Here is a taste of some of the sort of things we chatted about this month - our version of the Chatham House Rule applies, so nobody is directly identified, in order to promote open communication, even on controversial, sensitive or potentially illegal topics.
This is not a substitute for coming along to the meetings in person: - remember that everyone is welcome, no matter your age or experience or skills (or lack of them), from both sides of the legal fence.
- Brute force password attack attempt on a locked Blackberry - slowed down by the need to input the word "blackberry" periodically.
- How many valuable secrets are there on former Lehmann Brothers hardware, which was working at full tilt until they went under in the banking crisis. Has it all been seized for investigations, or is some of it available via former employees ?
- Flash Memory secure deletion - not as easy as with magnetic media - because of the wear leveling algorithms etc. Use of TrueCrypt to create large random files to overwrite video camera SD flash memory, before re-formatting, to overcome easily available tools like the Belgian
PhotoRescue software, which otherwise manages to recover images even formatted SD cards. N.B. this also applies to other Flash Memory USB sticks or keys etc.
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- Hacking at Random event de-brief
- Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 section 49 notices for cryptographic keys, or the plaintext of protected material - Animal Rights protestors being served with these specifically for PGP keys, in order to read encrypted emails - possible RIPA section 1 "tipping off" offence ?
- Theatrical luvvy spotting in the pub - some of the actors from the revivial of the musical Oliver! (playing in the theatre just across the road) were spotted in the pub. How come we could only spot the villains ? e.g. Iranian comedian and comic actor Omid Djalili starring as Fagin, and Burn Gorman as Bill Sikes. Burn Gorman was more familiar to us as having played Dr. Owen Harper, in the BBC Dr Who spin off Torchwood
- WiFi cryptography cracking in real time or near real time - only the WPA2 AES option is now secure "out of the box", but man in the middle attacks are still possible.
- The re-launched MI5 Security Service website.
- The influence of Nobel prize winner Richard Feynman.
- Flash Memory RAID array, using a USB 1.0 hub, available from PoundLand for £1 ?
- Salvaged RAM computer memory - by the kilo ?
- 3D television and film technology e.g. My Bloody Valentine 3D
- How much protection do Swiss VPNs and email accounts give you here in the UK ?
- Hackerspaces