Category Archives: Security Reviews
Security Review: “Biometric” Passports
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
Security Review – Fire Hydrants
This is a security review of a fascinating device known as a fire hydrant. To state the obvious, a fire hydrant is designed to allow certain city personnel (firefighters) access to high pressure water in the case of an emergency. … Continue reading
Security Review – Parental Controls for TV
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
Security Review: Biometrics
Summary Biometrics is an authentication mechanism that relies on identification or verification based on unique physiological characteristics. Biometric devices employ fingerprint recognition, hand geometry, retina scanning, and other methods to identify or verify a person based on stored biometric information. … Continue reading
IMA Locker Security
Summary: At the UW IMA, members are allowed to checkout locker bins for a quarter where they may store their gym apparel. By checking out a bin, members are given a lock to use for the bin. The records of … Continue reading
Surveillance Cameras Security Reviews
Surveillance cameras, or closed circuit television, is the technology I am evaluating. For example, you generally see these camera at a bank, gas stations, malls, and etc. They are different than broadcast television because the signal is not openly transmitted, … Continue reading
Anti-Piracy Security Mechanisms in PC Games
Piracy has long been a prominent issue in the software industry. Software developers and publishers earn their livelihood selling their programs, but since the products they create are digital in nature, they can often easily (and illegally) be copied and … Continue reading
Access Control on King County Metro Transit
Buses are vital for college students looking to get out of the university district and explore the greater Seattle area. The King County Metro transit service is partially funded by local and federal government but depends on riders’ tolls to … Continue reading
(un)-Safe Deposit Box Security Review
My review was on safety deposit boxes based on my experience using them. I was surprised at how stunningly insecure they are (although there may be additional controls I did not know about that banks implement), and am further surprised … Continue reading
Ink Tags: My Security Review from HW1
For my security review, I have chosen to cover the anti-theft devices that are commonly used at retail clothing stores, which I believe are called “ink tags”. I am basing this information from personal experience (I briefly worked for a … Continue reading