Skip to Content

AOL Tech

p2p posts

Cell Phones

New Cell Phone Tech Could Alert You of Nearby Disasters

Motorola has created a new cell phone technology that could warn users when a disaster occurs, even if most of the network is not working, according to NewScientist.

Here's how it would work: In the event of disaster, a functional cell phone outside and nearby the disaster area is alerted. Using Wi-Fi, this phone creates a peer-to-peer network with another phone and passes along the alert. The process is repeated over and over, until as many phones as possible have been alerted of the disaster.

The Emergency Alert System already uses television and radio frequencies to alert folks when disaster strikes. However, Motorola engineers believe their technology would prove much more efficient, since many folks may not have access to radio or television during a disaster. The company filed for a U.S. patent in late May, so there's no word yet on how soon this system could be in place.

Read more →

Computers

Personal Use of PCs at Work Can't Be Stopped, Study Finds

Personal Internet Use at Work Deemed Inevitable, Potentially Harmful
If you've managed to convince your boss that personal Internet use at the office is a good thing, kudos to you. If, however, he or she isn't buying it, then maybe you should go for the 'inevitability' argument, citing a report that has found attempts at blocking workers' personal use of the 'Net to be more or less futile.

As reported by Ars Technica, Palo Alto Networks' 'Application Usage and Risk Report for the Spring of 2009' states that employees "will take whatever steps are necessary to use whichever applications they want." So banning those installed Twitter clients won't do a thing, employers. That seems innocuous enough, but some of the report's conclusions are a bit more troubling. For instance, 92-percent of the 900,000 surveyed employees were found to use peer-to-peer, file-sharing applications that hog office bandwidth and, potentially, spread illegal content. Let's do keep in mind, though, that this report comes from a firewall company, which could certainly benefit from employers' paranoia over their employees' Web use.

Read more →

Computers

Iranian Computer Found to Have Info on Presidential Chopper


Classified information regarding President Obama's helicopter was recently found in a peer-to-peer sharing folder on an Iranian computer, according to Computerworld.

Chris Gormley, C.O.O. of Tiversa Inc., told Computerworld that the company's analysts first located the leaked information on February 26th, determining it to have been taken from the system of a U.S. defense contractor. Since last summer, sensitive documents pertaining to the helicopter -- known as Marine One -- have been circulating on P2P networks, Gormley elaborated. Although Tiversa employees notified authorities and the contractor at the time, the discovery in Iran proves that the information is still up for grabs.

Avivah Litan, an analyst with Gartner Inc., told Computer world that, in the interest of protecting information, companies should encrypt their files, uninstall any P2P programs from company computers, and block P2P traffic from company networks. Our safety depends on it. [From: Computerworld]

Related Links:

Audio/Video, Computers

Comic Book Does the RIAA's Bidding

Comic Does the RIAA's Bidding
Public Service Announcements in the medium of comics regarding the dangers of... well whatever the popular perils of the time are, have been hoisting well-intentioned gibberish on kids for generations. PSA comics have touched on everything from drugs, to smoking, to famine, and land mines.

The latest in a long heritage of comics urging you to do right comes without any super heroes or association with an established comic outlet like Marvel or DC. 'Justice Case Files' (really...) is an in-house effort from the National Center for State Courts, which we can only assume is a front for the RIAA, the most dastardly group of super villains to ever grace the pages of a comic book.

This disgrace to the label of propaganda bulges with misinformation so dense you'd have to bushwhack your way through its pages to find even a kernel of truth.

Issue one centers around Megan, a student with a file sharing addiction that puts her freedom and scholarship (seriously? jail time isn't motivation enough?) at risk. Megan is charged with Criminal Copyright Infringement by her fictional city government and faces charges at the state level that could net her a total of $25,000 in fines and 2 years in prison. Of course, in real life Criminal Copyright Infringement involves the selling of copyrighted materials, not peer-to-peer file sharing, and CCI is prosecuted by the federal government not local courts, but who's paying attention? Apparently, not the legal non-profit handing out this mumbo-jumbo.

You can download the entire comic in PDF form here, or for those with a taste for the ironic, you can search Limewire and BitTorrent. [From: Wired via: Boing Boing]

Computers, Celebrities

Supreme Court Justice Breyer's Personal Data Compromised



You may think that that only average citizens are susceptible to security breaches that result in identity theft, but you'd be wrong. The rich, famous and powerful can also fall victim to the technological plagues of the 21st century.

Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer's name, birth date, and Social Security number were compromised when an employee of Wagner Resource Group decided to install LimeWire, a peer-to-peer file sharing program, on his PC. The default settings of the program resulted in the sharing of sensitive company data that included the names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers of 2,000 of the firm's clients, which included Justice Breyer and a number of high-powered lawyers.

The breach went unnoticed for six months before a reader of the Washington Post's Security Fix blog found the information while searching LimeWire. Spokespeople for Justice Breyer have not acknowledged any negative consequences, though some of the company's other clients have reported fraudulent credit card charges and unexplainable cell phone bills.

The company has offered six months of free credit-report monitoring, but we're sure that is of little consolation to those whose personal data has been compromised. [Source: Washington Post]

Computers

Comcast Cable Sued Over Bandwidth "Throttling"

Comcast Sued Over Bandwidth ThrottlingJon Hart, a Californian who has filed a suit against Comcast, is claiming that not only is the company violating its own "Crazy Fast Speeds" advertising, but is breaking federal computer fraud laws.

When it was speculated that Comcast was doing shady things to limit and even block its subscribers' use of bandwidth-hungry applications, the company responded that the accusations were largely untrue. It then admitted to taking steps that were "temporary and intended to improve surfing for other users."

Hart's accusations stem from claims that Comcast is actively blocking peer-to-peer network traffic. Peer-to-peer traffic is most often used by file sharing applications like Kazaa or BitTorent for sharing music or videos. Comcast is allegedly sending fake signals to these applications that make them stop transmission of data, effectively shutting them down. It could be argued that such fake signals are not altogether different from a hacker taking control of your computer.

Beyond that, the suit mentions that nothing in Comcast's user agreement bars file sharing, and that their advertising claiming "unfettered access" to all of the Internet is misleading. For its part, Comcast has denied blocking peer-to-peer applications, yet also says:
We have a responsibility to provide all of our customers with a good Internet experience and we use the latest technologies to manage our network so that they can continue to enjoy these applications.
We'll be watching this story very closely going forward.

From Wired

Related Links:

Computers

Apple's New Leopard Hits Illegal Download Sites

Apple's Leopard Hits Illegal Download SitesAfter yesterday's (mostly) glowing reviews , it's no surprise that Mac fanatics want to get their hands on Leopard, the new Apple operating system (OS), as quickly as possible. It's also no surprise that anyone who wants a new OS this badly isn't necessarily inclined to pay for it. So, enter the Bit Torrents of the world, which are sites that enable peer-to-peer sharing of (not infrequently illegal) files. Wired's Threat Level blog found the torrent sites were humming last night with copies of Apple's latest Mac release.

Leopard hits Apple Stores today, but pre-release review copies went out weeks ago to the media and other places. Unlike its Microsoft Vista OS counterparts, Apple doesn't use any copy protection or lengthy serial numbers or anything to protect its pre-releases. It relies on trust, and, it's plain to see, perhaps this trust is unfounded, since thousands of copies of Leopard are being downloaded illegally even as you read this.

It's speculated that the majority of these downloaders are just looking to get their instant fix and will eventually go out and buy a legal copy of Leopard, but we wouldn't be surprised if, as the Mac OS becomes ever so slightly more mainstream, Apple doesn't start adopting Microsoft-like copy protection schemes.

From Threat Level

Related Links:

Audio/Video, Computers

Comcast Admits It Crippled Internet Traffic

Comcast Confirms Crippling P2P Internet Traffic0Earlier this week we reported on speculation that Comcast was blocking or at least seriously crippling certain types of Internet traffic. The content in question was peer-to-peer, or P2P, network traffic, the bandwidth-hogging type of data (read: movies, TV shows, and songs).

Tests run by AP reporters showed that file sharing applications either didn't work at all or were seriously slowed down when using Comcast Internet access. Comcast has now issued a response in which it fesses up to filtering the applications in question but also denies that they were actually blocked.

Senior VP of Comcast Online Services Mitch Bowling said that there is no blocking going on, and that any filtering in place was "temporary and intended to improve surfing for other users." In other words, they're trimming down the bandwidth hogs so that others get a share. That sounds fair enough, but there are better ways of doing that then disabling P2P traffic altogether. Any blocking, Mr. Bowling says, was "unintentional and due to a software bug that had been fixed." So, if the bug is already fixed, Comcast users should be good to go ... we hope.


From Engadget

















Related Links:

Audio/Video, Computers

Comcast Blocking Certain Types of Internet Traffic

AP Confirms Comcast Blocking File Sharing Traffic
From our 'so much for Net Neutrality' department comes a story from the Associated Press, which assigned a reporter to see if there was any validity to recent accusations that Comcast, the cable TV and Internet provider, is throttling and/or blocking file-sharing on its networks.

The AP turned to the Bible, which is public domain and legal to share. The tests were run from two different PCs in the Philadelphia and San Francisco areas. The reporter found that two out of three times, the peer-to-peer BitTorrent transfer was blocked completely. The third time the transfer only started after a 10-minute delay.

Control tests were run on other providers, Cablevision and Time Warner Cable, and no blockage or throttling was documented in those tests.

You can read more about exactly how Comcast blocked traffic on AP's more extensive story here, but suffice it to say that future blockage could be applied to more legit sites and services such as Joost, Skype, and online-video-rental-service Vudu.

This is exactly the sort of heavy handed tactic proponents of Net Neutrality have feared, and the widespread reporting may help bring the issue of Net Neutrality into the limelight.

From BetaNews and the AP

For further reading on Net Neutrality, visit these sites:


Related Links:

Computers

File-Sharing Legislation Targets Colleges

New File-Sharing Legislation Targets Colleges

Senate majority leader Harry Reid is ruffling some feathers in higher education circles. He has proposed an amendment (PDF) to the Higher Education Act, which is up for reauthorization, that would place tougher standards on colleges for fighting illegal file sharing. The amendment would require that all colleges report their policies on illegal downloading, and how they are effectively implementing them.

The part that has universities most concerned is a requirement that they provide evidence to the Education department that they have a technology based system to prevent illegal file sharing at least in the development stages. Many experts question the effectiveness of such hardware or software based solutions for preventing file sharing. Universities also worry that such technology may prevent legitimate file sharing for educational purposes or of non-copyrighted material.

The measure would also call for the 25 colleges with the most copyright violation notices to be reported to the government. Many complain that this will unfairly single out larger colleges who will just by nature of scale receive more notices.

If you're bothered by Harry Reid's proposed amendment we suggest you write your senator and voice your opposition.

From Slashdot and Inside Higher Ed

Related Links:

Switched Video

Follow Switched on Twitter
 

Weirdest Techie Heists and Scams

    Elderly Amish Man Caught on Film With Prostitute, Blackmailed
    When a 75-year-old Amish widower slept with a prostitute, he -- we feel certain -- felt pretty bad about it the next morning. As if that guilt weren't enough for the old man, the prostitute and her boyfriend demanded $67,000 from him, claiming that they had filmed the scene with wall-mounted cameras and would upload the recording to the Internet. The pair was later arrested and, we can only imagine, the Amish man abhorred technology more than ever.

     

    Bank Robber Gets Away With the Help of Craiglist
    In October, a bank robber -- wearing a safety vest, blue shirt, face mask and goggles -- eluded police with the help of Craiglist. Just outside the bank, while the robbery was in progress, stood a group of men who were responding to a Craiglist day labor opportunity. As the advertisement required, they were all wearing safety vests, blue shirts, face masks and goggles.

     

    Nude New Zealander Arrested After Responding to Fake Sexy Text Message
    Late in 2007, a Wellington, New Zealand man received a racy text message from two anonymous "ladies," giving him only an address and a request that he show up naked. Well, he indeed showed up naked... at the home of one appalled, unsuspecting New Zealander. Both the nude Romeo and the sadistic texter were arrested, though neither were prosecuted.

     

    Fake Craiglist Ad Costs Man Most of What He Owns
    Last Spring, a post appeared on an Oregon Craigslist board stating that the owner of a specific house was leaving all of his worldly possessions (still in said house) to whoever wanted them. When homeowner Robert Salisbury rushed home -- on a tip from a woman suspicious about the offer of a free horse -- he found his house being ransacked by 30 strangers. We suggest he take that horse and collect some vengeance Clint Eastwood-style.

     

    17-Year-Old Jailed for Stealing Virtual 'Furniture'
    When a 17-year-old Dutch boy hacked into several accounts on the Second Life-style site 'Habbo' in 2007, the the law got involved. The boy was discovered to have stolen $5,800 worth of virtual furniture and knick-knacks. Apparently, crime -- whether actual or virtual -- does not pay.

     

    Phishers Going After Your Phones in New 'Vishing' Trend
    Over the past year, sneaky spammers have begun to forsake the worn-out territory of e-mail in favor of cell phones' fertile frontier. The result? "Vishing." Get it? Voice mail phishing. It might be more ominous if it didn't sound like a James Bond villain saying, "Wishing."

     

    Burglars Break Into Restaurant, Steal HDTV, Leave Money / Food Behind
    Around Halloween of last year, a truckload of thieves drove into -- that's right, into -- a Pennsylvania Mexican restaurant, where they -- apparently uninterested in the cash register -- stole a mid-grade 47-inch HDTV and fled the scene. We've all heard about how this generation is lacking in ambition, but this generation's thieves, too?

     

Latest Reviews from CNET.com

CNET provides the latest tech news, unbiased reviews, videos, podcasts, software, and downloads, making tech products easy to find, understand and use.

Top Product Reviews

  • Home Audio Reviews

    9.0 out of 10

    Denon AVR-4306 (black)
    Incredibly well-featured 7.1-channel receiver; excellent sound quality; three HDMI inputs; converts analog video to HDMI output; upconverts analog video to 720p/1080i HD resolution; iPod and USB MP3 player connectivity; Internet radio and MP3/WMA streaming audio via built-in Ethernet port; XM Satellite Radio compatible; touch-screen remote; multizone, multisource operation; browser-based control via home network; accurate autocalibration routine. Full Review

    8.8 out of 10

    KEF KHT3005 (black)
    The KEF KHT-3005 is one compact, beautifully designed speaker package with solid aluminum satellites that feature unique driver technology to produce incredible clarity. Meanwhile, the equally astounding dual 10-inch, 250-watt powered subwoofer delivers ultradeep bass. Full Review

    8.8 out of 10

    KEF KHT3005 (silver)
    The KEF KHT-3005 is one compact, beautifully designed speaker package with solid aluminum satellites that feature unique driver technology to produce incredible clarity. Meanwhile, the equally astounding dual 10-inch, 250-watt powered subwoofer delivers ultradeep bass. Full Review

  • Cell Phone Reviews

    8.6 out of 10

    Wi-Ex zBoost YX510-PCS-CEL cell phone signal extender
    The Wi-Ex zBoost YX510-PCS-CEL significantly boosts your cell phone reception and is easy to operate. Also, it uses a wireless connection to your phone. Full Review

    8.6 out of 10

    Turbo Charge Tc2 portable cell phone charger
    The Turbo Charge Tc2 portable cell phone charger successfully delivers emergency power to your cell phone. It's easy to use and comes with a couple of surprising features. Full Review

    8.3 out of 10

    LG VX6000 (Verizon Wireless)
    Compact and stylish; impressive battery life; solid audio quality; sharp color screen; built-in camera; USB ready; affordable. Full Review

  • Digital Camera Reviews

    9.3 out of 10

    Canon EOS 1D Mark III
    Extremely fast, 10-megapixel continuous shooting; very low noise; highly customizable; well-designed body with weather sealing; 3-inch LCD; abundant optional accessories. Full Review

    9.3 out of 10

    Nikon D3 (body only)
    Full-frame sensor; well designed, pro-level weather-sealed body; very low noise, even at extremely high ISOs; fast. Full Review

    9.0 out of 10

    Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
    Very low noise, high quality images; 21.1 megapixels; live view shooting; pro-level build-quality and performance. Full Review

  • Desktop Reviews

    8.5 out of 10

    Apple iMac (24-inch, 2.8GHz)
    A minor specification update results in some significant performance gains; graphics upgrade an option on this 24-inch model; sleek, polished design didn't receive an update, but we won't start clamoring for a new design until the current one is at least 12 months old. Full Review

    8.4 out of 10

    Velocity Raptor Signature Edition Gaming PC
    One of the fastest PCs we've tested; a PCI Express RAID card helps media encoding performance; typically immaculate Velocity Micro assembly; strong, three-year warranty. Full Review

    8.3 out of 10

    Dell Studio Desktop Computer (Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200, 750GB HDD, 6GB)
    Best performance in its class; dedicated graphics card; large hard drive. Full Review

Featured Galleries

MacBook Pro (WWDC)
Maker Faire 2009
Faulty GPS Led These Poor Folks to Disaster
Flip Mino HD Balloon Flight
Budget PCs We Like
Disaster Related Games
5 Loud Games That Might Get Your Neighbors Calling the Police
Celebrity Hackings
Cell Phone Bans Across the U.S.A.

 

Switched Desktop

Get the New Switched Desktop

Latest tech news, Switched mail, and more.

AOL Tech Network

Resources