Current Events III - Always Room for Improvement

One of the things I like about computer science is that it is constantly evolving. A good example of this evolution is the recent invention of a flip-flop random number generator[1] (RNG). Replacing a pseudo RNG with a real one will drastically improve the reliability of many algorithms[2]. Since flip-flops are cheap to build this invention could become a ubiquitous part of computing in the coming years. If such a basic concept can still be improved upon I wonder what else is waiting to be discovered. I have my eye on you Mr. Halting Problem.




[1] New Approach to Generating Truly Random Numbers May Improve Internet Security, Weather Forecasts
[2] I am using "reliable" as a catch all term for the many improvements that a random number generator can make. [1] has some examples.

Book Inspired Post I - Password Security

Most of the password security issues Mr. Stoll ran across are still relevant today. Hackers can still use flaws in the OS to steal password files. Once the file is acquired a couple of computers can still crack it in a reasonable amount of time. In fact some Computer Security classes have password cracking labs.

Imperva recently released an analysis of 32 million stolen passwords from Rockyou.com and found that at least half the passwords could be easily cracked using brute force or dictionary attacks. It appears that there is only one solution to this problem - alert managers who keep their systems patched and who use password checking programs to force users to choose secure passwords.

Smallish Post III - Online Family History

Social networking sites can be used to further genealogical research. Facebook uses relationship graphs to suggest possible friends and relatives not yet in a person's network. For their capstone last semester some students developed a Facebook application that finds common ancestors among friends by using FamilySearch. With the aid of tools like these distant relatives can come together to share knowledge of common ancestors.