Showing posts with label Tech News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tech News. Show all posts
Monday, May 27, 2013
Israel scientists Create Advanced Biological Computer: Manipulating the Genetic Code
The
computing age is growing by leaps and bounds as we edge further into the
future. Now, researchers may have taken another step forward.
Scientists have used biomolecules, such as DNA and enzymes, in order to
develop and construct an advanced biological transducer, a computer
machine that's capable of manipulating genetic codes and using the
output as new input for subsequent computations.
The use of biomolecular computing devices possesses enormous potential for the field of medicine. A biological "computer" could potentially be used in gene therapy for patients, or could even be used to aid cloning. Unlike electronic computers, a biomolecular computer could interact directly with biological systems and even living organisms. No interface would be required since all components of these computers, including hardware, software, input and output, are molecules that interact in solution along a cascade of programmable chemical events.
Our results show a novel, synthetic designed computing machine that computes iteratively and produces biologically relevant results," said lead author Ehud Keinan of the Technion Schulich Faculty of Chemistry in a news release. "In addition to enhanced computation power, this DNA-based transducer offers multiple benefits, including the ability to read and transform genetic information, miniaturization to the molecular scale, and the aptitude to produce computational results that interact with living organisms."
All biological systems are essentially natural molecular computers. We possess components and molecules that "talk" to one another in a logical manner, sending signals through our bodies that allow us to perform everyday functions. Creating this new biological computer could allow scientists to help people when their systems are "hacked"--that is, when they develop a disease or become ill. Essentially, the computer could act as the anti-virus to our biological computer system.
Yet these applications are quite far away--and the transducer that was created has different functions. Currently, the researchers hope that this new transducer could be used on genetic material to evaluate and detect specific sequences, and to alter and algorithmically process genetic code. Similar devices could be applied for other computational problems.
The findings are published in the journal Chemistry & Biology.
source
The use of biomolecular computing devices possesses enormous potential for the field of medicine. A biological "computer" could potentially be used in gene therapy for patients, or could even be used to aid cloning. Unlike electronic computers, a biomolecular computer could interact directly with biological systems and even living organisms. No interface would be required since all components of these computers, including hardware, software, input and output, are molecules that interact in solution along a cascade of programmable chemical events.
Our results show a novel, synthetic designed computing machine that computes iteratively and produces biologically relevant results," said lead author Ehud Keinan of the Technion Schulich Faculty of Chemistry in a news release. "In addition to enhanced computation power, this DNA-based transducer offers multiple benefits, including the ability to read and transform genetic information, miniaturization to the molecular scale, and the aptitude to produce computational results that interact with living organisms."
All biological systems are essentially natural molecular computers. We possess components and molecules that "talk" to one another in a logical manner, sending signals through our bodies that allow us to perform everyday functions. Creating this new biological computer could allow scientists to help people when their systems are "hacked"--that is, when they develop a disease or become ill. Essentially, the computer could act as the anti-virus to our biological computer system.
Yet these applications are quite far away--and the transducer that was created has different functions. Currently, the researchers hope that this new transducer could be used on genetic material to evaluate and detect specific sequences, and to alter and algorithmically process genetic code. Similar devices could be applied for other computational problems.
The findings are published in the journal Chemistry & Biology.
source
Monday, May 20, 2013
Hacker jailed for ATM skimming invented ATM security scheme
A Romanian man serving a five-year jail sentence for bank-machine fraud says he's come up with a device that can be attached to any ATM to make the machine invulnerable to card skimmers.
Valentin Boanta was arrested in 2009 and charged with supplying ATM skimmers – devices that can be attached to ATMs to surreptitiously copy the data from unwitting users' cards – to a local organized crime gang.
It was during his subsequent trial and sentencing that Boanta saw the light and traded in his black hat for a white one, Reuters reports.
"Crime was like a drug for me. After I was caught, I was happy I escaped from this adrenaline addiction," Boanta told reporters from his jail cell in Vaslui, Romania. "So that the other part, in which I started to develop security solutions, started to emerge."
Boanta's solution, known as the Secure Revolving System (SRS), is an ingenious one that uses mechanical rather than digital security.
ATM skimmers work by installing a second, concealed card reader over the one that's built into the ATM. When an unsuspecting bank customer inserts a card into the slot, the card's magnetic stripe first runs past the read head of the skimmer, allowing it to copy all of the card's data. The transaction then proceeds as normal and the ATM returns the card to the customer, who is none the wiser.
With Boanta's device installed on the ATM, however, that all changes. Customers insert their cards into the slot long side first, so that the magnetic stripe is parallel to the face of the machine. The device then rotates the card 90 degrees into the ATM, where the legitimate card reader scans the magnetic stripe, then rotates it back out again to return it to the customer.
That rotation makes it impossible for an add-on skimmer to read the card, because the magnetic stripe never moves in a straight line until it is secure inside the ATM.
While awaiting the outcome of his trial, Valentin pitched his idea to Mircea Tudor and Adrian Bizgar of Bucharest-based technology firm MB Telecom, who helped him to patent his idea and funded development of the SRS device.
The design would go on to win the International Press Prize at the 41st International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, Switzerland, in April. Boanta, however, wasn't available to accept the award. He's currently just six months into his sentence and won't see freedom for another four and a half years. Still, his partners at MB Telecom say all credit for the SRS design should go to him.
"He fully deserves such recognition," Tudor told Reuters. "He's taking part in improving Romania's image abroad and he'll surely join our team when released."
MB Telecom is currently finalizing details of the commercial version of the device and expects to bring it to market in the second half of the year
It was during his subsequent trial and sentencing that Boanta saw the light and traded in his black hat for a white one, Reuters reports.
"Crime was like a drug for me. After I was caught, I was happy I escaped from this adrenaline addiction," Boanta told reporters from his jail cell in Vaslui, Romania. "So that the other part, in which I started to develop security solutions, started to emerge."
Boanta's solution, known as the Secure Revolving System (SRS), is an ingenious one that uses mechanical rather than digital security.
ATM skimmers work by installing a second, concealed card reader over the one that's built into the ATM. When an unsuspecting bank customer inserts a card into the slot, the card's magnetic stripe first runs past the read head of the skimmer, allowing it to copy all of the card's data. The transaction then proceeds as normal and the ATM returns the card to the customer, who is none the wiser.
With Boanta's device installed on the ATM, however, that all changes. Customers insert their cards into the slot long side first, so that the magnetic stripe is parallel to the face of the machine. The device then rotates the card 90 degrees into the ATM, where the legitimate card reader scans the magnetic stripe, then rotates it back out again to return it to the customer.
That rotation makes it impossible for an add-on skimmer to read the card, because the magnetic stripe never moves in a straight line until it is secure inside the ATM.
While awaiting the outcome of his trial, Valentin pitched his idea to Mircea Tudor and Adrian Bizgar of Bucharest-based technology firm MB Telecom, who helped him to patent his idea and funded development of the SRS device.
The design would go on to win the International Press Prize at the 41st International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, Switzerland, in April. Boanta, however, wasn't available to accept the award. He's currently just six months into his sentence and won't see freedom for another four and a half years. Still, his partners at MB Telecom say all credit for the SRS design should go to him.
"He fully deserves such recognition," Tudor told Reuters. "He's taking part in improving Romania's image abroad and he'll surely join our team when released."
MB Telecom is currently finalizing details of the commercial version of the device and expects to bring it to market in the second half of the year
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Samsung tests 5G technology, get ready to download a movie in 1 second
Samsung Electronics has successfully tested super-fast fifth-generation (5G) wireless technology that would eventually allow users to download an entire movie in one second.
The South Korean giant on Monday said the test had witnessed data transmission of more than one gigabyte per second over a distance of two kilometres.
The test used 64 antenna elements, which the tech titan said overcame the issue of "unfavourable propagation characteristics" that have prevented data travelling across long distances using the bands.
Samsung said it had found a way to harness millimeter-wave bands which have proved to be a sticking point for the mobile industry to date.
"As a result, subscribers will be able to enjoy a wide range of services such as 3D movies and games, real-time streaming of ultra high-definition (UHD) content, and remote medical services," it added.
The new technology, which will not be ready for the commercial market before 2020 at the earliest, would offer transmitting speeds "up to several hundred times faster" than existing 4G networks, the statement from the company said.
That will permit users to "transmit massive data files including high quality digital movies practically without limitation", it said.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Indian Government approved National Cyber Security Policy
The government approved the National Cyber Security Policy that aims to create a secure computing environment in the country and build capacities to strengthen the current set up with focus on manpower training.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the policy which stresses on augmenting India's indigenous capabilities in terms of developing the cyber security set up.
"CCS met today and approved the National Cyber Security Policy, which sets a road map for strengthening cyber security of the country by building capacities in the country, training manpower etc," a source said after the meeting.
A senior official in the Department of Information Technology said the policy strives for a secure computing environment and seeks to build adequate trust and confidence in electronic transactions.
"This policy caters for the whole spectrum of ICT users and providers including small and home users, medium and large enterprises and government and non-government entities," the official added.
It aims to create a cyber security framework that will address all related issues over a long period. The framework will lead to specific actions and programmes to enhance the security posture of country's cyber space.
Besides, cyber security intelligence forms an integral component to be able to anticipate attacks and quickly adopt counter measures.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Users slam Facebook over child porn video
Facebook has sparked a furious backlash after an adult clip
allegedly showing child pornography went viral on the social network.
Users vented their anger on rival website Twitter after the video popped up in
personal news feeds and was reportedly shared more than 16,000 times. It was
reported that the footage showed a young girl being abused by an older man.
Twitter posts suggested that the video received almost 4,000 "likes" before it was taken down. Facebook said it removed the video "quickly" after users reported its disturbing content. But the site continued to draw remarks, even after it was deleted.
"Someone posted child porn on facebook and it's spreading like wildfire. Why the **** would someone do that to a child?!" Sky News quoted Twitter user Nicholas as writing.
"Child porn video on Facebook, no wonder I hate that website," another social networker posted. The video is believed to have originated in the US and most of the users, who passed it, are understood to have done so to condemn its contents.
Facebook said that every user, who passed on the video, has been warned against sharing explicit films.
Twitter posts suggested that the video received almost 4,000 "likes" before it was taken down. Facebook said it removed the video "quickly" after users reported its disturbing content. But the site continued to draw remarks, even after it was deleted.
"Someone posted child porn on facebook and it's spreading like wildfire. Why the **** would someone do that to a child?!" Sky News quoted Twitter user Nicholas as writing.
"Child porn video on Facebook, no wonder I hate that website," another social networker posted. The video is believed to have originated in the US and most of the users, who passed it, are understood to have done so to condemn its contents.
Facebook said that every user, who passed on the video, has been warned against sharing explicit films.
VMware to invest $120 million in India
VMware, one of
the global leaders in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, will invest $120
million over the next few years in India. The investment includes a long term
lease for a new 420,000 sqft building in South Bangalore, currently under
construction.
VMware's India-based R&D and support operations are second in size and scale only to those at the company's headquarters located in Palo Alto, California, US.
Existing facilities in Bangalore will be consolidated into the new state-of-the-art premises, which will seat 2,700 employees when ready next year. The campus will accommodate new and ongoing product R&D, as well as a large staff supporting VMware's global operations and India's sales teams.
Visiting Bangalore to announce plans for the new campus, VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger said: "India's world-class IT expertise, impressive talent pool and industrial development make this country crucially important to VMware's global growth strategy. Our investment in this innovative facility demonstrates VMware's commitment to stay at the cutting edge of technology and evolve the optimum business structure to serve our customers globally."
VMware's R&D operations in India make a significant contribution to the company's portfolio of virtualization and cloud computing products, all designed to help VMware customers navigate the journey to a new era of IT. Developers in Bangalore and Pune contribute important components of VMware's key technologies - the software-defined data centre, hybrid cloud and end-user computing.
Gelsinger added: "We are also committed to pursuing the huge opportunity for our solutions in India's fast-growing and maturing market, as companies harness our technology to help them achieve the agility needed to compete in dynamic business arenas at home and overseas."
VMware established a presence in India in 2005 and today serves about 3,000 customers, employs some 2,000 staff and works with 100 partners. Over the last eight years, offices have been opened in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad and Colombo in Sri Lanka, with R&D centres in Bangalore and Pune.
VMware's India-based R&D and support operations are second in size and scale only to those at the company's headquarters located in Palo Alto, California, US.
Existing facilities in Bangalore will be consolidated into the new state-of-the-art premises, which will seat 2,700 employees when ready next year. The campus will accommodate new and ongoing product R&D, as well as a large staff supporting VMware's global operations and India's sales teams.
Visiting Bangalore to announce plans for the new campus, VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger said: "India's world-class IT expertise, impressive talent pool and industrial development make this country crucially important to VMware's global growth strategy. Our investment in this innovative facility demonstrates VMware's commitment to stay at the cutting edge of technology and evolve the optimum business structure to serve our customers globally."
VMware's R&D operations in India make a significant contribution to the company's portfolio of virtualization and cloud computing products, all designed to help VMware customers navigate the journey to a new era of IT. Developers in Bangalore and Pune contribute important components of VMware's key technologies - the software-defined data centre, hybrid cloud and end-user computing.
Gelsinger added: "We are also committed to pursuing the huge opportunity for our solutions in India's fast-growing and maturing market, as companies harness our technology to help them achieve the agility needed to compete in dynamic business arenas at home and overseas."
VMware established a presence in India in 2005 and today serves about 3,000 customers, employs some 2,000 staff and works with 100 partners. Over the last eight years, offices have been opened in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad and Colombo in Sri Lanka, with R&D centres in Bangalore and Pune.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Google’s Eric Schmidt Advises India to Fix Internet Laws
Eric Schmidt, The Chairman of Google
Inc. put forward an open request to the Government of India on Wednesday asking
to make modifications in its laws pertaining to the Internet as well as to
bring about an ecosystem that is beneficial for the start up companies and
entrepreneurs in the country.
During an event held at New Delhi Mr. Schmidt told that “There
are a set of things to be fixed by the Indian government.”
He told that one of the present laws which require a change is
that which makes Internet companies responsible for contents uploaded by users.
Few of the Internet companies like search engine Google is
facing lawsuits in India and is held liable for posting of uncensored content
from web users.
Indian legislators who were enraged by increasing uncensored
stuffs online brought out a law in 2011 holding the Internet companies
accountable for the inflammatory things posted online by users. Certain aspect
of the law is being debated on in the Supreme Court of India.
Mr. Schmidt will be in India till Thursday. This is his primary
visit as Google’s chief and he would also be talking at a tech event on
Thursday arranged by Google.
The chairman of Google stated that if venture capital companies
were to invest in India, a favorable system has to be created by the country.
“India, of course, dominated the business process outsourcing
market successfully,” said Mr. Schmidt. “India is not leading in web services
even though there is an opportunity.”
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