internet of things – Stilgherrian

04 September 201611 September 2016

Weekly Wrap 327: Spring is far more painful than planned

My week of Monday 29 August to Sunday 4 September 2016 was full of pain. I didn’t realise how seriously I’d been injured last weekend. Somehow, however, there’s plenty of things to report.

The injury I mentioned last week turned out to be a severe contusion — that’s bruising — of the ribs. It was just short of a fracture, but oddly enough the bruising is usually more painful, and that pain will be with me for several weeks. It’s strong painkillers, anti-inflammatories, and rest for me.

I strongly recommend never getting severe rib contusions.

All last week’s planned events were cancelled. It’s a good thing, therefore, that things emerged from the pipeline.

Articles

Four Corners points to critical gap in our cybersecurity, Crikey, 30 August 2016.
Why Dropbox’s data breach response is still wrong, ZDNet Australia, 31 August 2016.

Media Appearances

The highlight of my week was the start of series two of ABC TV’s award-winning drama series The Code, because I was the technology consultant for this series. That meant I was part of the scripting process, something I’ll write about another time. The six-part series is currently screening on ABC1 on Thursday nights at 2030, and is on ABC iView.
Also on Thursday, ZDNet posted two short videos in their Security TV series, The impending cybersecurity disaster of industrial control systems and The Internet of Insecure Things, and why we’re still in denial. They’re part of a feature on Cyberwar and the Future of Cybersecurity.

Podcasts

None, but next episode of The 9pm Edict podcast will be recorded and streamed live on Tuesday 6 September at 2100 AEST.

Corporate Largesse

None.

The Week Ahead

Monday is a relatively quiet day. I’m being interviewed about The Code at 1430, but apart from that it’s production planning and administrivia, I think.

On Tuesday, it’s an episode of The 9pm Edict podcast.

Past that, well, it depends on the pain levels and the mood. This much pain doesn’t exactly cheer one up. But I’d like to get down to Sydney for at least one day. Stay tuned.

Further Ahead

I’m going to the Palo Alto Networks Cyber Security Summit in Sydney on 22 September, the AISA National Conference in Sydney on 18-20 October, the Ruxcon Security Conference in Melbourne on 22-23 October, and an event in Melbourne I can’t tell you about yet on 17 November.

[Photo: Almond Blossom at Bunjaree Cottages, Day Four, one in a series of daily photos taken of an almond tree at Bunjaree Cottages near Wentworth Falls, 100km west of Sydney — although the images are of different parts of the tree. This one was taken on 2 September 2016.]

29 May 201629 May 2016

Weekly Wrap 313: Cybering on the Gold Coast, and a podcast

Most of my week Monday 23 to Sunday 29 May 2016 was spent on the Gold Coast, although it began in the Blue Mountains and ended in Sydney, all as planned.

Podcasts

“The 9pm Detachable Foreskin Monologue”, being The 9pm Edict episode 58, 23 May 2016. The podcast is also available on SoundCloud and Spreaker.

Articles

No stars for Internet of Things security, ZDNet Australia, 27 May 2016. This is the first article of several that will be based on material gathered at the AusCERT 2016 conference.

Media Appearances

On Thursday, I spoke about various AusCERT-related infosec topics on ABC Gold Coast.
I’ve only just discovered it, but on 16 May one of my photographs was used to illustrate a story at The Conversation, How ‘gamification’ can make transport systems and choices work better for us.

Corporate Largesse

My journey to the Gold Coast was covered by AusCERT, who provided return flights SYD-OOL; airport transfers; three nights accommodation at Marriott Surfers Paradise; and an ample sufficiency of food and drink. I didn’t gather much swag, just some essentials. Avecto: Wednesday morning Berocca. Palo Alto Networks: a copy of Cybersecurity for Dummies.

The Week Ahead

I should be in Sydney for the whole week. With no specific appointments at this stage, apart from a medical appointment on Wednesday, I’ll work through some writing for ZDNet, the several geek-for-hire projects, and the neverending tax bookkeeping.

That said, on one day I’ll need to collect my audio gear from Wentworth Falls. On another, I want to do an audio test at Hurstville, to see if it’ll be possible to live-stream the podcast recording session.

On Saturday afternoon, I’m recording The 9pm Edict Public House Forum 3 at the Hurstville Ritz Hotel. On Sunday morning, I’ll edit and post that podcast.

[Photo: Approaching the Gold Coast, photographed on 24 May 2016.]

06 September 201527 September 2015

Weekly Wrap 274: Spring has sprung, with many thoughts

My week of Monday 31 August 2015 to Sunday 6 September was a bit all over the place, but I did achieve most of what I wanted to achieve.

I did take some time out to do some bits and pieces which I’ll explain another time — but that’s why this week’s list looks a bit thin.

Articles

The Internet of Things is a safety issue, and therefore a business risk, ZDNet, 31 August 2015.

Podcasts

“The 9pm Clumsily Written Press Release”, being The 9pm Edict episode 48.

Media Appearances

On Tuesday evening, I spoke about various tech stories with Tim Brunero on ABC 702 Sydney and Local Radio around NSW. I chose not to record it.
On Wednesday, I took part in the closing debate of the ACCAN National Conference. ~~A recording will appear in due course.~~ I have now posted a video recording and transcript.

5at5

There were three editions of 5at5, on Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday. Why not subscribe so you’ll get all the future ones?

Corporate Largesse

None.

The Week Ahead

On Monday, I’ll be doing the laundry, shopping, and tidying the Ashfield apartment, ready for its inhabitants’ return, ~~and eventually making my own way back to the Blue Mountains. With luck, I’ll also finish the ZDNet column that I started writing on Friday~~ and catching up with a couple of people. On Tuesday, I’ll finish some chores before returning to Wentworth Falls.

On ~~Tuesday~~ Wednesday, I’ll be going to Parramatta to buy the audio gear that’s been funded by The 9pm Urgent Hardware Refresh, testing it all, and creating the software configuration to use on Saturday.

On ~~Wednesday~~ Thursday, I’ll be preparing my UTS lecture, and writing for ZDNet again.

On Friday, I’ll head to Sydney on an early train, because I’m presenting my guest lecture at UTS at 0900. I’ll then return to Wentworth Falls around lunchtime to prepare for the weekend. This includes some more detailed testing of the audio gear.

On Saturday, it’s the recording session for The 9pm Edict Public House Forum in Penrith, and on Sunday that will be turned into a finished podcast.

Update 8 September 2015: Edited to reflect a change to this week’s schedule. Update 27 September 2015: Edited to add link to ACCAN debate recording.

[Photo: Wading in Kuala Lumpur, a bird of unknown species photographed on 12 September 2011.]

23 August 201524 August 2015

Weekly Wrap 272: Kangaroos and fabrication, and the rest

Most of my week of Monday 17 to Sunday 23 August 2015 was wiped out by a cold, as I mentioned last time. But apart from that, I’m pleased with proceedings.

I didn’t get much new done, but some of my recent ZDNet columns seem to have gotten plenty of attention. I squirted out a new podcast, and locked in plenty of stuff for the future.

Articles

Following on from last week’s Android, you have serious security problems, we have…

Internet of Things, you have even worse security problems, ZDNet Australia, 21 August 2015.

Podcasts

“The 9pm Your Asteroid is Useless”, being The 9pm Edict episode 47. This is the first of a series of special episodes that result from The 9pm Urgent Hardware Refresh.

Media Appearances

On Friday, I spoke about the Ashley Madison hack on ABC Gold Coast.

5at5

There were four editions of 5at5, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Why not subscribe so you’ll get all the future ones?

Corporate Largesse

On Wednesday, I met with Dick Bussiere from Tenable Network Security — the chap who was quoted in this week’s ZDNet column — and their PR people paid for the coffee.

The Week Ahead

The week begins with the 0636 train to Sydney, because this is the first of two weeks I’m spending in Ashfield in Sydney’s inner west, catsitting. On Monday and Tuesday, I’m covering the Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit in Sydney. I daresay that I’ll spend a big chunk of Wednesday writing about things from that event. Thursday too, maybe.

Mid-week I’ll also be announcing the full details of The 9pm Edict Public House Forum. I’ve already said elsewhere that it’ll be recorded on Saturday 12 September at the Australian Arms Hotel in Penrith, but still to come is information on how you can be part of the live audience.

In the latter part of the week, I’ll finally be able to buy all the hardware that you good people have paid for in The 9pm Urgent Hardware Refresh. The new MacBook Pro has already been ordered, and should arrive late in the week. I’ll shop around for the rest as I get the time.

The weekend sees a Full Moon, so I shall take the necessary precautions. I’ll probably also knock off a quick episode of The 9pm Edict.

Further Ahead

During the following week, starting Monday 31 August, I’ll design and test my new podcast recording set-up. I’ll post a description once that’s done. I’ll be at the ACCAN National Conference on Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 September, and indeed taking part in a panel discussion on the Wednesday afternoon. The weekend of 5 and 6 September will see another special episode of The 9pm Edict.

Further ahead still, on Friday 11 September, I’ll be presenting my regular guest lecture at UTS. And then on Saturday 12 September, it’s The 9pm Edict Public House Forum, with post-production to be done on the Sunday.

[Photo: The kangaroo is wokked, being a photograph of my breakfast in progress, taken on 23 August 2015.]

11 August 201511 August 2015

Talking the cybers on ABC TV’s Lateline

It was my very great pleasure to talk about hacking and the impending security disaster that is the Internet of Things (IoT) on ABC TV’s Lateline last night — and don’t I look concerned.

Also joining the program was security researcher Runa Sandvik, who got plenty of media recently for hacking a smart sniper rifle.

I won’t go into too many details here, because you can see the video and transcript at the Lateline website. For the next month or so, you can also watch it in HD on iView.

However, this exchange surprised me:

STILGHERRIAN: … Scarier though is what’s happening with smart TVs. There are millions of those around the world. They’re networked, so you can watch clips from YouTube or whatever on them or Netflix or any of the streaming services, and yet I’ve seen a young hacker from South Korea not only hack a smart TV, hack it in 10 different ways and set it up so that the camera and microphone in the TV are streaming live video and sound out to the internet while the television looks like it’s turned off. These are televisions that are being installed over the last few years and more in the future in hotel bedrooms, classrooms, corporate boardrooms. So they’re kind of like an always-on surveillance device.

JOHN BARRON: I guess, Runa, the question then occurs: well, who would want to do this? Who would want to hack into somebody’s TV set in suburban Australia or the United States? The answer would probably be: well, nobody. But why would somebody want to do this?

RUNA SANDVIK: There’s a mix. There’s definitely people that are doing this for sort of evil purposes, if you will, or to make money, and there are people that do it just because they can, because it’s there, it’s a possibility, it’s not as secure as it should be and they do it just to show that they can.

Personally, I’d have thought that the security risks of peering into people’s homes would have been obvious, but the questions moved on before I could point out the attraction to both pilferers and perverts.

Anyway, you can also read my thoughts on this in my December 2014 column, All aboard the internet of things infosec hype train, and its January 2014 predecessor, Our hackers, who art in open source, deliver us from refrigerators.

17 December 2014

Talking technology on ABC 720 Perth, first of several

ABC logo Last week’s conversation about the future of jobs apparently went so well that it’s become a regular weekly spot over summer. “Tech Wreck” is now on ABC 720 Perth each Tuesday at 1430 AWST / 1730 AEDT.

This week we spoke about:

Machines talking to machines, including the idea of your car reporting maintenance issues directly to the manufacturer, or even reporting your driving habits directly to your insurance company. It was inspired by Chris Arkenberg’s article, Inside The Near-Future World Where All Our Data And Machines Are In Constant Communication.
Some online safety tips for summer. I don’t have any links for that, sorry, it was all just stuff in my head.
Instagram and “selfie culture”, including 2014’s Most Instagrammed Places.

The presenter is Jamie Burnett. If there’s any topics you’d like us to talk about in coming weeks, please let us know. Or phone in during the program on +61 8 9220 2700.

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