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Submission + - Malware Exploiting Spectre, Meltdown CPU Flaws Emerges (securityweek.com)

Submitted by wiredmikey
wiredmikey writes: Researchers have discovered more than 130 malware samples designed to exploit the recently disclosed Spectre and Meltdown CPU vulnerabilities. While a majority of the samples appear to be in the testing phase, we could soon start seeing attacks. On Wednesday, antivirus testing firm AV-TEST told SecurityWeek that it has obtained 139 samples from various sources, including researchers, testers and antivirus companies. Fortinet, which also analyzed many of the samples, confirmed that a majority of them were based on available PoC code.

Researchers believe various groups are toying with PoC exploits to determine if they can be used for some purpose, which is likely to be malicious.
The Military

Submission + - Wearable Computers and Portable Power (xconomy.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Last weekend, Silicon Valley VC Marc Andreessen called out "wearable computing" as a Next Big Thing. Now MC10, a three-year-old company making flexible electronics, is taking an old idea to new places. The startup is developing health sensors that conform to the human body, image sensors that curve like the retina, and stretchy solar cells (and other circuitry) that can be woven into the fabric of a tent or aircraft skin. Unlike organic or printed electronics, which tend to be inefficient, MC10 uses silicon islands linked by springy interconnects. It's still early, but the company has new backing from VCs, Reebok, and the U.S. government to develop wearable devices, mini-sensors, and portable power. Imagine a self-charging UAV with tiny cameras on board, and you can tell what the military wants out of this.
Politics

Submission + - Congress to vote to repeal incandescent bulb ban (cnn.com) 1

Submitted by Bob the Super Hamste
Bob the Super Hamste writes: CNN Money is running as story about a bill Congress is going to vote today to repeal the "incandescent light bulb ban" that was put into place during the Bush administration. The bill is supported by Republicans in congress who are claiming this places unnecessary restrictions on the market. For those of you wondering it does bring up the standard issues of energy efficiency, mercury (in both the bulbs and that emitted by coal power), and cost of the bulbs. The bill was introduced by Texas Congressman Joe Barton.

Comment Re:Panic (Score 1) 265

by Aquaseafoam (#35518050) Attached to: The Quake Through Eyes of Slashdot Japan
They're already, I believe at over 5,000 confirmed dead, with many more still considered missing. Certainly, it's horrible, but imagine if this had occurred off the coast of a third world country. On the subject of radiation, doesn't Japan (at least, certain sections of it.) already have a heightened occurrence of caner due to the Nuclear bombing during WWII? I doubt the minute amounts of radiation that have currently been observed will have any noticeable effect, especially with how quickly they evacuated the area.
First Person Shooters (Games)

Submission + - 'Death Strip' Game Sparks Controversy in Germany (spiegel.de)

Submitted by gzipped_tar
gzipped_tar writes: A new computer game where players assume the roles of border guards and shoot people trying to escape from communist East Germany has unleashed a storm of controversy in Germany. The game's creator says he wanted to teach young people about history, but he has been accused of glorifying violence.

The name of the multi-player FPS game, "1,378 (kilometers)", was inspired by the length of the border between East and West Germany. Players choose between the roles of the border guards or would-be escapees: the escapee only has one goal — to get over the wall, but the border guard has more options, and can shoot or capture the escapee. He can also swap sides and try to clamber over the border defenses himself. By choosing to play the boarder guard and kill the escapee, the player would won an in-game medal from the government of East Germany. But then the guard would time-travel forward to the year 2000, where he would have to stand trial.

Jens Stober, 23, designed the game as a media art student at the University of Design, Media and Arts in Karlsruhe. He said that his intention was to teach young people about German history. "In the game, you ask yourself: 'What would I do?'" explained Stober. "You may come to the conclusion that you would not shoot at your fellow countrymen and women." But others disagree. "Basically you are just picking off people, as if you were shooting rabbits," said Axel Klausmeier, director of the Berlin Wall Foundation. Hubertus Knabe, head of the Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen Memorial to the victims of the Stasi secret police, has even filed criminal charges. He wants the Berlin public prosecutor to investigate whether the game glorifies violence. Rainer Wagner, from former East Germany, said it was like a punch in the face. "It feels like I'm being shot at again, emotionally," said Wagner, who was arrested by border guards during his escape attempt.

Initially, Stober's university and Professor Michael Bielicky, who had supervised Stober's work, defended the student. However, on Thursday a university spokesman said that the game will not be released on Sunday, the anniversary of German reunification, after all. Instead, the release is being postponed until December.

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