Network Security Podcast

It was one of those nights where just about everything that could go wrong did.  The firewire module in Martin’s mixer died just before recording.  Rich got a call about halfway through the recording.  Zach was suspiciously lacking in rage.  Like I said, just about everything was wrong tonight.  But we pulled it off despite ourselves.  In fact, Zach managed to score an interview with a pair of his co-workers who have some insight into what’s happening at Lower Merion School District.  If you’re at all involved with the LMSD case, please, please do what you can to preserve the evidence, even if that means you just let the laptop sit in a closet somewhere.

I just realized I don’t think we stayed on topic for more than 2 minutes at a time tonight.  Not that anyone finds that unusual.

Network Security Podcast, Episode 186, February 23, 2010
Time:  38:45

Show Notes:

• Google hackers loosely tied to Chinese government?
• Google Buzz and Kids – Parental Control Nightmare
• EU Data Protection Chief Slams Secret ACTA Talks – This is an issue it might be worth getting involved in.
• Spy at Harriton High – The folks at LMSD haven’t been completely honest, either with themselves or the public
• Software maker blasts ‘vigilantism’ in Pa. school spying case
• Tonight’s music:  Above the Clouds by P.W. Fenton and the Second Ward

Chaos ensues this week when Martin, Rich, and Zach are joined by more of the Securosis gang (Mike Rothman and Adrian Lane). Somewhere between jabs at Martin and chatter about, uh, “pay-for companionship” and “stimulants”, we actually talked about some security stuff. Who’da thunk?

Network Security Podcast, Episode 185

Time: [26]:[28]

Show Notes:

• Record 13-Year Sentence for Hacker Max Vision – Former arachNIDS admin, FBI informant, and fraudster gets the longest U.S. hacking sentence (at present)
• During the Olympics, the Feds Will Be Reading Your Tweets – How is this different from any other day?
• Thor vs Clown – discussion on an SMS banking application leads to a heated development — and a challenge…
• U.S. Internet security plan revamped – Network consolidation is old hat — long live better security controls!
• DOJ: No Need for Warrant for Cell Location Information – now the Federalies can just ask nicely for your mobile location data
• Tonight’s music: “Who Will You Really Become” by Anemo

Having escaped* the snowpocalypse/shmoopocalypse/shmowpocalypse that brought D.C. to a halt during ShmooCon 2010, I was able to join Martin and Rich for this week’s recording. I had another fantastic time at this year’s ShmooCon, and so wanted to share some of that with our listeners. Be on the lookout for the recording from the Podcaster’s Meetup, where I represented Network Security Podcast alongside a cast of zany characters from some of our fellow podcasts (and even a videocast).

* – huge sadface for some of our comrades that got stuck in D.C. for an extra day or two

Network Security Podcast, Episode 184
Time: 40:24

Show Notes:

• Is Your Blackberry App Spying On You? – more on Tyler Shields’ proof-of-concept BlackBerry spyware (one of Zach’s favorite presentations at ShmooCon)
• NJ Judge Issues Mixed Order on Use of E-Voting Machines – who needs a paper trail when you’ve got command execution?
• “Don’t Be Evil”, Meet “Spy On Everyone” – Google asks the NSA for security help
• Tonight’s music: “Wonderful Thing” by 4tex

After missing last week due to overlapping travel, we’re back this week with all three of us (although Rich is a bit under the weather). It’s the usual weekly roundup with only a minor diversion to talk about some thingy that some computer company announced with an “i” in the name.

Network Security Podcast, Episode 183
Time: 40:24

Show Notes:

• Latest Poneman study says breach costs rise slightly again. But you really need to take this number with a boulder of salt.
• Did someone say iPad?
• Sophos says Facebook is the biggest social media risk. Duh.
• Twitter mass password reset due to phishing.
• Google to pay (a little) for Chrome bugs.
• Tonight’s music:Blame the Villain by cafebar 401