Results for: tech time warp

Tech Time Warp: The father of RFID technology

Tech Time Warp: The father of RFID technology

As National Cybersecurity Awareness Month wraps up, it’s important to remember that cybersecurity goes beyond your laptop and your smartphone. Even as mundane an object as your office security fob is potentially vulnerable to a cyberattack—likely not something contemplated in...

/ October 30, 2020
Tech Time Warp: Credit card companies put PCI compliance in place

Tech Time Warp: Credit card companies put PCI compliance in place

We were headed toward a nearly cashless society anyway, but the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of “contactless” transactions is likely the final push over the edge. Every time you place a takeout order via a mobile app, you’re putting...

/ October 23, 2020
Tech Time Warp: National Cybersecurity Awareness Month turns 17

Tech Time Warp: National Cybersecurity Awareness Month turns 17

For the past 17 years, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) have used the month of October to educate Americans about the importance of good cybersecurity habits. Much has changed since the...

/ October 2, 2020
Tech Time Warp: CompuServe brings online access to consumers

Tech Time Warp: CompuServe brings online access to consumers

“Last night we … had a party for 11 people in nine different states and only had to wash one glass.” This isn’t a description of a Zoom happy hour. It’s the tagline of a 1983 magazine ad for CompuServe,...

/ September 25, 2020
Tech Time Warp: WebTV, your smart TV’s ancestor

Tech Time Warp: WebTV, your smart TV’s ancestor

Most of us have relied on streaming services to stay semi-sane during COVID-19 shutdowns. Did you know your smart TV has its roots in WebTV, a product that was truly ahead of its time (and its available bandwidth)?

/ September 18, 2020
Tech Time Warp: Quite the Hotmail hack, eh?

Tech Time Warp: Quite the Hotmail hack, eh?

You might not want to admit it, but you may still have a Hotmail account kicking around. Once your premier account—perhaps an upgrade from AOL—it may now be your throwaway address. Once, though, Hotmail was hip—and quite a target for...

/ September 4, 2020
Tech Time Warp: Hollerith automates the 1890 census

Tech Time Warp: Hollerith automates the 1890 census

The ongoing 2020 U.S. Census is historic: It’s the first U.S. census to be conducted primarily online, with citizens encouraged to visit my2020census.gov to be counted. Although the bureau conducted some online test counts during the 2000 census, it passed...

/ August 28, 2020
Tech Time Warp: Mr. ZIP (code) speeds up the Post Office

Tech Time Warp: Mr. ZIP (code) speeds up the Post Office

Given the ongoing political debate over postal efficiency, it’s easy to forget one of the biggest drivers of Big Data today is a postal innovation. The ZIP code makes it possible for marketers to guess how much you’ll charge on...

/ August 21, 2020
Tech Time Warp: AppleLink sends first emails from space

Tech Time Warp: AppleLink sends first emails from space

Here’s a bit of trivia for your next cocktail party or Zoom happy hour: The first email sent from outer space was delivered via a long-forgotten Apple venture that could rightfully be called the precursor to the Genius Bar or...

/ August 7, 2020
Tech Time Warp: Zotob worm wreaks havoc on the news

Tech Time Warp: Zotob worm wreaks havoc on the news

One way to make headlines is to go after the journalists themselves. On August 16, 2005, computers at CNN, ABC, The New York Times and The Associated Press were infected by the Zotob worm, along with machines at Caterpillar, and...

/ July 31, 2020