DOMINICA - Life Unscripted on the Nature Island

As the popularity of a site increases, so does the risk to users as criminals are quick to exploit any new technology or trend. Sites like Facebook, MySpace and Linkedln are particularly attractive to cyber criminals who use a variety of social hacking techniques and malicious software to capitalize on the unsuspecting user.

The next time you sign in to stay in touch, please consider these security tips:

1.Information posted on the Internet never really goes away - Think twice before you post those crazy college photos! They are likely to remain on the Internet indefinitely - even if you “delete” them - in cached copies of pages, copies saved on other people’s sites, etc

2.Passwords, passwords, passwords - Use a strong password that contains a combination of numbers, special characters, and capital / lower case letters. Consider using a password that is different from ones you use on sites that contain particularly sensitive information, such as online banking sites.

3.Add-ons add risk-Plugin’s such as “smiley faces” are popular add-ons by teens and young adults. While they add a personal touch, they are a common means for cyber criminals to install malicious software on your computer. In short, limit add-ons to limit your risk.

4.Anti-Virus is critical - Pictures, files, and links on these sites are increasingly becoming infected with viruses, malware, spyware, key loggers, etc. Keeping your anti-virus up-to-date is a critical line of defense.

5.Understand the security and privacy policies - Don’t rely on default settings. Restrict access to the information you share to only those you personally grant access. Also, review a site’s privacy policy to understand who “owns” the data posted to these sites.

6.Exercise caution - Just as you have learned to be cautious while surfing the Web or opening attachments contained in email, you should be equally cautious when engaging with people on social networking sites. Verify the identity of “friends” before granting them access to your personal information.

7.What you share can be used against you - Seemingly harmless information such as your pet’s name, your high-school mascot, your birthday, etc., are oftentimes answers to challenge questions used to reset your password on a secure Web site. Be wary of surveys that often ask for this type of information.

in Ramblings 1 Comment →

We are in the first week of March which is recognized as Women’s History Month but there are many people around the region who would not have paid attention to this very important celebration.

For some of us there is still a small matter of getting over the Haiti earthquake disaster, followed so quickly by another in Chile. Meanwhile, there is the ongoing concern over the prevailing drought conditions.

The irony of this entire setting is that women will have to play an important role in ensuring that all of the societies spoke of above get over the hurdles they are facing and are able to move to the next level of reconstruction or development.

The fact is, there have been lots remarkable strong women who would have and who still continue to give sterling service to the their country and race.

Women like our very own Dame Eugenia Charles (former Prime Minister of Dominica) or Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliams, Miss World Jennifer Hosten of Grenada, and athletes like Merle Ottey must be allowed to retain top spots as women who have done much and who are deserving of having their names in a special bracket of Caribbean life.

The responsibility is on this generation to ensure that many of our great Caribbean women are spoken and written about and place in areas of spotlight that will let everyone know who they are and why they have been elevated.

And what is it that we say? That charity begins at home?

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One would have to add to the equation when it is being considered that the earthquake (8.8) that struck Chile on 27 Feb., 2010, caused much less damage, including loss of lives, than the tremor in Haiti a few weeks earlier on 12 Jan.

The Chile quake has killed approximately 700 people according to the most recent records, but the one measuring 7.0, killed more than 200,000 people in Haiti.

So does it stands to reason that buildings in Haiti were constructed quickly and very cheaply?

Chile, on the other hand, is a much richer country and the people do have the ability, financial and otherwise to install more stringent building codes and then have the people of the country adhere to them.

When it comes to construction, especially of buildings and other facilities designed to accommodate hundreds of people at the same time ensured that it is “safety first”.

These are the types of situations that seem to allow for great loss of lives and it is important that lessons are learnt.

It is, however, not all in the hands of the authorities as business and home owners, too, have a responsibility to ensure that building is done properly and according to specifications building codes demanded by the local authorities

This is what happened to Haiti.

in Opinion 3 Comments →