HTG Explains: Why You Only Have to Wipe a Disk Once to Erase It

You’ve probably heard that you need to overwrite a drive multiple times to make the data unrecoverable. Many disk-wiping utilities offer multiple-pass wipes. This is an urban legend – you only need to wipe a drive once. Wiping refers to overwriting a drive with all 0’s, all 1’s, or random data. It’s important to wipe a drive once before disposing of it to make your data unrecoverable, but additional wipes offer a false sense of security.
HTG Explains: Why You Only Have to Wipe a Disk Once to Erase It

This Is How You Should Secure Your iPhone

Your iPhone features a simple passcode functionality that secures the device by requiring a four-digit PIN (by default) to unlock your phone. But a four-digit PIN isn’t the most secure. To address this, Apple allows you to enter a longer, more secure alphanumeric password, but compared to the considerably easier-to-tap numeric keyboard, the alphanumeric keyboard is a pain to type into every time you unlock. Fortunately, Apple built in a simple compromise.
This Is How You Should Secure Your iPhone

Income inequality can be seen from space

How? It's surprisingly simple. Turns out, demand for trees in neighborhoods behaves a lot like a luxury item, as opposed to a basic necessity.
Income inequality can be seen from space

HitmanPro Alert Mitigates Trojan-based Browser Attacks

HitmanPro Alert is a new free security program by the makers of HitmanPro that attempts to mitigate browser-based attacks by known and new trojans. According to the makers of the products, it is able to “instantly detect over 99% of all known and new banking trojans”.
HitmanPro Alert Mitigates Trojan-based Browser Attacks

The Black Stump on Facebook

The Black Stump on Facebook....
The Black Stump - blackstump.com.au

Webby Nominees

Webby Honorees, Nominees and Winners truly represent the best of the Web. They are but a small percentage of total entries and chosen by members of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. See them all here.
Webby Nominees

Test if your system is infected with Flamer, The latest threat on the Internet

You have probably already heard about Flamer, Flame or Flamy, as some antivirus companies call the malware. Flamer was only recently discovered, despite indicators that it has been spread on targeted systems at least since 2010.
Test if your system is infected with Flamer, The latest threat on the Internet

Japan’s hidden tropical island: Aogashima

Aogashima (“blue island”) is a tropical, volcanic island in the Phillipine Sea. Despite being over 200 miles away from the country’s capital, Aogashima is governed by Tokyo. In fact, a whole stretch of tropical and sometimes uninhabited islands called the Izu Islands are technically part of Tokyo. Volcanic islands? Not typically what comes to mind when you think of Tokyo.
Japan’s hidden tropical island: Aogashima

WOOPSIE: Grandma Slips Out Of Skydiving Harness

Almost Dying, GeroniNOOOOOOOOOOOO!, Good Job, Houston We Have A Clinger.
WOOPSIE: Grandma Slips Out Of Skydiving Harness

Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 9/2012

The latest issue of new Family Friendly sites listed on The Black Stump.
Family Friendly sites listed on Blackstump Australia Issue 9/2012

Year Book Australia, 2012

Year Book Australia provides a comprehensive and detailed statistical overview of Australia's environment, society, industry and economy. As well as providing a statistical picture of contemporary Australia the 2012 Year Book includes feature articles that recognise and celebrate the National Year of Reading, the Australian Year of the Farmer and the International Year of Co-operatives.
1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2012

Double Take « Bits and Pieces

Some interesting photos!
Double Take « Bits and Pieces

‘If You Don’t Know It’s Impossible, It’s Easier To Do’

You have no idea what you’re doing. This is great, says author Neil Gaiman in a commencement speech at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Being unfamiliar with established rules and limits is a plus when you’re trying to be creative and make things: “If you don’t know it’s impossible, it’s easier to do.”
‘If You Don’t Know It’s Impossible, It’s Easier To Do’

Classes of annoying customers

Joel Anaya, a Hospitality Business Management student from Washington State University, studied entries from Web sites like dinnersfromhell.com, flightsfromhell.com, and notalwaysright.com to identify seven classes of annoying customers. Now, Anaya's data set was certainly limited, but his breakdown seems pretty good to me. I'm not sure though if "loud talkers/laughers" would fit under "Service rule breakers."
Classes of annoying customers

Easiest way to show windows side by side in Windows

When I’m working on a computer that is connected to a single monitor, I often like to display two windows side by side, especially when writing a new blog post. I usually display the WordPress admin interface where I write the post in one window, and the developer web page or another source in the second window. This allows me to access information directly and without having to juggle around with open windows or tabs in a single browser window.
Easiest way to show windows side by side in Windows

The Lifehacker Total Security Guide

Security is one of our perennial Lifehacker topics: as fast as technology advances, criminals find new ways to exploit it. Here are our 10 most popular guides to security, covering every aspect of your online life.
The Lifehacker Total Security Guide

Find The Address Of Any Location With Google Maps

Most of the time you head to Google Maps with an address in your head (or clipboard) with the goal of seeing it on a map. For those times when you’re looking at a map and thinking “I wonder what the address is here,” Google Maps has a handy shortcut for you.
Find The Address Of Any Location With Google Maps

Planhacker: Complete NBN Plan Guide May 2012

The range of National Broadband Network (NBN) plans continues to expand, and there are many more to come. Planhacker covers all the plans on offer in Australia right now in a custom spreadsheet you can use to find the best option for you.
Planhacker: Complete NBN Plan Guide May 2012

‘I Don’t Know’ Is One Of The Smartest Things You Can Say

When it comes to our brains, black is white and up is down. Any time we try to achieve a desired result, we end up doing the opposite. Such is the case with trying to be smart. We like to come off as intelligent, and so we often act like we know more than we do to achieve that effect. In reality, however, saying “I don’t know” can be a whole lot smarter.
‘I Don’t Know’ Is One Of The Smartest Things You Can Say

Facebook for Beginners

Against all odds, you likely know someone who still hasn’t succumbed to the lure of Facebook. Maybe you’re a beginner yourself. Or perhaps you just haven’t had the gosh darn time to explore every last corner of the world’s most expansive social network.
Facebook for Beginners