Foot Op 2 (hopefully better than the first one)

Well Monday is rapidly approaching, and I’m preparing myself for the second op on my left foot after the outcome of the first one wasn’t up to my surgeons high standard. Currently my big toe is almost underneath my second toe, such is the severe angle it’s at, of course because of this the removal of the bunion from the first op has had no impact at all. Not only that but the metatarsal head on the second toe has popped it’s head below skin level, probably feeling left out.

I’m hoping they’ll be quite drastic on Monday, as the similar op I had on my right foot several years ago has been great, so I’m going to ask if they’ll do what they did to that one.

Security Now! Episode 151

The new episode of the Security Now! podcast episode #151, is now available over on the GRC website and also over at the twit.tv site. In this episode entitled  “Phracking Phorm” they discuss the usual new security news, and the main feature is about Phorm Webwise and it’s implications. Anyone who has an interest in online privacy and security issues I’d recommend you take a listen. The episode is around one hour and forty five minutes long, and Phorm gets a mention at the beginning of the episode, then the Phorm section begins one hour in. A  transcript of the show is also available.

So big are the concerns they have on the issue, they’re going to devote some more time to it in 2 weeks time (episode 153) And including input direct from the UK.

If you click on the image below you can download the high quality mp3 version.

If you head over to GRC’s Security Now podcast # 151 you can also download the low quality audio version or get a transcript and notes for the episode, the guys are so shocked by Phorm they’re going to do a second episode all about it.

Thanks to Leo and Steve for allowing Anti-Phorm campaigners to use the image above.

Wrath of the Lich King EU Beta signups

lizzard has begun allowing EU based World of Warcraft subscribers to register for the beta of the upcoming WoW expansion Wrath of the Lich King.

The ability to “opt in for a chance to participate” currently appears in your account page as the bottom option.

unsurprisingly the website is extremely slow at the moment.

Good luck everyone

Phorm: an update

The number of people getting to know about the implications of Phorm are growing, the last few weeks in the campaign has seen some major positive developments. If you’re new to the campaign, and don’t want to wade though the huge monster thread over on Cable Forum (currently over 700 pages), then forum member Icsys has been doing a wonderful job taking all the important information from the monster thread and has compiled a comprehensive list containing links to all the important posts on the issue.

And over on Cable forum we were surprised when Baroness Miller from the house of Lords popped in after a number of campaigners contacted her after she’d made a speech in the House of Lords on Phorm, but unfortunately she had been victim of the usual Phorm spin. Since then the Baroness and her staff have been corresponding with campaigners who have explained the implications of the system, and Alex over at No Deep Packet Inspection has announced that Baroness Miller will be attending the protest at the Barbican in London on the 16th July

Phorm and it’s Webwise system is a massive invasion of privacy, and the “Phishing Protection” smokescreen is just hiding the fact that this is purely an advertising tool as confirmed by Hugo Drayton in this interview

“We’re thinking about how OIX and Webwise will develop after going live and about what marketing and promotion we can do.”

As the poster says, the software you use to protect yourself online cannot stop Phorm from profiling you, if you opt out you still get profiled you just don’t see the adverts. If you clear your cookies for your online privacy you automatically get opted back in. Remember this is created by the company previously known as 121Media, they were a spyware company then, and they’re a spyware company now, the only difference now is that instead of infecting your pc, they’re putting it in your ISP’s Network.

Blizzard Invitational: Diablo III Announced

Well the streaming video has fell over as the world and his or her dog try to watch, but already they’ve officially announced Diablo III for PC & Mac

I managed to get a glimpse before the stream stalled, and it’s looking good.

Edit.. Official Diablo III site is up

Includes both cinematic and gameplay trailers as well as more info.

Screens, Movies, wallpapers and Artwork available

Flash cookies threaten your privacy

As I learn more about online privacy issues an interesting post appeared over on the Badphorm forum with a link to an interesting article about Flash cookies.

As more people clear out their cookies when closing their browser, and increasing use of pop-up and ad blockers the lowlifes in the advertising industry are using a new method to track your online activity.

Known as flash cookies or Local Shared Objects (wikipedia link) they’re not cleared when you clear your privacy settings in your browser so most people are unaware of them and what they’re capable of (as was I until I read the article) The article tells you how you can stop these cookies and there’s also a link to a Firefox plugin to allow you to remove them called Objection.

It’s another hole you can seal up and make you online activity a little more private.

Blizzard Announce Keychain Authenticator

Blizzard have announced the new Keychain Authenticator to try and improve World Of Warcraft account from hacks. Similar devices are used for banking and security networks and it could end the days of account hacks. The optional security device will be available at the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational, which takes place in Paris this weekend.

The Authenticator will be made available for purchase via Blizzard’s European online store in the near future priced €6.00 plus shipping.

You can find out more about the device at the following Blizzard sites:

official announcement

information page

Edit: Pic now available

The Authenticator is currently out of stock at the Blizzard EU Store

Block 3rd Party cookies in Firefox 3

With the release of Firefox 3 I’d advise anyone reading this who may still be using v2 to upgrade. Firefox 3 has even more security features and a feature to block 3rd party cookies is now easily available again.

Cookie permissions are controlled in “Tools -> Options -> Privacy -> Cookies” You may choose to accept all cookies that websites wish to set or you may choose the option to accept cookies “for the originating site only”, which will block third-party cookies that are often set by other companies who advertise on those sites. in Firefox 3, you can block third-party cookies in the user interface, by deselecting (clearing) the option, “Accept third-party cookies”.

Thanks to the GRC podcast for the info

EDIT: Ohh, and if you’re using Internet Explorer as your browser you can find out how to block 3rd party cookies by reading this article over on GRC

Security Now Podcast

The guys over at Security Now! have done their latest podcast which features talk about Phorm and the other behavioural advertising leeches, as well as the usual round up of the weeks security related tech news. If you click on the image below you can download the high quality mp3 version.

If you head over to GRC’s Security Now podcast # 149 you can also download the low quality audio version or get a transcript of the episode, the guys are so shocked by Phorm they’re going to do a second episode all about it.

They really go to town on the issue, and say that Phorm is the worst of the lot. I’m looking forward to the next episode on this issue as they guys are real guru’s when it comes to protecting your machine. Podcast # 151 will be the Phorm episode.

Anyone who has fallen for the Phorm spin should really listen to this and wake up to the fact that your privacy is at stake for some parasite to make money out of you.

Thanks to Leo and Steve for allowing Anti-Phorm campaigners to use the image above

Films: The Incredible Hulk

I went to the cinema on Wednesday (thanks Orange!) with my friend Steph, I was not expecting a great deal from this film, having seen the trailer for it when I went to see Iron Man a few weeks ago. My low enthusiasm for the film was also influenced by the 2003 film.

Well I’m glad to say I was surprised, and I found the Hulk an enjoyable comic book movie, at no point was there any “get on with it” moments and there a few references to the old Hulk TV series for the older geeks to spot, there was also a bit of humour sprinkled in too which is always welcome in films of this genre.

The film developed the characters well, which helped you build your feelings for them. The acting was good, with Liv Tyler being the weakest performance in the film. The was a few references to other characters too, which tied the whole Marvel thing up very well. One of the biggest criticisms of the 2003 hulk was the poor CGI, which was in the mould of the Scorpion King in The Mummy 2, looking very dated compared to other films of it’s time, the CGI in the new Hulk movie was good, while not on par with Iron Man, it wasn’t awful.

So if you’re a fan of comic books and super hero movies then go see the Hulk, it’s closer to the original and it’s an enjoyable time while you’re there