|
Recently, I wrote on the Chinese Government's attempts to censor the content of China-based blogs and websites. Then I heard about a recent study on Internet filtering in Iran, which identified the extent to which the Iranian Government controls access to or content on Iranian websites, blogs, message boards and in emails, and China's efforts seem almost mild in comparison.
MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS Thirty-one to 34 per cent of all websites tested were blocked; online content in the Farsi language (a popular Persian language) is far more likely to be blocked than content that is written in English; most of the filtering and blocking is done through the use of commercial filtering software that was developed mainly for use by companies in the United States that would typically use it internally to restrict employee access to certain websites while on the job. The study was done by the OpenNet Initiative and can be viewed on: http://www.opennetinitiative.net/iran/. SPYWARE AND HOW TO PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER Spyware is software that secretly monitors the activities or actions of an Internet user, gathering information without the user knowing that this is happening silently in the background. In many instances, spyware comes included as a hidden component in free software that can be downloaded from the Internet. You can download software that removes and protects your computer from spyware. A good free option for this is Ad-Aware, which can be downloaded at http://www.lavasoftusa.com. That aside, you should be very wary and observant, not only of the terms and conditions that apply to software that you download intentionally, but also of pop-ups and prompts that can result in the unintentional installation of unwanted products. WEBSITES OF THE WEEK http://www.jamaicagasprices.com.jm. This fairly new website allows you to compare petrol prices at select gas stations in the Corporate Area. You can also help other motorists by submitting details of petrol prices that you have seen or paid around town. Http://www.howstuffworks.com. Good for all age groups, but perfect for the parents of children with inquiring minds, howstuffworks.com offers easy-to-understand explanations of how just about everything around us actually works. THE TOP 100 GADGETS MobileMagazine.com recently featured its list of the 'Top 100 Gadgets of All Time'. From the Harmonica (1857) to the Rubik Cube (1974) to the Apple Powerbook (1991), it offers an educational and interesting trip back in time, as well as a better understanding of the origins some of the more common staples of everyday life today. View the complete list at http://www.mobilemagazine.com/archives/2005/03/the_top_100_gad_1.html. http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050629/business/business6.html |
Articles 
