U.S. Researchers Show Computers can be hijacked to send Data as Sound Waves

With the dawn of technology, crimes have shifted accordingly to target the wide array of electronic gadgets, most of which are sitting ducks to any sophisticated attack. Such has ben the case of “Funtenna” by Ang Cui, a recent PhD graduate from Columbia University. This demonstration of sorts shows the situation that we might have to face on a larger scale in future. What is this “funtenna” ? Well, for starters, imagine your printer, which is supposed to print your documents, secretly transmitting data wirelessly over air without using WiFi or traditional radio channels. Sounds absurd? Well that is exactly what has happened. But before going in to the details, let us understand the basics behind all the cruft in there.

A basic primer

All digital electronic device use electrical signals to work. These signals are manipulated and in case of digital ones, between two voltage levels, they oscillate. These eletrical signals are carried through by conductors which generate small EM signals as well as a side-effect. Now, communication today uses such varying EM signals (modulated signals) for the process. Thus with sufficient effort, one can, in theory, use these stray EM signals to transmit data which can then be picked up by an attacker. Imagine a confidential document sent to print and the printer silently transmitting all the contents to an attacker. Scary!

Diving into the details... 

Cui, with about 4 lines of code, injected to the embedded firmware of the printer, can program it so that it can transmit data using these stray EM signals. But there range is so short that it is almost useless. This is where the cleverness comes in – in order to generate waves which can transmit information, they need to be sufficiently powerful and this is done by switching the states of the digital electronic circuitry at variable frequencies to generate the carrier waves which can then carry the modulated signal which has the actual information. Though Cui’s current demonstration can only beam the information to a few metres, he predicts that the range can be increased to more than 30m and the signals can even penetrate reinforced concrete walls.

The possible ramifications

With the age of Internet-of-Things dawning upon us, such an easy hack could prove to be a tremendous security hole which can be hard to plug. Since the medium of transport is not something monitored (its not WiFi or over wires), The trick performed was on a cheap laser printer and thus implies that anything with an embedded computer can be used in this attack renndering all the connected devices to emit information to attacker at will. This calls for stricter rules and better electronic components. Such leakage can be stopped but will come at a price hike. EM sheilding can be done with metal cages but may not be feasible always and might need better methods.
The funtenna experiment by Cui demonstrates basically that with persistence and ingineuity, almost all digital electronic device can be used to transmit information in secret without being detected. With the IoT age upon us, we need to significantly step up our security game or it maybe too late...

In a First, Drug Using 3D Printing Technology Gets FDA Nod

Photo: AFP Relaxnews

3D printing right from the start was a revolutionary idea i.e. to recreate the exact replicas of existing objects from a template by using the material of your choice. And as days pass by, you can see all sorts of things being done from weapons to vehicles to even whole buildings – all printed. Drugs are now no stranger to this either as a 3D printed drug for the first time has been approved by U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration.

The first of 3D printed drug

Well, while it was inevitable, what it does is even more powerful. Drug synthesis generally follows the “one-fits-all” philosophy to cater to as large a diversity as possible and in the process make it less effective with more side-effects. But the 3D printed drug is specific to the patient’s bodily systems and is thus way more effective.

The drug was made by Aprecia Pharmaceuticals Co., and was approved for oral ingestion as a prescribed medicine for adjunctive therapy. It is being used in the treatment of epilepsy. Spritam, as the drug goes by, uses a special “ZipDose” technology which is nothing but a delivery system whereby measured dozes are ingested and they break down in mouth with a sip of the liquid.

What it means?

The approval is a significant step forward in the field of personalized treatment where instead of general drugs, specific drugs are created, synthesized and prescribed leading to more effective treatment with minimal side effects. Until now, most uses of 3D printing in medical field was for the creation of body parts like prosthetic arms and legs, and dental implants and some of the advanced works in creation of whole organs by 3D printing. Even bone replacement are also being carried out with the help of 3D printing. But this creation of the 3D printed drug gives it a new direction.

Personalized treatment has many in th proverbial sense, a “holy-grail” of medicine and with this technology, that might just come true. Especially so with the first successful trials and approval, there is more incentive now to offer such services and more research into it.

The future

One can already envision a future of medical care where medicines are created on labs and then synthesized in 3D printers based on each individual’s characteristics. Also, there are ongoing research in UK regarding recreation of cancerous parts of the body to replace them for patients suffering from so.

Such advancement with technological augmentation means that a more safer future where most diseases are either eradicated or can be treated with relative ease. But predictions are hard to make and especially so about the future. However with a good amount of research and ingenuity, human kind can finally conquer all diseases where none of them are lethal and treatment takes a short amount of time, less chemicals and in general is more effective.

One can only hope that further use and research of 3D printing in pharmaceuticals will bring in more effective drugs with less side-effects!

Fastest Developing Mobile Company in UK

Chelsea App Factory – UK’s Fastest Developing Mobile Company

One of UK’s fastest developing mobile companies known as Chelsea Apps Factory – CAF,provides enterprises to mobilise professionally. It helps the companies in ensuring that their workforce tends to get the best out of technology.

Chelsea Apps Factory  is based in London and has created a niche for itself as one of the leading UK mobile app development company as well as the country’s largest specialist mobile consultancy for consumers as well as enterprise app. This is due to their efforts in creating cutting edge environments, delivering impressive, concrete business returns.

Their innovation Labs are powerhouses, successfully driving business decision, productivity together with profits towards desired goals. With intention in meeting the most strategic priority of CEO’s globally in 2015 `Innovation’, their labs cater to demonstrable ROI by concentrating on customer commitment and achievement.

Considering an Initiation on AIM

Chelsea which presently hires more than 80 employees across its London as well as Edinburgh offices has intention of doubling its size over the next 18 months. Recent reports have indicated that it was also considering an initiation on AIM.

CAF’s widespread and established armoury of Strategy, Consultancy as well as delivery besides the Innovation Labs confirms that the businesses tend to be steady and successful. Their leading enterprise mobilisation consultancy covers mobile apps for enterprise results via complete cycle resolution for major UK products.

Their patrons tend to depend on their ability in delivering quickly, enterprise applications most suitable according to the needs of the individuals which includes multi-platform apps that runs on iOS, Windows, Blackberry and Mobile Responsive Web.

Directing Businesses Towards Profitable Path 

With credits to experience and expertise, they have the potential to leverage data in directing businesses towards a profitable path and help in recognizing opportunities together with priorities with amazing positive results.

Bringing improved productivity together with efficiency to the business by connecting the influence of the device which is the closest to every user – their phone, they have brought about the change in the daily functions of every individual.

Being a renowned UK mobile app development company, they cater to in-house purpose built team which delivers professionally from Discovery and Feasibility stages to Delivery and Profitability – a smooth mobile management system which creates apps in the easiest way and quick updates their Enterprise Content Platform eliminating unproductive termination

Web Portal to Seek Public Sector Jobs

Job Search Made Easy

The task in locating some of the latest jobs across all sectors is made easy through service providers catering with their services on the best jobs made available at their portals. At this portals, users will come across several openings that are available at this platform for public sector jobs in the north east and UK countries. Now looking out for one’s dream job is just a click away. It is the one stop search for end numbers of updated list on jobs in various sectors with the capabilities of catering to the various requirements of job seekers. Employers too can fill a vacant post by employing their services who tend to provide them with the assistance needed in locating high calibre candidates suitable for the desired post. Besides this, they also tend to provide the desired HR tools with support in dealing the application.

Options Challenging & Beneficial 

Though there could be several exciting openings available at this platform, there are also other options that are available which could be very challenging as well as quite beneficial such as running one’s own business, franchising or promotion. If intending to start your very own business or running a franchise business or promoting/fostering a full time vocation, one could check at the site for applicable section to get more insight on the right choice on their requirements.

Support on Career Tools & Advice 

Job seekers, irrespective of being a graduate, undergraduate, individuals re-entering employment or an executive, who is on the look-out of advancing their career, could get all the much needed support on career tools and advice and need not search elsewhere. This portal could be their starting and the ending point in all job related search with satisfying results.

Besides provide job openings, they also catering to advice on improvements of CV, information related to working in specific sector, details of training courses to enhance the skills, details on the best employers in the region, advice to be self-employed and much more which is very amazing. You could choose to take advantage of the great opportunities provided in precise sectors as per your requirements and benefit with great features like saved searches and much more, on registering at the site.

Raging Birds 2 Has Landed! Now Downloadable for iOs, Android Free

Rovio has finally launched the much-awaited iteration of the Angry Birds mobile game named as Angry Bird 2. New version offers a highly revamped slingshot game play mechanisms, which is a commendable upgrade over the earlier version. Finnish developer Rovio Entertainment has launched the first iteration of the Angry Birds six years earlier in December 2009. This game is highly popular among both Android and Apple device users, which enables it, feature it top ten games all the time. Angry Birds is also known as Raging or Mad Birds across the different parts of the world.

What features are introduced in Angry Birds 2?

Rovio has done some tremendous job in up scaling the fun and excitement in the game through the better slingshot gameplay mechanisms, better graphics, boss stages and pandemonium. This new game also possesses a ‘destructo metre’, which helps the players in gaining more birds, which makes the level quite easier.

Angry Birds has a fast forward feature, which enables the player to cruise through the carnage and final encounter with style and pomp. This game will allow the users to use their money in performing various in game purchases for completing the levels easily and quickly. Angry Birds also brings in game daily tasks and a feature of watching more and more ads for gaining cards which can be utilized to make the game highly challenging, engaging and strategic in every perspective.

Amazing design and new character finds its way in Angry Birds 2

Rovio had made some subtle change in design, graphics and added more character in Angry Birds 2. Newer version showcases exotic plants, funny animations and quirky details along with wide number of dangers. A character has been introduced named Silver which is a juvenile bird with piggy attributes. Silver has superb flying skills and player can easily summon it during the game where never they feel like.

Angry Birds 2 Rise Above Spin Off Games

Angry Birds 2 has been almost after six years in which many spin off games had made their way in the play stores. Some of the spin-off games are Birds Star Wars and Birds Rio, which were based on the original Angry Birds game. Even these became popular within a short time rising on the wave of the popularity of original Angry Birds. But Angry Birds 2 is all set to take away the popularity back to itself with abundance gameplay options, features and user experience.

Use In-Game Purchases & Be Vary Of Angry Birds 2 Bug

Angry Bird 2 does have the in game purchases wherein a player can full chest of valuable gems and shells just at $9.99. These gems can help in accelerating the game and give an opportunity to the players to play more. Gems aid in overcoming the levels faster and make the gameplay much easier than before. Within 12 hours of its launch Angry Birds 2 registered more than 1 million of game downloads across the world. Some of the players are picked out a bug in Angry Birds 2, which seems to exhaust the phone’s battery quite faster than the earlier version.