Author: Todd Dow

  • SC Congress 2015 – free passes, VIP ticket draw and more!

    SCCongress-logo-2015Folks,

    SC Congress is coming up fast. There’s only a month left to get your ticket. And, I’m here to help make it easy. The team at SC Magazine have given me a unique opportunity to pass on to you:

    • free Expo Only VIP Passes ($150 value);
    • an Amazon gift card to the first 50 people to register using promo code “TODDHDOWEXPOVIP”; and
    • a chance to win one of two VIP Two-Day Full Conference Passes ($1,095 value);

    Here’s the deal:

    Each free Expo Only VIP Pass provides you:

    • unlimited access to the Exhibit Hall
    • all five Keynote Addresses
    • one editorial session of your choice
    • inclusion in Passport to Prizes (take home one of the latest Apple products or other must-have device)
    • a chance to network with industry luminaries and business decision makers at the Cocktail Reception
    • and the opportunity to visit with all of the leading brands on the expo floor.

    Expo Plus Passes cost $150, but register as a ToddHDow.com Expo VIP with the Discount Code TODDHDOWEXPOVIP and gain complimentary admission – courtesy of ToddHDow.com.

    As an added bonus, if you are one of the first 50 people to register for a free Expo Only VIP Pass using promo code TODDHDOWEXPOVIP, you will receive a free amazon gift card directly from SC Magazine.

    And finally, SC Magazine has two VIP Two-Day Full Conference Passes to give away. To be entered to win one of these two tickets, here’s what you need to do:

    1. Register for a free Expo Only VIP Pass anytime between today (Monday May 11) and next Monday morning (May 18); and
    2. Tweet the following: “Got my free Expo Plus Pass to @SCCongress Toronto June 10/11. Get yours & chance to win a VIP pass at toddhdow.com #infosec” (We’ll accept a similar shoutout on Facebook if you aren’t on Twitter)

    So don’t delay… register today!

    Alternately, if you just want to get a significant discount on a full conference pass, feel free to use discount code TODDHDOW to get the following discounted ticket prices:

    You can get your discounted tickets here:
    2-day pass: $595 (reg. $1,095)
    1-day pass: $495 (reg. $845)
    Use discount code TODDHDOW or click this link.

    And, while you’re at it, sign up for a complimentary digital subscription to SC Magazine.

    Are you going to SC Congress 2015? Let me know in the comments!

    Talk soon!

    Todd

     

  • Cubox – Build a linux box for just over $100

    IMG_CuBoxI’m a sucker for a bargain. And as I’m sure you already know, I’m also a geek. So, when the two meet, I’m there!

    So, last year, when I heard about a tiny computer in a box that cost about $100, I was intrigued. SolidRun, an Israeli company, sells a 2″x2″x2″ arm-based computer that runs linux, Android and some other OSes quite well. With 2GB RAM, quad core CPU, gigabyte ethernet, HDMI, wireless and more, I had to give it a try.

    The cubox ranges in price from $90 at the low end to $140 fully loaded. I opted for a fully loaded model. And, I also ordered a top of the line hummingboard as well. I’ll talk more about that device another time though. For the next few posts, I’m going to share my experiences – the good, the not so good and the things that I still want to accomplish with my cubox-i4pro.

    For today, I’ll start with an intro and some instructions to get started. In the following days, I’ll outline some cool tools, how I installed them and how I use them. So check  back often and let me know your experiences with these devices.

    First, some key links:
    http://www.solid-run.com/wiki/Main_Page
    http://www.offensive-security.com/kali-linux-vmware-arm-image-download/
    http://tools.kali.org/

    Now, how to get your cubox up and running:

    First, my cubox came with a memory card with Android pre-installed. I was able to simply plug in a monitor, keyboard and mouse and turn it on. It worked perfectly.

    But, I’d like to start from scratch with a plain install of Debian Linux. So, I grabbed a new SD card, flashed a Debian image (provided by solid-run) and away I went.

    To flash an image (from Mac – additional instructions available here):
    Download an image from SolidRun’s OS download page.
    At the command line, type:
    > mount
    > sudo diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk1*
    > sudo dd if=<IMAGE_NAME>.img of=/dev/rdisk1 bs=4096
    (control+T to see progress of image creation)

    Once complete, insert the SD card into the cubox-i4pro, plug in peripherals and power it up. Voila!

    Next up: how to take advantage of the full capacity of the SD card.

    Also, have you registered for SC Congress 2015 in Toronto on June 10 & 11 yet? Register now and remember to use discount code TODDHDOW to get almost 50% off your registration.

  • Why I bought a Pebble watch… on the eve of the Apple Watch launch

    Why I bought a Pebble watch… on the eve of the Apple Watch launch

    apple-watch-pressApple is launching their next “world changing technology” later today in California. Not being content with having dominated the desktop, laptop, smartphone and tablet markets, they are now going after a new market: the smart watch. Google, Samsung, Sony and others have tried, but thus far been unsuccessful, to crack this market. And today marks Apple’s crack at it.

    Apple gave us a sneak peak of their new big thing back in September 2014, when they called it their “Most Personal Device Ever”. With a beautiful full colour high resolution screen, touchscreen interface, new ways to navigate and a bunch of interactive sensors, what’s not to like. It is going to be gorgeous, finely tuned and oh so much fun.

    I will have serious watch envy when they arrive on the market.

    But alas, I have chosen another route.

    pebbletimesteelI invested in Pebble’s latest Kickstarter venture this past weekend. I ordered myself a new Pebble Time Steel watch in gunmetal black. And I can hardly wait for it to arrive.

    Why did I go the Pebble route instead? A few reasons…

    1. Price – Pebble’s new premium watch is going for less than Apple’s entry level watch. $250 gets me a Pebble Time Steel with two watch bands. Apple’s entry level watch is rumoured to start at $350.

    2. Always on, always viewable screen. I’ve always been a Kindle fan. Those devices have great screens that are easy on the eyes and they are viewable everywhere. Ever try to read an iPad in sunlight? It just doesn’t work. The Pebble uses the same e-paper screen as the Kindle (better actually… the Pebble has a colour screen). I suspect that the Apple Watch will be like a vampire: afraid of the sun. And, to maintain a full day of battery life, the Apple Watch will have to ration screen time. It’ll only be on when you really want it to be on. Pebble Time Steel? Always on. And you’ll be able to get up to 10 days of always on convenience.

    3. Battery life – speaking of always on… The Pebble’s e-paper screen is like the smart car of smart watches: it’ll sip from the battery instead of gulping, which will give it up to 10 days of battery life on a single charge. The Apple Watch – not so much. There are worries that it won’t even last a full day on a single charge. Not good.

    4. Cross-platform compatability – Apple Watch will work with other Apple products. The Pebble will work with both Apple and Android. This gives much more flexibility and portability. Apple is good at locking people into their ecosystem. I love Apple products but don’t want to be forced to use only their stuff. Thanks Pebble!

    5. I like the underdog. Pebble’s new smart watch sales are counting in the tens of millions of dollars. Apple will likely make a billion dollars in new revenue. In this case, I’m going to cheer for the underdog – especially since they have a compelling, fully working and equally functional product on offer.

    Yes, the Apple Watch will probably look nicer. It’ll look more refined. And it’ll be the talk of the town for a while. But I still can’t wait for the arrival of my new Pebble Time Steel because it’ll “just work” more often than the Apple Watch will.

    Are you getting a smart watch anytime soon? If so, which one are you going to get? Let me know in the comments.

    Thanks,

    Todd

  • SC Congress 2015 – are you going?

    SCCongress-logo-2015As many of you know, I’m a security geek. And what is more fun for a security geek than seeing, hearing and learning about the latest security-related tools & techniques. Each year, I look forward to attending the two major Toronto-area IT security conferences: SC Congress in June and Sector in October.

    Both of these events offer the latest and greatest in IT security. In 2013, I attended both events:

    This year’s SC Congress is coming up soon: June 10 & 11 2015. And based on my great coverage of the 2013 event, I’ve been invited to blog about it again. So, I’ll be attending SC Congress 2015 with a press pass in hand. I hope you’ll join me at the event as well. It should be an awesome time.

    As a bonus, you can register for SC Congress at a significantly discounted rate, simply by using the discount code TODDHDOW.

    You can get your discounted tickets here:
    2-day pass: $525 (reg. $995)
    1-day pass: $425 (reg. $795)
    Use discount code TODDHDOW or click this link.

    And, while you’re at it, sign up for a complimentary digital subscription to SC Magazine.

    Are you going to SC Congress 2015? Let me know in the comments!

    Talk soon!

    Todd

     

  • Keep Us Canadian by Todd Dow

    Keep Us Canadian by Todd Dow

    Keep us mindful of our protectors that have fallen in the name of peace.
    Keep us vigilant against those that threaten peace.
    Keep us focused on our desire for peace.
    Keep us patient as we strive for justice.
    Keep us unprejudiced in the face of hatred.
    Keep us disciplined as we discern rational responses to irrational action.
    Keep us recognized as world leaders in tolerance, respect, freedom and human rights for all.
    Keep us the True North Strong and Free.