Technically Foreign» hacking http://www.technicallyforeign.com/tblog Translating Technology with Humor Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:38:54 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 14 year-old hacks Tranist system? http://www.technicallyforeign.com/tblog/2008/01/14/14-year-old-hacks-tranist-system/ http://www.technicallyforeign.com/tblog/2008/01/14/14-year-old-hacks-tranist-system/#comments Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:53:26 +0000 Terry http://www.technicallyforeign.com/tblog/2008/01/14/14-year-old-hacks-tranist-system/ It seems that a Polish boy hacked a Transit system in Lozd Poland. He used a modified remote control to take over the switch system on the trams. This unfortunately caused a train to derail and some injuries. With the increase of curiosity of technology there will always be these cases, but it is amazing that a 14-year old boy can hack a cities complicated transit system. Accomplishing such a thing with a modified TV remote control is quite a task. People do fear that there is an increase in hacking devices, however, it is in human nature to be curious and try to compete with everything around us. For minds that work with electronics and computer sciences that is what hacking is about, however, in a way without hacking we wouldn’t be making these products safer and better or understanding how they work.

I say bring it on. Let the kids hack, learn how to build remote controls that will control things beyond your wildest dreams. Nicola Tesla created the first remote control over a hundred years ago and everyone thought he was using his mind to control a boat. We need to get out of the dark ages and embrace the curiosity that people have; this is the type of innovation that new forms of technology are created.

]]> http://www.technicallyforeign.com/tblog/2008/01/14/14-year-old-hacks-tranist-system/feed/ 0 Unfriendly airwaves? There’s a class for that! http://www.technicallyforeign.com/tblog/2007/08/09/unfriendly-airwaves-theres-a-class-for-that/ http://www.technicallyforeign.com/tblog/2007/08/09/unfriendly-airwaves-theres-a-class-for-that/#comments Thu, 09 Aug 2007 03:36:08 +0000 Terry http://www.technicallyforeign.com/tblog/2007/08/09/unfriendly-airwaves-theres-a-class-for-that/ Tesla TowerIt seems that Newscientist.com has discovered that wireless computing isn’t very safe. Wow. I’ve been telling everyone to secure your wireless router for years. Now the time has come that its not enough. This is a great read about what hackers can do even if you have your wireless router secured.

The truth is don’t get all panicky just yet. There is hope for the rest of you and a ton of resources out there. I personal like what cnet.com has setup with the classroom series. Go over to there Wireless Security online class and learn how you can help protect your data. Now I might go on and on and on about how dangerous the wireless world is, however i’m sitting here in bed with a pillow between me and the 1,000 degree laptop I’m blogging with. Keep those wires cut, but protect yourself with some knowledge at these classes: http://wireless-security.classes.cnet.com/

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