Owen's Blog

Is it me or does George seem to be forcing out a big one here?:

So had some leaving drinks last night, as today is my last day in the office. We dicided to tie together a team Christmas/leaving/wrap party. Our product is going into maintainance only mode (seems they just can’t replace me!) and a lot of the team are a little dissapointed about not being able to work together any more (myself included) we’ve seen the highs and the lows and want to be able to experience them again, it just seems hard to imagine i’ll be able to get such an amazing working environment away from the team i’m in at the moment. Ah well on to bigger and better things for everyone.

Merry Christmas to all.

If I was a betting man I’m sure I could make a lot of money one one thing. I would put all I could afford on a bet that the new NHS national database about to be set up will be hacked within five years.

I was listening to an interesting debate on the NHS database on the today program this morning, and I have to say I agreed with Ross Anderson, people should be opting out of this system in droves, for one reason:

Your data WILL be stolen, I can guarantee it, there’s just nothing more appealing than a massive central system. It’s a golden grail to organized crime, and to kiddie hackers who want to prove their spurs.

I’m not against a central repository of data, hey I’m a developer, I want it to happen, the things you can do with such things are wonderfully powerful. The problem I have with it is that it’s built to be safe and secure, when I’m afraid it is inherently not.

Instead I would like a system build to be stolen, if all the data was obfuscated, and could only be pieced together when requested by the correct chain of events, (many of which being a password, credential based system) or not holding personal data beyond an identifying number, and information directly relevant to a medical professional.

If I can use any of the data in the system (on it’s own) to impersonate or steal someone’s identity or otherwise break someone’s privacy in a detrimental way (whooo… did you know Pete across the road is a nut case!!) then I don’t think the system is built in the correct way.

Data loss is an inherent and real risk when centralizing such systems, who is going to break into your GPs practice just to steal medical records? I suspect there would be little monetary gain there, but to have an easy access (I use easy as in you can take your time over it without it costing you money) and highly rewarding system (if the data is valuable to someone it has a monetary value) is foolhardy.

They speak about making it a criminal offense to break into the system but I submit that we have little jurisdiction over most of the people connected to the Internet.

Ok so I’m going down worst case scenarios now, but it’s all, in my opinion, valid.

So opt out. now. The data protection act says that there MUST be an opt out for such collections of data on electronic media.I suspect that there will be a law suit coming up if they don’t allow people to opt out.

If you don’t care too much, please please please, ask to check the data that’s going on the system with your GP.

This is a serious issue and as an IT professional I feel I must warn people that no computer system is safe.

There’s always someone smarter.

Ok so i’m just testing how Windows Live Writer works, and if it’s a nice enough system that i will want to use it in future (or persuade Katy to use it)

Here goes… and post

I’m liking what it does with the picture and drop shadows

Apparently my brother is having problems with comments on the site. however i can’t replicate this issue, could everyone try and comment on a post saying something like “Hey Owen, i’ve been able to comment” please!

Or alternatively if you actually have a comment just post that.

… to Elaine, who has emailed me to let me know she’s getting married.

Not met the fiancé but I’m sure he’s a great man and I wish them both all the happiness in the world.

Elaine: I know things have always been a bit weird between us, but please know that you should be as happy as possible and I’m thrilled for you.

Congratulations again, I want to see the pics

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So i’m into my final week of work here in London (bar any major upsets leading to me being called into work) and i’m starting to wind down, looking forward to Christmas and New Year “back at the ranch” in Penarth, with Katy, my brother and my parents. May be a while before i get to spend a holiday at my parents place for a while so i intend to make the most of it.

We’ve also just been to Amsterdam:

The holiday was fab, but the accomodation (as with most of amsterdam i hear) was pretty appaling: old, shabby, smelly and low value for money. On the plus side we did loads because we didn’t want to spend time at the museum hotel. [ed. thanks for picking up on this typo Katy]

From seeing Anne Frankhuis to seeing windmills and cheese, there was a lot to do. Not to mention seeing the City itself.

Also recent was a works Christmas party for my work and also for Katy’s office. Both of which were great fun and very drunken affairs.

Anyway, work is quiet and i intend it to stay that way for a while. I’m thinking of persuing some personal software projects i’ve had brewing, in the new year, but i might not get time what with having to sort out job applications, a visa and packing. I’m still in a quandry as to whether i should just post my Mac to me in NZ or try and take it on the plane (that’s an iMac not a Mac book)

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