Category Archives: Computer Security

3-D Printing

Posted on July 16, 2012 by

One of the most interesting stories I’ve read all year: Forbes’ Andy Greenberg reports that the security consultant, who goes by the name “Ray,” used a 3-D printer to cheaply produce plastic versions of the keys to high-security handcuffs manufactured by the … Continue reading →

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Border Security

Posted on April 11, 2012 by

Security wonks like Bruce Schneier talk about things like “How to secure your laptop from being searched crossing international borders,” and I blog about it occasionally because it’s interesting from a technological point of view, but it usually seems pretty … Continue reading →

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Cyber Offense

Posted on March 26, 2012 by

There’s a great piece at Information Dissemination on the DOD’s Cyber Offense capabilities – while much has been written about the DOD’s ability (or inability) to defend US military and civilian networks against cyber attack, there’s been a lot less about our … Continue reading →

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Pirate Airships

Posted on March 21, 2012 by

We like to think of the internet as being ethereal and non-physical – that it can’t be constrained by normal pressures and forces. The fact though, is that it is completely bound by physical infrastructure – infrastructure that is generally … Continue reading →

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Low-Tech Cyberwar

Posted on March 16, 2012 by

Details matter. As this article from Defense Tech shows, not understanding the hidden side of technology can have deadly consequences: When you take a photo with your cellphone, the gps coordinates of the location you took the picture is embedded … Continue reading →

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Posted on March 8, 2012 by

There’s an interesting trend going on right now, and I’m struggling with exactly what to call it. In at least three seperate, widely diverse incidents, there’s been a pattern where: a) A set of documents is leaked from a person … Continue reading →

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Hacking News

Posted on March 7, 2012 by

Two interesting bits of news from the world of computer security: Wired discusses the “Pwnie,” a product that highlights the increasingly modular and streamlined world of system penetration and hacking. Built by a startup company called Pwnie Express, the Pwn … Continue reading →

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InfiNetFlix

Posted on February 21, 2012 by

This cartoon from The Oatmeal does a pretty good job of summarizing what media companies still don’t get about piracy – fundamentally, it’s about convenience as much as it is price. Pirating movies and TV shows isn’t just cheap (although … Continue reading →

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Data Collection – Legal, but creepy

Posted on February 20, 2012 by

An article from Forbes on the power of data collection and pattern recognition software – quoted from a larger NY Times article on how companies use information on customers. For example, Target can generally tell when a regular customer is pregnant … Continue reading →

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Social media is social

Posted on February 17, 2012 by

I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I see the problem with the Department of Homeland Security and other government organizations monitoring social media for information about ongoing and potential threats. There is a call right now in Congress for the … Continue reading →

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