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PSA: Resetting your phone risks upsetting Google Wallet, unless you do it right
Spare a thought for Google Wallet users who have learned this the hard way, but at least you won't have to fall into the same little-known trap. Essentially, if you have a Galaxy Nexus, HTC EVO 4G LTE or any other compatible handset and you perform a factory reset, there's a high chance you'll spoil the secure element that is designed to protect your NFC chip from tampering. This disables Google Wallet and it seems there's no fix once that happens, other than calling up a friendly (and hopefully interactive) customer service agent. However, there is a way to prevent it: before factory resetting, you have to go into the Google Wallet app, choose 'Menu' then 'Settings' and 'Reset Google Wallet'. There it is -- simple enough, but evidently not advertised enough by Google or the phone manufacturers themselves.
ARM seeks better security for connected devices, teams up with Gemalto and Giesecke & Devrient
ARM is famous for its low-power chip designs, Gemalto is known for its NFC security features, and Giesecke & Devrient brings some nice nano-SIM notoriety to the table. As a trio, these companies want to push forward a security standard that could be readily used in a wide range of web-connected devices, including tablets, smart TVs, game consoles and smartphones. The standard itself is built on ARM's TrustZone hardware-based security, which has been around for a while and is built into every ARM Cortex-A series processor, but which still isn't as widely used as it could be. By founding an off-shoot company with its partners, ARM hopes to nudge the things along faster and turn TrustZone into the "Blu-ray" of mobile security standards.
Study finds e-voting machines short on security
A recent report from the Task Force on Voting System Security, at New York University's rather ominous sounding Brennan Center for Justice has determined that the e-voting machines currently utilized in 26 states have serious security issues. The machines currently use paper receipts to verify a voter's selection, but only regular audits of collected data can ensure that the numbers kept in the machine actually match those printed on the slips. As of right now, many states and counties are not required to perform these audits, leaving plenty of room for malicious misrepresentation. Luckily, the report also claims that other fixes, such as banning electronic devices in booths and eliminating wireless components, are so simple they could easily be implemented for 2006's election season, so you should be able to cast your vote with confidence, at least until the whole world adopts the American Idol-style SMS voting the Swiss have been messing around with.
