Poverty and Virtual Crime
Eugene Kaspersky, the head of Kaspersky Labs, an antimalware company, issued the following statement to The Register (via):
“A particular cause for concern is programs which advocate ‘cheap computers for poor third world countries’,” Kaspersky writes. “These further encourage criminal activity on the internet. Statistics on the number of malicious programs originating from specific countries confirm this: the world leader in virus writing is China, followed by Latin America, with Russia and Eastern European countries not far behind.”
Essentially, it makes the same argument we’ve been hearing in conservative American politics for a long time–that those in poverty deserve their situation because it is the result of their life choices. Why should we assist those in need, when clearly they’re all criminals? An important question in more than computer security, I assure you.
However, the idea of providing cheap computers for countries with less econmic power than the US is a good idea. Like in India, where skilled computer programmers are being produced at an incredible rate, other countries too can perhaps begin to experience high-tech growth. What’s wrong with jumpstarting a developing nation?
Air Force Exposed
Information about the Air Force One has been leaked onto the web by official military sites:
“It is not a good thing” for that information to be in the public domain, said Lt. Col Bruce Alexander, director of public affairs for the Air Mobility Command’s 89th Airlift Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, which operates the presidential air transport fleet. “We are concerned with how it got there and how we can get it out. This affects operational security.”
Information about Secret Service stations and anti-aircraft missile technology is considered especially sensitive. However, in the interest of public freedom of information, I’ve searched google for information about the VC-25, also known as the “Air Force One.” Here’s what I found:
Exploitable delicate areas of the VC-25:
Titled Aircraft Hazards, this document includes a description of where the Infrared Countermeasures (IRCM) unit is located, the temperature and noise levels of its four engines, where oxygen tanks are located in the plane, entry and exit points, emergency engine shutdown controls, and security placement.
Here are snapshots of the interesting slides, a visual guide to the Air Force One VC-25:
Basic facts about the VC-25:
A special transportation report gives a slide with basic information about the VC-25, such as airspeed, dimensions, range, and other statistical snippets. The photo is reproduced below:
None of this is classified, top secret, etc, but it could definitely be used negatively. For more information, please consider the following resources:
