Monthly Archives: February 2009

http://www.darkreading.com/

http://www.darkreading.com/security/attacks/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=214502489&cid=nl_DR_WEEKLY_H

Alan’s Note First: Someone should fix those credit card processors – or whoever is responsible for processing holds on many sales and not clearing those holds. I often get Pending Transactions followed by the Actual Transaction – even on purchases where there’s no reason for a hold to be placed. You see holds, I thought, were supposed to go on Rental Cars and Hotel Rooms – and such where you’re not done owing them money. But it seems like more and more “everyone” is holding first and then charging… and often not releasing the hold before the charge. Many card holders may not realize this is happening on credit cards – because they don’t watch their transactions on a daily basis. I do. Most of the merchants where this happens tell me (wink wink) that this is OK if will come of in week or 10 days. To which I reply (wink wink) why don’t you just send me $1000 and I’ll hold it for you 10 days and then give it back. Fair is fair after all. What I’m saying is that something’s broken there. With real-time transactions … the hold goes in right quick … the transaction goes in right quick. There’s no fricking reason I can see that the release of the hold cannot go in right quick. There’s no reason to double bill someone for any length of time. If anyone can tell me a reason – I’d love to hear it?

(off of soapbox, engage regular article mode…)

* That being said … “those that have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action” (I heard  that on one of the National Treasure Movies – supposedly derived from a line in the Declaration of Independance *I believe*.) Those that handle our money should be liable for any losses we have whenever they would fail to properly secure our transactions and our information. (here goes the real article)

Hack of a second U.S.-based payment processing firm exposes accounts used in Internet, phone transactions, according to credit union alerts

Feb 23, 2009 | 02:40 PM

By Kelly Jackson Higgins
DarkReading

Brace yourself for another payment-processor breach: A second U.S.-based payment acquirer/processor has been hit with a network hack that exposed consumers’ credit card accounts.As of this posting, the victim firm’s identity had not been revealed. According to several credit unions, Visa recently alerted them that another payment processor had discovered a data breach. Among the credit unions issuing alerts about the breach on their Websites are The Tuscaloosa VA Federal Credit Union and the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association. The Open Security Foundation has a notice posted on its DataLossDB site.The latest breach follows that of Heartland Payment Systems, which went public on Jan. 20 about discovering malware on its processing system; some security experts have called it the largest security breach ever. Heartland processes 100 million payment card transactions per month for 175,000 merchants.(more at the link)

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Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954 683 3426

* This one went out on the email wire today, so I’ll post it here as well… 

ASMT Occassional Bulletin…

* A couple of tips for our yachting mobile Internet users. Two things that can help out with your mobile office which is probably going on more than 1 Internet Connection depending on your location (Satellite, Cellular, WiFi, etc.)

1.) Efax.com – for fax via any broadband connection (in and out, with your own fax #)

2.)  http://www.authsmtp.com for sending emails with Outlook, Outlook Express, Vista’s “Windows Mail” – which is basically Outlook Express Reloaded. Basically many ISP’s will allow you to send email when you are on your home connection with them, but once you go on another connection mobile – they block sending as a Spam Prevention Measure. Some, such as Google’s Gmail have SMTP AUTH all set up because they know that everyone is all over the place and not on their networks. Others such as Bellsouth.net seem to be behind the times.

That’s a good idea to use that authsmtp.com to allow SMTP (outbound email) relay on multiple Internet Connections. I’ll have to save that one for my clients as well. In fact I plan on writing an article on it and blogging it and sending it to my customers as well. I haven’t had anyone ask that question in awhile. We used to get that on Fleet 55 and 77 system customers and such.

Here’s the why for why that happens:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADBF_enUS255US256&q=sendmail%2bprevent%2brelaying

No company wants to be an “Open Relay” allowing anyone on any Internet Connection to send Emails – because that would allow spammers to abuse their SMTP Server. I am surprised that by 2009 that Bellsouth/AT&T haven’t implemented a POP3 first or SMTP AUTH method of allowing their actual customers to send Emails when on a Mobile Connection.

Gmail is using simple SMTP AUTH and SSL and different ports (SMTP: 465 POP3: 995) to allow their users to send from any connection. My web host on 1and1.com is also using SMTP AUTH. Bellsouth however has me down as well when I’m not on my DSL connection. But I’m phasing off of Bellsouth.net email anyway.

* Everyone have a good day and a good week!

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Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954 683 3426

* I also posted this on gCaptain forums under YouBlog.

I work in communications, primarily marine communications lately (5 years). I work with sail and motor yachts, but the same ideals work for most vessels big enough for persons or crews to live onboard for extended periods of time.

There are multiple methods of Internet Access around for marine vessels. Many of them are very recent as far as how long they have been available.

What kind of Internet Communications a vessel uses depends on a couple of things… Their Budget (or companies budget) … and How much time they spend on the “Deep Blue Sea” where no land-based (terrestrial) Internet Connections can be used.

There is also something called Sail Mail (and others?) that work via MF-HF SSB Radio and for low volume / low content text only emails and some weather content uses.

Inmarsat has been around for a long time – and it seems to me was the “gold standard” until less than half a dozen years ago or less. Mini-M’s and Fleet (33, 55, or 77) systems as well as the old Saturn B – were, and in some cases still used.

Starting in the 2000′s (I came into this in early 2004) vessels started using Cellular by installing gear that did GSM for voice but also included GPRS Internet. It wasn’t the easiest thing to install because typically it took a 9-pin modem cable connection to a PC and knowing how to set that up to make it work.

Also WiFi Hotspots … crews were already getting that on laptops – so companies started making gear to share the wifi onto the boat without having everyone connect independantly – and to bring better signal and connection into the vessel.

Cellular is also going into 3G – so there are things like GSM’s outgrowth to UMTS – with HSPA – High Speed Packet Access – now available to individuals – so thusly vessels could take advantage of this as well by using router boxes designed to share such connections. They made it a bit easier to connect since the old modem cable thing went away.

Back on Satellite… newer VSAT systems came out from SeaTel and Nera (Nera later dropped out of satellite?) and KVH. Even more recent the Fleet Broadband – which is basically BGAN at Sea, and KVH’s Mini-VSAT or Tracphone V7 have come out. I didn’t say they were cheap – but the do work in a lot of places (Deep Blue Sea) where the other stuff just won’t work.

I usually recommend that vessels implement at least 2 or more of these things – so that they can choose a least-cost system to use depending on their geographic location and wether or not they are near land or in dock or not.

I also have a longer article on Cellular Internet as it pertains to marine vessels… if anyone’s interested. I’d have to figure out how to post it on here with the pictures that come with it. But I’ll do it if there is enough interest.

I’m also interested in other uses for computers and computing devices, including newer hand held cellular and such gear – as well as Navigation and Piloting uses of all sorts of Methods and Communications that touch computer and computer-like gear. A lot of things are bumping together even entertainment stuff is having networking these days. Nobeltec Radar goes over a CAT5 cable and is picked up by the computer using TCP/IP just like the Internet and Local Network stuff works.

It’s cool stuff … but always it’s nicer when technology helps to make a captain and crews life easier on marine vessels.

__________________
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Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

+1 954 683 3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

Found on gCaptain.com forums.

The Rule of the Road

Both in safety and in doubt
Always keep a good look out.
In Danger, with no room to turn,
Ease her, Stop her, Go Astern .

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Alan SPicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

+1 954 683 3426

The Triton – http://www.the-triton.com reports the story. I was there the other day when the yacht Princess Marianna was pulling into a dock in Fort Lauderdale. I even caught some of their lines to help them tie up.

Anyway apparently there are some bad individuals that are sending out emails claiming to be a certain yacht … and requesting funds (yah, money!) be sent. And one person was already known to have been ripped off for a 4 figures sum of money.

I say … never trust an email on face value – even people that you know are being “faked” on places like Myspace and Facebook. For yacht crew job seekers I’d make a phone call back to the captain to confirm any email sent. And never send money to anyone that you don’t have an established relationship (business or otherwise) with – without confirming everything by voice telephone.

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Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954 683 3426

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom (ASMT for Short) has changed hosting providers. So the web sites: marinetelecom.net and wifiyacht.net had to be moved. Not an easy task let me tell you. Fortunately I know what I’m doing

I had to lose some of the features of the original marinetelecom.net like the Forum and the B2Evolution Blog because those softwares were not immediately available on the new hosting provider. My blog, however, on the more recent WordPress, was able to be migrated because 1&1 had WordPress immediately available and WordPress had an Export / Import capability which let me take the content into the new blog. So here it is.

If you’d like to support ASMT in continuing to provide many features of the web site free then please see http://www.marinetelecom.net and purchase product(s) or service(s) featured on there. Many are on special right now. Many you don’t have to be on a boat or a yacht to purchase (See: http://riveroffers.com/?cogid=aspicer.) If you just plain want to send a donation ($50.00 or more) drop me an email for how to do that. Yes we are in touch economic times and we are feeling the full affect of it. So your support new – or continuing support as an existing customer is definately appreciate!

Additional Note: Notice we, via Cognigen Networks [now River Offers], were already famous for Long Distance Savings and Phone and Internet (T1, T3, OcX, Metro Ethernet) Connections at great prices – but now we also have Consumer Electronics (TV LCD PLASMA HDTV), Computers, Computer Peripherals, Networking Gear – and much much more. Make sure you check out that link above for all of your needs.

Leads! I’m paying $50.00 to anyone referring a yacht customer that purchases product or service from marinetelecom.net or wifiyacht.net (Alan Spicer Marine Telecom) - or 1 hour onboard working on your computer/Internet problems as a reward for the referral paying customer.

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

Email: communications (at) marinetelecom.net

Phone: +1 954 683 3426

* Yachts: Business: I.T. – Information Technology – This article is about companies flocking to outsource vendors to save money. I thought this was somewhat relevant to yachting as well because a lot of yachts are operated by companies – as well as by individual owners. Alan Spicer Marine Telecom handles outsourcing of I.T. and Communications Consulting and Support for yachts at very low prices. Make sure that you see: http://www.marinetelecom.net and http://www.marinetelecom.net/consulting for more information. $150 off on C&S Agreements in February 2009 only for new and renewal agreement purchases. 10% off on either WiFi Hotspot or Cellular 3G Internet Sharing Systems for Yachts with the purchase of a C&S Agreement before or at the time of purchase of the system. Get full network design and support for the onboard network. Great for Do-It-Yourself or Crew-It-Yourself (Crew-Do-It-Yourself) Projects. I do a lot of Remote Consulting … and this holds your cost down to a single very reasonable fee per year for all of it. These are not like IT GUY agreements that are $thousands$ per month. Not even thousands per year. Not even probably a thousand per year. Find out for yourself. Boats and Yachts love my C&S Agreements and the Service that I provide with them.

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/021309-outsourcing.html?fsrc=netflash-rss

Companies flocked to IT outsourcing vendors as the recession unfolded last year and industry watchers expect more of the same as companies seek to slash fixed costs and deliver services with smaller staffs.

(more at the link…)

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Alan Spicer
Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.linkedin.com/in/alanspicer

http://www.marinetelecom.net/

http://www.wifiyacht.net/

+1 954-683-3426

* To my yacht audience with Internet Access – If you use Myspace, Facebook, and other similar Social/Networking Sites… be very careful. There is a trend going on towards social engineering via theft of accounts or impersonation of accounts on these services – to trick you and gain your trust (through an existing friend or family or such trust situation) and trick you into do any of a number of things – such as send money to someone (who isn’t who you think it is.) So please always double check by another method (offline – telephone, regular email, etc.) before you assume that someone is who you THINK they are.

http://www.cio.com/article/481117/_Dirty_Tricks_Social_Engineers_Favorite_Pick_Up_Lines

From phishing scams on Facebook and Twitter to tech support and other office cons, there are thousands of ways for con artists to pull off their tricks.

By Joan Goodchild

February 16, 2009 – CSO – What the average guy might call a con is known in the security world as social engineering. Social engineering is the criminal art of scamming a person into doing something or divulging sensitive information. These days, there are thousands of ways for con artists to pull off their tricks (See: Social Engineering: Eight Common Tactics). Here we look at some of the most common lines these people are using to fool their victims..

Social networking scams

“I’m traveling in London and I’ve lost my wallet. Can you wire some money?” Social networking sites have opened a whole new door for social engineering scams, according to Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant with U.K.-based security firm Sophos. One of the latest involves the criminal posing as a Facebook “friend.”

(more at the link…)

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Alan Spicer
Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.linkedin.com/in/alanspicer

http://www.marinetelecom.net/

http://www.wifiyacht.net/

+1 954-683-3426