back to blogging after exact one year!

Hello everyone!

Its been long long time I haven't post any update! So, let me brief you quickly. We have relocate to our home town. Relocation experience and setting in new place is not new for me as this is more than 20th city I have lived in. Some glimpses of the same...

Before

After

Scared to see such clutter?

Wait!

I truly believe that change is the only constant of life! Now, finally everything is in place and we are enjoying our new home.

Semantic web and future of Social Networking

Hello everyone!

I am back to blogging! I was little busy doing some very interesting projects these days.

Today, I would like to share some of my recently learned facts and future possibilities of online social networking!

Do you know that according to ComScore reports social networking sites now reach 82% of world’s internet population in general? Today’s popular online networking sites have changed the way we live our life. However; most of us are juggling with managing our accounts on Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr, Google Plus and Facebook!

Few years back I was very active on Orkut then it was time for Facebook! These days my favorite is Google Plus! Switching between networking sites and managing friend list for each of them is quite difficult! Moreover, when I share my pictures on one social networking site I cannot share them with friends on other social networks! Neither it is possible to request friends to join my favorite social network just because I am there!

While doing one of my recent projects I learned about Decentralized Social Networking.

Let me explain what is Decentralized Social Networking.

·  In decentralized social networking users choose a server or a node he/she trust to share his own data! As a user of decentralized social network you own your photos, music, videos and documents. You need not to worry about ownership of your own content! Recent example is when Instagram had changed their Terms of use and claimed that they can resell user images to any advertising company!

•    Most features provided by popular social networking sites are also offered by these decentralized networking platforms.
•    Users can import and aggregate their contacts from various social networking sites and control what information is viewed by whom!
•    Use of semantic web technologies allows interoperability between varieties of social networks. Thus, you can have best of each social network!

•     Decentralized social networking platforms  like Friendica, Status.net or Diaspora can help you become the master of your own content.

There is no need to log in separately to each social networking site you are part of just to view updates from friends!

In one of my previous post I had shared some thoughts on how a FacebookLIKE button clicks can collect information on variety of topics, brands, communities, deceases etc. that can either be USED or MISUSED! Large scale centralization of private data in hands of one single company is simply not beneficial for the future of social networking!

Awareness is the key! Do not give away your data without even reading EULA (End User Licence Agreement). Your photos, videos , documents can be misused.

Let me know your thoughts! 

My venture into crocheting scarves

Finally I am back to blogging with finished scarf that I had mentioned in previous post on finger less gloves .

I found this beautiful pattern on lionbrand.com. Before starting any pattern I like to check reviews and ratings of other crochet buddies. One of them on lion brand’s site mentioned that she had doubled the total number of stitches mentioned in the actual pattern to increase the length of the scarf. I did the same and doubled the length. 

I had to look at the pattern every time for first few rows only. Rest of the scarf was easy to follow. Give it a try if you love to crochet!

While browsing patterns I came across a name ‘Infinity Scarf’. I had never heard of anything like that! Infinity word makes me think of scientific formula and I couldn’t quickly co-relate it with crocheting. 

Here is the co-relation between the two...a scarf without ends...

As of today an infinity scarf has become my favorite crocheted accessory. I made this using tutorial here. I love to wear it as a cowl as well as long scarf!  

I had some hard times taking photographs without a mannequin.

My infinity scarf is stretchable enough to use it as a head wrap too!

Let me know your thoughts on this! Happy Crocheting! 

Disable Java to protect your computer

Few of my friends are very active in Google+. They are always fond of browsing trending topics on Google plus. On 10^th of January #java was a trending on Google plus. Slowly it was flooded with messages regarding java 0 day exploit!

A Google plus post from thenextweb.com addressed the only solution suggested by The US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) was to disable java to save your computer from possible threats.

Java is one of the most popular programming language that enables programmers to write applications that may run on any device. Billions of mobile phones and desktops run java. Java powers our set top boxes, web cams, blue-ray players, games and many more systems. A message to disable such highly used and powerful tool came as a BIG shock!

You might be thinking that “How this message can affect you?”

Java is also used with internet browsers that we use every day! Java 7 update has vulnerabilities that may allow any hacker to install and run arbitrary code on your computer without your permission. Such malicious code may steal your passwords, financial information etc. All these can be done simply when you are browsing internet and visiting websites!

Actually you don’t need java all the time when browsing internet!

So, let’s see how to disable java from your Google Chrome browser. From top right corner of your Google Chrome select Settings.

Figure 1.1

A screen as shown in the Figure 1.2 will be displayed. Scroll down and click on Show advanced settings.

Figure 1.2

From Privacy settings choose Content settings shown in the figure 1.3

Figure 1.3

Further, from Content settings -> Plug-ins -> Click on Disable individual plug-ins

Figure 1.4

Finally, locate java plug-in details for your browser by scrolling down and click on Disable.

Figure 1.5

Alternately you can also disable java from all your browsers using Control Panel option.

Select Control Panel -> Java

Figure 1.6

From Java Control Panel -> Go to Advanced tab -> Java Plug-in and uncheck

Enable the next-generation Java Plug-in.

Figure 1.7

This will disable java irrespective of browser you use to .

Though Oracle Corp. has released a fix on Monday, 14^th Jan 2013 however; according to US Homeland Security update is not enough toprotect computers.Till the time Oracle corp. Fix Java security it is surely wise to disable java to protect your computer.

Welcome 2013 !

Hi!

I know I am late by 10 days to wish you a very happy new year. I hope you are equally excited to welcome 2013 with all new dreams.

Today I would like to share a video from Robin Sharma’s blog that I truly enjoyed. I am sure it will help fill happiness as a habit! 

Wish you a happiness filled year ahead!

5 Tips to Secure Gmail

These days Google accounts hold vital role in our day to day life. We use them to get registered at multiple websites, receive bank statements as well as to shop online. Especially Gmail is widely used in India.According to camscore reports.

Credit : camscoredatamine.com

However, very few of us use security enhancement options offered by Gmail. Thus, we leave opportunity for hackers to invade into our personal space. 

Here are 5 points that you must consider to make your Gmail secure.

1)Enable https://

Figure 1.1

On internet whenever you visit a website, its server communicates with your web browser using specific set of standards called Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).In simple language can say that it is a language used by server and your web browser to talk to each other. However, this language can be sniffed and interpreted by hackers to see what is communicated between your web browser and the server.

 HTTPS means ‘HTTP + SSL’ (Hypertext Transfer Protocol + Secure Sockets Layer). HTTPS is used to ensure website’s identity and to encrypt communication between your web browser and the server. So, no one can read what your web browser and the server is communicating, thus making your credit card numbers and passwords secured.

To change settings of your Gmail account use ‘gear like’ button on top right corner of your Gmail screen. Look for Browser connection under General settings and select Always use https option.

Figure 1.2

2) Enable 2-way verification

Very few of us are actually using this innovative feature offered by Google. It adds another security layer to Gmail sign in process by asking you to add a verification code for every sing in attempt. You can opt to receive this verification code either through a text message, a voice call or by using Google’s authentication app. 

Here is setup to enable 2-way verification for Gmail.

3) Track your account activity 

Gmail lets you track your activity and keep an eye on when , where and by using which device your Gmail account was last accessed! You can view these ‘Details’ from the Bottom right corner of your Gmail screen. 

Figure 1.3

Often check this activity log to trace any suspicious happenings with your Gmail. Figure 1.4 shows the details.

4) Logging out from other Gmail sessions

Sometimes ease of accessing Gmail using your friend’s or relative’s laptop or desktop can expose it to various security threats if we forget to sign out properly. Make sure to use Gmail’s Sign out all other sessions button from activity log.

Figure 1.4

5) Due to vast availability of Wi-Fi hubs in public places like airports and hotels people are usually tempted to check mails. Your laptop or tablet’s data can be compromised by packet-sniffing software when accessed through such public hotspots. So, it is wise to avoid such temptation and not to use public wi-fi hotspots.

Apart from these five points primary precautions like using proper passwords by combining alphabets and numbers must be used. I hope this effort of mine will help you enhance security of Gmail.

Fingerless gloves crochet pattern

Hi!

I have been pinning a lot of crochet patterns these days however; I end up creating very few of them :( . Pinterest addiction is dragging me into another addiction of expanding my yarn stash!

Last week I tried my hands on crocheting finger-less gloves for my kids and it turned out best ever winter gifts for them. I found a super easy and free pattern at crochetspot.com . It was really quick to work on this project. I have made these gloves especially to match with their school uniform.

My little one is 6 and finding it so comfy that he is not willing to take it off even after school hours. He is asking me to make another fancy pair of gloves to ware at home. 

For the elder one, being able to write while wearing these gloves is a major plus point!

I am planning to make one lacy fingerless gloves for myself too once I finish my current crochet project scalloped scarf!

Wish you a very happy Monday!