Chad’s News

Tor is a peer-to-peer anonymizer. It allows users to anonymously surf the web by routing the request through a pool of computers. This pool is created from users who donate processing time and bandwidth of their computers by setting them up as Tor servers. Anyone can set up a Tor server—it’s fairly easy to do.

Sounds good, right? The only problem is that Tor traffic goes through other peoples’ computers, and they can see whatever is being sent over the internet. Encrypted traffic, of course, is unreadable, but apparently web users send a non-trivial amount of sensitive, unencrypted information. In the linked article, the security expert was able to find login information for email accounts. Not a huge deal, but still worth noting.

Tech-savvy readers will immediately respond that this is not just a problem with Tor and that the whole internet is built this way. The difference, however, is that -anyone- can set up a Tor server without leaving their chair. With the internet at large, most routing is done through ISPs, hosting companies, and educational/government institutions. And while the danger still exists, it is not as severe as that posed by Tor. Simply put, though, it’s not a good idea to ever send sensitive information over an unencrypted internet connection.

Also, if you ever think of setting up a Tor server, be aware that illegal activities performed over the network may be traced back to your computer.

Link: http://arstechnica.com/…

UPDATE: The security expert in the above link was arrested and questioned. Just another example of killing the messenger.

This article describes me perfectly. I had already learned this stuff before reading the article, but I wish I’d know it when I was younger—especially the part about group social situations draining my energy and alone time charging me back up.

Link: http://www.theatlantic.com/…
(via digg)

It’s been known for some time now that using capacitors to store electricity would do away with a couple shortcomings of rechargeable batteries—the long charge time and limited battery lifespan. The problem is that current capacitor technology isn’t able to store enough charge. This may soon be coming to an end, as a company named EEstor appears to have developed a capacitor suitable for electric cars.

Link: http://arstechnica.com/…

To promote its ink cartridge refilling service, Walgreens will refill one cartridge for free. This offer is good for today only.

Link: http://www.foxnews.com/…
(via Kim Komando)

Not only does the Katana win, splitting the bullet in half, but it was pretty much unscathed.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/…
(via digg)

As we take a moment to reflect upon the events of September 11th, 2001, the linked article has a first-person account of a man who was saved by a fortuitous series of events.

Link: http://www.coxandforkum.com/…

NBC will be withdrawing its video products from the iTunes store, and Universal has refused to sign a long-term contract for its music. At the heart of it all is Apple’s pricing scheme—with the producers wanting higher prices.

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/…

UPDATE: Ars Technica has some more information on this topic, including a rumor that Apple wants to decrease the price of videos.

Previously only in the domain of science fiction, IBM is doing some fundamental research into saving a data bit in a single atom and also into making an electronic switch out of a single molecule (thus replacing transistors). Right now it’s at the research level, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it out in the wild within the next decade or two.

Link: http://science.slashdot.org/…

Apple has announced a $200 price cut on its iPhones, as well as a revamped line of iPods. If you bought an iPhone within the last two weeks, you can get the price difference refunded. If you’re not eligible for the refund, however, it looks like Apple is giving out a $100 store credit.

Link: http://ap.google.com/…
(via Kim Komando)

The thief who stole this briefcase should have checked the contents more carefully.

Link: http://today.reuters.com/…

With A Taste of Colorado going on here in Denver, the tips in the linked article are particularly timely. They tell you how to win (or at least improve your chances) at common carnival games. I like the one about shooting out the red star—rather than aim at the star, shoot a circle around the whole thing and the star will fall out.

Link: http://www.blifaloo.com/…
(via Lifehacker)

It’s becoming increasingly popular for parents to purchase internet domains named after their newborns, even to the point where the availability of a domain affects the name of the baby. Makes me glad I got cloman.com early on.

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/…
(via Lifehacker)