Secure Email Project

I completed a procedure of sending and receiving digitally signed and encrypted emails. The end result of the process is shown below:

Encrypting emails is one way to set up a barrier between a business and potential hackers. Emails are just plain text that anyone can intercept at any given time so it is important to put in a system that guards their contents.. In the article listed here: Hackers Reveal Offers to Spy on Corporate Rivals, it discusses the attack of hackers on the security company HBGary Federal. Some of the emails that were intercepted described ways of undermining competitors/adversaries of other large institutions such as Bank of America and the US Chamber of Commerce for millions of dollars. One email that was intercepted even suggested a way in which WikiLeaks could be discredited. Now, Bank of America and the US Chamber of Commerce are under attack and under ridicule for the emails that HBGary had on their server. If they had used encryption to guard the attacks of hackers, the emails would never have been jeopardized and the reputations of both institutions would have been protected.

Picture is user created content by Richard Ecker, April 10, 2011.
Article is provided by New York Times Online February 11,2011.

Extra Credit : Creating an avatar using DoppelMe

Today, I created an avatar by using the site DoppelMe and here it is below:

While the process was very straightforward, the amount of customization was a little limited in comparison to other sites. Basically, you only have a few different styles of expressions, wardrobe, accessories, and hair styles to choose from to try to make it like your self.

Anyways, to get started just click on the link I listed above and just hit create. It will then ask you what eye color and skin color you want so just make the selection and continue on. Afterwards, it will lead you through facial expressions, shoes, shirts, bottoms, and so on so just make the selections you like and continue on. If you want additional options, go ahead and click on create account which opens up a few more customizations. However, you still are very limited on what you can choose even if you create an account. Afterwards, it will provide several links to the avatar you created where you can then embed them into your blog or email signature. Just copy the link and post it to your blog to use it.

If you want a simple and very easy to create avatar, DoppelMe is your answer; however, for heavy customizations, I would look elsewhere.




Sources of picture: User created by Richard Ecker using www.doppelme.com.