Before being enrolled into this course, I had thought Internet was well, just Internet. Although I have been and will always be grateful for this marvelous invention, all these while I have never really paused to think about exactly how much it has influenced society and changed the world from the very birth of the Internet. The many COM 125 lessons allowed me to dig deeper into the origins of the Internet, the benefits and drawbacks that come along with it given the circumstances in our society today, as well as the Internet’s innumerable infiltrations into the different aspects of our lives. The module has thus given me much insight into the pervasiveness of the Internet and successfully taught me to relate its importance to our society as I look at the Internet with broadened perspectives now. I would say, the Internet possesses a power never before imagined (before the time of Tim Bernes Lee and the creation of the World Wide Web essentially), so much so that it has revolutionized the way we learn, function, live, and interact with one another today.
My greatest takeaways from COM 125 are perhaps how relevant the Internet is to communication as a whole (obviously), but more specifically, how it gave rise to the whole concept of social media, then social networking, and henceforth. The existence of social media and social networking would not be possible without the Internet, simply put. We have integrated new media into almost every part of our lives that this means of communication now lives in us. The convergence of the Internet with media (and thus social media, social networking, and the shift from traditional media to new media), E-Commerce, E-Learning, journalism, politics and so on are just examples of how indispensable and irreplaceable the Internet has become in our lives. I can safely say the Internet has become a way of life, at least for me (but I am sure for the millions of people out there as well). And to add on, this is also known as Web 2.0, which centers on the interaction of people worldwide. The key feature of it indubitably revolves around social media or more precisely, social networking i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc.
To wrap it up, Internet is not merely another source of entertainment; it is not even a “great” source of entertainment. The benefits of it and what the Internet can do go far beyond the purpose of providing leisure and amusement in times of boredom. It is a remarkable for innumerable reasons; the Internet has not only increased efficiency in the way people obtain information and establish connections around the world, it has changed the way we live altogether. Countless jobs have become obsolete due to the birth of and hence expediency of the Internet, and thousands more are created for the same reason. Hardcover books and music CDs are declining in sales, online shopping has become the norm, social networking has replaced the need for face-to-face meetings on many occasions, similarly businesses communicate via social platforms and online technologies (as they no longer have to travel overseas that often for business transactions), and schools are becoming technologically dependent. All of which are merely the few changes that society is experiencing, and there are more to be expected. In a nutshell, the Internet is really an efficient means of facilitating learning and it provides many new and more convenient platforms for communication especially in this day and age.
I guess what I really appreciated most from this module, on top of the countless new concepts I have gained from the lessons about the Internet and the role it plays say in, education, media, journalism and many others, is the project work done on Internet Censorship with my group mates. Admittedly, it was time-consuming and tedious at first, having to plan the direction our group wants to take and how we go about making it intriguing. However, we gradually overcame this hurdle after the initial stages of planning everything finally starts to fall in place. It started becoming more enjoyable when we got together to discuss censorship issues around the world, and I realized how I started becoming genuinely interested in whatever I was researching on. Maybe it was the company, or maybe it was the content, or perhaps both, but the whole process (despite being challenging –really challenging-) gave me much satisfaction and from the new knowledge obtained, I find myself being able to understand real life situations on a more comprehensive level. :-)
So to share the joy, here's a little something for the class: With much love!!! ^^
It is indeed astounding, what the Internet enables us to
do today, and the drastic changes it had brought into all of our lives. And nevertheless,
the Internet has continually been evolving and advancing so rapidly (even in
this present moment) that many of us may wonder if there is an end to the
development of technology.
COM 125 has opened my eyes to information and even
knowledge that was previously unfamiliar to me. As we inch towards the end of
the module, likewise I find myself now readily willing to open up my mind to
bigger and more imaginative possibilities of the future and how it will be
shaped by the Internet. Learning of the history of Internet and all that it
entails i.e. Web 1.0, 2.0, the future 3.0, as well as the birth of various
technologies (as a result of the Internet) has definitely broadened my perspectives
towards the impact and power of digital technology. The kind of transformation that the Internet
has triggered on the way society functions from past to present transcend
through ages and for my part, can be expected to astonish the world time and again
in the future even when we think they have seen it all and nothing can surprise
us anymore.
We are bound to be proved wrong.
The Internet has no boundaries. And like mentioned
before, it is here to stay.
So, what is in store for the Internet in the future?
Apparently, there is a term which describes the future
Internet- Industrial Internet. According to an article on GigaOM, the
Industrial Internet is an open, global network which not only connects people
and data, but machines as well. It
seems to encompass the concept of Web 3.0, and perhaps even more. The
Industrial Internet is claimed to be “aimed at advancing critical industries
that power, move and treat the world.” The world is increasingly integrating
technology and more specifically, the internet, into nearly every aspect of our
everyday lives. Needless to say, we are living in a time where Artificial
Intelligence appears to be dominant, and it is highly likely that this would be
the main drive for the future of Internet. The Internet is predicted to have
the analytical intelligence to interpret, modify, and even create its own
message to be delivered to the people, on top of its basic function of
providing information for the masses. To put it simply, the Internet will be
one with us as the future approaches; content becomes machine-generated and
machines will have the ability to understand, think, respond, and essentially
communicate with its users.
Let me be creative for once and think of the many
different ways the Internet could possibly influence us in the future…
1. Virtual
shopping experience
People can then skip the hassle of making their way down
to malls when they have an urge to shop for clothes, shoes, or just about
anything. All of which can be done from the comfort of our through the
Internet. What about the fit, one may ask. Here is what the future may offer-
digital scanning of individuals become possible, with accurate measurements of
the body and realistic visual representations of the merchandise. One can
easily “try on” clothes as he or she deems fit and take as long as they want
without the added pressure of a possible waiting queue. Not only that, it will be possible to FEEL the
fabric and material of the various products you may want to buy! How is that
possible? Haptic technology; it is currently highly sought after by researchers
who can see the potential success of it in the future.
2. Our
bodies as a direct source of connection to the Internet
Can you
imagine how convenient it would be for everyone if we could just use the
Internet everywhere and anywhere, at any time and place without any need for routers,
internet cables, personal hotspot, or any connectivity ports of such? As the
subheading above suggests, yes I am thinking of the possibility of our own
bodies functioning as a part of a communication network. Imagine accessing the
Internet with a mere touch on any surface! Should this be realized, we can pay
our bills, transfer money, surf the web, send messages and even do our work
without any additional gadgets and just with our own bodies. We are our own technology! This form of direct interaction with machines may
sound a little far-fetched, but given rapid advancement, nothing seems
impossible anymore, does it? J
3. Using
the Internet anywhere, and by that I really mean ANYWHERE.
Given that imagination #2 above comes true, then
this would definitely be possible too. If we are able to connect OURSELVES to
the Internet, it probably makes sense too, if we were able to surf the Web
using ANY devices, equipment, and even common objects and home appliances!
Here is a video which touches on the future of
Internet and a few examples of how it may impact our lives forever. I found it really interesting as I have always
thought and wondered about some of the things it talked about!! J
The above mentioned are purely few of the abundant possibilities
that the future of Internet can bring us. There are so much more that remained unthought-of
and various ideas and concepts yet to be discovered. Most importantly, there is
a need to equip ourselves with knowledge and continually thirst for innovation
in order to progress and advance as a whole society. The technology itself is
amazing, but the human minds are the key to these revolutions (which men have and
will experience again) and I see it imperative that we do not become slaves to
them.
Journalism- the profession of reporting or photographing or editing news stories for one of the media.
The arrival of the Internet or more specifically, Web 2.0 has given rise to what we know as Citizen Journalism today. Citizen journalism is a specific form of both citizen media and user generated content, where users of the internet (like you and me) are able to play an active role in gathering, creating, analyzing and disseminating news and information about anything and anyone over new media, or rather, the Internet.
New media includes social media and networking sites (which are no longer foreign to me) that are crucial components in enabling greater accessibility of citizen journalism for people all over the world. Internet users are now free to publish their discoveries, thoughts, and feelings on a certain topic on the Web where information spreads like wildfire, at a rate never before imagined before advanced digital media existed.
As a result, in recent years there arises the debate of whether the Internet acts as a friend or a foe to journalism. On top of addressing this issue, it is imperative in my opinion that we go one step further to consider the future of journalism given that the Internet -and hence Citizen journalism- is here to stay, for good.
Andrew Keen is a British-American entrepreneur and author who is known more famously for his view on how current Internet culture and the Web 2.0 trend may be degrading culture. (Source: Wikipedia) And this is video highlights his general opinion on how the internet is affecting journalism as we edge towards the future:
Basically, he pointed out that traditional media definitely has its worth and value, despite the increasing focus and attention placed on citizen journalism as a result of the convergence of the Internet and journalism. I do agree with him, that as much as the Internet has provided a whole new approach to journalism and the various technological tools which enhances the overall experience of new media and citizen journalism, traditional media and journalism is distinctively irreplaceable ought to be respected in the sense that they have social value which is not always seen online or through social media. I will illustrate my point further later on.
Before that, here is another video which talks about some of the views towards how industrial media is shifting and changing to one where citizen journalism is becoming the prominent feature of this new media and whether it is a change that we should embrace or react against. Of course, the fact that the Internet threatens traditional media to a certain extent shows that new media has something valuable to offer which was previously lacking in traditional journalism, and hence the revolution.
Economist Debate: The news industry
In this video, journalism professor Jay Rosen asserts that the internet has indeed, caused considerable damage to the traditional media industry, by “causing a collapse of the business model that has supported most print-based or traditional journalism — and at the same time has led to an explosion of questionable online content that pretends to be journalism”.
However, the numerous benefits that the Internet has brought about to journalism today are unquestionable.
- The Internet reduces the cost of publishing news and information to audiences globally, encouraging greater participation and expression of ideas, thoughts, and opinions, contributing to an increase in knowledge-sharing worldwide.
- Journalism is no longer constrained or limited to geographical boundaries, since media consumers can get news and commentary from virtually any source.
- Internet and technology has enriched the whole experience of users in obtaining as well as creating journalism. It provides tools and new features to the public, such as search engines, online databases, photos (which is extremely useful in photo journalism, helping one to capture the essence of the story), videos, and so much more.
- Perhaps one of the most outstanding benefits which cause the mass to embrace citizen journalism is the fact that the Internet alters the balance of power between users and (traditional) journalists. It equips any individual with a voice and a say, to express differing and even contradictory views from the press, which have through the years established monopoly over news and published information, an aspect of traditional media one too many people frown upon.
“The web's effect on news reporting is considered the most clear evidence that this is a revolutionary technology: news editors – and in some cases, the governments that they observe – are no longer the gatekeepers to information because costs of distribution have almost completely disappeared. If knowledge is power, the web is the greatest tool in the history of the world. The process that happens before a story is published has also been transformed. The web has become the go-to point for the globe when it comes to getting information; it's the same for reporters. Online, they find a multiplicity of perspectives and a library of available knowledge that provides the context for stories. Increasingly, the stories are coming from the web.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/feb/20/what-effect-internet-on-journalism
Personally, I do feel that the merging of the Internet and journalism, and hence citizen journalism, has caused traditional media business to decline for obvious reasons. There is increased competition for broadcast of news and the latest updates on real life events, placing immense strains on journalists who now not only have to be quick and efficient in their collecting of news, but also have the pressure to provide exclusive, reasonable, and exemplary analysis and commentary of news. Not to forget, citizen journalism wins when it comes to low cost publishing of information, and that is where traditional journalism stands to lose. But all is not lost. The fact that traditional journalism faces the threat of suffering the same fate of “museums”, as stated in the video, is surprisingly constructive in the sense that it acts as an urgent reminder and great incentive for journalists today to take greater pride in their work and produce top-notch, quality work. This is in turn advantageous to media consumers like you and me. Moreover, as said earlier, I feel that traditional journalism has an edge over citizen journalism since the former definitely has to have a certain standard and more importantly, the notion of SOCIAL VALUE AND VALIDITY. It is what brings citizens of a nation together, and despite the competitiveness of new media, I believe traditional media and thus journalism will not be exterminated. That is not to say of course, that citizen journalism has no value. In fact, it is perhaps one of the most vital and expedient revolutions that technology has brought about. Citizen journalism is definitely one of the best things that results from the Web 2.0. It opens our eyes to multitudes of ideas and perspectives every single day, learning from all kinds of people from all parts of the world. Everyone is given a level playing field in the distributing and obtaining of latest content and information, and this degree of freedom certainly encourages people to be more truthful, given that they too, as media consumers, desire truth. News then becomes more transparent and open. This form of integration of people, countries, and news reports is one which was previously impossible before we had the luxury of accessing the Internet. That being said, it is strategic that we equip ourselves with media literacy and not blindly absorb what is published on the Internet. A moment of poor judgment can result in negative and disastrous implications, especially since content posted on the Internet has every possibility of going viral and misleading the impressionable. It is important that as both media consumers and producers (as part of citizen journalism), we are able to discern the truth from the false and the right from the wrong.
Some key points to take note as we evaluate online journalism:
-Accuracy: The author of the produced content should be identifiable, reliable, and contactable
-Authority: The URL and its legitimacy
-Objectivity: Content should be relevant, appropriate and without a hidden agenda
-Currency: Material online should be up to date
-Coverage: Information online should be quoted and linked accurately and correctly
All in all, the Internet has definitely posed some significant challenges to traditional journalism, but its contributions to journalism on the whole cannot be denied. In reality, I feel that citizen journalism complements traditional journalism by encouraging competitiveness to produce quality and valuable news. Furthermore, the availability of resources online enables journalists to gather immeasurably large amount of information and diverse opinions of people universally, thus further analyzing trends of certain issues that cannot be easily derived at in the past. The Internet is indisputably here to stay, and so is citizen journalism. However, after watching the videos in class and reading up on various articles which touch on this topic, I too feel that we as a society need to reevaluate the worth of newspaper and traditional journalism, to see that it has social and economic value beyond what most people recognize or give credit for. As such, despite the fact that citizen journalism is rising rampantly, I feel that the future of journalism is far from over.
The internet has become an influential tool in political campaigning, as can be seen evidently from the example of Mr. Obama, the United States president. It was said that “Mr. Obama used the Internet to organize his supporters in a way that would have in the past required an army of volunteers and paid organizers on the ground.” And I absolutely agree. The internet has greatly overcome the limitations geographical constraints and enabled global reach in politics.
Mr. Obama’s campaign fully utilized YouTube for its free advertising, which may seem to be much more effective than television advertisements because viewers make a conscious decision to watch them on YouTube or receive them from friends. Furthermore, people are able to view and concentrate on those campaigns and presidential speeches without disruptions or interruptions.
With the Internet, the citizens of the respective countries (and even NETIZENS all over the world) are able to gather deeper information and learn more about presidential candidates from past to present. Many have expressed the rising significance that the internet plays in helping them keep up with politics.
The survey found that the internet is becoming an increasing part of the norm of political participation — people are using it to read the news, share their views, or to participate in some other process to get others to take political action.
- More persuasion/ influence in political campaigns
- Increase awareness and knowledge of citizens
- Compared to conventional means of communicating, the Internet and social media are cheap, and often free
- Young adults will be more receptive, given the trend that youths are the main population on the internet now
- The Internet and social media radically improve the pace of communication and politics YouTube and Myspace have significant benefits for the campaign i.e. increased potential for the candidate exposure at low or no cost, providing the lesser known candidates with a viable outlet to communicate with their voters
- The candidates have a stake in maintaining their images since this will be critical in the voting process. While this definitely poses a problem for candidates, it definitely leads them to be more responsible for their actions because they are immediately posted on a social media site such information spreads rapidly.
- Social media allow for like-minded people to come together and support his campaign. These social media also benefit the voter because they are able to connect with the candidate on many levels and fully explore his campaign. Facebook has mobilized college-aged students to gain knowledge about the campaigns and politics as a whole and could possibly improve the political landscape as a whole by engaging more voters and giving a place for candidates to convey their campaign message.
Limitations and disadvantages:
- Instant gratification becomes a disadvantage. Information truly is power. Because the media industry is highly competitive in contending to push out new content fast, many times fact checking is poor resulting in incorrect news. Some news media because of the freedom of speech can slander especially during a political campaign season.
- Censorship and Surveillance: Internet technologies are used by some countries and private parties, such as ISPs, as the Open Net Initiative is seeking to demonstrate, to block access to the web and to drop packets. Likewise, the Internet might be used by governments to spy on citizens (or non-citizens) – for good or for ill – and to punish them for their political views or activities. This definitely discourages NETIZENS from actively participating in political discussion, henceforth negating the -supposedly beneficial- effects of the Internet on politics. There are many of examples of this phenomenon, from governments imprisoning dissidents for political web-postings and requiring monitoring of cybercafé users to instant messaging software blocking keywords, in regions all across the world. As more and more of our political life moves online, the stakes may be raised if surveillance and censorship of online activity become the norm.
- Also, despite many people’s increasing appreciation for the Internet taking politics to a whole new level, there are some who may feel overwhelmed by the political messages and even propaganda that are so prevalent all over the web today. This may in turn be daunting to youths today and cause them to stay away from politics.
The Apathetic New Generation
Below is a short clip which touches on political apathy among youths of today! Maybe this will lay the background which explains this phenomenon.
Teenagers and young adults are less likely than older adults to value voting or the way government works, and the reason is that the nation is failing to teach the basics for taking part in a democracy, according to a new report.
A large part of this trend in recent years can be attributed to how youths and young adults do not see politics related to their lives in any way. A rapid pace of lifestyle has negated other aspects of our society which may seem irrelevant- such as politics, and in some ways place them on a scale of lesser importance, especially since individuals today are so caught up with consumerism and personal gains. Politics then, seem far from their minds.
Also, schools are focusing so much on academics that they may have failed at educating the next generation of the significance of politics and the repercussions of ignorance. Yet, this does not mean that the education system is to bear the brunt of the blame. Individuals have an obligation to take responsibility for what they choose to learn or not, and there is no greater crime than to opt for a lack of knowledge when there are so many avenues opened up to encourage great engagement in politics in this time and age.
Multimedia is essentially, a computer-based interactive communications process that incorporates text, graphics, sound, animation and video. This week, I learnt about multimedia through multimedia, or to be more specific, video clips. The several videos played in class illustrate just how influential multimedia has become today, from entertainment to education. In this post, I will be addressing how multimedia is vastly being used for marketing communication. Multimedia branches out to podcasting, photo and/or video and file sharing for the sole purpose of broadening a company’s audience reach. Through such means and technologies, many companies experience highly-facilitated communication between their business partners, customers (including potential ones) and marketers. The impact of multimedia is remarkable, and the capabilities (functions, features, etc) of multimedia are certainly a huge milestone ahead from the past when communications remained at its most basic and these two are yet to have integrated.
Before I bought my first Blackberry phone, I was an avid fan of Sony Ericsson and owned several of the mobile phones created by them. To me, they represented a brand which emphasized much on the quality of its camera (on their camera phones) as well as a pleasant music experience for their consumers (MP3 player on the phone). That was probably more than half a decade ago, and I somehow felt they were a leading brand in its own right. In recent years however, as large corporations such as Apple and Samsung rise to prominence, it seems unlikely that Sony is of a comparable competitor that is on par in terms of its features (applications, etc) and excellence. (Though I beg to differ after doing some research) That being said, when it comes to marketing communication, I have to say they are still quite admirable for being able to fully utilize multimedia as a platform to level the playing field. Perhaps in the near future, this will translate into newer ideas and innovation which may once again drive Sony back into the game. After all, Sony’s creativity is considered top-notch. Just look at their new Sony Xperia Z WaterProof Smartphone! :O
Below are a couple of videos on Sony, Samsung, and Apple, and how they make use of multimedia to gain competitive edge.
SONY
In the first video, Sony makes use of multimedia to portray themselves as a company that is down-to-earth and devoted in setting out to accomplish its company’s vision, which in return rouses the people’s interest into discovering more. The second video on the other hand, is more concrete and this helps to balance out marketing purposes in which there not only has to have creativity but more importantly, practicality. It focuses on the unique features that the Sony Xperia Z Waterproof Smartphone has and is concisely delivered.
SAMSUNG
Samsung attract the attention of potential customers to expect their latest product, S4, via much suspense and imagination, as can be seen in the first video. They make use of multimedia to first gain awareness and especially curiosity through various versions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Teaser featuring the little boy on a “special” and “important” task (even before the product was launched), before finally releasing the official launch which can be viewed on YouTube at the given link here:
Apple on the other hand, made use of multimedia not for any further fanciful advertising but more importantly, to show forth its credibility and presence. The first video gave consumers a very clear and simple picture of what the iPhone 5 would be like- simple, reliable, excellent in performance. It goes straight to the point and appeals to the logical aspect of human beings. The second video only goes to show the reason Apple has tremendous marketing power and is able to acquire such a great market is simply as a result of its first-rate quality. Apple does not merely go after a pretty design or implementing amazing features, but it makes sure that its products are also simple, efficient, and dependable (as seen through the manufacturing process). Thus, it naturally gains the trust of the general public. (And that is also why I changed from a BB to an iPhone 5 as well hahaha!)
NewsML
“NewsML is designed to provide a media-type-independent, structural framework for multi-media news. Beyond exchanging single items it can also convey packages of multiple items in a structures layout.”
NewsML defines an XML based language for expressing the structure of news, associated metadata, and relationships between news, throughout their lifecycle.Based on the Extensible Markup Language (XML), NewsML is a standard way to describe news information content so that it can distributed and reused widely on Web sites and other media. The use of NewsML could, for example, allow a news editor to search for, find, and download various forms of content (photographic images, text, video) from different Web sites and then easily combine them for presentation on the news site. NewsML and similar XML-based standards, such as Extensible Public Relations Language (XPRL) and Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), are designed to make it easier to format and present information related to their specific business sectors. Source: http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/definition/NewsML
It may be embarrassing to say this but in all honesty, this concept is completely new and foreign to me as I have never come across this term! Thus I am really glad I got to find out a little more about it, which hopefully does reduce my ignorance a little. In a nutshell, NewsML is an important element in the news industry which helps to bundle and link all information together through a system of tagging. I have found this really insightful and informative source which addresses NewsML and all that is related. Do have a look! By the way, the title of it is “NewsML for dummies”. Ha ha ha ha ha.
A computing virus is a piece of
programming code introduced into a system to corrupt it or destroy data. Virus
is used as a generic term for malicious programs, which spread from one
computer to another. More specifically a virus spreads by attaching itself to a
normal program file, and will only be executed or propagated when the user
takes some action. Worms, a kind of
virus, are programs that can transmit themselves through a network by exploiting
security loopholes, as opposed to viruses proper which need a “host”. It is
able to replicate itself over a computer network and usually performs malicious
actions, not unlike computer viruses. Email is a common transit route for worms
but not the only one.
Let’s
admit it; we all are interested in downloading free applications (movies,
musics, etc). And many times we allow the temptation of gaining access to these
software without having to purchase it overrule the common sense nagging at the
back of our head- that it might not be legitimate
in terms of the law as well as the nature of the software itself. There are an abundant
number of risky sites that proffer infected software to the users, and as
expected, oft times we are attacked by Trojan
virusexactly
through such platforms. Of course, another common way Trojan are spread to
users is through e-mails. Trojan is
a “destructive program that masquerades as a benign application”. It appears to
be harmless but it is NOT. Unlike viruses though, Trojan horses do not
replicate themselves but are equally (or even more) destructive. Trojan can be extremely
lethal as it may disguise itself as an anti-virus software yet actively starts
to destroy useful folders and files once downloaded.
The past
week’s lesson imparted new knowledge to me with regards to the difference
between the three terms above, all of which are destructive programs that threaten
internet security- virus, worms, and Trojan. Additionally, while most people
are mindful of keeping their computers virus-free, they fail to recognize that
there are other dangers out there on the internet which can create more
detrimental implications and consequences, say for example, online fraud and
cybercrimes. Before I talk about that in depth, here are a couple of important new
terms introduced to me that relates to the above:
Phishing- a form of Internet
fraud that aims to steal valuable information such as credit cards, social
security numbers, user IDs and passwords. Victims are usually scammed into providing personal
information (including login credentials that can be used to gain access to
bank accounts and other financial assets) after opening emails with enticing headings
meant to provoke reactions, before succumbing to cyber-criminals’ trap.
Spyware- it is a software that tracks
your actions and/or your Internet use. It can capture what you type on your
keyword, including passwords and send it to the spyware creator. (How scary is
that!!!)
CYBER-CRIMES IN SINGAPORE
Early last year in 2012, “National University of
Singapore (NUS) confirmed that hackers had infiltrated the university’s backend
systems and stolen a trove of information – including staff usernames, domain
information and hashed passwords. Even though the affected data was not deemed
confidential by NUS, the university had to work carefully to inform the public
and reset the passwords of all the affected accounts.”
As
expected, with the
rapid advancement of the internet and its uses, cybercrimes are becoming
progressively more rampant today. Singapore is no exception. Individuals and
organizations are susceptible to perpetuators who are motivated to hack into
their accounts, gather confidential information, and cause deceptions for
various purposes- from financial goals to spreading ideology, the reasons for
committing cybercrimes are innumerable. Yet we all know that there is some
truth in the saying “money is the root of all evil” and that is precisely why
there is an exceptionally high number of cybercriminals on the go- the greed
for money.
Woman cheats 230 buyers of
S$53,000 in online forum scam
Published last year on Jun 22, 2012, this article is
about a woman who goes by the name of “Pauline Ong” and her involvement in
online frauds. She has cheated at least 230 buyers of more than $53,000 in a
series of online forum scams. Attached below is a screenshot of her apology to
the buyers after being caught red-handed.
Man loses $97,000 in online cybersex scam
Another case of cybercrime
committed in an attempt to obtain money happened last February, 2012. A group of six who was believed to have
extorted money from their victims by threatening to expose their naked photos had
been arrested. The 22-year-old victim lodged a police report on 26 February
only after numerous times of succumbing to their demands and ended up losing
$97,000 in total. http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120228-330697.html
Police in Singapore are reporting what appears to be a ring (or rings) of
online scam artists who use attractive women to "friend" victims on
social sites, seduce them into cybersex on webcams and then threaten to post
images or videos of them online if they don't pay up.
"They would commence a webcam conversation with the victims and
initiate cybersex by undressing themselves first before persuading the male
victims to appear nude or perform sexual acts in front of the webcams,"
the Singapore Police Force wrote in a post on its website.
"Unknown to the victims, the
suspects had recorded the acts." According to the police, more than 50 such cases were reported in 2012, up
from 11 the previous year. Singapore
Police warn potential targets to be wary of strangers befriending them on
social networks and to avoid giving away personal details or "performing
compromising acts" with people you barely know. The police also urge users
to call authorities immediately if someone tries to extort money from you.
It is
really interesting to discover so much about internet security that I never
before took the time to find out about. It goes to show that the things we take
for granted every day (healthy computer and presumed “safe” internet surfing)
can actually be used against us in an unbelievably vicious and harmful way. Thus
there is a need for us (now that we know the threats to internet security and
the major consequences that could arise from it) to be constantly on alert for
any possible threats that are sent to us through emails or seemingly normal
downloadable applications. More than that, I find it imperative that we not
only be equipped with the knowledge of these harmful viruses, but also to learn
to protect our computers against them, just as the saying goes “prevention is
better than cure”.
As such,
I have done collated some information on protection and risk-prevention tools,
as well as methods against Virus, Worms, and other threats to internet
security:
Prevention
methods:
-Don’t
reply to email addresses which require our personal information, especially if
they belong to strangers
-Don’t
click on the links sent; type out the URL manually
-Ensure
that the Web has encryption (“lock” symbol) and trust certificate
-Implement
firewalls, which act as security protection
-Update
system software regularly so that viruses cannot attack possible weaknesses of
the software
-Install
an anti-virus software which can render viruses ineffective after scanning the
computer for destructive programs
Popular
prevention tools:
-Ad-Aware; it now features download
protection (blocks malicious files before being written to disk), sandboxing
(keeps unknown apps running in a virtual environment) and advanced detection -
it's our most powerful free antivirus yet.
-Norton
Antivirus, Virus and Spyware Protection; Basic antivirus protection that
stops viruses and spyware, so you can safely go online and share. There are five patented layers of protection
quickly and accurately detect and eliminate viruses and spyware. One can easily
download and share files without getting or passing on viruses. Additionally,
it protects privacy and prevents passwords and identity of the user from being
stolen while surfing the Web
I have also provided the URL of an article below which gives a more in depth explanation on
how to prevent viruses from attacking our computers. Hopefully all of you will
learn something new as have I! J
In
addition, I have also found a site which talks about the symptoms one needs to
be aware of when the computer system is infected with virus! Below are few of
the more important ones:
·Anti-virus program
reports that your computer is currently infected by virus(es)
·Computer system
suddenly slows down. It takes very long time to respond (i.e. to open up a new
window or respond to your Click)
·Your computer takes a
long time to start. It may stop responding before your desktop icons &
taskbar appear.
·Error message
regarding missing file(s)/ program(s) pops up frequently
·Strange messages
appear on screen
·Your computer stops
responding whenever you attempt using Microsoft Office
·Your computer reboots automatically
every few minutes/ restarts automatically and functions strangely
·Document-based files
(i.e. Microsoft Office) are corrupted or lost.
·One or more programs
in your computer disappear without you uninstalling.
