Last week on April 7th the web was rocked by a security bug called Heartbleed.  It’s a flaw in a commonly used security system, OpenSSL, which nearly two-thirds of all websites globally out there use to keep information secure.  The media has had a field day with this news and unless you live under a rock you’ve probably already heard about the Heartbleed Bug or seen its logo.  The flaw in the system lets attackers eavesdrop on Web, e-mail, and some VPN communications.  Not only are servers using OpenSSL affected by this vulnerability, network gear from Cisco and Juniper Networks using OpenSSL are affected as well. 

Legal savant and comedian Stephen Colbert on 11.26.12 did a segment on a literal “Text Book Case” argued in October in front of the Supreme Court pitting textbook manufacturer Wiley & Sons against an entrepreneurial foreign student Kirtsaeng.  Colbert uses his genius to deftly explain the issues and consequences of how a ruling in favor of Wiley would make many used transactions, including garage sales, illegal.   Take 5 minutes to watch the segment.

Recently Alcatel introduced a new line of routers that threatens to give Cisco and Juniper a run for their money.  On May 22, 2012 Alcatel unveiled a new family of Internet core routers that they have been diligently working on for the past three years.  This revolutionary technology promises to be the most innovative and powerful product currently in the industry.  The new 7950 line will enhance network operations and prepare their core networks to embrace the rapid expansion of smartphone and tablets, the conversion to cloud applications, and the fast growing video market.

If you haven’t heard of it yet and you’re in computer networking, it’s likely that you will soon.  Software-defined networking (SDN) is taking the industry by storm and promising to change the way computer networks are managed in the future.  It’s refashioning the data center and creating an onset of start-ups that are forcing old-guard vendors like Cisco and Juniper to scurry to keep up.

Thanks to Cisco, you may now be able to watch your favorite YouTube or Netflix movie without the annoying “buffering” delays.  On Tuesday, June 5^th, Cisco announced a new tool, the ASR 5500, which will let carriers sift through and prioritize the traffic flooding their networks.