Anti-NSA activists don't like Obama speech

By Doug Gross, CNN

January 17, 2014 -- Updated 1951 GMT (0351 HKT) | Filed under: Web

Assange: It is 'embarrassing' for Obama

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Activists say Obama's NSA speech was not enough
Obama announced reforms while defending surveillance
Julian Assange says the speech was "embarrassing"

(CNN) -- In a development that should surprise absolutely no one, anti-NSA activists were quick Friday to say that President Barack Obama's efforts to limit the agency's spying activities didn't go far enough.

Leading up to a speech in which he outlined reforms that include requiring court approval for analysts to dig into telephone data, Obama had promised to address privacy concerns while defending digital surveillance in the name of national security.

Advocates who feel that the National Security Agency's techniques, some of which have been exposed by former contractor turned international fugitive Edward Snowden, represent a massive intrusion into citizen privacy responded quickly and often harshly.

Some examples:

Alex Fowler and Chris Riley, policy experts at Mozilla (makers of Web browser Firefox)

"We'd hoped for, and the Internet deserves, more. Without a meaningful change of course, the Internet will continue on its path toward a world of balkanization and distrust, a grave departure from its origins of openness and opportunity."

Carl Messineo and Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, co-founders of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund

"Rather than dismantling the NSA's unconstitutional mass surveillance programs, or even substantially restraining them, President Obama today has issued his endorsement of them. ... The speech today was 'historic' in the worst sense. It represents a historic failure by a president to rein in mass government illegality and violations of fundamental rights."

Electronic Frontier Foundation (via Twitter)

"Today, Obama took several steps toward reforming NSA surveillance, but there's a long way to go. Now it's up Congress & courts." (The foundation gave Obama 3.5 points out of 12 on a scorecard it had created on its hopes for "real NSA reform."

Anthony D. Romero, executive director, American Civil Liberties Union

"The president's speech outlined several developments which we welcome. Increased transparency for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, improved checks and balances at the FISA court through the creation of a panel of advocates, and increased privacy protections for non-U.S. citizens abroad -- the first such assertion by a U.S. president -- are all necessary and welcome reforms.

"However, the president's decision not to end bulk collection and retention of all Americans' data remains highly troubling. The president outlined a process to study the issue further and appears open to alternatives. But the president should end -- not mend -- the government's collection and retention of all law-abiding Americans' data."

Julian Assange, WikiLeaks founder

"I think it's embarrassing for a head of state like that to go on for almost 45 minutes and say almost nothing. ... It's clear that the President would not be speaking today without the actions of Edward Snowden and whiste-blowers before him. ... Security whistleb-lowers have forced this debate. This president has been dragged, kicking and screaming, to today's address. He's been very reluctant to make any concrete reforms, and unfortunately, today we also see very few concrete reforms."

by : http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/17/tech/web/response-obama-nsa-speech/index.html

Ticket for driving in Google Glass dismissed

By Heather Kelly, CNN

January 17, 2014 -- Updated 1822 GMT (0222 HKT) | Filed under: Innovations

Judge tosses Google Glass driving ticket

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Charges dismissed for woman ticketed for wearing Google Glass while driving
A judge rules there was not enough evidence to prove the device was on
Some states are pushing for laws that specifically ban the use of Glass while driving
Officers in California can still ticket drivers for wearing Google Glass

(CNN) -- It may have been the most anticipated traffic court date ever.

Southern California resident Cecilia Abadie appeared in San Diego traffic court on Thursday for speeding and for wearing Google Glass while driving. It is considered the first time someone has been cited for wearing the face-mounted technology while driving.

Commissioner John Blair threw out both charges, stating there wasn't enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Google Glass was turned on at the time. It is only illegal to wear the device while driving if it is operational.

Abadie was pulled over in October for speeding by the California Highway Patrol. The officer then cited her for wearing Google Glass under California vehicle code 27602, which prohibits operating a video-display in front of the driver's head rest where it can distract the driver. The law was originally drafted to keep people from watching TV while driving.

Google Glass is Google's early version of a head-mounted computer display. A small square monitor sits above the right eye, just out of the normal line of vision. To view information on the display like a map or text message, the wearer must look up.

Google Glass defenders claim Glass is safer to use while driving than a smartphone since it can be voice controlled and you only have to glance up to view the Glass display. Many rallied to Abadie's defense, even starting a #freececilia hashtag on Twitter.

When asked to comment on the case, a Google spokesperson sent the following statement to CNN:

"Glass is built to connect you more with the world around you, not distract you from it. As we make clear in our help center, Explorers should always use Glass responsibly and put their safety and the safety of others first.

"It's early days for Glass and we look forward to hearing feedback from Explorers and others in advance of a wider consumer launch this year."

On Google's Glass FAQ page, the company warns: "Most states have passed laws limiting the use of mobile devices while driving any motor vehicle, and most states post those rules on their department of motor vehicles websites. Read up and follow the law!"

"Anything that distracts you from driving is something that were concerned about," said CHP Public Affairs Officer Jake Sanchez.

While the ruling was a big win for Abadie, a product manager who wears her Glass 12 hours a day (she rested them around her neck while in the courtroom), it is not a green light for Google Glass wearers to freely wear and use their devices while driving.

"It doesn't necessarily answer the question everybody wanted: Is it legal to drive down the road wearing Google Glass while it's operating?" said William Concidine of My Traffic Guys. Concidine and his partner, Gabriel Moore, are the traffic ticket attorneys who defended Abadie in court on Thursday.

Google Glass wearers in California can still be pulled over and cited for wearing the head-mounted displays while driving. Whether they get a warning or a ticket will be up to the individual officer. Getting a charges dismissed will then be up to individual traffic court judges.

"There is no law that that specifically says Google Glass is illegal. Each officer has to take each case on a case-by-case basis," said Sanchez.

A dismissal in court is not uncommon for traffic violations, and this ruling will not change how CHP officers view distracted driving.

"I do think it leaves it up in the air for Google Glass wearers," said Concidine. "They have to wear it with the possibility that they may get a ticket that they'll have to fight until a legislator takes some sort of action."

Three states have already drafted laws that specifically ban Google Glass while driving: Delaware, West Virginia and New Jersey.

by : http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/16/tech/innovation/google-glass-ticket-dismissed/index.html

Connected TVs, fridge help launch global cyberattack

By Brandon Griggs, CNN

January 17, 2014 -- Updated 2252 GMT (0652 HKT) | Filed under: Gaming and Gadgets

A smart refrigerator on display at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) last week in Las Vegas.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Security firm: Global cyberattack was launched from more than 100,000 everyday appliances
Gadgets included routers, televisions and at least one "smart" refrigerator
Proofpoint said the attack occurred between December 23 and January 6
Poorly protected "smart" devices may be easier to infect and control than PC, laptops, or tablets

(CNN) -- It's bad enough that we have to fear identity thieves who are trying to scam us with malicious messages sent from PCs.

We now must worry about being targeted by our household appliances, as well.

An Internet-security firm has discovered what they are calling a global cyberattack launched from more than 100,000 everyday consumer gadgets such as home-networking routers, televisions and at least one "smart" refrigerator.

It's being called possibly the first proven cyberattack to originate from connected appliances -- the so-called "Internet of Things."

Proofpoint said the attack occurred between December 23 and January 6, and featured waves of malicious e-mail targeting businesses and individuals worldwide. In a post on the Proofpoint site, the company said the scam involved more than 750,000 e-mails from more than 100,000 appliances that had been commandeered by "thingbots," or robotic programs that can be remotely installed on digital devices.

Google buys Nest Labs for $3.2 billion

It was not immediately clear Friday which victims were targeted and whether the scammers were successful in collecting any personal information.

"Bot-nets are already a major security concern and the emergence of thingbots may make the situation much worse," said David Knight, general manager of Proofpoint's Information Security division. "Many of these devices are poorly protected at best and consumers have virtually no way to detect or fix infections when they do occur. [We] may find distributed attacks increasing as more and more of these devices come online and attackers find additional ways to exploit them."

Recent years have seen an explosion in the number of devices fitted with Internet connectivity, from eyewear to toothbrushes to refrigerators and beyond. Earlier this week, Google paid $3.2 billion to acquire Nest, a company that makes smart home thermostats.

The International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts there will be more than 30 billion connected devices in the world by 2020.

Proofpoint's findings suggest that just as personal computers can be unknowingly compromised and used to launch large-scale cyberattacks, so can any smart household appliance. And poorly protected "smart" devices may be easier to infect and control than PCs, laptops or tablets.

A sophisticated hack was not needed to compromise the appliances in this attack. Instead, the use of default passwords left the devices completely exposed on public networks, according to Proofpoint.

The company also noted that connected appliances typically aren't protected by anti-spam or anti-virus software, nor are they routinely monitored for security breaches.

by : http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/17/tech/gaming-gadgets/attack-appliances-fridge/index.html

Chipmaker Intel said Friday it plans to reduce its global workforce by over 5,000 people over the next year

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Chipmaker Intel said Friday it plans to reduce its global workforce by over 5,000 people over the next year.

The company says the cuts are in response to "evolving market trends

Intel (INTC, Fortune 500) said it will trim about 5% of its 107,600 global workforce by the end of 2014 -- 5,380 jobs.

"This is not a layoff," said Intel Spokesman Chris Kraeuter. "It's not a giant, one time action. This is a target employment rate for the end of the year."

Kraeuter said the cuts will come as a result of people retiring, redeployments, or people leaving voluntarily.

"We're making decisions on how to design our resources to better meet the needs of our business," said Kraeuter.

Intel outlook is not too chipper

The news comes after the company announced lackluster earnings and guidance Thursday. Investors are anxious for the chipmaker to become less dependent on the slow growing personal computer market and more engaged in mobile technology.

For the year, Intel shares are up about 18%, while the broader electronic technology sector is up over 30%.

First Published: January 17, 2014: 6:00 PM ET

by : http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/17/technology/intel-jobs/index.html

Apple's Tim Cook to billionaire Carl Icahn: Step aside

In Friday's proxy statement, Apple ignored Icahn and spoke directly to its serious investors.

Cook and Icahn

FORTUNE -- We don't know what Apple's (AAPL) CEO said to Wall Street's favorite activist investor at their "meet and tweet" dinner last September -- the one where Carl Icahn says he "pushed hard for a 150 billion buyback."

But on Friday we got the company's official response -- one that was approved, if not drafted, by Tim Cook. It's buried on p. 62 of a 65-page preliminary proxy statement.

Not surprisingly, the board of directors recommends that shareholders vote AGAINST (emphasis Apple's) a proposal that would commit the company to repurchasing the amount of shares Icahn wanted -- cut after that dinner from $150 billion worth (representing all of Apple's accumulated cash) to a minimum of $50 billion in 2014.

Even at $50 billion, that's roughly twice what Apple was already on track to spend in one of the largest buybacks in corporate history.

But Apple's statement goes further, telling Icahn and the rest of Apple's investors in no uncertain terms -- using language that sounds a lot like the way Tim Cook talks -- that Apple is playing in the big leagues and that it knows what it's doing better than any tweet-writing corporate raider who's just trying to increase the value of shares he's owned for less than a year.

After a brief, pro forma paragraph about "seeking input from shareholders," Apple's Statement in Opposition to Proposal No. 10 gets serious:

The Company's success stems from the Company's unique ability to combine world-class skills in hardware, software and services to deliver innovative products that create new markets and delight hundreds of millions of customers. This success has created tremendous value for the Company's shareholders.

With breakthrough products and services such as the Mac, iPod, iPhone, iPad and App Store, the Company has created huge market opportunities, and the Board and management team believe the opportunities that lie ahead are just as exciting. Given such large and global markets, the Company competes with large companies around the world, many with their own significant technical capabilities and significant capital. This dynamic competitive landscape and the Company's rapid pace of innovation require unprecedented investment, flexibility and access to resources...

In the first six quarters of the capital return program, dividend payments and share repurchases totaled over $43 billion. Dividends and share repurchases must be funded by domestic cash, and the Company has returned to shareholders or invested all of the domestic cash generated by its business and raised through the issuance of debt since the beginning of the program.

In other words, forget about it Carl. We'll do what serves our long-term interests, not yours. Meanwhile, we've got bigger fish to fry.

See also

:by:http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/12/28/apple-cook-icahn-proxy/?iid=obnetwork

How GM is making it near impossible to steal a Tahoe

January 2, 2014:

The automaker has introduced several new anti-theft features to its 2015 line of big SUVs, which have been top targets among thieves.

By Doron Levin

2015

FORTUNE -- A new 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe, with every possible option, retails for more than $61,000. Owners seem to love the vehicle, as do thieves, who have found it a juicy target.

Later in 2014, when the 2015 versions of the Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Chevrolet Suburban appear, all three should be somewhat less tempting targets. GM has added several anti-theft features that come standard in these models, and it has introduced several new optional features as well.

Bill Biondo, who is in charge of security technology for GM (GM) models, said the company has "engineered a layered approach" to defeating thieves. According to the latest figures from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Tahoe was the second-most stolen SUV, after the Ford (F) Escape.

MORE: Microsoft's Chromebook headache

Starting with the new standard locking steering column, it will be much more difficult to tow or push the car away, an increasingly common theft method. A new type of key will deter lock picking, and stronger door lock cylinders and shields should defeat access with slim jims and similar tools.

Another upgrade: bolted-in third-row seats. Seats that slipped in and out were convenient for users -- and just as convenient for anyone wishing to smash the rear window and steal them.

The new vehicles will also include a nifty hidden compartment behind the infotainment screen. Small valuables, wallets, sunglasses, and so forth can be rendered hidden and inaccessible in that space.

According to the FBI, more than 721,000 vehicles were stolen in 2012, up 0.6% from a year earlier and the first annual increase since 2003. By far, most car thefts occur in the western U.S., primarily in California. Carjackings currently account for about 3% of all thefts.

In fancier versions of the new Tahoe, Yukon, and Suburban, a protection package includes glass breakage sensors, interior motion sensors, and a tilt sensor that sounds an alarm if the vehicle is lifted from the ground. The key control system can be reinforced further to make ignition impossible without an authorized key.

And if all of these features aren't sufficient to motivate bad guys (and they are usually guys) to look elsewhere, there's GM's OnStar satellite-based system. With OnStar's Stolen Vehicle Assistance feature, law enforcement can locate the stolen vehicle, slow it down, and remotely block its ignition.

MORE: Walt Mossberg on Apple: 'Attention fanboys and fangirls'

Security against theft does not rank high among the reasons a consumer buys a vehicle. But any kind of high-tech gadgetry will only add to a model's desirability. In this case, big GM SUVs have been a favorite chop-shop item for a while because they've been relatively vulnerable and because, stripped down to parts, they fetch big revenue.

Thieves are nothing if not ingenious. But with so many Explorers, Grand Cherokees, Durangos, and Range Rovers to choose from, GM's reinforced full-size SUVs may soon draw less attention.