SlashdotNews for nerds, stuff that mattersBavarian Police Can Legally Place Trojans On PCs- July 4, 2008 An anonymous reader writes "The Bavarian Parliament passed a law that allows Bavarian police to place 'Remote Forensic Software' (Google translation) on a suspect's computer as well as on the computers of a suspect's contacts. They may break into houses in secret to install the RFS if a remote installation is not possible; and while they are there a (physical) search is permitted too. The RFS may be used to read, delete, and alter data." The translation says that RFSs may be used in cases of an.http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdot/~3/326772233/article.pl Google Seeking "FriendRank" Patent- July 4, 2008 theodp writes "In its just-published patent application for Network Node Ad Targeting, Google hatches plans for identifying the most influential of a circle of friends and providing this 'influencer' with 'financial incentives from advertisers in exchange for permission to display advertisements on the member's social network profile' (sound familiar, Jeremy). Doing so will 'provide advertisers with the option of targeting either all members in the community or advertising only on the profile...http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdot/~3/326728208/article.pl Best Way To Get Back a Stolen Computer- July 4, 2008 davidphogan74 writes "I have some stolen computers checking in with a server we have (software pre-loaded), and I have full access to the systems. What's the best way to deal with this situation The local police (to the theft) have been contacted several times and seem to be clueless. I personally have no financial interest in these computers, I just don't like atom-thieves. What's the best way to handle knowing the IPs, email addresses, MySpace sites, the Google login, etc. when working with...http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdot/~3/326686583/article.pl The Privacy Paradox- July 4, 2008 Dekortage writes "The NYTimes has a piece up about the paradox of privacy: 'Normally sane people have inconsistent and contradictory impulses and opinions when it comes to their safeguarding their own private information.' More specifically, it's all how you ask: if you don't talk about privacy, people won't worry about it. In one survey, 'When the issue of confidentiality was raised, participants clammed up. For example, 25 percent of the students who were given a strong assurance of...http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdot/~3/326659382/article.pl Irrigation Controller Stolen, Wirelessly Rescues Itself- July 4, 2008 wooferhound sends along an amusing piece about thieves who got run over by technology and never knew what hit them. "A Rain Master Eagle-i Irrigation Controller recently stolen out of a housing development just outside of Tucson traveled nearly 80 miles before rescuing itself. The smart controller is now back in place on the wall where it was originally pinched... In this day and age, something that may look passive like an irrigation controller may not be so passive. The thieves didn't realize.http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdot/~3/326627139/article.pl |