chute in the rising star cave which was about 12m long and 20 cm wide, the cavers found fossils. Later that year, National Geographic funded a expedition called the rising star expedition to excavate the cave. A second expedition of 4 weeks followed later in 2014. 1550 piece of bone belonging to at least 15 individuals were found. The fossils included bones, skulls, teeth and ribs.
The physical characteristics of Homo Naledi are described as having traits similar to the genus Australopithecus, which is know to be our oldest ancestor. But is also shows characteristics and traits of the genus Homo.
An analysis of homo naledi sugests thatadult males stood at about 150 cm and weighed around 45 kg and femals where just a little smaller. They are believed to have been bipedal.
The discovery of Homo Naledi suggests that there are a lot more to the human ancestral race than we thought we knew. Archeologists are sure that there are more missing pieces to this puzzle we cal human kind.
Question 1
Q.1.1
Q.1.3
1. Digital Access, 2. Digital Commerce, 3. Digital Communication, 4. Digital Literacy, 5. Digital Ettiquete, 6. Digital Law, 7. Digital Rights & Responsibilities, 8. Digital Health, 9. Digital Security.
Thursday, 19 May 2016
Q.5.2
DIGITAL BILL OF RIGHTS FOR THE INTERNET
By Rueben Esterhuizen
I believe that people posses certain fundamental rights. Accessing the internet is one of them. Everyone has the right to be access to the world wide web. Its a platform that has many sub platforms. Mainly communication, research, business and entertainment.
We are all digital citizens and deserve the right to the internet.
This bill of rights aims to rectify the current problem all over the world. Countries are limiting internet access to its citizens.
THE BILL OF RIGHTS
1. Equality - all digital citizens are to be treated equally on the internet.
2. Freedom - digital citizens has the right to a free & uncensored internet
3. Openness - digital citizens have a right to a open & unobstructed internet
4. Participation - digital citizens have a right to participate online when ever and where ever they please.
5. Privacy -digital citizens has the right to privacy on the internet
6. Accessibility - digital citizens has a right to access the internet equally regardless where or who the are.
7. Sharing - digital citizens has a right to share their ideas, discoveries and opinions online.
Department of Human Rights
North Korea, Vietnam, China & Cuba
The citizens of North Korea, China, Vietnam and China have limited internet access. Only a small percentage of these countries have access to the internet.
In North Korea, people are limited to only domestic-websites which are government run. As of 2016, there are only 1579 IP Addresses in the country. Only a small portion of the country has access to the world wide web (Internet in North Korea, 2016).
In Cuba, internet is illegal in private homes, it is only available at government owned internet cafes. Cuba is slowly moving forward as the are restricted by costs, but the majority of the island doesn't even have access to computer, let alone internet (Internet in Cuba, 2016). China is actually the largest population on the internet but with China's population at 1.3 Billion people as of 2016 and 67.8% of the country living on less than $5 a day, its highly unlikely that these people have access to internet or computer for that matter. That"s 937 Million people unexposed to the digital world (Internet in China, 2016).
Its the same story with Vietnam, the country has 90 Mill people and only 36 Million people are online as of 2013 (Internet in Vietnam, 2016). Having been there myself I can say from experience that finding an internet cafe in Hanoi is extremely difficult.
Everyone has the right to access, use, create, and publish digital media or to access and use computers, other electronic devices, or communications network.
Its called Digital Rights.
PETITION
Allow the people of North Korea, China, Cuba & Vietnam their right to have access to the world wide web. Allow them their Digital Right.
*The above mentioned Atorney Generals of each country, respectivley has to take this matter
up with the countries higher authority and implement more internet cafes and make
the internet more accessible
Name Address Phone
Digital Rights United Inc.
023 123 4567
email: dru@hotmail.com
Wednesday, 18 May 2016
Question 4
Inappropriate Digital Conduct
Everyone has the right to their own opinion and to express themselves but some people do notice that they have crossed the line of digital etiquette. There are certain things you can and cannot say online.
Examples of these are racists remarks, especially in our country where racial tensions are always high. Being racist online is a big NO when it comes to digital conduct. You are almost certain to offend someone.
Another example is touching on controversial subjects like big game hunting. The majority of people will see big game hunting as negative. We have seen this recently when a dentist from the USA shot and killed a lion named Cecil in Zimbabwe and posted it on social media.
All of these are examples of what not to do on the internet. People are not afraid to say exactly what they are thinking and someone always suffers because of it. There is a line and its being constantly crossed.
This article highlights the social media outbreak after Penny Sparrow's racist remark.
Twitter erupts after KZN estate agent calls black people ‘monkeys’
04 Jan 2016 08:50 Jeff Wicks A Facebook comment bemoaning the “monkeys” on New Year’s Day’s beaches has left South African social media outraged.
A social media storm is brewing with the epicentre over a
KwaZulu-Natal south coast estate agent who called New Year’s Day
beachgoers “monkeys”.
Penny Sparrow had made the inflammatory post on Facebook, which prompted a mass reaction on social networking sites.
In her post she wrote: “These monkeys that are allowed to be released
on New Year’s eve and New Year’s day on to public beaches towns etc
obviously have no education what so ever so to allow them loose is
inviting huge dirt and troubles and discomfort to others.
“I’m sorry to say that I was amongst the revellers and all I saw were
black on black skins what a shame. I do know some wonderful and
thoughtful black people. This lot of monkeys just don’t want to even
try. But think they can voice opinions and get their way of dear,” she
continued.
“From now on I shall address the blacks of South Africa as monkeys as
I see the cute little wild monkeys do the same, pick and drop litter,”
Sparrow added.
The estate agent later deleted her post and apologised, saying she did “not mean it personally”.
The prominent economist came under flak earlier this year after posting a tweet that many on social media deemed racist.
Standard Bank on Monday announced that prominent economist Chris
Hart, who earlier this year had been at the centre of a storm around
tweets deemed racist, had left the bank.
Standard Bank spokesperson Ross Linstrom confirmed that Hart, “an
Investment Strategist at Standard Bank Wealth and Investment has
resigned and has left the employ of the bank”.
In early January the bank had suspended Hart, over a controversial
tweet which read: “More than 25 years after Apartheid ended, the victims
are increasing along with a sense of entitlement and hatred towards
minorities…”
This tweet has caused offense – never intended for which I apologize wholeheartedly. Meant to be read in context of slow growth
The post drew wide criticism on Twitter and Facebook, with users
calling on Standard Bank to fire him over the “racist undertones” in his
tweet.
Hart later apologised and said his tweet was meant to be read in the context of the slow economic growth.
At the time Standard Bank distanced itself from the comments. – African News Agency (ANA)
Question 3
Q.3.1
The Internet of Things
The internet of things or (IoT) is what we call the billions of devices that are connected to the web today. These devices are already ruling our lives but we haven't even discovered half the of the potential that lies withing "the internet of things".
The main thing for me with IoT , is how it has improved communications, especially long distance communication. Communication over seas has always been a challenging task but now as long as you have internet its the easiest thing in the world.
I think that because communication has gotten so easy and effortless, it provides businesses with endless opportunities.
Staying in contact with overseas clients, or making important conference calls has become a daily thing for a lot of big businesses.
This allows for businesses to expand at a much faster rate than they are use to. It creates more opportunities overseas and provides partners to communicate whenever they please from different locations in the world.
For example, a logistics company that rents out trucks has its main head quarters in Cape Town. But it has big offices in London, Paris, Rome and Berlin. The company operates in most of Europe and Africa but the CEO is based in Cape Town. He will be able to be in contact with each of those offices when ever he pleases, because of the internet. The company could all be link to one online server or portal where tehy can be checked up on anywhere in the world. It provides partners/board members/CEO to be in contact where ever they are in the world.
This all makes for a more productive company, easy communication.
IoT also raises the question of business within IoT. New jobs are constantly being created because of IoT. People are getting trained to solve problems that we don't even know we have yet. There is a constant rate of technological evolution taking place and it is happening at a alarming rate.
Q.3.2
1) The ability to grasp information from data: This is when someone is able to comprehend the information in a message better than others. Two people might receive the same message but one might not understand what the writer has meant or understands it differently that the other person (Krishna, 2008).
- In business today, this is quite an important aspect. As most information will be sent via e-mail or other forms of online communication , the receiver has to understand exactly what is being said or asked.
2) Ability to juggle multiple things: Multitasking is another name for it. Its the ability to do more than one thing at a time (Krishna, 2008).
- In business today, we find that multitasking comes into play when things get very busy. Especially if you are someone in a managerial position you would have to be able to make many important decisions at once.
3) Ability to apply solutions to problems: This one is straight forward; problem-solving, be it strategic, mathematical, technological or human related problems. Its a skill highly sought after (Krishna, 2008).
- In business today, its a skill that is applied across many sectors, technological wise it would be how technological savvy one is and knowing how to fix technological problems.
4) Ability to imagine: People with this skill are people who think in a unconventional way (Krishna, 2008).
- In business today, we see these people in a more creative line of work and technology does play a role. This is best shown on social media sites where people are free to express their opinions, write articles and post pictures and videos. Companies use these site to market their company.
Question 1
Q.1.1
Q.1.2
First of all, the digital divide refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern in formation and technology, and those that have restricted or no access (Digital Divide, n.d).
These include cellphones, computers, internet, television etc.
And social capital, as described in Wikipedia; "social capital is a form of economic and cultural capital in which social networks are central, transactions are marked by reciprocity, trust, and cooperation, and market agents produce good and services not mainly for themselves, but for a common good" (Social Capital, 2016).
With "cultural capital" referring to non financial social assets that promotes a social mobility beyond any economic means. Compared to "economic capital" being the amount of risk capital assessed on a realistic basis (Social Capital, 2016).
This question aims to determine how internet access would implicate social capital.
Since the 1990s the internet has affected the way people go about their everyday life
(Huysman, Wulf, 2002).
There are two main trend we can follow to understand the impact of digital divide.
#1 The way we communicate has had the biggest impact.
Social contact has changed completely because of the internet. This includes interpersonal communications, visits, encounters, phone calls and social events (Huysman et al. 2002).
The consequences of this is more on a mental level the way kids grow up and the way they see adults interact will have a lasting affect on them. As more and more people are relying on indirect communication. Usually in the form of social media and e-mails. People will lose their "people skills" (so to say) as actual human interaction is and will become less and less. Whether that is good or bad is a debatable subject.
#2 Civic engagement; which is the degree to which people become involved within their community. Actively and passively. These will include political and organizational activities such as rallies, book clubs and sports clubs (Huysman et al. 2002).
So in a broader sense, the internet diminishes on social capital, as it tends to draw people away from family and friends (actual human interaction) as said above but at the same time it also transforms social capital in the sense that it provides efficient communication any where in the world. So when it comes to the consequences of civic engagement its provides a larger net-work to get a certain message out or to spread news faster. It creates a larger network.
