The Independence Day celebrations in Sri Lanka have been fraught with drama. After a series of bombings rocked Sri Lanka and a call from a rebel group warned that there are going to be bombs in Colombo in some places, the military went on high alert. And one security measure resorted to was to block SMS on mobile phones for the duration of independence day festivities, in order to thwart attempts to organize the rebel attacks. Telecom companies advised their subscribers that text messaging services of all mobile operators would not be available from 6.00 a.m. to noon. (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL81366.htm)
A smart measure on the part of the Sri Lankan government, in my opinion, especially in light of the success of the EDSA overthrow of the Erap government owing in part to the efficient coordination of “people power efforts” through SMS. And I think that measure would be a big bump on the rebels’ plans; it is highly likely that SMS is one of their main means of communication. It’s refreshing to see that there are actually countries that learn from the past experiences of their neighbors. Let’s just hope that the measure cripples the rebel attack but not the government’s efforts in thwarting the rebels and protecting the citizenry.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
is sidejacking illegal under Philippine Law?
My loose definition of sidejacking is when someone uses software to monitor the activity of people using public wifi hotspots.
CNN reported about the dangers of using public hotspots for wifi. One of the dangers they reported was "sidejacking."
Considering that people using public wifi hotspots are informed that these are generally unsecured networks configured for open access, will sidejacking be punishable under our current laws?
Is it unauthorized access? The argument against it being unauthorized access is that persons who use these public networks are informed that information they send out can be viewed by third parties. Technically sidejacking is only watching what others are doing. Unfortunately that can include information like usernames and passwords, making it a gateway to a plethora of punishable hacking activities. Yet, the activity of sidejacking seems to sidestep illegality.
CNN reported about the dangers of using public hotspots for wifi. One of the dangers they reported was "sidejacking."
Considering that people using public wifi hotspots are informed that these are generally unsecured networks configured for open access, will sidejacking be punishable under our current laws?
Is it unauthorized access? The argument against it being unauthorized access is that persons who use these public networks are informed that information they send out can be viewed by third parties. Technically sidejacking is only watching what others are doing. Unfortunately that can include information like usernames and passwords, making it a gateway to a plethora of punishable hacking activities. Yet, the activity of sidejacking seems to sidestep illegality.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
NBI Lines Cleared
Anyone who has lined up for an NBI clearance would know that it's not a very pleasant experience. The applicants are all crammed together in one small and hot place. They have to line up and patiently wait for their turn. At times, they even have to go to different floors in a building to process their application. Then they have to deal with some grumpy NBI employees who will make life more difficult for them. They must also master the art of removing the fingerprint ink from their hands. The unfortunate ones would have to repeat the experience after a few days to claim their clearance if they happen to have a namesake who has a criminal record.
Finally, someone in the NBI decided to end the agony of the applicants. Last Friday, the NBI introduced the NBI Clearance Renewal Card (CRC). Applicants can get this card which stores their vital information. When they need to renew their clearance, they no longer have to go to the NBI offices. Rather, they can simply go to the NBI Automated Clearance Machines (ACM) in different malls and renew their clearance there. By inserting their CRCs in the ACMs and after paying the renewal fee, applicants can get their renewed NBI clearance in a few minutes.
Of course, applicants might need to line up to get their CRCs but I'm sure it will be worth the wait. This will definitely make things easier for the applicants and for the NBI. Hopefully, this will be for good already because I definitely wouldn't want to go back to the old and tiring process.
Source:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080201-116215/NBI-automates-clearance-renewal-in-RP-malls-offices
Finally, someone in the NBI decided to end the agony of the applicants. Last Friday, the NBI introduced the NBI Clearance Renewal Card (CRC). Applicants can get this card which stores their vital information. When they need to renew their clearance, they no longer have to go to the NBI offices. Rather, they can simply go to the NBI Automated Clearance Machines (ACM) in different malls and renew their clearance there. By inserting their CRCs in the ACMs and after paying the renewal fee, applicants can get their renewed NBI clearance in a few minutes.
Of course, applicants might need to line up to get their CRCs but I'm sure it will be worth the wait. This will definitely make things easier for the applicants and for the NBI. Hopefully, this will be for good already because I definitely wouldn't want to go back to the old and tiring process.
Source:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080201-116215/NBI-automates-clearance-renewal-in-RP-malls-offices
Thoughts on IT misuse and doomsday scenarios . . .
I cannot help but notice that more recent posts seem to focus on possible abuses or misuses of information technology (i.e. high-tech bank robberies, Die-Hard 4 type chaos, misuse of playstation computing power, etc.), within the Philippine setting.
Although I agree that these are possible developments, I do not think that they are likely to happen in the country anytime soon.
There are several reasons why, but I just want to highlight two of them. First of all we do not have the IT infrastructure to facilitate such a large-scale and high-level of misuse. Yes, a Filipino developed the “lovebug”, but notice that the country which probably suffered the most damage ($10B worth) is the United States, whose IT infrastructure is relatively more advanced than the Philippines’ in terms of the degree of connectivity of the different sectors within society. Yes we have relatively newer IT hardware but the Philippine IT infrastructure is market driven; the current trend is to development Philippine IT capability in order to facilitate the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. There is no push towards the interconnectivity of the different sectors of society, such as the government and business sector. There isn’t even a trend towards a higher degree of IT interconnectivity within a specific business concern. Consider the banking sector; yes there may be some banks which offer “internet banking” but most Philippine banks focus on traditional IT banking applications and systems which do not require that much interaction with other banks. So potential “high-tech” robbers will only have a handful of banks to choose from, and most probably these banks already have sufficient security measures to deter attempts to illegally access their systems.
Secondly, as Mr. Poblete pointed out, the Philippine government lacks political will. It lacks the political will to push the application of IT in other areas (i.e. Education and Government/Governance, a discussed in class), and not only to facilitate the growth of the certain businesses. “Ningas Kugon” I think is the proper term to describe the behavior of the Philippine government in terms of developing websites for its different departments. Only when the need arises, such as when the international community notices the government’s deficiencies in the area of “e-governance” does the government move to improve its IT capabilities. Even the development of our law on eCommerce (RA 8792) was due to international pressure.
We may be safe from the doomsday scenario of Die-Hard 4, but we also cannot develop and make full use of our IT capability with these obstacles in place.
http://www.bworldonline.com/OnlineExclusives/ebank/inside.php?id=001
Although I agree that these are possible developments, I do not think that they are likely to happen in the country anytime soon.
There are several reasons why, but I just want to highlight two of them. First of all we do not have the IT infrastructure to facilitate such a large-scale and high-level of misuse. Yes, a Filipino developed the “lovebug”, but notice that the country which probably suffered the most damage ($10B worth) is the United States, whose IT infrastructure is relatively more advanced than the Philippines’ in terms of the degree of connectivity of the different sectors within society. Yes we have relatively newer IT hardware but the Philippine IT infrastructure is market driven; the current trend is to development Philippine IT capability in order to facilitate the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. There is no push towards the interconnectivity of the different sectors of society, such as the government and business sector. There isn’t even a trend towards a higher degree of IT interconnectivity within a specific business concern. Consider the banking sector; yes there may be some banks which offer “internet banking” but most Philippine banks focus on traditional IT banking applications and systems which do not require that much interaction with other banks. So potential “high-tech” robbers will only have a handful of banks to choose from, and most probably these banks already have sufficient security measures to deter attempts to illegally access their systems.
Secondly, as Mr. Poblete pointed out, the Philippine government lacks political will. It lacks the political will to push the application of IT in other areas (i.e. Education and Government/Governance, a discussed in class), and not only to facilitate the growth of the certain businesses. “Ningas Kugon” I think is the proper term to describe the behavior of the Philippine government in terms of developing websites for its different departments. Only when the need arises, such as when the international community notices the government’s deficiencies in the area of “e-governance” does the government move to improve its IT capabilities. Even the development of our law on eCommerce (RA 8792) was due to international pressure.
We may be safe from the doomsday scenario of Die-Hard 4, but we also cannot develop and make full use of our IT capability with these obstacles in place.
http://www.bworldonline.com/OnlineExclusives/ebank/inside.php?id=001
Small Town's Big Plans
My dad's family is from a small town up north, in Nueva Vizcaya, called Aritao. (No relation to our classmate Benjamin Aritao; I'm sure, I asked him already.) It is six hours away from Manila and two hours away from Baguio. In Aritao, the air is cool at day and chilly at night, the mountain view is breathtaking, and the people are kind and friendly, even if one does not speak Ilocano. Although I grew up and is domiciled in Manila, my family (meaning my father, mother, brother and I) find ourselves going back to Aritao not just for the holy week break but also the election season, being registered voters there.
Just this week I saw my dad browsing through this small brightly-colored catalogue – a catalogue featuring the products and produce of Aritao. The catalogue was created by the municipal government, with the aim of bridging production and market consumption, and hopefully, to provide essential information to potential investor-partners and buyers.
There are sections that feature crops, fruits & vegetables, processed foods, and handicrafts, gifts, toys & housewares. Aside from product information, a company profile is also provided, which includes contact details of these enterprises. What I have noticed is that very few have landline numbers; some just provided for cell phone numbers while some simply stated “c/o Mayor's Office, Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya”. Being SME's (small and medium-scale enterprises) in a rural mountanous region, communication is indeed a problem.
I am proud to say that my kababayans have the capability to become competitive in the national, and even world, market. This started already with our dried mango and other mango products, as well as tamarind and rice, being exported abroad. For sure, the rest of them have so much more to offer. They only need the opportunity to be heard, to be known to many. This starts with government initiatives like this product catalogue, and follows-through through better communication and information facilities. Hopefully I can do something about it to help, and this starts by posting this blog entry.
Just this week I saw my dad browsing through this small brightly-colored catalogue – a catalogue featuring the products and produce of Aritao. The catalogue was created by the municipal government, with the aim of bridging production and market consumption, and hopefully, to provide essential information to potential investor-partners and buyers.
There are sections that feature crops, fruits & vegetables, processed foods, and handicrafts, gifts, toys & housewares. Aside from product information, a company profile is also provided, which includes contact details of these enterprises. What I have noticed is that very few have landline numbers; some just provided for cell phone numbers while some simply stated “c/o Mayor's Office, Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya”. Being SME's (small and medium-scale enterprises) in a rural mountanous region, communication is indeed a problem.
I am proud to say that my kababayans have the capability to become competitive in the national, and even world, market. This started already with our dried mango and other mango products, as well as tamarind and rice, being exported abroad. For sure, the rest of them have so much more to offer. They only need the opportunity to be heard, to be known to many. This starts with government initiatives like this product catalogue, and follows-through through better communication and information facilities. Hopefully I can do something about it to help, and this starts by posting this blog entry.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Linking Playstation3s and Mature Ratings
Playstation3s are powerful pieces of hardware. They can be used to guide ICBM's and compute the length of time it takes a protein to fold - a medical phenomenon related to cancer research - but the Philippine government is not regulating their sale. The computing power of PS3's has been recognized since 2006 by the Folding@home foundation since 2006.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5287254.stm
However, the use and sale of these dangerous devices is not being regulated. It is only a matter of time before some unscrupulous individuals make use of several linked Playstation3s to perform dastardly deeds. And while on the subject of consoles like the Playstation3, video games usually have a rating system attached to their cover or container in order in order to regulate their sale to minors. This rating system is not being followed as I have seen toddlers buying games that are rated MATURE. Is video game regulation part of the MTRCB's job or is this another area that the government has neglected? Sadly, must we wait for a massacre perpetrated by minors inspired by violent games? Maybe the answer to the latter question is Yes.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5287254.stm
However, the use and sale of these dangerous devices is not being regulated. It is only a matter of time before some unscrupulous individuals make use of several linked Playstation3s to perform dastardly deeds. And while on the subject of consoles like the Playstation3, video games usually have a rating system attached to their cover or container in order in order to regulate their sale to minors. This rating system is not being followed as I have seen toddlers buying games that are rated MATURE. Is video game regulation part of the MTRCB's job or is this another area that the government has neglected? Sadly, must we wait for a massacre perpetrated by minors inspired by violent games? Maybe the answer to the latter question is Yes.
Student Activism and Laptops
One of the greatest UP traditions is student activism. Instead of studying, some UP students choose to champion the cause of the poor and oppressed from the provinces and fight against capitalism by protesting against tuition fee increases and staging noisy rallies. But although they hate capitalism, these revolutionaries all possess cellphones and even have access to laptops.
Passing by Vinzon's Hall one day, I saw several of these activists using a brand new laptop to recruit new sympathizers via a powerpoint presentation. Oh well, guerrilla tactics I guess; use the tools of your enemy against them and all that jazz. But it is all just a question of adaptation. The message remains the same but the medium changes. The current trend of the world seems to be connectivity and everyone seems to be in to that no matter how much they hate infrastructure, the stock market, bathing, America and capitalism.
Even Osama Bin Laden and his crew use the Internet to reach a wider audience so the fact that UP activists use laptops should not be a surprise. But if they have access to brand new laptops then they can certainly afford a tuition fee increase.
Passing by Vinzon's Hall one day, I saw several of these activists using a brand new laptop to recruit new sympathizers via a powerpoint presentation. Oh well, guerrilla tactics I guess; use the tools of your enemy against them and all that jazz. But it is all just a question of adaptation. The message remains the same but the medium changes. The current trend of the world seems to be connectivity and everyone seems to be in to that no matter how much they hate infrastructure, the stock market, bathing, America and capitalism.
Even Osama Bin Laden and his crew use the Internet to reach a wider audience so the fact that UP activists use laptops should not be a surprise. But if they have access to brand new laptops then they can certainly afford a tuition fee increase.
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