Computer Virus 3D Portrait

Back in the early 70’s everything was simpler. Glaciers weren’t detouching from Antartica and you couldn’t use your mobile during a flight, cause you didn’t have one, but you could smoke. Back then it was wasn’t called Interned but Arpanet and Creeper virus was the “hippy” predecessor of the 2007’s Russian Storm worm, which “zombied” millions of computers globally.

While Creeper refrained simply into intoducing itself and challenging you in a fun chase around the current online security threats are a very dangerous nuisance for computer users globally. Yet, few sensitive users out there are determined to entertain they demons through art. If music is known to has charms to soothe the savage beast then graphic design may tame the malicious Internet visitors.

Artist Alex Dragulescu seeks atonement from famous worms, Trojan horses and viruses by depicting their qualities on his 3D portraits while fighting them employed from Internet security firm MessageLabs. Its is more of a love-hate relationship, though the images do look amazing. Alex derives his inspiration by infectious and spyware programs and creates his masterpieces based on the each program’s actual code.

My personal favorite one, illustrated above, is Netsky a spiky leaf calamari-like portrait in green of a worm which is a consistent Internet threat.

Porsche-Sagem P’9521 Fingerprint reading

Few of us have wondered how life was in the non mobile era. We laugh trying to remember how things were happening in the “old days” while on the same time we actually panic if we forget our phone back home in the morning. We act as if National lottery was to call to inform you about the jackpot you won or God to reveal the meaning of life or maybe your summer love 5 years ago that you don’t even remember.

Its true that technology evolves and though mobile phones started as oddly shaped, brick size devices used mainly by drug dealers now we use them mainly for Internet browsing, photo shooting and listening to music. Occasionally we utilize their primary function, being communication with other human beings but usually we prefer texts written in a new language old schoolers can’t understand. So, mobile phones have become more than just a device for communicating and entertainment as they developed into intelligent gadgets that we treat them more like our companions or as our friends.

Further technology developments are arriving faster than we can imagine. Already Porsche Design Group and Sagem Communication have launched the first Porsche Design Mobile Phone, the P’9521, at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen few months ago.

The Porsche P’9521 mobile phone combines sophisticated design with high-quality materials and innovative way of thinking materialized for example in the case of solid aluminum, a unique production method for mobile phones. The most amazing feature though, definitely copied from a spy film, is the fingerprint reader, which clearly identifies the user and thus ensures secure access to personal data. In addition, individual fingerprints can be assigned to particular numbers or phone functions, making operation particularly easy.

It is actually perfect for anyone who has text messages to hide from their spouse! And of course the number of places where we are unable to use our mobiles is decreasing, but this is something to be investigated later.

"Civilized" Governments block YouTube

China followed few days ago the "liberal" and "democratic" example of other civilized countries and blocked youTube access, after video releases relevant to the protests in Lhasa, Tibet opposing the Chinese government currently in power. But the Chinese government doesn’t seem to be holding anything personal against YouTube, demonstrated by attempts to block news reports about the protests as well.

China’s intention for transparency and respect of human rights is clear, allowing as little of the public as possible to know about the opposition. The impact for YouTube is major as there are 210 million Internet users in China, while Pakistan and Turkey have acted similarly already.

So, as if blocking YouTube access has become a universal remedy for supressing liberal, self-respecting civilians, Armenia joined the club, since the new president has declared a state of emergency in the capital since March 2. The measure, signed by President Robert Kocharian, bans public gatherings and imposes restrictions on media reports. Under this state, no media is allowed to broadcast any information except official announcements. So, juntas from now on will be blocking access to Internet sites as well…

Target Displays, UK-Print and Display Solutions

Retailers have now an easy option to choose the right display solutions matching their exact requirements. A new UK company called Target Displays is offering through their website an interesting choice of professional stands, racks, promotional products accompanied by pretty much everything you may need if involved into relevant activities.

Target Displays advertises great value with money saving deals on high quality products. When you visit their website, actually playing the role of a potent selling tool, you will be pleasantly surprised.

It is designed exactly the way it should be, with no pointless mambo jumbo, it offers to busy professionals, who want to just cut down to the chase, a handy purchasing tool. The products are cleverly categorized in 9 sections appearing on the left of the page. The categorization is coherent and based on common sense, eventually avoiding unnecessary confusion and time waste.

After you identify the category you can easily find the product you are interested in. High definition pictures help you visualize what you will be actually buying, lacking however magnifying or other standard photo resizing options. To be honest though, you may actually not need this. There is plenty of information on every product covering pretty much everything.

Now, if you found your ideal display or POS solution chuck it in your cart. Target Displays offers a great product line with items complementing each other thus, everything you may need is here and most importantly delivered to all main UK addresses. Payment is easy with the final selection between PayPal and credit card upon to the individual's choice. So that's it really, quick and unfuzzy. Have a great campaign!!

Self Service Banking save Global Market Crunch

The US global market crunch has affected the world's economy in many ways. Those eager mortgage brokers couldn't imagine the turn of events when started selling aggressively to high risk consumers mortgages with rates and policies similar to car deals. All these are old news, so I will avoid becoming tiring and listing those consequences.

Very interesting are the ways banks are trying to deal with their losses. One of them involves heads of retail banking who are called to save the day. It might actually turn out to be an idea which will work out some good results and create a different mentality in the consumer's banking arena.

Banks are looking into more practical ways of making up for the lost money by reducing cost. So, a very simple and effective action would be to minimize operational costs. Customers are provided with more ways to manage their own money by adding features and incentives to already established tools like online banking, cash machines and contact centres. The decision making process appears ever so simple in that case. Invest on existing technology which will help banks reduce operational costs and losses from bad debts.

There might be light in the end of the tunnel, maybe not so far away as many have thought. There are several paths to be followed apparently, like self-service options, electronic debt counselling, support for cashflow and money management websites and last but most important online banking. As for the critics of such techniques claiming that those are over simplistic and shallow solutions I would answer back that the simplest ideas are the ones which work out miracles.

FSA regulates Insurance comparison websites

The issue was raised first time back in 2005. Back then the financial watchdog decided against on taking any action based on the given evidence. However, new evidence surfaced by a recently conducted research commissioned by the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, BIBA, led FSA to re-examine the rules governing insurance comparing websites.

The research revealed that more than 50% of the consumer sample who had used price comparison websites felt the differences between insurance policies were not adequately explained while only a 6% felt sufficient informed on all the policies' parametres. This intransparency could potentially lead customers decided upon unsuitable products.

BIBA chief executive Eric Galbraith claims "There are still too many people logging on and making a decision solely based on the price of a policy, rather than the protections it offers them and potentially buying an inappropriate policy." "I believe the regulator should now look again at developing more appropriate regulations, to ensure that consumers are being afforded suitable protections," he added.

Reactions vary amongst main market rivals. The insurance comparison site http://www.confused.com/ supports BIBA’s request for further scrutiny voluntarily inviting FSA to regulate its activities. On the other hand http://www.gocompare.com/ rejected BIBA’s complaints condemning them as outdated. The other rival http://www.moneysupermarket.com/, fully authorised by the FSA, welcomed new FAS guidance the same time though accused BIBA for inflating the issue.
Pretty confusing, isn't it?

EGG CEO-Ian Kerr resigns

Ian Kerr, Citibank executive and CEO of Internet bank EGG has resigned with immediate effect. It has been unclear if Mr. Kerr couldn’t bear the weight of responsibility after EGG decided on an ad hoc move to withdraw more than 160.000 credit cards. Thousands of accounts were deactivated in a single month on a move justified by an EGG spokesperson as a necessary move to avoid possibly loses from customers with a higher than acceptable risk profile.

The bank’s claims are coming in contrast though with valid claims pointing out most customers affected had excellent credit records. Fully paying of bills every month and non-exciding limits do not comprise of high-risk profiles, on the contrary. Nevertheless, this attitude was not favouring profits as EGG cardholders enjoyed a percentage of their credit card payments as cash back in the end of the year. This served EGG as a marketing tool, actually rewarding the very same consumers whose accounts where deactivated.

Labour MP Nigel Griffiths’ not only welcomed the resignation but also filed complaint to the FSA (Financial Services Authority) over Egg’s move and the plead has been forwarded to the Office of Fair Trading.

Now EGG is in the middle of a PR storm, unable to justify thoroughly or convincingly neither the public nor the financial regulators their move and the reasons underlying were legit and fair. Investigations carry on while Ian Kerr gets a similar taste to that his former customers got for being dumped.

Nigerian Sweetheart Scams

Nigerian scams have become notorious throughout western countries. In the U.S. are known as “419” or “advance-fee” frauds. The phenomenon has taken recently a very “sweet” turn. Singles are seduced into a game of trust and affection through online chat rooms. The scam is achieved through postal money orders, an irreversible payment way. Victims cash off money orders and wire the money to Nigeria. But there is no money return from the banks to consumers who have wired funds overseas, hoping to cement a love bond.

This new type of approach is known for its seductive flavour as "sweetheart scams". Scammers show incredible patience to trick their victims but sometimes aren’t after cash. They ask their “sweethearts” to "re-ship" items to locations in Nigeria purchased with stolen credit cards, simply because many U.S. retailers are dubious shipping to Nigeria so the criminals need a middleman.

Sweetheart scams appear to be on the rise as pointed out by Merchant Risk Council and Matchdoctor.com. Some scammers target Christian singles chat rooms where people feel safer. In certain occasions the scams took as long as a year, hunting for people's weaknesses and common interests and then go in for the kill. They have the time. They have the patience.

But the public becomes more and more savvy, even though the first thing most people say is “I can't believe I was so stupid”. RomanceScams is a yahoo group founded by victims maintaining a photo database of alleged scammers, links to dangerous online dating channels, and email samples in an effort to advertise and control this phenomenon. Rhoda Cook operates straightshooter.net with a substantial database of sweetheart con artists, and many different romance scams.

Money goes to money!

Warren Buffett, the Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., beat out Bill Gates on the annual list of billionaires of Forbes magazine.

Microsoft Corp.'s co-founder didn't manage to stay on the top spot of the list due to Buffett's wealth increase of about $10 billion to $62 billion in the last 12 months. The $10 billion increase came mainly from a gain in the company's shares, Forbes claimed in a statement released few days ago.

On the other hand, Gate's fortune rose by $2 billion reaching $58 billion. The Microsoft chairman, who's now 52 years old, fell to the third position on the worldwide list behind Mexican telecommunications Carlos Slim, 68, who has a net worth of $60 billion.

The list shows how the wealth expands in emerging markets around the world. In particular, Russia overtakes Germany as the 2nd- richest country in terms of billionaires as well as 70% of newcomers from India, Russia, China and the U.S. Also, while in 2006 most of the top 20 billionaires were Americans, this year there were only 4 of them.

It worth noting what Simon Carter- who manages $3 billion at Aegon Asset Management in Edinburgh- said about Buffett: " Warren Buffett is a good example of an extremely smart investor who has managed to stay loyal to his valuation discipline''.

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I was reading a similar e-mail just few days ago; coincidentally I was recently considering of taking on some "extra curriculum" work to supplement my monthly earnings. "Well, excellent staff, that is easy! Why didn't I go for it so long, wasting my time on facebook and youtube. These guys mean real business." I thought to myself.

Then I took a moment to think a bit harder. “Didn’t I "win" £1.3 million a couple of months ago on a very convincing e-mail supposedly from the online National Lottery department, which after exhausting investigation - I googled it – it came up to be a scam.” No it wasn’t! Really?

Several paid survey scam e-mails circulate our inboxes but several people have pointed that out to various organizations. There are many informative sites addressing this issue to the non-savvy Internet users who fall victims of online survey scams. The true is that a 90% of those sites fall under the category of scams, either not updating their retailers list for years - when blogging boomed in US, or not existing at all. So be careful, be aware, be informed and clever.

A few companies though, tested and trialled out, proved that aren't time and money wasters. You may have to pay a an one off fee for accessing their lists but you will make up for it in literally no time. When my results on those companies are coherent, more inclusive and double-checked I will share it with my fellow bloggers. Untill then, keep on dreaming.