When you think about hackers and malware, what normally comes to mind is probably the Windows operating system and all of the malware attacks that are targeted at it. However, this is at no fault of the Windows operating system itself, but instead is due to the popularity of the system and the value that a hacker gains by creating an effective hack against it. Apple users, for the most part, have been malware-free because of their low value to hackers. [...]
After much debate over the constitutionality of police and other government agencies’ ability to track a person’s call and location records without a warrant, U.S. District Court Judge Lynn N. Hughes ruled that it was in fact a violation of individuals’ 4th Amendment rights. [...]
Looking at the title of this post, you might be thinking, “How in the world can almost every internet user be considered a criminal?” Well, if the law that the the U.S. Department of Justice wants to get passed actually does go through, every person that ever violated a website’s terms of service (such as using a fake name, e-mail, or lying about personal details like age) would be considered a felon. [...]
We’re all aware that when we communicate something on our cell phone that the information we send doesn’t go directly to the person we’re calling or texting, but first goes through the cell phone service provider. However, something that most people don’t think about is that all of that information is being recorded and can easily be accessed by an interested third party, like a government agency. [...]
Despite roads and highways laden with radar speed traps and traffic light cameras, most drivers are still able to get away with speeding without getting ticketed. Drivers that take the same routes frequently become familiar with areas where speed traps are located and easily know where they can and can not speed. [...]
Security Expert and Forbes Writer Marc Tobias has once again found an insecure product masquerading as a security solution. This time, Tobias looked at the childproof drug containers that are being sold as secure and safe ways to keep prescription drug’s out of children’s reach. [...]
The current state of GPS navigation technology comes with a risk for drivers, as it requires them to take their eyes of the road and focus on the navigation screen for directions. Also, even though navigation systems usually announce when a turn is coming up, it is not as effective as someone or something showing you exactly where to go. [...]
We often hear of websites turning to Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption to protect their information from hackers. However, it seems that by having the SSL encryption, websites are putting themselves at risk for a different type of attack. Instead of having their data open to interception by hackers, the SSL comes with a vulnerability that allows the hacker to temporarily bring down the website entirely. [...]
High-powered laser pointers continue to pose a great threat to airlines as they put the lives of hundreds of people at risk for no good reason. Even though the penalties for shining laser pointers at airplanes or helicopters have become more severe, reported incidents continue to grow every year (with 2,836 incidents this year alone). [...]
Secure Socket Layer (SSL) is the encryption that is used to protect sensitive online data from hackers and interception by third parties. Normally this form of encryption is used for sensitive data such as e-mail, Facebook and bank login information, but thanks to Google’s new security update, your Google search terms are now protected as well. [...]
Facing serious U.S. budget cuts, companies that build high-tech weapons and surveillance tools for the military’s War on Terror will have to look for a new market to sell their high tech drones and surveillance tools. Seeing as the U.S. government wouldn’t want its enemies or other governments to get their hands onto these advanced tools, the companies’ only option would be to try to sell these tools to agencies within the U.S. [...]
When you hear about crime prediction software, you might picture something akin to Minority Report, where people are arrested before they even commit a crime. In reality, crime prediction software is a useful tool that calculates where a crime is most likely to occur and sends officers to patrol those areas more frequently. [...]
Hollywood movies often depict high-tech biometric systems that can scan your face, eyes, or fingerprints from a surveillance camera and instantly pull up all of your information. Most people take this type of technology to be science fiction, doubting that the technology that we have today is cable of such feats. However, the truth is that it is not only capable, but this technology already exists. [...]
Californians may have started celebrating their cellphone privacy too soon. After talk of passing a law to make warrantless searches of cellphones during arrests illegal, California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed the law, giving officers the power to snoop through your cell phone as they wish for whatever reason they deem reasonable. [...]
