Scientists at the San Diego Supercomputer Center who are analyzing traffic to one of the 13 Domain Name System “”root”” Internet servers found that the server spends the majority of its time dealing with unnecessary queries.
DNS root servers provide a critical link between users and the Internet’s routing infrastructure by mapping text host names to numeric Internet Protocol addresses.
Researchers at the Cooperative Association for Internet Data Analysis at SDSC conducted a detailed analysis of 152 million messages received on Oct. 4, 2002, by a root server in California, and discovered that 98 percent of the queries it received during 24 hours were unnecessary.
Some experts regard the system of 13 DNS root servers, the focus of several studies by CAIDA researchers, as a potential weak link in the global Internet. Occasionally, all 13 root servers are attacked simultaneously; such attacks could potentially disrupt the entire Internet.
CAIDA researchers will discuss their analysis of the root server and other cybersecurity findings with Clarke during his visit to SDSC on Jan. 28.
Town hall discussion to explore cyberspace security
A public town hall meeting to discuss President George W. Bush’s “”National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace”” will be held Jan. 28 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Neurosciences Institute.
The meeting will feature a panel discussion and question-and-answer session about the “”National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace,”” a report that includes recommendations, strategic goals, programs, discussion items and guidance on cyber security topics.
The event will be hosted by Richard A. Clarke, special advisor to the president for cyberspace. Panelists will include Ron Broersma, network security manager for Space and Naval Welfare Systems Command; Irwin Mark Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm, Inc.; Michael L. Moore, chief technology officer for San Diego County; and Peter G. Neumann, principal scientist for the SRI Computer Science Laboratory.
For more information visit http://homelandsecurity.ucsd.edu.
Tide pool excursions offered by Birch Aquarium
Two tide pool excursions led by an aquarium naturalist are being offered by the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography to educate the San Diego community about marine life.
“”Tidepooling for Tots,”” a beach excursion designed to teach preschool and kindergarten children about marine life, will take place Jan. 30 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event, which will take place at a beach in La Jolla, will cost $12 per adult and $8 per child. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
“”Tidepooling for All,”” which is designed for adults and children ages 6 to 13, will be held on Feb. 1 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at a beach in Encinitas. Adults will cost $12 and children will cost $8.
Sex therapist to give lecture on Feb. 6
As part of Thurgood Marshall College’s Sexual Awareness Week, sex therapist and sex educator Marty Klein will give a lecture titled “”Intimacy, Romance, Truth and Dating”” on Feb 6 at 7 p.m. in Solis Hall.
Klein is a licensed marriage and family counselor.
The lecture will cover such topics as how to make relationships work, enhancing sexual relationships in an age of fear and mistrust, flirtation, intimacy, and the importance of communication.
Klein is the author of five books and over 150 articles on sexuality and relationships. His books include “”Your Sexual Secrets: When to Keep Them and How to Tell Them”” and “”Ask Me Anything.”” His articles have been published in magazines such as Men’s Health, Modern Bride, and most recently Playboy. The Playboy article, titled “”What Oprah and Dr. Phil don’t understand about sex,”” will be published in the January 2003 issue.
At the lecture, he will also be signing copies of his latest book, “”Beyond Orgasm, Dare to be Honest About the Sex You Really Want,”” which will also be on sale just prior to the event at 6:30 p.m. in the Thurgood Marshall College Administration Building.
Sexual Awareness Week will also include a sexual trivia game on Feb. 3 at Oceanview Lounge and a live phone call-in show about sex on Feb. 4 on channel 20 UCSDTV.
