hate groups
Hate, Why?
Good Afternoon SMRT Readers!
I have been gone for a while, and for that, I apologize! A bit of writer’s block, and a bit of unrelated work has caused me to neglect both of my blogs. Well, I am proud to say that I have taken over as the corporate security manager for a large financial institute. Now that I am back in the realm of physical security, I should have more time to remember how to reach my readers.
So, why not come back with a topic that has recently shown its ugly face again! Hate crimes, whether it be about race, religion, creed, or plain stupidity, these crazy folks still exist, and two days ago, we saw their tyranny once again. A man who was all about a race war took the fight to the Sikhs… The Sikhs? Why in the hell would you attack the Sikhs? Do you know of any Sikhs? I have known quite a few in my time, and they are the one group that truly believes in service to others! So, this Wade Michael Page, a “white supremecist” who had lived a homeless lifestyle for at least part of his life (according to CNN at least), obviously had no clue what he was doing! Sikhs open their temple to feed anyone who needs food; they provide shelter for those who need shelter; oh, and they look after the poor, even if they are Christian, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, or whatever someone believes.
Sikhs, who are seen unshaven and wearing a turbin, could be mistaken for an Islmaic extremist, but they aren’t even Middle Eastern… They are Indian!
So, why do people hate other people? I know that I have a serious disdain for those people who don’t think about their actions before they act, and I have even used the phrase “I hate stupid people” from time to time, well, most of the time, but I won’t kill them for being stupid.
So, how do we know if someone is a follower of these hate groups? You should know which of your friends could be really close to crossing the line, I mean if we look at all of the people who knew Page, they knew he was racist. People, he was the lead singer of a skin-head band! “I wouldn’t have thought he would have ever killed anyone…” Really? You must be kidding me!!! He sings about hate, he talks about hate, he inked his body with HATE, but you had no clue that he was dangerous? Please refer these people to my earlier comment about stupid people!
Contact someone if your friend is a bit out there on the hate rhetoric! You could singlehandedly prevent a needless killing of a great group of people! Also, do me a favor, do a little research on Sikhism, and try to brainstorm why someone would want to hurt these people!
Dating Apps Gone Wild!!!
Credit: electronics.howstuffworks.com
Happy Wednesday SMRT Readers!
Today I want to discuss how technology can be the enemy of safety.
Hackers have discovered a serious flaw in a smart phone app for gay and straight dating. I would normally tag this post as a privacy related post, but with the present levels of GLBT hatred being as high as ever, and with the flaw in the application crossing over to the straight scene as well, I find it to be a safety issue. The flaws were found in the apps: “Grindr” (the gay dating app) and “Blendr” (straight dating app). The flaw allows the hackers to breach the login of the apps, and gives the hackers free access to the user’s profile, which can include personal details and explicit photos of the user. The safety issue here is that it also allows the hacker to see the exact locations of the user’s friends. The apps both work by using a smart phone’s GPS to show the user’s location, as well as other users’ locations. So, if an anti-GLBT hate group gets a hold of this hack, they can then track members of the GLBT community, which could lead to harassment or worse. This is also true for stalkers wanting to track members who use Blendr, again, leading to harassment or worse. I have said it before, and I will say it again… protect your personal information. Vulnerable people make great targets for criminals, and the flaw in these apps can make you even more vulnerable. Any time your smart phone wants to use your location, I suggest telling it No. I personally do not allow my Facebook friends to check me into places, and I keep the location settings turned off for this exact reason. Your phones, either Android based or Apple based, run apps that aren’t always as secure as they say they are. It isn’t the fault of the company developing the app, it is just a flaw in the programming. If you allow your information to be public, you run the risk of becoming a victim. Please be careful when using your apps and be even more careful anytime you are using a dating app or even a dating website. Please remember, if you are going to meet up with someone, make sure the first couple of dates you meet the person at a public location, and never let them know where you live!
Protect your information, protect yourself; Coffee is brewing people, it is time to wake up!!!
