Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Security software or adware?

Posted on February 1, 2008 by Brian

It recently came to my attention that Adobe is now including an option (which is checked by default) in their installers for Adobe Reader and the Shockwave player to install a Norton Security Scan program. I think this raises some … Continue reading →

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UWnews hacked?

Posted on January 29, 2008 by Kris Plunkett

I stumbled upon this and wanted to share: First go here ->  http://uwnews.washington.edu/ni/article.asp?articleID=34207 Now go here  -> http://uwnews.washington.edu/ni/ Any thoughts?  Just a basic site defacing?

Posted in Miscellaneous | 1 Comment

Polish teen uses TV remote to derail trains

Posted on January 20, 2008 by Trip Volpe

Covered on The Register, Telegraph.co.uk, and Slashdot. Earlier this month, a 14-year-old in Poland used a modified TV remote control to directly interfere with rail junction controls in the city of Lodz. He obtained information on the operation of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Miscellaneous, Physical Security, Policy | Comments Off on Polish teen uses TV remote to derail trains

Social Engineering Your Way Into a Dorm Room

Posted on January 13, 2008 by Chad

It is shocking to learn that while the University of Washington Housing and Food Services own nine residence halls with a total capacity of nearly 5000 students, the security barring access to individual students’ rooms can be compromised with little … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Miscellaneous, Privacy | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Security Review: “Biometric” Passports

Posted on January 13, 2008 by zaxim

I recently had to get a new passport; one with a computer chip, and a handy brochure touting why it was so great, and how I was protected by “two tier system.”  This post is to analyze these “Biometric Passports,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous, Security Reviews | 3 Comments

Security Review – Parental Controls for TV

Posted on January 11, 2008 by robert

Summary Parental controls on television sets (or on the Internet, or mobile phones, etc.) allow parents to restrict the media to which their children have access to an age-appropriate level. Parental controls allow parents to restrict access to television based … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous, Physical Security, Security Reviews | 2 Comments

Security Review – Parking Meters

Posted on January 11, 2008 by aodle56

Summary Parking meters are a common access control system used by thousands of people every day. There are many types of meters but for this assignment I will conduct a security review on a specific one. The meters I will … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | 3 Comments

Watching an Exploit Unfold: Sex Offenders and the ESRB

Posted on January 11, 2008 by Trip Volpe

This post documents an actual vulnerability exploit I recently witnessed. Details have been changed to protect the stupid. I happened to be loafing around on IRC yesterday, when an unusual opportunity to observe some pointless cybercrime in action presented itself. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Miscellaneous, Privacy | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Keeping an Open Wireless Network?

Posted on January 10, 2008 by Kris Plunkett

I’d like to briefly share with you an interesting article by famed computer security scientist Bruce Schneier that he recently wrote for Wired. In it he argues against securing your wireless network and for having open networks that others can … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Miscellaneous, Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments