Wires Crossed #52 – Sept 15
Facebook More Important Than Going To Loo
Seems that most people see Facebook and an internet connection as more important than a toilet. In a recent survey carried out by London’s Science Museum, punters were asked what they felt was most important in their lives. An internet connection came in at number two, while Facebook was number five. The flushing loo can in at number nine. What was even more surprising was that good drinking water came in third. So some people would rather die of thirst if it meant not having a good internet connection? Priorities people!
Toyota Sued Over Cyberstalking Stunt
A viral ad campaign has backfired, the result being that a woman can now sue car manufacturer Toyota for distress caused over the incident. It appears ‘friends’ of Amber Duick signed her up to be punked by Toyota in a campaign they were running. After she unwittingly opened an email she thought was a personality test, Duick started receiving weird emails from a stranger claiming to be on the run from the law and was coming to her place to hide out. Duick didn’t see the funny side of ‘gag’ once it all came out in the wash and has been given permission to sueToyota by a Californian judge. We’re still trying to figure out the point of the ‘ad’ campaign in relation to selling cars.
Xbox Live Employee Victim of Hackers?
A Microsoft Xbox Live employee whose job is to shut down hackers might have been the victim himself. Sammamish police in Washington State received emergency instant messages allegedly from an address where the occupant was under attack by some Russian thugs who had machine guns and claymores. When the police turned up at 4am in the morning the bewildered home owner had no idea what was going on. It seems his occupation got the attention of some undesirables who decided to waste police time in what is called swatting – the ability to tie up police resources, while trying to commit a crime.
EA Doesn’t Have To Pay For Athlete’s Images
Not too sure about this – whether it is a good or bad thing. A New Jersey judge has ruled that gaming giant EA does not have to pay athletes for using their images in games. Judge Freda Wolfson believes the ‘interactive nature’ of the games means that EA is protected under the first amendment of the US Constitution. One part of me says the gaming company should fork out – they’re using player stats and likenesses; the other part says what else has the player contributed other than an image? Hhmmm…
Brought to you by CyberShack.com.au
