You Better Be Thinking About Working For Yourself
Here are some statistics for you to think about as you consider starting your own home business: These statistics are as of August, 2010 and were taken from the US Labor Dept website:
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
1. There are 14.9 million persons unemployed.
2. The unemployment rate still sits above the 9.0% mark. (9.5% - 9.7%)
3. Employment rate for adult men is 9.8%
4. Employment rate for adult women is 8.0%
5. Employment rate for whites is 8.7%
6. Employment rate for blacks is 16.3%
7. Consumer price index increased by 0.3%
"However, Mayur's polls continued to find much worse figures. The June poll turned up 27.8% of households with at least one member who's unemployed and looking for a job, while the latest poll conducted in the second week of July showed 28.6% in that situation. That translates to an unemployment rate of over 22%, says Mayur, who has started questioning the accuracy of the Labor Department's jobless numbers." See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/bjW9Zv
These figures are bad enough to choke an elephant much less a human being like you and me.
When I became of age to go to work things were so different. I know, you have heard that before. But, it is true. As an employee I didn't worry about job security. I felt safe in my job. I didn't worry about getting laid off, fired or suspended. Jobs were meaningful. Employers cared. Companies cared.
Today, the rules have changed and not for the better, I might add. There is no safety nor security in being an employee of any company.
Your pay check is normally just enough to get by on(maybe), and it can be taken away within a flash. Too many people have lost their pay check, their homes and so much more.
The lost of self-esteem. The stress of not being able to care for your family. Knowing you can't get a job that paid as good as the one that you lost. Feeling of failure. Depression has set in.
So, what are you going to do? Stay with the same-old, same-old thing, trying to survive this unstable financial crisis? Or, are you going to take control and say, "No more." The decision is yours.
I have some news for you, It is not going to get any better. That is not until you realize that you have to change how you go about thinking.
There exist, right now, an out for you. That out is starting your own home business. Working for yourself and not having to worry about rather you will have job tomorrow. You can do this part time and then go to full time.
I am not going to lie to you. Having your own home business and working for yourself takes time for you to earn very much money. This is why so many people start out working from home on a part time basis.
You can succeed. Decide what you want to accomplish and go for it. Don't allow anything nor anyone to stand in your way.
Things that are necessary:
1. A detailed plan...
2. You must commit to being focused on your plan...
3. Remove yourself from negative people...
4. Find someone that can help you achieve your plan - A mentor...
5. Take responsibility - Stop blaming others...
If you continue to do as you are doing, saying the things you are saying, stopping before you get to the stop sign, you will stay on the same path as you have always been on. Still having the same old regrets.
You were placed on this earth to thrive and succeed. Where you go from here is determined by you, not by an employer, not by the government, not by your family and not by your friends. These are not looking out for you.
You are a deserving human being. You shouldn't have to worry about where the next meal is coming from. Nor how you are going to pay for your child's education. Nor if you will ever be able to retire.
"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." ~ Vince Lombardi
If you are ready to take a leap of faith in yourself, if you are tired of being put-upon, if you are sick of being broke, then get back with me.
Live Your Dream
Blessings...
Elaine
Friday, September 10, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
It's Labor Day Alright
I don't normally write a blog post like this on this blog. I set this blog up to be a relaxing place to visit and learn. A place of inspiration to dream and go for those dreams. A safe time to spend reflecting on the good in our lives and to give you some ideas to use to move ahead. And, I can't say that the devil made me do it. I am writing this post because I am tired of the unchristian, immoral way that our lives have become.
There are those jobs where some will always have to be at work on this holiday and all holidays: hospitals, police, firefighters, etc.... But, everyone else should be off. They should be allowed to live a day of fun.
Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labor Day has its origins in the labor union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.
In the United States, Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September. This year, as we know, is Monday, September 6.
The first Labor Day in the US was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City and became a federal holiday in 1894. This was actually a sad time for many families because this holiday was set following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U. S. Marshals during the so called Pullman Strike. We can thank President Grover Cleveland for seeing this as a political national disaster and to reconcile what had happened he decided to push through Congress this new holiday. He did this in hopes to holt any further problems with the labor movement.
So what else is new? A holiday to solve a political mistake.
I certainly do not want to dampen anyone's festive minds about this holiday. But, I think it is wise to remember that it is truly a labor day for many. Not really a holiday to be spent enjoying one's family and friends around a picnic or cookout because for many this is a day of laboring at a job. Not what I consider a holiday.
To add insult to injury, we did this to our neighbors and friends by being selfish and greedy. We tend to want what we want when we want it. So, what difference does it make if some people have to work because we didn't get to the store earlier. And, let's not forget the financial creed of the company owners and stockholders. After all, it is a good day for a store wide sale and the bottom line of the P&L statement.
As you watch this video, please remember that this is a person holding a position where she gets paid to make "everything" a vase of roses with no thorns:
Now, I want you to watch this video:
For more information about Labor Day try these links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day
http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/september96/labor_day_9-2.html
I sincerely thank all of you that will be working on this Labor Day Holiday and I wish for everyone a day of fun, safety and enjoyment.
If you ever get completely fed up with all this 'Job' stuff let me know. I am a firm believer in working but I believe in working for myself and those surrounding me in my work not a greedy, self-centered corporate CEO.
Many blessings to you on this day and every day...
Elaine
There are those jobs where some will always have to be at work on this holiday and all holidays: hospitals, police, firefighters, etc.... But, everyone else should be off. They should be allowed to live a day of fun.
Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labor Day has its origins in the labor union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.
In the United States, Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September. This year, as we know, is Monday, September 6.
The first Labor Day in the US was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City and became a federal holiday in 1894. This was actually a sad time for many families because this holiday was set following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U. S. Marshals during the so called Pullman Strike. We can thank President Grover Cleveland for seeing this as a political national disaster and to reconcile what had happened he decided to push through Congress this new holiday. He did this in hopes to holt any further problems with the labor movement.
So what else is new? A holiday to solve a political mistake.
I certainly do not want to dampen anyone's festive minds about this holiday. But, I think it is wise to remember that it is truly a labor day for many. Not really a holiday to be spent enjoying one's family and friends around a picnic or cookout because for many this is a day of laboring at a job. Not what I consider a holiday.
To add insult to injury, we did this to our neighbors and friends by being selfish and greedy. We tend to want what we want when we want it. So, what difference does it make if some people have to work because we didn't get to the store earlier. And, let's not forget the financial creed of the company owners and stockholders. After all, it is a good day for a store wide sale and the bottom line of the P&L statement.
As you watch this video, please remember that this is a person holding a position where she gets paid to make "everything" a vase of roses with no thorns:
Now, I want you to watch this video:
For more information about Labor Day try these links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day
http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/september96/labor_day_9-2.html
I sincerely thank all of you that will be working on this Labor Day Holiday and I wish for everyone a day of fun, safety and enjoyment.
If you ever get completely fed up with all this 'Job' stuff let me know. I am a firm believer in working but I believe in working for myself and those surrounding me in my work not a greedy, self-centered corporate CEO.
Many blessings to you on this day and every day...
Elaine
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Why So Many Newsletters?
As I sit here writing this I have to giggle under my breath. Let me tell you why. The other day a friend of mine complained about the number of newsletters that she gets every day. Of course, being me, I came back with, "Well, didn't you sign up to get them?" The answer, "I suppose I did but it takes so long to read them all and they take up a lot of room in my inbox."
It is interesting that people sign up for information and then get irritated and complain when they receive that information. If you don't want that information then scroll down to the bottom of the newsletter and click the "unsubscribe" button. Now, isn't that simple?
Another way to look at all those newsletters is to allow them to be a teaching lesson. What in the world do I mean by that?
If you are a marketer it is a MUST that you learn copy-writing. You can read books or join programs. You can watch videos on copy-writing. You can even listen to someone talk about copy-writing. And, you will learn a lot.
But, then, what?
I subscribe to a number of newsletters to see copy-writing skills in action. I study the subject lines - header, the content and the close or better known as "the call to action".
You can learn a great deal of good tactics by doing this. Don't think of those newsletters as being just a thing trying to sell you something. Look at them as a teaching tool. You can achieve a good strategy for your own writing by taking the time to scrutinize those so-called pesting newsletters.
Learn to look at a newsletter with an open eye for copy-writing. In analyzing, taking apart, a newsletter think about these areas:
The subject line:
* Most important
* Did it make you open it
* Did you want to open it to read more
* Is it catchy
* Did it make you curious
* Did it make you mad
The body:
* Is it commanding your attention
* Is it interesting
* Is it teaching you something
* Is it giving you benefits
* Is it just speaking about the author
* Are you getting bored
* Is it just trying to sell you something
The closing, a call to action:
* Does it make you want to click
* Do you want to click
* Is it too far down or spread out in different places
Be judgmental in your evaluation. The next time you get a newsletter learn something from it. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying to subscribe to every dick and harry newsletter out there. Be selective. Subscribe to some good marketer's newsletters and you will begin to be able to write better, compelling copy yourself.
Happy Writing...
Elaine
It is interesting that people sign up for information and then get irritated and complain when they receive that information. If you don't want that information then scroll down to the bottom of the newsletter and click the "unsubscribe" button. Now, isn't that simple?
Another way to look at all those newsletters is to allow them to be a teaching lesson. What in the world do I mean by that?
If you are a marketer it is a MUST that you learn copy-writing. You can read books or join programs. You can watch videos on copy-writing. You can even listen to someone talk about copy-writing. And, you will learn a lot.
But, then, what?
I subscribe to a number of newsletters to see copy-writing skills in action. I study the subject lines - header, the content and the close or better known as "the call to action".
You can learn a great deal of good tactics by doing this. Don't think of those newsletters as being just a thing trying to sell you something. Look at them as a teaching tool. You can achieve a good strategy for your own writing by taking the time to scrutinize those so-called pesting newsletters.
Learn to look at a newsletter with an open eye for copy-writing. In analyzing, taking apart, a newsletter think about these areas:
The subject line:
* Most important
* Did it make you open it
* Did you want to open it to read more
* Is it catchy
* Did it make you curious
* Did it make you mad
The body:
* Is it commanding your attention
* Is it interesting
* Is it teaching you something
* Is it giving you benefits
* Is it just speaking about the author
* Are you getting bored
* Is it just trying to sell you something
The closing, a call to action:
* Does it make you want to click
* Do you want to click
* Is it too far down or spread out in different places
Be judgmental in your evaluation. The next time you get a newsletter learn something from it. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying to subscribe to every dick and harry newsletter out there. Be selective. Subscribe to some good marketer's newsletters and you will begin to be able to write better, compelling copy yourself.
Happy Writing...
Elaine
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Fear Within Us
Just what is "fear".
According to Wikipedia, fear is an emotional response to a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus.... "Fear should be distinguished from the related emotional state of anxiety".... Fear is related to the specific behaviors of escape and avoidance, whereas, anxiety is the result of threats" "Worth noting is that fear almost always relates to future events".... "Fear could also be an instant reaction to something presently happening."
If you have ever thought about going for your dreams by starting your own business, then what stops you is your own fear. It is like putting handcuffs on yourself with your hands behind your back. Fear of taking that first step is a killer of your dreams.
You may want extra money. You may want to have more time with your family. You may hate your job. But, the fear within you is greater than anything that you may want for your life. Fear will even destroy your happiness of being free.
I am human just like you. My fears are real like yours but the difference is I will not allow my fears to control my wants, desires and dreams for my life.
When we decide to move out on our own and start a business our fears are normally associated with past events that we have hung onto.
These fears can be:
1. Fear of failure...
2. Fear of what our family will say...
3. Fear of what our friends will say...
4. Fear of what our co-workers will say...
5. Fear of losing money...
6. Fear of making a mistake...
7. Fear of being embarrassed...
8. Fear of not knowing how to proceed...
9. Fear of success....
All of these fears, in part or in whole, are fears that anyone starting their own business will have. They are like road blocks that we place in front of our self believing that we are protecting our self. Wrong...
They are self-imposed killers to your dreams. Put there by you and you alone.
All of them are not bad because you certainly must be cognizant to your money issues before you begin. If you don't have any money to spare, this can be a big deterrent to spending any money to begin your business. If this is an issue then you need to be careful as to how much you do spend to get started. Realize that your money issues will probably not change unless you do something different from what you are presently doing.
These are some givens when starting your own business on the internet or locally:
1. You will have to spend some money..
2. You will have to do a lot of research about the business you start...
3. You will make mistakes...
4. You will be told by the very people closest to you that you can't do it ...
5. You will fail at some point along the way...
Begin by erasing your fears one by one.
What you need to keep foremost in your mind is that you are worthy of reaching your dreams. When you fall down - get back up.
Success in life belongs to all of us - not just a few. Don't allow yourself nor anyone else to tell you otherwise.
"Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity" ~~ H. Jackson Brown
Elaine
According to Wikipedia, fear is an emotional response to a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus.... "Fear should be distinguished from the related emotional state of anxiety".... Fear is related to the specific behaviors of escape and avoidance, whereas, anxiety is the result of threats" "Worth noting is that fear almost always relates to future events".... "Fear could also be an instant reaction to something presently happening."
If you have ever thought about going for your dreams by starting your own business, then what stops you is your own fear. It is like putting handcuffs on yourself with your hands behind your back. Fear of taking that first step is a killer of your dreams.
You may want extra money. You may want to have more time with your family. You may hate your job. But, the fear within you is greater than anything that you may want for your life. Fear will even destroy your happiness of being free.
I am human just like you. My fears are real like yours but the difference is I will not allow my fears to control my wants, desires and dreams for my life.
When we decide to move out on our own and start a business our fears are normally associated with past events that we have hung onto.
These fears can be:
1. Fear of failure...
2. Fear of what our family will say...
3. Fear of what our friends will say...
4. Fear of what our co-workers will say...
5. Fear of losing money...
6. Fear of making a mistake...
7. Fear of being embarrassed...
8. Fear of not knowing how to proceed...
9. Fear of success....
All of these fears, in part or in whole, are fears that anyone starting their own business will have. They are like road blocks that we place in front of our self believing that we are protecting our self. Wrong...
They are self-imposed killers to your dreams. Put there by you and you alone.
All of them are not bad because you certainly must be cognizant to your money issues before you begin. If you don't have any money to spare, this can be a big deterrent to spending any money to begin your business. If this is an issue then you need to be careful as to how much you do spend to get started. Realize that your money issues will probably not change unless you do something different from what you are presently doing.
These are some givens when starting your own business on the internet or locally:
1. You will have to spend some money..
2. You will have to do a lot of research about the business you start...
3. You will make mistakes...
4. You will be told by the very people closest to you that you can't do it ...
5. You will fail at some point along the way...
Begin by erasing your fears one by one.
What you need to keep foremost in your mind is that you are worthy of reaching your dreams. When you fall down - get back up.
Success in life belongs to all of us - not just a few. Don't allow yourself nor anyone else to tell you otherwise.
"Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity" ~~ H. Jackson Brown
Elaine
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Privacy? What Privacy?
People Spying On You Using Your Own Electronics
by Paul Meyers of TalkBiz Digital
Cells phones, cam-corders, etc. This is scary so be sure to be sitting down.
Let's start with the least intrusive, and work up to stuff you may not believe is happening.
The last few are downright creepy.
....
There's a thing called "IP geolocation," which uses a database of IPs (numbers locating your computer on the network) and physical areas to show where a computer is located. There are a bunch of these, and the accuracy can be anything from very close to wildly off the mark. The good ones can narrow it down to a few blocks, in most cases. Sometimes to a specific building.
You can see this most often when you notice an ad on a site that's used by people all over the world, but mentions your city by name. "[YourCity] mom discovers..." or "Man in [Hometown] loses 47 pounds using..." That's IP geolocation in its mildest form.
Twitter has offered the option for a while to attach your IP address to a tweet, basically trying to tell people where you are. You have to opt into that, though. It's turned off by default.
Facebook's new "Places" settings options enable a more advanced function by default. The idea is to make it easy for your friends to know where you are. Unfortunately, it also makes it easy for people you might not want to share your location with to find you. Or know when you're not home...
It's easy to disable this option, if you know it's there and what it's called. John Williams sent me a link to the instructions. You can read those here:
http://lifehacker.com/5616395/how-to-disable-facebook-places
Why would this matter?
Well, maybe you don't want your friends to know where you are every minute that you're online. Or maybe you don't want world+dog knowing when you're not home. Or maybe you don't want your employer knowing you're logging onto Facebook from work. Or from the park when you called in sick.
Just how much info should be distributed about you automatically?
But wait... There's more!
....
There are applications on some portable devices and phones that can transmit the data from a GPS system to other sites. This can be used to pinpoint your exact address, and your location to within a few feet.
That's how the "Places" function on Facebook works. And, with the default settings, your Facebook "friends" can "check you in" if they're with you. Handy, if you're careful about who your "friends" are, and who you allow to share the info. Given the default settings, though, it's an announcement to the world every
time you log in from a mobile device.
That can get into the realm of the dangerous. With it set to "Friends of friends" able to view the info, you could be broadcasting your location to burglars, stalkers, ex- employees, your employer, or even just that annoying person you'd rather not see right now.
Given recent comments from CEOs Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook - "Privacy is dead") and Eric Schmidt (Google - "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place"), there is every reason to believe these services will be used as aggressively as possible.
Both companies have said the comments were taken out of context. That could be easily believed of Zuckerberg's remark.
Schmidt's is a bit less dismissable. None of that matters, though, when you look at the way their firms actually treat their users' private data. Facebook set this option to "On" by default. Google initially opted every Gmail user into their social networking platform, Buzz, and created significant and foreseeable problems
for some users.
I'm pretty sure I don't want those sorts of decisions made for me without my knowledge or consent. How about you?
And it gets (potentially) much, much worse.
....
Apple has applied for a patent that has some deeply disturbing implications:
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/08/24-0
The summary: They want a patent on software that, in mobile devices, would let them listen to your conversations and/or take pictures of you or your surroundings, without any way for you to know it's happening. Just remotely activate those functions, at their own discretion.
It would also let them monitor biometric data and all of your online activities while using their devices.
Ostensibly, this would be developed for purposes of preventing theft, or catching thieves. It's even been suggested to me that Apple may want the patent to keep the idea from being used by others.
I don't buy it. But that doesn't really matter.
First, it's nearly certain that, if this technology is deployed and not made illegal for use by private citizens, it will be abused. The theft-prevention rationale was offered, for example, by the Lower Merion school district,
in their program giving laptops to every high-school student. "Only to enable recovery in event of theft," they said. That didn't stop people at the school from using it to spy on students in their homes.
Yeah. Really.
One kid was disciplined for "improper behavior" that occurred at home, in his bedroom. The Vice-Principal used a photo taken using the webcam in the laptop as his evidence. According to a forensic analysis commissioned by the district, the school took 66,503 screenshots and photos using these systems.
The school admits these include pictures of the kids in their bedrooms.
If teachers will do that, what would a corporation do?
....
So, if you have one of these portable devices, where do you use it? In what situations do you simply carry a cell phone, iPad or other portable computing device? Do you want people able to spy on you in all those places, at any time, without warning?
It's been suggested to me that there is prior art that might cause the USPTO to reject such a patent application, or be used later to invalidate it if granted. That raises other challenges. Specifically, anyone at all could include it in their systems.
Google has a cell phone OS. Just how much do you want them to add to their collection of data on you?
Then there's the "social networking" phone, which is designed specifically for use with Facebook and Twitter. Do you want your kids to have one of those broadcasting their location to the world at every moment the phone is on?
This isn't science fiction, folks. We're not getting into foil fedora territory here.
This stuff is real.
....
And then there are the outright criminals.
There is already malware code in the wild that lets remote operators turn on the webcam on infected computers. That's not a big deal if you use a desktop machine and don't keep one connected, or disconnect it when you don't intend to use it.
But what about the laptops and netbooks, and even some monitors, that are sold with a camera and microphone installed in the machine itself? The last two portables that I got have them. Where do you, or your kids or employees, use laptops?
This isn't especially difficult stuff to do. And the market isn't restricted to criminals. For instance, on the first related search I did, I found someone asking how to remotely activate the webcam on his wife's laptop without her knowing.
Some of these devices come with GPS systems installed. Anyone who can access those will know exactly where you are, what you're doing or discussing, and with whom.
Anyone want to market sound-proof phone carriers, with built- in Faraday cages?
A month ago, I would have considered that a ridiculous idea. Now, I'm thinking it's a niche.
....
Electronic security isn't just about data protection any more, folks. It's gotten very personal, and it's about to get more so.
You can take steps to reduce your exposure to this kind of invasion of privacy. First, make sure you have proper security software on all your computers. That's good policy anyway, so that's not too extreme.
With the social networking sites, it's a matter of watching your preferences. Also just common sense. And easy.
Don't leave external webcams attached when they're not in use, if you have any objection to what you do in the same room with them being seen by someone else. Using a USB hub makes disconnecting them easy, and it's a reasonable precaution, with the amount of trojans running loose online.
With laptops and netbooks, just be aware that this stuff is possible, and take whatever precautions you may feel are appropriate. That might be nothing at all, for many of you. It could mean turning the thing off when it's not in active use.Or putting tape over the camera lens. Or, if you have the need or desire to be
especially cautious, having a physical switch installed to prevent remote activation of the camera or microphone.
I can't begin to guess what level of security will work for you. Some people won't consider it an issue at all, and they may well be right. For them. For others, these are real concerns. It's getting very easy to install this kind of monitoring code, and there are too many people with incentives to do it. Employers, co-workers,
competition, family members, and various less savory types. Brings new meaning to the word "spyware," yes?
Make sure your kids are aware of the potential issues, too.
....
I'm told that law enforcement agencies have had the ability to turn on cell phones remotely as listening devices for a while now, with a proper warrant. I consider that a very different thing than random strangers being able to access these kinds of info at will.
As of this moment, I am not aware of this being a problem for cell phones and similar portable devices. Just keep this in mind, and pay attention for it.
Whether Apple gets that patent or not, it's coming.
....
If it's installed or used by any corporation, I have a suggestion that seems appropriate: The top officers and all members of the board(s) of directors should be required to carry one of the devices with them at all times, with the audio and video enabled 24/7, and streaming to the web for the whole world to view.
Hey, if we don't get to decide what we can keep private, why should they?
....
The idea here isn't to scare you, or create some sort of conspiracy buzz. If that was the goal, I'd point you to an even more extreme, and equally current, example of invasive observation: http://talkbiz.com/r/iris.php
As you can see, this stuff is real. The technology exists right now, and most of it is already in use. It may not pose much of a threat to many of us, but it's something to be aware of and to watch out for.
Knowing it's possible is 90% of the battle.
Be careful out there.
Copied from newsletter by
Paul Meyers
If you go to Paul's site be sure to sign up for his newsletter. As a gift for joining his 12 year old list he will give you for FREE his e-book, "Need To Know". It is worth signing up for the newsletter to get the e-book.
by Paul Meyers of TalkBiz Digital
Cells phones, cam-corders, etc. This is scary so be sure to be sitting down.
Let's start with the least intrusive, and work up to stuff you may not believe is happening.
The last few are downright creepy.
....
There's a thing called "IP geolocation," which uses a database of IPs (numbers locating your computer on the network) and physical areas to show where a computer is located. There are a bunch of these, and the accuracy can be anything from very close to wildly off the mark. The good ones can narrow it down to a few blocks, in most cases. Sometimes to a specific building.
You can see this most often when you notice an ad on a site that's used by people all over the world, but mentions your city by name. "[YourCity] mom discovers..." or "Man in [Hometown] loses 47 pounds using..." That's IP geolocation in its mildest form.
Twitter has offered the option for a while to attach your IP address to a tweet, basically trying to tell people where you are. You have to opt into that, though. It's turned off by default.
Facebook's new "Places" settings options enable a more advanced function by default. The idea is to make it easy for your friends to know where you are. Unfortunately, it also makes it easy for people you might not want to share your location with to find you. Or know when you're not home...
It's easy to disable this option, if you know it's there and what it's called. John Williams sent me a link to the instructions. You can read those here:
http://lifehacker.com/5616395/how-to-disable-facebook-places
Why would this matter?
Well, maybe you don't want your friends to know where you are every minute that you're online. Or maybe you don't want world+dog knowing when you're not home. Or maybe you don't want your employer knowing you're logging onto Facebook from work. Or from the park when you called in sick.
Just how much info should be distributed about you automatically?
But wait... There's more!
....
There are applications on some portable devices and phones that can transmit the data from a GPS system to other sites. This can be used to pinpoint your exact address, and your location to within a few feet.
That's how the "Places" function on Facebook works. And, with the default settings, your Facebook "friends" can "check you in" if they're with you. Handy, if you're careful about who your "friends" are, and who you allow to share the info. Given the default settings, though, it's an announcement to the world every
time you log in from a mobile device.
That can get into the realm of the dangerous. With it set to "Friends of friends" able to view the info, you could be broadcasting your location to burglars, stalkers, ex- employees, your employer, or even just that annoying person you'd rather not see right now.
Given recent comments from CEOs Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook - "Privacy is dead") and Eric Schmidt (Google - "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place"), there is every reason to believe these services will be used as aggressively as possible.
Both companies have said the comments were taken out of context. That could be easily believed of Zuckerberg's remark.
Schmidt's is a bit less dismissable. None of that matters, though, when you look at the way their firms actually treat their users' private data. Facebook set this option to "On" by default. Google initially opted every Gmail user into their social networking platform, Buzz, and created significant and foreseeable problems
for some users.
I'm pretty sure I don't want those sorts of decisions made for me without my knowledge or consent. How about you?
And it gets (potentially) much, much worse.
....
Apple has applied for a patent that has some deeply disturbing implications:
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/08/24-0
The summary: They want a patent on software that, in mobile devices, would let them listen to your conversations and/or take pictures of you or your surroundings, without any way for you to know it's happening. Just remotely activate those functions, at their own discretion.
It would also let them monitor biometric data and all of your online activities while using their devices.
Ostensibly, this would be developed for purposes of preventing theft, or catching thieves. It's even been suggested to me that Apple may want the patent to keep the idea from being used by others.
I don't buy it. But that doesn't really matter.
First, it's nearly certain that, if this technology is deployed and not made illegal for use by private citizens, it will be abused. The theft-prevention rationale was offered, for example, by the Lower Merion school district,
in their program giving laptops to every high-school student. "Only to enable recovery in event of theft," they said. That didn't stop people at the school from using it to spy on students in their homes.
Yeah. Really.
One kid was disciplined for "improper behavior" that occurred at home, in his bedroom. The Vice-Principal used a photo taken using the webcam in the laptop as his evidence. According to a forensic analysis commissioned by the district, the school took 66,503 screenshots and photos using these systems.
The school admits these include pictures of the kids in their bedrooms.
If teachers will do that, what would a corporation do?
....
So, if you have one of these portable devices, where do you use it? In what situations do you simply carry a cell phone, iPad or other portable computing device? Do you want people able to spy on you in all those places, at any time, without warning?
It's been suggested to me that there is prior art that might cause the USPTO to reject such a patent application, or be used later to invalidate it if granted. That raises other challenges. Specifically, anyone at all could include it in their systems.
Google has a cell phone OS. Just how much do you want them to add to their collection of data on you?
Then there's the "social networking" phone, which is designed specifically for use with Facebook and Twitter. Do you want your kids to have one of those broadcasting their location to the world at every moment the phone is on?
This isn't science fiction, folks. We're not getting into foil fedora territory here.
This stuff is real.
....
And then there are the outright criminals.
There is already malware code in the wild that lets remote operators turn on the webcam on infected computers. That's not a big deal if you use a desktop machine and don't keep one connected, or disconnect it when you don't intend to use it.
But what about the laptops and netbooks, and even some monitors, that are sold with a camera and microphone installed in the machine itself? The last two portables that I got have them. Where do you, or your kids or employees, use laptops?
This isn't especially difficult stuff to do. And the market isn't restricted to criminals. For instance, on the first related search I did, I found someone asking how to remotely activate the webcam on his wife's laptop without her knowing.
Some of these devices come with GPS systems installed. Anyone who can access those will know exactly where you are, what you're doing or discussing, and with whom.
Anyone want to market sound-proof phone carriers, with built- in Faraday cages?
A month ago, I would have considered that a ridiculous idea. Now, I'm thinking it's a niche.
....
Electronic security isn't just about data protection any more, folks. It's gotten very personal, and it's about to get more so.
You can take steps to reduce your exposure to this kind of invasion of privacy. First, make sure you have proper security software on all your computers. That's good policy anyway, so that's not too extreme.
With the social networking sites, it's a matter of watching your preferences. Also just common sense. And easy.
Don't leave external webcams attached when they're not in use, if you have any objection to what you do in the same room with them being seen by someone else. Using a USB hub makes disconnecting them easy, and it's a reasonable precaution, with the amount of trojans running loose online.
With laptops and netbooks, just be aware that this stuff is possible, and take whatever precautions you may feel are appropriate. That might be nothing at all, for many of you. It could mean turning the thing off when it's not in active use.Or putting tape over the camera lens. Or, if you have the need or desire to be
especially cautious, having a physical switch installed to prevent remote activation of the camera or microphone.
I can't begin to guess what level of security will work for you. Some people won't consider it an issue at all, and they may well be right. For them. For others, these are real concerns. It's getting very easy to install this kind of monitoring code, and there are too many people with incentives to do it. Employers, co-workers,
competition, family members, and various less savory types. Brings new meaning to the word "spyware," yes?
Make sure your kids are aware of the potential issues, too.
....
I'm told that law enforcement agencies have had the ability to turn on cell phones remotely as listening devices for a while now, with a proper warrant. I consider that a very different thing than random strangers being able to access these kinds of info at will.
As of this moment, I am not aware of this being a problem for cell phones and similar portable devices. Just keep this in mind, and pay attention for it.
Whether Apple gets that patent or not, it's coming.
....
If it's installed or used by any corporation, I have a suggestion that seems appropriate: The top officers and all members of the board(s) of directors should be required to carry one of the devices with them at all times, with the audio and video enabled 24/7, and streaming to the web for the whole world to view.
Hey, if we don't get to decide what we can keep private, why should they?
....
The idea here isn't to scare you, or create some sort of conspiracy buzz. If that was the goal, I'd point you to an even more extreme, and equally current, example of invasive observation: http://talkbiz.com/r/iris.php
As you can see, this stuff is real. The technology exists right now, and most of it is already in use. It may not pose much of a threat to many of us, but it's something to be aware of and to watch out for.
Knowing it's possible is 90% of the battle.
Be careful out there.
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