Security & Hacking: The Matasano Crypto Challenges

Really cool the Matasano Crypto Challenges is "a collection of 48 exercises that demonstrate attacks on real-world crypto."

It's designed to teach real Crypto attacks by doing, great for improving the security of code you write, or to get an idea of what Pen Testing or malicious hacking involves.

Very good review, worth reading in it's own right here https://blog.pinboard.in/2013/04/the_matasano_crypto_challenges/

Note in the Pinboard review the original link for Matasano Crypto Challenges  didn't update for server move, current working link (I have correct link at top of this blog post of mine as well) is http://web.archive.org/web/20140213141638/http://www.matasano.com/articles/crypto-challenges/

Nerd Gear: Android Controlled LED Lamp

See http://www.myledlamp.net/ for more information.

They offer a free version of the app for Android, and instructions for Arduino, and other information you need to build your own.

Nerd Gear: Cool Impact Resistant Material & Case for Galaxy Note 2

Amusing and intersting demo of a fancy material, called D30, used in some phone cases, and other items.

It is putty like under normal circumstances, but under high speed impacts, acts like a solid (or perhaps like a hydraulic fluid?).

 Link to the company that makes D30 http://www.d3o.com/consumer/electronics/

Tech21 makes phone cases using this technology, and they already have one for the Galaxy Note 2!

Link http://www.tech21.uk.com/index.php/news/news_item/New_Galaxy_Note_2_Cases

Like I have mentioned before, I am planning on getting myself a Samsung Galaxy Note II phone for Christmas present.

Ah found Youtube of the Tech21 Impact Snap Cases, this is definitely on the top of my list for case for my Christmas Phone ^_^

Nerd Gear: Sensor Drone turn your Android, iPhone, or iPod Touch into an even more Powerful Tool!

I really like this, it is on my must buy list!

See http://www.sensorcon.com/sensordrone/ or http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/453951341/sensordrone-the-6th-sense-of-your-smartphoneand-be for more information.

Detailed specs (PDF) http://www.sensorcon.com/forum/download/file.php?id=8

I have bad Asthma/Allergies, this will really help with some air quality issues for me. 

Both for warning when my local air quality is bad, Ozone detection/warning will be very useful for my Asthma issues, and also to help me better determine just what triggers are a problem.

Also as a Star Trek fan, TNG is my favorite, this will let you turn a Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, Nexus 7, iPod Touch, or other iOS device into something like a real Tricorder.


Cut and Paste of Features from http://www.sensorcon.com/sensordrone/:

Included Sensors/Features

• Air Sensor Port (Gas & Weather Sensing)
• Light Intensity (illumination) & Color Sensor
• Non-contact temperature (infrared temperature) sensing
• Proximity Sensor (Proximity capacitance intensity)
• External Hardware Connection (easy wireless connection for your hardware to Android Devices)
• Programmable LEDs

Interesting Software

http://portableapps.com/

Heard this mentioned on recent Security Now podcast, a listener emailed them that he runs "portable Firefox from PortableApps.com in my Dropbox" so all his Tabs are synced, said he has being doing that for years.

Just thought that was such a neat idea, that I had to blog it, figured people might build on it and think of some more creative solutions to problems.

Nerd Gear: Innergie Magic Cable 3-in-1 with Micro USB, Mini USB and 30-pin iPod/iPhone Connectors

I saw this Innergie Magic Cable today on Terry White's Tech Blog, I suggest any people into photography or photo editing to follow Terry's blog!!!

This cable looks really neat to me, having mini & micro USB to USB in one cable for my stuff, and the Apple 40 pin for gf's iPad.

I would probably use it more with an external battery pack, than anything else.

I am an Amazon Associate, which means I make a little money from people buying things from my Amazon links, click traffic also helps a little, here is my link for the Magic cable.

Or your can just highlight Innergie Magic Cable, with your mouse and right click to Google it if your using recent version of Firefox or Chrome.

Nerd Gear: iPro Lens System for iPhone 4 & 4s

I think this could be real useful at events, basically it is a high end case for iPhone, with interchangeable lenses that snap into the case over the existing camera lens.  The lenses are stored in the metal tube that also funtions as a tripod mount.

Not as good as purpose built camera, but easier to tweet, blog, or email the picutres or video directly from the phone.  For more information http://www.iprolens.com/about.php

Also, if you weren't aware you can watch Twitch streams on iPad & iPhones with free app from twitchtv I have used this on my girlfriend's iPad, it works fine, though not as good of picture as my Blackberry Playbook tablet. 

An iPhone can be useful even if your at an event, so you can watch one stream via smartphone while viewing another in person.

Nerd News: Star Trek Tricoders one step closer to reality!

Source and full story:  http://www.extremetech.com/computing/114975-nano-scale-terahertz-antenna-created-hand-held-tricorders-incoming

This is just totally cool to a Nerd like me!  Terahertz frequencies can penetrate skin a short distance, additionally in the Terahertz freq range, molecules and atoms have an unique signature, or "fingerprint", which means it can not only image, but analyze things!

Someone may actually cash in on the X Prize Offers $10 million for a Real-Life Star Trek Medical Tricorder

Nerd Gear: Self Healing Screen Cover

Originally developed by Nissan for car finishes, it has been adapted to iPhone cover now. This is really cool IMO, this will really add life to tablet computers like the iPad, Playbook, etc.

Full story at http://www.techspot.com/news/47097-nissan-announces-an-iphone-case-with-self-healing-paint.html