Category: Tech Insight

Tech time warp
Tech Time Warp: Magistr “disembowels” computers

Tech Time Warp: Magistr “disembowels” computers

In early 2001, a nasty bug began making the rounds, hitting computer users hard with a particularly challenging payload as seen in this edition of Tech Time Warp. Magistr—sometimes called “Disemboweler” after the Swedish hacker group thought to be behind...

/ March 15, 2024
Pioneers in Tech
Pioneers in Tech: Carol Shaw, Atari video game designer

Pioneers in Tech: Carol Shaw, Atari video game designer

“I was good at math. I entered a bunch of math contests and won awards. Of course, people would say, “Gee, you’re good at math—for a girl. That was kind of annoying. Why shouldn’t girls be good at math?” This...

/ March 8, 2024
Tech Time Warp
Tech Time Warp: Leap years trip us up every time

Tech Time Warp: Leap years trip us up every time

Leap day 2024 was not without its technical complications. For instance, for more than 10 hours Thursday in New Zealand, drivers could not pay via credit card at gas pumps. Such problems are all part of the grand tradition of leap years,...

/ March 1, 2024
patchwork
Tech Time Warp: The history of Patch Tuesday

Tech Time Warp: The history of Patch Tuesday

Mondays are manic, Wednesday is Hump Day, Thursdays are thirsty, and TGIF. What about poor Tuesday? Well, for the past 20 years, Tuesday has been the responsible workday, thanks to Microsoft. In this edition of Tech Time Warp, we see...

/ February 23, 2024
Tech Time Warp
Tech Time Warp: No one is sending you pics of Anna Kournikova

Tech Time Warp: No one is sending you pics of Anna Kournikova

As your mother told you, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. And that’s as true today as it was 23 years ago when “OnTheFly,” a 20-year-old Dutch programmer/hacker, used a computer virus to proclaim his adoration...

/ February 16, 2024
AI
Knowing your AI from your GenAI

Knowing your AI from your GenAI

For better or worse, artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic right now. However, two main forms of AI are being written and spoken about, and it’s essential to understand the difference between them. Note that you may find extra...

/ February 14, 2024 / 1 Comment
Pioneers in Tech
Pioneers in Tech: Gladys West, the “hidden figure” of GPS

Pioneers in Tech: Gladys West, the “hidden figure” of GPS

We all rely on GPS nearly every day and may frequently marvel at how much easier it makes life. (Think about it: When was the last time you were lost?) But how often do we think about the people behind...

/ February 9, 2024
Tech Time Warp: Kasparov vs. Deep Blue kicks off AI debate

Tech Time Warp: Kasparov vs. Deep Blue kicks off AI debate

It’s a bit jarring to think how rapidly artificial intelligence became a tool of everyday life following the introduction of ChatGPT in November 2022. Now, instead of Googling pasta recipes or travel tips, we’re asking AI, and we’re receiving answers...

/ February 2, 2024
Tech Time Warp
Tech Time Warp: The transition to electronic voting faces challenges

Tech Time Warp: The transition to electronic voting faces challenges

A generation later, the images of Florida election workers surrounded by mountains of ballots as they recounted votes in the 2000 presidential election are a distant memory. An entire nation was riveted by the recount, bewildered that the balance of...

/ January 26, 2024
Kubernetes adoption reaching critical mass for MSPs

Kubernetes adoption reaching critical mass for MSPs

A survey of 333 IT operations and application development stakeholders directly responsible for Kubernetes in production environments suggests Kubernetes adoption has hit a critical mass point. This means managed service providers (MSPs) will be increasingly relied on to assist with...

/ January 23, 2024