The Off The Hook site takes a while to post synopsis of the episodes and once they are posted, the overviews aren't very detailed. I'm going to start taking some notes as I listen to the show and putting them here, for the good of all internet denizens who may find this via Google.
Emmanuel noted that the theme was missing, so he was playing it from a recording of the show that he downloaded last week. Mitch Altman, who was returning from the Chaos Communication Congress and is the creator of the TV-B-Gone, was on again; he and Emmanuel discussed Gizmodo's use of the device at CES.
Emmanuel noted a new program in California that will allow utilities to control home thermostats via radio signals as a method for reducing peak energy usage so as to mitigate rolling blackouts. Not Kevin wonders how long it will take until someone finds a way to control the temperature of their neighbor's house.
A kid in Lodz, Poland created a remote control to control the trams in the town. Not Kevin and Mitch discuss whether the remote that the kid created was really like a TV remote employing infrared as was reported. Emmanuel compares it to a chrome box and Bernie points out that infrared isn't a very robust method, susceptible to weather conditions that could hamper its operation.
Wisconsin contracted out a mailing to EDS who printed social security numbers on the outside of envelopes. Bernie notes that the government officials always preach their concern for citizen's privacy and guesses correctly that all those affected will receive a free year of credit monitoring, only to be automatically enrolled in such a service for a significant charge at the end of said year.
The TSA took down a horribly insecure website intended to allow people to remove themselves from the no-fly list. The contract for the site was awarded to Desyne Web Services by a TSA employee who previously worked for the firm.
Boeing's new 787 aircraft, which will have internet access available, is going to be thoroughly check to ensure that the internet link is in no way connected to the plane's avionics. Bernie mentions Boeing's ill-fated Connexion service.
Bernie talks about a new hacker space, The Hacktory, which he is helping to put together as an extension of the Philadelphia Make group. Mitch talks about visiting Bootlab in Berlin, TMP LABS in Paris and c-base as well as DC401 in Providence and NoiseBridge. Emmanuel brings up past hacker spaces L0pht and New Hack City that eventually failed and questions whether these new ones will last.
The depth you went into is impressive. Thanks for all the links!
I remember listening to a talk on hacker spaces from HOPE. They are an incredibly awesome idea, but they have to be hard to sustain. No profit comes from the spaces, and accommodating more people than the initial group just makes things complex in terms of maintenance and responsibilities.
And I wonder if people have considered the security of the wireless networks on 787's aside of being able to control avionics, like if the network is using encryption or not. I can imagine individuals entertaining themselves by sniffing everyone's traffic and hacking laptops for six hours :)
Keep up this line of posting!
Yeah, funding for something like a hacker space is probably a reason for the demise of many prior ones. I imagine a model where members have to pay dues would be the best implementation.
They didn't go into much detail on the 787, but I can only assume that the electronics controlling the aircraft and associated navigational instruments are entirely separate from those for the passenger side. At least, I see no reason for them to be connected.
Well, Emmanuel frequented the L0pht at some point in its heyday . . . and so he had an UNIX account there, mail and all.
Let's just say ... he forgot to log out one day, and, the people there found some rather 'unsettling' message threads on there on his behalf, yup: 'Michael Jackson style' is the keyword we're looking for here ...
Never wondered why he hangs with all these kids all the time?
(not making this up)
Aside from being mostly off-topic, that's a harsh characterization.