Tuesday, January 19, 2016

EFF's Top 12 Ways to Protect Your Online Privacy

Everyday technology and the internet are part of our lives. Whether you are driving down the road follwing a Nav application, purchasing a gift online or booking your next vacation. Your online presence and your mobile devices can leave you vulnerable. October is Cyber Awareness Month, the government of Canada has produced a list of the 10 Steps to Protect Your Online Identity . Here is a summary of their article.

Protect Your Identity

Good strong passwords are your best first line of defense. Remember to use a combination of upper and lower case, numbers and special characters.

Turn on Your Firewall

Unfortunately, hackers will always be around with way too much time on their hands to cause grief to the general public. A firewall will provide your Internet connection with a gatekeeper. It will help to stop malicious attacks and viruses from entering your devices.

Use Antivirus Software

Antivirus software provides a further level of protection. Remember anti-virus software needs to be updated often so the virus protection code remains current.

Block Spyware Attacts

Spyware software can sit on your computer collecting sensitive information without your knowledge. Use spyware software to block access also remember to keep it up-to-date.

Install the Latest Operating System Updates

Keep the operating system software (like Windows) at a current level. You want to implement Windows Updates on a monthly basis.

Back Up Your Files

It is a very good idea to have a current back up of the data on your device. Some external drives will automatically do this for you. You can also use the cloud to back up your desktop as well as mobile device data.

Protect Your Wireless Network

May sure all wireless networks you access have strong passwords.

Delete Emails From Unknown Sender’s

Beware of emails from strangers. Don’t open them or any attachments. It is important to even be cautious of emails from known senders.

Surf the Web Safely

Be very careful of sharing personal information. Make sure the page you are using is secure before you enter sensitive information. The URL of a secure website page will start with the characters https:// versus http:// .

Get Expert Help

If you suspect an online theft or scam, report it to your local law enforcement agency as soon as possible.

Manage Your Identity

Every time we log onto the web we access (and add to) our own personal digital footprint that’s interconnected with plug-ins, links, and massive caches of personal data that follows us around.

Learn About Your Digital Identity

While none of us can control everything that’s known about us online, there are steps we can take to better understand our online identities and be empowered to share what we want, when we want.

The Internet Society developed three interactive tutorials to help educate and inform anyone who would like to find out more.

Each lasts about 5 minutes and will give a great foundation when it comes to making informed choices about our unique online identities.

Watch The Tutorials

Tutorial 1: ONLINE IDENTITY - AN OVERVIEW	Tutorial 2: PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY	Tutorial 3: PROTECTING YOUR IDENTITY

This tutorial will explain some of the key differences between your online and "real life" identity, recognize the nature of digital identities, and understand the difference between online identity and personal privacy. Watch the tutorial now.	This tutorial will explain the key concerns related to online identity and privacy, recognize what kind of user information is collected and why, identify the ways of controlling the privacy of your online identity. Watch the tutorial now.	This tutorial will explain the challenges in protecting online identities and help you recognize the ways you can protect your online identity. Watch the tutorial now.

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Monday, January 18, 2016

Richest 62 people as wealthy as half of world's population, says Oxfam

Charity says only higher wages, crackdown on tax dodging and higher investment in public services can stop divide widening.

Video > http://tinyurl.com/hz3n7f2

The vast and growing gap between rich and poor has been laid bare in a new Oxfam report showing that the 62 richest billionaires own as much wealth as the poorer half of the world’s population.

Timed to coincide with this week’s gathering of many of the super-rich at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, the report calls for urgent action to deal with a trend showing that 1% of people own more wealth than the other 99% combined.

Oxfam said that the wealth of the poorest 50% dropped by 41% between 2010 and 2015, despite an increase in the global population of 400m. In the same period, the wealth of the richest 62 people increased by $500bn (£350bn) to $1.76tn.

The charity said that, in 2010, the 388 richest people owned the same wealth as the poorest 50%. This dropped to 80 in 2014 before falling again in 2015.

Mark Goldring, the Oxfam GB chief executive, said: “It is simply unacceptable that the poorest half of the world population owns no more than a small group of the global super-rich – so few, you could fit them all on a single coach.

“World leaders’ concern about the escalating inequality crisis has so far not translated into concrete action to ensure that those at the bottom get their fair share of economic growth. In a world where one in nine people go to bed hungry every night, we cannot afford to carry on giving the richest an ever bigger slice of the cake.”

Leading figures from Pope Francis to Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, have called for action to reverse the trend in inequality, but Oxfam said words had not been translated into action. Its prediction that the richest 1% would own the same wealth as the poorest 50% by 2016 had come true a year earlier than expected.

The World Economic Forum in Davos comes amid fears that the turmoil in financial markets since the turn of the year may herald the start of a new phase to the global crisis that began eight years ago – this time originating in the less-developed emerging countries.

Oxfam said a three-pronged approach was needed: a crackdown on tax dodging; higher investment in public services; and higher wages for the low paid. It said a priority should be to close down tax havens, increasingly used by rich individuals and companies to avoid paying tax and which had deprived governments of the resources needed to tackle poverty and inequality.

Three years ago, David Cameron told the WEF that the UK would spearhead a global effort to end aggressive tax avoidance in the UK and in poor countries, but Oxfam said promised measures to increase transparency in British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, such as the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands, had not been implemented.

Goldring said: “We need to end the era of tax havens which has allowed rich individuals and multinational companies to avoid their responsibilities to society by hiding ever increasing amounts of money offshore.

“Tackling the veil of secrecy surrounding the UK’s network of tax havens would be a big step towards ending extreme inequality. Three years after he made his promise to make tax dodgers ‘wake up and smell the coffee’, it is time for David Cameron to deliver.”

Oxfam cited estimates that rich individuals have placed a total of $7.6tn in offshore accounts, adding that if tax were paid on the income that this wealth generates, an extra $190bn would be available to governments every year.

The charity said as much as 30% of all African financial wealth was thought to be held offshore. The estimated loss of $14bn in tax revenues would be enough to pay for healthcare for mothers and children that could save 4 million children’s lives a year and employ enough teachers to get every African child into school.

Oxfam said it intended to challenge the executives of multi-national corporations in Davos on their tax policies. It said nine out of 10 WEF corporate partners had a presence in at least one tax haven and it was estimated that tax dodging by multinational corporations costs developing countries at least $100bn every year. Corporate investment in tax havens almost quadrupled between 2000 and 2014.

The Equality Trust, which campaigns against inequality in the UK, said Britain’s 100 richest families had increased their wealth by at least £57bn since 2010, a period in which average incomes declined.

Duncan Exley, the trust’s director, said: “Inequality, both globally but also in the UK, is now at staggering levels. We know that such a vast gap between the richest and the rest of us is bad for our economy and society. We now need our politicians to wake up and address this dangerous concentration of wealth and power in the hands of so few.”

Complete > http://tinyurl.com/hz3n7f2

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Q&A: Everything You Need to Know About the National Debt

How big is the debt?

Currently, the national debt held by the public is over $13 trillion, which is around 74 percent of the country’s economy, as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The gross debt, which includes money owed to other parts of the federal government, is over $18 trillion, or roughly 102 percent of GDP.

Throughout history, the United States has normally maintained some amount of debt. However, with the exception of a brief period during and immediately after World War II, debt levels have never been as high as they are now. Without congressional action, debt levels will continue increasing.

Why do we have a national debt?

Particularly over the last 40 years, the federal government has generally spent more than it collected in revenue. When this occurs, the government must borrow money to cover the difference. The government borrows by selling securities such as Treasury bonds, then agreeing to pay bondholders back with interest. Over time, this borrowing accumulates into the national debt.

What are the effects of a high national debt?

The effects of the national debt on the economy are far from abstract. High levels of federal debt will cause:

Higher costs of living: Large amounts of debt mean higher interest rates on everything from credit cards to mortgage loans.
Slower wage growth: In normal economic times, every dollar an investor spends buying government debt is a dollar not invested elsewhere in the economy. That is, high debt “crowds out” more productive investments, leading to slower economic growth and lower wages.
Generational inequality: By not making responsible debt choices, we are placing higher debt burdens on our children and threatening their standard of living and retirement.
Reduced fiscal flexibility: Our debt levels doubled between 2008 and 2013 from 35 percent of GDP to over 70 percent, a result of and in response to the Great Recession. We can’t afford another recession. With an already high debt, the government has less room to respond to future crises such as international events or economic downturns.
Fiscal crises: Unchecked debt growth could eventually lead to a fiscal crisis, as recently occurred across Europe. At that point, investors in U.S. debt will demand higher returns, driving up interest payments, and leading to a debt situation spiraling out of control.

How can we bring our debt levels down?

Achieving meaningful debt reduction will require a comprehensive plan that addresses the major drivers of our debt. Reforming the tax code, slowing the growth of entitlement spending and reducing other spending, and helping to grow the economy are all necessary to put debt on a downward path over the long term.

Why act sooner rather than later?

Acting now to address our growing debt has numerous advantages. The sooner we act, the easier it will be to make changes. If we act now, changes can be phased in gradually so they are less disruptive. Because of compound interest, acting sooner means we can reduce debt to a sustainable level with a smaller amount of savings. For example, if we start now, we would need spending cuts and/or tax increases equaling 2.6 percent of the economy to bring the debt gradually down to historical levels in the next 25 years. Waiting 5 years, however, would require adjustments of 3.2 percent of GDP and waiting 10 years would require 4.2 percent. Waiting has real costs.

The sooner we act, the sooner we will receive the dividends of debt reduction such as faster economic growth, faster wage growth, and increased fiscal flexibility to address priorities. A smart mix of deficit reduction can also lower income inequality.

How much do we pay in interest?

Interest on the debt is now and is projected to continue being the fastest growing area of federal spending in the coming years, outpacing even Medicare or Social Security. In 2015, the U.S. spent $218 billion, or 6 percent of the federal budget, paying for interest on the debt.

In recent years, interest rates have been at historic lows. As they return closer to normal levels, the amount the government spends on interest will rise substantially. The Congressional Budget Office projects the interest rate on ten-year Treasury bonds will climb from slightly over 2 percent today to 4.2 percent by 2020. As a result, interest payments will double to more than $500 billion. By 2030, interest will represent over 14 percent of the federal budget and continue to climb. This represents money that cannot be spent on other government priorities such as education, national defense, research or infrastructure.

If interest rates rise even higher, our payments will be even greater—a one percentage point increase costs the country an additional staggering $1.7 trillion over a decade. If interest rates returned to the record-high levels of the 1980s, the country would roughly $6 trillion more in interest.

To whom do we owe the national debt?

While a majority of U.S. debt is held domestically, a sizable and growing portion is held by foreign investors. Both foreign governments and foreign citizens purchase U.S. debt.

There are several reasons why U.S. debt is attractive to foreign investors. In times of economic turmoil, such as during the recent financial crisis and its aftermath, U.S. Treasury bonds are considered a safe investment. Foreign investors also hold U.S. Treasuries because they are highly liquid (easily converted to cash) and because they provide protection against fluctuating exchange rates.

China and Japan are the largest foreign owners of U.S. debt. In addition to the reasons already mentioned, these countries can influence their currency exchange rates through large purchases of U.S. debt. Altogether, in July 2015, about $6.1 trillion of U.S. debt was held by foreign investors.

What has led to our current debt levels?

The U.S. had budget surpluses from 1997 to 2000. Since then, tax cuts, spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and overall increases in spending all added significantly to the national debt. The economic crisis and the response also substantially contributed. Falling income levels and rising unemployment meant lower revenue, while spending also automatically grew on social safety net programs—such as unemployment benefits and food stamps.

What is driving our future debt path?

Many of the drivers of our past debt are nearing resolution—the wars are winding down and the economy is recovering. Unfortunately, our future debt will grow if nothing is done, due to a different set of factors. These include:

Population Aging: As the population grows older, spending on Social Security and Medicare will increase dramatically. Additionally, these older Americans will no longer be working and will pay fewer taxes, leading to lower revenues.

Rapid Health Care Cost Growth: Federal health spending is currently equal to 5.2 percent of the economy. In 25 years, it is projected to rise to approximately 8 percent.

Growing Interest Costs: As interest rates return to normal levels, the cost of interest payments on debt already borrowed will increase.

Insufficient Revenue: The historical amount of revenue collected is not sufficient to afford record-high levels of retirees, health care spending, and interest. Our debt problems are so large they cannot be solved by either spending cuts or revenue increases alone.

What is the appropriate level of debt?

The historical average of our debt as a share of the economy is around 40 percent, slightly over half of current levels. It is not necessary to pay off the national debt entirely to restore our nation's fiscal health. In fact, incurring some national debt can be useful in responding quickly to unexpected events such as wars and recessions. However, current debt levels limit this flexibility. Our debt/GDP ratio should be placed on a clear downward path toward the historical average. The Peterson Pew Commission on Budget Reform recommended a medium-term goal of a 60 percent debt-to-GDP ratio.

Do we have to balance the budget each year?

While narrowing the gap between spending and revenue is important, it is not necessary to balance the budget each year to bring the debt under control. Because debt/GDP is the best measure of an economy’s capacity to handle debt, as long as the economy is growing faster than debt, debt will fall relative to GDP.

Small deficits are acceptable. During a recession, larger deficits are often needed to allow the government to reduce the economic impacts of the downturn. However, to foster flexibility during recessions, deficits must fall back to low levels in periods of economic growth.

What is the difference between deficits and debt?

Deficits occur each year that federal spending exceeds revenues collected. Alternatively, when revenues exceed spending, the federal budget runs a surplus. When the federal government runs deficits for multiple years—as we have done with only a few exceptions in the last 40 years—the deficits plus the interest incurred on that borrowing accumulate into the national debt.

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Get the facts about the debt situation and how it affects you. Dispel common myths and get answers to basic questions about the national debt.[Learn More]

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Top 10 Fastest Motorcycles in the World

Speeding with a prestige motorcycle is one of the popular hobbies for the wealth. They’re proud to ride a fastest motorcycle and go anywhere with it. Usually the fastest motorcycle in the world has the same synonym as the most expensive motorcycle in the world. Maybe you want to own one and feel the rise of your adrenaline when you’re on high speed in a motorcycle. Let’s take a look at those fastest motorcycle and see how fast they can run

10. Ducati 1098s: 169 mph (271 km/h)

This fast motorcycle was an innovation of Ducati from Italy. It’s using L-Twin Cylinder Engine with 4 valver for each cylinder with Desmodromic and liquid cooled. The top speed that can be reached by this motorcycle is 169 mph (271 km/h) while the power of this Ducati can reach 119.3 kW (160.0 bhp) @ 9750 rpm. This Ducati 1098s is using 6 speed chain transmissions.

9. BMW K 1200 S: 174 mph (278 km/h)

This cool motorcycle is manufactured by BMW. It’s using 16 valves with 4 cylinder. The engine is DOHC, horizontal in-line and liquid cooled. The top speed that can be reached by this motorcycle is 174 mph (278 km/h). You can expect this motorcycle to produce 164.94 horsepower (120.4 kW) @ 10250 RPM. The transmission used by this fast motorcycle is 6 speed manual transmission.

8. Aprilia RSV 1000R Mille: 175 mph (278 km/h)

This fast motorcycle is coming from the factory of Aprilia. It’s using 998 cc 60 degree V-twin engine. You can expect this motorcycle to reach 175 mph (278 km/h) for its top speed. This motorcycle can produce 105.24 Kw (143.09 PS; 141.13 hp) @ 1000 rpm. This Aprilia motorcycle is using 6 speed chain drive transmission system.

fastest motorcycle Aprilia RSV 1000R Mille

7. Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11/ZZ-R1100: 176 mph (283 km/h)

This stylish motorcycle is manufactured by Japan based company, Kawasaki. It’s using 1052 cc 4-strokes, 4 cylinder, DOHC, liquid-cooled engine. You can reach 176 mph (283 km/h) if you accelerate this motorcycle. The power produced by this motorcycle is 108 kW (147 PS) @ 10,500 rpm. This motorcycle is using 6 speed transmission as some of other fastest motorcycle.

6. MV Agusta F4 1000 R: 176 mph (299 km/h)

This motorcycle is manufactured by Augusta of Italy. The motorcycle is powered by 4 cylinder, 16 radial valves, DOHC, liquid cooled engine. Top Speed ever reach by this motorcycle is 176 mph (299 km/h). The power output that can be produced by this motorcycle is 128 kw (174 horsepower). The transmission system used by this motorcycle is multi-disc wet clutch on 6 speed cassette gearbox.

5. Yamaha YZF R1: 186 mph (297 km/h)

This motorcycle is produced by renowned Japan’s motorcycle manufacturer, Yamaha. The engine used for this motorcycle is forward inclined Parallel 4-cylinder, 20 valves, DOHC, liquid-cooled. This motorcycle can be expected to reach 186 mph (297 km/h) on its top speed. This motorcycle can produce 128.2 horsepower (95.6 Kw) at 10000 rpm. It’s using constant mesh 6 speed transmission system.

4. Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird: 190 mph (310 km/h)

This motorcycle was released by Japan leading motorcycle manufacturer, Honda. This motorcycle is using 1137 cc, liquid-cooled, four cylinder engine. The engine can make this motorcycle reach 190 mph (310 km/h) while it’s running on top speed. This motorcycle can produce 114 kw (153 hp) @ 10,000 rpm power. The transmission system used by this motorcycle is close-ratio 6-speed transmission.

3. MTT Turbine Superbike Y2K: 227 mph (365 km/h)

This superbike is running using Royl Royce 250-C20 turbo shaft engine. The top speed can be reached by this motorcycle is 227 mph (365 km/h) while it can produce 320 horsepower (239 Kw) @ 52,000 rpm. The transmission system used by this motorcycle is different than other motorcycle by simply using 2 speed automatic transmission.

fastest motorcycle MTT Turbine Superbike Y2K

2. Suzuki Hayabusa: 248 mph (397 km/h)

This Japanese origin motorcycle is using 1340 cc, 4 stroke, four cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16 valve engine. This Suzuki manufactured motorcycle can reach 248 mph (392 km/h) on its top speed. The power can be produced is 197 horsepower (147 kw) @ 6750 rpm. Transmission system used is 6 speeds with constant mesh.

1. Dodge Tomahawk: 350 mph (560 km/h)

This Dodge Tomahawk is very limited motorcycle that use 10 cylinder, 90 degrees v-type engine. It can reach 350 mph (560 km/h) when it’s on top speed. This motorcycle can produce 500 horsepower (370 Kw) @ 5600 rpm. This motorcycle is using a simple transmission system by using just 2 speed manual transmission.