The first virtual civil rights museum in Florida launched earlier this month. It features civil rights leaders from the early 1900s all the way into the early 60s.

Two Tallahassee natives, Jackie Perkins and Delaitre Hollinger, created the virtual museum. It tells the stories of what the founders call "pioneers" in both education and civil rights. Perkins says the museum includes individuals from all walks of life regardless of race, color or religion.

“It’s huge and it feels really good that were finally at this point," Perkins says. "Where other people are able to use this virtual platform to get information on individuals, especially our educational and civil rights pioneers who are local, those who are in the state of Florida, those who’s body of work, contribution, and bold courageous actions resulted in transformational change for a lot of people and not just black people.”

An exhibit called “They made a difference”features more than 30 people who led the charge for civil rights in Florida. 

You can visit it at this link: Home — Florida Civil Rights Museum, Inc.℠

Georgia Public Library Service has completed a two year-long project to digitize 214 city directories, which document 17 different Georgia communities across nearly 100 years. The directories, contributed by 12 public library systems, are now full-text searchable and freely available in the Digital Library of Georgia.

“Georgia Public Library Service is pleased to support digitizing primary source materials that document community history and culture like these city directories,” said Josh Kitchens, director of Archival Services and Digital Initiatives. “Digitization is important as it enables materials to be more widely accessible for everyone who wants to learn more about their family or community.”

City directories will prove invaluable sources of genealogical, cultural, and historical information for communities all over Georgia. In addition to basic location information, city directories frequently provide local governmental and civic information, street maps, church and cemetery information, and historical details about the city and surrounding areas. Information about individuals typically includes the resident’s name, title or salutation, home address, marital status and spouse’s name, race, occupation, and, if applicable, information about business ownership. When used in tandem with digitized Sanborn maps, city directories can mimic the experience of a stroll down Main Street to see the names of businesses and neighbors.

This digitization project is a partnership between Georgia Public Library Service, the Digital Library of Georgia, and public library systems across the state. The 17 communities included in this project are Moultrie, Swainsboro, Statesboro, Camilla, Brunswick, Austell, Mableton, Marietta, Acworth, Smyrna, Macon, Covington, Columbus, Bainbridge, Americus, Cordele, and Albany. Additional city directories digitized previously through GPLS include Albany (1922-1949), Athens(1889-1958), Atlanta (1867-1922), Columbus (1859-1912), Dalton (1940-1963), Griffin (1940-1963), and Macon (1860-1899).

Columbus, GA 1928

“We hope the digitization of these city directories encourages others to share their local and family histories, so that it can be celebrated for years to come,” said Catherine Vanstone, assistant director for management information systems at Southwest Georgia Regional Library.

Georgia Public Library Service’s Archival Services and Digital Initiatives has facilitated the addition of over 700,000 unique items to the Digital Library of Georgia allowing free, online access to primary sources on local history. This project is supported with federal Library Services and Technology Act funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through GPLS.

###

Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) empowers libraries to improve the lives of all Georgians by encouraging reading, literacy, and education through the continuing support and improvement of public libraries. Our digitization initiative, Archival Services and Digital Initiatives, encourages public libraries and related institutions across Georgia to participate in The Digital Library of Georgia, which is an initiative of GALILEO. www.georgialibraries.org

Based at the University of Georgia Libraries, the Digital Library of Georgia http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/ is a GALILEO initiative that collaborates with Georgia’s libraries, archives, museums and other institutions of education and culture to provide access to key information resources on Georgia history, culture and life. This primary mission is accomplished through the ongoing development, maintenance, and preservation of digital collections and online digital library resources. DLG also serves as Georgia’s service hub for the Digital Public Library of America and as the home of the Georgia Newspaper Project, the state’s historic newspaper microfilming project.

This article is not about any of the "normal" topics of this newsletter: genealogy, history, current affairs, DNA, and related topics. However, I am offering it as information about new technology. In fact, it may be about new technology that you want to use. I am using it now and it works well.

A new buzzword is becoming popular in high tech. Well, it isn't really a new buzzWORD as much as it is a buzzABBREVIATION (if there is such a thing). 

According to Wikipedia's definition of IPFS: 

"The InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) is a protocol and peer-to-peer network for storing and sharing data in a distributed file system. IPFS uses content-addressing to uniquely identify each file in a global namespace connecting all computing devices."

While that explanation is technically correct, I think it deserves a bit more explanation. I prefer the explanation offered on IPFS.com:

"A peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol designed to preserve and grow humanity's knowledge by making the web upgradeable, resilient, and more open.""

Even that is a bit cryptic. I would prefer: 

"IPFS is the next iteration of cloud computing.'

Another simplistic explanation might be: "The InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) is a protocol and peer-to-peer network for storing and sharing data in a distributed file system."

Cloud computing has become one of the major advances in computing technology of the past decade or so. It provides both increased file space for storage of thousands of files as well as (optional) backup copies of files already stored locally in your own computer(s). Again, referring to Wikipedia:

"Large clouds often have functions distributed over multiple locations, each location being a data center. Cloud computing relies on sharing of resources to achieve coherence and typically using a 'pay-as-you-go' model which can help in reducing capital expenses but may also lead to unexpected operating expenses for unaware users."

IPFS deviates from that definition in that each location does NOT need to be in a data center.

In addition, IPFS typically offers lower prices for data that is stored off-site. In addition, IPFS offers encryption and other techniques to keep your data private, meaning that nobody else can view any of your data other than yourself (unless you explicitly give others permission to view your files). 

IPFS is an abbreviation for "Interplanetary File System" which should win some sort of award for the coolest product name in the industry. "Interplanetary?" Just what is that?

Traditional cloud storage is provided (usually) by large, multi-billion dollar corporations. While this size produces resources capable of handling billions of files saved by hundreds of thousands of users, such resources often include other, less desirable "strings" attached.

First is pricing. Large corporations demand to make profits and cloud computing does not have a reputation for being cheap. Sometimes it is cheaper to simply purchase another external hard drive, especially if the purchase price is spread over several years.

Perhaps even more important is the issue of privacy. Many, perhaps most, large corporations that provide cloud computing services (we're looking at you, Google) also "spy" on their customers' data. While the spying probably is not performed by paid human employees of the corporation, software is normally used to scan customers' stored data looking for certain "keywords" and other data of interest to the corporation. If you save a file that describes "widgets' in a cloud storage service, don't be surprised when you start receiving email advertisements for "widgets." You can thank a "corporate spy" for those email messages.

If you prefer video explanations, you can learn more about IPFS by starting at https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ipfs. However, it you prefer text-based explanations, read on.

The Interplanetary File System (which I will abbreviate as "IPFS" ) prevents spying from happening. First of all, each file  is encrypted by using keyword(s) known only to the creator of a file. Nobody can read (or decrypt) a file without knowing the keyword(s) used by the file creator to encrypt it. The encryption is applied automatically by the user's computer when a file is saved in IPFS. 

Next, and perhaps even more important, each file is broken up into small segments (I'll call them "chunks") and each chunk is stored in a different cloud-based storage location. These locations typically are distributed all over the world. Part of your file might be stored in Poughkeepsie, another chunk might be stored in Singapore, a third chunk might be in Mozambique, and a fourth chunk might be in Rio de Janeiro. Medium and larger-sized chunks may have these bits and pieces of files stored in dozens or even hundreds of different locations distributed all around the world.

Even more important, many duplicate copies of the chunks are also created and are stored in even more locations. 

The end user has no control over the locations where the various file "chunks" are stored. Likewise, a would-be hacker also has no method of discovering where these chunks are stored, which obviously adds to the security and privacy. 

Should a hacker manage to access and decrypt a file chunk (which is almost impossible), he or she will only gain access to a very small percentage of the file and even that is encrypted so that it cannot be read by anyone who does not possess the encryption keywords.

In other words, your files stored in IPFS are much more safe from prying eyes than any files stored in most traditional cloud-based large file storage services. (Again, I'm looking at you Google.)

The various "chunks" are stored in all sorts of locations. Some of these locations may actually be large data centers similar to those used by Google Drive, Dropbox, and other traditional cloud-based file storage services. However, probably the majority of chunks are stored by individuals who are "renting out" some suplus storage space they have available, often located in their own personal computers.

NOTE #1: This makes IPFS sound like the Uber or Lyft equivalent in the computer world. That comparison is not accidental.

NOTE #2: IPFS is not free. While it is cheaper than many of the cloud-based file storage services, some money (or crypto currency) does exchange hands. Individuals and corporations who share their excess file storage space by hosting IPFS files can earn money (or crypto currency) by doing so.

To be sure, IPFS is not the only method of securing stored files. Services such as FileCoin, Sia, Storj and Swarm all use somewhat similar technology to store your files in a safe and secure manner. The files typically are encrypted, then broken into small "chunks" with each "chunk" stored in distributed locations. Pricing will vary from one such service to the next.

I am writing about IPFS simply because (1.) its name is easy to remember, (2.) it is one of the more popular distributed file storage methods, and (3.) I have been using IPFS for several months and am pleased with the service. Is IPFS "the best" method? I have no idea simply because I have not yet tried any of the competitive distributed file storage services. In fact, I am not motivated to try the others as long as IPFS continues to work well for me.

This is a brief explanation of IPFS. I have skipped over the compensation for sharing file storage space, the methods of making sure that file space remains available even if one or more storage locations go offline, and the method of making sure the file you retrieve is indeed the one you want (not a different file of the same name). A full explanation would fill many, many pages for this article. Instead, I can refer you to the explanations at https://IPFS.IO, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterPlanetary_File_System, or simply go to your preferred search engine and enter:

   IPFS

Is IPFS the wave of the future? Some people believe that to be true. I will simply offer that, in my opinion, IPFS is simply one more tool to be added to the toolbox of computer users to make sure that their files remain safe, secure, and available at any time.

Here is a list of all of this week's articles, all of them available here at https://eogn.com:                                    

From Jonathan Greig writes via The Record:

A researcher approached Recorded Future News after examining the leaked database and found that much of it looked real. [...] The researcher downloaded two files from the BreachForums post and found that one had information on 1 million 23andMe users of Ashkenazi heritage. The other file included data on more than 300,000 users of Chinese heritage. The data included profile and account ID numbers, names, gender, birth year, maternal and paternal genetic markers, ancestral heritage results, and data on whether or not each user has opted into 23andme's health data. The researcher added that he discovered another issue where someone could enter a 23andme profile ID, like the ones included in the leaked data set, into their URL and see someone's profile. The data available through this only includes profile photos, names, birth years and location but does not include test results.

This article is not about any of the "normal" topics of this newsletter: genealogy, history, current affairs, DNA, and related topics. However, I believe every computer owner should be aware that such technology is available, whether that user has a need for it or not.

From music streaming to video calling, the internet has given us so much. It has also made it much easier to get to your computer when you're not actually sitting in front of it. There are now numerous remote access programs to choose from that will connect one computer to another across the web. What's more, a lot of the basic tools are free to use.

Windows and macOS both have built-in remote access tools, but they’re not particularly straightforward to use, nor are they cross-platform. That’s why we’re focusing on free third-party options here.

Get one of these tools, and you'll no longer have to worry about leaving a file on the office PC, or be without software on your work computer when you're at home. As long as you have a remote access program in place at both ends of the connection, you can log in to one laptop or desktop from another.

You can read the full article by David Nield in the the Wired web site at: https://www.wired.com/story/easiest-ways-access-computer-remotely/. 

23andMe confirmed that the data available for sale online was genuine.

The genetic profiles of potentially millions of 23andMe users have been put up for sale on a hacker forum by a seller who claimed the data could be used to target Ashkenazi Jews and those of Chinese descent.

The company, which specializes in preparing ancestry reports for users who send in a saliva sample, confirmed that the data available for sale online was genuine, but said the leak was not the result of a breach in its systems.

Rather, users’ individual accounts were compromised via other data leaks that exposed their login credentials to other sites. “We are taking this issue seriously and will continue our investigation to confirm these preliminary results,” 23andMe told Bloomberg in a statement.

The anonymous seller began selling profiles for between $1 and $10 earlier this week, according to Wired, which notes that the hacker also claims to be offering the data of “celebrities” including Elon Musk, Sergey Brin, and Mark Zuckerberg.

You can read more in an article by Mark Alfred published in the DailyBeast web site at: https://www.thedailybeast.com/23andme-customers-genetic-profiles-on-sale-by-hacker.

The popular home DNA testing kit company 23andMe has revealed it was targeted in a cyberattack that resulted in unauthorized access to individuals' accounts.

23andMe is investigating the breach, which appears localized to users who are part of the company's relative-matching service, DNA Relative. The company encourages all users to reset their passwords and sign up for two-factor authentication.

CyberScoop and other cybersecurity blogs say they have seen data supposedly taken from 23andMe advertised for sale on an online forum. It is unclear how many people were affected by the breach.

The company said the breach may have come as a result of customers using the same username and password for their 23andMe accounts as other online accounts that were less secure and the attacker then using these to get into people's accounts and scrape the data from there of everyone they were matched to as part of the DNA Relative service.

This data can include a person's name, age, sex and location, as well as photographs and genetic ancestry information, including information that may be relevant to a person's health

The following is a Plus Edition article written by and copyright by Dick Eastman. 

Beginning U.S. genealogists soon learn that the 1890 census records were destroyed in a fire in the basement of the Commerce Building on January 10, 1921. Many people who would like to see these records just shrug their shoulders and move on.

A short search on the Web, however, soon reveals that not all of the records were destroyed. In fact, census fragments for 1890 in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and the District of Columbia survived and are available today.

The morning after the fire 1921 fire, Census Director Sam Rogers reported the extensive damage to the 1890 schedules, estimating that only 25 percent of the records were destroyed, with 50 percent of the remainder damaged by water, smoke, and fire. Salvage of the water-soaked and charred documents might be possible, reported the bureau, but saving even a small part would take a month, and it would take two to three years to copy and save all the records damaged in the fire. The preliminary assessment of Census Bureau Clerk T. J. Fitzgerald was far more sobering. Fitzgerald told reporters that the priceless 1890 records were "certain to be absolutely ruined. There is no method of restoring the legibility of a water-soaked volume."

The remainder of this article is reserved for Plus Edition subscribers only. If you have a Plus Edition subscription, you may read the full article at: https://eogn.com/(*)-Plus-Edition-News-Articles/13264227.