Saturday, May 29, 2010
DIALOGUE
- POLLY: I had thought if you wanted to come with me for a ride.
-TANIA: What? So it's true, Jaime, you had a girlfriend in secret, because on Saturday didn’t want to with me to the ballroom.
-JAIME: True, but she isn’t my girlfriend hidden from you, is my cousin and I am helping her move, so on Saturdays I go to the house across the street to help when you're not hear.
-TANIA: What a relief, I thought I was cheating. Polly come on.
(All within the room. Suddenly Tania goes to the kitchen and leave them alone)
-JAIME: almost reveals my love.
-POLLY: Jaime you lie very good.
-TANIA: I was listening, Jaime, I leave you forever.
(Tania leaves)
-JAIME: that good polly, together at last.
How to use the conditional?
ZERO CONDITIONAL
1) If / when + present simple --- present simple / imperative
If you don’t eat food, you die
2) present simple / imperative --- If / when + present simple
Run when I say go
USO:
- Se utilita parar referirse a una situación que es verdadera.
If I spend too long watching TV, I get a headache.
- Se utiliza para dar órdenes, en este caso el verbo es imperativo.
If you see rubbish, pick t up!
FIRST CONDITIONAL
1) If / unless + present simple --- will + infinitive
If we recycle more, we will have a cleaner environment.
2) Will + infinitive --- if / unless + present simple
We will have a cleaner environment if we recycle more.
USO:
- Se utiliza para hablar sobre posibles futuros inminentes
She will see David if she goes to the party.
- Se utiliza para hacer promesas
If you pass all your exams, I will take you on holiday.
SECOND CONDITIONAL
1) If + past simple --- would + infinitive
If I were rich and famous, I would give money to charity organizations.
2) Would + infinitive --- if + past simple
I would give money to charity organizations if I were rich and famous.
USO:
- Lo utilizamos para hablar sobre situaciones improbables del presente y futuro.
If I had a car, I did travel around the world.
1) If / when + present simple --- present simple / imperative
If you don’t eat food, you die
2) present simple / imperative --- If / when + present simple
Run when I say go
USO:
- Se utilita parar referirse a una situación que es verdadera.
If I spend too long watching TV, I get a headache.
- Se utiliza para dar órdenes, en este caso el verbo es imperativo.
If you see rubbish, pick t up!
FIRST CONDITIONAL
1) If / unless + present simple --- will + infinitive
If we recycle more, we will have a cleaner environment.
2) Will + infinitive --- if / unless + present simple
We will have a cleaner environment if we recycle more.
USO:
- Se utiliza para hablar sobre posibles futuros inminentes
She will see David if she goes to the party.
- Se utiliza para hacer promesas
If you pass all your exams, I will take you on holiday.
SECOND CONDITIONAL
1) If + past simple --- would + infinitive
If I were rich and famous, I would give money to charity organizations.
2) Would + infinitive --- if + past simple
I would give money to charity organizations if I were rich and famous.
USO:
- Lo utilizamos para hablar sobre situaciones improbables del presente y futuro.
If I had a car, I did travel around the world.
Friday, May 28, 2010
FINAL REFLACTION
I’m going to explain my opinion on my Blog of English this year.
At first when I started to write and do things on the blog I thought that it was difficult and heavier.
But now, I think that it’s a good way to improve my English. I can express more things, and I can find other ways to express myself. My vocabulary is wider.
I can see that my English improves a lot.
I think that the activity that I have improved the most is the oral presentation because this helps us to store and maintain a good conversation in English. Also podcast is a good activity, because you can pronounce without shame.
The activity that I enjoy the most is watching a film, it’s the most entertaining thing that I have done and the subtitles help a lot. If you choose a good and easy film you can learn a lot of things.
For me this year has been difficult and I had to work hard in all subjects. The truth is that English hasn’t been easy, but you learn a lot of.
I would like to thank in particular my teacher Juan Carlos and Jordi, two great teachers who work to help us.
THANKS!!
At first when I started to write and do things on the blog I thought that it was difficult and heavier.
But now, I think that it’s a good way to improve my English. I can express more things, and I can find other ways to express myself. My vocabulary is wider.
I can see that my English improves a lot.
I think that the activity that I have improved the most is the oral presentation because this helps us to store and maintain a good conversation in English. Also podcast is a good activity, because you can pronounce without shame.
The activity that I enjoy the most is watching a film, it’s the most entertaining thing that I have done and the subtitles help a lot. If you choose a good and easy film you can learn a lot of things.
For me this year has been difficult and I had to work hard in all subjects. The truth is that English hasn’t been easy, but you learn a lot of.
I would like to thank in particular my teacher Juan Carlos and Jordi, two great teachers who work to help us.
THANKS!!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
GUARDIOLA
“Pep Guardiola i Sala”, born 18 January 1971 in Santpedor, Barcelona. Is a Spanish football manager and former player.
Guardiola played as a defensive midfielder and spent the majority of his playing career with Barcelona, whom he currently manages.
He was part of Johan Cruyff's dream team that won Barcelona's first European Cup.
After, Guardiola became coach of Barcelona B. Before, Barcelona president Laporta announced that Guardiola would succeed Frank Rijkaard as the first team manager.
He signed his contract on 5 June 2008. In his first season as manager, Barcelona won the treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. In doing so, Guardiola became the youngest UEFA Champions League winning manager ever.
The following season, Guardiola and Barcelona won the Supercopa de España, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup, bringing the manager's tally to a perfect six trophies in six competitions.
My team is Real Madrid, but I recognize that Pep Guardiola as a best and great coach, who gives everything for his team.
I commend this man for his effort, sincerity and humility. It is an example.
Guardiola played as a defensive midfielder and spent the majority of his playing career with Barcelona, whom he currently manages.
He was part of Johan Cruyff's dream team that won Barcelona's first European Cup.
After, Guardiola became coach of Barcelona B. Before, Barcelona president Laporta announced that Guardiola would succeed Frank Rijkaard as the first team manager.
He signed his contract on 5 June 2008. In his first season as manager, Barcelona won the treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. In doing so, Guardiola became the youngest UEFA Champions League winning manager ever.
The following season, Guardiola and Barcelona won the Supercopa de España, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup, bringing the manager's tally to a perfect six trophies in six competitions.
My team is Real Madrid, but I recognize that Pep Guardiola as a best and great coach, who gives everything for his team.
I commend this man for his effort, sincerity and humility. It is an example.
Monday, May 24, 2010
IS BECOMING A DANGER OBESITY?
Obesity is spreading into developing countries. Nutrition experts warn of a global epidemic of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Although a diet of fatty fast foods may account for obesity in some countries, a major cause is that many manufacturers now add more sugar to foods "to make them taste better." Additionally, Asian and African diets include more edible oils, with the consequent extra calories.
People use technology at work and save a lot of physical work. People want to work less and have more free time.
Since obesity is rising rapidly among schoolchildren too, especially in areas where recreation and physical activity have been reduced, there is an urgent need for teachers to be aware of the relationship between nutrition and academic performance
We should'nt go to that extreme, we must maintain a good physique.
Although a diet of fatty fast foods may account for obesity in some countries, a major cause is that many manufacturers now add more sugar to foods "to make them taste better." Additionally, Asian and African diets include more edible oils, with the consequent extra calories.
People use technology at work and save a lot of physical work. People want to work less and have more free time.
Since obesity is rising rapidly among schoolchildren too, especially in areas where recreation and physical activity have been reduced, there is an urgent need for teachers to be aware of the relationship between nutrition and academic performance
We should'nt go to that extreme, we must maintain a good physique.
TAKE THAT
Take That is an English pop band famous of the united states. The group is made up of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange. Barlow is the main songwriter of the group. Each member performs mainly as a vocalist, though each has some instrumental and composition ability.
In the first half of 1990, the band achieved great success as an act of five boy band with Robbie Williams.
Currently, Williams go out of the group, who in 2005 was gone.
Take That sold more than 25 million records between 1991-1996.
Take That has generated two of the best-selling albums of the decade, and biggest hits of 1996.
The band has released a second album after the meeting of study called The Circus and Circus have completed their tour Live 2009.
For me it’s a great band and their songs are very emotional and expressive.
In the first half of 1990, the band achieved great success as an act of five boy band with Robbie Williams.
Currently, Williams go out of the group, who in 2005 was gone.
Take That sold more than 25 million records between 1991-1996.
Take That has generated two of the best-selling albums of the decade, and biggest hits of 1996.
The band has released a second album after the meeting of study called The Circus and Circus have completed their tour Live 2009.
For me it’s a great band and their songs are very emotional and expressive.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Film: ice age 2
ICE AGE 2
Manny, Diego, Sid, they are forced to leave the valley where they live because an ice on global warming is melting the mountain of ice that protects them, for it begins its journey to the place where they can saved.
On its way, comes up with many surprises, among them Ellie, a mammoth green eyes go crazy to Manny, his sisters lie Crash and Eddie, are making mischief Sid and Diego.
The road gets tough, the incompatibilities between species are evident coming to dissipate into two groups, but only so far in which one partner is in danger of drowning, then teamwork, friendship and love is much stronger.
While in the course of this adventure, Scrat tries desperately to catch that famous acorn undoubtedly the most fun comic of this peculiar character, its history is independent of the argument giving wealth and dynamism.
Manny, Diego, Sid, they are forced to leave the valley where they live because an ice on global warming is melting the mountain of ice that protects them, for it begins its journey to the place where they can saved.
On its way, comes up with many surprises, among them Ellie, a mammoth green eyes go crazy to Manny, his sisters lie Crash and Eddie, are making mischief Sid and Diego.
The road gets tough, the incompatibilities between species are evident coming to dissipate into two groups, but only so far in which one partner is in danger of drowning, then teamwork, friendship and love is much stronger.
While in the course of this adventure, Scrat tries desperately to catch that famous acorn undoubtedly the most fun comic of this peculiar character, its history is independent of the argument giving wealth and dynamism.
News of Nadal
Nadal recovered the number two in the world after his triumph in Madrid
The Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal returns as the world number two in the ATP rankings thanks to his victory at the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open, where exactly in the final beat that continues for another week at the head of the classification, the Swiss Roger Federer.
The Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal returns as the world number two in the ATP rankings thanks to his victory at the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open, where exactly in the final beat that continues for another week at the head of the classification, the Swiss Roger Federer.
With this new success, Nadal gets snatch second place in the ranking to Novak Djokovic, who drops to third place.
Thus, the Spaniard, who will try to keep closer to first place from next week, at Roland Garros.
Rafa luck, I hope you keep winning titles and be the best in the world.
Why Do Species Go Extinct?
Why do species go extinct?” and “How fast does it happen?” Once armed with that information, one might do something about it.
WHICH WOULD YOU SAY ARE, AT THIS MOMENT, THE MOST ENDANGERED OF THE WORLD’S CREATURES?
There are too many to name. Something like 12 percent of all birds, a third of all amphibians and, likely, similarly large numbers of plants are in serious danger. What’s more, about 1 percent of all species on the planet are in such trouble that if we don’t do the right things immediately they will be gone in a decade.
The river dolphin in China was declared extinct just last year. Another small dolphin in the Sea of Cortez is in immediate danger.
WHAT CAN ONE PERSON DO TO STOP EXTINCTIONS?
One of the things the people have done is start an NGO — a nongovernmental organization — called SavingSpecies.org.
One of the things we know is that many endangered animals live over large areas. But their populations become fragmented because of farming and development. The remaining creatures can’t find a date on a Saturday night. Sopeople have been trying to buy up degraded land around their broken environments and try to create land corridors for the wildlife.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY SUCCESSES YET?
Yes. On the Atlantic Coast of Brazil,people have been trying to help save the golden lion tamarin, an endangered primate about the size of a house cat. Last year, with the involvement of local conservationist groups, people helped purchase about 270 acres of cattle pasture that separated two patches of their habitat. This former pasture is now being replanted with trees. The two areas will soon be bridged, and it will be possible for lonely hearts to meet members of the opposite sex and go forth and multiply.
PROTECT OUR WILDLIFE
WHICH WOULD YOU SAY ARE, AT THIS MOMENT, THE MOST ENDANGERED OF THE WORLD’S CREATURES?
There are too many to name. Something like 12 percent of all birds, a third of all amphibians and, likely, similarly large numbers of plants are in serious danger. What’s more, about 1 percent of all species on the planet are in such trouble that if we don’t do the right things immediately they will be gone in a decade.
The river dolphin in China was declared extinct just last year. Another small dolphin in the Sea of Cortez is in immediate danger.
WHAT CAN ONE PERSON DO TO STOP EXTINCTIONS?
One of the things the people have done is start an NGO — a nongovernmental organization — called SavingSpecies.org.
One of the things we know is that many endangered animals live over large areas. But their populations become fragmented because of farming and development. The remaining creatures can’t find a date on a Saturday night. Sopeople have been trying to buy up degraded land around their broken environments and try to create land corridors for the wildlife.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY SUCCESSES YET?
Yes. On the Atlantic Coast of Brazil,people have been trying to help save the golden lion tamarin, an endangered primate about the size of a house cat. Last year, with the involvement of local conservationist groups, people helped purchase about 270 acres of cattle pasture that separated two patches of their habitat. This former pasture is now being replanted with trees. The two areas will soon be bridged, and it will be possible for lonely hearts to meet members of the opposite sex and go forth and multiply.
PROTECT OUR WILDLIFE
DRUG ABUSE
There Is a Solution!
Everyone takes drugs. But depending on how we define drugs,those words contain an element of truth.
The term drug is defined as: Any chemical substance, whether of natural or synthetic origin, which can be used to alter perception, mood or other psychological states. That is a useful, broad description of what are called psychoactive drugs, although it does not cover many medicinal drugs used for physical ailments.
According to that definition, alcohol is a drug. The danger lies in its immoderate use, which is evidently increasing.
Like alcohol, tobacco is legally available, although it contains a powerful poison, nicotine. According to the World Health Organization, smoking kills about four million people a year. Yet, tobacco barons are wealthy, honored members of society. Cigarette smoking is also highly addictive, perhaps more so than the use of many of the illegal drugs.
In recent years numerous countries have curbed tobacco advertising and imposed other restrictions. Nevertheless, many people still see smoking as an acceptable social activity. Smoking continues to be glamorized by the film industry.
No smoke, and drinking of a moderate form to your way of life no worse.
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
Cristina for me is a very good friend. She is short; she has got brown eyes and long dark hair.
She is 16 and she is finishing ESO.
Cristina seems very extroverted with all of her friends, but with me she is very shy, kind and friendly. We’ve know each other for a long time.
She likes to party and being with all her friends at all time and places.
She is very sympathetic, you can rely on her. She is very impulsive and very generous with everyone.
Many times our opinions are different, but she knows how to respect the opinion of others.
In general i appreciate Cristina because she gives me good advice.
For me she is a great example.
Cristina for me is a very good friend. She is short; she has got brown eyes and long dark hair.
She is 16 and she is finishing ESO.
Cristina seems very extroverted with all of her friends, but with me she is very shy, kind and friendly. We’ve know each other for a long time.
She likes to party and being with all her friends at all time and places.
She is very sympathetic, you can rely on her. She is very impulsive and very generous with everyone.
Many times our opinions are different, but she knows how to respect the opinion of others.
In general i appreciate Cristina because she gives me good advice.
For me she is a great example.
FORMAL LETTER
Guillem Cordon Fernandez
18, Marinada
Sant Miquel de Fluvià
January 14, 2010
Hi David,
Thanks for you letter, I’m going to describe a place that I have imaginated.
It’s a tropical island. So I’m describing the perfect place for my life, a place where I feel well and I can relax.
The beach, sun and friends, are a combination of good feelings, have fun and relaxation, and my island, should have these three qualities.
In my imagination, I can see I'm in a beachfront house, where I can watch the waves and feel the pleasant breeze. Stepping on the sand and feel my feet burn with the heat.
Then I go walking in a small jungle full of giant trees, all covered with beautiful yellow flowers, and you can smell the flowers.
Inside the forest, there are a lot of houses shops and buildings are made of wood. All the people live on the food provided by the trees.
At dusk, a few fireflies appear throughout the island and illuminating everything. And nearby, in the park of tulips, music sounds better and is full of people, who have dressed in white clothes, drinking, dancing and talking.
It would be a lovely place if it was true.
Sincerely
Guillem Cordon.
18, Marinada
Sant Miquel de Fluvià
January 14, 2010
Hi David,
Thanks for you letter, I’m going to describe a place that I have imaginated.
It’s a tropical island. So I’m describing the perfect place for my life, a place where I feel well and I can relax.
The beach, sun and friends, are a combination of good feelings, have fun and relaxation, and my island, should have these three qualities.
In my imagination, I can see I'm in a beachfront house, where I can watch the waves and feel the pleasant breeze. Stepping on the sand and feel my feet burn with the heat.
Then I go walking in a small jungle full of giant trees, all covered with beautiful yellow flowers, and you can smell the flowers.
Inside the forest, there are a lot of houses shops and buildings are made of wood. All the people live on the food provided by the trees.
At dusk, a few fireflies appear throughout the island and illuminating everything. And nearby, in the park of tulips, music sounds better and is full of people, who have dressed in white clothes, drinking, dancing and talking.
It would be a lovely place if it was true.
Sincerely
Guillem Cordon.
DISCUSION ESSEY
We have learned to respect the Earth or World?
We haven’t learned to respect the Earth, human begins cannot respect the poor or starving, for the same reason they don’t respect the land. New technologies offer us alternative routes to renewable energies that don’t pollute the atmosphere, but we still rely on fuel.
We drive cars and other vehicles powered by gasoline or diesel engines, we use electricity from central plants that burn coal, natural gas or oil, and we burn wood, charcoal, natural gas and coal for cooking and heating. All these activities increase the atmospheric concentration of CO2, a gas that traps heat from the Sun and that also destroys the ozone layer in the atmosphere.
We are destroying the planet slowly thanks to the deforestation, air pollution, urban sprawl, global warming, landfills, pesticides and overpopulation.
The solutions are many, but we should all agree. But this is impossible, because many people don’t care about what happens to the planet. Few people are as concerned and try to find solutions.
The solutions are very expensive. These solutions are: reforestation, clean air, clean water, community plantings, organic farming, solar energy, and more.
Personally, I believe that if we all started small steps to help the earth, we would get it to recover and in this way we would be respected
We haven’t learned to respect the Earth, human begins cannot respect the poor or starving, for the same reason they don’t respect the land. New technologies offer us alternative routes to renewable energies that don’t pollute the atmosphere, but we still rely on fuel.
We drive cars and other vehicles powered by gasoline or diesel engines, we use electricity from central plants that burn coal, natural gas or oil, and we burn wood, charcoal, natural gas and coal for cooking and heating. All these activities increase the atmospheric concentration of CO2, a gas that traps heat from the Sun and that also destroys the ozone layer in the atmosphere.
We are destroying the planet slowly thanks to the deforestation, air pollution, urban sprawl, global warming, landfills, pesticides and overpopulation.
The solutions are many, but we should all agree. But this is impossible, because many people don’t care about what happens to the planet. Few people are as concerned and try to find solutions.
The solutions are very expensive. These solutions are: reforestation, clean air, clean water, community plantings, organic farming, solar energy, and more.
Personally, I believe that if we all started small steps to help the earth, we would get it to recover and in this way we would be respected
ORAL PRESENTATION: STRESS
STRESS: Its Causes and Effects
WHAT is stress? According to one expert, stress may be defined as “any physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension.” Does this mean that stress is inherently harmful? No. A mild degree of stress and tension can sometimes be beneficial. Feeling mildly stressed when carrying out a project or assignment often compels us to do a good job and to work energetically.
So when is stress a problem? It i
s only when stress is overwhelming, or poorly managed, that its negative effects appear.” Consider some common sources of stress.
The Price of Stress
whether you are young or old or the stress in your life comes from work or school, chronic stress can take a heavy toll on your health. When you feel stress, your heart rate and blood pressure soar. Your levels of blood sugar rise. Hormones are released. If stress becomes persistent, this may produce physical or psychologic damage over time.
What can happen to teenagers?
It is very depressing to find out that in their desire to escape from pain, teenagers take routes such as alcohol and drug abuse, truancy, delinquency, aggression and violence, and running away from home. This is routes that lead them into problems more overwhelming than those they were trying to escape.
Stress is a fact of modern living; it cannot be avoided entirely.
Stress at school
Now our job is to study, and many people think that study is easy job and live well. But as we know it is not so.
This period we are living is stressful, yet we know that what we really want to do and about what high school will have to decide.
There are times when we not pass exams because we felt dispirited when ever had done.
Maybe you would think it would be better to throw in the towel, but if you have a clear objective or goal already defined, you must fight for it, whatever the cost.
How to Reduce Stress
* Give your body sufficient rest each day
* Maintain a reasonable diet. Avoid overeating
* Engage in proper and regular exercise, such as brisk walking
* If something worries you, talk to a friend about it
* Spend more time enjoying your family
* Delegate or share household chores
* Know your own physical and emotional limitations
* Set realistic goals; do not be a perfectionist
* Be organized; have a balanced, reasonable schedule
* Cultivate Christian qualities such as mildness and patience
* Set aside some time for yourself
WHAT is stress? According to one expert, stress may be defined as “any physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension.” Does this mean that stress is inherently harmful? No. A mild degree of stress and tension can sometimes be beneficial. Feeling mildly stressed when carrying out a project or assignment often compels us to do a good job and to work energetically.
So when is stress a problem? It i
s only when stress is overwhelming, or poorly managed, that its negative effects appear.” Consider some common sources of stress.The Price of Stress
whether you are young or old or the stress in your life comes from work or school, chronic stress can take a heavy toll on your health. When you feel stress, your heart rate and blood pressure soar. Your levels of blood sugar rise. Hormones are released. If stress becomes persistent, this may produce physical or psychologic damage over time.
What can happen to teenagers?
It is very depressing to find out that in their desire to escape from pain, teenagers take routes such as alcohol and drug abuse, truancy, delinquency, aggression and violence, and running away from home. This is routes that lead them into problems more overwhelming than those they were trying to escape.
Stress is a fact of modern living; it cannot be avoided entirely.
Stress at school
Now our job is to study, and many people think that study is easy job and live well. But as we know it is not so.
This period we are living is stressful, yet we know that what we really want to do and about what high school will have to decide.
There are times when we not pass exams because we felt dispirited when ever had done.
Maybe you would think it would be better to throw in the towel, but if you have a clear objective or goal already defined, you must fight for it, whatever the cost.
How to Reduce Stress
* Give your body sufficient rest each day
* Maintain a reasonable diet. Avoid overeating
* Engage in proper and regular exercise, such as brisk walking
* If something worries you, talk to a friend about it
* Spend more time enjoying your family
* Delegate or share household chores
* Know your own physical and emotional limitations
* Set realistic goals; do not be a perfectionist
* Be organized; have a balanced, reasonable schedule
* Cultivate Christian qualities such as mildness and patience
* Set aside some time for yourself
We need our friends
We All Need Friends
For a people, friends is:
- A friend is someone you can talk to freely about anything, someone you can call any time of the day.
- A friend understands when you’re hurt and feels the same things inside that you do.
Friendship is still as vital to the human spirit as food and water are to the human body. Yet, for many, satisfying this basic need for friendship is difficult. Loneliness is common. They cite such factors as widespread mobility, people changing residence frequently, impersonal, crime-ridden cities, and the substitution of television and home videotape-viewing for face-to-face community life.
Modern life also spreads our time and energy thin. With potentially hundreds of acquaintances crowding our lives, it can be difficult to focus on individuals long enough to develop and sustain deep friendships.
Even in places where not long ago the pace of life was less hectic, social conditions are changing rapidly. In the haste of the times, friendships can get relegated to a lower priority.
But our need for friends remains acute. Young people in particular feel this need. Young or old, we all need happy and meaningful friendships. And despite the challenges, there is much we can do to make and keep real friends.
TOP SECRET
TOP SECRET
Until recent times, secret codes usually involved governments, ambassadors, spies, and the military. But not anymore. With the advent of computers and the Internet, valuable data are often kept secret by a number of elements, including passwords, which are authenticated every time users access their records. Indeed, never before has secrecy played such a big role in everyday life.
But, is logical that we ask: How safe is my confidential data? Can I do more to heighten security?
Secret Scripts
The objective of steganography is to hide the very existence of the message.
Modern forms of steganography include using the microdot and watermarking paper and images for copyright protection. Today, people who peddle illegal pornography employ a similar concept. Aided by computer software, they hide pictures in otherwise innocuous digital images, text, or sound files.
Because the existence of the message itself is kept secret, steganography does not draw attention to either the carrier or the recipient. On the other hand, if the message is discovered, it can be read—unless it has also been encrypted.
Hiding the Meaning
Cryptology, or hidden word, is the science of keeping communications confidential by concealing, not the fact of the message, but its meaning. The process involves scrambling and unscrambling data according to a predetermined system of rules, thus only those parties who have the key are enabled to decrypt the message.
The European Renaissance provided the means for more sophisticated advances in cryptography.
By the 15th century, cryptography was becoming a routine tool of European diplomats. But it did not always guarantee security.
Technology Enters the Fray
In today’s digital world, banking, money transfers, and payments as well as medical, corporate, and government records are secured by means of complex encryptions. The cipher text, in turn, is read by those who have the necessary decryption key to restore the data to its original form.
A digital key is a string of zeros and ones in various combinations. Longer keys have more combinations and are thus harder to crack. The present standard for encrypted Web browsing is 128-bit keys, which have 4.7 sextillion times more permutations than 56-bit keys!
Still, security breaches do occur. In 2008, for instance, federal prosecutors in the United States charged 11 men with what is thought to be the largest-ever case of identity theft. The group allegedly used laptop computers, wireless technology, and special software to capture numbers from credit cards and debit cards used for payment at cash registers.
Is Your Confidential Data Safe?
To be sure, the encryptions protecting your bank accounts and online transactions are extremely hard to crack. Yet, much also depends on you. So be shrewd and “conceal” yourself, as it were, from fraud and theft by doing at least the following:
- Use antivirus software on your computer.
- Employ a spyware-detection program.
- Install a firewall.
- Keep all of the above continually updated, and install security updates for your applications and operating system.
- Beware of links or attachments in e-mail or instant messages, especially if the mail is unsolicited and asks for personal information or for verification of a password.
- When transmitting sensitive data, such as credit card details, use encrypted connections, and log off the Web site when you have finished.%
- Choose passwords that are hard to guess, and protect them.
- Do not copy or run software from unknown sources.
- Regularly back up your files, and safely store the copies.
- If you follow those basic precautions and apply any others that may be advisable now and in the future, you at least improve your chances of winning your own battle for confidentiality and security.
Until recent times, secret codes usually involved governments, ambassadors, spies, and the military. But not anymore. With the advent of computers and the Internet, valuable data are often kept secret by a number of elements, including passwords, which are authenticated every time users access their records. Indeed, never before has secrecy played such a big role in everyday life.
But, is logical that we ask: How safe is my confidential data? Can I do more to heighten security?
Secret Scripts
The objective of steganography is to hide the very existence of the message.
Modern forms of steganography include using the microdot and watermarking paper and images for copyright protection. Today, people who peddle illegal pornography employ a similar concept. Aided by computer software, they hide pictures in otherwise innocuous digital images, text, or sound files.
Because the existence of the message itself is kept secret, steganography does not draw attention to either the carrier or the recipient. On the other hand, if the message is discovered, it can be read—unless it has also been encrypted.
Hiding the Meaning
Cryptology, or hidden word, is the science of keeping communications confidential by concealing, not the fact of the message, but its meaning. The process involves scrambling and unscrambling data according to a predetermined system of rules, thus only those parties who have the key are enabled to decrypt the message.
The European Renaissance provided the means for more sophisticated advances in cryptography.
By the 15th century, cryptography was becoming a routine tool of European diplomats. But it did not always guarantee security.
Technology Enters the Fray
In today’s digital world, banking, money transfers, and payments as well as medical, corporate, and government records are secured by means of complex encryptions. The cipher text, in turn, is read by those who have the necessary decryption key to restore the data to its original form.
A digital key is a string of zeros and ones in various combinations. Longer keys have more combinations and are thus harder to crack. The present standard for encrypted Web browsing is 128-bit keys, which have 4.7 sextillion times more permutations than 56-bit keys!
Still, security breaches do occur. In 2008, for instance, federal prosecutors in the United States charged 11 men with what is thought to be the largest-ever case of identity theft. The group allegedly used laptop computers, wireless technology, and special software to capture numbers from credit cards and debit cards used for payment at cash registers.
Is Your Confidential Data Safe?
To be sure, the encryptions protecting your bank accounts and online transactions are extremely hard to crack. Yet, much also depends on you. So be shrewd and “conceal” yourself, as it were, from fraud and theft by doing at least the following:
- Use antivirus software on your computer.
- Employ a spyware-detection program.
- Install a firewall.
- Keep all of the above continually updated, and install security updates for your applications and operating system.
- Beware of links or attachments in e-mail or instant messages, especially if the mail is unsolicited and asks for personal information or for verification of a password.
- When transmitting sensitive data, such as credit card details, use encrypted connections, and log off the Web site when you have finished.%
- Choose passwords that are hard to guess, and protect them.
- Do not copy or run software from unknown sources.
- Regularly back up your files, and safely store the copies.
- If you follow those basic precautions and apply any others that may be advisable now and in the future, you at least improve your chances of winning your own battle for confidentiality and security.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
