You’d think that it would be common sense that Spyware is just ‘illegal’ everywhere. It’s basically the same as someone putting a camera inside your home, and selling the footage to someone. The FTC is really starting to crack down on Spyware users though, and taking away the profits of some of the larger spyware companies.

The latest fight the FTC is engaged in, is against RemoteSpy, keylogger software. The software was sold to clients, so that they could monitor consumer’s computers. The file could be hidden in any downloadable document. If clicked, it would then secretly install itself onto the person’s computer. It could show passwords that were typed in, image caps, websites that were visited.

This isn’t the first case the FTC has had against spyware companies. There have been numerous cases that have been won in varying states across the country. It really shouldn’t be a surprise though, as I think spyware makers, and distributors should see jail time.

[via: Network World]

An interesting video of Eric Schmidt talking about Barack Obama, and what the first CTO (Chief Technology Officer) will have to do.

In Obama’s tech policy statement, he mentions making government more transparent. It looks like he’s started the transparency in a way. His first weekly address has been posted on YouTube, and has received over 700,000 hits.

There’s nothing all that grand or special in the address. Just that we need to move forward together on the economy, and create more jobs.

It’s the action of posting the video on YouTube that is the real buzz. It’s a relief to see a leader have a grasp on technology, or atleast have people on his staff who are. I’m guessing the next step for the Obama site is to host their own videos. Because it kind of shows favor by just releasing Obama’s address on YouTube. There are other video hosting sites out there..

Here’s Obama’s video address for those interested:

Wow, is the only thing I can say after watching this video. Since there’s no audio to compliment the images, I’ll give you a brief summary.

KitsuneYume of the Sony PS3 boards is someone who can truly say he loves gaming. He has a disability to where he can’t play games like me, or anyone without a physical disability can. His disability hinders him from effectively grasping regular controllers, so instead of giving up, he devised a solution. He, and an engineer from GimpGear, Mark Felling constructed a controller that could allow him to keep gaming on. With the device, he is able to control his games using his mouth, feet and fingers.

Enjoy the video…

It seems like everything is an addiction these days. I like to play video games for hours at a time, so therefore I must be addicted. I have a bowl of Lucky Charms every evening when I get home from work, please someone stop me before I get out of control. At least I’m not like the internet addicts in China.

China has officially recognized internet addiction as a real disease. So what constitutes ‘internet addiction’ over someone who just really likes to update MySpace throughout the day?

The symptoms of Chinese internet addiction are: spending six hours or more per day online, increased difficulty sleeping, yearning to be online, mental or physical distress.

The problem of internet addiction has been around for sometime in China. Since 2005 there have been clinics to help people get over their addiction the world wide web.

It’s kind of sad to know that people can spend upwards of six hours a day straight online. Of course I do it for my job so I can’t say much. Of course I don’t have withdrawals, if anything I feel relief when I get home and don’t have to be ‘online’.

Source: ITWorld

Al Gore, the man is nothing if he isn’t entertaining. He’s the person that invented the internet, ran for president and lost. He went crazy for a couple of years, and then came back to win a Nobel prize.

Al Gore has been a key figure this past decade. Most notably has been his fight against the worldwide battle known as global warming global climate change (for those in the ‘know’). Inconvenient Truth was pretty humorous, and did its job to scare people into ‘caring’ about the environment. Just like George Bush using fear to rally people to fight terrorism, that same fear is being utilized to inspire the fight against global warm….climate change. But this isn’t about Gore, and his ManBearPig (South Park, Yay!) like attitude, this is about his views towards Web 2.0.

At the Web 2.0 Summit, Al Gore talks about the effects of Web 2.0 and how it can be used in the future. He believes that Web 2.0 can create a community, to set the rally cry against global climate change. He goes on to compare how Obama was able to establish his community online, and use that community to convey his message. He believes those same people can get the message out about our dying planet.

Throughout most of his speech, I was rolling my eyes but he does make a point that people should listen to. He talks about the unification of the medium of television and the internet. I, like most in the tech sector believe that the internet is the future of information gathering. Although most still watch TV for their news, the internet is making its big push. ESPN, is one place you can notice this change. I was watching Sports Center last night, and more than a few times the anchors were pulling quotes and thoughts from people that commented on their site. I know it’s a small example, but like Al Gore states, this is one exciting change I’m ready to see happen.

I mentioned Global Climate Change earlier so I feel obligated to provide information, and if you want true facts about it here are some great links. None of them are persuaded by either side of the spectrum. It’s all scientific study, because to me that’s what the global climate change community needs. Not Web 2.0 with user groups, but true non-biased facts.

Jens Bischof on Global Climate Change

Jennifer Marohasy

IPCC Argument & Counter Argument