28: LASER GUNS ON AIRBORNE PLATFORMS

Aerial warfare started with pilots shooting hand held weapons at each other from their aircraft. The aircraft mounted guns replaced these hand held weapons. The aircraft guns improved over the years in terms of the caliber of weapons, rate of fire, ammunition carrying capacity and most important the lethal range. Improvements also took place with respect to the arc of fire, cone of fire and the aiming systems. The aerial combat and the tactics kept changing depending upon the capability of these weapon systems.

Gradually longer range air to air missiles became the weapon of choice for airborne platforms. These missiles advanced from close combat ones to all aspect beyond visual range weapons. The nature of warfare and the tactics underwent a drastic change with these weapons.

The airborne platforms including fighters and combat support heavy aircraft have become vulnerable to modern weapons fired from far ranges. With introduction of hypersonic weapons the reaction time will reduce further increasing their vulnerability.

Continue reading “28: LASER GUNS ON AIRBORNE PLATFORMS”

27: THINK BEFORE CLICKING – Cyber Security: DOs & DON’Ts

DOs

  • Have a strong Password
  • Change password often ( every 15 days)
  • Use Licensed software
  • Use good anti virus.
  • Update regularly with patches.
  • Back up your data and documents
  • Avoid cyber cafes for financial transactions
  • Download from trustworthy sites
  • Configure email to be secure
  • Disable auto opening of documents
  • Use two step authentication for online services
  • Have different account & username for multiple users of same device
  • Check social network configuration
  • Use parental control tools for browsing

DON’Ts

 

  • Click on suspicious or unknown links
  • Use pirated software
  • Share confidential information
  • Share pins and passwords
  • Reply to Spam  messages
  • Ignore updates
  • Leave storage devices outside unattended
  • Share email with unknown individuals
  • Use simple guessable passwords
  • Keep webcam connected when not in use
  • Use same password for different applications or accounts
  • Open suspicious attachments

26: DIGITAL ADDICTION PART 2: ONLINE SHOPPING ADDICTION

This is part 2 of the series of articles on Digital Addiction.

Link to earlier posts on the subject:

Introductory Post.
Part 1: Understanding Digital Addiction.

In Covid lockdown times online shopping has been a savior. It is a good facility as long as it does not turn into an addiction. The rise of e-commerce sites, flash sales, deal offers and credit facilities make online shopping an attractive activity.

Online platforms know what one is interested in and do nudge us towards buying them. Sponsored online ads are targeted towards exploiting the concept of cue-reactivity (excitement from shopping clues) and craving (irresistible desire to purchase).

Definition. Shopping addiction is a compulsive desire to shop, manifesting into a preoccupation with buying and shopping despite negative consequences. The addiction can be harmful to a person’s physical and emotional health, personal relationships, financial status and professional life. Shopping addiction has names like:

• Buying addiction
• Compulsive buying
Oniomania.

Factors that encourage online shopping. These are as follows:

• People want to avoid crowded markets and shops.
• Privacy of online shopping.
• Constant availability.
• Availability of large variety.
• Immediate gratification.

Signs of online shopping addiction Some of the signs are as follows:

• Thinking about online shopping all the time.
• Getting upset on denial of online shopping.
• Online shopping makes you feel good and relaxed.
• Guilt feeling later on.
• Spending less time on other important things
• Buying things not needed.
• Buying unaffordable things.
• Financial troubles.
• Arguments with close relatives over it.

Remedy. Ways to get over the habit / addiction are as follows:

• Unsubscribe from all promotional emails.
• Block the shopping sites.
• Delete shopping apps from mobile and other devices.
• Adopt alternate methods of feeling good and lifting your mood.
• Get Help.

References:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/urban-survival/201511/10-signs-you-re-addicted-online-shopping

https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2014/12/02/5-ways-to-combat-an-online-shopping-addiction

Please feel free to comment and provide value addition.

Coming up soon – Part 3: Computer Games Addiction.

761
Default rating

Please give a thumbs up if you  like The Post?