• Face reading software

    Spanish researchers develop algorithm capable of reading facial expressions from video images; by applying the algorithm, the system is capable of processing thirty images per second to recognize a person’s facial expressions in real time before categorizing them as expressing anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, or surprise

  • Maintaining security at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport

    In 2006, Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport handled 9 million international passengers and 405,000 domestic passengers; it did so while being among the world’s most secure — if not the most secure — airports; two Israeli companies, Hi-Tech Solutions and Rontal, made their own contributions to achieving that level of security

  • Detecting insider threats early

    Insiders pose serious threats to organizations ranging from multinational companies to military installations; one way to spot insider threats is to use data mining techniques to scour e-mail and build up a picture of social network interactions; the technology could prevent serious security breaches, sabotage, and even terrorist activity

  • Austrian Airlines selects CabinVu-123 from AD Aerospace

    One lesson of 9/11 was that making the cockpit door impregnable, and allowing pilots clear view of the area outside the door, would improve on-board security; Austrian Airlines chooses cockpit door monitoring system from a U.K. specialist

  • New search tools help separate the wheat from the (data) chaff

    If there is a problem which is worse than having too little information, it is having too much of it; three new tools developed by researchers at a German institute help cope with this wheat-from-the-chaff problem

  • Analysis // by Ben Frankel: U.S. still fighting for sanctions on Iran, but with a weaker hand

    The Bush administration shot itself in the foot by releasing a confusing and partially misleading intelligence assessment of Iran’s nuclear weapon activities; the administration dealt a near-fatal blow to the effort to intensify economic sanctions on Iran, instead creating a situation in which the world will either have to accept a nuclear-armed Iran or go to war to stop it

  • Terrorism poses greater threat to Europe

    Acting director of NCTC says terrorism poses greater threat to Europe than it does to the United States; additional problem for Europe: Most of the plotters in the recent European bombing plots “were legal citizens of the countries they allegedly targeted”

  • FBI worried about surge in sales of book detailing airport security gaps

    A book detailing gaps in airport security enjoys a surprising surge in sales; the FBI, which keeps track of sales of books which may benefit terrorists — and also of similar library books being checked out — wants to know more

  • BAA in Heathrow RFID trial

    BAA begins Heathrow trial for RFID-based baggage tracking system

  • Large mining concerns buys Verint solution

    A major Latin American mining conglomerate buys a critical infrastructure monitoring solution from Verint; solution will enable security personnel to react more quickly to security breaches, unauthorized personnel or vehicles, or suspicious activity across their expansive mining infrastructure

  • IAI's Stark subsidiary eyeing U.S. defense, homeland security markets

    IAI establishes a U.S. subsidiary to market its UAVs and payloads in the U.S. defense and homeland security markets; IAI is eyeing the U.S. coast guard and border patrol; first goal: Offer IAI’s Heron 1 as an alternative to General Atomics’ Predator

  • Chinese espionage ring discovered

    Chinese spy ring based in New Orleans broken up; two individuals of Chinese origin bribe Pentagon official d=to deliver sensitive information concerning Taiwan

  • Reconstructing 3D face from a single 2D image

    Researchers develop software to make the 3D reconstruction of a face from a single 2D image faster and more accurate; this will be especially useful for recovering 3D shapes when there is only one image to work from, such as an image from a CCTV camera

  • Israel's use of UAVs expands

    UAVs are assuming more and more military, intelligence, and homeland security missions; Israel has pioneered the broad-based use of UAVs for all types of missions, and is years ahead of other militaries in incorporating the systems into its operational planning; to know where UAV developments — and deployments — are heading, it would be a good idea to study the Israeli case

  • Airport security challenges // by Lynn Welch

    TSA needs to formulate – and enforce — standards for perimeter defense