Protect Your PC: Part Two

A few weeks earlier I published an article describing common sense methods to protect your PC from viruses and spyware. Well, that’s a good start, but a few additional steps will make your PC even more secure. Once again, these are straight-forward techniques that just about any PC user can employ.

In addition to keeping your AV software up to date, keep all your Windows software current with the latest updates. It’s easy, just go into your control panel and set Windows Update on automatic. Microsoft will download and install appropriate updates for your PC.

Many airports, bookstores and other establishments provide wireless internet connections. These WIFI hotspots provide a convenient way to go online, but there are security issues. It’s relatively easy for a hacker to get into your PC and steal sensitive information. In particular, if your PC contains financial information, login passwords, social security numbers and the like, don’t use an internet connection at a hotspot.

Don’t employ the same password for all your logins. Every bank or financial institution should be given a unique, complex (random sequence of letters and numbers) password. All low priority accounts ( no major problem if stolen by a hacker) can be set with an identical, easy to remember password. In between accounts may be set up on one general purpose password, but make it complex.

Stay away from porn sites, they’re riddled with viruses. Yeah, I know boys will be boys, but make sure your AV software has the latest updates. Those peer to peer sites are risky, too.

Don’t open or install a program from the internet or a disk unless you know and trust the supplier. In any case, make sure your AV software is up to date.

Never click on a popup that you did not request. Close it, but make sure your AV and anti-spyware software are up to date. Are you seeing a trend here?

Never open an email attachment, unless you know and trust the sender.

If your computer slows drastically, gets bombarded with popups, or acts strangely, break your internet connection and run a scan for viruses and spyware.

Those are the issues that come to mind. If you follow the suggestions here and in my previous article, you will significantly reduce the risks of working on the internet.

Will Humanity Survive the Singularity?

By Dan Ronco, author of the visionary novel Unholy Domain

Some futurists believe there will be a point in the not too distant future where the rate of technological development becomes so fast that it will advance beyond the control of humanity. This event is called the Singularity. The most likely cause would be rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.

A future that is dominated by an artificial intelligence superseding human intelligence is entirely possible this century. Software has already been designed that surpasses human intelligence in selected narrow areas such as chess playing. Although software exhibiting general intelligence is still a long way off, there are no theoretical limitations to its creation. Once we reach the point that artificial intelligence can improve its own source code, the stage is set for rapid improvement in AI.

Let’s assume that an enhanced AI takes humanity to the Singularity in several decades. Then we ask, what lies beyond? How can we predict a future dominated by a superior intelligence? An intelligence smarter than us as we are than chimps.

The times after the Singularity remain murky because we aren’t that smart. Could a chimp ever conceive the development of human technology, even if we tried to explain every step? No, it couldn’t, so how do we look past the Singularity?

We can’t.

In fact, we may not be able to understand the steps leading up to the Singularity. We will have to fashion tools to keep pace with rapidly advancing technology. Perhaps an AI that self designs, but remains within limits we can comprehend, would keep us informed as the Singularity approaches. Perhaps genetic engineering of our brains will keep pace with technology for several years.

Another possibility is a merging of human and artificial intelligence. This seems the most promising approach, that is, if you want to see something of today’s humanity survive past the Singularity. My forthcoming novel, tentatively titled Tomorrow’s Children, explores this possibility.

Let’s get back to the original question: will humanity survive the Singularity? Nobody knows or can know, but let’s pretend we can. One potential solution is to build controls into the AI, something like Asimov’s Laws, but more sophisticated. If we can, let’s infuse the AI with code that requires respect for human laws and love for human beings. This code has to foster such a strong love for humanity that the AI will never delete or emasculate the code. In other words, the AI must be indoctrinated with code that creates a child’s love for his parents. This code must survive the Singularity to assure the continued existence of humanity.

Can we write such code? Time will tell.

Excellent Review of Unholy Domain in BookHuntersBlog

Review: “Unholy Domain” by Dan Ronco - Thought-provoking What If

May 13th, 2008 Posted in Book Reviews, Sci-Fi, Thriller No Comments

By Mary Menzel: “Unholy Domain” is a very entertaining yet very thought-provoking novel. Many times during the course of history technological advances have made those in power feel threatened. Galileo and Copernicus were commanded to renounce their discoveries and modern scientists are challenged as they work with genetics and theories relating to the creation of the universes simply because their facts and experiments do not adhere to the church’s religious doctrine. Dan Ronco has challenged us to look ahead and imagine the conflict between scientists and theologians in our future. “Unholy Domain” details a power struggle between the religious leaders who denounce the use of robotics as unnatural and the scientist, who through their technological knowledge, want to be in complete control. With clear, concise details and strong characterization of each participant in the novel, Dan Ronco has given us a plausible if not probable look into our future.

Where Will the Engineers Come From?

I was browsing through a number of online magazines, and I came across an article that was all too familiar: the shortage of engineering talent in the USA. I have read similar stories for many years, but nothing seems to improve.

Here’s the situation, briefly and maybe too simply. Engineers --- chemical, electrical, nuclear, and all the rest --- are the people who take basic science and turn it into products or services required by our society. We need engineers, lots of them. As our world grows more complex, as the human population continues to increase, we need people who can design products and find solutions that improve our standard of living. Without a body of talented engineers, America and every other country will suffer with a declining standard of living.

There are plenty of engineering jobs out there, more so than most other professions. But who will fill those jobs? According to Industry Week, US graduation rates for engineering students declined by 23% between 1985 and 2000. So what’s going on here?

You may not know it, but my first career was in engineering, followed by years in the information technology business, and then my current passion as a novelist. I graduated Columbia University with a shiny new master’s degree in nuclear engineering and went to work designing nuclear reactors for a giant corporation (which shall remain nameless) with a bunch of very bright young men and women. Should have been a great job, but it didn’t work out.

First of all, there was a lack of respect for the engineers. Senior management believed in the mushroom theory – keep everyone in the dark and drop fertilizer on them periodically. Not good for morale.

One day, a few months into the job, a senior engineer took me aside and explained the facts of working life to me. A woman, one of the few female engineers in those days. She explained that the young engineers were hired in with a fairly high salary, and would receive a good raise for the first year or two, but the money would dry up to at best a cost of living increase after four or five years. If I wanted a better salary, move from engineering to management.

Great but sobering advice for a young engineer. Lack of respect and lack of compensation. I loved computer programming, so I decided to move into IT, which was the right decision for me.

Also according to Industry Week, Americans continue to hold engineering in fairly low regard among a range of occupations. Harris polls show just a third of respondents consider engineering a prestigious occupation, a figure that has changed little or for the worse since 1977.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

So how does industry maintain an adequate supply of engineers? We import them, mostly from Europe, India and Asia. And they are excellent engineers, so industry comes out all right. But things are changing. An Asian engineer does not have to come to the USA to find work anymore; there’s plenty of work in their native lands.

I should finish this article with a call for more respect and better compensation for today’s young engineering graduates. Okay, I will. But it doesn’t matter. If a bright young person can make much more as a lawyer, it will be impossible to lure a sufficient number of Americans into engineering. And if we can’t import big numbers of foreign engineers, well, we’re in deep you know what.

Fascinating Authors Interview

I was recently interviewed by Penny Sansevieri for the Fascinating Authors podcast site. In addition to Unholy Domain, we covered a range of topics including Second Life, religious violence, and emerging technology issues. Listen to the podcast --- it was fun to do and I believe you will enjoy it.

How Many Years Do You Want?

I’m not sure I would want to live forever, even if I could. Immortality, it just doesn’t seem right, somehow. Would I want additional years? Absolutely, as long as the quality of life was there.

Start thinking about these issues, especially you folks under thirty. You will have decisions to face for yourself and your children.

Scientists are working hard to increase the human life span. And they are making progress in a number of fields. I’m not writing a research paper, but here are a few snippets of exciting advances.

People in most western nations are living much longer than their ancestors. A century earlier, the average lifespan in the US was about forty years. Now it’s in the late seventies. The keys have been more and better food, a more nurturing society, and vastly better health care. But this is just the beginning.

Hormone therapy shows promise. Scientists have successfully slowed down the aging process in laboratory animals with a hormone known as DHEA. Insects treated with DHEA live up to 45% longer than normal. Mice treated with Melatonin live as much as 25% longer than typical mice.

Genetic engineering may also lengthen the human lifespan. By manipulating genes, the lifespan of some roundworms has been increased by a factor of six.

Biologists know that the telomere, part of the chromosome, is shortened each time the cell reproduces. When about 20% of the telomere is lost, the cell dies. However, with an appropriate enzyme treatment, the telomere can be regenerated. This opens up the possibility that the cell may be able to grow and divide for a much longer period than is presently the case.

All this is encouraging, but I have to admit as yet there is no hard evidence that advanced science can significantly increase the human lifespan. But many fields show promise, and I believe that a normal lifespan exceeding 100 years is likely for people born in the US two or three decades from now.

Okay, let’s get back to the question: Do you want to live much, much longer? Maybe not immortality, but a very long lifespan. Surprisingly, most people aren’t convinced. Immortality seems to go against the natural order of things. Who wants a world overstuffed with old geezers using up all the resources? Just look at Social Security and Medicare in this country. How are we going to support all the aging baby boomers? Something has to give. Will taxes go through the roof on young workers?

It seems to me most senior citizens will have to continue working far beyond the normal retirement age of 65. So what happens to all the young people entering the workforce? Will they have to linger in lower level positions until the seniors retire?

Sometimes I think I’m awfully glad to be living my life in the present age. But I would love to see the future unfold, if I have my health. Even with all the issues, it’s going to be an exciting time to be alive.

Lifelogging

Man, what was that guy’s name? Met him a few minutes earlier and I’ve forgotten already. What if I have to introduce him to my friends? This could be embarrassing.

Our memory, it usually works okay, but not always. Wouldn’t it be great to have a photographic memory! Just concentrate and pull up whatever you need. Michael Kingman --- that’s his name! Two kids, lives in Philadelphia, an attorney for Morris and Stengle, was telling me about this great Italian restaurant on Walnut and 18th, …

Well you get the idea. Total recall. Remembering EVERYTHING that happens to you. And not just images --- sounds, voices, temperature, emotions --- EVERYTHING.

Lifelogging, sometimes called lifeblogging, is the name of this capability to record and recall every aspect of the flow of your life. Scientists believe that technologies developed over the coming years will provide total recall. We will be able to share our personal experiences with others, too. Sounds great, huh? Well maybe, but there’s a downside, as you might expect.

Let’s start at the beginning. Lifelogging is possible today, but it’s primitive. For example, Microsoft Research has invented a lifelogging device called a SenseCam, which hangs around your neck and automatically snaps a picture once a minute. As an alternative, the SenseCam may be triggered by a change in light, temperature or movement.

The SenseCam provides a digital record of virtually everything you see. If you combine images with a digital recording of everything you hear, well, then you really have something. That conversation with Mr. Kingman, for example, could be replayed to provide all the information you picked up from him.

Okay, this is a pretty trivial example, but you get the picture. In theory, every aspect of your life could be digitized, but is it worth it? Will these technologies make our lives better, richer, more fulfilling? Should we provide the capability to relive portions of our lives and experience the emotion of the birth of our first child, the excitement of winning the big game, or the quiet pleasure of exchanging wedding vows? Or maybe we just want rapid access to information for business purposes? Or memories to leave for your children after your death?

Have you read Dune by Frank Herbert? A society of women, called the Bene Gesserit, have the ability to pass along their entire lives to a younger Sister at the time of their death. Over the centuries, these Sisters accumulate many lives, which they may call on for guidance or information. What if you could call up not only your own memories, but the memories of others, such as ancestors, scientists, explorers, jet pilots and many others? Would that be a high or what? Isn’t the future full of surprises?

Now for the downside. Privacy might become a thing of the past. Think it’s bad to see an unauthorized personal video on Youtube? What if your whole life could be put on the net for anyone to browse? Even more frightening is what the government could do with a disc containing your memories. What if all citizens were required to record their lives into a government controlled storage? Hello, 1984.

Lifelogging is just one of many developing technologies that will have a massive impact on our lives over the next few decades. And we are far from ready. That’s why I write cautionary novels like PeaceMaker and Unholy Domain.