Matthew’s Weblog

Here’s Microsoft launching a new product that sounds like a forced-revenue play…

On One Care Live’s purpose: ‘”make sure that the user is protected or taken care of without having to go through some steps”‘

Isn’t that part of selling a product? Why does this cost extra? Doesn’t Firefox (or any other good product) do the same thing?

I’m with the other camp: ‘”If you’re both the problem and the solution, there’s no accountability,” says Mike Murray, director of vulnerability research at nCircle’

And why do people keep talking about Security Pants? Can’t editors find the correct type of breeches in the dictionary? It should be breaches, folks!

Diesel hybrid cars are apparently around the corner, along with the button I’ve been looking for - ZEV. It forces the car into Zero Emissions mode, perfect for short trips or European city centers.

Here’s hoping I get to try one in an European city center…

So TR wrote about the danger of Google’s ‘Search Across Computers’ function since it uploads files to a server you don’t control. Makes you wonder whose company data is finding its way up there, unknown to the appropriate internal watchdogs.

The EFF suggests Google take two steps - find a different way to implement the searches, and reform the law. Both are good ideas - it’s too bad they undermine them by suggesting an inappropriate solution (peer-to-peer) rather than letting Google figure it out.

Interesting ponderings from Technology Review and IBM on Digital Identity. I’m still not clear why companies should be in control of the identity data and not the consumer. It may be a bit more effort, but I would prefer the exertion to losing control and showing all my accounts to any one provider.

A breakdown of what is neccessary to remain anonymous these days. Privacy? It’s a challenge.