Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Friday, January 15, 2010

3G GSM encryption cracked in less than two hours

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/15/3g-gsm-encryption-cracked-in-less-than-two-hours/

Looks like all that GSM code-cracking is progressing faster than we thought. Soon after the discovery of the 64-bit A5/1 GSM encryption flaw last month, the geniuses at Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science went ahead and cracked the KASUMI system -- a 128-bit A5/3 algorithm implemented across 3G networks -- in less than two hours. If you must know, the method applied is dubbed 'related-key sandwich attack' where multiple values of known differentials are processed through the first seven rounds of KASUMI, then using resulting quartets that are identified sharing key differences, subkey materials can be obtained in round eight to build up the 128-bit key. Sure, it's hardly snooping-on-the-go at this speed, but worryingly this was only an 'unoptimized implementation... on a single PC.' At the same time, the paper condemns the presumably red-faced GSM Association for moving from MISTY -- a more computationally-expensive but much stronger predecessor algorithm -- to KASUMI. Guess we'll just have to stick with Skype.

3G GSM encryption cracked in less than two hours originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PhoneArena | source

International Association for Cryptologic Research | Email this | Comments

LG Display's 19-inch E Ink display plays loose with the truth

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/15/lg-displays-19-inch-e-ink-display-plays-loose-with-the-truth/

Well doesn't that look impressive? A big 'ol 19-inch electronic ink display that appears to emulate your father's newspaper. No doubt, this massive Metal-Foil e-paper prototype from LG Display is impressive at this size (just 0.3-mm thin and 250×400mm -- about the same size as a 297×420-mm sheet of A3) and weight (130 grams). Hell, we were already impressed with the flexible 11.5-inch panel from LG Display found in the Skiff Reader. However, like the rigid Skiff Reader, a flexible panel doesn't mean that we'll be seeing a flexible e-reader. In fact, chances are we won't after the manufacturer gets through adding a touchscreen overlay, application processor, and radio chipset. Let's hope for a surprise though, whenever these panels do make it out for mass production... assuming anyone still cares about monochrome E Ink displays by then.

LG Display's 19-inch E Ink display plays loose with the truth originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E-Ink-Info | source

DigiTimes | Email this | Comments

Clear releasing two new WiMAX modems with integrated VOIP functionality

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/15/clear-releasing-two-new-wimax-modems-with-integrated-voip-functi/

We were recently lucky enough to experience Clear's WiMAX service in Las Vegas for a week and, after having 4G available whenever we wanted it, we were a little sad to go back to our 3G domiciles. For those who live every day in a WiMAX wonderland, Clear has a pair of new modems for you, both featuring built-in ATA compatibility meaning those signing up for Clear Voice VOIP can jack their phones straight in. The devices are the Gemtek Series G, available in Vegas, and the Motorola CPEi 725 Series M, available in Portland. Both are $80 up-front or $5 per month on lease, and neither are available where we are, so if you'll kindly excuse us we're going to go pout in the corner for a bit.

Clear releasing two new WiMAX modems with integrated VOIP functionality originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boy Genius Report | source

WiMAXATL | Email this | Comments

Thursday, January 14, 2010

This Tiny Core i7 Motherboard Could Almost Fit In Your Pocket [PCs]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/CWX3-jVZYmk/this-tiny-core-i7-motherboard-could-almost-fit-in-your-pocket

5 inches by 3.7 inches—that's the diminutive footprint of the fully loaded conga-BM57 Core i7 motherboard.

Despite its small stature, the conga-BM57 features an impressive spec list, including a 2.66 GHz Core i7, 8GB of RAM, integrated intel graphics, 5 PCI Express lanes, 8 USB 2.0 ports, 3 SATA, 1 EIDE and Gigabit Ethernet—plus support for dual displays over VGA, LVDS, HDMI, DisplayPort or SDVO.

The price and release date are still unknown, but at this size, it would make one heck of a HTPC that could double for some gaming. [SlashGear]

Magnetism! [Image Cache]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/4-2np-paZc4/magnetism

Science visualization doesn't get much awesomerer and old school than this, really. We should put a bunch of these together near the North Pole, to keep the Russians from stealing it. [Thanks David Keyes]