Category: Sign of the Apocalypse

According to the New York Times the ATX “telematics” system available in many autos, such as Ford, BMW, Mercedes, Cadillac and others, can be turned into an eaves-dropping device by the Feds or perhaps even by nefarious hackers. The ATX system is similar to GM’s OnStar system in that it allows drivers to call to have their doors remotely unlocked, call for directions, or even get automatic roadside assistance in case of an accident using an internal cellular/gps/telematics system. The problem is that the ATX system is vulnerable to government hack: the Feds in at least one case have asked that the cellular connection in a target vehicle to be left “open” so they can eavesdrop on the conversation in the car. While a panel of judges turned them down because doing so would have disabled many of the safety features of the system, the Times speculates that ATX could easily alter the system to allow eavesdropping without affecting the safety features. It is also possible that other warrants have been granted in other districts, since the decision denying the warrent in this case would only affect the Ninth Circuit (western US). And of course we wouldn’t even know about a similar warrant requested under the So-Called Patriot Act.

For now, OnStar claims that its system is not vulnerable to such intrusions, since the system requires the driver be notified whenever a connection is established. But all that could change with a keystroke.

Aside from the intrusion into one’s privacy that is made possible by the ATX system, the vulnerability to legal or illegal eavesdroping is bound to have an impact on the way that consumers view these systems. That’s too bad, since these sorts of telematics can really save lives as well as provide comfort for drivers. Without legislation barring the government from hacking OnStar or ATX, consumers are likely to opt-out of telematics systems, fearing (rightly) that the system they pay for is being turned against them.

If you’ve been seeing references to the “SCO trial” on the edges of your radar and have been wondering what in blue-blazes it’s all about, check out The SCO Monkey Trial, our thumbnail guide to the case. This trial has important implications to the future of the Linux OS.

First there was cute and cuddly Cthulhu manga.

But now it’s time get serious and prepare for the End Times with the Cthulhu Chick tract!

It should come as no surprise that we at Street Tech like to check out the competition, with our specially-tuned BS detectors set to “high.” C|Net is one of my favorites, and while trolling through their reviews, I ran across an interesting tidbit;

“This reviewer will march naked down Broadway in the middle of February if anyone can show us a recognizable photograph taken with the Dimage Xt 100 feet underwater.“

That challenge, issued by C|Net reporter Eamon Hickey in June, is apparently still unmet. Well, with x-mas coming up many people are going to be finding the Minolta Dimage Xt under their trees, and then perhaps taking a tropical vacation, I think it’s a perfect time to extend this challenge to the whole internet community. So go out, dive deep, and let’s see what we can come up with! Street Tech will offer a meager prize of some swag, signed by ST’s Editor in Chief and Senior Editor, as well as some odd technology we have lying around the labs, to the first person who can put Eamon Hickey marching down Broadway!

Cory has another piece on bOINGbOING about the EFF’s campaign to generate FCC comments on the motion picture industry’s proposed "Broadcast Flag" technology. This is something you definitely want to educate yourself about and respond accordingly. Here’s a link to the EFF page.

Our campus just received a letter from the enforcing arm of the RIAA which described, down to the IP address, BitTorrent downloads of copyrighted movies.

p.d.ts have been in use since approx 1980. origanlly they were installed in tooth molars but as the tech became smaller they are put into any tooth. with the p.d.t. the brain literally becomes a reciever/transmitter. approx 20 million people have dentaly wired to date. behind the scenes this is known as a silent epidemic. i’m looking for people to help make this situation newsworthy. i have proof.

[webmaster note: Doug is not a regular contributor to Street Tech, but I couldn’t help approving this post. Oh yes, Doug, we’d LOVE to see your proof! Go ahead and post it in the comments!]

I thought I’d post this story I discovered today because it is an interesting tale of big corporate and institutional failure, and how a 1st year student saved himself and his fellow students a whole lot of time with a little skill and imagination.

To make a long story short, It seems the system the Univerisity of Alberta had paid big coin to manage its students (allegedly and tellingly hacked together from an inventory control system) was a mess, and the U was planning to ditch paper altogether, dooming people to hours of pointing, clicking and swearing.

So, one enterprising student decided that something had to be done, and he was the guy to do it. His first cut took 5 days and was already a big help at that point. He was initially hosting it on his own tab, but now the Student Union handles that, though the University still can’t take a helpful position due to contractual requirements. For some more details the student union discussion board is interesting reading.

I could take the position that we’re all doomed by megacorporate control of computing (and I usually do), but this time, I’m just plain tickled to see one guy do a good job with what he had before him and help everyone in the process.

(if you can’t get the first link, sorry – the show was not yet posted when I wrote this so I had to make an educated guess)

One of Street Tech’s favorite blogs, Boing Boing, seems to have removed all of the discussion links from their entries. I know the “discussion” had gotten pretty critical of Cory, Xeni (oy! how mean they are to Xeni!) and pals, did this lead to just eliminating the fairly active feedback system altogether? Anyone know anything about what’s up? Our comment system’s open.

From BusinessWeek:

RIAA turns down some heat on file sharers
The Recording Industry Association of America offers an amnesty program to some individuals involved in the illegal sharing of copyrighted music files online, reports say.

The Recording Industry Association of America will extend an amnesty program to some individuals involved in illegal sharing of copyrighted music files online, according to numerous published reports.

Traders of illegal music will be asked to erase all existing HD copies, destroy all cd-r versions, and fill out and submit and official subpoena form along with a photocopy of their driver’s license. In addition, customers are required to shave their heads, register with the local RIAA compliance office, surrender all firearms and wear a large pink triangle sewn to their clothing.