A Billion Users, 600,000 GPS Trackers, and a Hacked Bank
A Billion Users, 600,000 GPS Trackers, and a Hacked Bank Security can be a difficult concept, especially when it collides with convenience. There are lots of gadgets that can make life easier and since we are more mobile and our tech is also, connecting remotely to gadgets has become a standard. Unfortunately, this means that […]
Look out, it’s a glitch attack!!
Look out, it’s a glitch attack!! This article describes a type of attack that is directed against hardware. The attack is defined “as attacks that involve causing a hardware fault through manipulating the environmental variables in a system.” The article goes on to say “When power, high-temperature sensors, or clock signals are interrupted, the CPU […]
As simple as ABC
As simple as ABC It’s bedtime. You check all the windows in your house: locked. You check the front and the side door: locked. You turn on the alarm and go to bed. What about the back door… did you check it? Did you know you had one? Wait… what do you mean – do […]
Are you in ‘Good hands’?
Are you in ‘Good hands’? There is an insurance company that says you’re in good hands if you insure with them. The implication being that they look out for you and do what is best for you. I can’t speak from experience on their work or the truthfulness of that claim. We all have insurance […]
Riverbank Ruminations: Why Me?
Riverbank Ruminations: Why Me? In a security awareness class I was recently teaching, I was asked “Why do they do this?”, referring to malware and phishing. The simple answer is: money. If the bad guys can persuade you (phishing) or force you (ransomware) to give them money, they will. Studies show that 1 in 10 […]
Something Is In the Air; It’s Your Data
Something Is In the Air; It’s Your Data Your phone rings. You answer: CALLER: “Bill, this is Sam. I know you are heading to that conference in San Diego. We need the files on the Smith project and they aren’t on the server. Do you have them with you?” YOU: “Let me check and I […]
What you don’t see can hurt you
What You Don’t See Can Hurt You In general, technology covers up a lot of the complexity in things that we take for granted. As an example, consider a cell phone call. You dial a number, wait a few seconds and you are either connected to a person or their voicemail. In the background, many […]
Buying steak at a hardware store
Buying steak at a hardware store I am a casual Google Guide. Every year Google treats a few guides to an expense paid trip to the west coast for a gathering of guides. Basically, once you sign up for the program you get points for posting reviews, pictures, and answering questions. As a consequence, prompts […]
Survival of the Fittest
Survival of the fittest Riverbank Ruminations: Observations from the banks of the technology river Tom Evans; Ashton Engineer Emeritus Two people have forgotten their passwords and they need to get them reset. Sometimes you can do this by answering some ‘security’ questions. (The reason for the quotes follows shortly). You go to the password reset […]
Riverbank Ruminations: Vacation
Riverbank Ruminations: Vacation Observations from the banks of the technology river Last year we finally took a vacation to Hawaii. My wife did the search for accommodations and arranged the places we were going to stay. Part of what we wanted to see was the erupting volcano on the island of Hawaii. We have seen […]
