Reading and Activity #4

            When starting my research paper I do typically go to Google and search the key words of my thesis. After I have skimmed over a few webpages getting a sense of what my topic will be about, I do the same thing with the databases with Randall. I am guilty of “super-sizing it” when it comes to research. I do not really have experience with finding books so I would have to use a librarian for some help. On the other hand, the computers I am more familiar with because of research from high school and librarians coming to classes.

            When writing a research paper, everybody knows the beginning steps are the most overwhelming. Where do you even start? Google is becoming, if it has not already, the almighty search engine even for research papers. James Morris, Dean of the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University, coined the term “infobesity” which is a way of describing googling research. The challenge is moving from infobesity to infodieting and the trick is to make databases look as user-friendly as Google. ProQuest and RedLightGreen released new interfaces making it easier for students to use. Research may involve hard work, but that is one of the challenges you inevitably will face in college. When it comes to evaluating information I have found I am with the 2/3 that look to their family and friends when in need of advice on how to evaluate. It is important to use every resource around you as possible. 

News Report #3

“Attacks on 6 Banks Frustrate Customers”

By: Nicole Perlroth

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/business/cyberattacks-on-6-american-banks-frustrate-customers.html?ref=technology           

          Six major American banks were attacked last week causing Internet black outs and customers could not access their online bank accounts. This group of hackers claims to have Middle Eastern ties, mainly coming from Iran. These banks consisted of Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citi Group, US Bank, PNC, and even NASDAQ along with the New York Stock Exchange. What they did was bombard the website with so much traffic until it eventually shut down. These attacks were not affecting the company network, only making the users/customers extremely upset because they did not know what was going on and were not getting any explanation from the banks. This group could not shut down Internet access with so much traffic without some help from a group with money like a nation. America blamed Iran’s government for aiding them in this attack but they denied any involvement. Even if the attacks were not helped, the government would have to know because they monitor their networks extensively. This group said they plan to attack daily until the anti-Muslim video mocking Muhammad is taken off the Internet.

           

            Internet hacking is becoming more and more of a problem seeing as how this is not the first time I have become aware of a hacking recently; it is really started to make me unnerved. After I kept reading, I was a little relieved to see this hack did not affect the companies network, but I will not be surprised if one day our networks will completely shut down. Where would all of our money go? If people can hack into networks all the way across the world, imagine what computer technicians will be able to do in years to come. It could be hacking or even building software to prevent anybody from hacking into your network. This anti-Muslim video has obviously upset the people of Iran due to the fact they killed an American ambassador over it and are now attacking our Internet and banks. After reading this it does make me nervous to keep my bank accounts online because with technology these days, you really never know when your money can be taken right out from under you and you cannot do anything about it.