technology

are TSA Body Scanner Flaws

August 22, 2014

Although airport security body scanners leave little to the imagination of the TSA employees who view passengers passing through, they may be blind to artfully concealed weapons. A team of researchers from three universities were able to hide knives, guns, explosives and more from a body scanner TSA used for four years before phasing it out. The scientists bought it on eBay. [More...]

OS Flaw Leaves Android Wide Open for App Hack Attacks

August 22, 2014

University researchers have demonstrated an easy way to poke into Android and steal sensitive user information from a variety of mobile apps. They achieved success rates of 92 percent for the Gmail and H&R Block apps; 86 percent for Newegg's app; 85 percent for the WebMD app; and 83 percent for the Chase Bank and Hotels.com apps. Other OSes most likely could be attacked just as easily. [More...]

HOT TECH RUMOR 'iWatch' Could Be Late for a Very Important Date August 22, 2014 Apple may be forced to postpone the launch of the hotly anticipated "iWatch" or health band, perhaps pushing it back to 2015. It apparently is facing wide-ranging production issues involving components, system design, manufacturing, and integration between hardware and software. Holy macaroni. Of course, it should be noted that Apple has never said that it would deliver anything of the sort. [More...]

OPINION
Nook Redux: Is B&N Shooting Itself in the Foot?

August 21, 2014

Without the physical Barnes & Noble stores, Nook Media doesn't have a shot -- it all comes back to other bigger and better players in the space. Instead of being an anchor stuck in the mud to the Barnes & Noble boat, the new Nook has the potential to become a paddle to build a richer everywhere experience -- but it seems as if Barnes & Noble is getting ready to toss the paddle overboard, too. [More...]

Hack Day Produces Oculix, a Mind-Blowing Trip Through the Netflix Catalog

August 21, 2014

Oculix, a mashup of the Oculus Rift and the Netflix UI, gave users a heady experience at Netflix Hack Day, but don't expect to experience it yourself any time soon. Hack Day is mainly an opportunity for engineers to show off a bunch of blue-sky technology possibilities. Still, virtual reality immersiveness is bound to play a bigger role in gaming and entertainment in the not-too-distant future. [More...]

SPOTLIGHT ON SECURITY Is Open Source an Open Invitation to Hack Webmail Encryption? August 21, 2014 In a move influenced by Edward Snowden's revelations about the NSA's email snooping, Yahoo and Google last week announced that they were cooperating on end-to-end encrypting their webmail products. While the open source approach has proven its value over and over again, the idea of opening up the code for security features to anyone with eyeballs still creates anxiety in some circles.[More...]

CROWDFUNDING SPOTLIGHT
Close Your Eyes and Rest Easy - Blink Is Watching the House

August 21, 2014

As if recording motion-triggered HD video weren't enough, Blink also will sense the temperature in your home and send you alerts if you want them. It uses an LED illuminator with low-light video capture capabilities to ensure that you can see what's happening day or night. Plus, there's a built-in microphone so you can hear what's happening. Priced at just $69, Blink is a no-brainer. [More...]