Safe Surfing

How Not to Pay the Price for Free Wi-Fi

For those roaming the country or world at some point this Summer, if you look to find free wi-fi,  here are some tips courtesy of the New York Times to make sure your data/identity is not compromised or stolen.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Who To Trust: Wikipedia Or Your Doctor?

Wikipedia has become for many the first, and often the only, stop in their online research. Although the site has been criticized for its level of accuracy in non-technical areas, it has often received praise for its reliability in the realms of science and technology.

A new study, however, calls even this reliability into question. In the study, researchers across the United States examined Wikipedia articles for ten of the most costly medical conditions in the U.S., including osteoarthritis, back pain, diabetes, and asthma. They printed the articles for analysis, and discovered that 90% of the entries contained statements that contradict the most up-to-date medical research.

Moral of the story: Careful researchers, including legal ones, always critically evaluate their sources, and especially crowd-sourced ones, such as Wikipedia.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Congressional Research Services Turns 100!

"When the Legislative Reference Service (LRS) was established in the Library of Congress in 1914, the small staff provided what its name conveyed—reference information to assist Members of Congress in their legislative work. Over 100 years, LRS evolved into today’s Congressional Research Service (CRS), a staff of 600 that exclusively provides Congress with nonpartisan policy analysis."

Read more about the history of the CRS in Erin Allen's article CRS at 100: Informing the Legislative debate Since 1914.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Visit the Hofstra Scholarly Commons

Hofstra Law Library hosts free and open access to Hofstra Law School's law journals: the Hofstra Law Review, the Journal of International Business and Law, and the Hofstra Labor and Employment Law Journal, as well as the now defunct law student newspaper, Conscience.  Along with PDF collections of these publications, you will find Hofstra's special collections, including pictures and documents from the Eric J. Schmertz collection, and Hofstra's faculty publications. 

Visit our Hofstra Scholarly Commons here, and while there, be sure to view the "Most Popular Papers" and the "Paper of the Day."

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Help Desk Alert: Hackers strike mobile devices; Set a passcode on your smart phone or tablet

HACKERS STRIKE MOBILE DEVICES

If you don’t have a passcode on your smart phone or tablet, set one today

Recent news reports have revealed some owners of iPhones and iPads can be locked out of their devices – permanently – by remote hackers.

Australian hackers recently compromised the Apple iCloud accounts of hundreds of Mac, iPhone and iPad users. Once logged in to a compromised iCloud account, the hackers have changed the account password, and utilized the Find My iPhone feature of the service to send remote lock commands to any devices connected to the account. As a result, a message appears demanding a ransom in exchange for unlocking the device.

·         An affected user with a passcode set can simply enter that passcode to bypass the lock and regain access to the device.

·         A user with no passcode can’t bypass the lock, essentially rendering the device inoperable.

There are steps you can take to protect your device, your data, and yourself.

By taking advantage of the built-in security protections afforded by setting a passcode, you can protect your mobile device from being compromised by malicious persons or groups. A passcode doesn’t just allow you to bypass an unauthorized device lock, as in the example above. It also enables encryption, keeping your data safe and secure in the event your device is lost or stolen.

Many of the attributes that make mobile devices great technology companions also make them easy targets for thieves and hackers. We’ve put together a  guide that describes a few key actions – including setting a passcode – that you can take to ensure your data remains protected. (http://www.hofstra.edu/About/IT/HelpDesk/helpdesk_travel_mobile.html)​

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New Book: The Legal Side of Blogging

The Legal Side of Blogging by Ruth Carter, published by the ABA Law Practice Division, examines legal issues that may arise from publishing a blog.  It is written by a blogger for other bloggers and covers such topics as: copyright, ethics, confidentiality, defamation and invasion of privacy.

""In this book, experienced attorney Ruth Carter explains your rights as a blogger, discusses real-life examples of what can go wrong, and offers advice on how to avoid the common legal pitfalls of blogging."

Find it on the new book table today! (KF320 .I57 C37)

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Enjoy Memorial Day

Enjoy your Memorial Day, the official start of Summer. 

The Law Library is closed today and there is no swipe card access.  We resume Summer hours on Tuesday.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

The Veterans History Project: In Their Own Words

Did you ever wonder about the routine and more dramatic wartime experiences of a great-grandparent or other family member? Did you ever wish that they had made an audio or video recording of their memories in their own words? Hundreds of American veterans and war workers from all branches, units, and ranks, serving in the same locations as your family members, have done that and created a lasting legacy through the Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.  Authorized in 2000 by an Act of Congress, the project continues today.

Memorial Day weekend is a great time to explore the Veterans History Project collection at the Library of Congress website.  At this page, anyone can search the Project database for interviews, photos, and other materials, limiting the search by war, service branch, rank, and other criteria. Search terms can further limit interviewees to geographic locations and service units. Finally, restricting a search to those taped interviews that have been digitized, and/or include a transcript, produces results that are immediately available to enjoy online.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Unofficial start of Summer ???

Despite the continued need for my virtual fur, this weekend is the unofficial start of Summer.  The good news is the beaches are ready.  (According to my brethren beach watchers on the South shore, anyway).  The bad news is finding a warm sunny spot to soak in some vitamin D will take some patience.

If you are looking for a good window sill to sun, or want to get some work done before the Summer weather actually arrives, the Library will be open this weekend, but on the limited schedule as follows:

Fri. 5/23 -   8-5p
Sat. 5/24 - 10-6p
Sun. 5/25 -10-6p  (no Reference librarian available)
Mon 5/26 - CLOSED - no swipe card access

Enjoy the weekend and your Memorial Day celebrations.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New CRS Report + Memorial Day . . .

Memorial Day is approaching.  Did you know that in 1888, Decoration Day (now Memorial Day) first became a holiday for federal workers in the District of Columbia?  Learn more about the creation of Memorial Day and 11 permanent federal holidays established by law in Jacob S. Straus' new CRS report: Federal Holidays: Evolution and Current Practices

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat