Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Artnow, Yahoo and Tom Cruise
Hello, good morning and welcome to Cybersurf, a weekly catch up on what’s up on the Internet. I am Steven Lang, this week bringing you a number of quick updates on what is happening – virtually.
Let’s start with a brand new local is lekker web site called ART NOW – you can find it at artnow dot co dot za – the artnow is one word.
The site is there for commercial purposes and offers various types of Art – as the title would suggest – it has sections on “African Art”, “Photography”, Local Original Modern Art”, “Sculptures” “International Contemporary graphics” and then veering off centre a little it also has Exclusive giftware and gadgets.
The specials section offers a Lamborghini Coffee Machine with six Lamborghini Cappuccino cups – it all looks good in the picture.
And then there is a useful category on Artist Biographies – great stuff promoting local artists
From a design perspective - the site is in my view – very good – simple, clear, intuitive navigation and fast.
So if you are interested in buying any local art – then artnow.co.za is your site.
Let’s change the subject a little.
Tom Cruise
Ha, I knew that would get your attention.
Tom Cruise this week won his court case against a Cybersquatter – you know the type of person who buys a web site address that should really belong to someone else.
The judge for the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) said that Alberta Hotrods - the owner of tomcruise dot com – yes tomcruise dot com – used the site to peddle goods that have nothing to do with the actor.
He then ordered the Canadian Cybersquatter to transfer the domain name to the American actor.
Changing tack once again….
The world’s second most popular search engine – Yahoo - has just put up a new web site for users to test drive. I believe the new site is an improvement as it doesn’t feel quite as cluttered. Right at the top of the new front page there is a banner inviting the user to click on a button to be given a guided tour around the site.
I think that if you use the Yahoo site regularly and become familiar with the layout as a home page it could be a very comfortable environment – but it might appear a little too complicated for an occasional user.
On top of the front page it also invites users to test the new Messenger Beta that offers free worldwide PC to PC calls.
And with that we wrap up today’s edition of Cybersurf. If you would like to read the script for this program please login to the Cybersurf Blog which can be found at Cybersurf.blogspot.com – one more time - Cybersurf.blogspot.com.
Please tune in again next week same time, same place, for more on the best of the web.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Qualica measures web sites
In this program we frequently make some very subjective assessments of web sites.
This looks good – the navigation is unworkable or too many bells and whistles
These are some of the descriptions of sites we’ve looked at in the past.
Terribly opinionated of course – but Qualica a local software company has developed a special tool – actually its some sort of software, that can empirically evaluate your web site.
So how does it work? Here is Dave Rogers, MD of Qualica to answer that question.
INSERT: Interview with Dave Rogers
Dave Rogers the MD of Qualica telling us how his company can help web developers measure the functionality of their web sites.
If you would like to find out more about this please check out the Qualica dot com web site that is Q U A L I CA DOT COM - QUALICA DOT COM.
And that wraps up my two megabytes worth. Thank-you for listening and remember to keeeeep on surfin.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Please don't do that!
Hello, good morning and welcome to Cybersurf – a weekly peek into Cyberspace. I am Steven Lang.
Yet another round of Internet banking scares hit the headlines yesterday. A newspaper dramatically told readers about an Internet client who looked on in despair as her cash disappeared before her eyes.
While we all feel sympathy for the victims of these crimes – as selfish banking clients – what we really want to know is – how safe is my money? Should I be worried? Will I lose all my savings if I use the Internet to manage my bank accounts?
Well – with the high number of armed robberies in our shopping centres – you would probably do well to avoid physical banks as much as you can. At least if they rob you on the Internet they won’t shoot you.
But how safe is internet banking really?
It is impossible to give a direct answer to the question because banks – for obvious reasons – are not keen to give out details about such crimes.
However, let me say that by and large Internet security is very good and banks are always going to great lengths to improve security – they budget millions of rands every year trying to block loopholes before the hackers find them.
There is one loophole that banks really battle with and that is the clients’ PIN – personal identity number – because it’s the only element of security that they can’t control. People write down their PIN numbers or sometimes give it to someone else who they believe will always be honest.
Please don’t do that
In the latest wave of hack attacks, it appears that the hackers managed to install key tracking software on the computers belonging to their intended victims. What this type of software can do is record every keystroke you make – including passwords and pin numbers – and then pass this private information on to hackers.
They of course, use this information to illegally access bank accounts.
All the major banks in
Standard Bank offers clients a one time password – or OTP – that is only valid for one session. It sounds effective – but a little bit time consuming. I don’t think I’ll go for that one.
The Standard Bank site establishes a secure link built according to 128 bit encryption standards and also offers free firewall and anti-virus software.
Old Mutual Bank – also has a number of security features, but its web site does not offer as much detail as some of the other financial institutions.
FNB – on the other hand, has a large section giving great detail about its so called “three layers of Internet banking security”. To find out more you can go directly to the fnb.co.za site.
The bottom line is – yes, Internet banking is safe provided you take the necessary precautions – don’t give your PIN number to anyone, and do use firewalls and anti-virus software.
I would also advise you not to do your banking at an Internet café, or any other public place where other people can use the machine you have just left.
Personally – and this is a very personal warning – don’t do your banking at work where other people have access to the network. I never do my banking through the SABC network – people can monitor what you are doing.
And with that very cautious Cybersurf, let me sign off till next week for more on the best of the web.
