Apr 23 2009

DARPA’s Map-Based Wiki Keeps Platoons Alive

blackbearnh writes “One of the biggest problem that a platoon on the ground in Iraq or Afghanistan faces is that when a new unit cycles in, all the street-sense and experience of the old unit is lost. Knowing where insurgents like to plant IEDs, or even which families have a lot of domestic disputes, can spell the difference between living and dying. In response to this, DARPA created TIGR, the Tactical Ground Reporting System. Developed as much on the ground in active warzones as in a lab, TIGR lets platoons access the latest satellite and drone imagery in an easy-to-use map based interface, as well as recording their experiences in the field and accessing the reports of other troops. In this O’Reilly Radar interview, two of the people responsible for the development of TIGR talk about the intel issues that troops face in hostile territory,the challenges of deploying new technology meant for combat areas, the specific tricks that they had to employ to make TIGR work over less-than-robust military networking, and how TIGR is impacting platoons in their day to day operations”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Share

Apr 23 2009

Another Reason why Time Warner Sucks

In Wilson, NC, residents, upset with their choices in regards to internet and cable decided create their own network and charge only enough to cover the costs. Now, TWC is lobbying against the service claiming they can’t compete. Need any more evidence to support Time Warner’s suckiness?

Share

Apr 22 2009

Canada slams new comments from US security boss – CTV.ca


FOXNews

Canada slams new comments from US security boss
CTV.ca
The US Homeland Security chief has made controversial comments about Canada's immigration policy that are being slammed as "factually inaccurate" and "wrong" north of the border.
Atlantic truckers group frustrated by US Homeland Security secretary CBC.ca
US security czar stops blaming Canada Toronto Star
FOXNews – National Post – Truck News – Macleans.ca
all 411 news articles
Share

Apr 22 2009

Designing DNA Circuits To Brew Tastier Beer

Al writes “Researchers at Boston University have developed a way to predict the behavior or different DNA segments and make synthetic biology a little bit more reliable. James Collins and colleagues have built libraries of component parts and a mathematical modeling system to help them predict the behavior of parts of a gene network. Like any self-respected bunch of grad students, they decided to demonstrate the approach by making beer. They engineered gene promoters to control when flocculation occurs in brewers yeast, which allowed them to finely control the flavor of the resulting beer.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Share

Apr 22 2009

The World’s First Solar-Powered Waterproof Cell Phone

Ever find yourself with a water-soaked low-battery phone? Sharp and Japanese network KDDI have a solution: the world’s first solar-powered waterproof cell phone.

Share

Apr 22 2009

Pentagon Cyber-Command In the Works

An anonymous reader sends word of a new cybersecurity project to defend US networks from attacks and strengthen the government’s “offensive capabilities in cyberwarfare.” Right now, the most likely candidate to lead the project is the Director of the NSA, Keith Alexander, who was quick to assert that the NSA itself wouldn’t try to run the whole show (something they’ve been criticized for in the past). Quoting the Wall Street Journal: “Cyber defense is the Department of Homeland Security’s responsibility, so the command would be charged with assisting that department’s defense efforts. The relationship would be similar to the way Northern Command supports Homeland Security with rescue capabilities in natural disasters. The NSA, where much of the government’s cybersecurity expertise is housed, established a similar relationship with Homeland Security through a cybersecurity initiative that the Bush administration began in its final year.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Share

Apr 22 2009

Using Conficker’s Tricks To Root Out Infections

iago-vL writes “Despite having their domain blacklisted by Conficker, the folks at Nmap have released version 4.85BETA8, which promises better detection of the Conficker worm. How? By talking to it on its own peer-to-peer network! By sending encrypted messages to a suspect host, the tools will get Conficker.C and higher to reveal itself. This curious case of using Conficker’s own tricks to find it is similar to the last method that we discussed. More information from the author is available, as well as a download for the new release (or, if you’re a Conficker refugee, try a mirror instead).”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Share

Apr 22 2009

The Road To Terabit Ethernet

stinkymountain writes “Pre-standard 40 Gigabit and 100 Gigabit Ethernet products — server network interface cards, switch uplinks and switches — are expected to hit the market later this year. Standards-compliant products are expected to ship in the second half of next year, not long after the expected June 2010 ratification of the 802.3ba standard. Despite the global economic slowdown, global revenue for 10G fixed Ethernet switches doubled in 2008, according to Infonetics. There is pent-up demand for 40 Gigabit and 100 Gigabit Ethernet, says John D’Ambrosia, chair of the 802.3ba task force in the IEEE and a senior research scientist at Force10 Networks. ‘There are a number of people already who are using link aggregation to try and create pipes of that capacity,’ he says. ‘It’s not the cleanest way to do things…(but) people already need that capacity.’ D’Ambrosia says even though 40/100G Ethernet products haven’t arrived yet, he’s already thinking ahead to terabit Ethernet standards and products by 2015. ‘We are going to see a call for a higher speed much sooner than we saw the call for this generation’ of 10/40/100G Ethernet, he says.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Share

Apr 22 2009

Government Shuts Down BitTorrent Tracker

Today the Malaysian government ordered prominent webhosting provider Shinjiru to close down BitTorrent site LeechersLair.com. The order came from the Content, Consumer and Network Security Division of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

Share

Apr 21 2009

Canada more lax than US about whom it lets in, Napolitano says – CBC.ca


Reuters

Canada more lax than US about whom it lets in, Napolitano says
CBC.ca
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano says the United States will not treat the Canadian border differently from the Mexican border.
RCMP chief laments 9/11 'myths' about Canada Toronto Star
'Increased attention' needed at Canada-US border Calgary Herald
National Post – Ottawa Citizen – The Canadian Press – Canada.com
all 80 news articles
Share