Tech Today w/ Ken May

Trailrunner7 writes “Just a day after security researcher Stefan Viehbock released details of a vulnerability in the WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) standard that enables attackers to recover the router PIN, a security firm has published an open-source tool capable of exploiting the vulnerability. The tool, known as Reaver, has the ability to find the WPS PIN on a given router and then recover the WPA passphrase for the router, as well. Tactical Network Solutions has released the tool as an open-source project on Google Code, but also is selling a more advanced commercial version.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes “RipoffReport.com contained an admittedly defamatory posting, by one of its users, about a person who operated a Florida corporation providing addiction treatment services. Although the site was asked by the poster herself to remove the post, it refused. A Florida appeals court has ruled that the site is absolutely immune from suit (pdf), and cannot even be directed to remove the offending post, since under the Communications Decency Act (47 USC 230) ‘no cause of action may be brought’ against a provider of an “interactive computer service” based upon information provided by a 3rd party.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The inventions that make up this gallery are strange, unquestionably handmade, and many seem quite useful. Like the one man paddle submarine pictured above, they look like clever and inventive ways to get around, and may not seem so strange when your town gets hit by a flood. However, personal safety clearly wasn’t a consideration when these inventions were built, and some of them look like they might explode right in your face! Link

You’re looking at a rare, fish-like creature known to marine scientists as amphioxus. Widely known for being not only faceless, but brainless , these small, elusive creatures are some of the most bizarre ocean-dwellers we’ve ever discovered. More »

iOS 5 can be jailbroken untethered on all non-A5-based devices. iOS 4.3.3 can be jailbroken easily via a web site but iOS 4.3.4 can’t. Confused yet? The state of jailbreaking is a little messy at the moment and it’s hard to understand which devices and versions of iOS are eligible. This helpful chart can clear up the confusion. More »

One image can change the way we see the world, especially in science. From photographs of movement that’s too fast for the human eye to perceive, to atomic force microscope images of atomic bonds, pictures created by new technologies have often catalyzed scientific discovery. More than tools of discovery, though, images can help scientists communicate the reality of what they study to each other and the public. More »

2011 was in many ways a quiet (albeit thoroughly profitable) year for Microsoft. The company made big, important announcements—the Nokia partnership, the Windows 8 reveal—but neither had much impact in 2011. Nokia has released only a couple of handset models in a few countries this year, and Windows 8 is not yet in beta. 2011 for Microsoft was all about telling us what to look forward to. 2012 will be when that talk becomes real. 2012 will be when lots of Microsoft’s talk becomes real. Read the comments on this post