News (12)

E-passport fraud no threat to SmartGate

The Australian Customs Service today said its inbound e-passport authentication system SmartGate would not be fooled by fake details, after a Dutch hacker claimed to have broken through similar systems in Europe. Read more »

Web banking: It's time to write down your password

Banks should stop forcing customers to create long, alphanumeric passwords because they can't protect against today's threats, according to AT&T computing researcher William Cheswick Read more »

Australians want what's bad for them: Biometrics

Australians would prefer to use voice biometrics rather than PIN and password verification to prove their identity — but security experts warn biometrics exposes consumers to even greater risk. Read more »

Sony continues supplying rootkit-like software

Sony continues to distribute software containing a rootkit-like cloaking technology, which security firms say could be used by criminals to hide malware, from its Web site. Read more »

Sony blasted for helping hide malware on users' PCs

Security specialists are warning that Sony's MicroVault USB, which is a biometric USB storage device, cloaks driver software in a Windows directory that could be used by malware to avoid detection from security applications. Read more »

Webcam lets your face be your password

A Canadian company on Wednesday in the US announced a new camera that doubles as a security system that scans a face in three dimensions and a Webcam for online video. Read more »

W3C looks at next-gen voice technologies

The World Wide Web Consortium on Tuesday said the next generation of VoiceXML will include specifications for speaker verification. Read more »

Technology hype comes under scrutiny

Collaboration tools, podcasting and desktop search are emerging as key technology themes but other once-fashionable technologies are stuck in the mud, says Gartner Read more »

Microsoft launches biometric access peripherals

Microsoft has reacted to concerns over passwords with the launch of a keyboard which uses biometrics to log on users to Web sites but the software giant has admitted the products are for convenience and not security. Read more »

HP developing 'smart rack' to ease data center work

Business executives and bureaucrats are salivating over the potential labor-saving benefits of radio frequency identification technology, and soon technology workers may find reason to be enthusiastic, too. Read more »

Features (7)

10 tech skills you should develop during the next five years

If you want a job where you can train in a particular skill set and then never have to learn anything new, IT isn't the field for you. But if you like to be constantly learning new things and developing new skills, you're in the right business. In the late 80s, NetWare and IPX/SPX administration were the skills to have. Today, it's all about TCP/IP and the Internet. Read more »

10 security problems unique to IT

Organisations face a host of security concerns driven by the power of technology and the vulnerabilities inherent in its use. IT pros have to be vigilant about all these issues, from system penetration threats to hardware portability to employee turnover. Read more »

Driving towards in-car software

Developing applications to run inside cars is a fascinating and potentially lucrative market for developers. But what systems are actually running under the hood, and what hurdles do you have to overcome to build for them? Read more »

Thinking more like Booch

I'd be the first one to say that talking about the future of software development and the computing world is a difficult endeavour. Read more »

Determining which biometric technology is right for you

How should you choose among the various technologies for the one to include in your next high-security project? Read more »

Passwords: poor excuse for security

Cut costs. Save money. Maintain the status quo. With that mantra in mind, many network managers figure they've got authentication covered. As long as there's a password policy in place, who needs to spend money on authentication tools? Read more »

W3C steps up Web services work

The Web's leading standards body is forging ahead with new Web services initiatives, putting out a new draft proposal and co-sponsoring an August meeting on security. Read more »

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  • Staff XP stays on life support for longer

    This week's Roundup looks at Microsoft's decision to extend the life of Windows XP, the release of Microsoft Surface SDK, Firefox's new Geode plug-in, Yahoo's new tool -- Smush It and more. Read more »

    -- posted by Staff

  • Chris Duckett The good and truly awful celluloid depictions of computers

    Ever wonder why your lawyer uncle leaves the room whenever you turn over to Boston Legal? Or why your forensic science cousin can't stand crime drama? You know the answer: it’s the horrid trivialisation and dumbing down of an occupation to make it appear entertaining. Sometimes it is so unbelievable that it actually hurts and yelling at the screen is the only outlet. Read more »

    -- posted by Chris Duckett

  • Brendon Chase Apple's iPhone engineers to tour Sydney, Melbourne

    Aussie developers will be able to get up close and personal with some of the iPhone engineers in November to learn how to build applications for the platform. Read more »

    -- posted by Brendon Chase

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