Comment Why RedFlag? (Score 1) 87
Did anyone find any hint why they, over all, chose RedFlag Linux to derivate their Software from?
Feed A Linux for the rest of us? (theregister.com)
Zero config distro tailored for newbies
Serial entrepreneur Peter Dawe, who helped bring the internet to the UK, is launching a "safe" Linux distro tailored for the technophobe.
Daylight Savings Time Puts Kid in Jail for 12 Days 881
Jherek Carnelian writes "Cody Webb was jailed for calling in a bomb threat to his Hempstead Area high school (near Pittsburgh). He spent 12 days in lockup until the authorities realized that their caller-id log was off an hour because of the new Daylight Savings Time rules and that Cody had only called one hour prior to the actual bomb threat. Perhaps it took so long because of the principal's Catch-22 attitude about Cody's guilt — she said, 'Well, why should we believe you? You're a criminal. Criminals lie all the time.'"
Submission + - Browser based cryptography is coming of age
Marco Barulli writes: "A Javascript library of cryptographic primitives has been recently released by Clipperz under a BSD license. The Clipperz Crypto Library presently includes the following algorithms: SRP authentication protocol, SHA2 hash functions, AES symmetric encryption and Fortuna PRNG.
Clipperz launched an online password manager to promote the "zero-knowledge" paradigm for web applications. A new breed of web apps where the provider is simply in charge of delivering the Ajax application to the user's browser and then storing user's data in an encrypted form on its servers.
Users can submit confidential information into their browsers, but data are locally encrypted by the browser itself before being uploaded. This paradigm could be used for a wide range of applications: a personal finance manager, a confidential to-do list, patient records for physicians, ...
Is the world ready for browser based cryptography? Can we trust "zero-knowledge" applications?"
Bookmark Free Solaris DVDs (www2.sun.de)
Submission + - New Servers from Sun and Fujitsu
widhalmt writes: "According to a article on golem.de(German), Sun Microsystems and Fujitsu Siemens created a new line of Solaris servers. Both companies sell the same hardware with different covers.
Nevertheless the servers will differ in the accompaning service contracts.
One of the server is based on Sun's Niagara (UltraSparc T1), the other two utilize the new Sparc64 VI CPU.
The M9000 (the biggest one of the new boxes) server will be customisable with up to 64 Dual Core CPUs at 2,4GHz and 2TB of RAM.
The main use will be application servers or consolidation with Solaris zones."
Submission + - Shooting at Virginia Tech leaves at least 32 dead
Submission + - EliteTorrents Uploader Faces 5 Years in Jail
Mike writes: TorrentFreak reports: A man from Columbus, Georgia has pleaded guilty to two felonies connected to the distribution of copyright works via the EliteTorrents BitTorrent tracker, which was shut down by the FBI in 2005. As a major uploader he faces 5 years in jail plus a $250,000 fine.
Submission + - Forced RFID Implantation Illegal in North Dakota
JeremyDuffy writes: "From the "don't forget we're people, not products" department, North Dakota is the second state to ban forced RFID implantation. However, even if this is a step in the right direction, does it do enough? It doesn't ban voluntary implantation and last I checked a lot of things that aren't really "voluntary" are treated such under law. Here's a quote from the article of someone who agrees with me:
Another example, perhaps not so drastic. Companies push and push and finally get most everyone to use RFID implants as identification and method of payment. Because you're smart enough to know what a bad thing this is, you refuse, but find yourself inconvenienced everywhere. You can only shop at certain stores that still have non-RFID checkout. You pay an extra "cash handling" fee for not using the new methods. You have to drive 20 miles away to the only gas station around that's equiped to take non-RFID transactions.
Is it still a choice?
Note that both Spychips.com and Privacy.org are carrying this story and that Spychips lists Ohio, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Florida as more states with anti-implantation bills in the works. The first state to pass such a bill was Wisconsin (note the same flaw as the ND bill).
Before someone leaves a comment saying "well, you complain, but don't offer solutions!", here's the wording I would add to each of these bills:
"Futher, any company who offers RFID based services must also accept non-implanted RFID for those same services (ie, a RFID enabled card or token). Any company who offers incentive plans or otherwise implements hurdles, difficulties, or hardships for customers who chose not to use implanted RFID will be in violation of this law and subject to fines, per day per offense.
Any company who provides chip implantation services must make their customers aware of this law and have them sign a disclaimer before implantation. Should such a company be found to have misrepresented the law, minimized the law, or made it appear as if implantation were artificially superior in order to influence the customer to proceed with the implantation, that company shall be liable for the full cost of removing the chips at their expense and may additionally be fined or decertified."
There. That's a good start.
(Originally posted at http://www.jeremyduffy.com/forced-rfid-implantatio n-illegal-in-north-dakota/)"
It's a poor example, but the right idea. Instead, what if you are offered a high paying job and move your family to a new state, get settled and begin the orientation process for your new job. You find out that they require RFID implants for "security" (which has been proven to weaken security" ). How much free will do you have in this instance? Can you really afford not to take the job now? You'd have to have an almost religious mentality to refuse it at this point.But Michael Shamos, a professor who specializes in security issues at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, believes the law is too vague to do much good. For instance, it only addresses situations where a chip is injected, even though RFID tags can also be swallowed. And it doesn't clearly define what a forced implant really is; someone could make chipping a requirement for a financial reward.
"Suppose I offer to pay you $10,000 if you have an RFID [chip] implanted?" he asked. "Is that 'requiring' if it's totally voluntary on your part?"
Another example, perhaps not so drastic. Companies push and push and finally get most everyone to use RFID implants as identification and method of payment. Because you're smart enough to know what a bad thing this is, you refuse, but find yourself inconvenienced everywhere. You can only shop at certain stores that still have non-RFID checkout. You pay an extra "cash handling" fee for not using the new methods. You have to drive 20 miles away to the only gas station around that's equiped to take non-RFID transactions.
Is it still a choice?
Note that both Spychips.com and Privacy.org are carrying this story and that Spychips lists Ohio, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Florida as more states with anti-implantation bills in the works. The first state to pass such a bill was Wisconsin (note the same flaw as the ND bill).
Before someone leaves a comment saying "well, you complain, but don't offer solutions!", here's the wording I would add to each of these bills:
"Futher, any company who offers RFID based services must also accept non-implanted RFID for those same services (ie, a RFID enabled card or token). Any company who offers incentive plans or otherwise implements hurdles, difficulties, or hardships for customers who chose not to use implanted RFID will be in violation of this law and subject to fines, per day per offense.
Any company who provides chip implantation services must make their customers aware of this law and have them sign a disclaimer before implantation. Should such a company be found to have misrepresented the law, minimized the law, or made it appear as if implantation were artificially superior in order to influence the customer to proceed with the implantation, that company shall be liable for the full cost of removing the chips at their expense and may additionally be fined or decertified."
There. That's a good start.
(Originally posted at http://www.jeremyduffy.com/forced-rfid-implantati
