Friday, July 22, 2011
How phone hacking works (and other lessons from the News Corp. scandal)
Anyone who’s paid attention to the news lately has likely been bombarded with round-the-clock-updates on the phone hacking scandal that has ensnared Ruport Murdoch’s News Corp empire.
But if you looked past the melodrama being played out before the entire world, or even beyond the often-discussed concerns over press ethics and journalists’ unsavory ties to government officials, the unfolding scandal brings to light, in my opinion, an equally disturbing (if not worse) threat to the public at large: phone hacking.
How did the reporters do it? And since just about everyone these days has a voicemail enabled cell phone, how vulnerable are we?
Before we get to these questions, here’s a brief rundown in case anyone needs to get up to speed:
The crisis, which erupted earlier this month, has revealed that employees at the company’s British tabloid News of the World illegally accessed and tampered with the voicemail accounts of terrorist victims, deceased British soldiers and Milly Dowler, a 13-year-old girl who was murdered in 2002. There also has been allegations suggesting that the illegal activity was not just an isolated case of a few rogue staffers misbehaving, but an elaborate and covert operation involving senior executives at News Corp., Scotland Yard and even the Prime Minister David Cameron.
The investigation is still ongoing so a more comprehensive picture of what transpired will take shape as more details come to light. But what we do know, at least in a technological sense, is that there are essentially three main tactics the intruders likely used to access private voicemail accounts, according to an in-depth report published by the popular tech blog Gizmodo. And to give you a well-informed idea of how this whole shady business of phone hacking works, here are the quick and dirty blueprints of these methods:
Tactic #1
1. The phone company provides an external number customers can use to access their inbox.
2. The service gives access to the caller dailing in if it recognizes that the customer is calling in from an approved phone number, like their cell phone.
3. The loophole in this system is that the service makes this determination by reading the incoming caller ID.
4. Crooks can easily spoof a user’s Caller ID using Voice Over IP and some software.
Tactic #2
1. Most of the time, the service offers an additional barrier of protection by requiring that the person calling in enter a four digit password.
2. The problem is that users are initially given a default password, which they can change once they access the system.
3. Typically, the default password is the last four digits of the person’s phone number.
4. Customers often don’t take the extra step to create a personalized password. Hackers know this and are more than happy to take advantage what can amount to be a serious lapse in judgement.
Tactic #3
1. For the sake of convenience, another way users can often access their voice mailbox is by dialing their own number and entering a secure password.
2. Hackers, too, have a way of mimicking this sequence, but it requires that they first have somebody occupy the user’s phone line.
3. While the line is being held up, a call to that number — with the correct spoofed caller ID – goes directly to voice mail .
4. To get past the security password barrier, hackers would sometimes reset the code by calling the provider’s customer service department and successfully impersonating the user.
The report also highlights one of the major reasons why voicemail in particular has become such an easy target for hackers. It’s a scheme that can be pulled off repeatedly without rousing any sort of suspicion; no one knows if a message has been accessed if the hacker remembers to categorize the accessed recordings as new, a feature that’s also used with email.
Although there isn’t a 100 percent foolproof way to protect against such transgressions, most instances of phone hacking can be prevented simply by activating a personal security code that no one else knows. Steven Rambam, an investigator and director of Pallorium, Inc., told Gizmodo that “90 percent voicemail-specific problems can be prevented if strong passwords are put into place.”
To fortify security measures, companies can also require more stringent criteria to verify the identity of customers requesting sensitive information, says SPP Blue security expert Hemanshu Nigam, in an interview with the Washington Post.
If as a society we learn anything from this, it’s that the more barriers put in the place, the more we can deter the bad guys from making us targets.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Quma: 3D Motion-Capture Figure For 3D CG Production (Video)
The device, in its current form, is designed to resemble a human, but SoftEther says that their technology could be used for motion-capturing any other shape or form.
The company says Quma is ready for production but is yet to fix a release date and price (an SDK for application providers is available, too).
This video shows the figure in action:
GMAT Wordplay: Playing to Win
Chris Farley’s character here makes the classic error of missing an ever-important word: “I thought the concierge meant to go SEE a game show, not BE ON a game show. Big mistake!” This is a game show pitfall that Los Angeles GMAT instructor (and Jeopardy! champion) George Yates knew well to avoid; that Los Angeles GMAT tutor Travis Morgan…well, you will see this fall on NBC; and that New York City GMAT Instructor Dave Halliday, well, learned the hard way in the waning minutes of his would-be-champion Jeopardy! run, missing a key word on Final Jeopardy! and incorrectly answering a question to which he KNEW the correct answer, losing his lead and the game in the process.
Accountability in the U.K.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Accountability in the U.K.
The bus to Piccadilly Circus is a rough ride as the freshly-strewn News Corp. employees hastily jettisoned by Rupert Murdoch line the streets of London. (03:36)
http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/wed-july-20-2011-steve-carell
Accountability in the U.K - Rupert Murdoch's Crime-Fighting Wife
Rupert Murdoch's wife, Wendi Deng, captivates the U.K. with her Ultimate Fighting skills and her clear displeasure with those who question her husband. (02:11)
Accountability in the U.K - David Cameron Kills it
America's government should start drinking motherf**king tea and eating motherf**king finger sandwiches to be as awesome England's government. (05:16)
Humanized by Pie
After Rupert Murdoch gets hit with a pie, News Corp.'s stocks spike, the English Parliament apologizes, and even the media sharks celebrating his downfall feel bad. (03:43)
Murdochs Express 'Great Regret' Over Phone Hacking
Murdochs Express 'Great Regret' Over Phone Hacking ???
Channel 4: Rupert Murdoch and his son James have apologized for the phone-hacking scandal while giving evidence to MPs
David Cameron on phone-hacking scandal Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/david-cameron-on-phone-hacking-scandal/205647&cp
British Prime Minister David Cameron defended his former communications chief Andy Coulson before an emergency session of Parliament on Wednesday, saying he believes that people are innocent until proven guilty. Coulson is one of 10 people arrested in the phone hacking and police bribery scandal that has ensnared some of Britain's top police, politicians and journalists.
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/david-cameron-on-phone-hacking-scandal/205647&cp
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
New Robot Touch Sensor Paves The Way To More Lifelike Humanoids (Video)
Robots these days, especially humanoids, have one problem: it doesn’t feel nice or lifelike when you touch them. This is where an invention by Japanese robot startup Touchence comes in. Their so-called ShokacCube, made of polyurethane, is the world’s first soft touch sensor specifically designed for robots.
The sensor detects touches in three dimensions and is pressure-sensitive: if used in a humanoid’s cheek, for example, the robot in question can distinguish if that body part is being just lightly touched or pinched. And as the ShokacCube is covered in soft foam and soft and flexible itself, it does away with the usual metallic feeling humans get when touching a robot.
The ShokacCube would particularly make sense when used in therapeutic robots, for example.
Touchence plans to roll out the first samples for ShokacCube type B (type A was released in December last year) next month. The company expects to have a more advanced type C model ready by April 2012.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
iPhone Camera + Classical Guitar = Wild Rolling Shutter Effects
The effect is caused by the iPhone’s rolling shutter image acquisition system and, in reality, the entire string is vibrating back and forth. However, with a little ingenuity, the guitarist has created a haunting way to represent a short snippet of Tears in Heaven along with a few other excellent musical renditions.
If you’re curious, here’s how guitar strings really vibrate.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Bruno Mars- Count on me
lyrics-
If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea,
I'll sail the world to find you
If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see,
I'll be the light to guide you
Find out what we're made of
What we are called to help our friends in need
You can count on me like 1 2 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4 3 2
And you'll be there
Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah
Wooooh, Wooooh
That's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah
You can count on me cause I can count on you
If you're tossin and you're turnin and you just can't fall asleep,
I'll sing a song beside you
And if you ever forget how much you mean to me,
Everyday I will remind you, oh
Find out what we're made of
What we are called to help our friends in need
You can count on me like 1 2 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4 3 2
And you'll be there
Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah
Wooooh, Wooooh
That's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah
You can count on me cause I can count on you
You'll always have my shoulder when you cry
I'll never let go, never say goodbye
You can count on me like 1 2 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4 3 2
And you'll be there
Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah
Bruno Mars - "Grenade"
Easy come, easy go
That's just how you live, oh
Take, take, take it all,
But you never give
Should of known you was trouble from the first kiss,
Why were they open?
Gave you all I had
And you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked,
Cause what you don't understand is
I’d catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah)
You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Oh, oh
I would go through all this pain,
Take a bullet straight through my brain,
Yes, I would die for ya baby;
But you won't do the same
No, no, no, no
Black, black, black and blue beat me till I'm numb
Tell the devil I said “hey” when you get back to where you're from
Mad woman, bad woman,
That's just what you are, yeah,
You’ll smile in my face then rip the breaks out my car
Gave you all I had
And you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, yes you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked
Cause what you don't understand is
I’d catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah)
You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Oh, oh
I would go through all this pain,
Take a bullet straight through my brain,
Yes, I would die for ya baby;
But you won't do the same
If my body was on fire, ooh
You’ d watch me burn down in flames
You said you loved me you're a liar
Cause you never, ever, ever did baby...
But darling I’ll still catch a grenade for ya
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah)
You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Oh, oh
I would go through all this pain,
Take a bullet straight through my brain,
Yes, I would die for ya baby;
But you won't do the same.
No, you won’t do the same,
You wouldn’t do the same,
Ooh, you’ll never do the same,
No, no, no, no
Bruno Mars - Who is
Bruno Mars - Who is
All I Was Perfect For The Circus
If She Dared I'd Do It
Love Makes You Supid
I Gave It up
But I Guess It Was Not Enough
Cause She Never Seemed Satisfied
Oooh I Know I'm Not Perfect
But At The End Of The Day Who Is Oooh
She Wanted Someone that's Perfect Ok
But Can You Tell Me Who Is?
Ooooh Oooh Ooh
Ooooh Oooh Ooh
She Set The Bar Just Above The Stars
A Rocket Couldnt Reach It But I Still Kept On Reaching
She Watched Me Try Atleast A Thousand Times
If She Loved Me She'd Stopped Me But Nooo
Oooh
Oooh I Know I'm Not Perfect
But At The End Of The Day Who Is Oooh
She Wanted Someone that's Perfect Ok
But Can You Tell Me Who Is?
I Saw Something Worth My Future
So Right So Wrong
In My Mind I Would Tolerate It But I Guess I Was Wrong?
Oooh I Know I'm Not Perfect
But At The End Of The Day Who Is Oooh
She Wanted Someone that's Perfect Ok
But Can You Tell Me Who Is?
Ooooh Oooh Ooh
Ooooh Oooh Ooh
-----------------------------
Bruno Mars - Liquor Store Blues Feat. Damian Marley
Standing at this liquor store
Whiskey, Cognag on a toast
Feeling like I’m running on a block
… chinky that’s why you can catch me here
Try’na scratch my way up to the top
Coz my job got me going no where
So I ain’t got a thing to lose
Take me to a place where I don’t care
This is me, I’m a liquor store blues
I’ll take one shot for my pain
One track for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I’ll be okay tomorrow
One shot for my pain
One track for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I’ll be okay tomorrow
Me and my guitar tonight
Singing to the city lights
Tryna to living more than what I got
Cos’ sixty-eix inches
Ain’t gonna pay the ransom
I’ll be out untill they call the cops
Coz my job got me going no where
So I ain’t got a thing to lose
Take me to a place where I don’t care
This is me, I’m a liquor store blues
I’ll take one shot for my pain
One track for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I’ll be okay tomorrow
One shot for my pain
One track for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I’ll be okay tomorrow
….. soon!
Give me this one shot for my pain
One track for my sorrow
I’ll get messed up today
I’ll be okay tomorrow
One shot for my pain
One track for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I’ll be okay tomorrow
Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are
Oh her eyes, her eyes
Make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair
Falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful
And I tell her every day
Yeah I know, I know
When I compliment her
She wont believe me
And its so, its so
Sad to think she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me do I look okay
I say
When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
Her lips, her lips
I could kiss them all day if she'd let me
Her laugh, her laugh
She hates but I think its so sexy
She's so beautiful
Bruno Mars Just The Way You Are lyrics found on http://www.directlyrics.com/bruno-mars-just-the-way-you-are-lyrics.html
And I tell her every day
Oh you know, you know, you know
Id never ask you to change
If perfect is what you're searching for
Then just stay the same
So don't even bother asking
If you look okay
You know I say
When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
The way you are
The way you are
Girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song
The Lazy Song
Today I don't feel like doing anything
I just wanna lay in my bed
Don't feel like picking up my phone
So leave a message at the tone
Cus today I swear I'm not doing anything
I'm gonna kick my feet up and stare at the fan
Turn the TV on
Throw my hand in my pants
Nobodys gon' tell me I can't
I'll be lying on the couch just chillin in my snuggie
Click to MTV so they can teach me how to dougie
Cus in my castle I'm the freakin man
O Oh
Yes I said it
I said it
I said it cus I can
Today I don't feel like doing anything
I just wanna lay in my bed
Don't feel like picking up my phone
So leave a message at the tone
Cus today I swear I'm not doing anything
Nothing at all
Woohoo ooh
Woohoo ooh hooh ooh ooh
Nothing at all
Woohoo ooh
Woohoo ooh hooh ooh ooh
Tomorrow I'll wake up do some P90X
Meet a really nice girl have some really nice sex
And she's gonna scream out 'this is great' (Oh my god, this is great)
Yeaaah
I might mess around and get my college degree
I bet my old mam would be so proud of me
轉載來自 ※Mojim.com 魔鏡歌詞網
But sorry paps you'll just have to wait
Oh Oh
Yes I said it
I said it
I said it cus I can
Today I don't feel like doing anything
I just wanna lay in my bed
Don't feel like picking up my phone
So leave a message at the tone
Cus today I swear I'm not doing anything
No I ain't gonna comb my hair
Cus I ain't going anywhere
No No No No No No No No No
Oh
I'll just strut in my birthday suit
And let everything hang loose
YeahYeahYeahYeahYeah...
Ohh ohh
Today I don't feel like doing anything
I just wanna lay in my bed
Don't feel like picking up my phone
So leave a message at the tone
Cus today I swear I'm not doing anything
Nothing at all
Woohoo ooh
Woohoo ooh hooh ooh ooh
Nothing at all
Woohoo ooh
Woohoo ooh hooh ooh ooh
Nothing at all
GeoVector® - Click on the Real World®
GeoVector Corporation (originally known as Criticom Corporation) began conducting research into augmented reality in early 1990s. The company, co-founded by John Ellenby who also founded laptop and mobile computing pioneer GRiD Systems Corporation, devised a method to use sensors in a device to associate relevant digital information with places on earth.
The basic concept around which most of GeoVector's R&D has concentrated is that knowing the position and orientation of the device allows the application to provide digital information associated with a place in the real world. Position and direction data can be used to create a virtual vector which intersects with objects indexed in databases by their latitude and longitude coordinates.
GeoVector's first patent in this domain was filed September 10, 1993. The company originally held the trademark for "Augmented Reality" (issued in 1995) but abandoned it as the term was generally adopted to describe this technique along with many others.
Early GeoVector work focused on providing vertical solutions. One GeoVector augmented reality design used compass equipped binoculars along with GPS to superimpose nautical maps on the visual horizon thus improving the safety of navigation.
A video showing early Augmented Reality concepts from GeoVector can be seen here
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