Silk Road: Will cybercrime evolve in wake of takedown?

Anonymity is one of the most prized assets on the "dark web"

ilk Road, the infamous online marketplace for drugs and other illegal goods, was closed down by the FBI earlier this month. Since then its alleged founder, Ross Ulbricht - who denies being the site's operator known as Dread Pirate Roberts - has been taken into custody, and police forces around the world have been making arrests.

It is a blow to the sale and distribution of harmful substances, including cocaine and heroin, as well as disrupting other criminal activities arranged online, such as the sale of weapons and hitmen for hire.

Nike shows off Fuelband SE activity-tracking wristband

The Fuelband SE looks similar to the earlier model,
but now features a coloured underside

 Nike has unveiled its second generation activity-tracking wristband, addressing criticism that its earlier device failed to recognise that some activities use more energy than others.

The Fuelband SE lets owners define the start and end of a session and then tag it - for example as yoga or basketball.

The firm's software then adjusts its "fuel" score accordingly.

However, speculation that Nike would add a heart monitor or other new sensor to improve accuracy proved incorrect.

The New York launch came a fortnight after the Fitbit Force was unveiled - a rival activity tracker that introduced a height-measuring altimeter that can record how many stairs its owner has climbed.

John McAfee: Addict, coder, runaway

Who is the real John McAfee? He's the man who went on the run after his neighbour was found dead, face-up, with a bullet in his head. He's the man who jump-started the multibillion-dollar anti-virus industry. And now he thinks he can make you invisible on the internet.

Within tech circles he's long been a legend. But for most people, McAfee came to prominence last year when he fled his Central American home - teeth stained, hair dyed, in disguise - rather than let himself be questioned by authorities he accused of being corrupt.

Dark web 'will evolve', warns UK cyber crime chief Andy Archibald

Andy Archibald, head of the UK's National Cyber Crime Unit, says the "dark web" of criminal activity will continue to evolve

The "dark web" services used by criminals will continue to evolve in an attempt to evade authorities, the UK's cybercrime boss has warned.

Last week, notorious drugs market place the Silk Road was shut down after a lengthy investigation.

US Army plans 'Iron Man' armour for soldiers

The army wants soldiers of the future to be better equipped

US Army plans 'Iron Man' armour 

for soldiers

The US Army is working to develop "revolutionary" smart armour that would give its troops "superhuman strength".

It is calling on the technology industry, government labs and academia to help build the Iron Man-style suit.

Exoskeletons that allow soldiers to carry large loads much further are already widely used by the army.

Four UK men arrested over Silk Road links

The Silk Road was infamous as a place to buy illegal drugs

Four UK men arrested over 

Silk Road links

Four men have been arrested in the UK over their role in illegal online marketplace Silk Road.

Three men in their early 20s were arrested in Manchester while a fourth man, in his 50s, was detained in Devon.

The men were initially arrested on suspicion of drug offences. More arrests are expected in the coming weeks.

Samsung launches Galaxy Round 'smartphone with curved display screen'.

Samsung said the curved screen will help
users navigate the phone better.

Samsung launches smartphone 

with curved display screen

Samsung Electronics, the world's best-selling smartphone maker, has launched a handset with a curved display screen.

Called the Galaxy Round, the smartphone will feature a 5.7in (14.5cm) display.

The launch comes just days after rival LG said it would begin production of curved-screen phones next year.

A Smartphone Charger That Sniffs for Malware.

Charge it: Kaprica Security’s Skorpion smartphone charger is
 also an external malware scanner.

A Smartphone Charger That Sniffs for Malware.

Scanning a smartphone for malware with a charger offers more protection than security apps ever can.

Charge it: Kaprica Security’s Skorpion smartphone charger is also an external malware scanner.

At the annual Black Hat security conference this summer, researchers demonstrated how it would be possible to add malware to an iPhone by connecting it to a modified charger. Now a mobile security startup is attempting to do the opposite, by selling a charger that can scan your smartphone for malware—and repair it, if necessary—while powering it up.

Deep Web Users Are Ready To Launch Silk Road 2.0

In an interesting post-mortem release by the creators of the defunct anonymous marketplaceAtlantis there is information that the former admins and users of the Silk Road are planning to resurrect the service. User RR writes: “We have SilkRoad v2.0 ready to launch and is now in its final testing stages. Our site has all the features of the original one and we have kept the same style of forum for your ease.”

'Anonymous attackers' in court over cyber-attacks

'Anonymous attackers' 

in court over cyber-attacks

Thirteen alleged members of hacktivist group Continue reading the main story

Anonymous have been indicted, accused of
carrying out cyber-attacks.

They have been charged in the US with conspiring
to intentionally cause damage to protected computers.

They were said to have targeted firms that refused to
process payments for WikiLeaks, the whistle-blowing
 site founded by Julian Assange.

The group flooded services with large amounts of traffic in an attempt to overwhelm the sites.

This method - known as a Distributed Denial of Service attack, or DDoS - is a typical tactic of the hacktivist movement.

Silk Road Founder’s Alleged Murder-For-Hire Plot.

Court Docs Reveal Reputed Silk Road Founder’s Alleged Murder-For-Hire Plot.

For two and a half years, Silk Road was the Deep Web’s worst keep secret. The underground site was infamous for drug trafficking, gun running and murder for hire – a veritable rogues gallery for underground dealers. Since launching in 2011, the site generated over $1.2 billion in revenue and $79.8 million in commissions. It was one of the not-so-secret successes of the underground web.

Nasa plans first 3D printer space launch in 2014.

3D printing in the International Space Station could reduce the cost and frequency of resupply missions

Nasa plans first 3D printer space launch in 2014

US space agency Nasa is planning to launch a 3D printer into space next year to help astronauts manufacture spare parts and tools in zero gravity.

It will be the first time a 3D printer has been used in space and could help reduce the costs of future missions.

The device will have to withstand lift-off vibrations and operate safely in an enclosed space station environment.

Edward Snowden shortlisted for EU's Sakharov prize.

Edward Snowden said he was grateful for the nomination

Edward Snowden shortlisted for EU's Sakharov prize

Edward Snowden, the fugitive American former intelligence worker, has made the shortlist of three for the Sakharov prize, Europe's top human rights award.

Mr Snowden was nominated by Green politicians in the European Parliament for leaking details of US surveillance.

Nominees also include Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager shot in the head for demanding education for girls.