Choose me an essay topic... dont worry - its computer related!

[streetster]

basically:

Security is becoming a "hot topic" in Computing, and conferences are increasingly giving space to developments in this area. For the second part of the assessment, you are required to select a topic within the realm of security and write a paper about a key development relating to that topic. You should locate the topic within the broader context of security and indicate what the key issues are. You should also examine the potential impact of the development you cover, both on the community at large and potentially, if deployed, on an organisation. You should indicate the sort of security threats that have to be dealt with, and the ways in which such threats can be countered by means of the development you are reviewing.

Having just written 2,500 words about mainframes my brain is a little frazzled and I cant think of a particularly key development in the world of security, so I was wondering if you guys could throw some ideas at me

one of the guys on my course is doing Wireless security, wep/wpa/etc... which would amply fill 1500 words (so its not a huge essay you understand).. but I was wondering what other topics are out there

[Steve B]

what about the addition of fingerprint readers on most modern laptops?

[Jonny M]

TPM chip? Social and tech. implications.

[javalord]

Honeypots? Might have been done to death.

[SteveC]

Perhaps something about rootkits? There seem to be far more around than there used to be. And there was that big problem with those Sony CDs that contained a rootkit that allowed other malware to hide itself..

[Agent]

RFID for ID'ing people (Passports ect..) and its related security concerns ?

DRM security (HD-DVD/Bluray/iPood?)

[streetster]

nice suggestions guys

I think DRM, Rootkits and biometrics will be the common topics, so RFID might be a nice idea - cheers Agent... I'll return in 1500 words time