Information Technology in the News

What's Going On?

One of the most well-known instances of Information Technology being in the news is the recent case involving Apple and the FBI. For those unfamiliar with the case, here is a breakdown: When Sayed Farook and Tashfeen Malik decided to gun down people at a San Bernardino, California party on December 2nd, they had made sure to destroy (literally smash to bits) their personal phones and get rid of their computer’s hard drive to presumably hide evidence of their ties with other terrorists and their plans for more terrorist attacks. The one thing they did not destroy was Farook’s company issued cell phone – an iPhone. The FBI wanted to see “who Farook was communicating with and which websites he might have visited in the days leading up to the December 2 massacre,” but this task was made difficult by the encryption software on Apple’s iPhones that makes it so that the phone will erase itself if 10 wrong passcodes are entered in a row (CNET). Apple gave the FBI Farook’s iCloud backup storage, but it only went through October 19, so the FBI wanted more information and ordered Apple to create a new, custom version of the phone’s operating system that would stop the phone from erasing after the allotted passcode attempts and make it so they could connect a supercomputer to the phone so they can use a brute force attack to find the passcode and get data off the phone. Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook is quoted by Hollister and Guglielmo as saying, “In the physical world, it would be the equivalent of a master key, capable of opening hundreds of millions of locks." (CNET). While the fight has been put on hold because of today’s announcement that the FBI unlocked the phone with help from a third party, it raised a lot of questions about digital privacy and security and about just how much power the government should have when directing private companies to create software for surveillance. 

So What is the Controversy?

Before a third party showed up on the scene to assist the FBI in cracking the iPhone, we had the FBI insisting that Apple write new software for the task stating that the law doesn’t support a company making phones that are “warrant proof” while Apple said that if they complied with the FBI’s order it would “create a new security vulnerability for untold millions of iPhone users” (Wall Street Journal). Those on the side of the FBI wanted Apple to help prevent future terrorist attacks by assisting the FBI in getting whatever data could be gathered about the terrorist groups Farook and Malik were conspiring with and hopefully, even save some lives. Those on Apple’s side argue that dangerous precedence could be set that gives the government too much authority to force private companies to create software that can be used to track and surveil citizens. While I certainly want to prevent any more terrorist attacks like Farook and Malik’s, I am not willing to give up my freedom in order to obtain a sense of safety. Even if Apple was fighting the FBI’s order only to protect their business, I am thankful that they were ready to take it all the way to the Supreme Court if need be.

References
http://www.cnet.com/news/apple-versus-the-fbi-why-the-lowest-priced-iphone-has-the-us-in-a-tizzy-faq/
http://www.wsj.com/articles/fbi-unlocks-terrorists-iphone-without-apples-help-1459202353

Bachelor of Applied Science in Digital Information Technology

Computers are in my blood. My dad is a developer and he was always tinkering on a computer while I was growing up. The interest was only in playing computer games until I finally realized how much I would truly enjoy a job working with them, but with so many areas of computing, how did I go about narrowing down what I actually wanted to do? After a bit of looking around I discovered that the Bachelor of Applied Science - Digital Information Technology degree would be a great option for me and I'm using what I have learned to help me in my job as a Computer Technician. The best way to describe the program is to say that it is part management classes and part computer classes. The management classes prepare you to supervise employees and give students an understanding of the business world and what tools they will need to navigate it properly. There is a lot more that goes into managing employees than most people realize and understanding the legalities of it as well as ways to keep employees motivated and help them with their jobs can make the task seem much less frightening. The computer classes provide the student with an overview of the areas of computing they might deal with in an Information Systems department. The computer classes won’t leave you an expert in any one area, but after finishing the program, you would understand enough of each area to manage employees in your department and -- from my understanding -- most students enter the BAS DIT program after having already earned an associate degree in a more specialized area of computing such as networking, programming, or graphic communications.

Information Technology is an exciting field to enter because there is always something new to learn as the technology continues to improve and you may even get to be a part of developing new technology in it! People that enter this field tend to value intelligence, the willingness and capability to learn and adapt quickly, and the ability to figure things out or troubleshoot. The motto “work smarter, not harder” seems to rule in the average IT department as most IT professionals highly value efficiency and are always seeking to find better ways to perform computer tasks. IT pros enjoy making life easier for people and while we get stereotyped as being nerdy and antisocial, we really do love people and have a desire to create computer systems that can make it easier to do any job. The IT field also has the advantage of being easy to make money in depending on what area you choose and how far you want to take it.

There are a lot of different jobs you can hold in Information Technology. For example, software developers create new programs while networking involves linking a group of computers together. Graphic designers put images, typography, and media together to create advertising or other layouts. Network security requires you to stay one step ahead of those who may want to hack into your system and you have to make sure your system is guarded against these threats. Database management involves keeping track of data and ensuring that the right users have access to what data they need. There are also help desk positions that require you to know basic operating system and software support so you can help the average user with minor problems.

Computing jobs represent different challenges to be tackled and professionals in computing appreciate the chance to use their minds and solve these “puzzles” as well as help make a program or setup a system that can make a business run more smoothly. People who have a knack for troubleshooting as well as an interest in organizing and leading other employees in accomplishing shared goals would do well in the BAS in Digital Information Technology program at Great Basin College.