Keep Your Computer Safe

Just a few things for the chronically infected, the paranoid, or the plainly smart:

Patch Windows and other Microsoft products promptly.
This is almost impossible if you have a pirated copy of Windows installed, but following the other tips below might still keep you safe. You can install Linux, but if you can't follow the tips below, I don't think you will be happy with a virus-free but unfamiliar operating system.

Use an alternative browser.
If you heard that Internet Explorer is very vulnerable, it's true, especially if you don't patch often. Install Mozilla Firefox. It's free to install, free to patch, and a lot of people, including myself, actually think it's a better browser.

Install an antivirus (AV) + anti-spyware product.
If you have cash, get Trend Micro Antivirus. You can also grab the free AVG Antivirus . You'll need to keep these products running and set to update as soon as your computer connects to the Internet. If you don't have AV, you'll never know whether to trust downloads or the files you get from email or your USB stick. But even with AV, be careful where you go.

Don't just surf anywhere.
Install TrendProtect or McAfee's SiteAdvisor to check the links on your Google search results before you click them. Never click links rated dangerous. Be careful when clicking unrated links.

Use a firewall.
If you are using Windows XP or Vista, simply turn on the built-in firewall. If you want to use another solution, the free version of ZoneAlarm is quite reliable. If you are bored, you can check the ZoneAlarm logs and observe how often other computers attempt to access your computer.

Scan with alternative products regularly.
You know how large enterprises stay secure? They use products from different security vendors. To stay safe, scan with other security scanners. Some great ones actually cost nothing.

You can use HouseCall, a full-fledged free online scanner. I'm a bit biased, but I know that Trend Micro will soon release a very fast and powerful version of HouseCall that takes advantage of their new cloud scanning technology. By the time you read this, they may already have this version on their site.

Another free scanner that I trust is Ad-Aware from Lavasoft. This is a purely local scanning tool that takes sometime to install and download, but it can find things that products from other vendors miss. I also like its straightforward interface, but maybe that's just me. I'm not sure, but I think Ad-Aware focuses on spyware protection, so its AV capabilities might be a little weak.

Be a smart netizen.
Practice common sense when on the Internet. Don't just click something because it's flashing and looks shiny and nice. When it's too good to be true (a nude pic, free software, or a message that tells you that you've won something), it probably is. Watch out for security messages that pop up and tell you that your computer is infected. They will typically entice you into installing their rogue security product that is actually spyware.

Check your Yahoo! Messenger, MSN (Live), QQ, or email messages before clicking on links or receiving files. Messages that appear to have come from friends or relatives can be fake. Ask your senders why they sent links or files. Usually, spammers who send fake messages will not reply. But some will and will try to gain your trust and scam you. Learn to gauge if you are actually talking to the person you know.

Is Chip Tsao Racist?

I am not writing this to apologize for Mr. Tsao, but honestly I'm surprised at the reactions of many of my countrymen to his article. I was offended by it at first (actually, my blood was boiling), but I decided to calm down and read between the lines. I realized that the writer could not have been serious and that he was basically satirizing sino-centric mentality, the constant bullying by the communist-led mainland government, and how the Hong Kong rich mistreat their maids. Unfortunately, most of the evils he was satirizing have resulted in a lot of misfortune for us Filipinos, including how we have been ignored in the global political stage and how many of us, including the well-educated, are working in oppressive conditions away from our loved ones just to make ends meet.

Regardless of how much pain Mr. Tsao's article highlights, I appreciate his candor and his willingness to criticize his government and his people. At least he is honest enough. I also do not believe he is racist. Racists are those who use this issue as opportunity to bash the Chinese, as if the wrongs of some of them make the whole race evil. I have read Filipino politicians allude to the use of melamine in Chinese milk. If Chip Tsao was stupid for reminding us of our pains as a nation, these politicians are even worse. Don't we all know that mainland Chinese are the worst victims of the melamine contamination and that many of them lost their babies to tainted milk? Should we attack insensitivity by being more crass?

Mr. Tsao's crime, at the worst, was being insensitive. And with all the hatred directed at him right now, the threats to himself and his family, and the potential effect on his career, he may already have paid for his insensitivity. But, you know what I think, there are even more guilty parties that truly deserve our hatred. These people are actually having a field day brandishing themselves as heroes by pretending to attack Mr. Tsao and the Hong Kong government in the guise of protecting Filipinos, particularly us overseas workers. Suddenly, after they let us suffer their corruption, inefficiencies, and incompetencies while processing our travel/working papers; deprive young Filipinos of the free education guaranteed by our constitution; declare us heroes of the nation, but look down on us (particularly those of us who work as domestic helpers) when we visit our own embassies and pass through immigration lines in our own country; and regulate our freedom to travel in able to force us to pay all kinds of processing fees and membership charges to institutions they have supposedly put up to serve us.

You know who you are. Now it's your turn to hate me. Please keep the cursing to a minimum. =)

Commuting by Bike in Taipei

I haven't written anything in weeks. During those blog-free (this is unfortunately synonymous to "work-heavy") weeks, I managed to finally get the blue Giant M3 I've always wanted.

Spring was coming, so I really had to have my own bike. I went to the bike store ready to make the bike purchase, but they didn't have the blue one. I was tempted to get a nice red M1, which cost NT$6,000 more. To those thinking of getting the M1, don't hold back. The difference is worth the better brakes, shifters, derailleurs, seat, etc. I stayed with the M3 because I wanted to stick to my budget. I still fancy the M1, but I have no regrets getting the M3, even though I had to wait a few days before I could get the blue one shown here.

I've been commuting almost daily (not when it's raining or when I'm running late for an early meeting) for around three weeks now. I'm actually having a blast and look forward to riding everyday. Not everything about the commute is perfect though.

Biker safety
Taipei is probably friendlier to bikers than many cities around the world, but biking around it is not a walk in the park. The lack of bike lanes and the abundance of buses and taxis make each ride dangerous. I still haven't forced myself to wear a helmet, so my only protection right now is very defensive riding and bright flashing LEDs that keep me visible at night. I will probably get a helmet soon, but I'm pretty convinced that it will offer little protection if I get hit by a car or a bus. I stick to slow lanes or even sidewalks (which can be annoyingly crowded), but I need to learn to signal when turning or changing lanes. Hand signaling feels silly, but I know they're important.

CATEYE bike bling improves visibility

Bad pavement
Taipei has a lot of good roads for cars, but they don't feel that great on a road bike. My rides would probably be better if I got a Giant Boulder, which had front suspension. The bumps have made it really hard for me to enjoy the speed advantage of the M3s road bike heritage.

Few alternative routes
The shortest route to my office actually offers decent air quality and safety. Other routes I've tried are not even close. It just doesn't make sense to take a longer route so I can get smothered with car fumes or see fewer trees. It's funny but I'm worried I may get bored riding through the same places everyday.

Pollution
Taipei air was a great relief for me after living in China for almost three years. I breathed Beijing air during the seven months leading up to the Beijing 2008 Olympics, a time when the ultra-rich Chinese government spared no effort or cash for environmental cleanups. But, in addition to the depressing air quality readings, one could still smell, taste, and see that the air was bad. Unlike Beijing, Taipei air is very decent for a big city. It is a clean city dotted green by parks, surrounded by lush mountains, and dissected by relatively clear rivers.

But bikers know how bad the air can get. Stop at an intersection behind scooters, and you will think that perhaps you're better off inside a crowded bus. You will feel that your lungs are taking in a lot of crap. I will probably get an anti-pollution mask soon, which will look even sillier on me than a helmet, but at least it will help keep the carcinogens off my lungs. Besides, a mask is a strong statement about how badly we need to clean up the planet.

Still there are some good
There are some good things about biking in Taipei though. Like I said, I look forward to riding everyday. I've also ridden a few hours on bike trails, which is a lot of fun. Although very cosmopolitan, Taipei has many interesting hiking and biking trails along its rivers and mountains. I can't wait to enjoy more of the city and the rest of Taiwan on my M3.