technology

Google Glass looks silly now, but we’ll all be wearing mini-computers soon

"Add new sensors, as well as imaginative software, into these mini-computers and the impact could be significant. Non-invasive blood testing will soon be a reality, transformative for diabetics who will no longer have to puncture themselves several times a day, as well as those who have to monitor cholesterol. Health apps will be able to monitor those blood test results, and sync with the restaurant as the wearer walks in, to suggest the most suitable low-GI or low-cholesterol meal. The behavioural implications could be profound, but we need to be interested in understanding and exploring the potential so that we are ready for the debate about who has access to this data." Continue reading →

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Gov. Standards Agency Suggests Dropping NSA-Influenced Algorithm

"Documents provided by Edward Snowden suggest that the NSA has heavily influenced the standard, which has been used around the world. In its statement Tuesday, NIST acknowledged that the NSA participates in creating cryptography standards 'because of its recognized expertise' and because NIST is required by law to consult with the spy agency. Various versions of Microsoft Windows, including those used in tablets and smartphones, contain implementations of the standard, though the NSA-influenced portion isn’t enabled by default." Continue reading →

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How the NSA Spies on Smartphones Including the BlackBerry

"For an agency like the NSA, the data storage units are a goldmine, combining in a single device almost all the information that would interest an intelligence agency: social contacts, details about the user's behavior and location, interests (through search terms, for example), photos and sometimes credit card numbers and passwords. According to the documents, it set up task forces for the leading smartphone manufacturers and operating systems. Specialized teams began intensively studying Apple's iPhone and its iOS operating system, as well as Google's Android mobile operating system. Another team worked on ways to attack BlackBerry." Continue reading →

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Apple: iPhone Fingerprint Reader Means Government Business

"In October 2012, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - ICE, announced a major iPhone win for a high security government agency. The contract was for iPhone services sourced through various carriers with a total award value of $2.1 million, covering 17,676 users. I expect to see more and more government iPhone contracts, especially if the new phone launch focuses on security. In February of this year Apple landed a major contract with the New Zealand police, for an estimated $159M over the next 10 years. The contract provides 6,000 users with an iPhone, and 3,900 with an iPad as well. The TSA in May 2012 also released a contract for purchasing up to 1,000 handheld Apple devices." Continue reading →

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Bruce Schneier: iPhone Fingerprint Authentication

"Fingerprint readers have a long history of vulnerabilities as well. Some are better than others. The simplest ones just check the ridges of a finger; some of those can be fooled with a good photocopy. Others check for pores as well. The better ones verify pulse, or finger temperature. Fooling them with rubber fingers is harder, but often possible. [..] Apple's move is likely to bring fingerprint readers into the mainstream. But all applications are not equal. It's fine if your fingers unlock your phone. It's a different matter entirely if your fingerprint is used to authenticate your iCloud account. The centralized database required for that application would create an enormous security risk." Continue reading →

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NAA Mini Revolvers: Five rounds of ‘Get off me!’

"Guns come in all shapes and sizes from behemoth Dirty Harry hog legs down to pipsqueak pinfires. On the small end of things is the North American Arms Mini Revolver, but don’t let its size fool you into thinking it’s unloved. These minis are plenty popular, plenty powerful and plenty useful. Fifth pocket carry or even shirt pocket carry is possible with the Lilliputian lead-slinger. No matter how much you try, you just cannot fit an LCP or Bobcat comfortably into the change pocket of a pair of blue jeans. This factor leaves a steady market for these guns as ‘get off me’ pieces for when something larger just won’t work." Continue reading →

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Lavabit’s Owner Appeals Secret Surveillance Order That Shuttered Site

"The owner of the encrypted email company Lavabit has formally appealed the secret surveillance order that led him to defiantly shutter the site last month. But the details of the case were immediately placed under seal in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, records show. The Texas-based email service shut down on August 8, blaming a court battle it had been fighting, and losing, in secret. In a statement announcing the closure, and in subsequent interviews, Lavabit owner Ladar Levison complained that he’s prevented from revealing exactly what the government asked him to do, or who it was targeting." Continue reading →

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How Bitcoin Is Blossoming in Germany

"'In our neighborhood there are a few dozens of bitcoin-accepting businesses by now and a bitcoin-based economic cycle starts to develop,' says Joerg Platzer, owner of Room77 and principal of the Crypto Economics Consulting Group in Berlin. 'I do not have to change the bitcoins we take in back into euro. I can pay my beer supplier, my printer and other goods and services with it already. We call it our 'alternative local currency with global reach.'' In Switzerland, Matonis says Bitcoin is being considered for a three-digit ISO currency code (XBT)—a code that most online currency conversion tools already utilize." Continue reading →

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An American Energy Revolution

"In Texas these days, there’s a feeling of absolute and unwavering confidence in the concept of an American energy revolution. From the depths of reserves to the richness of the energy, an incredible transformation is taking place. We’ve been talking about the significant impact of the U.S.’s oil production for a while now, but the buzz about shale oil and gas is only getting louder. One area that’s driving this game-changing trend is located only hours from our headquarters. It’s the Permian Basin located in western Texas and southeastern New Mexico, covering an enormous area." Continue reading →

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