There's a new virus going around that encrypts your hard drive

This first appeared a couple of years ago and claimed to encrypt a variety of files on your hard drive with RSA 1024 bit encryption. The original virus did a poor job of implementing RSA encryption and was only using 660 bytes. Because of this weakness, data was recoverable.

Well, in the two years since it was originally released, the author has fixed the code and it now uses all 1024 bits, which means that it's fundamentally unbreakable.

So what happens if your computer gets encrypted? Better hope your backups are good.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus would also like to talk to you, there's a chance they can recover your data.

This Slashdot article points to the Kaspersky alert: http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/06/05/1921232

U. Washington and the RIAA: how to frame a laser printer for illegal music downloads

Gotta love these people. The RIAA is sending out subpoenas to people alleging illegal file sharing based on IP address. The problem is, and anyone with a moderately advanced knowledge of computer networking can tell you, that IP addresses can (a) be forged and (b) are not normally constant. There is a fixed number of available IP addresses (you may have heard the stories that we're going to run out of IP addresses in the not distant future, but that's another story) and the address of your computer might change several times a day (via DHCP).

Music industry business model aside, this is a lousy way to sue people.

Here's a quote from the article:

"In two separate studies in August of 2007 and May of this year, the researchers set out to examine who was participating in BitTorrent file-sharing networks and what they were sharing. The researchers introduced software agents into these networks to monitor their traffic. Even though those software agents did not download any files, the researchers say they received over 400 take-down requests accusing them of participating in the downloads.

The researchers concluded that enforcement agencies are looking only at I.P. addresses of participants on these peer-to-peer networks, and not what files are actually downloaded or uploaded—a more resource-intensive process that would nevertheless yield more conclusive information.

In their report, the researchers also demonstrate a way to manipulate I.P. addresses so that another user appears responsible for the file-sharing.

An inanimate object could also get the blame. The researchers rigged the software agents to implicate three laserjet printers, which were then accused in takedown letters by the M.P.A.A. of downloading copies of “Iron Man” and the latest Indiana Jones film.

“Because current enforcement techniques are weak, it is possible that anyone, regardless of sharing content or using BitTorrent, could get a D.M.C.A. takedown notice claiming they were committing copyright infringement,” said Mr. Piatek."

http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/06/05/1723225

I love it! "Uhh, the lab printer was downloading Metallica and we have to revoke its network privileges."

Torchwood Season 3 confirmed

Cap'n Jack shall return, but the season is only going to be five episodes long and will air in one week, some sort of mini/mega event.

We recently picked up the first season on DVD and Russ downloaded the second season from iTunes. Overall I like it, though these Torchwood people can be so amazingly stupid at times.

http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/06/barrowman-to-re.html

Ten airports running body scanners, more to follow

They image through your clothes and show anything that might not be seen by a magnetometer scan. It shows your gender quite clearly, the article quotes someone as saying that they can see the drops of sweat on your back.

The scan images are deleted immediately after the scan, or so they say.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-06-05-bodyscan_N.htm

Some interesting comments on Slashdot: http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/06/07/0042248

A review of D&D 4th Edition

I've played D&D before, somewhere I have most of the original white box set from the 70's. I've never much liked the game for a variety of reasons, my favorite game is Champions (superhero RPG), again, for a variety of reasons.

Well, the person who wrote this review has been playing and running for over 15 years, and he's written what seems to be a pretty fair first impression review of the system. It sounds like WotC has made two tremendous improvements in the game: first, the system has been smoothed out so that the different character classes are more uniform, second, and most important, they've made MAJOR improvements in the organization of the rule books. Everything the players need to know to run their characters is in the players handbook, everything the GM needs to know is in the GM guide. I've thought that D&D has been horribly organizaed since the beginning and always found this to be a major turn-off.

So congrats to D&Ders, sounds like you've got a lot of fun ahead. That doesn't mean that I'm running out to buy a copy and start running it, but if someone I knew started running it, I'd be more receptive to consider playing in a campaign.

http://www.gnomestew.com/specific-rpgs/a-gms-first-impressions-of-dnd-4e-looks-like-fun

http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/06/07/1932233

Leaked ACTA treaty would totally screw P2P among other things

A treaty is being circulated, in secret, that could have some pretty amazing ramifications. Among them: all P2P would be illegal, including trading works that are legally available, and region-free DVD would also go bye-bye.

The beauty of this is that it's being done through secret negotiations, not publicly in Congress or the UN. And major backers? Hollywood: music industry, movie industry, attorneys.

From Cory Doctrow's site: "Wikileaks has the full text of a memo concerning the dread Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, a draft treaty that does away with those pesky public trade-negotiations at the United Nations (with participation from citizens' groups and public interest groups) in favor of secret, closed-door meetings where entertainment industry giants get to give marching orders to governments in private.

It's some pretty crazy reading -- among other things, ACTA will outlaw P2P (even when used to share works that are legally available, like my books), and crack down on things like region-free DVD players. All of this is taking place out of the public eye, presumably with the intention of presenting it as a fait accompli just as the ink is drying on the treaty. "

Such fun! We've always had the best government that money can buy, it's just inspiring to see it actually at work.

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/06/06/secret-supercopyrigh.html

http://www.boingboing.net/2007/10/23/anticounterfeiting-t.html

http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/06/06/211236

Wikileaks is definitely a good thing.