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Bending the Rules: A Review of Bruce Schneier’s Insightful Book ‘A Hacker’s Mind”

Published by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 24/09/2023 - 11:58pm in

Quick Summary

In his latest book “A Hacker’s Mind: How the Powerful Bend Society’s Rules, and How to Bend Them Back“, security expert Bruce Schneier explores how people with power, influence, and technical skills can exploit systems for their own gain. He provides insight into the hacker mindset and how regular people can fight back against such exploitation.

Extended Summary

“A Hacker’s Mind” examines how hackers, cybercriminals, and others with technical expertise find weaknesses in political, economic, and technological systems and use them for personal advantage. Schneier argues that we need more “civic-minded hackers” to identify and close these loopholes and empower ordinary citizens to fight back against the powerful interests that seek to control society for their own benefit.

The book opens with examples of how hackers have managed to rig elections, manipulate markets, and otherwise exploit flaws in important systems for profit or power. Schneier argues that the hacker mindset—seeing rules as obstacles meant to be circumvented—is increasingly shaping our world as technology advances.

Schneier profiles both black-hat and white-hat hackers, examining their motivations, goals, and methods. He looks at recent examples like the 2016 US election hacking, the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data scandal, and ransomware attacks. A key theme is how concentrations of power and lopsided information access enable this hacking and exploitation.

To fight back, Schneier advocates fostering more civic hackers who use their skills for the public interest. He lays out principles on how to close loopholes, improve transparency, strengthen oversight, and empower average citizens against special interests. The book ends with calls for updates to policies, norms, and laws for the digital age.

Who Should Read This Book

“A Hacker’s Mind” is most relevant for policymakers, regulators, technology companies, security professionals, and engaged citizens who want to ensure fair, secure, and equitable use of technology. The book provides valuable perspectives on both defending against malicious hacking and exploiting and using hacking for social good.

Key Points

  • A hacking mindset exploits flaws in rules and systems for power and profit
  • Advancing technology expands possibilities for exploitation
  • We need more civic-minded hacking to close loopholes and inform the public
  • It is critical to update policies and laws to match today’s technological realities
  • Concentrated power enables small groups to exploit at scale
  • Public-interest hacking can check power and open access

About the Author

Bruce Schneier is an internationally renowned computer security and cryptography expert. He is a lecturer at Harvard University and the author of 14 books, including “Click Here to Kill Everybody” on the risks of connected technologies. A frequent public speaker, Schneier also publishes the popular blog and newsletter “Schneier on Security“.

The post Bending the Rules: A Review of Bruce Schneier’s Insightful Book ‘A Hacker’s Mind” first appeared on Dr. Ian O'Byrne.

A Thoughtful Look at How New Technologies Are Reshaping Our World

Published by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 16/09/2023 - 10:45pm in

Quick Summary

Radical Technologies: The Design of Everyday Life provides a nuanced examination of how emerging technologies like AI, cryptocurrencies, and self-driving cars are impacting society. Author Adam Greenfield analyzes the complex ethics, economics, and psychology involved.

Extended Summary

The proliferation of new technologies is fundamentally changing how we live, work, and interact. In his book Radical Technologies: The Design of Everyday Life, author Adam Greenfield examines the opportunities and challenges presented by technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, cryptocurrencies, and more.

Greenfield adopts a measured, nuanced perspective. He doesn’t portray technology as wholly positive or negative but rather aims to understand its complex effects. The book covers a diverse range of technologies, from the familiar (social media) to the futuristic (augmented reality). Throughout, Greenfield thoughtfully analyzes how each technology may impact society, human psychology, and power structures.

One of the key insights of the book is that technology is never neutral; it always reflects the values and priorities of its creators. As Greenfield writes, “Technologies are never just neutral tools; they embed in them strong assumptions about relations of power.” We must carefully consider, then, how new technologies may alter economic and social divides. Greenfield uses self-driving cars as a case study here, examining how they could reshape cities, employment, and accessibility.

Greenfield also spotlights issues of data privacy and security. As more daily tasks involve the internet, we generate ever-increasing amounts of data about ourselves. How this data is collected, managed, and used has profound ethical implications. Radical Technologies prompt important questions about how to protect privacy in an age of surveillance.

While thoughtful, the book is also engaging and accessible. Greenfield weaves in colorful examples, from high-frequency trading algorithms to the socioeconomics of Uber. He translates complex technical concepts into clear, easy-to-grasp explanations. The book effectively balances depth with readability.

In exploring the promises and perils of emerging technologies, Greenfield avoids both techno-utopianism and doomsaying. The book takes a balanced perspective and is never simplistic in its judgments.

Who Should Read This Book

Radical Technologies is essential reading for anyone interested in emerging tech and its impact on society, including general readers, specialists, business leaders, policymakers, academics, and technology professionals. Its thoughtful approach is appropriate for a wide audience.

Key Points

  • Technology embodies the values and priorities of its creators.
  • We must consider how technology could alter economic and social divides.
  • Issues of data privacy and security are critical.
  • Taking a balanced perspective on technology avoids utopianism and doom-saying.

About the Author

Adam Greenfield is a writer, urbanist, and critic exploring the intersection of technology and everyday life. He has authored numerous books, including Radical Technologies and Everyware: The Dawning Age of Ubiquitous Computing.

The post A Thoughtful Look at How New Technologies Are Reshaping Our World first appeared on Dr. Ian O'Byrne.

Best Fiction You Read This Summer

Published by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 19/08/2023 - 12:09am in

Tags 

Books, Books, reading

Maybe I can squeeze in time for one more novel.

I don’t know about you, but summer’s the time of year when I give myself enough time to read fiction on a regular basis, and I’m looking for one more book.

Philosofriends, what novel did you read and like over the past few months? (It needn’t have been published recently.)

Please share your suggestions in the comments—and hurry, summer’s almost over! (sorry!)

Include the title, author, and maybe a line about why you’re recommending it. Thanks!

(I’ll share a book or two in the comments.)

The post Best Fiction You Read This Summer first appeared on Daily Nous.

Paddington

Published by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 03/05/2023 - 8:53pm in

Tags 

Travel, reading, London

Paddington Station
Waiting for my train

I’m sat here at Costa Coffee in Paddington waiting for the 10:30 to Totnes.

I walked a good few miles yesterday exploring the back-alleys, greenways, footpaths and canal paths from Muswell Hill through Hornsey and down along the Regent Canal. I just love walking in London or any city of culture and contrasts. Once I started to wain in the arvo I took a break in Manchester Square and had a look at the Wallace collection. I remembered stumbling across it about 30 odd years ago back when I was a lazy art student.

Mayfair, like much of London was festooned with union jacks and coronation shite. I really dislike Mayfair. Wall to wall with moronic object shops for the ultra-rich. A ridiculous Ferrari, matt-black with huge rhinestone tyres blatted their engine up to the back bumper of another car. I suspect any damage or injuries they caused would be blamed on the victim. That soured my mood a little. King Charles the turd and his rich prick hangers-on can go hang.

Daunt bookshop on Marylebone High St restored my faith in humanity and I picked out a Susan Coopers Greenwitch. It is never too late to finish reading the Dark is Rising Sequence. That’ll keep me distracted on the train to Totnes which I really should go catch …

Nameless Book

Published by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 16/01/2023 - 5:05pm in

Tags 

reading

a much loved old bicycle of mine from 2010
Bicycles I have loved

During the early 90s I read a biographical account by a young man who journeyed around the world on his bicycle. Like all my favourite books I gave it away at some point and have regretted it ever since. I cannot remember the name of the book or the author. The author was possibly a Canadian french speaking chap who had written the book in english. Travelling alone he developed a deep relationship with his bicycle. He of course named the bike, I forget what. The book had a few scratchy line drawings illustrating particular aspects of his bicycle. In one of the ‘stans he had an encounter with bandits on camels shooting ancient rifles.

Years ago I trawled the internet with what I could remember of the book. I found the author living in the french countryside. I thought I would send him a letter to confirm if he was one and the same. I didn’t and I regret it. I just had another look but can no longer find him, nor a clue to the name of the book.

Books, like bicycles, are like old friends. I miss them and regret their loss.

Sunday, 4 September 2022 - 3:56pm

Published by Matthew Davidson on Sun, 04/09/2022 - 3:56pm in

This fortnight, I have been mostly reading:

Sunday, 14 August 2022 - 8:17pm

Published by Matthew Davidson on Sun, 14/08/2022 - 8:17pm in

This week, I have been mostly reading:

Sunday, 7 August 2022 - 9:57pm

Published by Matthew Davidson on Sun, 07/08/2022 - 9:57pm in

This fortnight, I have been mostly working, but when I did get to the pub, I read:

Sunday, 24 July 2022 - 8:20pm

Published by Matthew Davidson on Sun, 24/07/2022 - 8:20pm in

This week, I have been mostly reading comics, cheap gags, and Caitlin Johnstone's incisive rants:

Sunday, 17 July 2022 - 8:23pm

Published by Matthew Davidson on Sun, 17/07/2022 - 4:29pm in

In the reasonably recent past, on the rare occasions when I have not been too tired to find a quiet corner in the pub from which to read off my telephone screen, I was mostly reading:

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