[334th]1.Is a criminal using your Wi-Fi? 2.Brain Boosters 3. Modern men attracted to powerful, independent women

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Is a criminal using your Wi.docx

Is a criminal using your Wi-Fi?

Thieves and predators may be stealing your wireless signal and making you an unwitting accomplice in their criminal activities. As NBC's Kerry Sanders reports, Malcolm Riddell found himself at the center of an FBI child porn raid.

What happened to Malcolm Riddell should not happen to anyone — but it can and does, and that's the cautionary tale shared by the Florida man, whose garden-variety wireless Internet signal was "stolen" by a criminal to distribute his library of more than 10 million child pornography photographs.

When a dozen FBI agents came knocking on Riddell's door, they thought he was the bad guy. In fact, as NBC's Kerry Sanders reports (see video below), it was another man, Mark Brown, they were after — and ultimately arrested — who hijacked Riddell's Wi-Fi signal.

Riddell lives in a 12th-floor condo in Sarasota, and Brown apparently was able to steal Riddell's signal from out in the nearby marina, the equivalent of more than two blocks away.

Why? Riddell, like many Wi-Fi users, did not use password-protection for his wireless Internet access, and became vulnerable to the perils of "wardriving." Wardriving commonly involves someone driving around in a car with a laptop and antenna to find and access, perhaps exploit, a wireless computer. But in Riddell's case, the "wardriving" was done from a boat.

The ease of such an intrusion was shown by Sanders, driving around Pittsburgh with FBI agent Tom Grasso who used a Pringles can — yes, a Pringles can —as an antenna.

"In just 30 minutes, we picked up 1,524 wireless signals, a quarter of them with no password protection at all," said Sanders.

Making it more difficult is that if your signal is "stolen," "you're not going to see it, you're not going to notice any unusual activity on your computer; it's going to very hard for you to detect," Grasso said.

The first thing you can do to protect yourself is make your home wireless network password-enabled. Many wireless users are so happy just to get a Wi-Fi network up and running that they don't bother setting up a password. 

"Many who purchase wireless routers don't realize that their network is open until you enable security — meaning that anyone in the area can gain access to your Wi-Fi signal and the devices logged on to it," says the Wi-Fi Alliance, an industry group.  "Turn on the security features of your network and consider installing a commercially available firewall."

Here are some other tips about using Wi-Fi from the alliance:

Configure for approved connections: Many devices sense and automatically connect to any available wireless signal. To regain control, simply configure your device to not automatically connect to an open network without your approval.

Disable sharing: Your Wi-Fi enabled devices may automatically open themselves to sharing / connecting with other devices. File and printer sharing may be common in business and home networks, but you can avoid this in public networks.

Install anti-virus software: When connecting at home or at work, it's safe to assume that the other computers on those networks are protected against viruses. When using a public hot spot you have no such assurance, which makes it more important to have antivirus software installed.

Use a personal firewall: When connecting to a public hot spot, you are joining a network with other unknown computers, which can increases your exposure to unwanted risks To protect yourself , run a personal firewall program, which are easy to install and in some cases free.

Change your password around every once in awhile: "Periodically changing the passphrase on your network also increases security," the alliance says.

And, when you are using free, public Wi-Fi, for example, at an airport or hotel lobby, those "hotspots are by nature 'open' and unencrypted," the alliance says. To reduce your exposure when you use free public Wi-Fi, the alliance advises:

• Make sure that you are connecting to a legitimate hotspot — those that require a password have more protection than those that do not.
• Use a virtual private network or VPN, which establishes a private connection across the public network. This may be supplied by your employer, or you can purchase one.
• Surfing the Web and sending e-mail is fine, but doing your banking for example in a public hotspot is not advised. 

Summary

Thieves and predators may be stealing your wireless signal and making you an unwitting accomplice in their criminal activities. What happened to Malcolm Riddell should not happen to anyone — but it can and does, and that's the cautionary tale shared by the Florida man, whose garden-variety wireless Internet signal was "stolen" by a criminal to distribute his library of more than 10 million child pornography photographs. Why? like many Wi-Fi users, did not use password-protection for his wireless Internet access, and became vulnerable. Many who purchase wireless routers don't realize that their network is open until you enable security — meaning that anyone in the area can gain access to your Wi-Fi signal and the devices logged on to it

Question

1. A musician sued an Internet user who offered on an online file sharing network. The user was on vacation when the song was downloaded. Have you ever thought about this nightmare could happen to you? How aware are you when it comes to online safety?

2. Experts say the more savvy hackers can go beyond just connecting to the Internet on the host's monitor Internet activity and steal passwords or other sensitive information. Is your wireless network/router password-protected? Have you had your account hacked??

3. For years, Google have been keeping a record of every search you do. Do you feel Google’s having access to your browsing history is a privacy violation?

Brain Boosters

Researchers used to think people lost 30 percent of their neurons as they aged. Now neuroscientists say that if you’re healthy, you’ll keep most of your neurons for your entire life. Here are some of the most promising ways to keep those brain cells in top form.

Seek out different ideas and challenging people.

By middle age, your brain has developed millions of networks of neurons-pathways that are strengthened every time you recall a given memory. These pathways help you solve familiar problems more easily than your younger peers. But if you always use the same well-worn routes to process information, your brain is less likely to get the stimulation it needs to spur development of new networks. You can get that kind of stimulation from what adult-learning expert Jack Mezirow, PhD, calls a disorienting dilemma-something that shakes up your thinking. Try reading a book that challenges your long-held assumptions on a topic, seriously considering a political viewpoint other than your own, or taking up an instrument or a new language. The key is to get out of your comfort zone.

Use your imagination.

If you want to remember to buy a quart of milk on the way home from work, it can help if you imagine yourself taking it off the store shelf and paying for it. Studies by neuroscientist Denise Park, PhD, now at the University of Texas at Dallas, have shown that visualizing upcoming activities forces information into additional parts of your brain, creating a larger “neural footprint” and giving you more ways to remember what you need to do.


Pay attention at the start.

Brain scanners show that by middle age, your brain tends to have more trouble ignoring distractions in order to focus on new information, such as when you’re introduced to someone new. As a result, that person’s name may be stored in your memory less effectively. To avoid embarrassment next time you run into what’s-his-name, be extra careful to pay attention from the get-go.

Exercise-and then exercise some more.

Like your heart, your brain needs good blood flow to stay vital, and the best way to get it is through regular exercise. Neurobiologist Fred Gage, PhD, of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, has shown that physical activity even prompts the growth of new brain cells. Those baby cells may help us cope with new experiences, Gage says-and actually enjoy them

Question

1.  What do you do to keep your brain active/stimulated? What kind of brain exercise do you do to keep your brain fit?

2. Have you ever felt that your brain is not as smart as it used be? Please tell us the symtoms you experienced. (Memory loss, forgetfulness , lack of creativity )

3. Is there any case you got embarrassed because of memory problem?

4. What do you think the main factors reducing brain ability?
(Pressure at work,  aging ,  unhealthy diet, insufficient exercise)

Modern men attracted to powerful, independent women

 Economic downturn is changing the ideal types of men and women. Men and women both prefer powerful partners whom they can depend on, the Daily Mail reported, citing a survey by Electronics Arts, a game company. 

About 66 percent of modern men are attracted to high-flying females and the number goes up to 71 percent among men between 30 and 34 years old.
About 35 percent of men said they prefer the so-called “bad girls” such as Angelina Jolie and Megan Fox.
Strong, independent, professional women are more appealing to men than traditional, gentle, stay-at-home women.
Experts said that “due to economic hardship men may also be taking a more traditionally female view and looking for a ‘provider.’”
About 60 percent of women said they are also attracted to men in high-powered jobs as well as “bad boys” such as Hollywood rogues Colin Farrell or Gerard Butler.

Top ten celebrity bad girls and bad boys (the Daily Mail):
1. Angelina Jolie
2. Megan Fox
3. Charlotte Church
4. Sienna Miller
5. Lily Allen
6. Christina Aguilera
7. Lindsey Lohan
8. Britney Spears
9. Paris Hilton
10. Nicole Richie

Top ten celebrity bad boys:
1. Colin Farell
2. Gerard Butler
3. Robbie Williams
4. Jude Law
5. Jonathan Rhys Meyers
6. Jose Mourinho
7. Russell Brand
8. Christian Bale
9. Danny Dyer
10. Simon Cowell

Summary

Economic downturn is changing the ideal types of men and women. Men and women both prefer powerful partners whom they can depend on. Strong, independent, professional women are more appealing to men than traditional, gentle, stay-at-home women. Experts said that “due to economic hardship men may also be taking a more traditionally female view and looking for a ‘provider.’”

Questions

1. What do you think about the article?  Do think of yourself as so-called “bad girls” or ”bad boys” ?

2. How much do you think gender roles for women have changed in the last decade? Have any of these changes challenged stereotypical gender descriptions? Give examples.

3. One day she’s as sweet as sugar and the next, she’s bad to the bone. Tell me your experience meeting bad girls or bad boys.

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