Disappointing News -- No Meaningful Reduction of Spam

I guess it was wishful thinking but I was hoping to see a meaningful drop in spam traffic after the authorities busted the "HerbalKing" Network, a major source of spam.  Most published reports confirm that there was little or no impact.  I also promised to check with our email experts for a first-hand look and here's what they found -- No noticeable change.  On two Wednesdays before the bust, we blocked 10.2 million spams.  On the two Wednesdays after it, the number was 9.8 million.

Considering this network was supposedly responsible for one-third of all spam, this shows how versatile Internet bandits can be.  Too bad.  It's an unfortunate example of how complicated it is to manage bad things on the Internet.  Almost instantly, alternative routes were established and spammers were enjoying business as usual. 

Check your Windows Update history [CNET News] 

Microsoft says that the latest update for Windows XP and Vista is too important to wait until the scheduled automatic update. Due to security concerns, Microsoft is recommending that you check your Windows update to make sure you've got the patch, and if you don't to download it. The security issue that the update is designed to fix poses a greater threat to Windows XP users than Vista, but it's significant enough that it's recommended that all Windows users take a few minutes to check their update status.

This post from CNET contains instructions on how to check your update status to make sure you've got the patch.

Microsoft Presses for White Spaces Vote [Broadcasting and Cable] 

Google's role in the lobbying effort for approval of white space devices by the FCC has been very public, and now Microsoft is joining Google in a public push for the controversial proposal that will allow broadcast television spectrum to be used for wireless broadband Internet. The controversy involves the FCC's technical report about their testing of white space prototypes and the interference they caused for broadcast and cable television reception.

But when Microsoft's Chief Research and Strategy Officer, Craig Mundie, the person who is heading up Microsoft's lobbying efforts for white space approval, was asked whether he'd reviewed the FCC's technical report, he said:

“I haven’t actually personally reviewed the test data from the FCC, so I can’t comment radio by radio,” said Mundie.

The report has been cited by the National Association of Broadcasters in their request to allow a public comment period on the white space issue because the NAB claims that the report details several instances of white space devices causing interference with broadcast television reception. I've linked to an article at ArsTechnica that quotes a section of the report detailing how one prototype interfered with cable television reception. 

Maybe it's time the advocates of white spaces take a look at the FCC's technical report.  Or perhaps, when we start getting the flood of calls because TV's aren't working properly, we should give our customers Microsoft's Government Relations Department's phone number.

Hollywood braces for new D.C. chief [Variety] 

Here's an interesting read about the potential future of the FCC under either an Obama or McCain administration. Who would be either administration's chief advisers on the issues over which the FCC has purview? What about potential FCC appointments by either a President McCain or a President Obama?  A word of caution -- predicting the next FCC Chairman is a daunting task.  First, new administrations usually take their time in making that decision.  Second, the decision is often a surprise to everyone.

And will Congress pass some type of net neutrality legislation under a President Obama (who has supported net neutrality)? This article provides some insight into how both candidates might approach this area of policy making.

The Race to Instant-On Computers Begins [NYT Bits Blog]

Are you waiting and waiting when you boot up your computer? As consumers have begun using other "instant on" devices like smartphones, the demand for computers that are usable as soon as users press the power button has increased.  Don't forget what Carrie Fisher once said, "Instant gratification takes too long."  This article has a summary of how several computer manufacturers are planning to roll out computers to meet that demand.

Comments

[dave88]

I Just wanted to add that Gotreception.com (http://www.gotreception.com) is a great resource for finding out where reception problems are most likely to occur.