Briefly noted

Quantum cryptography: As awesome as it is pointless
Security maven Bruce Schneier writes: While I like the science of quantum cryptography - my undergraduate degree was in physics - I don’t see any commercial value in it. I don’t believe it solves any security problem that needs solving. I don’t believe that it’s worth paying for, and I can’t imagine anyone but a few technophiles buying and deploying it. Systems that use it don’t magically become unbreakable, because the quantum part doesn’t address the weak points of the system.

Smiths Detection wins $26.7 million TSA order for advanced checkpoint X-ray systems
Smiths Detection announces a $26.7 million follow-on order from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for additional Advanced Threat Identification X-Ray (aTiX) systems which will be deployed at airports across the United States. This third TSA order follows an initial contract for $21 million in October 2007 and a $25.2 million order in June this year.

Motorola sells biometrics arm to Safran
Motorola has agreed to unload its biometrics business to France’s Safran, a supplier of aviation components, as the company seeks to exit non-core businesses ahead of its split into separately listed companies. Motorola plans to spin off its struggling mobile-phone business from its broadband and equipment arm. For Safran’s Sagem Securitie unit, which is the acquirer, the deal for the biometrics business gives the French company a stronger toehold in the U.S. Homeland Security market. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Aussie government approves ProtectDrive for government use
Australia’s Defense Signals Directorate (DSD) has completed a security evaluation of SafeNet’s ProtectDrive, approving it for government security use.