|
|
|
|
From the news desk to the desktop, Between the Lines brings you industry views of the recent news. In this issue, find out how a single character made the entire Internet a more dangerous place, how Facebook took all your stuff and then gave it back, and how a small-time operation got pruned in the garden of fate.
The Internet Is Potentially Dangerous 
But on January 30, a Google bug told everyone that the entire Internet was potentially dangerous. No matter the search, the service tagged each and every result with a warning for the user to be wary of the site, as it "might harm your computer." According to the New York Times article, Google initially implied that nonprofit StopBadware.org was to blame, in that it provides Google with a list of dangerous sites. But the search giant later took the blame itself, and StopBadware.org stated in its own post that "The mistake in Google’s initial statement, indicating that we supply them with badware data, is a common misperception." Google noted on its Google Blog that the bug was a result of "human error," because someone added "/"--a value which "expands to all URLs"--to the list of dangerous sites. If you searched for something during the brief Google bug window and were told that the Internet might harm your computer, fear not. The Internet is still safe. Well, safe-ish.
Related Articles
If you come across a bug that you think can compete for the title of Bug of the Month, send it to Joey McAllister at jmcallister@sqe.com for possible inclusion in the next Between the Lines.
Facebook Owns Your Stuff Do you read the terms of service (TOS) for every Web site you use? Apparently neither do most Facebook users. Facebook changed its TOS on February 4, but the angry critics didn't really start showing up until a week later. Many users don't read the changes to TOS, of course, because most TOS changes are technicalities--often a change to the legal wording or to an element of the site that may not directly impact users. And, while the Facebook TOS also state that Facebook doesn't actually have to announce any changes to the TOS, it came as a surprise to most users that the February 4 change essentially made it so that Facebook could own whatever you post to Facebook--photos, journal entries, videos, illustrations, etc.--even after you take those things down or cancel your Facebook account. The TOS before February 4 also stated that Facebook owns what you post, but it included a paragraph that limited Facebook's ownership to the life of your account. If you don't want to give any rights to Facebook, simply delete your account. The reason for this clause is so that Facebook can legally share the information you upload with other users--one of the major purposes of a social networking site. And the reason for the deletion of the paragraph is, according to a February 16 blog post by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, so that a person canceling his Facebook account would not automatically delete the messages he had sent to other users and "wall posts" he had created on other users' Facebook profile pages. "In reality, we wouldn't share your information in a way you wouldn't want," Zuckerberg wrote in the post. In a follow-up post the next day, he announced that the site was reverting to the former TOS while it sorts through the language for the next TOS update. He also invited users to post questions, comments, and requests to a new Facebook group called Facebook Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. Do you read the TOS for the Web services you use? Tell us about it in the Survey Says! section below.
Related Articles It's important to note the pronoun "I," because many users didn't know that Ma.gnolia has been created, funded, and primarily developed by Halff. In the video "Citizen Garden Episode 11: Whither Ma.gnolia?" Halff notes that, at its largest, the Ma.gnolia team consisted of four people. He also explains the data loss, what he could've done to prevent it, and how he plans to regrow Ma.gnolia. The Ma.gnolia failure was a total loss, according to Halff, because the backup servers were backing up corrupted data. "You can never guarantee anyone 100 percent of anything, but I can get a lot closer than I was in the prior setup," Halff says in the video. This brings up the question of who is behind the Web services we use, and what resources are there to make sure we can continue using them. Many services are free. Which ones have business plans? Which ones have proper backup systems? When you go to use your favorite, free bookmarking tool or Twitter application, for instance, will it be there?
Related Articles
Media Spotlight
If you're using exploration as part of your testing approach, it might be terrifying to try to give a status report--especially if some project stakeholders think exploratory testing is irresponsible and reckless compared to test cases. Jon Bach offers ways for you to explain the critical and creative thinking that makes exploratory testing so powerful. Learn how to report your exploration so stakeholders have a better understanding and appreciation of the value of exploratory testing to your project.
Watch the video now: http://www.stickyminds.com/SW08Bach.
"A Sneak Preview: STAREAST Conference Keynote Speakers" The latest Web seminar brought to you by StickyMinds.com and Better Software magazine * Sponsored by Software Quality Engineering Conferences * Join us for this sneak peak to three of the keynote presentations to be presented at STAREAST 2009. This Web seminar features Michael Bolton, Patrick Copeland, and Randy Rice--each an expert in his testing specialties. They will discuss with our audience building tester awareness, adding to a tester's toolbox, and creating dashboards. Participate in this event on Tuesday, March 3, at 2 p.m. ET. http://www.sqe.com/go?WS030309EN
Featured White Paper
@StickyMinds on Twitter
Last Month's Survey Results In January, we asked, "Is software to blame for the current economic crisis?" Here's how you responded:
64% said, "No, the software wasn't the problem. 
Have you checked out the StickyMinds.com MarketPlace? The MarketPlace provides links to products and services designed to aid or improve software development. www.stickyminds.com/index.asp#marketplace Between the Lines is an extension of www.StickyMinds.com and Better Software magazine — and a reminder that your "online resource for building better software" is just a click away at StickyMinds.com. Subscriber Services You are receiving this issue of Between the Lines as part of your StickyMinds.com membership, Better Software magazine subscription, or StickyLetter subscription. We hope this publication will be a useful and enjoyable benefit. To change your email address or update your preferences, go to www.stickyminds.com/eletters.asp?fx=change To ensure optimal receipt of these emails, please add betweenthelines@lists.stickyminds.com to your address book or all messages from @lists.stickyminds.com to your email white list. To unsubscribe, go to www.stickyminds.com/eletters.asp?fx=unsub **If this eLetter has been forwarded to you by a friend, you can register for your own free subscription to StickyLetter at www.stickyminds.com/eletters.asp SOFTWARE QUALITY ENGINEERING 330 CORPORATE WAY STE. 300 ORANGE PARK, FL 32073 StickyLetter is an extension of www.StickyMinds.com and Better Software magazine — and a reminder that your "online resource for building better software" is just a click away at StickyMinds.com. |
|
