MPs lobby to criminalise data loss

 

From: vnunet.com – 03/01/08

“MPs on the Justice Select Committee have called for new laws to protect the integrity of personal data.

The move was prompted by critical government data losses over the past few months, such as the loss of computer disks at HM Revenue & Customs.

The committee called for a breach law that would make it a legal obligation for companies to notify customers if their data has been accessed and to create a system of fines for repeat offenders.

"The scale of the data loss by government bodies and contractors is truly shocking, but the evidence we have had points to further hidden problems," said committee chairman Alan Beith.

It is frankly incredible, for example, that the measures put in place at HM Revenue & Customs were not already standard procedure.

The Committee also called for the Information Commissioner to have powers to make spot checks on government departments to ensure that correct practice is being followed.

These latest proposals to punish reckless data leakage with large fines and/or prison sentences will go some way in encouraging organisations from the top down to be compliant or at least be able to prove they took the necessary steps to protect their data.”

This has obviously been a necessary step for quite some time now; it’s just a shame that it’s taken so long for us to get merely this far.

The Michael returns

So, I made it back from my London trip with nothing more than moderate-to-severe sleep deprivation coupled with a deeply-seated frustration re. the state of Britain’s rail network, and the nation’s infamously bad weather. Yes, I WAS caught in the melee of rail disruptions yesterday on my journey back, I WAS pressed into a rail carriage with the space and dignity afforded to an average tinned sardine and I WAS absolutely correct in my prediction that my London trip was going to be bad.

Having gotten back around 10.45 last night, I’ve spent the day catching up on sleep, emails and a host of other things. I noticed sadly that this blog was given short shrift in Charon’s much anticipated ‘Blawg Review’ – what was all that about?!? Listing Law Actually under ‘and… some good student blogs I enjoy reading’ – I mean, seriously! Does the guy not recognise great content when he sees it? Just kidding, Charon.

I was disappointed, though, to see that Law Actually had slipped down the Google rankings for ‘law student blog UK’ but was heartened to see it top of the list for ‘law student blog LPC’. Swings and roundabouts I guess.

Anyway, after my week in the big smoke, I can safely say the following, without hesitation or qualification:

1. My God, I really hate team-building exercises, overly-enthusiastic people, Mac fanatics who think Vista is sh*t (seriously, don’t even get me started on those goons) and just the whole notion of ‘corporate training’.

2. I hate those who run team-building and corporate training programmes even more than the wretched courses they stupidly devise

3. Sloppy hotel standards are still running absolutely rife in the UK; there is an abundance, however of atrocious food, shocking hospitality and dodgy smelling lifts.

4. Wembley Stadium is architecturally a big disappointment – they spent how much on that monster?!?

5. Travelling on the tube at rush hour on Friday is doable, but not to be recommended – particularly not with a suitcase!

6. How I made it through from Sunday morning until Friday night without browsing the internet, emailing, blogging and my usual online repertoire is nothing short of a miracle

7. Following London slang can be a difficult undertaking for a ‘Westcountrionian’ like myself: “seriously, man, it’s propa ‘ard, innit!”

It’s all good stuff.

Off to London

The Michael heard earlier this week that he must travel to London for 5 days on 'urgent business'.  While initially being less than pleased, I've now resigned myself to the fact that a) I must do it, b) it's gonna be bad and c) well, there isn't really a c).  You get the idea.  I'm not happy.

So, blawgwatchers, this will be my final posting until sometime late next week, when I'll be back, presumably full of doom and gloom and bad stories about my week in the 'big smoke'.

Oh, and being 12th night, I've made sure that my Law Actually Christmas decorations are down in good time.  Whoopeedoo.  Roll on next year, eh!  Sigh.

“...After 400 yards, you’ll be driven up the freaking wall”

My girlfriend was bought a SatNav phone for Christmas, and unsurprisingly has been itching to use it at every opportunity since. Accordingly, therefore, when we tootled out on a shopping excursion today, the trusty device was pressed into action. I was yet to learn what a domineering and forceful nagger this device was. Reminiscent of an overbearing and officious back-seat-driver, riding with such a device is an insufferable cross between a driving instructor from hell and a 1950s housewife.

Before we’d even driven out of the car park, it was barking out orders. And erroneous ones at that. In true Sergeant-Major fashion, it snarled its opening instruction: “turn right and then sharp right onto ....”.

Therein lay the first problem . “But we’re going left, aren’t we,”? I queried.  Trying to quickly comprehend the logic in operation, I suggested, “so we just do the opposite of each direction, yeah”? Well, apparently it wasn’t as simple as that. After the opening salvo, I bitched back at the jumped-up device, grumbling at its repetitive reminders, grating voice and haughty attitude.

But I jest, faithful reader. The SatNav phone is, in all honestly, an excellent bit of kit and a worthy cockpit addition for the speed-camera warnings alone. To be fair, though, it did get us horribly lost at one point, adding time to our journey and mud to the car. Still, I’m assured that was more attributable to user-error rather than a satellite being out of kilter.

In conclusion, I don’t mind being dictated to by a phone, I just wish it’d sometimes ease back on the reminders and soften its tone, that’s all. After all, who wants to be bitched at by a phone – isn’t driving a hotbed for potential arguments and stress anyway?

CBE for BBC Computer-Dude

From: vnunet.com 02/01/08

"Professor Steve Furber has been awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours for his work in bringing PCs into UK homes.

Professor Furber is best known for his work at Acorn Computers, where he helped to design the BBC Microcomputer in 1981.

The device became particularly successful as an educational tool, and was one of the first machines to be widely used in people's homes."

Oh boy.  I remember using one of these monsters back at primary school and geez, it was nearly as bad as my reptilian Amstrad CPC 6128 Plus.  The 'Plus' by the way, actually denoted that that particular model came bundled with extra headaches, annoyances and problems. 

Still, I vaguely remember that the BBC computer at my school had a few quirky games with it.  I particularly recall one featuring a witch of some description.  Quite fitting, really, given some of my early female teachers.

Victim will testify from the grave

Okay, I have to admit that even I, a hardened law student, was taken-in by such juicy, nonsensical headlines that I saw on various news sites today and couldn't help but click on the links.  That damn click-happy finger of mine. 

From: AOL News 02/01/08

"Julie Jensen will essentially testify from the grave when her husband's murder trial begins this week.
Shortly before her death in 1998, Jensen told police, a neighbor and her son's teacher that she suspected her spouse was trying to kill her, court documents show. She gave a letter to the neighbor that said that if she died, Mark Jensen should be the first suspect.

Until recent years, using such evidence in court was virtually unheard of because of constitutional guarantees that give criminal defendants the right to confront their accusers.
But the Wisconsin Supreme Court created new rules, prompted by a U.S. Supreme Court decision that laid the groundwork for her accusatory letter and statements to police to be used as evidence in the trial."

Happy 2008

 

As 2007 went out with something of a whimper and the brand new, sparkling 2008 swept in, I found myself yet again asking what all the fuss was about.  Oh well.  I suppose I must resign myself to the fact that I never have and probably never will 'get' New Year.  Sigh.

And of 2008? Well, as seems fitting for me these days, I've had my technical hat firmly on and been attempting to troubleshoot a litany of technical computer headaches and connectivity problems, none of which have been straightforward.  The fact I've had to carry out such technical assistance, remotely, that is, on another continent to the 'client' has only heightened the challenge. 

So while I vaguely ponder that it will soon be time to get back to some 'law' (yeah, whatever the hell that is) I remain firmly the tech guru at the moment.  So as of 23.30 on 1st January 2008 I can say the following the still trouble me:

 

 

• Does the Scientific Atlanta WebSTAR DPC2100 Cable Modem REALLY require Vista specific drivers? (or is the fact the end user has both an Ethernet AND USB cable connected simultaneously --or one of them missing all together-- exacerbating the issue?!?)  Yeah, seriously.  Best not to ask.
  
• What ACTUALLY has caused a Dell Dimension 8400 to go into an endless cycle of freezes on boot-up displaying: "Boot fails at checkpoint Ithr"?  From my searches on the net, it seems there are a multitude of possible causes ranging from the processor overheating to loose connections or a dislodged RAM module.  So take your pick, buddy.  Oh, and just to mix things up a little, the problem can apparently be solved by removing the battery or disconnecting the base unit from the mains and waiting for all power to drain down.  Oh joy.
  
• And WHY THE HELL is the colour sequence of diagnostic LEDs on the back panel the only combination NOT present on the Dell support materials?!?  This must be a freaking p**s-take.

Yeah, Happy 2008 indeed.