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Cold Attacks on Encryption Keys

So, this was recently posted on BoingBoing:


- (from the images on http://citp.princeton.edu/)

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/07/19/cold-boot-encryption.html

The complete article is called "Lest We Remember: Cold Boot Attacks on Encryption Keys": J. Alex Halderman, Seth D. Schoen, Nadia Heninger, William Clarkson, William Paul, Joseph A. Calandrino, Ariel J. Feldman, Jacob Appelbaum, and Edward W. Felten.

(Here's the link http://citp.princeton.edu/memory/)

Basically, the idea is to (literally) freeze the RAM of a computer, remove the data trapped in that state, and extract valuable information by looking for search strings in that data.

OK, color me impressed.

It seems like the only limits of such a hack are logistic - a thief would have to physically grab the computer and attack it; either with a cord plugged in or a removal of the frozen RAM.

This attack essentially makes encryption obsolete! There's no use for encryption when someone can download the 'state' of the computer as it exists.

Applebaum in the video makes note of some technology on RAM where the BIOS or hardware will clear the RAM's state prior to booting up again, or when temperature drops, making sure that a cold attack will not work. Still, I imagine there are ways around those prevention measures also.

Sigh, it seems to be another one of those Mad Magazine Spy vs. Spy problems - bigger encryption, more techniques to get rid of that encryption.

I wonder if there's a Moore's Law type of phenomenon in effect.

Thrift Stores = 21st Century Ebay Goldmine

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My favorite way to sell on Ebay is to visit the local thrift stores, find good antiques and vintage items, fix them up and sell them.

Now, I understand that for many people, Ebay has become too big for the small business-owner. I believe that Ebay can still be a good option to make a little money for a small operation. You just have to keep your overhead low and your profit margin high.

I enjoy my Ebay strategy because I make money selling something that I love on Ebay.

I also provide income for the thrift store (run by a charity).

Theoretically, the thrift store could sell their thrift items directly to consumers, but the volume of sales would be too much for staff. There are a few items that I typically chase after specifically, because they do fetch a higher-price on Ebay.

Here is what I look for when cruising the Thriftstore:
Interesting bags and backpacks – there is a high demand for purses and satchels that are interesting. What may seem like a garish-looking bag may in fact be a treasure. Some Valentino-brand satchels will fetch upwards of a hundred dollars on Ebay, even used.

Also, vintage LesportSac bags are generally good items.

Brand-name handbags – You can sometimes find brand-name handbags at the thriftstore, such as Valentino, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vitton, and even Marc Jacobs. These are rare finds, if you can get your hands on one in good condition, you can earn a tidy profit.

Pants – I usually skip the pants section; unless there is a high-end brand, there’s
not much demand for pants. It would be rare, but if you can find a pair of vintage early 1900’s Levis, they might fetch a good bid.

T-shirts – There are a few opportunities to make money with T-shirts. If you can find an interesting vintage t-shirt with a funny slogan, you may be able to earn a small profit. The reason why these items sell is because they are typically cheap (less than a dollar) and the price of a laugh is, well, priceless.
For example: “Welcome to the Gun show”, “Minnesota’s Last Hooker”, “5 cent moustache rides”.

Dress-shirts and blouses – These are often not worthwhile, seek the higher-end brands.

Shoes – Again, it is rare, but you may find a rare gem. Not much opportunity, but stay aware.

Books – This is probably the best area to check. Books are typically cheap and can be sold for a profit. Every once in a while, you may encounter a rare used book. I found a first-edition copy of Ozma of Oz at the thrift-store. I haven’t sold it yet, but I purchased it for less than a dollar, and it may fetch fifty dollars or more.

Antiques – You may find some rare items here; look for the vintage items that seem a bit older, or use an iphone to check the prices of the items.
You may want to learn your basics on Antiques before investing too much capital on these items; these items tend to be more accurately priced in the thrift-store, and it’s usually first-come first-served.

Some of the best sellers, and the cost vs. profit made:
1. Fisher-price Record Players (bought $2.50, sold $25.00)
2. Old 70's dishes (bought $1.00, sold $10.00)
3. Whacky SUPERDAD mugs (bought $0.50, sold $15.00)
4. Good-condition books (bought 50 books at $.25 cents each, sold for $160)
5. Brooks Brothers 3-piece suit (bought $10.00, drycleaned, sold $40.00)
6. 60" x 75" Classic Picture Frames (bought $5.00, sold $29.00)
7. Wooden Shoes (bought $1.00, sold $5.00)

It's possible to make a hefty profit with a little work! All it takes is some creative marketing, a good digital camera, and time.

Here's why I don't like the Chicago Cubs

Now, I must admit before I begin my awesome diatribe that I have nothing against the Cubs. In fact, I think that seeing a Cubs game is one of the best baseball experiences that you can have today.

Wrigley field is a great place, although it will probably be changed to a more lucrative name when it is sold to a new prospective buyer. I wonder how many people realize that the name "Wrigley" itself, although steeped in history and value, is itself a corporation. Wrigley must have sold plenty of gum to purchase a baseball team, even one hundred odd years ago.

I think that my main beef with the Cubs is their fans. If you have ever lived in Lakeview, which is the official name of the neighborhood where Wrigley is located, you realize the impact of the Cubs franchise on the surroundings. It's both a boon and a curse. It's a wonderful thing to have commercial dollars brought in by the fans, and you can really see the way the businesses spring up almost overnight. Many of the ticket companies did not exist ten years ago. The businesses have a huge sense of pride in the Cubs; I think it goes beyond a mere Hobbesian lowest-denominator lifestyle, it pervades into the culture.

However, if you have ever tried to park your car in Lakeview during a Cubs game, you're in for one hell of a shock; from my experiences, I would rather be punched in the face than have to park a car in Wrigleyville during a Cubs game.

Second to parking, there is an underbelly of drunken behavior that you have to expect when you attend a Cubs game. It gets ugly, although probably not as ugly as some other teams, and certainly less ugly than soccer matches in foreign countries. However, you can almost expect to see beer being thrown in the stands during a bad game. Now, I'm all for rowdy support for your team, it's just tiring.

Being a Cubs fan means being used to losing. It's like a bad relationship - you keep coming back to that person despite the fact that they're a loser. I've dated some loser girls in the past, and they made me feel like a Cubs fan. I don't think that they mean to lose, either. The players are loved immensely by the fans.

However, there has always been a lack of pitching strength for the Cubs. They need to have a great pitching line-up. In the years when they went further in the playoffs, the Cubs always had a great pitching staff. In the meantime, they have Zambrano, Wood, and a lot of potential in Dempster, but they still seem like they're lacking real strength.

For the lineup, the Cubs just acquired Kosuke Fukudome, so the hitting is definitely improved. Derrek Lee has so far generated solid numbers, despite it being early in the season. And Soriano has managed to steal a base.

So, even though the lineup is solid, I don't know how well they'll do this year. It's hard to predict baseball, it's always random. However, the Cubs curse may strike again.

How can people really like a team that has an ostensible "curse"? There's no reason for this curse, since other teams have been able to get around their respective supernatural hurdles.

When a newly created team, such as the Arizona Diamondbacks, is able to win the World Series within a few years of joining the league, how can we say that the Cubs are cursed?

The real reason the curse exists, in my humble opinion, is that people like hanging onto their superstitions.

So that's why I hate the Cubs, and although it's not a fully explained opinion, it's an entitled opinion; I lived in Wrigleyville.

Winter is over! Sorta!

Yeah! Winter is over! Chicago has finally warmed up a bit, which means mid-50's. Hurrah! Soon the leaves will sprout from the trees and life will be worth living again. I'm excited. It was opening day and all we got was rain. I even saw some drunken Cubs' fans out in the streets. Poor bastards.