antoin@eire.com

Lance Spitzner gave a good talk for the TCD Netsoc on Internet security. Lance is … well, I guess he could best be described as an uber-geek.

Lance was telling us about honeypots. Basically, a honey pot on a computer network serves the same purpose as a honeypot in your back garden, except that it attracts malicious Internet users, rather than bees and wasps.
(more…)

Ireland is drafting new laws that will make it mandatory for ISPs and telephone companies to retain information about Internet and telephone usage, and make it available to law enforcement. This legislation has been in progress for some months, but there has been no consultation.

Act now to make sure this legislation takes full account of the privacy rights of Internet users.
(more…)

The Revolution will not be televised is a film you definitely should not miss about the overthrowing and reinstatement of President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. The filmmakers were making a documentary on the presidency when the coup took place. You get a ringside view of a coup in progress and a government in crisis.
(more…)

Whatever you think about the war, there’s no denying that there were a lot of people out marching against it in Dublin today. Apparently 80,000 people turned out. With local elections looming in Ireland, the Irish government is really going to have to start thinking about taking a serious stand against what the Americans are proposing.
(more…)

Shanto Iyengar is probably the most important political psychologist working in the field today. He is the first person I know of to provide scientific insight into what makes modern media campaigning so successful. If I could buy shares in academics, this would be the guy I would invest all my chips in. He will be recognised as a star in years to come.
(more…)