China: Military Hacking On The Offensive

CHINA IS STEPPING UP its information warfare and computer network attack capabilities. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is developing information warfare reserve and militia units and has begun incorporating them into broader exercises and training. China is also developing the ability to launch pre-emptive attacks against enemy computer networks in a crisis.

I suppose it’s not exactly a surprise is it? These days any nation wishing to compete on the international stage needs several key items. First in the list has to be the politicians. Then when they fail, it’s the military’s turn, and of course what military would be complete without Cyber-Warfare specialists.

This latest assessment of China’s capabilities is from a 2006 US Department of Defence report so some salt may have to be pinched when considering it’s movites and accuracy. Of course the Chinese response to this report cites it as an attempt to exaggerate its military modernization and demonize China in the process.

Nevertheless I think it highly likely that every major power on this planet has a similar Cyber-Warefare team or division. Can you imagine the sheer chaos that would ensue if they actually went into combat against each other. The internet would crawl to a standstill

EU 1, USA 0

THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE today ruled that the anti-terror agreement, under which European airlines are required to hand over confidential passenger information to U.S. authorities, was not founded on an “appropriate legal basis.” and will be discontinued. The main reason this fell apart is because the U.S. was “not providing adequate levels of data protection”. So - that’s one for Europe then.

To preserve “legal certainty” and to avert transatlantic air chaos, the EU courts will allow the agreement to stand until September 30. After that it’s back to normal for EU to U.S. air travel. However all is not well within Europe… The ECJ legal challenge was mounted by the European parliament but liberal leader Graham Watson suggested that the ruling may not give MEPs any say in a future agreement.

“Today’s judgement vindicates our four year campaign against the agreement signed against the will of the European parliament in 2004, though paradoxically it suggests a worrying implication that parliament may be excluded from consultation on future agreements of this type, bilateral or otherwise, which do not fall clearly under EU competence,” Watson is quoted as saying in response to this latest news.

Oh well… before the Europhiles begin congratulating themselves they had better take a close look at another proposed piece of legislation coming down the tracks. Some nutjobs have decided that the EU should tax emails and SMSs as a method to provide funding for its operations - and they are actively promoting this at the mo.

I guess there are as many loons in the EU as there appear to be in the U.S. after all

Don’t Wear Tennis Shorts In Iraq!

THE UNFORTUNATE COACH of the Iraqi national tennis team and two of his players were shot dead in Baghdad, apparently for wearing shorts, in a district where Islamic radicals have started to enforce brutal, Taleban-style law.

How’s that for an opening sentance? Just imagine the insanity of this. You are an Olympic tennis coach accompanied by two team members and you’ve just stopped to pick up some laundry. Instead - you get shot to death because you’re showing a little too much leg and you’ve broken some religious edict in doing so. The poor bastards were even wearing official Green jerseys with “IRAQ” stamped all over it FFS!

It seems that they just wandered into the wrong neighbourhood where radicals have been leaving leaflets at homes, forbidding women to drive or go outside without being veiled. The leaflets also warn men not to wear shorts or dress in T-shirts bearing images or English writing - the penalty it seems is death.

I don’t suppose this will do much for the image of the Iraqi Olympic team or prospects going forward! It’s yet another example of religion running away with itself. Thanks to StevieB for sending this snippit on to me.

I’m Back!!

I’M BACK IN ACTION, well almost. The weekend break in Castle Leslie was excellent - a complete retreat from the world. We even got to see some 3 day old signets cygnets swimming together with two adult Swans in the lake, which was a first for me.

Then of course my HDTV arrived so last night (and some of tonight) is/will be spent configuring it to maximum effect. The damn thing is just excellent. So - in summary, I’m back but the full service won’t be resumed until tomorrow. Catch up with you then folks.

Year Of Debauchery: Castle Leslie

THERE WON’T BE ANY UPDATES this weekend at http://www.avalon5.com due to the fact that SusiQ and I are heading off to Castle Leslie for a nice weekend away. There won’t be any internet access there (it’s part of the charm of the place); actually there won’t be any Radio, TV, news, phones or any other type of distraction either - just me, SusiQ, the most amazing food and wine ever tasted and about 1000 acres of private property to roam about.

This is one of our favourite places to visit every few years - each room unique, each dining experience exquisite and tonnes of character oozing from the rafters. It’s the kind of place to go when you need a complete break from the world, so we’re retreating from reality for the weekend. See you when we get back!

Damn I’m really starting to get into this whole Year Of Debauchery thing

Big Brother Arrives At US School District

IN A MOVE WHICH HAS CAUSED some parents to complain that the district is invading the privacy of students and overstepping its bounds, an Illinois school district has created a new rule that will punish students for web postings that depict underage drinking, smoking or other “illegal or inappropriate behavior”.

The main reason the parents are objecting is that the School is forcing parents and school kids alike to sign up to a type of ‘code of conduct’ agreement which, if breached, will result in penalties. The big problem however is that it relates to time and activities *outside* school hours and control. Parents believe it is their job to police and govern their own kids outside of school hours - but it seems this particular school district has other ideas.

Essentially this is a US school taking a big brother approach to things. If a student is found to have (for example) published a personal blog site which breaches anything the school sets down as “appropriate”, that student will likely then face punishment by the school.

Community High School District 128 Associate Superintendent Prentiss Lea says the changes are “part of an effort to get parents, teachers and students more aware of the potential pitfalls of such websites as MySpace.com”. Personally I think this is a step too far.

Exactly what right does a school have in determining what a student does outside of school hours? That’s like your Government telling you what you can and cannot think… oh wait, that’s old news now isn’t it?

Weekly Featured Site: Adventures In Cyberia

IT’S A STRANGE CASE OF COINCIDENCE that my latest weekly featured site - Adventures In Cyberia - is actually focused on living a virtual existence. I say coincidence because I’ve recently posted a number of articles on the gradual slide towards virtuality and on the drive to extend virtual cash into real world cash as a crossover between online and real world living.

Adventures In Cyberia seems to be the site for 5 willing participants who wish to “find their inner SIMS” by living a virtual existence SIMS style, and then writing about it on this site. The more I understand about people who love MMORPGs and SIMS, the more I realise It’s not for me. It’s really quite bizzare though.

Still - if you’re curious what 5 girls get up to in a virtual reality - check out their online adventures and see for yourself what all the fuss is about.