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NSA's boot camp for cyberdefense

If you're the kind of person who worries about the security of computer networks, you should know that the National Security Agency is worrying about it too.

Since Tuesday, the NSA has been conducting its 10th annual Cyber Defense Exercise, a competition that pits students from a series of military academies against each other--and against the competition's leaders at NSA--in a bid to see who has the best cyberdefense skills. The idea? To "build and defend computer networks against simulated intrusions by the National Security Agency/Central Security Services Red Team."

The competition will last until … Read more

Inside the Apple 15-inch MacBook Pro

With nothing fresh on the outside, all the newness of the just-announced 15-inch MacBook Pro is on the inside, as iFixit illustrates in its latest teardown.

What is of interest to most, of course, is the Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. MacBook Pros use these chips--built on Intel's latest 32-nanometer manufacturing process--for the first time.

The Core i5 processor package (the upper Intel chip package in the photo) actually contains two chips (which can't be seen in the teardown, as it only shows the outside of the packages). But inside each Intel CPU is the processor die … Read more

Air Force to add cyberwarfare training

U.S. Air Force recruits will be trained in the basics of cyberwarfare, according to statements made by four-star Air Force Gen. Robert Kehler.

Though details of the plan are still being worked out, according to the Associated Press, the Air Force intends to provide brief training sessions on cyberwarfare to new recruits, most likely an hour or two, to cover the fundamentals. The training would cover basic principles, such as the use of firewalls and passwords, according to Kehler.

The general, who runs the Air Force Space Command at the Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado, spoke about the … Read more

First Take: Apple MacBook Pro spring 2010 (17-inch)

The 17-inch MacBook Pro has always been the domain for a special subset of people: desktop-replacement connoisseurs, fans of higher-res screens, and graphic designers in particular. The spring 2010 17-inch MacBook Pro retains nearly all of the design features from the 2009 version, but the internal components have at last received a significant boost.

As we had expected and hoped, Apple's new 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros have made the shift to Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, matching a move that the rest of the industry has rapidly made. The 17-inch Pro comes in a single 2.53GHz … Read more

First Take: Apple MacBook Pro spring 2010 (13-inch)

If you're a MacBook user, you've likely been waiting on pins and needles as the rest of the industry has been unleashing Intel's new Core i3, i5 and i7 processors everywhere. There's good news and bad news here: while Apple has updated its MacBook Pro line to Core i5 and i7 processors, the new spring 2010 13-inch MacBook Pro still runs off an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. We can't say we weren't expecting a new processor here, and we're mildly disappointed. After all, we really loved the 2009 13-inch MacBook Pro, and … Read more

Air Force prepping robot spacecraft for launch

The U.S. Air Force is preparing to launch a reusable robot spacecraft that will bring military capabilities into orbit, the result of a long development program that has seen few achievements so far.

Designed by NASA and Boeing, the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle resembles a midget Space Shuttle or a Predator drone on steroids. Its purpose is classified, but the launch slated for April 19 is intended to demonstrate its ability to perform tasks in low Earth orbit before autonomously landing on a runway in California, according to an Associated Press report.

Weighing 11,000 pounds, the X-37B is … Read more

Air Force, Marines advance on social networks

Be open, but be careful. That's the watchword for those serving in the Air Force and in the Marines, who can now tweet and use Facebook for official military business and authorized personal matters.

The U.S. Air Force is slowly and cautiously opening its network to social media sites, starting this week with five bases in the Pacific, to be followed by a wider rollout later in April, according to the Air Force's official Web site. The U.S. Marine Corps, meanwhile, this week opened up full access to all personnel, says the Marine Corps Times.

The … Read more

CNET News Daily Podcast: iPad heads to Best Buy

The iPad goes on sale on Saturday, April 3. Apple said today that in addition to be being available at its 221 U.S. retail locations on Saturday, the iPad would also be available from most Best Buy stores, select Apple authorized resellers, and campus bookstores. The company will also hold iPad workshops at its retail stores Saturday to help customers learn more about the device. Apple Suppliers now expect to ship 2.5 million iPads in the first three months alone. Reports this weekend had indicated that any new iPad orders would not begin shipping until April 12, which … Read more

CNET News Daily Podcast: China's malware problem

In today's episode we talk malware coming out of China, GPS being used to get out of speeding tickets, and Opera's new browser for iPhone--which could, or could not be coming to an Apple device near you. We also talk about the U.S. Air Force testing a new jet fuel based on animal fat and plants, along with a mysterious, new 7-inch 3G-enabled device coming to AT&T users this year. Tune in to get the whole story. And, as always, all the links from today's stories can be found below.

Today's stories:

Symantec finds China top source of malware… Read more