Hat Tip: Popular Photography
I actually find this to be a bit disturbing and file it under just another reason not to use Photoshop.
It turns out that Photoshop will refuse to load images of currency. That requires Photoshop to determine the subject matter of any image the user wants to edit with the program. Couple that with Adobe's Cloud Computer model, which requires an active Internet connection to Adobe's servers in order to use the program and you have a nightmare for any paranoid individual.
Not only can the program determine when you are attempting to open a file containing the image of a banknote, but the program is in constant communications with the software company that owns the software.
Anyone else wondering whether the NSA also knows when you attempt to open a file containing a banknote image? Or maybe the Government mandates Adobe turn over information whenever the program flags a file as containing a banknote image?
(We have examples of them forcing companies to turn over information.)
Why would anyone use a program that stops working if you lose Internet service and examines the content of the files you edit? Especially if it flags content as "illegal".
Big Brother is here.
Its name is Adobe.
FYI, it is actually legal to possess digital images of U.S. banknotes. It has to be for non-fraudulent purposes and the image needs to be black and white instead of color. There is also a size requirement, but that seems to apply more to anything that is actually printed.
Showing posts with label Cloud Computing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cloud Computing. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Is It Really a Good Idea to Store Images on a Wireless Hard Drive?
Pop Photo has a brief article today on Western Digital's new wireless hard drive.
My question: Is storing your images an a wireless device really a good idea?
Wireless devices like this can be hacked by someone within communications range. While the dangers are fairly obvious while traveling, it also poses a danger within your home or studio. The wireless signals can easily pass beyond the walls of your home or office.
(As an example, there have been times when I've had to reset my laptop's wireless connection to my home wireless router. Doing so shows all wireless networks within range. There have been times when four other wireless networks show up on the list of available networks while I am sitting in my house. These belong to my neighbors and I could conceivably hack into any one of them.)
Keeping the hard drive stationary may actually pose a greater danger than using it when traveling. Hacking a wireless network becomes easier when you can analyze large amounts of traffic.
Anyone using a wireless hard drive should keep the potential security threat in mind. This means using strong passwords to protect access to the network the device creates. Otherwise anyone within range of the device will have access to the network and to all devices connected to it. (Your laptop and smartphone are potential targets.)
Any files stored on the device should be protected as well.
Encryption is a good idea for any files that contain sensitive information, including those embarrassing photos of yourself. (Wireless hard drives pose similar security issues as those that stem from Cloud Computing.)
Learn from the recent problems encountered by some Hollywood actresses. Either don't put those photos where someone else can access them or encrypt them so they can't be opened if someone does access them.
Wireless hard drives are great when it comes to convenience. They allow files to be easily shared between multiple devices and are one way to address storage issues with certain smartphones.
They're not that great when it comes to security.
Best advice: If you don't want someone else accessing a computer file, don't put it on a wireless hard drive.
My question: Is storing your images an a wireless device really a good idea?
Wireless devices like this can be hacked by someone within communications range. While the dangers are fairly obvious while traveling, it also poses a danger within your home or studio. The wireless signals can easily pass beyond the walls of your home or office.
(As an example, there have been times when I've had to reset my laptop's wireless connection to my home wireless router. Doing so shows all wireless networks within range. There have been times when four other wireless networks show up on the list of available networks while I am sitting in my house. These belong to my neighbors and I could conceivably hack into any one of them.)
Keeping the hard drive stationary may actually pose a greater danger than using it when traveling. Hacking a wireless network becomes easier when you can analyze large amounts of traffic.
Anyone using a wireless hard drive should keep the potential security threat in mind. This means using strong passwords to protect access to the network the device creates. Otherwise anyone within range of the device will have access to the network and to all devices connected to it. (Your laptop and smartphone are potential targets.)
Any files stored on the device should be protected as well.
Encryption is a good idea for any files that contain sensitive information, including those embarrassing photos of yourself. (Wireless hard drives pose similar security issues as those that stem from Cloud Computing.)
Learn from the recent problems encountered by some Hollywood actresses. Either don't put those photos where someone else can access them or encrypt them so they can't be opened if someone does access them.
Wireless hard drives are great when it comes to convenience. They allow files to be easily shared between multiple devices and are one way to address storage issues with certain smartphones.
They're not that great when it comes to security.
Best advice: If you don't want someone else accessing a computer file, don't put it on a wireless hard drive.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Government Searches of Online Storage
One of the latest stories making the photography website rounds lately deals with a ruling out of New York relating to application of the 4th Amendment in regards to documents stored online.
Some of the sites are saying the Judge ruled that the 4th Amendment does not apply to documents stored online. This isn't an accurate portrayal of the decision.
The judge ruled that the warrant served to Microsoft applied to documents stored on servers located outside the U.S. The argument seems to have little to due with whether a warrant was needed or not to obtain the documents in question as the Government obtained a warrant for the records in question.
Instead, the case seems to revolve around the scope of the warrant. Microsoft's contention is that the U.S. Government has no authority to search the server where the emails are stored because it is located outside its jurisdiction.
The Judge disagreed, holding the warrant applied no matter where the electronic files were stored. (He also held that companies could not refuse to comply with these types of warrants.)
The frightening part of the decision stems from the Government's argument that there was no foreign search involved, despite the server being located in Ireland.
The fact that the U.S. Government (successfully) argued that accessing emails stored on a server physically located in another country did not involve a foreign search is astonishing. Searching an email server in another country is as much a foreign search as searching that person's actual mail box.
It gets worse when you realize that there is an existing avenue available for obtaining evidence that is located in another country and in this case, the country where the email server is located is one that is willing to cooperate when it comes to American law enforcement efforts.
Some of the sites are saying the Judge ruled that the 4th Amendment does not apply to documents stored online. This isn't an accurate portrayal of the decision.
The judge ruled that the warrant served to Microsoft applied to documents stored on servers located outside the U.S. The argument seems to have little to due with whether a warrant was needed or not to obtain the documents in question as the Government obtained a warrant for the records in question.
Instead, the case seems to revolve around the scope of the warrant. Microsoft's contention is that the U.S. Government has no authority to search the server where the emails are stored because it is located outside its jurisdiction.
The Judge disagreed, holding the warrant applied no matter where the electronic files were stored. (He also held that companies could not refuse to comply with these types of warrants.)
The frightening part of the decision stems from the Government's argument that there was no foreign search involved, despite the server being located in Ireland.
The fact that the U.S. Government (successfully) argued that accessing emails stored on a server physically located in another country did not involve a foreign search is astonishing. Searching an email server in another country is as much a foreign search as searching that person's actual mail box.
It gets worse when you realize that there is an existing avenue available for obtaining evidence that is located in another country and in this case, the country where the email server is located is one that is willing to cooperate when it comes to American law enforcement efforts.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
New Alternative to Adobe's Mobile Apps
Adobe announced its new mobile apps this week, including hardware that turns an iPad into a drawing tablet.
Avatron has just introduced a competitor to Adobe's mobile apps: Air Stylus.
Air Stylus costs $19.99 versus Adobe offering their mobile apps free of charge. On the plus side, it is compatible with most pressure-sensitive graphics applications. This means you aren't limited to Adobe products.
There is a list of incompatible programs on the Apple Store page. The list:
It is also compatible with multiple pressure-sensitive pens. Currently three pens are supported: the Wacom Intuos Creative Stylus, the Adonit Jot Touch 4, and the Ten One Designs Pogo Connect. These pens are currently half the price of Adobe's Ink and Slide combo.
(Technical note: you don't have to use Adobe's hardware with their mobile software. It will work with fingertip or plain stylus. Pressure sensitive pens just help produce better results. The app store page suggests Adonit Jot Touch Pixelpoint pens in addition to Adobe's Ink and Slide.)
Technically, Air Stylus isn't an alternative to the Adobe mobile apps/hardware combination.
Adobe's apps allow an iPad to be used as a drawing device without having it connected to a computer. Avatron's Air Stylus app turns the iPad into a drawing tablet, which requires it to be connected to a computer running image editing software.
On the other hand, Adobe's mobile apps require an Internet connection and a Creative Cloud subscription to use them fully. There is a free subscription option, but the Internet connection requirement may be a deal breaker for some people.
It is possible to install both apps on an iPad, using one for editing images when in a studio and the second away from it. The pressure-sensitive pen used needs to be compatible with both apps, though. (It looks like the Adonit Jot Touch 4 might be the best choice if using both apps.)
Hat Tip: DP Connect
Avatron has just introduced a competitor to Adobe's mobile apps: Air Stylus.
Air Stylus costs $19.99 versus Adobe offering their mobile apps free of charge. On the plus side, it is compatible with most pressure-sensitive graphics applications. This means you aren't limited to Adobe products.
There is a list of incompatible programs on the Apple Store page. The list:
- Autodesk Sketchbook (Express and Pro)
- Corel Painter X3
- Escape Motions FlamePainter
- Mapdiva Artboard
- Synthetik Software Studio Artist 4.0
- Toon Boom Studio, Harmony, Animate, and Pencil Check
It is also compatible with multiple pressure-sensitive pens. Currently three pens are supported: the Wacom Intuos Creative Stylus, the Adonit Jot Touch 4, and the Ten One Designs Pogo Connect. These pens are currently half the price of Adobe's Ink and Slide combo.
(Technical note: you don't have to use Adobe's hardware with their mobile software. It will work with fingertip or plain stylus. Pressure sensitive pens just help produce better results. The app store page suggests Adonit Jot Touch Pixelpoint pens in addition to Adobe's Ink and Slide.)
Technically, Air Stylus isn't an alternative to the Adobe mobile apps/hardware combination.
Adobe's apps allow an iPad to be used as a drawing device without having it connected to a computer. Avatron's Air Stylus app turns the iPad into a drawing tablet, which requires it to be connected to a computer running image editing software.
On the other hand, Adobe's mobile apps require an Internet connection and a Creative Cloud subscription to use them fully. There is a free subscription option, but the Internet connection requirement may be a deal breaker for some people.
It is possible to install both apps on an iPad, using one for editing images when in a studio and the second away from it. The pressure-sensitive pen used needs to be compatible with both apps, though. (It looks like the Adonit Jot Touch 4 might be the best choice if using both apps.)
Hat Tip: DP Connect
Friday, October 4, 2013
Another Reason Why Adobe's Subscription Model Was a Bad Idea
As if annoying its customers by switching to a Creative Cloud/Subscription business wasn't enough, Adobe just announced that it was hacked and almost 3 Million customers had their information stolen.
The information stolen includes Credit Card information. The information was apparently encrypted, which should prevent the thieves from being able to use it. There is the possibility that the information could be decrypted (probably not that likely with modern encryption techniques). There is also the possibility that the thieves managed to access the decrypted Credit Card information.
Adobe has reset the password of any account believed to have been compromised. Other Adobe account holders may want to change their passwords as well. Adobe account holders should also keep an eye on the Credit Card used in conjunction with their Adobe account.
This was almost predictable after Adobe forced Photoshop users into cloud computing. These users had privacy concerns and those concerns have just been realized. The question is, how many customers will be in a position to leave Adobe for a competing product?
The information stolen includes Credit Card information. The information was apparently encrypted, which should prevent the thieves from being able to use it. There is the possibility that the information could be decrypted (probably not that likely with modern encryption techniques). There is also the possibility that the thieves managed to access the decrypted Credit Card information.
Adobe has reset the password of any account believed to have been compromised. Other Adobe account holders may want to change their passwords as well. Adobe account holders should also keep an eye on the Credit Card used in conjunction with their Adobe account.
This was almost predictable after Adobe forced Photoshop users into cloud computing. These users had privacy concerns and those concerns have just been realized. The question is, how many customers will be in a position to leave Adobe for a competing product?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)