The H Week - Cracked secure USB drives and Android everywhere

The first H week of 2010 started with the latest edition of Processor Whispers on new processor topologies and compiler optimisation and closed with the first of The H's Kernel Log looks at the new features and enhancements coming in Linux 2.6.33 but there was plenty of security and open source news in between...

Security

The most read news on The H this week was the news that a range of NIST-certified USB flash drives with hardware encryption had been cracked after the discovery that a constant string unlocked them. The arrival of 2010 caused a number of problems for SpamAssassin and other software, and for people in Germany who found their EC and credit cards failing to work in ATMs. The number known as RSA-768 was factorised and experts recommend that 1024 bit RSA keys be decommissioned by 2014.

• NIST-certified USB Flash drives with hardware encryption cracked
• SpamAssassin's new year hangover
• Problems obtaining cash from German ATMs - Update
• EC card problem persists
• EC card disaster: French manufacturer Gemalto takes responsibility
• The year 2010 is causing IT problems
• 768-bit RSA cracked

Security Alerts

• Critical security update for PowerDNS Recursor
• Juniper fixes router DoS vulnerability
• Adobe patches holes in Illustrator

Open Source

Nat Friedman left Novell, Munich's administration switched to Open Document Format, and Open Street Map passed 200,000 members. A lot of the news this week came from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas: Android devices were everywhere though Google chose to launch its Nexus One smartphone away from CES. Elsewhere, the Linux kernel was to be found inside many gadgets on show: Lenovo showed its Linux-powered Skylight, Marvell launched a new Plug Computer and Sony showed the Dash internet application viewer. Phillips will now ship the open source Songbird media player with its GoGear MP3 players.

• Novell lose Open Source CTSO as Nat Friedman leaves
• Munich administration switches to OpenDocument Format
• OpenStreetMap reaches 200,000 user milestone
• Android devices sweep CES 2010
• Google announces Nexus One smartphone
• Lenovo launches Linux based Skylight Smartbook and Hybrid
• Marvell announces Plug Computer 3.0
• Sony announces Dash Internet application viewer
• Report: Songbird to be bundled with Philips MP3 players

Open Source Releases

• RawTherapee 3.0 Alpha 1 released under GPL license
• Ruckus Wireless open sources Zap wireless performance tool
• GlassFish ESB 2.2 released
• Mozilla releases Firefox 3.5.7
• Mozilla releases Firefox 3.6 RC1
• Open source media centre Boxee goes into public beta
• KDE SC 4.4 RC1 released

To see all last week's news see The H's last seven days of news and to keep up with The H, subscribe to the RSS feed, or follow honlinenews on Twitter. You can follow The H's own tweeting on Twitter as honline.

(djwm)