The FBI says it still has a long way to go before any of these "Rapid DNA"  kits are certified for use, but the DoD and local police in Florida can't resist kicking the tires with their own early tests on a technology that's likely to revolutionize DNA forensics since everything today has to be done in a lab setting with trained experts.

Mobile device security

IBM's X-Force "2011 Mid-Year Trend and Risk Report" said exploits against mobile devices are on track to double this year in comparison with 2010. The report points out that one difficulty with mobile devices, particularly phones, is that users are at the mercy of their phone manufacturer to patch known system vulnerabilities. Known vulnerabilities may go unpatched, not because patches don't exist, but because they aren't provided by individual phone makers. "Many mobile phone vendors don’t push out security updates for their devices," the report says.

Also last week, Russian firm said it has upgraded a phone-password cracking suite with the ability to figure out the master device password for Research in Motion's BlackBerry devices.

And now, from the "usual mischief" department