Hasta La Gadget!

Security flaws in how airline boarding passes encode passenger approval information could open a loophole for terrorists, researchers have warned, after exploring the barcodes printed on US passes. Data on whether individual passengers have been cleared for the US PreCheck system is included in the barcode on the boarding documents, with Puckinflight highlighting that such information can be extracted using smartphone scanning apps. With it, passengers can discover whether they’ll be allowed to go through security without removing shoes and other clothing, and leaving items such as toiletries and laptops in their bags.

“The problem is, the passenger and flight information encoded in barcode is not encrypted in any way. Using a web site I decoded my boarding pass for my upcoming trip” Puckinflight’s John Butler writes. “[The information is] all there, PNR, seat assignment, flight number, name, ect. But what is interesting is the bolded three on the end. This is the TSA Pre-Check information. The number means the number of beeps. 1 beep no Pre-Check, 3 beeps yes Pre-Check.  On this trip as you can see I am eligible for Pre-Check.  Also this information is not encrypted in any way.”

While using a smartphone app could allow travelers to preview whether they’ll be allowed through PreCheck or not at the airport, the more worrying possibility is that online check-in could allow terrorists to actually amend the barcode so as to change their security status. A simple barcode generator could be used to switch the PreCheck value to indicate lower security was required.

PreCheck inclusion is either via random selection or, for a fee of $100 to the US customs agency for pre-approval, each time you fly over a five year period. Some airlines throw in PreCheck membership as a perk for frequent flyers

Butler suggests that security systems should check to see if the barcode has been tampered by online check-in users, validating it with the version airlines have on record. Alternatively, the PreCheck data could be encrypted, making it harder to decode from the boarding pass and then re-generate.

The TSA has declined to comment on the security loophole.

[via BBC]

Boarding pass barcodes open airport security loophole fears is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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When it comes to the world of Android-powered smartphones, you can say that the range of choices are too many to name. After all, with so many manufacturers in the market, it can be quite difficult to make a choice. Sony, ever since making the break away from their partnership with Ericsson, has come up with their fair share of more than decent devices in recent months, and their upcoming device, the Sony Xperia TL, is tipped for a release by AT&T later this November 2nd. AT&T has set the asking price of the Sony Xperia TL to be $99.99, where it will come with a new two-year agreement. The Sony Xperia TL will be featured in the upcoming 007 film, Skyfall, as part of Sony’s marketing campaign.

The Sony Xperia TL boasts of Sony’s best HD capture and viewing experiences, not to mention being able to share content across different devices courtesy of One-touch connectivity with near field communication (NFC).

For starters, the Sony Xperia TL will feature a 13-megapixel primary camera that is capable of capturing even the smallest of details to life. In addition, this high resolution fast capture camera will be able to enter the first shot from standby mode in a mere 1.5 seconds, which is enough to capture even some of life’s unexpected moments. Regardless of whether you are using the back or front facing cameras, either one are able to capture video in High Definition quality.

The Sony Xperia TL comes with a superb 4.6-inch HD Reality Display at 1280 x 720 resolution which is powered by the Mobile BRAVIA Engine. Should you want to watch content from your smartphone screen to the TV screen, the Xperia TL will be able to do so via HDMI with MHL support or wirelessly through DLNA. NFC technology will also allow the Xperia SmartTags for you to perform a range of customizable functions for different locations and situations. Any takers for this smartphone from Sony Mobile?

Press Release
[ AT&T to offer Sony Xperia TL this coming November 2nd copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Earlier this year, there was the Pikachu-themed Nintendo 3DS XL which was introduced on an exclusive basis to the folks in Japan via Pokémon Centers in the Land of the Rising Sun, and this time around, I would presume that success of the Pikachu-themed model has inspired the folks over at Nintendo to introduce a Charizard-themed Nintendo 3DS XL – following the same modus operandi, of course.

However, this time around the Charizard offering will be unlike the Pikachu 3DS offering, where the latter needed to be reserved should you want to pick one up, as the Charizard model will be a whole lot more elusive (quite unlike the common Pokemon that it is in the game). It is all down to lady luck now, as reservations will be decided through a lottery system which will be held from November 3rd to November 26th. Lottery winners will then have the option to pick up the special edition Charizard 3DS XL for 18,900 yen in the time window that is between December 15th this year and January 14th, 2013.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nintendo’s new 3DS XL colors and patterns are worth nerding-out over, Nintendo 3DS XL hits US for $199, comes with AC adapter ,

Clearwire’s figures show that the network it isn’t cool to love will be making placating faces at its bank manager for yet another quarter. It pulled in revenues of $313.9 million for the three month period, but with business costs (and depreciation) clocking in at $646.7 million, the company posted an operating loss of $332 million and a net loss of $41.3 million. If that wasn’t bad enough, it’s also hacked back a target to add TD-LTE to 5,000 sites before mid-2013 to just 2,000. A similar problem has occurred over at newly-minted majority owner Sprint, which has found itself a quarter behind its own LTE timetable thanks to parts shortages — so let’s hope the folks over at Softbank can help both companies improve their estimating skills.

Continue reading Clearwire sees wholesale revenues dip, LTE delays as it posts a $41.3 million net loss in Q3

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Sprint

Clearwire sees wholesale revenues dip, LTE delays as it posts a $41.3 million net loss in Q3 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 07:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So you’re finally getting that Surface tablet (or a Windows 8 PC of choice) and have decided that a basic weather app just won’t do it justice. AccuWeather agrees with you — after months of supporting the Windows 8 preview editions, it’s formally launching a weather app that takes advantage of Microsoft’s completed Metro Windows 8 interface in all its widescreen glory. The title both provides near-obsessive detail about the climate as well as the requisite live tile for an at-a-glance check. You also won’t have to resort to the web to find out if it’s raining in your neighborhood: a Bing Maps radar overlay shows if it’s safe to leave the umbrella at home. The app is free to download, which makes it entirely too easy to check the weather through Windows instead of the window.

Continue reading AccuWeather launches for Windows 8, lets you know if it’s dry outside the Metro

Filed under: Software

AccuWeather launches for Windows 8, lets you know if it’s dry outside the Metro originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 07:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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