FBI on the hunt for qualified cyber special agent candidates
The FBI wants skilled and qualified cybersecurity experts to help lend a hand in cyber-based investigations. Interested candidates must be skilled in computer science and similar fields, while also passing a fitness test, medical exam, extended background check and a polygraph test, according to the FBI.
A brief look at the FBI Cyber Careers page indicates a number jobs for cyber special agents, computer science specialists, information technology forensic examiners, and qualified candidates for cyber internships. The FBI is increasingly helping companies following major data breaches, cyberattacks from hacker groups and suspected foreign states, cyber forensics, and other roles following a major incident.
"Cyber agents will be integrated into all the different violations that we work," said Robert Anderson Jr., FBI cyber crimes branch executive assistant director, in a recruitment video. "So whether it's a counterterrorism or counterintelligence investigation, they could be the lead agent in the case."
Continue reading: FBI on the hunt for qualified cyber special agent candidates (full post)
Foreign ISIS fighter accidentally reveals his location on Twitter
A New Zealand man suspected of fighting for ISIS in Syria accidentally revealed his location, because he simply forgot to turn off geotagging. Mark John Taylor, also known as Abu Abdul Rahman or Mohammad Daniel, realized his mistakes and turned off Twitter location services - while also deleting 45 tweets - but screenshots were already captured. The account in question, @M_Taylor_Kiwi, has been suspended.
Using Taylor's own tweets, iBrabo, a Canadian open source intelligence research firm, was able to track the militant's locations from Kafar Roma, into the desert, and into the Al Tabqah ISIS safe haven. As Taylor posted messages such as: "I've abandoned all international laws and only practice Islamic shariah laws! NZ laws are the worst of time. Sorry Johny, here to stay in IS," he was also revealing what house he was staying in.
"Taylor eager for the fame of being a violent jihadist took to Twitter to get attention for his exploits," iBrabo noted in a statement. "His statements and Twitter missteps have solidified his involvement with ISIS and will provide the evidence should he ever try to return to New Zealand."
Continue reading: Foreign ISIS fighter accidentally reveals his location on Twitter (full post)
Palm brand resurfaces ahead of CES, could it be a new smartphone?
Just a few days before the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, a new website at mynewpalm.com indicates the company could be ready for a new emergence in the smartphone market. The website teases "coming soon," and "smart move," when a user visits the website.
The company was eventually acquired by Hewlett-Packard and essentially disappeared from the public world - but there are reported links to Alcatel, a Google Android phone manufacturer, behind the new Palm website. It would be a curious move if HP decided to quietly sell the brand to Alcatel, as the company apparently wants to try new marketing techniques to win over Android users.
Considering the ongoing struggles that BlackBerry - a longtime smartphone king - has endured trying to claw back into the smartphone market, it seems hard to believe Palm will be able to have much success.
Continue reading: Palm brand resurfaces ahead of CES, could it be a new smartphone? (full post)
Chevrolet have made a 4K UHD monitor wall spanning 240 square feet
Used for displaying in-design automobile models, Chevrolet's affectionately named "Power Wall" consists of a 240 square-foot, read projected glass screen matched up with two Christie Mirage 4K25 DLP3D projectors - creating a 2D or 3D image for viewing.
In previous years, car manufacturers would build their carve their upcoming models out of wood or clay, sometimes even constructing a metal object - now it's simply beamed onto this massive wall for all to see quickly and easily. The images displayed on this screen are rendered thanks to eight workstations, of which are assisted by two external video processors - this whole ordeal requires five people to operate the beast, consisting of three visualization specialists, an IT technician and a Christie hardware engineer.
Joe Guzman is Chevrolet's group manager for Global Virtual Design Process & Operations, in a press statement he said "that's the beauty of this kind of high definition. Using the maths data, we can render the vehicle as the customer will see it in the 'as manufactured state. Designers and engineers can then scrutinize every detail to make sure they are spot on."
Continue reading: Chevrolet have made a 4K UHD monitor wall spanning 240 square feet (full post)
Tesla are working on robotic snake-like chargers for their cars
Tesla Motors' CEO, Elon Musk, has just unleashed a Tweet to his awaiting fans, hinting that his company is working on a robotic charging system that will automatically connect and charge your car.
Instantly it makes you picture something out of a sci-fi film and that's exactly what it seems like is going to happen. Recent reports have shown that robot snake type products are actually a very real thing - OC Robotics has just shown off their Series II - X125 system snake bot, said to be used for 'a number of practical purposes' and the Carnegie Mellon University Biorobotics lab have been working on their own versions of these devices for quite some time.
There is no information currently pointing to any possible designs that Tesla may use for themselves, however the two above examples may give you a rough idea of what to expect.
Continue reading: Tesla are working on robotic snake-like chargers for their cars (full post)
Smart devices get smaller - are Smart Rings worth the time of day?
Smartphones to Smartwatches and now Smart Rings, when will the downsizing of technology stop? Is it really worth developing and working on a tiny ring that's only real purpose is to inform you of a missed call or text message?
There's been a few different campaigns to get smart rings off the ground, with the MOTA: SmartRing even achieving $41,740 - well over its $35,000 goal.
Gizmodo had a chat to Kevin Bates, the man responsible for the Ö ring project. He gave a little insight into how crowd sourcing should work and exactly why he decided to undertake the project in the first place. Bates stated that "I made this just to see how small I could get the technology. I became inspired after seeing several crowdfunding campaigns for smart rings become hugely successful. I wanted to see if it was possible to develop a technology more advanced than what they had displayed in their promotional materials. In general, I think people should be more skeptical of hardware crowdfunding and demand to see more behind the scenes operation of the underlying technology."
Continue reading: Smart devices get smaller - are Smart Rings worth the time of day? (full post)
Possible revenge hacking by banks has led to FBI investigation
Cybercriminals are having a field day targeting US companies, financial institutions and government agencies, with numerous campaigns in recent years. However, some frustrated victims, instead of solely focusing on improving cybersecurity defense, are interested in trying to get vigilante justice on hackers.
It doesn't matter the motives behind revenge hacking, it's still illegal - and the FBI is investigating a report by J.P. Morgan that target Iranian servers following a 2012 cyberattack. As the FBI improves its ability to determine what country or group could be responsible for attacks, they don't want banks and other victims to try their hand at launching attacks.
"Right now the situation is that companies are on defense," said Bloomberg News reporter Michael Riley. "They have to try and keep hackers out of their networks, and the hackers only have to win once. They are incredibly frustrated, they are incredibly vulnerable, and they are looking for other options, and some of those options may be going after the hackers."
Continue reading: Possible revenge hacking by banks has led to FBI investigation (full post)
New release Samsung Smart TVs will include PlayStation Now
Usually seen as competitors, Samsung and Sony are now banding together for the benefit of the consumer - seeing Samsung's Smart TVs released in 2015 include PlayStation Now compatibility.
It's expected to see this feature be presented at CES 2015 in Las Vegas, which is set to kick off in a only few days time - just as PlayStation now was originally announced at CES 2014.
With the announcement of the partnership happening just before Christmas day, North American consumers will be among the first to receive this offer. As with other PlayStation Now compatible devices, the Samsung TVs will contain an app to connect to Sony's Gakai-powered games service, allowing customers to chose from a list of games that they can rent - picking as they wish and playing them almost instantly.
Continue reading: New release Samsung Smart TVs will include PlayStation Now (full post)
MSI teams up with XOTIC PC to release a beast retail system, ELYSIUM
If you're a fan of extremely well-built systems and don't have the patience, skill or time to do it yourself - pre-built computers from retailers and specialist companies is certainly a viable option.
MSI has teamed up with XOTIC PC to provide to the public this insane system, boasting components including SLI-980's, a water cooled Intel i7 5960X and an inclusion of a monstrous 32GB of RAM.
The press release issued doesn't have any quoted retail price and a quick search of the website comes up empty, but you can expect this system to come a quite a hefty cost.
Continue reading: MSI teams up with XOTIC PC to release a beast retail system, ELYSIUM (full post)
New NASA scientific balloon fails after only a short period
The freshly designed balloon, said to carry a telescope that detects gamma rays unseen by human eyes, was set off with the task of floating over Antarctica for 100 days - marking it as NASA's longest scientific balloon mission ever.
Er, Houston - We have a problem. After only two days of soaring through the sky, the balloon has sprung a leak and plunged back to earth. As according to the COSI '14 Balloon Campaign and Shenanigans website: "I'm saddened to report that the COSI/SPB balloon flight was terminated much earlier than expected. The balloon developed a leak after the first day at float and we decided to increase the chances of instrument recovery this season instead of continuing operations for as long as the balloon maintained altitude."
Currently sitting at 350 miles from McMurdo at an elevation of 8000 ft, this unfortunate situation has seen a daring mission end extremely early. The previous balloon flight mission record sits at 55 days total, with this ambitious mission looking to almost-double this number. Judging by the wrap-up on this website, there are no repair and re-launch plans currently made - it seems like a completely dead project.
Continue reading: New NASA scientific balloon fails after only a short period (full post)