Will Security Measures Protect Stolen Laptop’s Data?
“A story from CNN today reports that a laptop containing personal information on approximately 42,000 Fort Belvoir Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) patrons was stolen over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The focus of the CNN story seems to center on the fact that it took two weeks for the military to respond and alert those whose information may be compromised by the theft. It goes on to exclaim that this is not the first time the military has had a laptop stolen, but assures us that there is a bill currently in the Senate which would call for greater protection for mobile data. What seems to be somewhat glossed over in the CNN story is the fact that this data was protected. CNN does mention it when it says “information security experts for the Army say it’s unlikely that the information will be compromised because the data are guarded by three layers of security and encryption passwords.” But, somehow that part seems buried under the rest of the story as if we’re not supposed to care about it. I am not sure we can ask much more. Portable computers like laptops and netbooks are trending up in sales, and portable storage like USB flash drives and external hard drives are relatively cheap. The convenient and portable size of the computers also makes them easy and convenient to steal. The bottom line is that there is a lot of sensitive information being carried around on these devices.”
Verizon Wireless could sell iPhones next year
This would be outstanding for me!!
Verizon Wireless, the country’s largest mobile-phone carrier, will start selling iPhones to customers in January, Bloomberg News is reporting. Bloomberg cited “two people familiar with the plans” as the basis for its report. Verizon Wireless rival AT&T has had exclusive claim on the device in the United States since Apple Inc. debuted the iPhone in 2007. Wall Street analysts told Bloomberg that Verizon Wireless may sell as many as 12 million iPhones next year. Officials for Apple and Verizon Wireless declined to comment for the article.
10 Trickiest Spy Gadgets Ever
“The world of espionage is not divorced from the rest of the world,” says Thomas Boghardt, the International Spy Museum’s historian says.
That became even evident this week when the FBI announced the arrest of 10 alleged Russian spies living and working in the United States and a couple of years ago, when the CIA released World War II era personnel files, including one for chef Julia Child, who did admin work for the intelligence service back when she was Julia McWilliams. And because spies live and work among us, they need every day objects to conceal their secret files and transmissions. In the previous century, technology we may find quaint today was invaluable for covert operations. The broadest collection of these gadgets can be found at The International Spy Museum, one of a few spy museums in the world. The Central Intelligence Agency also has a museum in Langley, but it can only be visited with an invitation. There is, however, a virtual tour.
Tech and Sports make a great combo
Are ingredients such as fitness, skill, teamwork, a loyal fan base, and luck enough for Spain or the Netherlands to hoist the 2010 FIFA World Cup trophy? Every year sporting goods companies release new models of sports equipment and technology that they claim enhance every aspect of a soccer player’s performance. The World Cup has given the sports apparel manufacturing and supplying giant Adidas the opportunity to unveil its latest technological marvels, the TECHFIT PowerWeb jersey and the FORMOTION uniform. Although the company promises great potential for all those who don these wonder jerseys, not everyone is so quick to sing their praises. “Direct physiological changes must first take place for the individual before such claims can be made,” said Dr. Ben Hurley, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Maryland in College Park, and an expert in sports science and physiology.”
10 Everyday Items Hackers Are Targeting Right Now
“Just when you thought it was safe to use your computer, hackers have figured out how to attack everyday items. Your printer, your cellphone — even the blender in your kitchen — can be hacked and used against you. And in the not-too-distant future, as the medical field makes advances with machine-to-human interfaces, even your own body and brain could be at risk. Here are 10 everyday items that are open to fresh attacks from criminals.”
1. Your Car
2. That New GPS Gizmo
3. Your Cellphone
4. The Front-Door Security System
5. Your Blender. Yes, Your Blender
6. Your Printer
7. Your New Digital Camera
8. The Power Sockets in Your Walls
9. The Human Body
10. The Human Brain
Wolfram|alpha
To call this a search engine would be an insult! “Wolfram|Alpha aims to bring expert-level knowledge and capabilities to the broadest possible range of people—spanning all professions and education levels. Our goal is to accept completely free-form input, and to serve as a knowledge engine that generates powerful results and presents them with maximum clarity. Wolfram|Alpha is an ambitious, long-term intellectual endeavor that we intend will deliver increasing capabilities over the years and decades to come. With a world-class team and participation from top outside experts in countless fields, our goal is to create something that will stand as a major milestone of 21st century intellectual achievement.”
US Air Force set to fly Mach-6 scramjet
The US Air Force said it was looking to launch its 14-foot long X-51A Waverider on its first hypersonic flight test attempt May 25. The unmanned X-51A is expected to fly autonomously for five minutes, after being released from a B-52 Stratofortress off the southern coast of California. The Waverider is powered by a supersonic combustion scramjet engine, and will accelerate to about Mach 6 as it climbs to nearly 70,000 feet. Once flying the X-51 will transmit vast amounts of data to ground stations about the flight, then splash down into the Pacific. There are no plans to recover the flight test vehicle, one of four built, the Air Force stated.
Wi-Fi Key-Cracking Kits Hit China
Wi-Fi key-cracking kits for the average user are now available in China. The kits, which cost as little as $24, include Wi-Fi USB adapters, a Linux operating system called BackTrack, key-breaking software and a how-to manual. They’re illegal, but widely available in “China’s bustling electronics bazaars.”
The High Price of Facebook
“If you don’t spend your days glued to tech blogs, you might not know about the latest trend among hipster techies: quitting Facebook. These folks, including a bunch of Google engineers, are bailing out because Facebook just changed its rules so that much of your personal profile information, including where you work, what music you like, and where you went to school, now gets made public by default. Some info is even shared with companies that are special partners of Facebook, like Yelp, Pandora, and Microsoft. And while there are ways to dial back on some of this by tinkering with your privacy settings, it’s tricky to figure out—intentionally so, according to cynics.”
