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Defending Cyberspace

Air Force trains warriors to defend cyberspace

By Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON

The military relies on computers and electronic communication to launch precision weapons, spy on its enemies and communicate with troops in combat. The Air Force is revamping its training to prepare its 320,000 airmen to protect its frontlines in cyberspace, Air Force Brig. Gen. Mark Schissler said. The battlefield includes the Internet, cellphone calls and signals that
trigger roadside bombs.

"In cyber, the weapon of choice is going to be the computer that sits on your desk," said Schissler, the Air Force's director of cyberoperations. Every enlisted man and officer will be taught about cyberwarfare in basic training, the Air Force Academy or officer candidate school, Schissler said. About 100 students per year will receive more advanced instruction at the
Undergraduate Network Warfare Training course at Hurlburt Field in Florida. Graduates of the six-month program will be able to operate a computer like "a weapon system" and will be known as cyberwarriors or cyberoperators, Schissler said. The first class graduated last month.

The Air Force wants to build offensive and defensive capabilities in cyberspace. A presentation from the Center for Cyberspace Research at the Air Force Institute of Technology states the goal plainly: The Air Force "can drop a 2,000-pound bomb anywhere we want. … We need to be able to do the same thing in cyberspace … while denying that ability to any adversary!"

Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne noted last year that terrorists exploit the Internet and need to be fought there. "These adversaries can communicate globally with their agents, spread propaganda, mobilize support worldwide, conduct training, detonate improvised explosive devices and can empty or create bank accounts to fund their causes," Wynne told an Air Force conference. Islamic extremists, Schissler said, run as many as 6,000 websites for recruiting.

A cyberwarrior will monitor computers used by terrorists to learn of imminent attacks and help thwart them, Schissler said. Wynne wrote in an article in an Air Force professional journal that in cyberwarfare, airmen in Colorado can use satellites to program weapons on an F-16 to kill insurgents planting roadside bombs in Iraq.

The Pentagon acknowledges that its computers are attacked hundreds of times each day. Most of the intrusions are thwarted, but an attack last June disrupted an unclassified e-mail system in the Defense secretary's office. Schissler said there's no ideal cyberwarrior. "You have to be quick to learn," he said. "That's the only real requirement."

John Pike, a defense analyst and director of Globalsecurity.org, questioned whether the Air Force program would overlap with responsibilities of the National Security Agency, which gathers and analyzes foreign communication. Jamming enemy air defense radar and protecting computers from hackers have been part of traditional electronic warfare for the Air Force. "This thing sounds like they've set up their own operation separate from the NSA," Pike said.

Find this article at: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2008-01-28-cyber_N.htm

Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Title -

Text here - ain't this cool??

Wii and Seniors

Game On! Retirement Home Hosts Wii Tourney Wed, 10/03/2007 - 9:00am

Four Erickson retirement communities recently joined together for one common goal— to kick some major Wii bowling butt! As you already know, Wii gaming is very popular among seniors, with Wii bowling being a top favorite! Here is a video from Erickson Sports, which showcases some highlights from game one of the first annual "Erickson Sports Nintendo Wii Bowling Championship." I just love anything related to Wii playing and seniors. It warms my heart and tickles my toes. I guarantee that once you watch this video, you'll get a huge smile on your face. The players are too adorable!

DigiSelf Crosses Over - TOTAL RECALL

YouTube on my cell Phone - what could be better?

How does this fit in with our discussion of Acoustic Space?

YouTube makes more videos mobile

By Michael Liedtke, Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO —

YouTube is expanding its mobile service to include virtually all of the videos available on its website, hoping to widen its sway on pop culture.

Beginning Thursday, most people equipped with the latest generation of mobile phones will be able to peruse tens of millions of YouTube videos. YouTube first began showing videos on phones in 2006, but only a few thousand clips had been available until now.

Besides opening up its vast video library available on so-called "smart" phones, YouTube also is providing mobile access to many of the same features that have become staples of its website. The additional mobile features include the ability to rate videos and share clips with friends.

More than 100 million devices worldwide should be able to access the expanded mobile service, YouTube estimated. The handsets must have streaming capability and have a 3G operator.

YouTube, which is owned by Google, is trying to make it easier for people to upload videos from their phones with a new application that can be installed on some handsets. The "YouTube for Mobile" program initially will work on limited list of devices that include some Sony Ericsson and Nokia models.

San Bruno-based YouTube has no immediate plans to make money off the mobile service but eventually may show ads to viewers, said Hunter Walk, YouTube's product manager. For now, YouTube just wants its audience to become more accustomed to watching video on their phones, Walker said.

Google bought YouTube for $1.76 billion 14 months ago as part of an effort to build a channel for video advertising.

YouTube's mobile service, reachable at http://m.youtube.com, is being offered in 16 other countries besides the United States and 10 other languages besides English. The other languages are: Japanese, Italian, French, Spanish, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Chinese, German
and Russian.

YouTube's website already serves up more than 200 million video clips today, ranging from kids goofing off in their bedrooms to presidential candidates on the campaign trail.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Snow Day Voice Mail - It all began with this Post on YouTube

Snow Day Voice Mail

The Information Age

BigThink.com - The "Intellectual" YouTube - Is that possible?

Google is a parasite?

Click To Play

Making "Madden" More Real

"Only On The Web": Richard Schlesinger talks to Kenny Bell, the motion-capture actor bringing the NFL's most athletic and creative moves to EA Sports' hit, Madden NFL, and Ian Cummings, an EA producer.

Talk about the concept of a DigiSelf - certainly an interesting and unusual job. Check out this CBS News story.

Digital McLuhan & Acoustic Space/Visual Space

Levinson - Song of the Alphabet
A great deal to do with constructed meanings and how we view and evaluate the world around us. Why do we see the world the way we do? Does it have something to do with acoustic space (info all around us) versus visual space (info linear). Did our world change with move from acoustic to visual space. How did structure of alphabet impact world - culture and values. Alphabet, printing press - gives control to select group of info creators.

Readers of printed word always got the same unwavering answers. Different today?

Where does cyberspace fit into all of this -- relying on alphabet (visual) but form, function, presentation without boundaries or limitations (acoustic). Cyberspace - individual user has great deal of power and control -- individual also, as with this blog, becomes a creator of content.

Questions

Does the online Communication more effectively approximate the openness of an in person conversation as the author asserts? Is this significant?

Will cyberspace continue to be linked to alphabet? Was it just a convenient convention - the best we could do in a world lacking more efficient media?

Alphabet conveys abstraction so effectively that no other media will duplicate? It will be safe for the future.

Does cyberspace/the Internet need to command our full attention or can it be background the way music on the radio serves as background?

Media evolve in a Darwinian manner - serve biological need (sight, hearing

Some links on the topic:
Old Messengers, New Media
The Cultural Paradox of the Global Village