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Expert warns facial biometrics could compromise privacy
As facial biometric technology becomes increasingly ubiquitous, IT experts warn that these systems can easily be abused and therefore require stringent privacy policies and data encryption
As facial biometric technology becomes increasingly ubiquitous, IT experts warn that these systems can easily be abused and therefore require stringent privacy policies and data encryption.
In an interview with Information Security Media Group, Beth Givens, the founder and director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, cautioned that organizations using biometric facial solutions should encrypt their data.
“If they back up those applications with good, solid privacy policies and practices, they’ll be in good shape,” she said.
Givens explained that a major problem with facial recognition technology is the chance that Read more…
Extreme 2010 Russian fires and Pakistan floods linked meteorologically
Floods covered at least 14,390 square miles (37,280 square km) of Pakistan between July 28 and September 16, 2010. For more information about this image, please visit this NASA Earth Observatory page Credit: NASA/Earth Observatory GREENBELT, Md. — Two of the most destructive natural disasters of 2010 were closely linked by a single meteorological event, even though they occurred 1,500 miles (2,414 km) apart and were of completely different natures, a new NASA study suggests.
The research finds that the same large-scale meteorological event — an abnormal Rossby wave — sparked extreme heat and persistent wildfires in Russia as well as unusual downstream wind patterns that shifted rainfall in the Indian monsoon region and fueled heavy flooding in Pakistan. Although the heat wave started before the floods, both events attained maximum strength at approximately the same time, the researchers found Read more…
China Analyst: U.S. Can’t Win in Space, So Why Bother Racing?
With access to more than 400 satellites plus at least two tiny, maneuverable robotic shuttles, the U.S. military is the clear leader in military spacecraft. But with 70 orbiters of its own, China is catching up fast. Last year, Beijing matched Washington in space launches for the first time, boosting no fewer than 15 satellites into orbit. It was the first time any nation kept a celestial pace with the U.S. since the height of the Cold War.
The new space race is on. But in the view of one influential analyst, the race isn’t worth the prize. Space “is expensive to enter, hard to sustain assets in, contains no defensive ground, and — barring energy-intensive maneuvering – forces assets into predictable orbits,” Andrew Erickson, a Naval War College professor and editor of the new book Chinese Aerospace Power, told me as part of a longer interview over at AOL Defense.
No one disputes that China is gaining “ground” in space. “The [People’s Liberation Army] is acquiring a range of Read more…
Strange RF signal is picked up by radio telescopes in California from Elenin.
For several days, has been analyzing radio signals picked up by the USC California Radio Telescope. The signal comes from the transit area of “Elenin” and coincides with the observation G pulse, which also are being analyzed by independent experts. The pulses are equally amazing. In various forums, experts are analyzing the signals…
Tropical storm Katia forms in Atlantic
The name Katia replaces Katrina, which was retired from the rotating roster of storm names after the devastating 2005 storm that devastated New Orleans. ((U.S. National Hurricane Center)Tropical storm Katia has formed in the Atlantic and could reach hurricane intensity by late Wednesday or early Thursday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center says.
By late Tuesday afternoon, Katia was located about 1,207 kilometres west of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands and moving “quickly west-northwestward across the tropical Atlantic,” the Miami-based centre said Tuesday.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds had increased to 97 km/h by Tuesday afternoon, and additional strengthening is forecast over the next 48 hours. Katia could become a hurricane by Wednesday, the hurricane centre said.
Hurricane specialist Michael Brennan said Tuesday morning that Katia could affect Read more…
Report: Israel sends 2 warships to Egyptian border
Military sources tell AP Israeli Navy sent additional warships to maritime border with Egypt following intelligence indicating viable terror threat. Meanwhile, Iran set to send 15th fleet to area as well as ‘to thwart pirate activity
The Israeli Navy (INF) has decided to boost its presence and patrols near Israel‘s maritime border with Egypt due to a viable terror threat in the area.
Israeli security sources told the Associated Press on Tuesday that two additional warships have been dispatched to Israel’s Red Sea border with Egypt. Another source stressed that the operation was routine, telling Reuters that “two naval craft have been sent to the Red Sea. This is not unusual.”
On Monday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Benny Gantz ordered that Read more…
Popocatepetl volcano releases steam exhalations of a mile high
Agencia EFE Translated
ElMexico, 30 ago (EFE) .- The Popocatepetl volcano threw four breaths now “moderate” steam, gas and ash that reached a mile high, so it provides the possibility of a “slight drop of cold ash” in City Mexico, officials said.
The National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) said in a statement yesterday Popocatepetl an increase in activity, which consisted of a greater number of low-intensity exhalations accompanied by steam, gas and small amounts of ash.
He added that this day there were four major exhalations which were Read more…
Mexico to give HPV vaccine to all girls from 2012
MEXICO CITY — Mexico plans to administer the vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer, to all girls beginning next year, the country’s health ministry said Tuesday.
Beginning in 2012, the HPV vaccine will be part of the normal course of shots given to all girls at the age of nine, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said.
Cervical cancer kills about 4,200 women in Mexico each year.
The minister said while deaths from cervical cancer had Read more…
‘Exterminate Christians, close pyramids, Sphinx’
 U.S. jets over pyramids |
A rising leader in the radical Islamic movement in Egypt that has become a major political player since the demise of Hosni Mubarak’s regime says Christian churches may need to be blown up and Christians exterminated to allow the advance of Islamic law, or Shariah.
The comments come from Sheik ‘Adel Shehato, a senior leader with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad terrorist group. The sheik was jailed in 1991 because of his positions but was released earlier this year in the revolution that removed Mubarak from power.
His interview with the Egyptian daily Roz Al-Yousef was translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute.
The sheik, a senior jihadist leader, responded to a question about using violence against Christians, who Read more…
Summer coolest in nearly 20 years
This summer is set to be Britain’s coolest in nearly 20 years, the Met Office said.
The mean temperature for summer 2011 has been 13.63C (56.53F), close to 1993’s 13.39C (56.1F), provisional figures for June 1 to August 29 show.
Last summer’s mean temperature was more than 1C higher than this summer so far at 14.65C (58.37F).
But while the summer has been wetter than last year’s it has been considerably drier than 2007, 2008 and 2009, the forecaster said.
Figures show this summer has seen 267.7mm of rainfall so far, compared with Read more…
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