Neural Interfaces

January 29th, 2016

This could be promising towards aligning to the Shadowrun Universe timeline of having neural interfaces for cyberterminals in the 20’s.

“Today’s best brain-computer interface systems are like two supercomputers trying to talk to each other using an old 300-baud modem,” said Phillip Alvelda, the NESD program manager. “Imagine what will become possible when we upgrade our tools to really open the channel between the human brain and modern electronics.”
http://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2015-01-19

SR4 Encyption Designed by RSA

December 21st, 2013

Finally, we know where the encryption is SR4 is from and why its so easy to break!!

Documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden show that the NSA created and promulgated a flawed formula for generating random numbers to create a “back door” in encryption products
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/20/us-usa-security-rsa-idUSBRE9BJ1C220131220

Shadowrun had New York food riots… we get San Francisco tech riots

December 21st, 2013

Not quite an arising of SINless, but definitely protests arising from economic disparity; the shadowrun version seems much more noble somehow though.

Angered and frightened by a three-month trucker strike that had stopped the flow of fresh foods
At one point, a Seretech Med-Research truck hauling wastes, including infectious materials, became the target of the mob.
– SR1, pg 12

several people unfurled two giant banners reading “TECHIES: Your World Is Not Welcome Here”
a person appeared from behind the bus and quickly smashed the whole of the rear window
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/12/20/18748143.php

Hacking with Sound

December 12th, 2013

Just when you thought turning off your wireless and be safe the hackers find a way to get around it…

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/12/12/computers-can-be-hacked-with-high-frequency-sounds/?intcmp=features

Drones!

December 6th, 2013

This drone launched from a sub was was submerged and then flew for 6+ hours.
Don’t even talk to me about having to refuel my drone in 2075, nor complain about my rapid launch racks!

http://www.popsci.com/article/technology/big-pic-submerged-navy-submarine-launches-drone?src=SOC&dom=fb

Top 10 Megacorporations for Food in 2013

December 2nd, 2013

The consolidation is underway. Almost all of the brands, we all purchase our food from, link up to one of these 10 megacorps.

http://www.policymic.com/articles/71255/10-corporations-control-almost-everything-you-buy-this-chart-shows-how

Delivery by Drone Coming to a City (perhaps) Near You

December 2nd, 2013

The “octocopters” aren’t ready to take flight yet. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in an interview on 60 Minutes that the drones would be ready to take flight in four to five years.

http://money.cnn.com/2013/12/01/technology/amazon-drone-delivery/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/12/02/amazon-testing-deliveries-by-drone/

Shadowrun Success

December 28th, 2012

Witnesses told police she had been following the man closely and mumbling to herself. She got up from a nearby bench and shoved him as the train pulled into the platform

1. Good disguise as crazy street person: Check

2. Follow suspect mumbling so as to cause him to ignore you: Check

3. Time ambush as train approaches; roll for surprise: Success

4. Melee attack for knockdown: Success

5. Slip away and collect payment: Check

Looks like a successful Shadowrun to me…

Link

Passwords Are Obsolete

December 5th, 2012

In a test, the researcher’s system was able to generate 348 billion NTLM password hash checks per second.

That sounds a lot like Shadowrun level matrix security. How many passes does it take to get an administrator password now?

http://it.slashdot.org/story/12/12/05/0623215/new-25-gpu-monster-devours-strong-passwords-in-minutes

Modern Matrix Security Measures with Fail…

October 14th, 2012

We would be much better served if we accepted that prevention eventually fails, so we need detection, response, and containment for the incidents that will occur.” It seems that computing is continuing to move towards Life in Shadowrun with a realization that everything is vulnerable and hackable. More focus needs to be given to more detection and response. Hey! We already knew that…

http://taosecurity.blogspot.com/2012/09/unrealistic-security-advice.html