Please try the URL privacy information feature enabled by clicking the flashlight icon above. This will reveal two icons after each link the body of the digest. The shield takes you to a breakdown of Terms of Service for the site - however only a small number of sites are covered at the moment. The flashlight take you to an analysis of the various trackers etc. that the linked site delivers. Please let the website maintainer know if you find this useful or not. As a RISKS reader, you will probably not be surprised by what is revealed…
http://arstechnica.com/security/2016/05/faulty-av-scan-disrupts-patients-heart-procedure-when-monitor-goes-black/
Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 16 May 2016, and FDA report) <http://arstechnica.com/author/dan-goodin/> That time a patient's heart procedure was interrupted by a virus scan Securing computers has never been easy. It's especially hard in hospitals. <http://arstechnica.com/security/2016/05/faulty-av-scan-disrupts-patients-heart-procedure-when-monitor-goes-black/> A heart patient undergoing a medical procedure earlier this year was put at risk when misconfigured antivirus software caused a crucial lab device to hang and require a reboot before doctors could continue. The incident, described in an alert issued by the Food and Drug Administration highlights the darker side of using computers and computer networks in mission-critical environments. While a computer crash is little more than an annoyance for most people at home or in offices, it can have far more serious consequences in hospitals, power generation facilities, or other industrial settings. <https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfmaude/detail.cfm?mdrfoi__id=5487204>, The computer system at issue in the FDA alert is known under the brand name Merge Hemo and is sold by Hartland, Wisconsin-based Merge Healthcare. <http://www.merge.com/MergeHealthcare/media/documents/datasheets/cardiology/Merge_Hemo.pdf> It comprises a patient data module and a monitor PC that are connected by a serial cable. It's used to provide doctors with real-time diagnostic information from a patient undergoing a procedure known as a cardiac catheterization <http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cardiac-catheterization/details/what-you-can-expect/rec-20202778>, in which doctors insert a tube into a blood vessel to see how well the patient's heart is working. In March, an unidentified healthcare provider "reported to Merge Healthcare that, in the middle of a heart catheterization procedure, the Hemo monitor PC lost communication with the Hemo client and the Hemo monitor went black," the FDA alert stated. "Information obtained from the customer indicated that there was a delay of about 5 minutes while the patient was sedated so that the application could be rebooted. It was found that anti-malware software was performing hourly scans. With Merge Hemo not presenting physiological data during treatment, there is a potential for a delay in care that results in harm to the patient. However, it was reported that the procedure was completed successfully once the application was rebooted."....<more>...
http://nyti.ms/1rRDE5Z
David Linthicum, Cloud Computing, InfoWorld, 17 May 2016 Go cloud or go to jail? A law sent to the governor of Arizona would force a review every two years of systems not using cloud technology http://www.infoworld.com/article/3070491/cloud-computing/arizona-may-force-cios-to-adopt-the-cloud.html selected text: Move to the cloud—or else! That's the basic thrust of a proposed Arizona state law, S.B. 1434, now awaiting Governor Doug Ducey's approval or veto. This law would require state agencies to shift their IT resources and operations to the cloud (public and/or private). If adopted, this law would put an end to anticloud foot-dragging by Arizona state agencies. CIOs could risk jail time for noncompliance.
*WashPo* Via NNSquad https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/05/13/new-government-data-shows-a-staggering-number-of-americans-have-stopped-basic-online-activities/ Nearly one in two Internet users say privacy and security concerns have now stopped them from doing basic things online—such as posting to social networks, expressing opinions in forums or even buying things from websites, according to a new government survey released Friday. This chilling effect, pulled out of a survey of 41,000 U.S. households who use the Internet, show the insecurity of the Web is beginning to have consequences that stretch beyond the direct fall-out of an individual losing personal data in breach. The research suggests some consumers are reaching a tipping point where they feel they can no longer trust using the Internet for everyday activities. "We have met the enemy, and he is us." - Pogo. Either we fix this, or nobody does.
NTIA via NNSquad https://www.ntia.doc.gov/blog/2016/lack-trust-internet-privacy-and-security-may-deter-economic-and-other-online-activities Every day, billions of people around the world use the Internet to share ideas, conduct financial transactions, and keep in touch with family, friends, and colleagues. Users send and store personal medical data, business communications, and even intimate conversations over this global network. But for the Internet to grow and thrive, users must continue to trust that their personal information will be secure and their privacy protected. NTIA's analysis of recent data shows that Americans are increasingly concerned about online security and privacy at a time when data breaches, cybersecurity incidents, and controversies over the privacy of online services have become more prominent. These concerns are prompting some Americans to limit their online activity, according to data collected for NTIA in July 2015 by the U.S. Census Bureau. This survey included several privacy and security questions, which were asked of more than 41,000 households that reported having at least one Internet user. While our security and privacy teams have been doing great work trying to prevent security and privacy "nuclear wars," we've meanwhile been standing by while our users sink further and further into the quicksand bog. Effectively dead either way. Entirely our fault.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/11/us/clinton-emails-routine-practice.html A review of tens of thousands of documents reveals that sending sensitive information on unclassified computer networks was not limited to Hillary Clinton.
From GWU's CSPRI Newsletter: May 10, 2016: Doing security research on cars could land you in jail for life. That is, if Michigan lawmakers get their way. "While some Canadian officials are worried about distracted driving in the future <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0014LrTI0ZeXoy72xDDR8wBU4S06urBkIhej1AhdQSNxuo_urpfJzW31lN7apiWvy6K7xeBit34RMWRjv6R0gGIbLCjO629lFxxU9tGIMdK8Ue0Casm6uFYCaCj0MlwCFNSsM5Yr6NLYp0WknsKAPw3SrVrRi0wcqImN3Cpk9sCPXEOv4tmAWdXhT_ZhWG43kmSw1QEYMVhhie69J12lfD1KZNgDFo9eR66gZLH5_MhX5U=&c=Qjq4FcU9J0Ai5Oktl3tBjgL8w4CQYAuW1mLSYC6z1VKAt_aii9Y5FQ==&ch=bm9u9_-sgbaJTnXGMPtw9sNdagIChAPUK3TQZJxYeKVCqg_72uzrVQ==>, such as drivers being too busy having sex in self-driving cars to be attentive to the vehicle's 'take over' command, Michigan lawmakers are so worried about car hacking that they've proposed making it punishable by life in prison," writes <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0014LrTI0ZeXoy72xDDR8wBU4S06urBkIhej1AhdQSNxuo_urpfJzW31lN7apiWvy6KbUJf0L3h2XsyAxuQtCirnoXswCAl6Rb5nl2NZNfZoD2OQnfMpd-iGd33E0sa4JA1nnmjgwRPRksMPM5lmTyITSEZRFwDmAV1mMKT6pLMo9S_hZHyHGpo0D55rzT5biM3WvU0469u6UJ229SHCtp0cf7Umqrsz_wBjlWnxjLGfJCQWrXUKI3vo-CJZbJJWihehGEJrUEB96AtjalHN29-OOHUZw49qnYcnjtSKJaGBUr82POm5XVSi1eZ_iWm-zgt&c=Qjq4FcU9J0Ai5Oktl3tBjgL8w4CQYAuW1mLSYC6z1VKAt_aii9Y5FQ==&ch=bm9u9_-sgbaJTnXGMPtw9sNdagIChAPUK3TQZJxYeKVCqg_72uzrVQ==> Darlene Storm for Computerworld. "Michigan Senators Ken Horn and Mike Kowall have proposed a cybersecurity bill aimed at hackers and connected and autonomous cars," Storm wrote. Someone should research consequences of distracted legislating. Gabriel Goldberg, Computers and Publishing, Inc. gabe@gabegold.com 3401 Silver Maple Place, Falls Church, VA 22042 (703) 204-0433
Iamthecheese <https://slashdot.org/%7EIamthecheese>, SlashDot, 18 May 2016 <https://slashdot.org/submission/5878755/windows-10-goes-full-malware> *Microsoft is adding another chapter to the long and sordid story of its latest OS. <http://www.networkworld.com/article/2956574/microsoft-subnet/windows-10-privacy-spyware-settings-user-agreement.html> <https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/oct/30/windows-10-automatic-download-windows-7-8-pc-computers> As reported <http://archive.is/o2MFC> by Windows Magazine, closing the upgrade permission window by clicking the familiar red X <https://az623152.vo.msecnd.net/library/images/3163284.png> results in "approval" of the installation. Per this <https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3095675> Microsoft support document, "If you click on OK or on the red X, you're all set for the upgrade and there is nothing further to do."
erier2003 <https://slashdot.org/%7Eerier2003>, Slashdot, 17 May 2016 <https://slashdot.org/submission/5874905/its-trivially-easy-to-identify-you-based-on-records-of-your-calls-and-texts> Contrary to the claims of America's top spies, the details of your phone calls and text messages—including when they took place and whom they involved—are no less revealing than the actual contents of those communications. In a study published online Monday <http://www.dailydot.com/politics/surveillance-phone-metadata-identifiable-stanford-study/> in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Stanford University researchers demonstrated how they used publicly available sources -- like Google searches and the paid background-check service Intelius—to identify "the overwhelming majority" of their 823 volunteers based only on their anonymized call and SMS metadata.*
itwbennett <https://slashdot.org/%7Eitwbennett>, Slashdot, 16 May 2016 Critical Flaw In Symantec Antivirus Engine Makes Hacking Easy <https://slashdot.org/submission/5874807/critical-flaw-in-symantec-antivirus-engine-makes-hacking-easy> Symantec on Monday released a fix for a flaw in its Anti-Virus Engine (AVE) that could allow hackers to remotely compromise computers <http://www.csoonline.com/article/3071390/security/a-critical-flaw-in-symantec-antivirus-engine-puts-computers-at-risk-of-easy-hacking.html>. All it takes is for the attacker to send an email with the exploit file as attachment or to convince the user to visit a malicious link. 'On Linux, Mac and other UNIX platforms, this results in a remote heap overflow as root in the Symantec or Norton process,' Google security researcher Tavis Ormandy, who found the flaw, said in an advisory <https://bugs.chromium.org/p/project-zero/issues/detail?id=820>. 'On Windows, this results in kernel memory corruption, as the scan engine is loaded into the kernel, making this a remote ring0 memory corruption vulnerability—this is about as bad as it can possibly get.'
http://blogs.harvard.edu/doc/2016/05/09/is-the-online-advertising-bubble-finally-starting-to-pop/
Pat Reavy, Deseret News, 10 May 2016 SALT LAKE CITY — A Saratoga Springs man was charged Tuesday with hacking into the United Airlines website, stealing airline vouchers and selling them to other people. Ammon Cunningham, 28, was charged in 3rd District Court with computer crimes, theft, communications fraud and engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity, all second-degree felonies. From about July 2012 to September 2012, Cunningham "unlawfully accessed (hacked) the United Airlines website and obtained Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) codes for Electronic Travel Certificates that had been assigned to United customers but had not yet been redeemed by those customers," according to charging documents. After obtaining the travel vouchers, Cunningham would either use them for himself or sell them on Craigslist and KSL.com, the charges state. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865653957/
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/14/business/dealbook/details-emerge-on-global-bank-heists-by-hackers.html The latest target appears to have been in Vietnam, and the intruders used tools similar to those used in a Sony Pictures hacking in 2014.
Charlie Osborne, ZDNet, 19 May 2016 Google's driverless cars may use human flypaper in road accidents Can sticky cars prevent fatal injuries to pedestrians? http://www.zdnet.com/article/google-plans-to-stick-you-to-driverless-cars-in-accidents/ selected text: Google has filed a patent for a "sticky" adhesive coating which would take pedestrians along with a car in the case of an accident. You have to wonder what would happen in scenarios in which the car is heading into another obstacle, such as a wall or another car—and the pedestrian cannot escape—but the idea is still an interesting one to explore. [Another use for this would be kidnapping.] [Another unusual nontechnological solution! PGN]
http://iquantny.tumblr.com/post/144197004989/the-nypd-was-systematically-ticketing-legally About the blog: I Quant NY is meant to give a glimpse at the possibilities of a future with truly open data. I've picked at the limited number of data sets that have become public, and have shown that opening up data leads to a world where government and citizens become partners in making our City better. Along the way, it's my hope that some of the work here can be a catalyst for better policy decisions in New York City. However, this is not a left or right leaning political blog. It's a blog about transparency. I do my very best to let the data tell its own story and get more people talking about data. I'm a Visiting Assistant Professor in the City & Regional Planning program at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, where I teach a statistics course. But unlike other stats courses, this one is based on real NYC open data. That makes the class a lot more fun, both for our future urban planners and for me. That class, and the great conversations I'd had with the students at Pratt, inspired this blog.
http://techcrunch.com/2016/05/18/117-million-linkedin-emails-and-passwords-from-a-2012-hack-just-got-posted-online/ This certainly reminds us of the advice that we have seen in RISKS regarding multiple use a password, believing that sites are properly protecting yours, Simplistic work-around strategies are probably inadequate.
https://www.wired.com/2016/05/okcupid-study-reveals-perils-big-data-science/ On 8 May 2016, a group of Danish researchers publicly released a dataset of nearly 70,000 users of the online dating site OkCupid, including usernames, age, gender, location, what kind of relationship (or sex) they're interested in, personality traits, and answers to thousands of profiling questions used by the site. When asked whether the researchers attempted to anonymize the dataset, Aarhus University graduate student Emil O. W. Kirkegaard, who was lead on the work, replied bluntly: "No. Data is already public." This sentiment is repeated in the accompanying draft paper It's arrogant jerks like the asses behind this data scraping "study" -- completely lacking any sense of ethics or responsibility—who give technologists everywhere a bad name and enormously set back the important work of genuine data science and responsible scientists. Small wonder that politicians hate us and ordinary people don't trust us. Incredibly depressing.
Wendy's said today that an investigation into a credit card breach at the nationwide fast-food chain uncovered malicious software on point-of-sale systems at fewer than 300 of the company's 5,500 franchised stores. The company says the investigation into the breach is continuing, but that the malware has been removed from all affected locations. "Based on the preliminary findings of the investigation and other information, the Company believes that malware, installed through the use of compromised third-party vendor credentials, affected one particular point of sale system at fewer than 300 of approximately 5,500 franchised North America Wendy's restaurants, starting in the fall of 2015," Wendy's disclosed in their first quarter financial statement today. The findings come as many banks and credit unions feeling card fraud pain because of the breach have been grumbling about the extent and duration of the breach. Sources at multiple financial institutions say their data indicates that some of the breached Wendy's locations were still leaking customer card data as late as the end of March 2016 and into early April. The breach was first disclosed on this blog on January 27, 2016. http://krebsonsecurity.com/2016/05/wendys-breach-affected-5-of-restaurants/
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/07/sports/hockey/brian-boyle-video-exposes-officials-mistakes.html Instant replay is increasingly putting pressure on officials in all sports to get calls correct.
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/in-google-v-oracle-the-nerds-are-getting-owned The problem with Oracle v. Google is that everyone actually affected by the case knows what an API is, but the whole affair is being decided by people who don't, from the normals in the jury box to the normals at the Supreme Court--which declined to hear the case in 2015, on the advice of the normals at the Solicitor General's office, who perhaps did not grasp exactly how software works. In a world where Silicon Valley is coming into dominance, Oracle v. Google is an unusual instance in which the nerds are getting totally owned by the normals. Their judgment on the technologies they have birthed is being overridden by old people in black robes; their beloved traditions and mythologies around free and open source software are being scoffed at by corporate stiffs in suits as inconsistent hippie nonsense. Three points: (1) I think Oracle's case sucks. (2) A disclaimer: My name came up extremely peripherally in the original Oracle/Google trial, and I'm assuming it won't come up in this one. And now, (3) It's mostly our own fault that we have so much trouble being understood and paid attention to in situations like this. We've raised technical lingo to the status of cliquish religious liturgies. Our user interfaces are all too frequently dismissive of ordinary user needs, much less the needs of the rapidly expanding segments of the population with special visual or other requirements. Our documentation in general is still written way above the heads of large percentages of our users. Overall, our industry's attitude is cavalier and disdainful at best—contemptuous at worst. What are users called behind their backs in the lingo of our industry? You know the answer: LUSERS. I rest my case.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/17/technology/china-quietly-targets-us-tech-companies-in-security-reviews.html A committee with ties to the country's military and security agencies is requiring foreign tech giants like Apple to answer questions about encryption and data storage.
FYI—"the Echo is a law enforcement dream. Imagine if you could go back in time and tell police that one day people would willingly put microphones in their own homes that, with a little hacking, could be heard from anywhere in the world 24/7." Matt Novak, Paleo Future, 11 May http://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/the-fbi-can-neither-confirm-nor-deny-wiretapping-your-a-1776092971 Back in March, I filed a Freedom of Information request with the FBI asking if the agency had ever wiretapped an Amazon Echo. This week I got a response: "We can neither confirm nor deny..." We live in a world awash in microphones. They're in our smartphones, they're in our computers, and they're in our TVs. We used to expect that they were only listening when we asked them to listen. But increasingly we've invited our Internet-connected gadgets to be "always listening." There's no better example of this than the Amazon Echo. In many ways the Echo is a law enforcement dream. Imagine if you could go back in time and tell police that one day people would willingly put microphones in their own homes that, with a little hacking, could be heard from anywhere in the world 24/7. First, you'd need to explain what hacking was, but then they'd be like, "Nah bruh, yer pullin' my leg." Or whatever the 1970s version of that wasn't, don't ask me I was born in the 80s. Years ago agencies like the FBI would need to wiretap a phone conversation or place bugs inside homes, practices that can be cost prohibitive and labor intensive. Today, you just need some software to tap into a device's microphone. And if that device is "always listening" for a command, all the better for someone who wants to hear what's going on. In 2016, creepy perverts are hacking computer cameras and baby monitors all the time just to get their sick little rocks off. And we know that the NSA can still wiretap your phone even when it's not turned on. So why wouldn't law enforcement agencies or intelligence agencies hack your Echo (presumably with a court order) to catch the baddies? The letter I received in response to my FOIA request to the FBI about the Amazon Echo (2016) https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--DB9eaBD8--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/txbjqbrpqj7xrafneuyz.jpg Matt Novak is the editor of Gizmodo's Paleofuture blog
[...(depending on which side you're on) this should actually turn out to lower certain RISKS... ;-] msm1267, Theoretical Breakthrough Made in Random Number Generation <https://slashdot.org/submission/5874667/theoretical-breakthrough-made-in-random-number-generation> Two University of Texas academics have made what some experts believe is a breakthrough in random number generation that could have longstanding implications for cryptography and computer security. <https://threatpost.com/academics-make-theoretical-breakthrough-in-random-number-generation/118150/> David Zuckerman, a computer science professor, and Eshan Chattopadhyay, a graduate student, published a paper in March that will be presented in June at the Symposium on Theory of Computing. The paper describes how the academics devised a method for the generation of high quality random numbers. The work is theoretical, but Zuckerman said down the road it could lead to a number of practical advances in cryptography, scientific polling, and the study of other complex environments such as the climate. "We show that if you have two low-quality random sources—lower quality sources are much easier to come by—two sources that are independent and have no correlations between them, you can combine them in a way to produce a high-quality random number. People have been trying to do this for quite some time. Previous methods required the low-quality sources to be not that low, but more moderately high quality. We improved it dramatically."
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes for Hardware 2.0, ZDnet, 20 May 2016 http://www.zdnet.com/article/why-uber-is-watching-your-smartphones-battery-level/ Yes, ride-sharing firm Uber is collecting information about your smartphone's battery life, but it promises it's not using that information to make you pay higher fares, despite the fact that it knows you probably would. GMT (06:04 PDT) | Topic: Smartphones selected text: Did you know that ride-sharing firm Uber is collecting information about your smartphone's battery life? Computer Science Teachers Need Cybersecurity Education Uber's head of economic research, Keith Chen, told NPR's Shankar Vedantam during an episode of The Hidden Brain podcast that users of the service are willing to accept surge pricing increases of as much as 9.9 times if their smartphone's battery is close to flat. Oh, but don't worry, Chen promises that the company doesn't use this information to set fares. Want to block apps from being able to see your battery's charge level? You can't.
[Belgian Thought Police - how confounding! Many, many years ago, I complained, repeatedly, to Facebook about having to push a LIKE-button to keep informed about someone's utterances.... that I might want to correct, contradict or counteract (use your imagination)... or when I simply was worried about someone... after that (observing the direction Facebook took for a couple of months), I decided to shun ALL of Facebook - and similar pathetic 'business models' !!] Facebook Monitoring Your Reactions To Serve You Ads, Warn Belgian Police <https://tech.slashdot.org/story/16/05/16/1411221/facebook-monitoring-your-reactions-to-serve-you-ads-warn-belgian-police> Belgian police have asked citizens to shun Facebook's "Reactions" buttons to protect their privacy. In February, five new "Reaction" buttons were added next to the "Like" button to allow people to display responses such as sad, wow, angry, love and haha. According to reports, police said Facebook is able to use the tool to tell when people are likely to be in a good mood -- and then decide when is the best time to show them ads <http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-reactions-belgian-police-warn-citizens-not-to-react-to-posts-on-social-media-a7027786.html>. "The icons help not only express your feelings, they also help Facebook assess the effectiveness of the ads on your profile," a post on Belgian's official police website read. The Independent reports: *"By limiting the number of icons to six, Facebook is counting on you to express your thoughts more easily so that the algorithms that run in the background are more effective," the post continues. "By mouse clicks you can let them know what makes you happy. "So that will help Facebook find the perfect location, on your profile, allowing it to display content that will arouse your curiosity but also to choose the time you present it. If it appears that you are in a good mood, it can deduce that you are more receptive and able to sell spaces explaining advertisers that they will have more chance to see you react."*
[ ...clog them worse than when *B.I.s *drive? hmmm, let's see <reaching for the simulator>... Nope! ] Will Self-Driving Cars Clog Our Highways? <https://tech.slashdot.org/story/16/05/15/223239/will-self-driving-cars-clog-our-highways> While self-driving cars may be safer and cheaper, the Associated Press warns they could also create massive traffic congestion <http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/robot-cars-drive-traffic-congestion-off-cliff-39124254>. "The problem, say transportation researchers, is that people will use them too much." One auto industry expert predicts that self-driving cars will increase travel by those over 65, as well as those between 16 and 24, resulting in at least 2 trillion extra miles being driven each year. In addition, "Airlines also may face new competition as people choose to travel by car at speeds well over 100 mph between cities a few hundred miles apart instead of flying," and faster commute times could mean more urban sprawl as workers may spread into cheaper neighborhoods that are further from the city center.
Have you ever wondered how much revenue these automated red-light violation camera systems generate? Here's an interesting case in point, namely, the San Mateo City Council trying to decide whether to renew their contract with Redflex. It also indicates that the entire scheme can be challenged if the yellow-light cycle is too short. For the calendar year 2015: Income from fines and penalties: $598,048 Reported revenue $229,508 Cost of the program: Redflex contractual fee: $239,040 Cost of refunding 1000 tickets because the yellow lights at two intersections were set too short: unspecified Note: Fines and court costs averaged $490 per case. The city gets only $135.05 of the fine. Note: Comparing four years before and after -- 63% reduction in red-light related collisions 26% reduction in related injuries So, on balance it seems worth it. Let's see whether the city council renews the contract.
via ACM TechNews, Wednesday, May 11, 2016 Computer Science Teachers Need Cybersecurity Education, Says CSTA Industry Group, Evan Koblentz, *TechRepublic* 10 May 2016 ACM's Computer Science Teachers Association (CTSA) is crafting a cybersecurity certification program for computer science teachers to provide tomorrow's workforce with vital knowledge and training. CSTA executive director Mark Nelson says nearly 90 percent of middle school and high school educators who teach computer science lack computer science degrees. This month, the group announced an eight-hour cybersecurity education certificate course, with a curriculum co-developed by CompTIA that covers authentication, best practices, compliance, encryption, governance, penetration testing, risk management, and security architecture. Teachers also must complete online cybersecurity career simulations and lead students in real-life mentoring before receiving the certificate. In addition, Nelson says CTSA will team with instructional video maker LifeJourney on further cybersecurity education. Another goal is teaching gender, geographic, and industry diversity. Similar educational initiatives are underway via the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies and the National Institute of Standards and Technology's National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education. However, the CSTA program stands out by being developed directly by K-12 teachers themselves. http://orange.hosting.lsoft.com/trk/click?ref=znwrbbrs9_6-f0a6x2e34dx065450&
RISKS is usually about the risks of computing, but we frequently have a stated or unstated assumption about physical tampering (e.g., the images on police cameras are real, voting machines haven't had totals adjusted). Here's a reminder that given appropriate financial (and perhaps nationalistic) incentives, real-world anti-tamper methods aren't much use. I don't typically read about sports, but happened to read this article in the NYT, and was fascinated by the anti-tampering methods on the bottles used to hold urine samples, and the effort the Russians went to so they could undetectably replace the samples with "clean" urine. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/13/sports/russia-doping-sochi-olympics-2014.html
Some people use ad blockers. Some free websites like Wired and Forbes use software to detect use of ad blockers and block content being served to them. So, some people are using software that blocks the detection software. https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160509/07311734387/reddits-technology-subreddit-ponders-banning-wired-forbes-blocking-adblock-users.shtml
Not so exclusive! Then again. not everyone who claims that he's a security expert actually *is* a security expert: http://www.techinsider.io/russian-hack-email-2016-5 PS: In case you can't read the story, it reports that Yahoo and Mail.ru both claim that the dumps are fake and Mail.ru says it's a publicity stunt by the "expert".
Consider a story that goes: Whistle-blowing is overshadowed when bump key gives way to unauthorized access. A woman arrested for breaking into the county election offices and copying voting records is arrested - felony charge. The woman (a security researcher) posted a video of using a bump key to break in to what was, at the time, the official ballot box storage facility for ballots being counted during the election. At no time did anyone at the county authorize her to break into the election office. THEN imagine the story says: Unsettling concerns As ill-advised as it was for the woman to break into the election office when it had ballots yet uncounted, this raises some serious concerns about election security. She was able to use a bump key within a few seconds and cause the tumblers in the lock to align while applying slight pressure to the rotational aspect of the lock cylinder, resulting in the lock turning. She also indicated that she could have broken the window and bypassed the alarm using a clip lead. The county supervisor indicated that despite the brags of the woman, the ballots were never at risk as they are kept in a safe within the office and she did not access the safe. Ultimately the affair is a bad on all parties - the election building should have unpickable locks and unbreakable windows - but the woman shouldn't be breaking in to show that she can, and most certainly shouldn't be filming here felony actions and posting them to the Internet. My view of how this story would play would be - "felon videos break-in - posts to Internet - claims to be a "security researcher". When will we stop acting like 5-year-olds and grow up? Fred Cohen - 831-200-4006 - All.Net & Affiliated Companies http://all.net/ PO Box 811 Pebble Beach, CA 93953
In the UK there's a major fuss right now—some have claimed high-speed Internet access as a basic human right, while the Government has proposed a legal-minimum 10Mb/s soon. At risk of stating the obvious: regular telephone copper wires can handle moderately-high broadband Internet over short distances (few miles/km) so using this in densely-populated urban areas is no big deal, and for faster speeds, it's easy to run optic fibre to neighbourhood roadside cabinets (quite probably without back-up power supplies, as previously noted in RISKS), with the "last mile" still with copper, or run fibre right to individual users. As the previous poster says, providing high-speed data links to handfuls of customers in remote areas is a whole other headache; as other RISKS readers will know better than me, there are various ways of doing this, such as satellites, radio from towers in flat terrain, etc., all mighty expensive on a per-user basis, and the major fuss is about who pays. Central or local government grants from taxpayers, or a phone company levy on customers' bills, or..? There's the same problem with providing cellphone coverage in remote areas, with not enough traffic for competing companies to put up masts (towers), while joint ventures could violate anti-cartel laws, and a single company doesn't want to be forced to provide a facility which may benefit other companies.
Full coverage... but not in areas of hilly land, where pockets of no coverage persist.
Please report problems with the web pages to the maintainer