Tech Talk Radio
September 2002
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
September 28, 2002
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<Weekly Newsletter>
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  • Tech Talk Guest: Dr. Feisal Keblawi, CISSP
    • Information System Security (IIS) Manager for FAA Research and Acquisition
    • Responsible for ensuring that all systems under development afford the National Airspace System adequate protection against intrusions and malicious acts
    •  Developed the overall IIS Architecture for FAA
    • Initiated and chaired ten IIS Conference for FAA to share information and train all ISS personnel with the agency
    • PhD in  Electrical Engineering (EE) from North Carolina State University
  • Verisign propose to Restrict .gov Whois Inquires
    • It is about time to block this data from public access
    • Data could be used by cyberterrorists
    • .edu and .org may be next
    • Not blocked yet (Check .Gov Whois Database Now)
  • Linux Peer-to-Peer Worm Slapper Still Strong but Dying
    • Exploits Buffer Overflow in SSL
    • Grew to over 6,700 servers infected
    • Growth is finally leveling off
    • Never reached Code Red or Nimda levels (400,000 and 86,000 respectively)
    • Once infected, a computer can be ordered to attack a target in one of four different ways
      • send out a deluge of data
      • force the target to execute a command
      • redirect certain requests to another computer
      • send back e-mail addresses or info about known infected servers
  • Slapper Author has been arrested
    • Slapper emailed the addresses of infected machines to a computer in the Ukraine
    • Location of Ukrainian computer could be traced
    • A 21-year-old male arrested by the authorities
  • Microsoft PPTP VPN software has security hole
    • Point-to-point tunneling protocol (PPTP) packets can overwrite kernel memory.
    • Machine can be used for DDOS
    • Microsoft working on patch after being informed by Phion Information Technologies, a German security firm.
  • Nigeria 419 Fraud Strikes Again – Big Time
    • A bookkeeper for Michigan law has been taken for $2.1m
    • Borrowed the money from the law firm
    • Not discovered until a $35K check bounced
    • How did it work
      • The 59-year-old woman received a fax from one Dr. Mbuso Nelson of the Ministry of Mining in Pretoria, South Africa, asking for help in getting a $18m transferred to the US.
      • The victim set up a bank account, only to be told that certain expenses had to be met.  The woman wired huge sums to accounts in South Africa and Taiwan.
      • The promised $4.5m commission never arrived.
  • CyberCrime DOJ Inititive (Cybercrime.gov)
    • Sponsoring Agency: Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) of  the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice
    • Of the last six  crimes reported four were perpetrated by insiders, one by a Russian hacker, one by a US hacker.
    • Site includes Internet crime reporting procedures
  • USC Students: No Sharing Files
    • USC student threatened with a year without computers if they are busted swapping movies or music online.
  • Rebel Offers Drive-By Wi-Fi
    • Email from Peirre Eicher
    • Michael Oh’s Car is a 300 foot diameter hot spot
    • Connect to wireless T-1 it offeres free Wi-Fi access
    • In the future is could use 3G phone technology to T-1 rate
    • Likes to drive by Starbucks café to grab wireless customers
    • Operates in Boston. You can download plans for car from his site:
  • Roomba Floor Vac Robot
    • Can do three rooms on one charge
    • IR guidance system
    • Avoids furniture, pets, children
    • Cost: $199.00
    • Available from Sharper Image
  • Avoiding Spam
  • IT Security Spending Defies Recession
    • According to IDC, IT security spending to be currently worth $6bn
    • Spending set to double over the next five years
    • No increases in IT security spending from the US gov’t until at least 2004
  • SANS Network Security Conference
    • Website: www.sans.org
    • October 18 through 25, 2002, Washington, DC
    • October 12th Guest: Alan Paller, Director of Research for SANS Institute
  • Belark Advisor – for PC Audits
  • Seagate- Western Digital-Maxtor cut HD warranties
    • Email from Chip Dodge, Capital PC User Group
    • Maxtor from 3 to 1 year
    • Seagate from 3 to 1 year
    • Western Digital 3 to 1 year
  • Stratford News
    • Security Initiative
      • Security Management: CISSP
      • Security Implementation: Cisco and SANS Training Tools
      • Secure Wireless Networks
      • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) was designed to recognize mastery of an international standard for information security and understanding of a Common Body of Knowledge (CBK)
    • Masters Degrees
      • Telecommunication Systems
      • Enterprise Business Management
    • Associate Degrees
      • Network Management and Security
      • Database Drive Web Design for E-Business
    • Next Start October 15th
      • Open House at Stratford: October 26th
      • Tech Talk will be live from the School
      • Security, Web Design, e-Business Tutorials
September 21, 2002
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<Weekly Newsletter>
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  • Tech Talk Guest: Dr. David H. McIntyre
    • Position: Deputy Director of the ANSER Institute for Homeland Security
    • ANSER (Advancing National Strategies and Enabling Results)
    • Homeland Security expert on FOX national news and Washington DC television (WUSA), as well as on CNBC, MSNBC, CNN’s Crossfire
    • In June 2001 Dr. McIntyre retired as a colonel after a 30 year Army career
    • Served eight years on the faculty of the National War College, National Defense University, the last three as Dean of Faculty and Academic Programs
  • White House Releases National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace
    • Outlines a voluntary plan for Individuals, Small Business, Corporatins, Educational Institutions, Utilities to harden the system
      • Individual (firewalls, virus protection, patches)
      • Corporations should set up a Security Management and Accountability System
      • Utilities should protect SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) Devices.  Energy systems susceptible here.
    • Panned by many critics as not enough
    • Defended by White House
    • Clarke on whirlwind tour of IT companies to jumpstart plan (began with Sun Microsystems)
  • Dartmouth has joined wireless revolution as hacking target
    • 500 Wi-Fi antennas in 161 buildings
    • Network covers roughly 200 acres
    • Bell tower has been hacked through the wireless network. Played Star Wars theme instead of the Alma Mater.
  • Service Pack 1 Released for WindowsXP (An Update)
  • First Smiley Ever Posted (An Update)
    • Scott E. Fahlman suggested the smiley in a memo data September 19, 1982
    • Now others claim an earlier date…Plato users had emoticons in 1976
    • The controversy continues…
  • A Great Wedding Website
    • VirtuallyMarried.com will post your progress
    • Great way to keep distant relatives in the loop
    • $99 for 18 months
  • Portable Keyboard for PDA that is truly Virtual
    • Uses light to project keys
    • Two sensors detect finger movement
    • Canesta, Inc, raised $21M Venture Capital company
    • Key board image is 278 by 98 mm.
  • Verisign to Restrict .gov Whois Inquires
    • It is about time to block this data from public access
    • Data could be used by cyberterrorists
    • .edu and .org may be next
  • Linux Peer-to-Peer Worm Slapper Still Strong
    • Exploits Buffer Overflow in SSL
    • Grew to over 6,700 servers infected
    • Growth is finally leveling off
  • Lindows 2.0 Released
    • Much better interface
    • Still is not 100% Windows Compatible
  • SANS Network Security Conference
    • October 18 through 25, 2002
    • Washington, DC
  • Stratford News
    • October 26th: Open House at Stratford:
      • Tech Talk will be live from the School
      • Security, Web Design, e-Business Tutorials
    • October 15th: Next Start
    • Stratford Security Initiative
      • Security Management: CISSP
      • Security Implementation: Cisco and SANS Training Tools
      • Wireless Security
      • Hacking and Patching
      • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
    • Masters Degrees
      • Telecommunication Systems
      • Enterprise Business Management
    • Associate Degrees
      • Network Management and Security
      • Database Drive Web Design for E-Business
September 14, 2002
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<Weekly Newsletter>
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  • Tech Talk Guest: Ms. Nuala O'Connor Kelly
    • Chief Counsel for Technology, Department of Commerce
    • First woman to hold position of Chief Counsel for Technology
    • Works with Assistant Secretary Bruce Melman, a recent Tech Talk Guest
    • Prior to Commerce
      • Vice President for Data Protection and Privacy, DoubleClick
      • Help found DoubleClick’s first data protection department
  • National Homeland Security Expo
    • September 18 and 19, 2002 in the DC Armory
    • Will showcase cutting-edge security products to help law enforcement, military, and the private sector meet homeland security needs.
    • Small, medium, and large high-tech companies form across the nation will participate
    • Expo will feature remarks by Commerce Secretary Evans and Govenor Tom Ridge
    • Expo is hosted by Department of Commerce’s Technology Administration in cooperation with the Office of Homeland Security
    • Open to the public without charge
  • September 11 E-Mail Worm Fizzles
    • It has been dubbed the Chet Worm
      • Subject: All People
      • Message: New evidence of September 11. America and England have begun bombardment of Iraq.
      • Attachment: 11September.exe
      • Source Address: main@world.com
    • Mass mailer user Outlook or Outlook Express
    • Shoddy programming has prevented widespread distribution
  • Service Pack 1 Released for WindowsXP
    • Free download (my download was 50M)
    • $9.95 CD
    • Set Program Access and Defaults to Implement Anti-trust changes
    • Security fixes, USB 2.0 integral support, but not Bluetooth,
  • Microsoft Word and Outlook Vulnerabilties
    • Fields embedded in Word document such as “Include Text” can be used to retrieve data from hard drive
      • Requires exact file name and location
      • Word document then imports data into the document.
      • When the document is returned it includes the new data
    • Outlook Express message fragmentation can be used to penetrate e-mail virus scanners.
      • Outlook Express is meeting standards
      • The Virus scanners are at fault
  • Tech Talk Trivia of the Week
  • First Smiley Ever Posted
      Scott E. Fahlman first suggested the smiley in a memo data September 19, 1982
    • Found by researchers Mike Jones at Carnegie Mellon University
    • A smiley is a Colon – Dash – Close Parentheses.
    • It looks like a smiling face sideways.
  • US Will Renew ICANN’s Authority
    • Nancy Victor announced anticipated extension this week
    • Victory is head of National Telecommunications and Information Administration
    • ICANN’s internal administration has been criticized recently for a lack of openness
    • ICANN administraters the Internet Domain Name System
  • China Lifts Block on Google Searches
    • Last week China blocked Google
    • It directed all traffic to a China-friendly search tool.
    • Mirror site (Elgoog) cropped up to give Chinese access.
    • It worked….and China reversed it position
  • Enron to Auction IT Gear
    • Dovebid conduct auction
    • Auction to be held September 25 and 26, 2002,  Houston, Texas
    • Auction will be webcast
  • Fujitsu to replace 300,000 Hard Drive
    • 2-3% of all 10 million hard drives made between Sept 2001 and 2002 to be replaced
    • Fault lies with semiconductors used in the HDDs.  HDD fail in less than 2 months
    • Mostly found in NEC, IBM, and Fujitsu-Seimens PCs
    • Replace cost $83 million.
  • War Flying (Continued)
    • Tech Talk received an email from the San Diego Warflyer, Joe Blatz
    • Joe wanted to clarify some Tech Talk comments from last week's show. He, and his associated at San Diego Wireless, make certain not to associate with or log onto any discovered networks. He noted that such activity would be illegal. Joe does not load the TCP/IP protocol stack in his laptop to make certain that he does not accidently enter a discovered network.
    • He recommended these additional links for our listeners
  • Other Wireless News
  • Trusted Computing Platform Alliance seeks to protect more than data
    • Group led by Microsoft
    • May apply to protecting digital copy rights
    • Would place MS software as the glue the binds together a copy protection system
    • MS would get royalties from both ends
    • Critics are up in arms at this power play. Would shift balance of power from individual to corporations.
  • Grid Computer Gaining in Popularity
    • Keep an eye on this technology
    • PC Magazine Recently Rated four Grid Systems
      • Entropia DC Grid
      • Globus Toolkit 2.0
      • Sun One Grid Engine
      • United Devices Metaprocessor Platform 3.0
      • Entropia received the highest rating
  • Levi’s Trousers Protect Testicles
    • Keeping a moble phone in your front pants pocket may pose a risk
    • Levi’s to the rescue with special “Docker’s” with phone pockets lined with special material
  • Florida election spotlights IT training needs
    • Recent Voting Debaucle was not caused by equipment
    • Things went wrong in Miami-Dade and Broward counties again
    • Janet Reno lost 8,000 votes
    • Staff did not know how to boot systems, resulting in frequent lockups. Help desk was overwhelmed with requests for help.
    • IT Support is getting the blame
  • Stratford News
    • Security Initiative
      • Security Management: CISSP
      • Security Implementation: Cisco and SANS Training Tools
      • Wireless Security
      • Begin with Hacking 101s
    • Masters Degrees
      • Telecommunication Systems
      • Enterprise Business Management
    • Associate Degrees
      • Network Management and Security
      • Database Drive Web Design for E-Business
    • Next Start October 15th
    • Open House at Stratford: October 26th
      • Tech Talk will be live from the School
      • Security, Web Design, e-Business Tutorials
September 7, 2002
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<Weekly Newsletter>
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  • PEW Internet Project
    • Digital Disconnect: Widening Gap between students and their school
      • Internet-Saavy Students have incorporated Internet in lives using five different metaphors
        • Virtual Textbook, Virtual Tutor, Virtual Study Group, Virtual Guidance Counselor, and Virtual Locker
      • School systems still view it as an extension of the library only
      • Students want better coordination of Internet use with school assignments
      • Students recommend further training for teachers
    • Broadband Differences: How High Speed Connectivity Changes Online Behavior
      • Those with Broadband access
      • Become creators and managers of online content
      • Satisfy a wide range of queries for information
      • Engage in multiple Internet activities on a daily basis
      • A surprising result. Broadband users value upload speeds as well as download speeds. This support online content creation and file sharing.
  • Apple Keeps x86 Version of OS-X Alive
    • Mac OS X running on an x86 architecture is dubbed Marklar
    • Name references a race of aliens on the “South Park” cartoons
    • It has been ongoing since the Mac transition to Unix in the last 90’s
    • Apple has not commented publicly
    • Can run on Intel or AMD chips, but would require a complete rewrite of Mac Apps
    • Apple is using it for negotiation with Motorola
  • Forgent Enforces JPEG Patent Claim
    • JPEG Compression was patented by Compression Labs (Patent 4,698,672)
    • Patent specifically mentions digital cameras, web browsers, phones, and scanners
    • Forgent bought Compression Labs in 1997
    • Forgent signed an agreement with Sony in April, 2002
    • $15M in royalties were earned in the first three months
  • PC Makers Try Alternatives to Microsoft Suites
    • Dell is now shipping without Windows OS
    • HP is shipping with Corel, WordPerfect, and Quattro Pro
    • Sun is shipping with Star Office
  • Wal-Mart to Ship $199 PC
    • Lindows OS
    • 800 MHz Via C3 Processor
  • Dupont-area coffee shop offers free Web access
    • Bring Your Own Laptop (BYOT), Wi-Fi access is free
    • CyberStop Cafe is at 1513 17th Street NW
    • They even have a webcam on their website
  • Free vs. Wireless Conflict (continued)
    • T-Mobile is rolling out a paid service in all StarBuck
    • Conflict in Portland with community wireless channel solved
    • Look for more conflicts as the airwaves get crowded
  • E-Suds in Dorm Rooms
    • Washers driers allow payment by cell phone or student ID card
    • Notify user when load is done by email or cell phone call
    • Can be checked remotely to see if they are in use
    • This is a trend for all vending machines
  • Tokyo Based LCD Company to make a privacy display
    • Appears black without special polarizing glasses
    • Remove the on screen polarizer so the screen appears white to the naked eye
    • Good for financial institution, but 3-D movie glasses may reveal info.
  • 75th Anniversary of the Invention of Television
    • Invented by Philo T. Farnsworth on September 7th, 1927
    • Philo was 14, living on a farm in Utah
    • Sketched his idea for his high school science teacher
    • One year later on September 7, 2002 he transmitted a straight line image
    • He won a patent fight with RCA David Sarnoff Labs and RCA agreed to pay him a royalty of the use of the idea.
    • A Johnny Carson once joked, “if it weren’t for Philo T. Farnsworth, we might still be eating frozen “radio dinners.”
  • China and the Internet
    • Lastest ploy is to block Google
    • China typically restricts the news and Internet during key polical events
    • Next Congress is scheduled for November
  • Verisign May Lose Domain Sale Rights
    • ICANN placed Verisign on warning for incorrect database information
    • 17 specific violations cited over the past 18 months
    • 17 out of 10.3 million records fournd flawed
    • Given a week to correct problem
  • Janis Ian, recording artist, favors MP3 downloads
    • Great editors published August 1, 2002
    • A modest proposal for record companies
    • Get together a form a large site
    • Populate it with out of circulation songs
    • Permit downloaded for a reasonable fee (25 cents per song)
    • Share proceed equitably
  • Mailbag
    • Listening to MP3 on the Website (changed file association) Robert Taylor
    • Saving documents in PDF format (use Mac OS X) Greg Coats
    • Playing regional DVDs (a clarification) Greg Coats
      • Methods to work around the region DVD problem
        • First, many DVD's do not have regional limitations (Check DVD Planet)
        • Second, many DVD players will play all regions (Check HKFlix)
      • Regional DVD classisfications are explained at CodeFree DVD
    • Cannot print text copied from website into word (change font color to black or automatic) Gene Snyder
  • Stratford News
    • Next Start – September 9th
    • Will be at the Digital Edge this weekend
    • Both Saturday and Sunday in the Convention Center
    • I will be at the booth from 2 to 3 each afternoon
      • Emphasis in Grad Program (telecommunications, security, e-business)
      • Emphasis in Undergrad Program (complex webdesign, wide area networks, security)
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