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• Fun Things to Do with Your Own Personal Cloud [BitTorrent Sync]

  In Internet, Security

  

  We did a brief write-up on BitTorrent Sync yesterday, which only really touched on some of its potential. After pondering things a little longer, I came up with a couple of usage scenarios that might be both useful and fun to put into place. Within 30 minutes of finding BitTorrent Sync yesterday, I realized that I had a permanent solution to my DropBox space problems. Given that I work in an academic institution, I am [...]

   

• Siri Remembers… For Two Whole Years

  In Apple, Security

  

  It turns out that Siri has a pretty good memory – Apple’s virtual assistant remembers everything that you ask of her for two whole years. Here’s how it works: for the first six months, the questions that you ask of Siri are associated with you – over which time the information is used to better personalize your Siri experience. After that the information is dissociated from the user and stored for another 18 months. Security-wise [...]

   

• Titanium Escape Ring Packs a Shim and a Saw

  In Security

  

  As a law abiding citizen in relatively peaceful country, the chances of me finding myself handcuffed are pretty low – almost zero to be precise – but that doesn’t make me want a Titanium Escape Ring any less. The ring packs in a tiny stainless steel multi-tool, which includes a tiny saw and shim. The saw can be used to cut through cable ties, duct tape and rope, while the shim is designed with single-lock [...]

   

• Japanese company to sell cushioned car

  In Concept, Security, Transportation

  

  Once again the auto industry is trying to make everyone into standard drone drivers, this time by releasing a car with exterior airbags designed to save pedestrians from life-threatening injuries. But how far is too far? Hey I’m all for safety but this is beginning, and continuing to be ridiculous. Japanese company called Humanix is going to begin selling a cushioned electric car. Called the iSave -SC1 the full electric three seater looks more like [...]

   

• Westboro Baptist Church Notifies of Intention to Picket Elementary School so Anonymous Publishes Their Contact Details

  In Internet, Security

  

  In the wake of the terrible events in Connecticut, the folks at the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) have decided to rear their vile heads and picket the Sandy Hook Elementary School where 26 children and teachers just had their lives cut short. Their announcement prompted Anonymous to take action, which they did by publishing personal information on WBC members, including their phone numbers and home addresses. On top of that, Anonymous also took the legal [...]

   

• Click Headshot! Why Did it Take So Long For Someone to Invent a Precision Guided Firearm [TrackingPoint]

  In Security, Technology

  

  If you ever found yourself wanting to shoot like a sniper from some sort of elite military unit that you never get to hear about, then the TrackingPoint Intelligent Digital Tracking Scope and Precision Guided Firearm would probably be a good place to start. The system takes a point and click approach to shooting. You put the crosshairs on what you want to shoot, click the tag button next to the trigger, squeeze and hold [...]

   

• Gmail Insecurity, Government Snooping and the Problem with the World Today

  In Op-Ed, Security

  

  In case you had not heard, General David Petraeus was ousted from his position as the chief of the CIA over an extra-marital indiscretion involving his biographer, Paula Broadwell. To say it is “the talk of the town” would be an extreme understatement – something that should have been a private issue between David Petraeus and his wife has become a full-blown international scandal. The only way it could have been bigger news is if [...]

   

• Microsoft Applies For Super Creepy User-Monitoring Technology Patent [Kinect]

  In Computers, Security

  

  Does Microsoft have some Orwellian plans for the Xbox 360 Kinect? A patent filed by the company last year, which was recently made public, seems to indicate that it might. The patent application, which was titled “CONTENT DISTRIBUTION REGULATION BY VIEWING USER” allows distribution companies to monitor user media usage and charge users when they allow more than an agreed upon number of users to view content. Here is how it works. Distributors send their [...]

   

• Mexican Drug Cartel Uses Kidnapped Engineers to Secure Communications

  In Security

  

  If there is one organization on the planet that you absolutely, positively do not want headhunting you – it would probably have to be Mexico’s infamous Zeta drug cartel. Due to the clandestine nature of their business, it is hard to put an exact figure on Zeta turnover, but it would be fair to say that the cartel gives a good number of Fortune 500 companies a run for their money. They’re big, dangerous, employ [...]

   

• The Worst Passwords of 2012

  In Security

  

  Security software developer Splashdata has composed a list of the world’s 25 worst passwords for 2012. While there are not a whole lot of surprises here, number 25 is interesting. The presence of the “1″ after “password” either indicates that people are getting more security conscious or that sites that require passwords to require a number are on the increase – my money is on the latter. It is worth noting that “trustno1″ has dropped [...]

   

• iPhone Hacker Lost Internship Because He Forgot to Reply to an Email

  In Apple, Security

  

  Nicholas Allegra, who you might also know as Comex jumped to fame a few years ago for his jailbreaking exploits – then broke many a heart by joining the enemy and accepting an internship at Apple. Anyway, the 20-year-old hacker made an announcement via Twitter on Thursday stating, “As of last week, after about a year, I’m no longer associated with Apple.” It seems that he was invited, via email, to extend his employment with [...]

   

• Electronic Countermeasure Defeats Traffic Cameras [NoPhoto]

  In Concept, Security, Technology, Transportation

  

  NoPhoto is an electronic countermeasure for traffic cameras that is currently up for funding on Indiegogo. On detecting a traffic camera via its onboard sensors, NoPhoto floods the number plate with light to disrupt the camera’s photo – thereby saving you from a hefty fine. There are some people who would suggest that such a device is irresponsible. The developer, Jonathan Dandrow believes otherwise. He explained his motivation for building the device, which he says [...]