Unix has more vulnerabilities than Windows

Once more we have one of those threads over at Justlinux about why Linux is less secure than Windows because it’s open source software. If I ever decide to post modern urban myths, please remind me to put it on the list.

Blogging against Günther Klum

I decided to join the fun and catch some fish. You may read here and here. Looks like some people in this world are too old to grasp the flow of information in the digital age.

Genox’ 1st anniversary

Genox is “celebrating” his first year of blogging with this post. He writes “i wouldn’t really like to share my darkest and deepest inside with the public”, but in my eyes his blog already is pretty darn open and honest, which makes it very interesting to read for friends, but gosh, I wouldn’t write as openly in my own blog. Social desirability is even ingrained in psychologists after all.

Usability and WLAN

My big project as of late has been finally finished, namel the bookchapter on software ergonomics and usability. I wrote it together with Simon Raess and Rudolf Groner. It was a lot of fun and I think it turned out really well. Now it’s going to the publishing company, so let’s see what they say about it.

Yesterday I installed my first WLAN at a friend’s house. I have to say the usability of that Planet router wasn’t really that good… the good thing was it immediately worked, all I had to do was to plug it in - even a non-tech person could do that. However, securing one’s WLAN with that router was a totally different story… The settings for WPA security were hidden somewhere behind an inconspicous button of the router webinterface. The quick installation guide didn’t say a word about security, the full installation guide didn’t come printed out on paper but had to be read from a CD-ROM, and a special leaflet packed by the manufacturer recommended to turn on the additional security features, but it had no info how to do that or where one could get further information (namely on the CD-ROM). Dudes, you seriously need to review your documentation.

BTW, this GEO article (German only) on usability had me learn there’s an entire society in Germany with the mere purpose to write good technical documentation. I guess I’ll have to sneak around their site a bit looking for job opportunities.

Federal Council 2006

I have to say I like this year’s new photograph of the Swiss Federal Council. This time it was made by students of photography of a Swiss art school and it looks a lot better in my eyes compared to the previous ones. (They were either taken in woodcrafted rooms of the federal building or with some cold modern furniture.) Peter Bodenmann annually writes a biting interpretation of the most recent photograph in the Weltwoche, I’m looking forward to it.