Tech Talk Radio
January 2003
Sponsored by Stratford University
Saturdays at Noon EST on WMAL NewsTalk Radio
Turn the dial to AM630 or listen on the Internet at ListenLive

It's everything you always wanted to know about computers
and information technology, but were afraid to ask.

     David Burd and Dr. Richard Shurtz, President of Stratford University, host Tech Talk, a program about computers and information technology.
     Links to selected programs are below. All programs are archived in RealAudio format. Just click on the RealAudio link below the date to listen. Older shows are archives as transcript summaries. You can listen live over the Internet by clicking ListenLive during show time.

Show Selected Topics
January 25, 2003
<RealAudio | MP3>
<Weekly Newsletter>
top
  • Widespread Worm Penetration Slows Internet
  • Home Networking 101
    • Network Addressing
      • Internal versus External Addressing
      • DHCP Server and Proxy Server
    • Port Addressing
      • Well Known Ports and Methods of Attack
      • Port Filtering and Firewalls
    • Wired Access Devices
    • Wireless Access Devices
      • ZdNet Reveiw: ABCs of 802.11
      • 802.11b
        • Operates at 2.4 GHz and 10 Mbsp
        • Also called Wi-Fi
        • Dominant device on shelves now
      • 802.11g
        • Operates at 2.4 GHz and 55 Mbps
        • Emerging standard selected by Apple
      • 802.11a
        • Operated in 5 GHz band and 55 Mbps
        • Devices on the shelves now, still pricey
      • 802.11a/802.11b combo devices will probably win by end of 2003
    • Tips for network
      • Get a Combo Device (DHCP Server, Proxy Server, Firewall, AP)
      • Place wireless access point in middle of home
      • Use Home Phone Line Network if you have access problems in selected areas
    • Wireless Security Issues
      • Implement Wireless Encryption Protocol (WEP)
      • Implement IP Address Filtering (only allow your machines to connect)
      • Disable DHCP for added protection (added protection)
      • Select non-default IP internal IP address range (added protection)
      • But remember network can still be cracked
  • University of Maryland Student Use Text Messaging to Cheat
    • Twelve students are accused of using their cell phone to cheat
    • Use text messaging to receive answers from friends who had exam keys
    • Text messaging has also been used in class to send electronic notes
  • Students Fight for Cell Phones at James Logan High School
    • Cell phones used to be the domain of drug dealers
    • Now on-third of all teens have them
    • They were shown to be very useful in the Columbine incident
    • James Morgan High (Union City, CA) is now allowing them
      • Before and after school and at lunchtime
      • Not during breaks between classes or during class
      • May be a national trend
    • Tech Talk Note: Fairfax County has allowed cell phones for several months
  • Stratford News
    • B.S. in Business Administration (Finance, e-Business, or Management Focus)
    • B.S. in Information Technology (Security or Business Focus)
    • B.A. in Hospitality Management (Culinary or Hotel Focus)
    • Master of Science (E-Business or Telecommunication Systems)
    • Technology Course Concentrations
      • Security (CISSP, Wireless, Cisco, Industry Neutral)
      • Windows2000
      • Cisco
      • Oracle
      • Database Driven Website Development
January 18, 2003
<No RealAudio | MP3>
<No Newsletter>
top
  • Case Resigns from AOL (What went wrong and right?)
    • Steve Case Resigns and Richard D. Perry named as replacement
    • What went wrong?
      • Fuzzy vision as Microsoft enemy
      • Purchase of Netscape to create competing OS and browser
      • Software driver feud with Micrsoft
      • Too much advertising focus
      • Failure to move to broadband, wireless, Satellite connectivity
      • Stock manipulation ripped off Time-Warner investors
    • What went right?
      • Connectivity anywhere worldwide
      • Community for friends
      • Addition of content from Time-Warner
      • Case was nearly on target. The execution was flawed.
  • Old Hard Drives Yield Data Bonanza
    • Two MIT Grad students bought 158 hard drives for less than $1,000
    • Simson Garfinkel and Abhi Shelat from MIT Lab of Computer Sciences
    • Found more than 5,000 Credit Card numbers, medical reports, detailed personal and corporate financial information, and several G-bytes of personal email and pornography.
    • Report Titled: Remberance of Data Passed: A Study of Disk Sanitation
    • Published in: IEEE Security and Privacy, Jan/Feb 2003 Edition
  • Email is not as private as you think. Ten  things to remember
    • Remember: Email is not private
    • Keep sex out of it
    • Count to 10
    • Beware of rumors, gossip, and insults
    • Break the chain
    • Do it in person
    • There is no body language in email
    • It isn’t grade school. Check your grammar
    • What you say will haunt you.
  • US Uses e-mail to target key Iraqis
    • Messages urge key Iraqi leaders to defect
    • Make it clear that US will attack
    • First publicly reported Psychological Warfare Operation Report
    • CNN reported it Friday after clearing with Whitehouse
  • TeleSea to Launch Wi-Fi for Networks
    • Reston Based Firm
    • Wi-Fi for major ports
    • Cruise lines to pay $500/month for access
  • Microsoft Server Dumps .Net Name
      • Studies showed consumers confused with .Net initiative
    • Will to back to Windows Server 2003
  • Computer Electronics Show
    • Held in Las Vegas This Month
    • Microwave/Refrigerator Combo with Ethernet Connection
    • Netgear Teleconference for Consumer with i2Eye
    • Plugs into TV and Broadband Internet Connection
    • Can connect to another i2Eye for Chat
    • Sells for $299. Connects wirelessly to Wi-Fi AP
    • Wrist Watch with Pager and Streaming Text Messaging
    • Using Direct FM
    • Microsoft Personal Object Technology
    • Can receive Instant Messages
    • Fossil, Citizen, Suunto of Finland ($200 to $1000)
  • Predictions for 2003 (from Canoe News)
    • Death of CD-ROM
    • Instant Message for Business
    • More Linux in Business
    • Web Access Prices to Go Up
    • Wireless to Continue Strong (not as standalone 802.11b)
    • Law enforcement information database sharing will be up
  • House Makes Plea to Keep Blackberrys
    • NTP, Inc, an Arlington holding company won a patent infringement against Research in Motion (RIM), Blackberry manufacturer
    • $23M in damages
    • May have to shut down operations
    • Congress just invested $6M in Blackberry Technology and is lobbying for settlement
  • What is the site helpcombatterrorism.com all about?
    • Talked with Bill Rice the man behind it.
    • Good idea, technically feasible, no independent verification of code
  • Stratford News
    • Four Your Health Expo at DC Convention Center
    • Grad Program Review
    • Undergrad Program Review
    • Next Start January 6th
January 11, 2003
<No RealAudio | MP3>
<No Newsletter>
top
  • Confusion in Wireless Home Networking
    • 2.4 GHz (802.11b, 802.11g, and Bluetooth)
    • 5 GHz (802.11a)
    • Dual band looks like a winner
    • Look for repeaters to be released soon
    • What do you need? (Firewall, Router, AP)
  • Why do Systems Crash?
    • Hardware Problems
      • Noisy Power Supply (spiking can corrupt memory
      • Overheated RAM or CPU (check fan and air flow)
      • Bad Memory Chip (usually found just after replacement)
      • Shorts caused by dust build-up (blow out with compressed air)
      • Opens caused by bad connections (remove, clean, reconnect)
      • Disk Failure (Perform scan disk to identify bad sectors or replace)
    • Software Problems
      • Access wrong memory location (General Protection Fault)
      • Go into an infinite loop (Non-responsive, but not locked up)
      • Overwrite a buffer (Overflow data corrupts Operating System Code)
  • H-1B Visas Controvery
    • Have they outlived their usefulness
    • Authorization is currently at 195,000 per year until 2003
    • Will drop to 65,000 in 2004
    • Laid off employees think they only keep demand low and wages down
    • Employers are still lobbying hard for continuation
  • US Uses e-mail to target key Iraqis
    • Messages urge key Iraqi leaders to defect
    • Make it clear that US will attack
    • First publicly reported Psychological Warfare Operation Report
    • CNN reported it Friday after clearing with Whitehouse
  • TeleSea to Launch Wi-Fi for Networks
    • Reston Based Firm
    • Wi-Fi for major ports
    • Cruise lines to pay $500/month for access
  • Microsoft Server Dumps .Net Name
    • Studies showed consumers confused with .Net initiative
    • Will to back to Windows Server 2003
  • Internet Used to Name Every Species on Earth
    • Project to last 25 years
    • One stop shop for submitted new DNA data
    • Will contain worldwide species database
    • Database is operated by University of Texas
  • Computer Electronics Show
    • Held in Las Vegas This Week
    • Microwave/Refrigerator Combo with Ethernet Connection
    • Netgear Teleconference for Consumer with i2Eye
      • Plugs into TV and Broadband Internet Connection
      • Can connect to another i2Eye for Chat
      • Sells for $299. Connects wirelessly to Wi-Fi AP
    • Wrist Watch with Pager and Streaming Text Messaging
      • Using Direct FM
      • Microsoft Personal Object Technology
      • Can receive Instant Messages
      • Fossil, Citizen, Suunto of Finland ($200 to $1000)
  • Predictions for 2003 (from Canoe News)
    • Death of CD-ROM
    • Instant Message for Business
    • More Linux in Business
    • Web Access Prices to Go Up
    • Wireless to Continue Strong (not as standalone 802.11b)
    • Law enforcement information database sharing will be up
  • School offers On-Line PE Class
    • Offered Broward County High School
    • 12 quizzes
    • Post daily exercise log
    • Teacher says it is working
    • Kids like it
  • Hardware News
    • Gateway Still in a Slump
    • Dell is Forcasting Increased Profitability
  • IRS Expands Internet Usage
    • You can e-file and e-pay your taxes
    • You can’t e-scape your taxes
  • Stratford News
    • Grad Program Review
    • Undergrad Program Review
    • Next Start January 6th
January 4, 2003
<No RealAudio | MP3>
<No Newsletter>
top
  • Confusion in Wireless Home Networking
    • 2.4 GHz (802.11b, 802.11g, and Bluetooth)
    • 5 GHz (802.11a)
    • Dual band (a & b) looks like a winner
    • Look for repeaters to be released soon
    • What do you need? (Firewall, Router, AP)
  • Confusion in HDTV may get better soon
    • Screens (Format, size, technology) – Standard are stable
    • Tuners (Receivers, Cable Boxes) – Finally some standards here
    • Agreement between Consumer Electronics Association and National Cable and Telecommunications Association will mean cable-ready HDTVs will be plug-and-play
    • If set-top box is required it will attached through a digital video interface connector (DVI)
    • Firewire (IEEE 1394) will connect to TV and DVD recorder
      • Audio (Surround Sound) – Standards are stable
    • Recording Devices (DVD) – Standards are evolving
  • Broadband Telecom Rules May Change
    • Powell set to loosen regulations for Baby Bells to share lines in order to get into broadband
    • Hollings no longer Chair of Senate Commerce Committee (a vocal critic of Powell)
    • New chair in John McCain (a Powell supporter)
  • Cocaine, Inc Goes High Tech
    • Cali Colombian Drug Cartel found using an $1.5M IBM AS400 Mainframe eight years ago
    • Business intelligence software to correlate phone calls on employees to key government and enforcemenet officials
    • Sophisticated supply chain management software now in use
    • Mapping of radar patterns to plan flight paths
    • Latest encryption techniques for distributed computing currently used for communications network
    • Reverse auctions to launder money uses the latest e-business technology
  • Internet was officially born 20 years ago
    • January 1, 1983 the 400 computers hooked to the ARPANet were switched to TCP/IP
    • TPC/IP, the protocol, was conceived 33 years ago in an ARPA research contract
  • TeleSea to Launch Wi-Fi for Networks
    • Reston Based Firm
    • Wi-Fi for major ports
    • Cruise lines to pay $500/month for access
  • Microsoft Ordered to Carry Java
    • Must include Sun Java Virtual Machine
    • Rather than only Microsoft’s version (which Sun says in not fully compatible)
  • Cloistered Nun Find Computer Vocation
    • Sister Marie Bernardina
    • One of 14 nuns cloistered at Carmel of Port Tobacco Monastery
    • 37 year old nun is Web Mistress of ICS Publications
    • Publishes works from Institute of Carmelite Studies in Washington
    • Convent also does Data Processing work for the Archdioceses of Washington
    • Sister Marie Bernardina spends two hours per day on the computer
  • Rat-Brained Robot
    • Steve Potter of Georgia Tech combines electronics and neurons
    • Placed a droplet of solution containing thousands of rat neurons onto silicon chip
    • Chip is embedded with 60 electrodes connected to an amplifier
    • Robot sends signals back to the neurons for training
    • Trying to develop concepts for self-healing computers
  • Holiday e-Commerce up 40 Percent (BizRate)
    • Computer hardware top selling ($6.24B, up 50%)
    • Electronics ($2.54B, up 38%)
    • Entertainment ($1.72B, up 61%
    • Apparel ($1.61B, up 10%)
  • Predictions for 2003 (from Canoe News)
    • Death of CD-ROM
    • Instant Message for Business
    • More Linux in Business
    • Web Access Prices to Go Up
    • Wireless to Continue Strong (not as standalone 802.11b)
    • Law enforcement information database sharing will be up
  • Stupid Move of the Year
    • In July, Flooz.com sells $1000 of Flooz currency for $800 to AmEx holders
    • Suspends offer one month later
    • Declared backruptcy in November (Flooz currency now worth nothing)
    • Listed as Numbers 5 & 6 in 101 Dumbest Moments in Business
  • IRS Expands Internet Usage
    • You can e-file and e-pay your taxes
    • You can’t e-scape your taxes
  • Stratford News
    • Grad Program Review
    • Undergrad Program Review
    • Next Start January 6th
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