“From my honeypot research I’ve found that any new computer that connects to the internet, having never run any sort of service before, you’re discovered within an hour. Usually [after] about 30 minutes people start to connect to you with that tool that we call a ping. If you’re a high value target like the honeypots I’ve put up for infrastructure, within a day or two we start getting connection attempts, real scans trying to log into the system. People trying to log in every few minutes with different passwords just to see what happens.”

Meet, Michael Haney (bit.ly/2UjorLz), an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science (bit.ly/38zrKGJ) at the University of Idaho. Computer hackers are always developing new tricks, and businesses hire professional cybersecurity experts to protect their important data. But there are not enough experts to go around. Idaho has now gone all in to educate the next wave of cybersecurity experts, and Michael is leading the charge.

Visit our website uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at [email protected].

Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

More U of I Research:

Not to be stymied by COVID-19, the Vandal Marching Band packed away their woodwinds and brass instruments, which can spread aerosols, and embraced percussion. The entire band learned how to drum, an instrument that allows all members to participate while staying masked. Read more (bit.ly/2UmxbR1).

Glacier moss balls, which are nicknamed “glacier mice,” are globs of dirt and moss found on glaciers. Glaciologist Tim Bartholomaus and wildlife scientist Sophie Gilbert found the mice move roughly 2.5 centimeters a day in a herd-like fashion, but their movement doesn’t coincide with prevailing winds, downslope or sun angle. Read more (n.pr/3njxMiJ).

Researchers partnered with the City of Moscow to improve wastewater testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 and develop an early warning system for detecting increases of cases in the community. They also used this technique to look for pockets of COVID-19 cases on the University of Idaho Moscow campus. Read more (bit.ly/3prnwXs).

Music:

“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).

“Mission” by BoxCat Games (bit.ly/3ndlkRA) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3npUBBD).