Using the cloud to crack your local WiFI

Just come across this service that has been set up to use a cluster of 400 CPUs in cloud computing to crack WiFi passwords.

WPA Cracker is a low cost cloud cracking service for penetration testers and network auditors who need to check the security of WPA-PSK protected wireless networks, or for you to recover your WiFi password.The strange thing is that you could use this to crack a nearby WiFi access port for a few dollars paid via an Amazon account.
WPA-PSK networks are vulnerable to dictionary attacks, but running a respectable-sized dictionary over a WPA network handshake can take 5 days on a standard dual core desktop and more on a laptop. WPA Cracker gives access to a 400CPU cluster that will run your network capture against a 135 million word dictionary created specifically for WPA passwords. Initially the service was in English, and is now in German, and has an extended dictionary of another 284m words.
The cluster it takes an average of 20 minutes, for only $35, or the half node can be used for $17 for up to 40 minutes.

Related article

• New Cloud hacking service (ecombizcenter.blogspot.com)
• GSM Encryption Cracked After 21 Years (techie-buzz.com)
• USA Has More Open WiFi Wireless Hotspots Than EU (news.slashdot.org)
• http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/07/cloud_based_password_cracking/

Face recognition for portables

DSP experts CEVA have teamed up with packaging IP company Tessera to put face recognition software on mobile platforms.
Tessera's Fotonation embedded image enhancement software will run on CEVA’s portable multimedia platform, the CEVA-MM2000, with a live demonstration today in Yokohama, Japan.
CEVA and Tessera are demonstrating high-performance face detection and face tracking capabilities running completely in software on CEVA’s fully programmable multimedia platform. Face detection and tracking are the latest additions to the broad range of video, audio and image enhancement software available for the MM2000 platform and further illustrates the extensive capabilities enabled for licensees of CEVA’s fully programmable multimedia solution.

"Tessera’s FotoNation technology brings embedded image enhancement capabilities to the MM2000 platform and provides a valuable addition to the software offerings available for our MM2000 platform," said Eyal Ben-Avraham, vice president Partners & Ecosystem of CEVA. "The ease-of-programmability of our MM2000 platform enables our customers to truly differentiate their CEVA-based multimedia SoCs through software. Offerings such as the FotoNation technology from Tessera and other quality improvement pre/post-processing functions are vital especially for mobile devices."