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US government contractor developing 'microwave gun,' Hot Pockets tremble
Ah, the beloved "electronic bomb," able to disable all technology in its vicinity: variations on the concept go way back, but useful prototypes remain tantalizingly out of reach. Into the breach steps defense contractor BAE Systems, taking a fresh crack with a High-Powered Microwave (HPM) gun intended to disable small boat engines – if successful, the technology may also target ships, UAVs, and missile payloads. The secret-shrouded weapon sounds similar to Boeing's planned airborne EMP weapon, but lacking the missile delivery systems. BAE seems to be betting big on electromagnetic warfare as a future battlefield tactic, with a manager pitching the sci-fi scene to Aviation Week: "Unlike lasers, HPM beams don't need a lot of accuracy. With a fan [of HPM energy] you can target 10-30 small boats. If you can knock out 50-75% of the engines in a swarm, you can then concentrate on the remainder with lasers or kinetic [cannons]." To develop better defenses against such attacks, the contractor received $150,000 from the Air Force to test-fire microwaves at military computers. No word on whether said defenses involve generous use of tin foil.
Zynga Poker hacker sentenced to two years after stealing $11 million
29-year old Devon, England citizen Ashley Mitchell -- who we'll be referring to as "Cyber Danny Ocean" for the remainder of this article -- has been sentenced to two years in prison plus a 30-week suspended sentence for stealing £7 million ($11.4 million) in virtual currency for Zynga Poker. The methods Cyber Danny Ocean used were far less exciting and sophisticated than his cinematic counterpart: He hijacked the accounts of two Zynga employees, added the funds to his account, and re-sold them for a cool £53,612. How did C.D.O. get caught? He performed said heist while using his neighbor's unsecured Wi-Fi connection. That seems like a pretty obvious slip-up -- we think he did it on purpose, to spare the rest of his crew from ending up in the slammer. We bet that when he gets out, Cyber Brad Pitt is going to be waiting to pick him up, waiting with a pithy remark about his suit. Who's that in the car? Oh, it's Cyber Julia Roberts -- and she's still in love with him! Credits.
