Internet

Internet Soon to Have 2 Billion Users

June 21, 2023 by noemi

It’s World Statistics Day, did you know that? In keeping with that spirit, let’s take a look at some numbers today. Did you know that soon, there will be 2 billion users on the Internet? And, by soon, I mean by the end of this year. It is not a surprising figure, if you think about it. Access to computers and the Internet is becoming easier by the day, and more and more people have their own computers and Internet connection at home. This is even more applicable for those in the developing countries (for the lack of a better term), as most of the new Internet users come from those areas.

This information – and more – was released in a report by the International Telecommunication Union, which was published in The World in 2010: ICT.

162 million of the 226 million new Internet users in 2010 will be from developing countries, where Internet users grow at a higher rate. By the end of 2010, 71% of the population in developed countries will be online compared to 21% of the population in developing countries. While in developed countries 65% of people have access to the Internet at home, this is the case for only 13.5% of people in developing countries where Internet access in schools, at work and public locations is critical. Regional differences are significant: 65% of Europeans are on the Internet, compared to only 9.6% of Africans.

With the rapidly increasing high-bandwidth content and applications on the Internet, there is a growing demand for higher-speed broadband connections.

Needless to say, there are still big gaps in Internet and computer access in developed and developing countries. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, though, if the numbers skyrocket in the next five or so years. For sure, developing countries will work towards providing better access in the coming years.

So, if you are feeling that the Internet is getting a little too crowded, don’t be surprised – 2 billion isn’t nothing! 😉

Photo credit: mararie

Beware of Scareware!

June 19, 2023 by noemi

I’ve heard of malware, but scareware? Apparently, scammers are now playing on the fears of Windows users – fear of viruses and other malware. In order to make money, they dupe people into thinking that their system is suffering from a relentless malware attack, hence the term scareware. As the scammers prey upon those fears, they prompt users to download security updates that can “keep users safe.”

Obviously, they will charge for these updates. The problem is that, one, the threat is almost always fake; and two, the security updates are just as fake. The user who falls for this trick will end up being at least $50 poorer, without having anything to show for it!

This tactic was exposed earlier this week by Parveen Vashishtha from Symantec. In a blog post, he outlined the modus operandi of this new breed of scammers. The trick is in knowing that browsers DO NOT ask you to download security updates via malware threat warnings. If you do see something like the image below, chances are you are the target of a scareware scam.

If you’re thinking that people who are dumb enough to fall for this trick deserve it, think again. The truth of the matter is that the trick seems to work so well – even some experienced users fall for it. In fact, the scareware business has already made more than $100 million, according to the FBI. Don’t laugh just yet.

Your safest bet is NOT to click the download button, obviously. Of course, you also ought to make sure that your OS, security software, and browser/s are updated on a regular basis.

Internet Surveillance in America’s Future?

June 17, 2023 by noemi

Talk about Big Brother. As if the capability to run (legal) wiretaps weren’t enough, the United States government is now aiming to set in place systems that would allow them to (legally) wiretap electronic communication such as e-mail and Facebook messages! What the Congress wants is that if the government sends a provider a wiretap order, they should be able to provide the required information.

The implications are huge. Bottom line: anything you send online (whether you’re using a wired connection or a wireless one) can be retrieved and reviewed.

Of course, the average person should not have anything to hide (aside from potentially embarrassing private messages), but the idea that the government can take a look at private information/communication if it wishes is not something that people will welcome any time soon. From a technical point of view, this proposition also poses a lot of risks. According to James X. Dempsey, Vice President of the Center for Democracy and Technology, the government is “asking for the authority to redesign services that take advantage of the unique, and now pervasive, architecture of the Internet. They basically want to turn back the clock and make Internet services function the way that the telephone system used to function.”

The underlying reason for the government’s plan is that the Internet is being used as a venue for communication by terrorists and other individuals/groups that are threats to society. If they have the ability to monitor and scrutinize this venue, then the world might just be safer for it. While this is indeed a serious concern, I am not so sure that wiretapping is the best solution. The system might just open up a whole new can of worms.

What do you think?