Origins of “Information Security”

I’ve promised for a while, years really, to write-up the etymology of the word “hacker”. This always is a popular topic among the information security crowd. Although I regularly talk about it at conferences and put it in my presentations, the written form has yet to materialize. Suddenly I instead feel compelled to write about … Continue reading Origins of “Information Security”

Did a Spitfire Really Tip the Wing of V1?

Facebook has built a reputation for being notoriously insecure, taking payments from attackers with little to no concern for the safety of its users; but a pattern of neglect for information security is not exactly the issue when a finance guy in Sydney, Australia gives a shout-out to a Facebook user for what he calls … Continue reading Did a Spitfire Really Tip the Wing of V1?

USCG Arctic Shield Operation

After the end of WWII hostilities the U.S. Navy deployed “task forces” all over the world. From the South Pole to the North Pole there were military teams mapping territory, assessing risk and seeking out remnants of opposition. At least a dozen ships with double that many aircraft were assigned to study “techniques” for operation … Continue reading USCG Arctic Shield Operation

Five Perish in Farallon Race

Horrible tragedy struck Saturday in the difficult wind and wave ocean conditions near the Farallon Islands, 50 km offshore (further than the English Channel is wide) from San Francisco. Latitude 38 relayed the official statement from the San Francisco Yacht Club in an article published today called “Search Suspended for Farallones Racers” Acting as spokesman … Continue reading Five Perish in Farallon Race