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Perfect secrecy has come a step closer with the launch of the world’s first computer network protected by unbreakable quantum encryption at a scientific conference in Vienna.

The network connects six locations across Vienna and in the nearby town of St Poelten, using 200 km of standard commercial fibre optic cables.

Quantum cryptography is completely different from the kinds of security schemes used on computer networks today.

These are typically based on complex mathematical procedures which are extremely hard for outsiders to crack, but not impossible given sufficient computing resources or time.

But quantum systems use the laws of quantum theory, which have been shown to be inherently unbreakable.

Read more @ BBC

Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox browser, has released technology that helps websites detect the physical location of computers.
The system will allow users, for instance, to find local restaurants when they travel to a new town.

The Geode project is an experimental add-on ahead of a full blown launch of geolocation technology in version 3.1 of Firefox. Users will have control over how much location information they give. It uses technology from a firm called Skyhook which works out a computer’s location from nearby wireless networks. Its so-called Loki system can determine location within seconds with an accuracy of about 10 to 20 meters.