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Submission + - The Trials And Tribulations Of 'Kidnapped' Startup Founder Mayer Mizrachi (dailydot.com)

Submitted by blottsie
blottsie writes: Mayer Mizrachi and his attorney sat in the backseat as guards drove through the barbed-wire gates of La Picota prison and deposited the pair onto a sidewalk in Bogotá, Colombia. Mizrachi held fast onto a piece of paper in his right hand that declared his freedom. Before slipping into a taxi, he took one last look at the prison behind him, his home for nearly six months.

The nightmare, it seemed, was finally coming to an end. Today, Mizrachi's future is anything but certain.

In the United States, we’re used to hearing tales of technology startup failures and successes. None compare to that of Mizrachi, a 28-year-old tech entrepreneur and startup CEO, who has endured what his attorney characterizes as “kidnapping,” months of imprisonment, political grudges targeting his family, multinational maneuvering, and a life-long illness that could kill him at any moment.

In this months-long investigation, the Daily Dot dives into the forces that landed Mizrachi in prison, and how he escaped to freedom—for now.
Security

US Healthcare Records Offered For Sale Online 88

Posted by msmash from the security-woes dept.
An anonymous reader writes:Three U.S. healthcare organisations are reportedly being held to ransom by a hacker who stole data on hundreds of thousands of patients. The hacker has also put the 650,000 records up for sale on dark web markets where stolen data is traded. Prices for the different databases range from $100,000 to $411,000. Buyers have already been found for some of the stolen data, the hacker behind the theft told news site Motherboard. No information about the size of the ransom payment sought by the data thief has emerged, although he did say it was "a modest amount compared to the damage that will be caused to the organisations when I decide to publicly leak the victims."

Submission + - SPAM: 3D printed Camera - possible use in surveillance

Submitted by Taco Cowboy
Taco Cowboy writes: German engineers have created a camera no bigger than a grain of salt that could change the future of health imaging — and clandestine surveillance

Using 3D printing, researchers from the University of Stuttgart built a three-lens camera, and fit it onto the end of an optical fibre the width of two hairs

Such technology could be used as minimally-intrusive endoscopes for exploring inside the human body, the engineers reported in the journal Nature Photonics

The compound lens of the camera is just 100 micrometres (0.1 millimetres) wide, and 120 micrometres with its casing

It could also be deployed in virtually invisible security monitors, or mini-robots with "autonomous vision"

The compound lens can also be printed onto image sensor other than optical fibres, such as those used in digital cameras

[spam URL stripped]...
Link to Original Source

Submission + - Physical Security and its Convergence with Information Security (quadrant-solutions.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: The traditional definition of physical security was confined to people and things, but this has changed. Today, even access control and various other parameters are part of the broader definition of Physical Security. Consequently, the challenge to secure physical and information security have compounded over the years, as even a minor lapse in physical security can result in huge data and information theft.
Security Challenges have compounded in this era
With devices taking a major role in current security paradigm, investing in security systems —which can guard against unauthorized access and natural disasters alike — is more important than it was ever before. Of course, there are traditional ways like video surveillance and access control —but current challenges demand more streamlined and secure processes.
To meet up these challenges — which warrants integration and enhanced security at the same time — vendors have come with devices that converge physical and digital security technologies. One common example of such devices is IP-based cameras. This is evolving and expected to continue to remain a major trend in physical security solution market.
Also, current physical security solutions are not confined to access control or guarding physical assets, but they also endeavour to ensure the safety of employees. This was an overlooked concept. But organizations have realized that if a dangerous situation arises in the facility, it is important to have a system in place that can notify people concerned. This would help control the damage and also ensure safety of the people.
IoT has made Physical Security more important today than it was ever before
In the current era, devices have an attribute, and hence, are a part of the security infrastructure — just like humans. Therefore, it is essential not just to monitor the data access, but also the device location. This means need for the convergence of both physical and logical security into a single security system. Physical security deals with tracking users, areas accessed by them, the time of access, the duration of access etc., whereas, logical security deals with tracking the devices they use, data access rules, etc.
The developments in Physical Security Systems revolve around two primary challenges that internet of things (IoT) has brought in. First is connecting physical security devices — like surveillance cameras — to the internet and ensuring its protection from hackers. Second is to use an organization’s existing surveillance and intrusion devices.
IoT presents a way to improve both physical security and access management. For instance, with IoT and cloud management, you can use the existing systems and mark scalable improvements — which can be then shared across the network.
Convergence of Physical Security and Information Security
Information security deals with managing data: both at rest and during the transit. Information and physical security form the overall security system of an organization. Recently, Scott Borg, director of the U.S. Cyber Consequences Unit (US-CCU), said —“As long as organizations treat their physical and cyber domains as separate, there is little hope of securing either one.”
Till now, there were two separate entities of the larger security paradigm, but this is changing. Today, devices and services are being converged — a transformation driven by the migration of legacy sensors and appliances to TCP/IP.
Convergence of voice with data has brought about changes in various fields; in fact, the traditional terms like voice and video are more inclusive than they were ever before. For instance, voice now refers to crowd monitoring, noise detection in a vacant building, etc. Hence, this term is not confined to audio any more. Similarly, the term video now also refers to surveillance — through traffic camera etc. — which was traditionally limited to video calls.
This integration of devices connected with a specific attribute — like the internet, paves the way to the integration of physical and logical security. Today, the versatility of various devices has made their specific purpose irrelevant — as the functionality of these devices can overlap. This also results in higher traffic. For instance, with the rise of cloud services, the access of data is not confined to intranet any more.
Therefore, network redesigning may be required in case the existing network is not suitably designed to handle the rise in traffic. As new technologies, and devices come into fray, this would continue to evolve, and would result in the higher integration of devices.
Keywords: Physical Security, Information Security, Logical Security, Access Controls, Biometrics, Video Surveillance, Internet of Things, Smart Cameras, Convergence
About Quadrant Knowledge Solutions
Quadrant Knowledge Solutions is a global advisory and consulting firm focused on helping clients in achieving business transformation goals with Strategic Business, and Growth advisory services.
At Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, our vision is to become an integral part of our client’s business as strategic knowledge partner. Our research and consulting deliverables are designed to provide comprehensive information and strategic insights for helping clients formulate growth strategies to survive and thrive in ever-changing business environment.
Learn about our technology domain research subscription service:
        Internet of Things
        Big Data Analytics
        Connected Home and Smart Cities
        Network and Cyber Security
For more information please visit http://quadrant-solutions.com/...
China

China Tells App Developers To Increase User Monitoring 47

Posted by msmash from the in-other-news dept.
An anonymous reader writes: The Cyberspace Administration of China has imposed new regulation for the mobile app community, requiring that developers keep a close watch over users and keep a record of their activities. However, the proposed legislation would also prevent apps from requesting unnecessary access to users' contacts, camera, microphone and other spurious installation requests. The regulator introduced the new laws in the name of cracking down on illegal use of mobile platforms for the distribution of pornography, fraud and the spread of 'malicious' content.
The Courts

Airbnb Has Sued Its Hometown Of San Francisco (cnn.com) 242

Posted by msmash from the family-matters dept.
Robert Mclean, reporting for CNN:Airbnb is taking its hometown to federal court. The company has filed a lawsuit against the city of San Francisco, objecting to short-term rental rule changes approved by its Board of Supervisors. A new ordinance set to take effect in late July would require all Airbnb hosts to register with the city. If they do not, Airbnb would be fined up to $1,000 a day for each listing, putting the burden on the company to make sure each listing is legal. But the city's $50 registration process is analog enough to turn off many hosts. It can't be completed online and requires submitting all the documents in person. Airbnb contends the new rule violates the Communications Decency Act, Stored Communications Act and the First Amendment.

Submission + - Clinton wants to 'staple' green cards on STEM diplomas (computerworld.com)

Submitted by dcblogs
dcblogs writes: As president, Hillary Clinton will support automatic green cards, or permanent residency, for foreign students who earn advanced STEM degrees. Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, wants the U.S. to “staple” green cards on the diplomas of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) masters and PhD graduates “from accredited institutions.” Clinton outlined her plan in a broader tech policy agenda released today. Clinton's “staple” idea isn’t a new. It’s what Mitt Romney, the GOP presidential candidate in 2012, supported. It has had bipartisan support in Congress. But the staple idea is controversial. Critics will say this provision will be hard to control, will foster age discrimination, and put pressure on IT wages.

Submission + - NASA approves robot satellite refueling mission

Submitted by schwit1
schwit1 writes: NASA has approved plans to launch Restore-L, a robot mission in 2020 to refuel a satellite.

In May, NASA officially moved forward with plans to execute the ambitious, technology-rich Restore-L mission, an endeavor to launch a robotic spacecraft in 2020 to refuel a live satellite. The mission – the first of its kind in low-Earth orbit – will demonstrate that a carefully curated suite of satellite-servicing technologies are fully operational. The current candidate client for this venture is Landsat 7, a government-owned satellite in low-Earth orbit.

This mission is being spear-headed by the division at the Goddard Space Flight Center that ran the repair missions to the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as the recent robotic refueling demonstrations on ISS. With the success of those demonstrations, NASA has decided to move forward with an actual flight.

Submission + - Activision abuses DMCA to take knock indie game entirely off Steam

Submitted by He Who Has No Name
He Who Has No Name writes: We've seen brain-dead, overzealous, and entirely over-automated DMCA takedown requests bring down music and videos, but this may be the first case of an entire video game being knocked out. Earlier today David Prassel, creator of Trek Industries and developer of the not-without-controversy ORION: Dino Horde / Prelude and the early-access Guardians of ORION, posted that his current project had been entirely removed from Steam after a questionable DMCA allegation from Activision. Prassel explains further, "We've made Steam our primary platform, but this has put a definite scare into us going forward considering our entire livelihood can be pulled without a moments notice, without any warning or proper verification. I cannot even confirm that the representative from Activision is a real person as absolutely no results pop up in any of my searches." Image comparisons against at least two of the weapon models claimed to be infringing were posted by Prassel and in at least one thread on reddit in /r/pcmasterrace.

What's more, it appears Activision is alleging not a vertex-for-vertex and texel-for-texel theft and duplication of the Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3 2D & 3D art assets, but in fact an infringing artistic similarity and design of separately created art content — something that the DMCA does not cover (and which more would likely fall under copyright or possibly trade dress).

Since this takedown falls directly in the middle of the Steam Summer Sale — which probably is not a coincidence — and will profoundly impact Trek Industry's potential sales, does this make a case for substantial reform in the appeals & response process in DMCA takedown demands, adding a due process and rebuttal window to prevent takedown requests from being essentially weaponized?

Submission + - Physicists Confirm A Pear-Shaped Nucleus, And It Could Ruin Time Travel Forever (sciencealert.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Physicists have confirmed the existence of pear-shaped nuclei, which challenges the fundamental theories of physics that explain our Universe. "We've found these nuclei literally point towards a direction in space. This relates to a direction in time, providing there's a well-defined direction in time and we will always travel from past to present," Marcus Scheck from the University of the West of Scotland told Kenneth MacDonald at BBC News. Until recently, it was generally accepted that nuclei of atoms could only be one of three shapes: spherical, discus, or rugby ball. The first discovery of a pear-shaped nucleus was back in 2013, when physicists at CERN discovered isotope Radium-224. Now, that find has been confirmed by a second study, which shows that the nucleus of the isotope Barium-144 is too asymmetrical and pear-shaped. In regards to time travel, Scheck says that this uneven distribution of mass and charge caused Barium-144's nuclear to "point" in a certain direction in spacetime, and this bias could explain why time seems to only want to go from past to present, and not backwards, even if the laws of physics don't care which way it goes.

Submission + - As It Searches for Suspects, the FBI May Be Looking at You (technologyreview.com)

Submitted by schwit1
schwit1 writes: The FBI has access to nearly 412 million photos in its facial recognition system—perhaps including the one on your driver's license. But according to a new government watchdog report, the bureau doesn't know how error-prone the system is, or whether it enhances or hinders investigations.

Since 2011, the bureau has quietly been using this system to compare new images, such as those taken from surveillance cameras, against a large set of photos to look for a match. That set of existing images is not limited to the FBI's own database, which includes some 30 million photos. The bureau also has access to face recognition systems used by law enforcement agencies in 16 different states, and it can tap into databases from the Department of State and the Department of Defense. And it is in negotiations with 18 other states to be able to search their databases, too.

Adding to the privacy concerns is another finding in the GAO report: that the FBI has not properly determined how often its system makes errors and has not “taken steps to determine whether face recognition systems used by external partners, such as states and federal agencies, are sufficiently accurate” to support investigations.

Submission + - Microsoft co-founder is building the world's biggest plane - 76% done (newser.com)

Submitted by schwit1
schwit1 writes: Paul Allen, billionaire earthling and co-founder of Microsoft, has long been obsessed with space, and his pet project Stratolaunch Systems is beginning to bear fruit. The Washington Post reports that Stratolaunch, shaping up to be the world's largest airplane, is now 76% assembled—no small accomplishment given the sheer size of the beast, a twin-fuselage behemoth expected to weigh (payload included) 1.3 million pounds, be powered by six 747 engines, boast landing gear with 28 wheels, and house 60 miles of wiring, among other feats. But to what end? Well, to shuttle rockets up to 35,000 feet and launch them into low Earth orbit. Oh, and to do this by the end of this decade. That's right: Someday it may actually be routine to transport people and objects in the couple-hundred-miles-above-Earth section of space, and Allen is willing to bet big on it.

Submission + - US Navy to Test Powerful 150-Kilowatt Laser (nationaldefensemagazine.org)

Submitted by schwit1
schwit1 writes: The U.S. Navy, which has already developed a 30-kilowatt laser that has been used operationally, will soon test a new directed energy weapon that is five times more powerful, said the vice chief of naval operations July 23.

The Office of Naval Research “will perform a shipboard test of a 150-killowatt laser weapon system in the near future,” said Adm. Bill Moran during a speech at Booz Allen Hamilton’s Directed Energy Summit, which was held in Washington, D.C.

The Navy’s 30-kilowatt laser weapon is currently onboard the USS Ponce. The system, which has been used operationally in the Persian Gulf, offers military leaders precision accuracy at a low cost, Moran said.

The laser weapon system, or LaWs, "has an extremely low-cost per engagement ratio,” he said. “We’re spending pennies on the dollars every time we use that capability.”
EU

UK Tech Sector Reacts To Brexit: Some Anticipate Slow Down, Some Contemplate Relocation 535

Posted by msmash from the why-do-we-fall,-Mr.-Wayne? dept.
In the aftermath of the United Kingdom voting to leave the European Union, UK's technology industry is reassessing its position, with many of them considering moving to a continental location. According to reports, Samsung, LG, and Acer have noted that the UK leaving the EU will affect their operations. From a BBC report:As news of Brexit broke, tech firms including BT, TalkTalk and software firm Sage reported share price falls. [...] "I have concerns that the local market might slow down," said Drew Benvie, founder of London-based digital agency Battenhall. From a report on The Guardian:Britain's financial technology sector is particularly hard-hit, with the prospect of losing access to European markets an unappealing one. "Fintech" has long been one of the UK's most promising growth areas, in part due to London's position as the financial capital of Europe. [...] Not one of the 14 billion-dollar tech firms based in the UK the Guardian asked said leaving the EU would be good for their business.Toby Coppel, the co-founder of venture capital firm Mosaic, said: "The next entrepreneur who's 22 years old, graduating from a technical university in Germany may, instead of moving to London to do their Fintech startup, decide to go to Berlin instead. I think that's one of the biggest concerns I have about the trajectory of the London technical ecosystem."
Programming

ECMAScript 2016: New Version of JavaScript Language Released (softpedia.com) 165

Posted by EditorDavid from the 20-years-later dept.
An anonymous Slashdot reader writes: Ecma International, the organization in charge of managing the ECMAScript standard, has published the most recent version of the JavaScript language. ECMAScript 2016 (ES7 or JavaScript 7th Edition in the old naming scheme) comes with very few new features. The most important is that JavaScript developers will finally get a "raise to the power" operator, which was mysteriously left out of the standard for 20 years. The operator is **...
It will also become much easier to search for data in a JavaScript array with Array.prototype.includes(), but support for async functions (initially announced for ES2016), has been deferred until next year's release. "From now on, expect smaller changelogs from the ECMAScript team," reports Softpedia, "since this was the plan set out last year. Fewer breaking changes means more time to migrate code, instead of having to rewrite entire applications, as developers did when the mammoth ES6 release came out last year."

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