Slashdot
http://slashdot.org/
News for nerds, stuff that mattersen-usCopyright 1997-2009, Geeknet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.2009-11-24T18:50:12+00:00Geeknet, Inc.help@slashdot.orgTechnologyhourly11970-01-01T00:00+00:00Slashdothttp://a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicslashdot.gif
http://slashdot.org/
Wal-Mart, Amazon Battle For Online Retail's Future
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/13f0R6vj-EA/Wal-Mart-Amazon-Battle-For-Online-Retails-Future
Hugh Pickens writes "The NY Times reports that Amazon and Wal-Mart are waging a price war for the future of online retailing that is spreading through product areas like books, movies, toys, and electronics. The tussle began last month over which company had the lowest prices on the most anticipated new books and DVDs this fall, but has now spread to select video game consoles, mobile phones, even to the humble Easy-Bake Oven. 'It's not about the prices of books and movies anymore. There is a bigger battle being fought,' said Fiona Dias, executive vice president at GSI Commerce, which manages the Web sites of large retailers. 'The price-sniping by Wal-Mart is part of a greater strategic plan. They are just not going to cede their business to Amazon.' Wal-Mart, with $405 billion in sales last year, dominates by offering affordable prices to Middle America in its 4,000 stores, while Amazon, with $20 billion in sales, caters mostly to affluent urbanites who would rather not push around a cart. But Amazon is expanding its slice of the retail pie at an alarming rate — its sales shot up 28 percent in the third quarter of this year; and sales in Amazon's electronics and general merchandise business are up 44 percent. 'We have to put our foot down and refuse to let them grow more powerful,' says Dias. 'I applaud Wal-Mart. It's about time multichannel retailers stood up and refused to let their business go away.'"<p><a href="http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1817246/Wal-Mart-Amazon-Battle-For-Online-Retails-Future?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/24/1817246"></a></p><p><a href="http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1817246/Wal-Mart-Amazon-Battle-For-Online-Retails-Future?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/i6Y6st1He2QCEHc-ZTscbhKzrEw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/i6Y6st1He2QCEHc-ZTscbhKzrEw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/i6Y6st1He2QCEHc-ZTscbhKzrEw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/i6Y6st1He2QCEHc-ZTscbhKzrEw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>kdawson2009-11-24T18:30:00+00:00businessbezos-versus-golaithnews1616,16,12,7,2,1,0http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1817246/Wal-Mart-Amazon-Battle-For-Online-Retails-Future?from=rssInside England and Wales' DNA Regime
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/lujhnm5svVo/Inside-England-and-Wales-DNA-Regime
Sockatume writes "The UK's Human Genetics Commission has published its report on the collection of DNA by the Police forces in England and Wales. Currently, Police collect DNA from every suspect in a case which could lead to a criminal record, and retain that material, which the European Court of Human Rights has ruled illegal. The government plans to keep all DNA samples for suspects from England, Wales and Northern Ireland for up to six years, except for DNA from individuals arrested during terrorism-related investigations, which will be retained forever. The report states that the police frequently performed arrests solely to collect DNA, that certain demographics (such as young, black men) were 'very highly over-represented,' that there was 'very little concrete evidence' that the DNA database had any actual use in investigating crime, and that the database contained material from individuals arrested in Scotland and Northern Ireland, outside its remit. Of the 4.5m individuals in the database, a fifth have never received any convictions or cautions from the Police. The report recommends that an independent advisory body oversee the database, and that laws be passed to limit the uses of the database, while tracking those with access to it, and making misuse of the information a criminal offence."<p><a href="http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1735230/Inside-England-and-Wales-DNA-Regime?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/24/1735230"></a></p><p><a href="http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1735230/Inside-England-and-Wales-DNA-Regime?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ocJZNBNvCxx1iugN3zpgH_Pdmbo/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ocJZNBNvCxx1iugN3zpgH_Pdmbo/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ocJZNBNvCxx1iugN3zpgH_Pdmbo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ocJZNBNvCxx1iugN3zpgH_Pdmbo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>timothy2009-11-24T17:42:00+00:00privacyhow-far-do-you-trustyro5555,53,40,35,7,1,1http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1735230/Inside-England-and-Wales-DNA-Regime?from=rssPrison Terms For Spammer Ralsky, Scientology DoS Attacker
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/Hu29tOHMYHM/Prison-Terms-For-Spammer-Ralsky-Scientology-DoS-Attacker
tsu doh nimh writes "Alan Ralsky, the 64 year-old dubbed the 'Godfather of Spam,' was sentenced to 51 months in prison on Monday, The Washington Post's Security Fix reports. According to anti-spam group Spamhaus.org, Ralsky has been spamming since at least 1997, using dozens of aliases and tens of thousands of 'zombies' or hacked PCs to relay junk e-mail. Also sentenced — to 40 months in jail — was Ralsky's 48-year-old son-in-law, Scott K. Bradley and two other men named last year in a 41-count indictment for wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering and violations of the CAN-SPAM Act." And eldavojohn writes "Nineteen year old Dmitriy Guzner, Anonymous member and Scientology DDoS attacker, received one year and one day in jail for his admitted crime. His sentence could have been a maximum ten years. According to the Church of Scientology, Anonymous has harassed and attacked them with '8,139 threatening phone calls, 3.6 million e-mails, 141 million hits on its website, ten acts of vandalism against its property, 22 bomb threats, and eight death threats against Church leaders.'"<p><a href="http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1632228/Prison-Terms-For-Spammer-Ralsky-Scientology-DoS-Attacker?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/24/1632228"></a></p><p><a href="http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1632228/Prison-Terms-For-Spammer-Ralsky-Scientology-DoS-Attacker?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dsMFF0kmei4JUimpNTBUsutN2GM/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dsMFF0kmei4JUimpNTBUsutN2GM/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dsMFF0kmei4JUimpNTBUsutN2GM/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dsMFF0kmei4JUimpNTBUsutN2GM/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>timothy2009-11-24T17:00:00+00:00courtat-least-ralksy's-is-longeryro121121,117,94,72,29,11,6http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1632228/Prison-Terms-For-Spammer-Ralsky-Scientology-DoS-Attacker?from=rssGiving Touch-Screen Buttons Depth and Height With Pneumatics
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/-ovbkOMmaYk/Giving-Touch-Screen-Buttons-Depth-and-Height-With-Pneumatics
blee37 writes "Researchers at Carnegie Mellon demonstrate 'popping out' touch screen buttons to become physical buttons using pneumatics. The idea is to combine the dynamic reconfigurability of touch screen buttons with the tactile feedback of real buttons. The technology could be applied where tactile feedback is currently lacking, such as in car navigation systems, ATMs, or cell phones."<p><a href="http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1557239/Giving-Touch-Screen-Buttons-Depth-and-Height-With-Pneumatics?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/24/1557239"></a></p><p><a href="http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1557239/Giving-Touch-Screen-Buttons-Depth-and-Height-With-Pneumatics?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZMg4nSRPBGtUOk35HBCSp4HYPg0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZMg4nSRPBGtUOk35HBCSp4HYPg0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZMg4nSRPBGtUOk35HBCSp4HYPg0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZMg4nSRPBGtUOk35HBCSp4HYPg0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>timothy2009-11-24T16:14:00+00:00inputdevwait-for-pneumatic-spamhardware109109,107,94,69,17,10,6http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1557239/Giving-Touch-Screen-Buttons-Depth-and-Height-With-Pneumatics?from=rssWould You Use a Free Netbook From Google?
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/1ayqYZn1Poc/Would-You-Use-a-Free-Netbook-From-Google
Glyn Moody writes "The response to Google's Chromium OS has been rather lukewarm. But suppose it's just part of something much bigger: a netbook computer from Google that would cost absolutely nothing. Because all the apps and data are stored in the cloud, storage requirements would be minimal; screens are getting cheaper, and the emphasis on lean code means that a low-cost processor could be used. Those relatively small hardware costs could then be covered by advertising in the apps — after all, they are just Web pages. Interestingly, Google has not only rolled out advertising to more of its services recently, it has also started running AdSense ads in the desktop application Google Earth. Would you accept a free Google netbook — or is the price you would pay in terms of the company knowing even more about what you do on an hour-by-hour basis just too high?"<p><a href="http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1517229/Would-You-Use-a-Free-Netbook-From-Google?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/24/1517229"></a></p><p><a href="http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1517229/Would-You-Use-a-Free-Netbook-From-Google?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y7HJzPsGdjd0wx-ud7RbLmuVXc4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y7HJzPsGdjd0wx-ud7RbLmuVXc4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y7HJzPsGdjd0wx-ud7RbLmuVXc4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Y7HJzPsGdjd0wx-ud7RbLmuVXc4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>timothy2009-11-24T15:33:00+00:00googlegoogle-i-openermobile285285,282,231,178,34,14,11http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1517229/Would-You-Use-a-Free-Netbook-From-Google?from=rssA Skeptical Reaction To IBM's Cat Brain Simulation Claims
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/Ea715oJ4Ako/A-Skeptical-Reaction-To-IBMs-Cat-Brain-Simulation-Claims
kreyszig writes "The recent story of a cat brain simulation from IBM had me wondering if this was really possible as described. Now a senior researcher in the same field has publicly denounced IBM's claims." More optimisticaly, dontmakemethink points out an "astounding article about new 'Neurogrid' computer chips which offer brain-like computing with extremely low power consumption. In a simulation of 55 million neurons on a traditional supercomputer, 320,000 watts of power was required, while a 1-million neuron Neurogrid chip array is expected to consume less than one watt."<p><a href="http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1428245/A-Skeptical-Reaction-To-IBMs-Cat-Brain-Simulation-Claims?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/24/1428245"></a></p><p><a href="http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1428245/A-Skeptical-Reaction-To-IBMs-Cat-Brain-Simulation-Claims?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/SW35aGdgyRhUxPmz7l-_b9eWBc4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/SW35aGdgyRhUxPmz7l-_b9eWBc4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/SW35aGdgyRhUxPmz7l-_b9eWBc4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/SW35aGdgyRhUxPmz7l-_b9eWBc4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>timothy2009-11-24T14:49:00+00:00supercomputingwhy-stop-at-dog-brain-after-alltechnology126126,122,103,90,35,19,10http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1428245/A-Skeptical-Reaction-To-IBMs-Cat-Brain-Simulation-Claims?from=rssIntelsat Launches Hardware For Internet Routing From Space
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/5fgJCI5orzQ/Intelsat-Launches-Hardware-For-Internet-Routing-From-Space
coondoggie writes "A radiation-proof Cisco router was sent into space today aboard an Intelsat satellite with the goal of setting up military communications from space. The router/satellite combo is a key part of the US Department of Defense's Internet Routing In Space (IRIS) project, which aims to route IP voice, video and data traffic between satellites in space in much the same way packets are moved on the ground, reducing delays, saving on capacity and offering greater network flexibility, Cisco stated."<p><a href="http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1334203/Intelsat-Launches-Hardware-For-Internet-Routing-From-Space?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/24/1334203"></a></p><p><a href="http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1334203/Intelsat-Launches-Hardware-For-Internet-Routing-From-Space?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/9EwwGeVYaJ2iFuwSHxwzKL56Y-E/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/9EwwGeVYaJ2iFuwSHxwzKL56Y-E/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/9EwwGeVYaJ2iFuwSHxwzKL56Y-E/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/9EwwGeVYaJ2iFuwSHxwzKL56Y-E/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>timothy2009-11-24T14:01:00+00:00networkingdistinguish-from-other-talking-birdstechnology7575,72,54,35,7,3,2http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/1334203/Intelsat-Launches-Hardware-For-Internet-Routing-From-Space?from=rssNew Virginia IT Systems Lack Network Backup
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/-_afi-z7S7o/New-Virginia-IT-Systems-Lack-Network-Backup
1sockchuck writes "Virginia's new state IT system is experiencing downtime in key services because of a mind-boggling oversight: the state apparently neglected to require network backup in a 10-year, $2.3 billion outsourcing deal with Northrop Grumman. The issue is causing serious downtime for state services. This fall the Virginia DMV has suffered 12 system outages spanning a total of more than 100 hours, and downtime hampered the state transportation department when a state of emergency was declared during the Nov. 11 Northeaster."<p><a href="http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/0634220/New-Virginia-IT-Systems-Lack-Network-Backup?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/24/0634220"></a></p><p><a href="http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/0634220/New-Virginia-IT-Systems-Lack-Network-Backup?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/UOw9Q5glaj7r0n0dW65GwZHoFAU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/UOw9Q5glaj7r0n0dW65GwZHoFAU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/UOw9Q5glaj7r0n0dW65GwZHoFAU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/UOw9Q5glaj7r0n0dW65GwZHoFAU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>timothy2009-11-24T13:17:00+00:00communicationsprivate-did-not-make-perfectit159159,157,122,100,29,21,10http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/0634220/New-Virginia-IT-Systems-Lack-Network-Backup?from=rssGeek Travel To London From the US — Tips?
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/VgIta5CcVyg/Geek-Travel-To-London-From-the-US-mdash-Tips
Audrey23 writes "I am traveling to London from Washington state for two weeks in December for pleasure (use-it-or-lose-it vacation scenario) and was wondering if I should bother bringing my laptop. I know that I would have to change the region code on my wireless amongst other things and the power cord would have to be changed for a UK outlet. Would I be better off not bringing my laptop and just using Internet kiosks (do they exist in London?) or would having my laptop be a better choice to keep in touch, off-load my digital images etc? I plan on hitting the British Museum but was wondering what geeky things to do that are in London that might be worth going to and any tips hints on overseas travel for geeks? I travel quite a bit in the states but this will be my first trip overseas and want to make the best of my stay in merry old England. What words of advice do you travel seasoned geeks have for me?"<p><a href="http://ask.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/0248240/Geek-Travel-To-London-From-the-US-mdash-Tips?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/24/0248240"></a></p><p><a href="http://ask.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/0248240/Geek-Travel-To-London-From-the-US-mdash-Tips?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zVnvRKe0mcri2MczJ72XfaqCIyc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zVnvRKe0mcri2MczJ72XfaqCIyc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zVnvRKe0mcri2MczJ72XfaqCIyc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zVnvRKe0mcri2MczJ72XfaqCIyc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>timothy2009-11-24T10:30:00+00:00earthsee-the-largest-paired-bluetooth-devicesaskslashdot871871,867,689,485,79,39,26http://ask.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/0248240/Geek-Travel-To-London-From-the-US-mdash-Tips?from=rss Solar-Powered Plane Makes Runway Debut
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/8B3IaD7tXu0/-Solar-Powered-Plane-Makes-Runway-Debut
MikeChino writes "The much-hyped Solar Impulse airplane just completed its first runway test, paving the way for a 20-to-25-day trip around the world next year. Conceived by Bertrand Piccard, the single-pilot plane successfully used its four solar powered motors to taxi around the runway. If all goes according to plan the plane will be able to fly day and night without fuel, signaling a bright future for solar-powered flight."<p><a href="http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/0057228/-Solar-Powered-Plane-Makes-Runway-Debut?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/24/0057228"></a></p><p><a href="http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/0057228/-Solar-Powered-Plane-Makes-Runway-Debut?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Qrx5mNbq8qMZfwuI8bMKDYBM-wY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Qrx5mNbq8qMZfwuI8bMKDYBM-wY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Qrx5mNbq8qMZfwuI8bMKDYBM-wY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Qrx5mNbq8qMZfwuI8bMKDYBM-wY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>timothy2009-11-24T07:52:00+00:00transportationendless-summerscience102102,93,77,59,18,8,3http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/0057228/-Solar-Powered-Plane-Makes-Runway-Debut?from=rssBing Cashback Can Cost You Money
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/8xjQUl15Y00/Bing-Cashback-Can-Cost-You-Money
paltemalte writes "Microsoft and various retailers have teamed up to bring you cashback on purchases made via Bings price comparison feature. There is a little snag though — it seems that when you have a Bing cookie living in your browser, some retailers will quote you a higher price than if you come with no Bing cookie in your system."<p><a href="http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/0112201/Bing-Cashback-Can-Cost-You-Money?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/24/0112201"></a></p><p><a href="http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/0112201/Bing-Cashback-Can-Cost-You-Money?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jD5p9R-UPMc-v41B5a8Cs8BjTNU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jD5p9R-UPMc-v41B5a8Cs8BjTNU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jD5p9R-UPMc-v41B5a8Cs8BjTNU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jD5p9R-UPMc-v41B5a8Cs8BjTNU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>timothy2009-11-24T04:38:00+00:00businesswotta-bogginyro304304,292,218,167,56,39,24http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/11/24/0112201/Bing-Cashback-Can-Cost-You-Money?from=rssEnglish Shell Code Could Make Security Harder
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/S5qxHBFn3v0/English-Shell-Code-Could-Make-Security-Harder
An anonymous reader writes to tell us that finding malicious code might have just become a little harder. Last week at the ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security, security researchers Joshua Mason, Sam Small, Fabian Monrose, and Greg MacManus presented a method they developed to generate English shell code [PDF]. Using content from Wikipedia and other public works to train their engine, they convert arbitrary x86 shell code into sentences that read like spam, but are natively executable. "In this paper we revisit the assumption that shell code need be fundamentally different in structure than non-executable data. Specifically, we elucidate how one can use natural language generation techniques to produce shell code that is superficially similar to English prose. We argue that this new development poses significant challenges for in-line payload-based inspection (and emulation) as a defensive measure, and also highlights the need for designing more efficient techniques for preventing shell code injection attacks altogether."<p><a href="http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/11/23/1837238/English-Shell-Code-Could-Make-Security-Harder?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/23/1837238"></a></p><p><a href="http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/11/23/1837238/English-Shell-Code-Could-Make-Security-Harder?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/hlephl4l8ymwbdFJor5UNyrcSPY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/hlephl4l8ymwbdFJor5UNyrcSPY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/hlephl4l8ymwbdFJor5UNyrcSPY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/hlephl4l8ymwbdFJor5UNyrcSPY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>ScuttleMonkey2009-11-24T01:33:00+00:00securitylittle-bobby-tables-takes-up-writingit271271,260,211,155,50,26,17http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/11/23/1837238/English-Shell-Code-Could-Make-Security-Harder?from=rssIBM Smartphone Software Translates 11 Languages
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/R5-JcybFTcA/IBM-Smartphone-Software-Translates-11-Languages
coondoggie writes to mention that IBM researchers have an internal smartphone software project that is capable of translating text between English and 11 other languages (Chinese, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, Russian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Arabic). There are no concrete plans to release this as a public product, but IBM certainly isn't shutting out that possibility. "Hosted as an internal IBM service since August 2008, n.Fluent offers a secure real-time translation tool that translates text in web pages, electronic documents, Same time instant message chats, and provides a BlackBerry mobile translation application. According to IBM the software, n.Fluent, was developed from an internal IBM crowd-sourcing project where Big Blue's nearly 400,000 employees in more than 170 countries submit, update and continuously refine word translations. Every time it's used, n.Fluent 'learns' and improves its translation engine. To date, the tool has been used by IBMers to translate more than 40 million words, IBM stated."<p><a href="http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/09/11/23/1916251/IBM-Smartphone-Software-Translates-11-Languages?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/23/1916251"></a></p><p><a href="http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/09/11/23/1916251/IBM-Smartphone-Software-Translates-11-Languages?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XV1HOWtYW4q2Mz5cwdPtK2eVdbY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XV1HOWtYW4q2Mz5cwdPtK2eVdbY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XV1HOWtYW4q2Mz5cwdPtK2eVdbY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XV1HOWtYW4q2Mz5cwdPtK2eVdbY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>ScuttleMonkey2009-11-23T23:53:00+00:00ibmopen-source-and-share-the-funmobile9999,94,76,62,18,7,3http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/09/11/23/1916251/IBM-Smartphone-Software-Translates-11-Languages?from=rssProgram To Detect Smuggled Nuclear Bombs Stalls
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/ewlaaFtWsu0/Program-To-Detect-Smuggled-Nuclear-Bombs-Stalls
Pickens writes "The NY Times reports that a program to detect plutonium or uranium in shipping containers has stalled because the United States has run out of helium 3, a crucial raw material needed to build the 1,300 to 1,400 machines to be deployed in ports around the world to thwart terrorists who might try to deliver a nuclear bomb to a big city by stashing it in one of the millions of containers that enter the United States every year. Helium 3 is an unusual form of the element that is formed when tritium, an ingredient of hydrogen bombs, decays — but the government mostly stopped making tritium in 1989 after accumulating a substantial stockpile of Helium 3 as a byproduct of maintaining nuclear weapons. 'I have not heard any explanation of why this was not entirely foreseeable,' says Representative Brad Miller, chairman of a House subcommittee that is investigating the problem. Helium 3 is not hazardous or even chemically reactive, and it is not the only material that can be used for neutron detection. The Homeland Security Department has older equipment that can look for radioactivity, but it does not differentiate well between bomb fuel and innocuous materials that naturally emit radiation like cat litter, ceramic tiles and bananas — and sounds false alarms more often. In a letter to President Obama, Miller called the shortage 'a national crisis' and said the price had jumped to $2,000 a liter from $100 in the last few years. With continuing concern that Al Qaida or other terrorists will try to smuggle a nuclear weapon into the United States, Congress has mandated that, by 2012, all containers bound for the US be inspected overseas."<p><a href="http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/11/23/1859204/Program-To-Detect-Smuggled-Nuclear-Bombs-Stalls?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/23/1859204"></a></p><p><a href="http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/11/23/1859204/Program-To-Detect-Smuggled-Nuclear-Bombs-Stalls?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/tcwC6RILz93EWvTTuI4SmZXLoOE/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/tcwC6RILz93EWvTTuI4SmZXLoOE/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/tcwC6RILz93EWvTTuI4SmZXLoOE/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/tcwC6RILz93EWvTTuI4SmZXLoOE/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>ScuttleMonkey2009-11-23T23:11:00+00:00securityi-see-a-business-opportunity-herescience208208,196,154,133,45,20,13http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/11/23/1859204/Program-To-Detect-Smuggled-Nuclear-Bombs-Stalls?from=rssRecession Pushes More Workers To Steal Data
http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/slashdot/eqWf/~3/ngnRZu9PUCI/Recession-Pushes-More-Workers-To-Steal-Data
An anonymous reader writes to share the findings of a recent transatlantic survey which suggests that the recession is pushing workers to be a little bit more accommodating when it comes to sharing, viewing, or stealing sensitive information from the company they work(ed) for. "Pilfering data has become endemic in our culture as 85% of people admit they know it's illegal to download corporate information from their employer but almost half couldn't stop themselves taking it with them with the majority admitting it could be useful in the future! [...] The survey entitled 'the global recession and its effect on work ethics,' carried out for a second year by Cyber-Ark – found that almost half of the respondents 48% admit that if they were fired tomorrow they would take company information with them and 39% of people would download company/competitive information if they got wind that their job was at risk. Additionally a quarter of workers said that the recession has meant that they feel less loyal towards their employer."<p><a href="http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/11/23/1927248/Recession-Pushes-More-Workers-To-Steal-Data?from=rss"><img src="http://slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=09/11/23/1927248"></a></p><p><a href="http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/11/23/1927248/Recession-Pushes-More-Workers-To-Steal-Data?from=rss">Read more of this story</a> at Slashdot.</p>
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Ukx4Yzz8uQo10s6MnucAWhvR5Is/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Ukx4Yzz8uQo10s6MnucAWhvR5Is/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Ukx4Yzz8uQo10s6MnucAWhvR5Is/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Ukx4Yzz8uQo10s6MnucAWhvR5Is/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p>ScuttleMonkey2009-11-23T22:26:00+00:00securityflexible-moralityit259259,253,195,160,38,20,16http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/11/23/1927248/Recession-Pushes-More-Workers-To-Steal-Data?from=rssSearch SlashdotSearch Slashdot storiesquery
http://slashdot.org/search.pl