Teasers from DefCon 2010

by Dana Tierney, Senior Editor, Fusion Authority

One hundred percent of the large companies contacted by a hacker group as part of a conference exercise gave exercise participants information that would have assisted them in compromising corporate security. Only one employee, a female store manager at Wal-Mart, even questioned their inquiry.

A world record was set at DefCon for detection of RFID signals — 217 feet. Much larger distances can be attained by treating the signal as radar, said the presenter, "multiple miles if not farther."

If your cell phone carrier uses GSM, you should know that $1500 will buy highly portable equipment that allows anyone at all to convince your phone to use it as its tower. Something to think about before you check your bank balance.

Widely used programmable logic controllers have few security features. Researchers did not release the name of the PLC brand they tested, but said they are used in most coal-burning power plants, leaving these open to the control of anyone who understands the equipment. Unscheduled shutdowns and damage to equipment could result. Nuclear power plants are apparently somewhat better protected. Thank goodness.

Stay tuned for more reporting from DefCon 2010!

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