Progress with Blog planner

blog planner

Much talked Blog planner is still under beta version. I did a lot of testing today and look like we can finally release it on this Saturday. I have also suggested a lot of uses for the tool. Valerie is putting everything on her blog.

Some new features added today

  1. Fan out – To spread the tool. Also it will help the blogger earn extra money.
  2. Signup inside the tool – For every successful signup the blog owner will get $1
  3. Contact Us – A way to send the feedbacks to the innovation center for further improvements

Valeries blog is improved, she took the template and modified it accordingly. I am very happy about it as I can keep modifying a section of my blog with too much of tension.

Google’s Image Labeler

http://images.google.com/imagelabeler/ – Google’s new tool.

How does it work?
You’ll be randomly paired with a partner who’s online and using the feature. Over a 90-second period, you and your partner will be shown the same set of images and asked to provide as many labels as possible to describe each image you see. When your label matches your partner’s label, you’ll earn some points and move on to the next image until time runs out. After time expires, you can explore the images you’ve seen and the websites where those images were found. And we’ll show you the points you’ve earned throughout the session.

This tells you that you can never be better than your team/partner. I tried it and scorded

0

points (hey, thats because I was testing it :)). You can give it a try too.

Paypal hack – How to hack paypals?

Are bad guys smarter? If yes then blame the good guys, as most of the good guys are ignorant, expecting everything to be good. As you might be knowing I am working on web technologies and I get many complains of a probable paypal hack (imp accounts in general). Paypal is a very safe site and in most of the cases the hacking happens at user level (User PC), we call it 0 level hacking. Most of us started learning at 0th level before using the complex tool and complex algorithm based hacks.

Different level of paypal hack

  • Computer level paypal Hack: Using various keyloggers (where every keyboard press is stored on the computer). I myself had an opportunity to work for such a product. It is advisable not to use your important accounts from public machines like cyber-cafes, where people install such keyloggers. One such famous application is back-orifice. There can be other spywares that can be deadly, so I advice you to use spybot regularly.
  • DNS level paypal hack: Every Site is associated with an IP which is resolved using DNS. DNS has various cache levels and some people can manipulate it too. Also check the hosts file of your computer, it may be taking you to a different server. Let me know if more explanation is needed. Some local DNSes can also be used for such hacks.
  • Interception: A person at proxy reading all your details. HTTPS takes care of it, it encrypted the communication. Also try to read the certificate, this takes care of a lot of issues. If needed I can explain this in detail.

  • Server level paypal hacks: This needs higher level of expertise in hacking. All server admins takes care of it. Paypal surely must be spending a lot of time ensuring a secure server. So don’t worry much of it.
  • User Ignorance: This is a major issue with Paypal hacking. Let me explain it in detail. This leads to maximum damage, keep reading the comments as well. I will keep adding various watchouts.

User Ignorance can be deadly for paypal hacking

Here is a simple case of paypal hack. Earlier I use to ignore all the mails from paypal but these days, since I have a paypal account, I can’t ignore. This is the most common (and cheap) way of hacking, we call it (zeroth) 0th level hacking. Do not forget to send this to all your friends, who one day might end up a prey to these simple cheap hacking. I got a mail and it said,
paypal hack

Everything is so perfect, I checked the url spelling whether there is some phishing trick there. Sometimes it can be payapal.com or paypaal.com. This time it was perfect but still I wasn’t sure. I mouse over the image and I saw

paypal hack

If I were a little naive with technical concepts I might have ended up entering my paypal username and passwords. The website like exactly like paypal, try http://www.oscormerce.dk/images/www.paypal.com/webscr/update.do=profile/index.html. Enter some fake stuff and you will find that it is asking for more details. Be careful.

Some may say that you should look for the secure lock. That’s good but it doesn’t secure it either as we end up in trouble due to our ignorance. https:// or the secure lock just encrypts the communication between the apache and the browser (also changes the port of communication), stopping one way of hacking known as interception. Enabling https is a plane piece of cake, a 5 min task. Be alert and be safe.

Be careful about Broswer hijacking too for paypal hacking

Some use full links http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9076288729387457440. Do not install anything that you are not sure of.

Help you friends by sending this post to all whom you think should know this. Keep reading my blog for other articles on orkut, security, marketing.

How to make your websites secure

Here are some of the new methods that are being used by most of the banks:

  1. Identifying image with customer id: When you enter your customer id, it shows an image from the server that is uploaded by you. I generally suggest adding your own image. So the time you enter your customer id, you see the image and verify the website. It avoid the DNS level hacks for paypal.
  2. Using virtual keyboards: Instead of using your computer keyboard now banks are providing virtual keyboards. Now the key loggers will only get a click track but will never get your password. This avoid the keylogger traps.
  3. The secure locks generally takes care of interception level hacks.

You have questions about paypal hacking

Please ask here and let us answer. We don’t hack into paypal accounts but we help people secure their accounts.

Website launched for Professor’s justice

It is teacher’s day but many did not celebrate it showing a support for Late Professor Sabharwal. If you are not aware of the tragic incident about Professor sabharwal then please read on some recent newspapers. http://news.google.co.in/news?hl=en&tab=wn&ie=UTF-8&q=professor+sabharwal, this might help.

Today his son launched a new platform to get justice, as this is just not a case against one but against powerful parties. This news is not yet public but still you can get access to his site at http://www.professorsabharwal.com/. I think we should support him get justice for our own sake. We need to make one citizen powerful enough to get justice at all cost. I do not know whether political parties inside colleges are good or not but I certainly know that a lot of people misuse the powers. If you are given power then you are with additional responsibilities as well. Do all understand this? What are the criteria for becoming a student youth rep for any political party? Why take a path of violence? Hope we learn some lessons from these cases and correct our systems.

This is not the first time when the online media is used for petitions. We have seen it with Jessica lal case and Priyadarshini Mattoo too. I wish Himanshu Sabharwal all my prayers and also offer him my availability for any possible help. Let’s stand for our rights. There can be no better time.

Blog address in visiting card

Are you a blogger? Why do you blog? How long you been blogging? Do people visit your blog regularly? What do you do to make a brand out of your blog? What do you do to get more visitors to your blog?

All the above questions are relevant to the one who is serious about blog, blogger, blogging. I am certainly taking it seriously these days as I am trying to share my experiences using this platform. Blogs are easily accepted due to its definition, personal views, which is neither time nor quality depended. I have taken a further step by adding my blog address to my visiting card.
visiting card and blog address

Will you ever do that?

Is Orkut’s Memetic strength a misinterpretation?

Are you orkut by now or still a chirkut? I doubt whether we have seen a better meme than “orkut”, creating a memeplexe. Let me get to the focused point, “Is Orkut’s Memetic strength a misinterpretation?” In other words, “Is Orkut’s marketing strength misinterpreted?” So what then are we talking about? You are right, “scrapbooks” the most viral of all orkut tools.
orkut

Aji Orkut is an inactive Orkutian as I have hardly invited a person or taken extra pain to write to other’s scrapbook (though recently I have started scrapping here and there). Even after being inactive I have over 50 scraps (after deleting few). My scrapbook is filled with daily halchal (hindi word for “hi hello” phrases) like “how are you doing?” or “whats up man?” Is it what Orkut Buyukkokten wanted with his scrapbook?

Orkut Buyukkokten’s original Interpretation of scrapbook
(Text taken from Orkut Answer 11796)

The scrapbook feature is another way for you to add tidbits of information to your profile. Share a funny story or reveal a little known fact about yourself. Click on the “formatting tips” button to learn how to change the color of the text or add a smiley face.

Point 1: You can scrap your own scrapbook with additional stories, an extension to your profile.

You can also add messages to other members’ scrapbooks. To do this, visit their profile and click on the “view scrapbook” button. Enter your message into the box and click “submit.” Your entry will appear in their profile instantly. If you change your mind about what you’ve written, you can always return to their scrapbook and click the “delete” link next to your scrap.

Point 2: Your views about the person, or a simple message. According to orkut answer 11800 scrapbook can be used as an alternative to orkut testimonials.

Market’s misinterpretation of scrapbook
I think I can call it a misinterpretation as it doesn’t seems right for me but still we love it as perfection is just another viewpoint. How many times have you seen people scrapping their own scrapbook? I think I am the only fool who did it as an entrant to orkut (now I do not do it after being stopped).
orkut scrapbook

What are then real people (real user) using it for? It is getting used for conversation. If my scrapbook says, “Anil: How are you?” (by friend Anil) then I am suppose to go to his scrapbook and say, “Aji: I am doing good and how is you doing?”. For a third person my scrapbook is really a crap full of questions or incomplete conversation. I am sure no one has the patience to go to other users scrapbook to read the complete conversation. I hardly see people using it as an alternative for testimonials except few like the following image.
orkut scrapbook messages

Does it matter at all?
Whether it’s a misinterpretation or imperfect use of a perfect tool, it hardly matters as the king (the end users or customers) has accepted it whole-heartedly. This is a perfect example of a marketing model where the market decided the real use of scrapbook over the catalog.

An advice for Orkut Buyukkokten
When the king says, “Earth is flat” better we accept it and revamp our own documents saying, “we knew the earth will remain flat and this application is a right fit when it is flat”. Whatever it is orkut still rocks as a viral tool.

I am offering a platform for interpretation
With the launch of my new baby, a blog planner, I am also offering a platform for interpretation. This leaves no room for misinterpretations, as the kings are free to redefine the perfect use again.

Indra Nooyi at B-School Graduation

After posting an inspiring message from Steve Jobs, here is another one from my special collections.
IKN — Columbia Business School Graduation 5/15/05
Columbia Business School Graduation Remarks Indra Nooyi, then President and CFO (now chief executive officer and president), PepsiCo May 15, 2005

Indra Nooyi

Good evening, everyone. Dean Hubbard, distinguished faculty, honored graduates, relieved parents, family, and friends – it’s a distinct pleasure to be in New York City this evening to celebrate the biggest milestone to date in the lives of you — the young men and women before us: your graduation from Columbia University Business School.

It may surprise you, graduates, but as big a night as this is for you, it’s an even bigger night for your parents. They may look calm and collected as they sit in the audience, but, deep inside, they’re doing cartwheels, dancing the Macarena, and practically speaking in tongues, they’re so excited. This is what happens when parents anticipate that their bank accounts will soon re-hydrate after being bone dry for two years. So, for everyone here this evening, it’s a very special occasion. And I’m delighted to share it with you.

Continue reading “Indra Nooyi at B-School Graduation”

Steve Jobs at Stanford

I know its an old one but then I also heard that old is gold, this report certainly proves it right. I got this from Vasudha and I was wondering that how could I miss this one. If you missed it then here is it again.
Steve Jobs

You can download the speech as well in quick time or real or window media format

Stanford Report, June 14, 2005 ‘You’ve got to find what you love,’ Jobs says
This is the text of the Commencement address by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivered on June 12, 2005.
I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots. Continue reading “Steve Jobs at Stanford”