Hacking: Not just about standard computers anymore

Hacking is a term everyone is familiar with, but most do not know it very well. A very generic definition people might have is that hacking is the process of bypassing computer securities to do illegal or immoral things. This could be something like finding out someone’s password using obscure means, or changing data inside a video game. Essentially if you do something you aren’t supposed to against a computer using another computer it is hacking. Keep in mind that is also a very vague definition but it serves its purpose for this post.

The popularity and growth of computer science has enabled the modern world to have computer chips in everything. There are computer chips in cars, body parts, and even running shoes. While it is pretty awesome that technology keeps on expanding to everything, there is also a downside.

I'm sure there is a good reason for it's existence.

The problem with computers in everything means that everything can be hacked. For example, computers in cars are designed to not only modernize cards with new gadgets such as built in GPS systems, but to also provide better security and safety. The computers enable the car to be monitored by safety companies and if needed, can be remotely controlled. The problem with this is if someone hacks into the car and forces it to do things that would hurt the people inside and outside, such as suddenly activating the brakes while on the road.

The one upside to this is that hacking is pretty hard and not a lot of people can do it well. It is also possible to trace a hacker so there is solace in that hacking is not a very evasive crime.

Open Source: Linux. Is it for you?

The three most popular desktop operating systems today are Windows, OS X, and Linux. Out of the three Linux is the only one that is open source. This means that Linux has customizable code that anyone can obtain and change themselves. This customization makes Linux popular among more computer savvy people, but it also has its flaws. One flaw is that Linux has no wall to lean back on. What I mean is that if your copy of Linux breaks because of some add-on, then it is busted. The total customization means that it is impossible to fully prevent a user created add-on from destroying your copy of Linux. Despite the flaws people still use Linux, but should you be using it?

For starters let’s look at what it takes to install Linux. Linux is more or less free, and can either be installed as a regular boot, dual boot, or on a virtual machine. The current form of OS X and Windows makes it hard to dual boot anymore, so virtual machines are the only way to have Linux along with another operating system. Virtual machines are very finicky objects; they tend to have random problems due to many variables. This makes installing Linux on a virtual machine a bit time consuming and ends up with little reward if you don’t really need Linux.

A Linux desktop. Looks pretty at least.

Linux has some good points though. Because Linux is in its purest form as an OS, there are very little other system resources that interfere with other processes. For example, developing on smart phones require either a phone to test code on, or an emulator. Emulators usually don’t run well because they have to be converted many times in short amounts of times. The Android phone emulator for instance runs very poorly on Windows even with optimizations, but runs smoothly and quickly on Linux.

So to put it simply, if you code you should keep Linux on hand for those odd projects. If you are a normal computer user don’t bother going into Linux. The turn-out is not worth the reward.

Agile: Should You Be Using It?

Programming is hard, messy, and complicated. There is no doubt that you cannot just learn how to program well, especially not at an industrial level. One thing much more difficult than programming is group programming. Group programming involves communication, management, version control systems, and many hours of debugging everything.

Agile is a type of project management that is used in many software engineer and programming fields. Agile uses group management, communication between groups, and communication between groups and clients to create short windows of time where the group will fulfill part of the entire project and deliver it to the client. This time of management creates rapid execution of projects using short term goals and lots of communication between everyone. This way the client is satisfied by seeing how their needs are being satisfied, and the group feels satisfaction by completing a small project in a larger project. One other advantage is that because the Agile method breaks down the project into smaller projects, there is more room change and adjustments.

Agile flowchart from Wikipedia

Now there is nothing without its cons. One such con of Agile is the management process. Sometimes a team should not manage itself, but should be managed by someone else. This is important in larger groups where the team will have a boss who will have their own boss. A large group cannot possibly manage themselves because there will be too many different opinions and options. Another con is that Agile breaks up a project into equal smaller projects, but sometimes that just isn't doable. In that event Agile does not work because the short cycles end up becoming long cycles.

The answer to this blog entry title is that Agile should be used for smaller group projects. There is no deal breaking defect of Agile, and should be used if possible. If not then there’s always other management methods that are surely just as effective.

LinkedIn and Branding: When LinkedIn Becomes Unsafe

These days everything is all about social media. The professional world is also attuned with the growing social nature of the Internet. LinkedIn is a website that acts as an online, social version of a professional resume. LinkedIn can keep track of your current and past jobs, your education, and practically anything else needed to improve your professional self. However LinkedIn is still a social media website and still has the same dangers.

Stalking is Illegal, cyber stalking is still undecided upon.

According to the Huffington Post, many LinkedIn users have petitioned to create a block or black list function. The reason is because many users are being stalked by former coworkers, bosses, and anyone else who can easily locate a person’s information on LinkedIn. When people use LinkedIn, they must remember that it is still a social media website that stores your personal information and shows it to the public eye.

However it is important to look at the other side of this. While stalking is definitely bad, a coworker or boss “stalking” your LinkedIn profile may not be so bad. It is good to allow potential employers to openly view your profile. People, even former coworkers, will follow someone they might be able to work with again In the future. So remember, treat LinkedIn like any other social media website and keep only professional information on it, and sometimes a person who views your profile a lot is just someone who is interesting in hiring you and wants to make sure you are fit for the job.