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Submission + - NSA Planned to Hijack Google App Store to Hack Smartphones (firstlook.org)

Advocatus Diaboli writes: "The National Security Agency and its closest allies planned to hijack data links to Google and Samsung app stores to infect smartphones with spyware, a top-secret document reveals. The surveillance project was launched by a joint electronic eavesdropping unit called the Network Tradecraft Advancement Team, which includes spies from each of the countries in the “Five Eyes” alliance — the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia."

"The newly published document shows how the agencies wanted to “exploit” app store servers – using them to launch so-called “man-in-the-middle” attacks to infect phones with the implants. A man-in-the-middle attack is a technique in which hackers place themselves between computers as they are communicating with each other; it is a tactic sometimes used by criminal hackers to defraud people. In this instance, the method would have allowed the surveillance agencies to modify the content of data packets passing between targeted smartphones and the app servers while an app was being downloaded or updated, inserting spyware that would be covertly sent to the phones."

Comment Re:Vehicle Weight (Score 1) 837

Whether you calculate using ESAL or load spectra, the damage factor is still at least hundreds of times what a passenger car will do under any circumstance.
Peterbilt & Kenworth tractors, without trailers, weigh 18,000 - 21,000 lbs

And in addition to trucks, there are also buses which tend to have fewer axles & wheels. Those can be much worse that your average tractor-trailer.

Submission + - Rand Paul Begins Filibuster Of PATRIOT ACT Renewal (dailycaller.com)

SonicSpike writes: Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is filibustering the Patriot Act on the Senate floor, and it doesn’t look like he’s going to stop anytime soon.

The Republican presidential candidate took control of the floor Wednesday afternoon at 1:18 p.m., simultaneously explaining on Twitter that he is filibustering the renewal of the Patriot Act because of the National Security Agency’s program that collects bulk phone record data of American citizens.

The ongoing filibuster can be watched live here: http://www.c-span.org/video/?3...

Comment Re:Root cause = speed over security (Score 1) 71

OTOH, using "roll your own crypto" is nortorious for individualized holes and weaknesses. It does tend to mean that the "one size fits all" means of breaking the code won't work, however. Or at least may well not work.

That said, if you have good enough communication to share custom crypto programs, you may be better off using a one-time pad....as that can't even theoretically be broken. But it does require a good source of random numbers (e.g. amplified triode vacum tube with no input so you're just amplifying noise). Such things are reasonably easy to build, but for some reason they aren't normal computer accessories. (Video cams watching a flickering flame are another good source.)

But custom crypto is hard to do correctly. AND it requires good communications to standardize the programs. So if you have the communication, a one time pad is better.

Submission + - The Myth of Outsourcing's Efficiency

Presto Vivace writes: Why outsourcing winds up producing cost creep over time

Outsouring over time starts to create its own bureaucracy bloat. It’s the modern corporate version of one of the observations of C. Northcote Parkinson: “Officials make work for each other.” As Clive describes, the first response to the problems resulting from outsourcing is to try to bury them, since outsourcing is a corporate religion and thus cannot be reversed even when the evidence comes in against it. And then when those costs start becoming more visible, the response is to try to manage them, which means more work (more managerial cost!) and/or hiring more outside specialists (another transfer to highly-paid individuals).

Comment Re:Minimum Wage (Score 1) 1094

He said they weren't real jobs. I guess that means they don't need doing.

Sure minimum wage jobs are not desirable. Do you REALLY think the people trying and failing to make ends meet on one PLANNED to be in a minimum wage job? Do you REALLY believe that was their aspiration in high school?

Fact is, the economy tanked and decent paying skilled manufacturing jobs got sent overseas. Sometimes all that's left are minimum wage or welfare. And then people here have the nerve to call them lazy after they choose minimum wage over welfare. Those people really should be ashamed of themselves.

Comment Re:Minimum Wage (Score 1) 1094

I do sympathize, but that is between him and the publisher. Of course, that only applies to new issues. He can do what he wants (within reason) with old issues and with other related merchandise.

But my point is that everyone complains when the price goes up but that doesn't mean it wasn't necessary and it doesn't make it go back down. I asked for an example of a business 'going broke' in Seattle and all I've got is one that's complaining.

That's pretty much the story of the cheap labor conservative in a nutshell.

Comment If maintenance is the excuse, then wrong units (Score 1) 837

If they really want to make road taxes usage based, then they need to charge by the ton-mile or something like that. Wear and tear on roads goes by the weight of the vehicle, and if I remember correctly it is a non-linear relationship (square or cube, I can't remember).

It's pretty trivial for a vehicle to compute its own weight, so it is similarly trivial for a vehicle to compute its own road tax as well. Many cars are now coming equipped with GSM modems as well, so your car could simply upload your road impact once/month and you can be billed for your use tax.

Piece of cake.

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