TechBytes Weekly

Google wants to help you learn how to program.  If you're a college student and you're interested in learning about programming and open-source development, Google has an opportunity for you! The Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is now accepting applications. According to the Google Summer of Code site, applications for college students who are 18 or older opened on March 20. Students need to apply for entrance to the program by April 3. Google has offered GSoC for 13 years. The program is online, so no travel is required. Google has selected 201 organizations to act as mentors for students in the program, including such entities as Apache, Blender, Libre Office, and Moodle, to name just a few. Students are directed to review the mentor organizations and the projects and can submit up to five project proposals. If selected, students will be matched with a mentor and will receive a stipend. Supporting Web Links Want to Make It as a Biologist? Better Learn to

It can happen to anyone. By all accounts, last week was a difficult week for the Secret Service. Not only did they have to deal with intruders on the grounds of the White House, on Thursday, the laptop belonging to a Secret Service agent in New York City was stolen from the agent's car . Reports indicate the laptop contained the evacuation plans and floor plans for Trump Tower. Although none of the material was classified, officials confirmed it might be possible to use the laptop to access servers containing classified material. Unfortunately, the laptop cannot be traced or wiped remotely and authorities are still searching for it. So, if even laptops belonging to the Secret Service aren't safe, how can you protect yours? Obviously, there's no way to eliminate the risk entirely, but there are some steps you can take to safeguard your devices, as well as things you can do to protect your data before and after a theft. The Secret Service stated their lapt

International travel is getting trickier. If you're planning to travel internationally, be prepared to take special precautions with your digital devices and the information you've got stored in them. While there are certain countries that have always been problematic, many travelers are becoming concerned about traveling to and from the United States. Most international travelers expect to have their luggage checked by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and to declare any goods they may be bringing with them, but lately there has been an increased interest in examining travelers' digital devices as well. And, it's not just happening to foreign visitors, U.S. citizens are not exempt from these searches either. Violet Blue reports on the situation in this Engadget article and provides some useful advice. High on the list of concerns is the possibility that you may need to provide the password or passwords to your devices and social media a

Mobile apps can help you help others in need. It's sad but true that homelessness is a growing problem. Many of us are not sure how to react when we encounter a homeless person. Should we give money? Offer to buy a meal? Walk on by? Thanks to two researchers in Philadelphia, there's an app that might help you help homeless individuals. Katie Dupere of Mashable explains how the StreetChange app works . Andrew Siegel and Dan Treglia, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, partnered with the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania to develop a mobile app to help individuals find the items and services they need. Homeless people that become StreetChange clients work with a caseworker and complete a survey to identify needed items - haircuts, jackets, toothbrushes, etc. They are then given a Bluetooth beacon. Individuals that want to help can download the StreetChange app. When they pass within range of a person holding one of the beacons,

Microsoft may lose its first place position this year. With the proliferation of mobile devices, the tide has been turning, especially in recent years. StatCounter, a web analytics company, measures web traffic and tracks the operating systems from which the traffic originates. The company recently confirmed that the Microsoft Windows operating system, a long time world leader in market share, may soon be surpassed by the Android operating system. This ExtremeTech article from Ryan Whitwam reports that in February 2017 Microsoft Windows had 38.6 percent of the market, while Android held 37.4 percent. While Windows is still in the lead, it has been steadily losing ground. It's expected that if this trend continues, Android will soon be the leading operating system worldwide. Supporting Web Links Android challenges Windows as world’s most popular operating system in terms of internet usage Android may soon beat Windows as the world's most popular OS Googl

Setting up a network can be challenging.   We often take our wireless networking experiences for granted, especially on our college campus. We expect it to be fast and reliable, but have you ever thought about the process it takes to create such a network? This article from Danny Mareco for Secure Edge Networks examines six of the challenges a college IT department may need to consider when deploying a wireless network . Mareco explains the importance of considering issues like capacity, coverage, cost, performance monitoring, security, and density. Between the increased number of devices on campus and the many different ways wireless access is being used, it's clear to see that a well-designed and up-to-date network is critical. The article also includes videos and a wireless network design kit to help with network planning. Supporting Web Links Home networking: Everything you need to know Eduroam set to be new wireless network 5 Simple Steps to Set-Up a Se

Fears surround the future of the world's largest network. With new leadership at the helm of the FCC, many Internet experts are concerned about the status of net neutrality. While most people agree that a free and open Internet is a good thing, some disagree on how that should be accomplished. In Brian Fung's article for The Washington Post , he examines how the appointment of Ajit Pai as the new chairman of the FCC may affect net neutrality and Internet users. While Pai has previously stated that he believes in a free and open Internet, he has also made it clear that he is not in favor of the regulations the FCC has previously passed. Fung provides a brief overview of the fight for net neutrality and the steps the FCC took to safeguard it. He also explains Pai's position as he comes into the FCC and the various paths he might take in his quest to roll back some of these regulations. Supporting Web Links FCC reverses net neutrality ISP transparency ru