Future Looks Bright

Conditions: Cold, Rainy

Road To Nowhere.

With the advent of the cellular phone, and further toys like the Ipad and the Ipod, hackers and virus-makers have been branching out into new territories with a variety of new and interesting attacks. But with automobiles now starting to connect to the internet, suddenly the scope is there for hackery on a whole new scale. Two teams of scientists have been researching what new forms of chaos could be unleashed.

The researchers, financed by the National Science Foundation, tested two versions of a late-model car in both laboratory and field settings. They did not identify the maker or the brand of the car, but said they believed they were representative of the computer network control systems that have proliferated in most cars today.

The researchers asked what could happen if a hacker could gain access to the network of a car, said Tadayoshi Kohno, a University of Washington computer scientist. He said the research teams were able to demonstrate their ability to circumvent a wide variety of systems critical to the safety of drivers and passengers.

They also demonstrated what they described as “composite attacks” that showed their ability to insert malicious software and then erase any evidence of tampering after a crash.

The researchers were able to activate dozens of functions and almost all of them while the car was in motion.

- nytimes.com/

See, this is the downside of having more and more connection and integration, suddenly the potential holes that exist can lead to quite huge consequences. Simple systems meant to allow a car to check on traffic conditions can lead to someone setting a virus that disables everyone's airbags across the entire eastern seaboard, or worse. Don't get me wrong, I understand connection and integration is the way of the future, but I don't have to like it. Hopefully the engineers will always, always remember to include backup systems in anything they design. Meanwhile I'll be over here in my 40 year old sports car. Hack that.




Film Review: The Book Of Eli

Set in a post-apocalyptic America, the Book Of Eli features Denzel Washington who is basically on a mission from God. In possession of the last ever bible, he is taking it west, in the hope of finding a town who can use it to start rebuilding society. You know, as far as post-apocalyptic hooks go, that's a new one. The problem is that it doesn't quite work. It almost works, but eventually it just becomes a bit too incredulous. You see, on the road to utopia Denzel runs into a little town on the make, run by Gary Oldman. And the one thing Oldman wants is a bible, to help give him authority when he tells people what to do. You'd think his legion of goons would be enough.

But it's a legion that's quickly whittled away by Denzel, who's developed some brutally efficient fighting skills. Joining forces with Mila Kunis, who wants something better than being owned by Gary Oldman, the two set off for Utopia again, still being hunted by Oldman and his goons. I think the point of this film is about the bible and it's role in forming civilizations, but in practice the film really demonstrates how much violence seems to end up surrounding the bible, especially when it's mentioned that a lot of people thought the thing had caused the war in the first place.

The film is gritty, dusty, dirty and violent. It's unrelentingly grim, and ultimately it's making a point that I'm not sure I actually agree with. There really isn't anything about Eli that makes the audience want to cheer for him other than the fact that it's Denzel, and that trouble just seems to come after him. It's not enough. While I appreciate the trouble the filmmakers have gone to to make what's effectively an action film have some thoughtful underpinnings to it, I just don't think anyone in the movie is acting rationally. Add in a downer ending and it's not really a fun time at the movies. Two pairs of sunglasses out of five.


- Peace out