Hackers return to old tricks
Computer hackers are returning to techniques that were widespread in the early days of cyber crime according to security firm Websense. It means that junk emails with apparently-legitimate attachments are again becoming a threat. The cybersecurity industry has reduced its focus on these methods of hacking in recent years as criminals had moved on to new techniques and that could mean that current defenses do not always pick them up. The attacks are particularly risky in workplaces as they can be made to appear to have come from colleagues and contain the type of attachments that are in common use. However opening one of the malicious files, which might look like a Word or Excel document, will trigger a code that connects the computer to a server which hides malware on the machine.
Would you fly in a robot-controlled aircraft?
Although recent surveys show an increased concern about ‘rogue’ or unwell pilots following the Paris air crash, incidents such as the Germanwings disaster are shocking because of their rarity. The surveys may not have asked the question but how concerned would passengers be if they were being flown by a robot rather than a human? Modern aircraft contain a high level of automation but it can be over-ridden by pilots; the idea of an entirely robot-piloted plane may be too much for most passengers. The industry is talking about how many humans should be in the cockpit though. After the Germanwings crash many airlines reacted quickly to ensure that there were never fewer than two crew members on the flightdeck at any time, however there are already tests being conducted that replace the co-pilot altogether in favor of robots or remote control. Some experts believe that as automation, tracking and sensor technology improve these ideas will become reality. Although convincing the public that increased automation may be the right direction for commercial aviation, the military are already ahead of the game. The Seattle Times reports that the Pentagon has already implemented a system that can take control of the aircraft to avoid disaster; and it has been tested in a real situation which led to a plane and pilot being saved while on a mission in the Middle East. The next step is a robot co-pilot which will have the skills of a human pilot and could take control if required.
Australian government still soft on climate change
Although much of the developed world seems to be pushing forward with measures to mitigate the effects of climate change, Australia seems less committed. The Abbott government has published a white paper on the future for the energy industry but includes only a token mention of climate change. The Guardian reports that the document says that the government will not try to force energy companies to close coal-fired power stations or implement greener technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast to similar white papers of previous Australian governments, the new document states: “Investment decisions on future (electricity) generation assets, including choice of technology, are best made by industry, given its insights into market needs. The Australian government will seek to maintain stable and predictable policy settings across the range of areas that affect such investment decisions, while taking a technology-neutral approach.”
