Cost to Hack GSM: $1,000 – $100,000
The 64-bit encryption method used by GSM, known as A5/1, was first cracked in theory about 10 years ago, and researchers David Hulton and Steve, who declined to give his last name, said today that expensive equipment to help people crack the encryption has been available online for about 5 years.
Until now, however, it’s been prohibitively expensive for people to get their hands on this technology. If it works, the technology Hulton and Steve are developing should be able to crack GSM encryption in less than 30 minutes with about $1,000 worth of equipment, or in about 30 seconds with $100,000 worth of equipment. The technology could potentially be helpful to law enforcement investigators, but could also be taken advantage of by malicious hackers. Hulton says he plans to commercialize the more expensive version of the technology.
Military Marriages
Abu Muqawama has the latest reason to upgrade our 19’th century military structure.
Forecasting + Uncertainty
Nassim Taleb discusses his next book a bit in this presentation (MP3) at the Long Now Foundation. Him and Saffo are juxtaposed. Still working through the latter.
Wikileaks Still Works
If you know the IP address.
Updated: In the comments, Robb points to Cryptome for the full decentralization effort.
Black Globalization: The West Africa-Europe Drug Trade
Good AP article:
Toughening in one state pushes market across borders:
Many confessed traffickers interviewed by The Associated Press said tightening security in Nigeria led them to move to other countries in the region where law enforcement is lax and officials more pliable. Favorite West African destinations for Nigerian drug gangs include Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Benin and Ivory Coast.
Tech layer on age old networks:
Once in West Africa, cocaine takes one of two main routes. It is either smuggled north through Morocco by fast boats into Spain — using long-established routes for hashish trafficking — or by air in smaller quantities by couriers using commercial flights into European cities.
International participants:
Nigerian gangs dominate the air routes to Europe, according to the UN report. Preferred couriers are European or North American passport-holders, such as the two British teenage girls recently convicted in Ghana of trying to board a flight to London with cocaine hidden in computer cases.
Global:
The major European destinations are Spain, the Netherlands and Britain. London has lately become favored because of the high price fetched on its streets, where a pound of cocaine is said to be worth about $14,500.