BrickHouse Security Blog

Update: Will Your Internet Connection Go Dark on March 8th?

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This post was amended on March 8th, 2012

With hundreds of thousands of systems still infected with the DNS changing malware, the FBI has decided to prolong the shutdown until July 9, 2012. The agency is urging people to navigate to its page to see if their computer’s IP address is affected. To find out what your IP address is, simply type “my IP” into Google, which will give you the address to copy and paste into the FBI’s DNS checker.

Don’t get complacent. The new 4-month window of amnesty shouldn’t keep you from checking your computer for the virus immediately — and taking the necessary steps to clean your machines while there’s still time.

Original post:

A rumor about the FBI possibly “turning off” the Internet on March 8th has gone viral. While we’re in no danger of a national online blackout, the truth is, web access for upwards of half a million users in the U.S. alone may be at risk on 3/8. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself. [...]

Tazer Ball: a Truly Stunning Spectacle

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A group of paintballers have come together to create a new game that they refer to as “the future of sport.” It’s a bit like rugby, fast-paced and full-contact, but played on a field similar to those used for indoor soccer. Teams of four face off without any pads and do battle, armed with lightning reflexes, a willingness to take a hit — and a stun gun. Yes, a stun gun. [...]

GPS School Bus Tracking Gets Straight A’s from Parents

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Every day, GPS trackers are becoming more integrated into our lives. GPS monitoring and reporting technology is built into everything from smartphones to bracelets to sneakers — even pet owners are getting into the act with GPS-enabled dog collars. [...]

Are Police Body Scanners Coming to a Street Near You?

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With last week’s Supreme Court ruling on GPS tracking by police, privacy in the digital age is getting more and more attention. The next issue the justices might have to tackle is whether or not it’s constitutional to use other forms of surveillance — including mobile body scanning technology, which the New York Police Department is set to begin testing this year. [...]

Some Trendnet Home Security Cameras Contain an Encryption Vulnerability

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Trendnet, a manufacturer of IP security cameras, has recently found that some of its network cameras leave video they transmit over the web unencrypted, even if a password was used. What this means for the owners of these Internet-connected cameras is that anyone with the right know-how may be able to gain access to a user’s video feed. Potential hackers only need to know the IP address of the vulnerable camera to gain access.
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