Government IT News For VARs — January 6, 2015
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
In news, hackers figure out how to bypass fingerprint authentication, a new flaw, the “Misfortune Cookie,” has been identified, and the Canada-U.S. Enhanced Resiliency Experiment (CAUSE) is testing cross-border resiliency. Also, officials in California introduced a new app to help reduce DUIs, and emerging and trending technologies could transform the future of law enforcement.
Hackers Find Way To Bypass Finger ID Technology
It turns out that hackers have figured out how to get past biometric fingerprint authentication by using photographs of a subject’s fingers and fingerprint identification software, according to Tech News World. With the capabilities of high-resolution digital cameras that can fool scanners, experts suggest that the industry will need to address this vulnerability through adding sensors that read live tissue or monitor for a heartbeat before authenticating.
“Misfortune Cookie” Brings Bad Luck To Millions Of Security Systems
A new flaw, dubbed the “Misfortune Cookie,” has been uncovered in the code of RomPager, a commonly used embedded Web server, according to Tech News World. Although fixes have been available since 2005, reports show that 98 percent of the devices that use the code have not yet been updated, potentially causing disastrous results. Check Point Software Technology found the flaw in some 12 million Internet-connected devices.
Cross-Border Resiliency Tested By Canada And The United States
According to Fed Tech Magazine, the Canada-U.S. Enhanced Resiliency Experiment (CAUSE) utilizes cross-border information-sharing experiments to help boost resilience at the U.S.-Canadian border. The program is designed to increase responsiveness in times of national disasters such as hurricanes or floods, though it also has far-reaching implications for security. “CAUSE III is a catalyst for progress, providing the DHS S&T [U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate] with the opportunity to partner with local, state, and federal governments, academic, non-profit, and industry stakeholders in an effective and scalable way,” S&T Undersecretary Dr. Reginald Brothers explains. “The outcomes achieved in this series of experiments pave the way for future innovation in technology and process development, and strengthen cross-border capabilities.”
California Officials Target DUI With New App
Government officials in California are hoping that the availability of a new app will help reduce or prevent DUI-related crashes, injuries, and deaths across the state by allowing people to request a ride home from transportation companies like Uber, Lyft, or Curb. It also provides information about restaurants/bars offering free or discounted food and soft drinks to designated drivers. Government Technology reports the app was unveiled by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson at a meeting with law enforcement officers in Ventura County, and it is part of an ongoing campaign by the California Office of Traffic Safety to reduce DUI-related crashes, injuries, and deaths.
Tech Trends That Can Impact Law Enforcement
This article from Government Technology highlights the trending technology in law enforcement across the country. The future of law enforcement could be transformed through hyper-networked cars and people; adaptive mobile computing and the increased use of wearables; the Everything-as-a-Sensor platform; predictive and contextual policing using Big Data and unbundled law enforcement apps and software; augmented user experiences (UX); evolving users interfaces (UI); real-time social listening technologies; and the rise of IoT devices.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Government IT Resource Center.