Plus unpatched iPhones and iPads unsecure, and how FBI is tightening net on Anonymous
A quick burst of 8 links for you to chew over, as picked by the Technology team
What is privacy online? >> The Jester
The "hacktivist for good" who calls himself The Jester comments on the difference between privacy, secrecy and anonymity online following the arrest of someone claimed to be LulzSec member Topiary on Wednesday.
The Jester's Identity isn't publicly known.
When Hacks Attack: The Computer Security Textbook Plagiarism Epidemic >> Fast Company
"A crusader from Attrition.org has found that an alarmingly high number of books written by computer security experts are nearly 100% copied from other sources. What does that say about the industry?"
Er... that its exponents may have learnt their craft by copying others? (We got the link from Kevin Mitnick, by the way.)
It was just a matter of time: Google +1?s being sold by the thousands >> Search Engine Land
"A report by the Atlantic shined a light on a new "social media service" which allows users to purchase Google +1?s in bulk. The site in question, Pluseem, has a variety of different Google+ package sizes, from 50 plusses to 2,000, with the prices ranging from $0.18 - $0.38 per plus."
Breaking Google's quality guidelines, as you could guess. But - the presence of spam shows an ecosystem that spammers think worth chasing.
Unpatched iPhones/iPads secure connections not so secure >> Naked Security
"Oddly the flaw in iOS was a widespread flaw in WebKit and Microsoft's CryptoAPI nine years ago. It allows any valid certificate purchased from a Certificate Authority to sign any other certificate, which the client device will then consider valid.
"This allows anyone who can capture traffic from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch with man-in-the-middle techniques to intercept and read any and all encrypted SSL traffic silently and without notification to the user.
"This patch should be applied immediately if you log in to any service on your device, especially things like your bank or PayPal. Users are particularly vulnerable to this attack if they frequently use public/open WiFi.
"The really bad news? If you are using an iPod Touch generation one or two, or an iPhone older than the 3GS, you will be perpetually vulnerable. Owners of these devices should not use them for any purpose for which security or privacy is required."
Bitcoin befuddles U.S. customs agents, thwarting Seattle visit by digital currency guru >> GeekWire
"A developer who specializes in the Bitcoin digital currency says he was sent back to China last week after he arrived at Sea-Tac Airport with only $600 in cash and wasn't able to convince U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents that he would be able to fund his two-month visit using Bitcoin.
"The developer, who goes by the alias "Doctor Nefario," identifies himself as the founder of the Global Bitcoin Stock Exchange."
Would have loved to be a fly on the wall during that interview.
In 'Anonymous' raids, Feds work from list of top 1,000 protesters >> Wired.com
"It turns out there's a method behind the FBI's raids of suspected Anonymous members around the country. The bureau is working from a list, provided by PayPal, of the 1,000 internet IP addresses responsible for the most protest traffic during Anonymous' DDoS attacks against PayPal last December.
"FBI agents served 40 search warrants in January on people suspected of hosing down PayPal during "Operation Payback" -- Anonymous' retaliatory attack against companies who blacklisted WikiLeaks. On July 19, the feds charged the first 14 defendants under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and raided an additional 35 suspects for evidence."
So just 960 to go. Also: "It was easy to distinguish the packets coming from the' "Low Orbit Ion Cannon" -- Anonymous' fire-and-forget DDoS tool -- because they contained strings like "wikileaks," "goof," and "goodnight," the affidavit notes."
Oh dear.
The +1 Button: Now Faster >> Official Google Webmaster blog
"One of the 10 things we hold to be true here at Google is that fast is better than slow. We keep speed in mind in all things that we do, and the +1 button is no exception. Since the button's launch, we have been hard at work improving its load time. Today, we're proud to announce two updates that will make both the +1 button and the page loading it, faster."
File under "almost unmeasurable improvements to your life".
Using Kinect with Ordnance Survey mapping >> Ordnance Survey Blog
"We thought it would be interesting to hook up an Microsoft Xbox Kinect to work with our mapping, letting you control maps on screen using simply gestures. This video shows how we got on and all I'll say is that with moves like this, the GeoDoctor must be a real goer on the dancefloor..."
Clever, clever, clever.
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2011/jul/28/technology-links-newsbucket
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