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Police can forcibly take DNA samples during arrests, judge rules

In the first case of its type, a federal judge in California has ruled that police can forcibly take DNA samples, including drawing blood with a needle, from Americans who have been arrested but not convicted of a crime.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Gregory Hollows ruled on Thursday that a federal law allowing DNA samples upon arrest for a felony was constitutional and did not violate the Fourth Amendment's prohibition of "unreasonable searches and seizures."

Hollows, who was appointed by President George H.W. Bush, said the procedure was no more invasive or worrisome than fingerprinting or … Read more

Easily encrypt files

Encrypting files is becoming more and more necessary and this software aims to help people protect important documents from unwanted viewers. Bildsoft SecureDNA2007 was easy to use for the most part, but we did have issues with one of its features.

The program's user-friendly interface has all of your encryption options laid out in one window. This handy screen easily manages all the necessary encryption tasks. Simple icons lead to encrypting files, encrypting documents, encrypting e-mail, encrypting CDs, and even encrypting USB sticks. User options are kept to a minimum for increased usability, and it walks you through most … Read more

U.K.'s DNA database violates rights, court rules

The DNA records of about 850,000 people could be wiped from the U.K.'s national database after the European Union ruled it breached human rights.

The European Court of Human Rights decision on Thursday means that the DNA details and possibly fingerprints of people suspected of a crime, but later cleared, could be removed.

The court found that in keeping the DNA details of people suspected of a crime the "state had overstepped any acceptable margin of appreciation."

The case was brought by two Britons, Michael Marper and "S", who were cleared of crimes … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 853: The Netbook and the girl

On today's Buzz Out Loud, sage dating tips from a bunch of old married people. Meanwhile, Microsoft launches an online store where you can go buy things if you like to pay more than you have to; a girl offers to pimp your start-up for a mere $75 a day and we give her about a million dollars worth of grief; and Google loves the iPhone more than Android--at least for now! Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 853

Microsoft launches online store: Is there deeper meaning here? http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=10849 http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-10097239-75.html … Read more

Stephen Colbert's DNA to back up the human race

Should anything happen to Earth, the human race will now be insured.

Comedy Central announced Monday that the host of The Colbert Report will have his DNA digitized and sent to the International Space Station (ISS). According to the Associated Press, Stephen Colbert's gene package will be carried there by famed video game designer Richard Garriott, who will travel to the station in October.

Garriott will deposit the "Immortality Drive," a time capsule that will include human DNA and records of humanity's greatest accomplishments, along with personal messages collected specifically for the project.

This will be … Read more

The 404 170: Where we brush our teeth with roast beef

Wilson can't make it to the show again because of his ongoing illness, so everyone send us a voice mail wishing our buddy well wishes and a speedy return back to The 404! Dan the Mantern takes time out of his busy schedule of doughnut runs and paper stapling to fill in and give us some laughs on this overcast Monday. We recap our weekend adventures, talk about the dangers of kidnapping a virtual lion, send our condolences to the hungry worker bees at Google, protect ourselves from exploding iPods, and perform reveal the first ever sushi DNA test!… Read more

News.com Daily Podcast: Launch delay can't thwart the Firefox faithful

On launch day, the Get Firefox site experienced an outage for at least an hour--just before Mozilla was expected to make the new version of its Web browser available for download. Reporter Stephen Shankland joined me in the podcast studio today to talk about what happened, and whether it'll affect Mozilla's goal to set a new software record.

About a dozen DNA companies have been issued cease-and-desist letters to stop selling their consumer genetic test kits. NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander finds a mysterious white substance in the Martian soil (Is anybody else channeling Jack Skellington after … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 747: Get Firefox (if you can)

It's Firefox Download Day! In bummer news, Mozilla's site was down by at least 10:12 a.m. (about the time we started our show). So, that's a bad start, then. In other news, AT&T customers using phones other than iPhone will, indeed, have to pay full price for a new iPhone. That's just how the cell phone world works. And the blogosphere takes a legitimately outrageous situation and wildly exaggerates the outrageousness by repeating old information over and over. Sigh. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 747

Firefox Download Day To Start … Read more

Cease-and-desist notices sent to DNA testing labs

More than a dozen companies that market genetic testing directly to consumers have been hit with cease-and-desist notices from California's Department of Public Health, following consumer complaints over the accuracy and cost of the tests, according to an Associated Press report.

The 13 companies that received the cease-and-desist notices include Navigenics and 23andMe, which counts Google and Genentech as its investors, according to the report.

Mountain View, Calif.-based 23andMe has been covered on CNET in the past--most recently last month--primarily because its co-founder Anne Wojcicki is married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

Health officials are focused … Read more