Schneier on Security: Terrorist Risk of Cloud Computing

Benjamin SchollnickNo Comments

Bruce Schneier has an compelling piece up today, debunking a piece in \”Dark Reading\” regarding the potential for a terrorist attack on \”cloud servers\”.
Please take a look at Bruce\’s evaluation of the threat…

Schneier on Security: Terrorist Risk of Cloud Computing: \”Terrorist Risk of Cloud Computing\”

But in my opinion, there is a risk, but only due to two reasons:
1) Poor design & management of the cloud servers. They would be at risk, only if they did not properly have a secondary site, along with off site backups.
2) Poor design & management of the data center. I can foresee the potential for having large data centers, but once again, if those servers in the data centers are not backed up offsite, and have offsite roll-over servers then they are vulnerable to be taken \”out\”.
Overall, a properly managed company would have this figured up with their disaster recovery plans.

Support Details

Benjamin SchollnickNo Comments

Ever run into the issue of finding out what Browser someone is using?  Or their Screen Resolution?  Or if flash is installed?
Tell them to web browse over to http://supportdetails.com.  It will use a server side script to report the OS, Screen Resolution, Web Browser, Browser Window Size, IP Address, Color Depth, Javascript, Flash Version, and Cookie status.  Then they can either email the information to you (either as a CSV or PDF), or just tell you over the phone.
This may have just replaced http://whatismyip.com.
Support Details | Tech support anger management.

Indigo Security Script Graduates to v3! Now with Insteon Goodness….

Benjamin SchollnickNo Comments

The Indigo Security Script is now officially upgraded to version 3.0!
The major difference is that the Security Script now supports Insteon sensors, for example, the newly shipped TriggerLinc\’s.  I have fixed a variety of bugs, and made some enhancements as well…
Feel free to download the new Security script from the Homepage for the Security Script.
Please feel free to give me comments, suggestions, and compliants… All are welcome.

Do you want your house to twitter?

Benjamin Schollnick2 Comments

Here\’s some code that will allow you to Twitter your Indigo Insteon Traffic….  It will Tweet when a device is turned on or off…Just place it in the Attachments folder for Indigo.  If you have any suggestions, improvements, or questions, just let me know.
If there is interest in it, I may continue to develop this…  This was written from a request from SeaofClouds… See http://www.perceptiveautomation.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2651&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=&sid=e714b1b9f304a3ecaa17e1a8a3f7b93e Continue reading →

AT&T\’s Bad Math Strikes MythBusters\’ Savage

Benjamin SchollnickNo Comments

Yet again, the telecom providers can\’t do simple math. Verizon was often the laughing stock, but now it\’s AT&T\’s turn. Adam Savage was quoted 0.015 cents per kb (1.5 cents per kb) for a access in Canada, and look at his $11,000 bill for an hour or two of web surfing…

Bad Math Strikes MythBusters\’ Savage: \”etherlad writes \’MythBusters\’ Adam Savage got a bill charging him $11,000 for \’a few hours\’ of Web surfing while in Canada, using his AT&T USB Mercury modem. AT&T gave him a quote on the data rate: \’.015 cents, or a penny and a half, per kb.\’ Looks like AT&T didn\’t learn from Verizon\’s inability to do math. AT&T is also claiming Savage downloaded over 9 GB, which he calls \’frakking impossible.\’ Savage\’s huge following on twitter got him a speedy response by AT&T.\’

TriggerLinc (2421) Review

Benjamin Schollnick3 Comments

\"TriggerLinc_2421\"
\"DS10A\"
The TriggerLinc, is Smarthome\’s newest Insteon based device, taking place of X10 based Security Sensors….
The DS10A is the X10 equivalent of the TriggerLinc, and provides the majority of the sensor coverage on our house, and has been quite reliable…  But does have some range issues…  From customer reviews, it seems that the DS10A should get somewhere around 35-45 feet range, and from my experience that is roughly the coverage we get….
The Triggerlinc, is supposed to change all of this.  Smarthome claims up to a 5 year battery life, up to 150 feet access from any Access Point (or RF based Insteon device), Native Insteon support, internal terminals for wired sensors, and of course the ability to link devices to the sensor natively (via Insteon).
In the informal testing, the TriggerLinc definitely has a better range over the DS10A, a faster response (especially since the w800RF32 is out of the loop), but there are a lot of little features that Smarthome has ignored. Continue reading →