Over at Forbes, Kashmir Hill has an item about an electronics tinkerer who goes by the nom de net Puking Monkey. Stranger than his handle, his discovery: the RFID-enabled EZ Pass (automatic toll paying system) affixed to his car was being read all over New York City, as he drove around. Not just at toll booths. For what purpose? And, is this a violation of reasonable privacy expectations, in the most heavily surveilled city in the US?
Hardware hacker learns his E-ZPass is being read all over NYC, not just at toll booths
Canadian fast food chain Tim Hortons had app users under constant surveillance
The app put out by Tim Hortons turned out to be constantly recording movements, illegally collecting "vast amounts of location data" without users' knowledge or consent. "The app also used location data to infer where users lived, where they worked, and whether they were traveling," the Office of the Privacy Commissioner said. "It generated an… READ THE REST
ShotSpotter "wastes millions of taxpayer dollars" and doesn't even work, say critics
ShotSpotter is a service that installs microphones around town and "spots" gunshots, but is frequently criticized for its reliability and price. One study found it offers "no reductions in serious violent crimes, yet … increases demands on police resources". The problems with it are both systematic (the mics confirm the biases that went into the… READ THE REST
Gentleman robs company that specializes in security cameras
A gentleman in South Nashville cut a fence and broke into the headquarters of Pro Systems, a company that specializes in security cameras. The thief absconded with $20,000 worth of goods. Unsurprisingly, police quickly apprehended the man who was easily identified on surveillance footage. According to WKRN, "Pro Systems was able to recover most of… READ THE REST
Save over $160 off a small projector which packs a big punch
Let's be honest. Few things are as eye-catching as watching an image projected on a wide screen. A good projector can liven up a backyard party, make movie night more fun, or even act as a great television replacement. Additionally, projectors can transform a dull, blank wall into a work of art. The only unfortunate thing about a… READ THE REST
Save 20% this 4th of July on a roto-molder cooler for your outdoor activities
Plan on spending the day outside? Whether you're at the pool, beach, lakefront, camping, or in your backyard, you'll need a reliable cooler to keep your water and other essential beverages nice and cold. However, not just any cooler will do. You need something durable, heavy-duty, and insulated to ensure everything from water and beer to… READ THE REST
PDFs will never trip you up with app, on sale for under $100 this July 4th
Back in the day, you only needed a handwritten signature and a printer or fax machine to pass along important documents. But with the advent of the internet, more and more communications have occurred online, and you've likely dealt with PDFs since then. The thing is, there seems to be no easy-to-use or affordable PDF software on the market, but… READ THE REST
