Daily Cup of Tech

In keeping with the Security Week theme, I am highlighting a security blog for Tech Blog of the Week. While this blog is not only about computer security (it covers things like national security, personal security, etc. as well), there is a huge amount of information about computer security in Schneier on Security.

According to Schneier.com:

Bruce Schneier is an internationally renowned security technologist and author. Described by The Economist as a “security guru,” Schneier is best known as a refreshingly candid and lucid security critic and commentator. When people want to know how security really works, they turn to Schneier.

Here is a sampling of some of his recent writing

• Evasive Malicious Code
• Nonsecurity Considerations in Security Decisions
• Third Party Consent and Computer Searches
• Information Leakage in the Slingbox
• Cyberwar
• RFID in People Access Security Services (PASS) Cards
• Network Insecurities at the FBI
• Criminals Hijack Large Web Hosting Firm
• Image Spam
• On the Futility of Fighting Online Pirates

While the contents isn’t always original, this is definitely the place that I go whenever I want to get caught up on the latest in keeping up with the crackers. I always learn something new and useful.

Vital Links

• Website: http://www.schneier.com/blog/
• Post Feed (RSS): http://www.schneier.com/blog/index.rdf
• Crypto-Gram Newsletter: http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram.html
• Computer Security Articles: http://www.schneier.com/essays-comp.html

If you would like to have your blog considered for the Tech Blog of the Week, feel free to submit it and you may also find yourself highlighted.

Trackback link - http://www.dailycupoftech.com/2007/06/10/tech-blog-of-the-week-schneier-on-security/trackback/

Sometimes it is difficult to remember that doing tech is a lot of fun, especially if you have a server down and the entire office is complaining about not getting any work done! It is times like this that I turn to *Balloontoablimp!

These guys help us to remember how much of a blast it is to work in technology. While they have a lot of technical information, they always write with their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks! Here is some of their whimsy:

• World’s Best Time Waster: unFortunate
• The Latest and Greatest from Google
• A Celebration of Helvetica
• Quick Way to Find Gmail Crap
• Do It Yourself, You Bum! (DIY Roundup)
• Compare Online Storage

So, if you’ve had a hard day at the office and want the lighter side of tech, check out *Balloontoablimp!

Vital Links

• Website: http://balloontoablimp.tumblr.com/
• Post Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/balloontoablimp

If you would like to have your blog considered for the Tech Blog of the Week, feel free to submit it and you may also find yourself highlighted.

Trackback link - http://www.dailycupoftech.com/2007/06/01/tech-blog-of-the-week-part-2-balloontoablimp/trackback/

I realize that I have been a bit lax in the Tech Blog of the Week department lately so I am going to try and make it up by posting two tech Blogs of the Week this week!

I think I am like many other tech people who just need to know how things are done. We aren’t interested so much in the destination as we are the journey. Sure, anyone can buy a piece of software but we want to know how to write the software. This is why I love the How-To Geek!

the How-To Geek has a very wide audience because it could tackle something really simple like Import Text into Excel 2007 today and then Run ASP.NET applications on Ubuntu tomorrow. Here is a sampling of some of their most recent work:

• Unzip or Unrar Many Files at Once in Linux
• View Your Google Calendar in Outlook 2007
• Quickly Translate Text to Another Language in Word 2007
• Clear Recent Documents in the XP Start Menu
• Mac OSX Expose Clone for Windows Vista
• Enable Hidden BootScreen in Windows Vista
• Mount an ISO image in Windows Vista
• Make User Account Control (UAC) Stop Blacking Out the Screen in Windows Vista

There is always something to learn over at the How-To Geek, regardless of how long you have been working with computers. Well worth your time.

Vital Links

• Website: http://www.howtogeek.com/
• Post Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HowToGeek

If you would like to have your blog considered for the Tech Blog of the Week, feel free to submit it and you may also find yourself highlighted.

Trackback link - http://www.dailycupoftech.com/2007/05/31/tech-blog-of-the-week-part-1-the-how-to-geek/trackback/

Every time a hear the word, I get a warm, fuzzy feeling all over. Freeware. Can there be anything better? Really. Someone spends a lot of time and effort to create some useful tool or application and then they give it aware for free!

So, when someone recommended Freeware Genius for the Tech Blog of the Week, it was a complete no brainer! Several times a week, Samer Kurdi adds a new and exciting application that, if you like it, you can simply download and use! Here are some of his most recent finds:

• Dapper
• Drivermax
• Sandboxie
• Audacity
• TCP Optimizer
• Explorer Breadcrumbs
• Mozbackup
• Krut Computer Recorder
• File Hamster
• Widdly
• Altiris SVS

One of the other really great aspects of Freeware Genius is that Samer rates each application and also has personal picks.  If your hard drive is a bit empty, head over to Freeware Genius and say, “Fill ‘er up!”

Vital Links

• Website: http://www.freewaregenius.com/
• Post Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/Freewaregeniuscom
• Comment Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/CommentsForFreewaregeniuscom
• Top 20 Freeware: http://www.freewaregenius.com/top/

If you would like to have your blog considered for the Tech Blog of the Week, feel free to submit it and you may also find yourself highlighted.

Trackback link - http://www.dailycupoftech.com/2007/05/13/tech-blog-of-week-freeware-genius/trackback/

The Tech Blog of the Week portion of Daily Cup of Tech has become a really popular column. We have highlighted some well established blogs and some up and comers. All of these blogs have one thing in common, they are all excellent examples of what can be accomplished when you combine some very skilled IT individuals with the willingness to share their experiences and insights.

If you haven’t read any of the Tech Blog of the Week posts, I would encourage you to read some of the amazing things that these people are going. Or, check out a list of all the previous Tech Blogs of the Week.

Now, I am looking for your help. I am aware of a lot of really good tech blogs out there but Daily Cup of Tech is all about the readers. I need to know what you think are some of the best tech blogs on the web. When you think you have come across a real gem, then submit it for the Tech Blog of the Week. Then, watch each Sunday for your submission.

Each winner will have a full post dedicated to their blog along with complete links to their blog, feeds, and several posts.

The list is starting to dwindle and I only have enough submissions for another week or two so now is a really good time to submit your favorites.

Trackback link - http://www.dailycupoftech.com/2007/05/08/wanted-tech-blog-recommendations/trackback/