Will this control HUMAN in the (very near) future?

This one is definitely fantastic but mind boggling!

Ed Boyden, in this presentation shows the world that by inserting a light-sensitive algae gene into brain cells (virus-like), one can selectively activate or de-activate specific neurons with fiber-optic implants. In the field of medicine, I would say this is a great discovery as neural prosthetics in on the horizon.

Here's the 19min video presentation of Ed Boyden at TED.

Ed Boyden leads the Synthetic Neurobiology Group, which invents technologies to reveal how cognition and emotion arise from brain networks at the MIT Media Labs.

But is that about all? In my honest opinion, this is something that can be used to program human and be controlled, totally. NWO?

I use to say that the human mind has no firewall, is this the start of putting a firewall in the human mind?

What's your take?

BitDefender is Best AV (Q1.2011), Launches BitDefender Scan

The BitDefender Internet Security 2011 garnered the highest Top Protection Score against other leading AV in the market. (Cross post)

BitDefender®, an award-winning provider of innovative internet security solutions, has performed best overall in the Q1/2011 testing from leading security testing organisation AV-Test.

The report looked at twenty-two security software suites in the categories of protection, repair and performance. BitDefender Internet Security 2011 was found to have the joint-best overall score, alongside another product that uses BitDefender technology. It was also the only product to receive the maximum score for protection.

The results further establish BitDefender’s position as a leader for internet security technology, and come soon after independent testing organisation AV Comparatives also gave the company a top rating for its performance.

Andreas Marx, AV-Test CEO, commented:

“BitDefender offered the best protection during our tests, which ran for the full first quarter of 2011. Besides this, it also reached very good scores for cleaning up already infected systems without slowing-down the system too much or producing a lot of false positives. That's a very impressive result."

Viorel Canja, Head of BitDefender Labs, said:

“Technical testing of security software by organisations like AV-Test is very important to us, so it is always great to see us perform so well.

“Crucially, not only has BitDefender technology performed very well in this test, we also had four of the top seven places in the latest AV Comparatives test, too. This really highlights how we are leading the field in providing internet security solutions.”

See the test result details here.

BitDefender also luanched the BitDefender Security Scan. A tool to provide information on the speed, stability and security of Windows machines.

Read more about the BitDefender Security Scan here.

To know more about BitDefender, you can send email to info(AT)isens.(DOT)asia or visit Touch Solutions Incorporated (www.touchgroup.net).

Related articles

• Have the biggest players dropped the ball on AV Protection? (ghacks.net)

Osama Bin Laden: Still a Threat, even after his death

The death of Osama Bin Laden is definitely a blockbuster news all over the Internet. Specially that the blow by blow (almost) account of the operation was witnessed by a blogger and twitted to the Internet community.

The popularity of the issue will definitely be capitalized by the cyber crooks, and I believe while I'm writing this blog, they are already compromising facebook and twitter users.

Osama Bin Laden when he was alive was a peace and physical security threat. Now that he is dead, he becomes a threat to information security.

So, be careful when clicking those links being sent to you about the Bin Laden thing. It maybe another trap!

We all knew Bin Laden to be the bad guy. In fairness to him (Osama), is he really the bad guy as what we have know him?

“Throughout the world ... its agents, client states and satellites are on the defensive — on the moral defensive, the intellectual defensive, and the political and economic defensive. Freedom movements arise and assert themselves. They're doing so on almost every continent populated by man — in the hills of Afghanistan, in Angola, in Kampuchea, in Central America ... [They are] freedom fighters.” - This is a cross post from this site.

The final take is yours. My primary concern here is to warn the Internet users on cyber crooks maximizing the death of Bin Laden.

Additional articles you can read:

Related articles

• Osama Bin Laden dead: How dangerous is Al-Qaida without him? (slate.com)
• Osama bin Laden Has Been Killed; President Obama Announces Osama bin Laden has be Killed (sugarslam.com)
• State, Local Leaders on the Death of Osama Bin Laden (laist.com)
• Osama Bin Laden's body 'Identified by sister's brain' (readyfortheshift.com)
• Photos Of Dead Osama Bin Laden May Be Faked (via CBS New York) (thespiritportal.wordpress.com)
• Hollywood and Osama bin Laden (slog.thestranger.com)

To DOs After a Fresh Natty (Ubuntu 11.04) install or a Natty Upgrade

sThe long wait is over! The latest version of Ubuntu operating system 11.04 a.k.a Natty Narwhal is finally released!

"The Ubuntu team is pleased to announce Ubuntu 11.04, code-named “Natty Narwhal”. 11.04 continues Ubuntu’s proud tradition of integrating the latest and greatest open source technologies into a high-quality,easy-to-use Linux distribution. This tutorial will explain How to upgrade from ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick) to ubuntu 11.04 (Natty)"

As I have mentioned in my earlier post, the new version of Ubuntu is using a new interface called the Unity. Great work and presents a lot of promise for a better user experience.

Here are some of the "must do" things after your upgrade or fresh install of Ubuntu 11.04.

• Install Ubuntu Tweak to help you install common applications you will need.
  • On the terminal, issue the following commands. (or you copy paste).
    • sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa
    • sudo apt-get update
    • sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak
• Add the Medibuntu Repository so you will be able to install codecs and other applications with patent issues.
  • On the terminal issue the following commands.
    • sudo wget --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/$(lsb_release -cs).list
    • sudo apt-get update
    • sudo apt-get --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring
      • Note: If the Medibuntu keyring will not install, try:
        • sudo apt-get install medibuntu-keyring
    • sudo apt-get update
  • This will make the applications from the Medibuntu Repository to appear in the Ubuntu Software Center.
    • sudo apt-get install app-install-data-medibuntu apport-hooks-medibuntu
• Enable the partner repositories in the source.list file.
  • sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
  • Uncomment the following lines:
    • deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu natty partner
    • deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu natty partner
• Install media application and codecs
  • Install VLC
    • sudo apt-get install vlc
  • Install codec needed to play your multimedia files
    • sudo apt-get install non-free-codecs libxine1-ffmpeg gxine mencoder libquicktime1 flac faac faad sox ffmpeg2theora libmpeg2-4 uudeview flac libmpeg3-1 mpeg3-utils mpegdemux liba52-dev mpeg2dec vorbis-tools id3v2 mpg321 mpg123 libflac++6 ffmpeg libmp4v2-0 totem-mozilla icedax tagtool easytag id3tool lame nautilus-script-audio-convert libmad0 libjpeg-progs
• Install encrypted DVD support application.
  • sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2
  • sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/./install-css.sh
• Install flashplugin so you will be able to watch videos and websites using flash
  • for 32 bit architecture
    • sudo apt-get install flashplugin-installer
  • for 64 bit architecture (note: use at your own risk, this is a development release.
    • sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sevenmachines/flash
    • sudo apt-get update
    • sudo apt-get install flashplugin64-installer
• Install Openshot Video Editor. So far the best video editor I have used in Linux
  • You can use Ubuntu Tweak to install this or
    • sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jonoomph/openshot-edge
    • sudo apt-get update
    • sudo apt-get install openshot openshot-doc
• Install Instant Messengers. Although empathy is good enough, you may want to use pidgin and skype
  • sudo apt-get install pidgin
  • sudo apt-get install skype (make sure the partner repositories are enabled)
• Install the latest JRE (Java runtime environment). This is needed by some applications.
  • sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ferramroberto/java
  • sudo apt-get update
  • sudo apt-get install sun-java6 sun-java6-plugin sun-java6-fonts
• Install archive management applications:
  • sudo apt-get install unace unrar zip unzip p7zip-full p7zip-rar sharutils rar uudeview mpack lha arj cabextract file-roller
• Install Gimp and/or Pinta. These image editors allow you to create, edit images like the pro does.
  • Gimp. You can install this using Ubuntu-tweak or by the following commands.
    • sudo -add-apt-repository ppa:matthaeus123/mrw-gimp-svn
    • sudo apt-get update
    • sudo apt-get install gimp gimp-data gimp-plugin-registry gimp-data-extras
  • Pinta
    • sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8
    • sudo apt-get update
    • sudo apt-get install pinta
• Install CompizConfig Settings Manager so you will be able to tweak Unity at your own taste
  • sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
• Make LibreOffice use the Global Menu bar
  • sudo apt-get install lo-menubar
• If you want to have a weather indicator in your panel, Unity does not have it by default. To display weather indicator:
  • sudo apt-get install indicator-weather
  • after the installation, you can run it from dash by pressing the Super key and type weather. Double-lick the icon to run the appllication.
• Unity2D - If your computer is quite old and the graphics will not be able to support the Unity, don't despair yet. You can still use the Unity by installing the Unity2D.
  • sudo add-apt-repository ppa:unity-2d-team/unity-2d-daily
  • sudo apt-get update
  • sudo apt-get install unity-2d

If you cannot adjust using the Unity interface, you can always use the Gnome2 Interface. But I tell, don't dismiss the Unity without giving it a try. It's really nice. Or you can try installing the new Gnome3 Shell. But note that once you install the Gnome3 Shell, your Unity will not be working anymore. As of the moment, the two desktop environment can't just co-exist.

You can download the installer here for the 32bit architecture and here for the 64bit architecture.

Red Hat Fix for Critical Vulnerabilities

Red Hat announced earlier a fix for security vulnerabilities on the following applications, rated as severe:

• Firefox 
• CVE-2011-0065 CVE-2011-0066 CVE-2011-0067 CVE-2011-0069 CVE-2011-0070 CVE-2011-0071 CVE-2011-0072 CVE-2011-0073 CVE-2011-0074 CVE-2011-0075 CVE-2011-0077 CVE-2011-0078 CVE-2011-0080 CVE-2011-0081 CVE-2011-1202

•  Thunderbird 
• CVE-2011-0070 CVE-2011-0071 CVE-2011-0073 CVE-2011-0074 CVE-2011-0075 CVE-2011-0077 CVE-2011-0078 CVE-2011-0080 CVE-2011-0081

• Seamonkey 
• CVE-2011-0072 CVE-2011-0073 CVE-2011-0074 CVE-2011-0075 CVE-2011-0077 CVE-2011-0078 CVE-2011-0080
  

Affected Red Hat products for Firefox vulnerabilities are:

• RHEL Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client), Red Hat Desktop (v. 4), Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server), Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (v. 4), Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (v. 4.8.z), Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client), Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6), Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES (v. 4), Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES (v. 4.8.z), Red Hat Enterprise Linux EUS (v.  5.6.z server), Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6), Red Hat Enterprise Linux Long Life (v. 5.6 server), Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS (v. 4), Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6)

Full details of can be found in the following links:

• Firefox Vulnerability
• Thunderbird Vulnerability
• Seamonkey Vulnerability

As mentioned, these vulnerabilities are rated severe and patches should be applied immediately.

Stay protected!

The new Yahoo! Mail Interface - its about time!

After a long time that I have not been checking my Yahoo! Mail, earlier today, something pushed me today to check it. So I did!

There's no argument, Yahoo! Mail is one of the most popular if not really the most popular free web mail service in the Internet World. Sometime ago I stopped using my Yahoo! Mail since I got tired of its interface and some of its functionalities have not really improved overtime.

 

But today, here's what I got in my inbox when I opened my mail. An invitation to upgrade my email account to the newest version of Yahoo! Mail. I am under the impression that not all Yahoo! Mail users have been sent the invitation already. (Maybe no, maybe yes).

When I finally clicked the upgrade button, I was happy with what I saw. Its new interface is just right and fantastic for me.

The interface is cleaner than before and the theme colors from the selection are just right for the eyes.

Here's the link if you want to see what's inside the new Yahoo! Mail now and how it works.

Here are some of the screen shots.

The landing page after login.

The Inbox. (Crop out my mail info)

The Contact management screen.

The theme selection screen.

The mail option/settting screen.

The Update screen, for you FB and Twitter account/s

Overall, the new Yahoo! Mail is better than before. So go ahead and check your mail now.

And hopefully, this will bring life to Yahoo! again. :)

The Cloud Crisis and the Cloud Crisis!

Few days back, former US Vice President Al Gore and the advocates of the climate change have renewed their call to doctors and military leaders to help save our earth from destruction.

"Doctors must take a leading role in highligthing the dangers of climate change, which will lead to conflict, desease and ill-health, and threatens global security, according to a stark warning from an unusual alliance of physiscians and military leaders." (Source here: http://goo.gl/2xO2m)

While they are trying to resolve the current "cloud crisis" in order to save the human race, some people are trying to promote another crisis in the cloud. This time the Internet (Cloud). Users in some parts of the world are facing serious threats to their Internet freedom. (Source here: http://goo.gl/ti40y - PDF)

Here's some highlights in the past (or a little over) two months: 

• Egypt, Internet in the entire country was shut down during the civil unrest against their former President Mubarak
• Egypt, 10 April 2011, Mikael Sanad Nabil was sentenced to three years in prison for "insulting the military" in his blog postings
• Bahrain, Zakariya Rashid Hassan who ran an oline forum for residents of his village died in military custody after being arrested and charged for "spreading false news". He was inlcuded amongst the 450 people arrested apparently for being a "political activist". (Elsewhere in the Internet, some news is saying that Zakariya was beaten to death.) Source here: http://goo.gl/B1ys7
• UAE, three bloggers were arrested - Ahmed Mansoor, Fahad Salem and Nasser bin Ghaith. (Source here: http://goo.gl/q522p)
• China, arrested and detained Ai Weiwei, an artist and an activist. (Source here:  http://goo.gl/ZRjP1)
• Libya, Internet was shutdown due to a wide spread protest against the 41 year-old rule of Gadhafi. (Source here: http://goo.gl/RQzH7)
• Iran, China, Tunisia - Internet restrictions are very high, killing the purpose of the Internet already
• Uganda, the government asked the ISPs to shutdown access to Facebook and Twitter. (Source here: http://goo.gl/569yf)

And just yesterday at Facebook Town Hall event, US President Obama said this:

"I want people to feel the same about the next Internet breakthrough as they did about the moonwalk."

Honestly, I love the statement, but sadly my question is: 

"How can the users of the Internet would feel that same excitement if they are being oppressed?"

Let us not forget that Internet is for everyone. 

It may be used in both good and bad intentions but that should not stop everyone from using the Internet technology. 

We should keep the Internet innovating for the benefit of the people using it. And we should protect and keep the type of freedom we experience in using the Internet.

"Internet for EVERYONE." (www.isoc.org)

What's your take?