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Reverse-hacker wins $4.3 million in suit against Sandia
Shawn Carpenter dismissed after discovering a Chinese gang accessing the lab’s computer; decision to share data with the FBI and Army upset superiors; verdict seen as a victory for whistleblowers
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Privacy Rights Clearinghouse names top data breaches of 2006
Veterans Affairs Department and Circuit City/Chase Card Services top the list; PRC hits the 100 million illegally accessed records mark; two dozen breaches in 2006 of more than 100,000
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NSA and StratCom build up hacking capabilities
Marine General John Davishe intends to operationalize net-centric warfare; in addition to developing policy and tactics, StratCom intends to make hacking a valid career path for the Army’s best and brightest
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UC Davis scientists use bacteria to fight earthquake liquification
Application of Bacillus pasteurii during or after construction creates a shell of calcium carbonate around sand grains; approach avoids use of dangerous chemicals; funding required for larger studies
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Sungard announces new virtualization product
System intended for those requiring a short-term boost in computing strength after a disaster; large companies continue to jump on the virtualization bandwagon
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Duke students invent "wisdom door"
System uses nine sensors to measure height, weight, and girth; passing through the door can activate any number of responses, including home entertainment preferences; tandem use with RFID envisioned
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DHS to offer $1-2 million in tunnel-sensing technology
Concerned about illegal immigration, government asks private sector for a solution; sensors, IT, and geospatial imaging to play a role; temperature differences between soil within the tunnel and without may be a key indicator
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Delta to install vehicle barriers at U.S. embassies worldwide
Shallow foundation system to be deployed to China, Austria, Saudia Arabia, and various cities in Germany, among others; more than 1,000 have already been sold; U.S. Air Force plans to use same to protect all of its bases around the world
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India dumps airport Backscatter machine
Revealing images upset socially conservative security guards; cultural values often underappreciated by security officials
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TSA finds most railroad security measures inadequate
$7 million study finds advanced explosives and screening methods suffer high false positive rates; yet traditional methods such as X-rays and canines suffer from poor economies of scale; study may upset congressional plans to boost railroad security spending
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RAND lists thirty-nine options for mall security
Shopping centers seen as a tempting terrorist target; RAND recommends vehicle barriers, bag and coat searches, and information campaigns; implementing procedures claimed to reduce risk 95 percent
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The virtue of security syndication // by Ilan Meller
In addition to doing everything they can to make themselves more secure, individual organizations may enhance their security by forming a security syndicate with other organizations for the purpose of sharing security-related information; with more organizationas sharing more terror-related “dots,” it may be possible to connect these dots more effectively to form a larger, clearer threat picture
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MIT students invent wall crawling device
Intended for first responders, the Atlas Powered Rope Ascender uses the capstan effect to pull a firefighter carrying one hundred pounds of equipment up a thirty-story building in thirty seconds; students have already sold units to Army and look to commercialize
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Vista fails to make the antivirus grade
Virus Bulletin puts Microsoft’s LiveOneCare to the test; it fails, along with antivirus software from McAfee and GDATA; criticism mounts about Vista’s ability to handle the WildList
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Immunity offers a portable hacking device for penetration testing
Nokia 770 tablet device is intended for companies to conduct their own white hat operations; tester turns on the $3,600 device, sticks it in his pocket, and waits to see whether his local wireless network is exploitable
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The long view
Nuclear Has Changed. Will the U.S. Change with It?
Fueled by artificial intelligence, cloud service providers, and ambitious new climate regulations, U.S. demand for carbon-free electricity is on the rise. In response, analysts and lawmakers are taking a fresh look at a controversial energy source: nuclear power.
Water Is the Other U.S.-Mexico Border Crisis, and the Supply Crunch Is Getting Worse
The United States and Mexico are aware of the political and economic importance of the border region. But if water scarcity worsens, it could supplant other border priorities. The two countries should recognize that conditions are deteriorating and update the existing cross-border governance regime so that it reflects today’s new water realities.
Exploring the New Nuclear Energy Landscape
In the last few years, the U.S. has seen a resurgence of interest in nuclear energy and its potential for helping meet the nation’s growing demands for clean electricity and energy security. Meanwhile, nuclear energy technologies themselves have advanced, opening up new possibilities for their use.