"Hacker Proof" Security - EADS

The European Aeronautical Defense System (EADS) which is largely responsible for intelligence gathering for Western Europeans declared late last week that it had developed a new encryption technology, Ectocrypt, that is "Hacker Proof". I am not sure if this real or is it just to taunt/test the Russians. EADS executives are very confident this new technology will deliver, however PLA hackers worldwide will be working hard to prove otherwise as they have done in recent weeks. More

The risks involved with RFID Credit Cards

Tim Horton's became the latest retail chain in recent weeks to implement "contactless" Credit Cards by MasterCard. The debate is ongoing regarding the risks involved however the deployment of these RFID cards and terminals over the last couple years continues. The data on these devices should be largely encrypted and there has not been any report of large-scale fraud using these Cards. The RFID frontier is expanding at a rapid rate to include different forms of government ID (drivers licence, passport, etc.) and PacketMaster will continue to monitor this subject for security issues.

Increasing threats in Cyberspace

Different suite of products have been developed over the last 5 years for protection against intrusive software and applets from the Internet. eSoft has been a consistent player in the sector for protection against malware and other threats with the ThreatWall 450 network filter. The reviews on this web appliance are rolling in and this product could be a good start for SMEs.

FCC faces media protests over "white space" use

The US FCC's plans to make available unused portions of the wireless spectrum assigned to media broadcast is facing protests. Broadcasters are trying to persuade the FCC not to allow wireless Internet services in the white spaces of TV spectrum. The group, named the White Space Coalition, comprising some of the biggest names in technology, including Microsoft Corporation, Google, Dell and Intel Corporation. The broadcasters are arguing that enabling portable wireless Internet services in the white spaces will interfere with signals and degrade TV service for consumers. The National Association of Broadcasters which includes Walt Disney's ABC division and Univision Communications Inc will start airing ads as a part of a campaign against this latest move by the high-tech coalition. More

Intel joins WiMax

Intel Corporation is investing heavily in WiMax development and recently released a roadmap for products to support the service. The company has outlined it's plans for deploying WiMax to different classes of users. This planned entry will see Intel joining Sprint Nextel and Clearwire Corporation as they lobby standards powerhouse IEEE to adopt and standardize a new technological pathway for WiMax. More

The future of Mobile Broadband

HSDPA and Wi-Max are leading the pack however much of the future will depend on the hardware and the alliances formed between service providers and hardware manufacturers.

Vodafone today joined the Wi-Max Forum citing that HSDPA will have served its needs at the end of the next 5 years. This move was welcomed by the Wi-Max Forum as an important first step however this should be an interesting one to follow.

Download Accelerators anyone?

When I read in April 2007 about Joseph "Yossi" Vardi's involvement in the Speedbit Download Accelerator venture, I was a bit curious given his noted contribution in the Instant Messaging field with Mirabilis' ICQ venture of the 1990s. Do we need a download accelerator with today's proliferation of high speed connectivity? Speedbit however, is now focused on the mobile computing market with the software being used for video downloads. This is definitely one to watch.