Michael Howard's Web Log : Personal

Twitter Feed

michael_HOWARD — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:16:00 GMT

I've been doing this Twitter thing for a while now - I really like it, folks can get a feel for what you're up to each day.

If you're interested, you can see what I'm up to by clicking 'Follow' at http://twitter.com/michael_howard

My Daughter will never be a Spy

michael_HOWARD — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 06:43:00 GMT

My kids are desperate for pets; my six-year old son wants a dog (note, a dog, not a puppy!) and my 4-year old daughter wants a cat. The worse part is my wife keeps egging the kids on, and says she'll get the a pet when I'm next out of town.

Tonite I told my daughter I was leaving for D.C. for a couple of days, here's how the chat went:

Me: I'll be out of town for a couple of days in Washington, D.C. Ok?
Paige: Ok. I'll miss you daddy.
Me: I'll miss you too...

At this point, Paige starts smiling.

Paige: When you come back, I'll have a surpise for you.
Me: That's nice. What?
Paige: I can't tell you, it's a secret.
Me: Oh!
Paige: I'll have to put tape on it's mouth so you can't hear it "meow"!

New Microsoft Security Intelligence Report Available

michael_HOWARD — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:03:00 GMT

The latest Security Intelligence Report is now available. To quote the Web page:

The Microsoft Security Intelligence Report (SIR) provides an in-depth perspective on the changing threat landscape including software vulnerability disclosures and exploits, malicious software (malware), and potentially unwanted software. Each individual report focuses on data and trends observed in either the first or second half of each calendar year and uses historical data to provide context. The purpose of the SIR is to keep Microsoft’s customers informed of the major trends in the threat landscape and to provide valuable insights and security guidance designed to help customers improve their security posture in the face of these threats.

The report, which is always an interesting read, is here.

Privacy Tip o' the Day

michael_HOWARD — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:34:00 GMT

I'm stunned at how much private data the average citizen will divulge. I was buying some stuff yesterday, and the clerk at the checkout asked the customer in front of me for her phone #, which she was quite happy to give. Next, I was signing up for gym membership, and the guy in front of me wrote his social security number on the membership form! Why on earth does a gym need your sosh?

So here's what I do.

Check-out clerk: "Can I please have your phone number?"
Me: "It's unlisted"

I have never had a single issue with this line, and it's not as argumentative as, "no, drop dead."

As for SSN.

Gym Membership guy: "You didn't complete the form, I need your SSN."
Me: "How will my SSN be used?"
Gym Membership guy: "I don't know."
Me: "I bet it's not needed."
Gym Membership guy: "You're probably right"
Me: "Ok, let's leave it blank for the time being."

End of story. Again I'm being civil, and leaving it open ended, even though I have no intention of supplying my National Identity Number, oops, I mean social security number.

In the rare case where someone thinks they REALLY need my sosh and I don't think they do, I'll enter my SSN but flip a bunch of numbers around, I take advantage of the fact there's no checksum digit in a SSN! :)

My Last Day in Redmond

michael_HOWARD — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 01:33:00 GMT

Well, today is my last day in Redmond. It's pretty sad, but I'm really looking forward to being in Austin. It's been a long stretch selling the house, buying a house, dealing with builders (if you're considering building, let me know, and I'll give you some tips.) And then there's mortgage companies and movers and packers and schools and crying neighbors and utilities etc etc etc.

The upside is a change in lifestyle. My son sums it up nicely, "I get a pool? Cool!"

:-)

Give me strength: My kids have discovered Pokemon

michael_HOWARD — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 20:43:00 GMT

It's official. I'm old. I have no freakin' clue what my kids are talking about. They love Pokemon, and they spend ages together (which is cool) talking about this stuff.

My son can recite the relationship between each and every Pokeman; what they do, what their strengths and weaknesses are and their heritage.

What a geek! Makes me proud :)

From the Mouths of Babes

michael_HOWARD — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 16:27:00 GMT

A few weeks ago someone in my group suggested I blog about more than security. I asked, "Why?" He said, "So people will realize you're not a droid!"

So here is my first post that has nothing to do with security, it's about parenting. More to the point, it's "write things down your kids say, you'll forget otherwise." I've started keeping a little journal of cute/funny/silly things they say so I can embarass them when they start dating!

I have two munchkins, Blake 6 and Paige 4 (going on 18) We recently sold our home (yay!) in only two weeks (yay!) for basically what we asked for (yay!) as we're moving to Austin in a few weeks (yay!) So I had to go into the crawlspace to make sure everything looked fine. As I removed the cover to the crawlspace a little crowd of two gathered.

Blake: What are you doing?
Me: I'm going into the dungeon!
Paige: Why?
Me: To look for monsters (did I ever tell you I'm cruel :) Luckily, the kids know I'm joking.
Me: Who wants to join me in the dark, dusty, dirty dungeon?
Blake: Not me!
Paige: uh-uh!
Me: Ok. If I don't come back in 15mins a monster got me, so tell mom.
Paige: We'll miss you dad!

<30mins goes by - finally I pop out from the crawlspace - I'd found a very old, very dead, desiccated mouse - the kids were nowhere to be seen. At the 15min mark I had seriously considered screaming to pretend a monster had got me, but I figured that was over the top, but I really wanted to do it!>

Me (shouting): Hey guys, look what I found

Paige: What's that?
Me: It's a dead mouse
Blake: Cool! Can I see?
Paige: How did it die dad?
Me: I don't know, perhaps it ran out of food
Paige: What do they eat?
Blake (rolling his eyes, and muttering sarcastically): Paige, they eat dead people.