The Great British Blunder

November 22, 2007 · Filed Under Technology and Gadgets · 2 Comments 

You probably heard the news this week about the loss of data concerning 25 million UK citizens.

The data included names, addresses, and bank details. For those specializing in identity theft, it must be something of a dream come true. However, for the victims, it may well be the start of a nightmare. Not good.

Yet, this was inevitable, and the famous FBI also knows quite a lot about losing critical, confidential information too, by all accounts.

The problem boils down to the enormous capacity of today’s computer hard disks, and the ease with which huge amounts (from 4 to 8 gigabytes) of data can be saved onto DVDs. An accident waiting to happen, if ever there was one. Only this accident has now happened.

Possibly the best way to ensure that such an event never occurs in the future, would be to eliminate hard disks from the computers of certain organisations. A system, known as a ‘thin client‘ already exists. And this system functions on the basis that no or minimal information is stored directly on a user’s computer, instead, all files and applications are located on a server or many servers. The user’s computer sort of acts like an internet browser and allows the user to access data held on a network.

This means that anyone in an organisation can access anyone else’s information, with the right permissions. So it no longer becomes necessary to put stuff on a dvd and send said DVD to someone - and risking that said DVD goes missing - as happened in the UK.

It also appears that the UK government has not heard about the very efficient - and free, data encryption systems which exist. Search for ‘Truecrypt’ on Google if you need to know more.

Anyway, I digress. A thin client system may have saved the face of the UK government. But, you may be commenting, what about the ubiquitous laptop?

Well, we now live in an increasingly wi-fi world, and we have high speed Internet too. This means that harddiskless laptops can exist, and, through the use of wi-fi or any other Internet connection, become thin clients, thereby eliminating the need to ‘carry’ huge amounts of sensitive data around.

The technology to implement this ‘remote access’ of data exists. Why it is not being used is anybody’s guess.

There is even a consumer angle on this. I am terrified by massive hard disks which hold enormous amounts of data. My own laptop hard disk is becoming crammed with huge digital photos too. I’d hate to lose them all. To allay my fears, I’d like to see cheaper hard disk space available over the www. Modern data centres are secure and reliable, and they often save copies of the same information in several different locations, so even if one is destroyed, another should still have all your precious data. This kind of service really interests me, and I don’t think I am alone.

So, don’t try to sell me a 50 terrabyte hard disk, instead, sell me space on a well managed and backed up server system. Then I can get to, and work on, my data from just about anywhere in the world where I can find good Internet access.

Bye bye physical hard disks, hello virtual hard disks.

Just a wee thought, and I know it does not, on the face of it, have much to do with Italy. In actual fact, this worrisome problem relating to data loss is potentially a global problem, and with e-Government just around the corner, this issue needs to be looked into, and looked into pretty damn fast.

Be safe, not sorry, Mr Brown.

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Free Wi-Fi in Parco Sempione, Milan!

October 15, 2007 · Filed Under Milan · 1 Comment 

Yes, the service is now here and, most probably, works. I did have a little fun tracking down just where I needed to go to sign up for this wifi service, and the lady in the bar next to the children’s play area in the park did not really know, although she did say that lots of people had been asking the very same question. She pointed me in the direction of the library, so wandered over there.

Nothing, apart from a man using his laptop next to the library. I asked him about this not well publicised service and, initially, he told me to go to a place on the other side of town to sign up. He must have read the expression of disbelief on face (…as I started mentally cursing Italian complexity…), because he suddenly remembered another place where one could sign along the dotted line and go wireless for free. And this place was the much more conveniently located Aquarium (- on the map), about five minutes walk away.

Once you are at the ‘Aquario’ , which is virtually in the park, mention ‘wireless’ or point at your laptop and say ‘Internet’, or just try speaking, slowly, in English. And if you have made yourself understood, you will be asked to complete a simple form and to show some form of identification with a photo on it - a passport should be fine. Then, you will be given the top portion of the little form which has the wireless system logon info on it, plus instructions in English on how to connect. Now you can wander off into the greenery and try out the service for the next 3 hours, for this is how long your wifi authorisation will last. Although I’m not sure, I imagine that this 3 hours can be broken down into shorter time periods, so you can connect for 10 minutes one day and then use up the rest of your allotted time next week or something. As you may imagine, after having finally signed up for the service, I was eager to see how it worked.

Alas, I did not manage to use the service. Try as I might, I just could not get my pocket pc connected. However, before putting anyone off, let me just add that trying to connect with a Windows Mobile 5 pocket pc will not be as easy as hooking up with a normal everyday wifi enabled laptop. I’m sure the service will work fine for those of you with normal laptops, and at some point I’ll pop down to the park with my own ‘real’ pc and see if I can connect. For those of you who do have Pocket PCs and who would like to be able to use this system, I think that with some playing around and a little more knowledge, I will be able to get my Dell Axim to hook up to this wifi service. And I’m sure others out there, more capable than me, with have no problems connecting pocket pcs to this network. Before I next attempt to connect with my ppc, I shall also visit Guglielmo, the wifi provider’s web pages, to see if there is any specific information about Windows Mobile 5 devices.

I know Windows Mobile devices do not interest everyone. However, something which might be of interest to more people is that the Parco Sempione wifi service has a VOIP capability, so you can Skype your friends and make inexpensive phone calls from a park bench.

And finally, a word of warning.  Parco Sempione is a pretty safe place, but it is frequented by some ‘interesting’ types, so, especially if you are not male, do not try to find a spot that is too out of the way to do your wifi thing.  Try to stay near to one of the bars in the park, or the library, or any other area that has a constant flow of pedestrian traffic.  Now, I’m not saying you will have problems, and, most probably, you will not, but computers are a) not cheap b) crammed full of photos and other information that most of us would hate to lose.  The application of a little bit of common sense should ensure that your Parco Sempione wifi experience is a good one.  Have fun.

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