graphical user interface - benefits

Graphical User Interface (GUI) comprises of (as the name suggests) images. It is kind of interface which focuses mostly on visual aspects of its programs. Thanks to it, software is easier to use as the user doesn't have to work with the programming language. Instead of typing the complicated codes and commands, as in the case of MS-DOS, GUI  introduces computer graphics as the main builder. Through clicking on a particular element, one is able to see the information they want or to perform a desirable operation. Let's enumerate the benefits of this kind of interface.

1) As I've already mentioned it is relatively easy to use it. Obviously it doesn't require as much skill as CLI (Command Line Interface). GUI is created to be user-friendly and to be of use to everybody. It is not designed for a specific group of people, who are trained in this particular field, as it was before. By clicking on objects displayed on screen, a person can do anything he/she wants and it is not a very demanding acitivity.

2) Higher productivity. Since a lot of effort isn't necessary while using Graphical User Interface, it's quite logical that the productivity is increased. Everything is on sight, there is a little possibilty to go wrong with something. What is more, one doesn't have to do things manually (writing a comand in order to perform an action) because a number of them is done automatically after pointing at an item.

3) It doesn't require multitasking. While using CLI, the user has to be very focused not to omit anything. A slight miastake in formatting may result in a huge failure. Multitasking is quite advanced in this case as one needs to remember not only about the particular task but also about every piece of code that stands behind it. In GUI you can aim attention at the goal you want to achieve without thinking about technical stuff.

4) What is also important is the looks. With all the colorful images, GUI provides much better experience than the raw lines of code. People often decide that one operating system is better than the other because of its appearance.

Examples of such interface : MS Windows, Mac OS

malware, spying, hackers

Nowadays, the Internet is present almost everywhere. In modern societies it is impossible to imagine a life without it. It has become a basic builder for a number of technologies and is often regarded as a backbone of many industries. Today almost everything has an IP address which makes it a target for hackers. If everything is computerized and digitalized, it is hardly possible to keep it under 100% surveillance. The perfect security doesn't exist hence the hackers can 'break into' every system.


By creating a malicious software (malware) programmers are able to take over the systems and steal their data or disrupt their workings. Right in the beginning, when the Internet was still in its infancy, such programs were created for amusing purposes. They were visible for the users of a particular device and they were harmless. Mostly malware was set up for fun, usually by some bored and skilled in the area teenagers. In 2003/2004 the software orientated on a profit appeared. Designers of previous versions saw that their programs could be a money-making machinery. Hobbysts started to work with spammers and now malware started to be something dangerous. Online criminals were born and they started to use their skill as an actual weapon. Malware today is created by criminals, hactivist gangs and governments.


Yes, it's verified information that goverments can be authors of such programs too. In the short documentary, Mikko Hyppönen says about the case when UK Intelligence attacked the Belgian telecommunications provider, Belgacom. The software stayed undetected by a long period of time. The malware looked like components of a Microsoft program. Its aim was to steal the data and manipulate the computers in the company. Thanks to Snowden's revelations it is known that the malware was highly advanced spy tool. The project has even its name, "Operation Socialist". Government Communications Headquarters intelligence service (that was behind the attack) presents their goals and says that the malware was created in order to help them understand Belgacom's groundwork and allow them to work more efficiently and develop their usage. All the details are not available which leaves the operation even more shady.


Sources:1), 2) 

business models of websites

The purpose of every big website is to earn money. Of course, we do not tend to pay attention to this aspect on the spot. The first thing a user does is looking at the content in which he/she is interested. Some people never ask themselves a question why a particular page is created. It is mainly because the answer is quite simple as money play the crucial role in today's world. But there is also another question to be asked - how do they earn money? It is definitely more absorbing one as the way is not always clearly visible. I want to differentiate three most popular techniques that the websited use to pay for themselves.

1) Advertising.

 One can encounter ads almost everywhere. It is the easiest way to support a website with the money coming from it. There is a number of examples, such as Facebook and Youtube. Ads may be frustrating especially when they are designed to our needs. Cooperating with other sites, Facebook can get data from them and display the ads suiting to a given user. And it is not only the Facebook that can do it. For example, when you searched for the shoes that you really like but they are too expensive and you cannot buy them, you will be seeing their picture at almost every website you go. It is quite disturbing if you ask me. Of course, one can add AdBlock to their browser and get rid of the ads in that way. But there are some websites that will not show you the content unless you disable it (kurnik.pl or any page with the sport coverage). It is like that because showing ads is the only source of their profit and they expect some kind of contribution from you.

2) Subscription option.

It is a business model that is based on paying money in order to get to the content of a website. This type of maintaining the websites is taken from the newspaper and magazine subscription. It became popular before the Internet era. One could pay for a year up front and then receive the magazine every month or so. Nowadays, the on-demand Internet streaming services, such as Netflix, are using it. One must pay an ordered amount of money to be able to watch their favorite TV shows. In this way the corporation gains profit and the user gets access to what he/she wants without ads.

3) Selling services.

Dropbox and iCloud can serve as the best examples here. These websites are platforms on which we can keep our files. They are some kind of a virtual place of storage. We can access our data there whenever we want as long as we have access to the Internet. Such websites are also connected with paying for the space. Often the access if free up to some gigabytes and if we want to upload more content we need to pay.

One of the websites I visit the most is Youtube. It uses the advertising business model. The ads are often displayed before a particular video that we want to see. Also there are propositions designed for every user individually. They are based on the history of films you watched before. It also may be counted as a way to gain profit as someone who was supposed to leave the site stays longer because the proposed video gained his/her interest. What is more, Youtube recently introduced Youtube Red which is some kind of a licence. As in the case of Netflix, one would have to pay some amount of money in order to watch some content. Of course, the option of free videos still remains but some others are to be introduced and be only available after payment. Lack of adertisemtns or the possibility to download a video on your mobile device are among other commodities coming from subscription option.