http://www.salonmagazine.com/21st/log/1998/12/07log.html
Lycos, go get it! Hey, the power's finally back on in San Francisco...
> PalmPilot-assisted auto theft
> SALON | Dec. 8, 1998
>
> Attention, Palm owners worldwide -- your nifty organizer is also, it
> turns out, a great tool for breaking into cars.
>
> According to the New Scientist, a European computer journalist
> recently discovered that the infrared port of a PalmPilot could be
> used to break into cars with infrared remote-controlled locking
> systems. Using software that was written to enable Palm owners to
> remotely control their TV and VCR with the PalmPilot, the hand-held
> computer can apparently record the infrared "code" of a car's locking
> system. The PalmPilot can then unlock the car and disable the alarm by
> playing that code back.
>
> The problem has been reported in the United Kingdom, where the New
> Scientist article estimates that nearly 3 million cars could be
> vulnerable to the hack. No one has publicly determined the extent of
> the problem in the United States. Palm, however, isn't apologizing,
> especially since it didn't write the software that's being used.
>
> "We aren't responsible for third-party applications, though we think
> it's unfortunate that our product is being used for an illegal use,"
> says Palm PR manager Elizabeth Cardinale. But, she perks up, "there
> might be a good thing that will come of this. Say someone wanted to
> have the key to their car code stored in their PalmPilot, just in case
> they forget their keys." -- Janelle Brown
On the other hand, if some butt-head steals my P3, they get my car for
free. Imagine me trying to explain THAT one to the insurance agent...
----
adam@cs.caltech.edu
The National Science Foundation announced the following study results
on corporate America recreation preferences:
1. Sport of choice for maintenance level employees: bowling.
2. Sport of choice for front line workers: football.
3. Sport of choice for supervisors: softball.
4. Sport of choice for middle management: tennis.
5. Sport of choice for corporate officers: golf.
CONCLUSION:
The higher you are in the corporate structure, the smaller your balls.