Oh how true it is…
From the Geek Hero comic.
Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category
Agile development explained
Monday, March 2nd, 2009 0
XBOX live DDOS attacks allow players to kick fellow opponents off the network
Friday, February 27th, 2009
From Arstechnica:
In the latest series of unfortunate events for the Microsoft corporation, the Xbox live network is suffering from malicious attacks from hackers that allow them to flood fellow opponents connections with a Denial of service attack that kicks the victim off of the Live network.
To exacerbate the situation, the hackers that discovered this exploit are selling their services to fellow X-bots for $20 dollars an attack. From the article:
Since Xbox Live games connect to the Internet like everything else, using an IP address, it’s possible for hackers to discover your address using underground packet-sniffing software, then flood the Xbox port with incoming data to boot you off. Other offenders are reportedly asking for an IP address by sneaky means before opening the denial-of-service floodgates.
Wow, am I glad I don’t have to pay $8 bucks a month for my PS3 online playing time…
Interactive map of the universe
Monday, November 24th, 2008
One of the coolest uses of interactive technology around. Its called the 4D2U (four dimensional digital universe) project. Its an online project hosted by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. Its essentially a 3D interactive map of the the known universe. I played with this for over a half hour touring the images and the mind blowing movies. One of the top 5 amazing and interesting sites I’ve ever used on the web. Check it out here!
Tags: 4D2U, Interactive map, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, universe
Posted in Science, Technology, web |
Posted in Science, Technology, web |
“Yellow dots of mystery” explained?
Wednesday, November 19th, 2008
According to the EFF, most color printers and copiers have been printing “yellow dots” on documents since 2004. These “dots” are encoding marks that can be used to identify the origin of a document. From their website:
Printer dot surveillance is a disturbing end run around individuals’ right to anonymous speech. Anonymity is a vital freedom — it can help political or religious speakers, labor organizers, or whistleblowers avoid retribution for their beliefs and opinions. Around the world, anonymity is an important practical protection for dissidents and religious groups against persecution by repressive governments.
Furthermore, it’s deeply troubling that printer manufacturers implemented this surveillance mechanism under the table after secret meetings between government representatives and technology manufacturers. Printer companies don’t disclose the tracking to their customers and so the existence of these yellow tracking dots remains secret.
Pretty interesting findings. Read the whole article here. What makes it even more interesting is the docucolor decoder guide posted here.
Tags: copiers, printers, yellow dots
Posted in Bizarre, Computers, Conspiracy, Government, Technology |
Posted in Bizarre, Computers, Conspiracy, Government, Technology |
Wired computer keyboards are unsecure?
Tuesday, October 21st, 2008
According to the Money.co.uk, wired computer keyboard entry can be decyphered and translated in realtime using radio technology. From the article:
Researchers from the Security and Cryptography Laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland, have discovered that by using a simple radio antenna it is possible to remotely identify the key strokes entered into a wired computer keyboard from a distance of up to 20 meters away.
Martin Vuagnoux and Sylvain Pasini, doctoral students at EPFL, are the brains behind the research. They discovered that by analysing the electromagnetic waves produced by individual keystrokes it was possible to interpret exactly what was being typed in real time.
Now I’m waiting to see how long it takes for some wise guy to design a government grade “stealth” keyboard.
Microsoft Code contest is hacked and may end up a disaster
Tuesday, October 7th, 2008
Here I come Vegas!
From ITwire:
Microsoft Australia issued a week long coding challenge called “DevSta” looking fo the next generation of star developers. The grand prize includes airfare to Las Vegas, accommodation at the Venetian and tickets to the MIX09 Developer Conference in March next year, along with Visual Studio 2008, an Xbox 360 Elite console pack and a Samsung Omnia mobile phone. Runners up win various combinations of Visual Studio, Xbox 360 Elite packs and Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 keyboard and mouse combos.
Even with the lure of Microsoft riches it looks like the turn out is abysmal at best. In addition to lukewarm submissions, the contest was hacked by several members of a Turkish hacking group (from the article).
Even though the identities of Lamerdir and Ov3rlord aren’t clear, one thing is certain: Microsoft won’t be forgetting the embarrassment caused to their DevSta challenge. And unless the volume of submissions increase dramatically within the next 19 hours someone may be awarded an Xbox for doing nothing more than rewriting the Windows calculator as a .NET app.
.Read the whole article and view the screenshots here.
Terrorist watchlist database is collapsing
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008
Evidentaly, over 800 government contractors are incapable of designing or maintaining the National Counterterrorism Center’s integrated terrorist intelligence database with 500,000 names! The TIDE (Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment) database is supposed to be the “mother of all databases” that interconnected the various enforcement and policing agencies in the country and allowed them to exchange and share data.
Tags: Boeing, Corruption, National Counterterrorism Center, Railhead, SQL, TIDE
Posted in Government, Technology |
Posted in Government, Technology |
The coolest hurricane tracking website ever!
Tuesday, August 26th, 2008
Wow what a great usage of web technologies. Check out Stormpulse.com.
You can view interactive projections and also determine distance measurements from population centers in relation to the storm.
The first Google phone is here!
Tuesday, August 26th, 2008
With the host of problems and hidden costs with Apple’s 3G iphone as of late, T-Mobile is reportedly releasing the G1 phone next month. There are several designs from different manufacturers but this particular device looks like the HTC design. Here are the specs from Conceptpop:
Intel discovers wireless power…over 100 years after Tesla
Friday, August 22nd, 2008
Been there, done that...
Intel is reporting that they have discovered wireless transmission of power!!!! This will revolutionize our society… wait, wait, didn’t the great Nikola Tesla discover this already over a century ago???
For the layman, this means being able to use electronic devies that aren’t tethered to a cord. Laptops, phones, blenders, radios and other appliances charging without the need of cables.
From yahoo news:
Intel on Thursday showed off a wireless electric power system that analysts say could revolutionize modern life by freeing devices from transformers and wall outlets. Intel chief technology officer Justin Rattner demonstrated a Wireless Energy Resonant Link as he spoke at the California firm’s annual developers forum in San Francisco.
Electricity was sent wirelessly to a lamp on stage, lighting a 60 watt bulb that uses more power than a typical laptop computer
Justin Rattner your a genius!!!!
