Democracy, despite our protestations to the contrary, has never been a secure and healthy ideal on these islands. We may have one of the most freewheeling media in the world; yet, it does not necessarily follow that we have unfettered and unfiltered access to information.

We hold regular elections and elect our national and local government leaders with regularity, though not without the usual drama. Anybody can say what he wants to say and people can assemble themselves with reasonable freedom from persecution and prosecution.

But despite these trappings of freedom, democracy has never been this fragile.

If we are to believe media reports, this months-old government is stumbling along everyday like a headless chicken or a rudderless ship, if you’d forgive the trite symbolisms. But what worries most people is the thought that some parties or groups of people are doing their worst to make sure that the administration fails (although with each day passing by, it seems quite an easy thing to pass).

For all our sake, and our children’s, I hope that this is nothing worse than misinformed paranoia (as if there were other types of fear that paranoid people have).

Tablet PC for Executives

Believing perhaps that offense is the best defense, Research in Motion Ltd., maker of the world’s dominant phones for corporate users, recently introduced the PlayBook tablet computer. Coming with a 7-inch screen, about half the size of the iPad, the PlayBook comes with two cameras – front and back.

Designed to work in partnership with a BlackBerry, the PlayBook can act as a second, larger display for a RIM phone via a secure short-range wireless connectivity. The tablet computer, however, can also work as a standalone device. RIM says the PlayBook is capable of providing users the full Web experience the same way that a conventional computer does.

Norton’s Security Punch

Recently, IT security technology vendor Norton from Symantec released the 2011 versions of its Norton AntiVirus and Norton Internet Security products. The security suite, according to results of tests conducted by third-party test services provider Dennis Labs, achieved a 100% protection score, the only one so far.

The security suite comes with a free tool for consumers, the Norton Power Eraser. The tool is designed to search for, target, and eliminate fake antivirus, also known as “scareware” applications.
Virus Scam

It seems that former communists have a better, though more sinister, grasp of the concept of capitalism and free market. The U.S. Attorney in New York City charged more than 80 people with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering, false identification use, and passport fraud for their participation in misappropriation of dozens of victims’ bank accounts.

According to investigators, hackers in Eastern Europe used computer viruses to steal usernames and passwords of bank account owners. These hackers then teamed up with foreign students who opened bank accounts in the United States to steal at least $3 million from American bank accounts.
Way to go, guys. You sure make capitalists proud.

That’s all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.