U.S. would ensure backup systems for GPS
Posted by me101 on 08 March 2002 - 07:01 · no comments & 30 views
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Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said the agency would launch a plan that included back-up strategies as well as continued partnership with the Pentagon to modernize satellite navigation systems used in civil transportation.
The department would also study GPS applications for aviation and other civil transportation over the long term, and obtain new technology to prevent jamming or other intentional interference.
Developed by the Defense Department, GPS uses a constellation of two dozen orbiting satellites as reference points to quickly and precisely calculate positions anywhere in the world. It has many common applications and is widely used to track the position of trucks, ships and trains.
The Federal Aviation Administration plans to use it to safely pack more planes into the skies and allow precision landings in bad weather.
A study found that the relatively weak GPS signal is susceptible to unintentional disruption from atmospheric effects, buildings and radio signals. It was also vulnerable to tampering.
To test the software's claims, TechTV Labs installed a recently released key-logging app, WinWhatWhere Investigator 4, an alarmingly solid performer that provides myriad ways to monitor and record keystroke activity. In our test, Anti-keylogger was able to ferret out the software, which was buried in an obscure file location.
When the software detects a key logger, you'll get the path name for the file and a frightening message:
"Anti-keylogger has detected unauthorized keystroke monitoring programs running on your system. All your passwords, credit card details, and confidential documents (as they are typed) are probably saved in the Log."
In one scan, the program listed a common .dat file (a Windows file that contains user information) as a key logger. The application was technically correct, but you might not want to delete the file. According to a company spokesman, the software uses mathematical calculations to determine the location of a key logger, though when asked precisely how it works he declined to elaborate further, alluding to trade secrets.
There are some un-install issues associated with the application, plus more importantly, the software doesn't offer much beyond detecting and removing key loggers. It doesn't, for instance, leave the offending program on your computer at the same time that it disables its features. The only option is to delete it, a function that's available only to registered users.
Additionally, another drawback is that the software only works with Windows 95/98/Me. Windows NT and NT-based operating systems like Windows 2000 and Windows XP won't be able to use the software.
Meanwhile, a cheaper alternative, Anti-Keylogger 2002 from Centurian Software, is scheduled for release soon.
Conclusions: Anti-Keylogger 1.12 hunts down key logging software so that you can delete it from your computer. Aside from its being a one-trick pony, it's expensive and at times brings back results for software that you might not want to delete.