Newspapers / The Warren Record (Warrenton, … / Feb. 10, 1977, edition 1 / Page 5
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Memorable Kiss Helps To Keep Computer Honest If you see a man kissing a computer, it means which of the following: (a) he's bonkers, tb) you're bombed, (c) he's happy, or (d) it's his job? The last is correct. In the escalating war of wits between crooks, spies, and security men, a Japanese company has produced a computer that registers lip prints. It won't work until the operator presses his or her lips against it, and then only if the kiss stirs something in the computer's memory bank. Most computers are more easily turned on, and that can cost money, the National Geographic Society points out. Theft and Espionage Since computers only follow orders, crooked programmers can lead them astray. The electronic marvels have aided and abetted theft and embezzlement, fraud and extortion, and military and industrial espion age. Authorities believe computer crime ranges as hjgh as $300 million a year. But there's just an estimate, since some computerized chicanery undoubtedly goes undetected. Criminals have found there are better ways to rob a bank, for example, than with guns. One man retained to computerize a bank's checking accounts programmed the computer to ignore overdrafts on his own account. He spent regularly and deposited rarely, while the bank made good on his checks. Similarly, a man engaged to adjust a computer for one of the nation's largest credit card companies adjusted it to enter no charges against his card number. He then went on an extended travel and shopping spree. Both thieves were nabbed, not through good detective work, but because the computers later broke down and their accounts were processed by sharp-eyed human bookkeep ers. Pennies Add Up Another breakdown undid the programmer for a mutual funds company. He instructed the computer to take all fractions of cents that appeared when it posted investors' shares each month and add them to his account. It cost him a little when stocks fell, but he more than made up for it when they rose. New York City was the site of the largest computer fraud yet uncovered. An insurance firm fed information on hundreds of phony policies into its computer. The company then used the faked assets to obtain large bank loans. In Los Angeles six men recently were indicted for allegedly taking fees of up to $1,500 from persons who were bad credit risks, then falsifying their computerized records so they could continue to get credit. In another scheme, a man developed a system to nuke the Internal Revenue Service's computer send him refunds on dozens of fictitious tax returns. Instead, the computer triggered an alarm and he went to jail. In prison, he devised a way around the computer's guard. Released, he tried ^gain — and was caught by a new computer. Insulate Plant To Help Reduce Cost Of Energy The use of plants to control wind ran reduce the cost of heating and cooling your home. Since this is the time of year to make new plantings, you may want to take the energy conservation factor into consideration. North Carolina State University extension specialists sug gest that evergreen trees and shrubs can shield your home from cold winter winds, hut they should be properly located so as not to shade the house in cold weather. A row of evergreens placed next to a northwest wall, for «»xample, creates an area of "dead" air between the plant and the wall. The still or dead air has much less cooling power than moving air. The temperature difference between the inside of your home and the outside dead air space is reduced and held relatively constant, which greatly decreases the loss of heat through the walls. In the summer, this dead air space will also insulate* your home from hot air and help reduce your air conditioner's cooling load. For this method of wind protection to function properly, the evergreens must be very dense and closely planted to form a solid wall. Another purpose trees and shrubs serve is to obstruct and reduce windspeed reaching walls of your home. Trees with dense foliage extending to the ground create a solid barrier while trees with sparse foliage and removed lower branches form an incomplete barrier. Coniferous evergreens that branch to the ground are the most effective year-around plants for wind control. Planted on the northwest side of the home, these plants may protect it from cold winter winds and also direct summer breezes around it.
The Warren Record (Warrenton, N.C.)
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Feb. 10, 1977, edition 1
5
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