Microsoft Makes Emergency Security Fix

In order to stop hackers from taking control of computers with the help of one single email, Microsoft issued an urgent update. There was a possibility of hacking the recipient’s system even without the recipient opening it which was caused due to an unusual bug in Microsoft’s anti-malware software such as Window Defender. After this vulnerability in the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine was discovered by two Google security experts at the weekend, Microsoft immediately released an emergency out-of-band update as a security fix.

The security experts were researchers currently on Google’s Project Zero cyber-security outfit. The Security fix was released immediately when discovered and even before Microsoft’s monthly security update which happens on the second Tuesday of every month. Hackers could take advantage of this defect by simply emailing infected content, sending an instant message or just by getting the recipient to click on a web link.

Effect on Protection Systems

This security fix was vital as this susceptibility could be triggered if the anti-virus software on the system such as Windows Defender simply scanned the harmful content. Some scans are timed and set in such a way on some systems that they immediately scan for protection or take place at a later time.

The Microsoft Malware Protection Engine (MsMpEng) is a core service that comes in default with Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016.Many Microsoft security tools run on this core such as Windows Defender, Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft Endpoint Protection, etc.TheMsMpEng has a component called NScript that handles everything that looks like JavaScript. This bug causes NScript to create a confusion in the way it handles or interpret some JavaScript object types which in turn makes the system open to hackers.

How Hackers could take advantage of this bug?

This defect for allows remote code execution which is what computer hackers look for. Through remote code execution, hackers can install any code on our systems without our knowledge and permission which is basically hijacking our computer. This bug could be exploitable with almost no user interaction. Since the defence systems by Microsoft are default, this exposure makes innumerable PCs more prone to remote hacking.

Prompt Security Fix

Google Project Zero researchers Tavis Ormandy and Natalie Silvanovich were the experts who found this bug and Mr. Ormandy was taken aback with the prompt response Microsoft gave in order to fix it.Within a short time, Microsoft took quick action to issue a security fix unlike the past where months were taken to resolve a bug.

In order to fix this defect in MsMpEng service, within just a few days’ time, a new patch was prepared and was already shipped. The first version of the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine was v1.1.13701.0 which was affected because of this defect.

 As a security fix, Microsoft released v1.1.13704.0 within a few hours, in which the issue was patched and had already reached some of the users. Microsoft also stated that this risk of vunerability would have been much lower if users turned on a security attribute called Windows CFG (Control Flow Guard) that made memory-based defects and flaws much harder to exploit. US-CERT also issued an alert to spread awareness.

Can Amazon's Assistant Stay on Top?

In the latter half of 2014, Amazon surprisingly released a standalone digital assistant that couldn’t be matched by its competitors in terms of quality and aesthetics. A cylindrical speaker with a microphone called Echo holds the lead at 70% from all digital assistant use in the US against its competitors Google Home and Alphabet. Although the idea of talking to an inanimate object is unusual and uneasy to many, this is a new concept that companies are working on and are gaining traction.

In a market survey report, Emarketer made an estimate of about 36 million Americans use voice-activated digital assistant at least once in a month’s time which is a rise of 129% compared to last year. There are three Echo models made available by Amazon: Echo, which is the original model, the Echo Dot which is low-end and the Echo Tap Speaker which is portable.

A personal assistant named Alexa voices the Echo devices. More than half of all Echo units are accounted for by Echo Dot itself. The new device, which is Amazon’s latest effort to gain more success in this area, is likely to have a 7-inch touchscreen and provision for video calling along with weather condition display and other data.

It will be a big help in assisting many digital assistant users for simple things such as knowing how long back the timer was set or knowing the time where the digital assistant will simply announce it. Adding a screen to this interaction, simplifies things and opens a whole wide variety of possible interactions and new ideas.

Popularity gaining momentum

The leading company in selling assistants is not determined on the basis of its sale statistics. In a short span of time, Amazon became a major player on the basis of something nobody else thought of and that is home automation. Emarketer’s survey reveals that once a user opts for one brand of digital assistant, they are very unlikely to switch to another brand in the future. Amazon’s current lead in the sale of its digital assistant as compared to those of its competitors will be huge pay off when the internet is used in every day-to-day activity.

Unlike Amazon, its competitors are yet to catch up with the whole voice-activated digital assistant concept. CCS Insight analyst Geoff Blaber said that ultimate leader in this field will be those who can maximise customer data, have the ability to process natural language, provide it all to developers to build on and simultaneously maintain tight privacy.

Compared to its rivals, Amazon has made itself developer-friendly to a vast extent in order to move even more ahead in its lead. However, in Emarketer’s opinion, Amazon’s market share is likely to reduce from here as it is expected that Google Home may slowly cause a dent in Amazon’s current lead over the next year and a standalone version of Siri from Apple or standalone Cortana are yet to come. The shortcomings of Amazon’s FireOS could be exposed if screen-supported interface were to become standard. In the end, Amazon is likely to be subjected to market pressure with Echo as it encounters more competition.

Windows 10 S: Good, Bad, and How This Could Get Ugly for PC Makers

Windows 10 S, a variant of the working framework intended for the training market, has brought up some fascinating issues about Microsoft's progressing endeavors to hit Google and Apple where it harms. Generally, Microsoft and Apple have cut up the school client base between them. Apple picked up an early lead in these 10 years or so back by offering schools shabby authorizing. Redmond did likewise and the two guaranteed that susceptible youthful personalities got used to their working frameworks.

In any case, when Google propelled ChromeOS, shepherded by the Chocolate Factory's currently CEO Sundar Pichai, it was a hit in US schools. Chrome books were shoddy, simple to administrate, and sufficient for school utilize gave the foundation had Wi-Fi. Accordingly, over portion of US nippers are utilizing Chrome books in the classroom now, and have Google records to run them. That is uplifting news for Google, yet the circumstance worldwide is more liquid than that.

Schools that don't have a grounds wide Wi-Fi system aren't that enthusiastic about Chrome books, in light of current circumstances. While it's conceivable to utilize some Google applications disconnected, they aren't awesome thus for the non-US school populace Google has made couple of advances. Microsoft has noticed the move and needs to change things. So it revealed Windows 10 S to battle Google's encroachment of its space and get the cutting edge used to Windows programming.

It takes the center of Redmond's most recent working framework and tunes it for instruction. The OS can just utilize applications that have been checked and cleared for use in the Windows Store, which has its great and terrible sides. On the great side, Microsoft has been exceptionally trained in checking applications it has for dodgy security. The drawback is that applications creators aren't completely sold on Redmond taking a cut of their benefits thus a lot of applications aren't accessible on Redmond's shop front.

That is not an issue, Microsoft demands. On the other hand, if you need an application that isn't in the application store, Windows 10 S will recommend an option. One range in which Windows 10 S truly scores over ChromeOS is that it's developed from the beginning be valuable disconnected and additionally on. You get the fundamental usefulness you require if Wi-Fi is not accessible, but rather additionally access to applications like Office 365 when a web pipe is accessible.

The other mystery hotspot for the OS is the amount Microsoft has installed its Teams joint effort programming in Windows 10 S. Windows 10 S likewise runs the full Creators Edition adaptation of the OS. That implies loads of 3D doodling and full support for HoloLens, something Redmond was quick to advance yet which will confront issues because of the high cost of headsets. The OS is likewise genuinely helpful at managing with lower-spec equipment. Thus, it has been stated during the launch by Microsoft, that the complete basic spec system which runs the OS costs less and is on a par with the Chrome Books.

Raspberry Pi's new Voice HAT board uses Google's AI to help you build smart gadgets

Raspberry Pi takes help of the Google AI in its new Voice HAT board

We are mobbing into such as age where top global tech firms are moving towards becoming core artificial intelligence firms. This ensures that they will be driving the future of AI on a grand scale where devices, systems and networks will be optimised to embed the AI to its core functioning for enhanced consumer experience.

Artificial intelligence still happens to be an emerging field which is up for grabs for all but some the key companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Baidu have already started to allow developers to work with AI on their systems.

Google teams up with Raspberry Pi

In a surprising turn of events Google is teaming up with Raspberry Pi in order to great a simple credit card sized computer. Together these organisation has launched an initiative called ‘Artificial Intelligence Yourself’ or AIY which an aim of infusing the natural language processing capability to the Pi computer. In order to push this ability to the PIA Voice HAT or Hardware Accessory on Top based board & speaker has been provided. Now makers will be to control their Raspberry Pi 3 device just like the new age smart device Amazon Echo and Google Home is controlled.

It is worth noting that Google has designed or developed devices specifically for the makers & hobbyists for the first time. Users will also get a microphone in AIY kit but quite unfortunately it lack support for the out-of-the box activities. Raspberry is planning to launch the HAT as an free accessory with the next edition of the MagPi. If you are wondering what is The MagPi then it is the official Magazine of Raspberry Pi.

At a price of $5.99 users will get the coveted magazine along with the HAT, speaker, cables, and a stereo microphone. Raspberry has celebrated it 5th birthday in February where it was revealed that more than 12 millions Raspberry computers has been sold on global scale. Currently Raspberry is extensively indulged in bringing heightened software improvement along with a significant boost to the low cost computer’s capabilities.

A challenge to everyone

Google has recently launched the Google Assitant SDK for the developers which will work on the phones as well as on Google Home Devices. The new HAT will work using this SDK along with the Google’s Cloud Speech API. The AIY kit to be offered to the users makes it possible to build a voice controlled speaker system using a cardboard box. Secondly users will be able to register their own natural language based voice commands in order to link-up with any number of projects created using the Raspberry Pi.


The director of the AIY projects at Google has stated that the collaboration of Google and Raspberry Pi will help in making the users comfortable and familiar with the voice interfaces. They are also working on developing new ways which will help in making use of HAT in a more interactive fashion.

Solve For X

Solve For X – Platform for Discussion Radical Technology Ideas

A platform for discussing radical technology ideas in solving global issues is Solve For X which has been motivated by Google. This website tends to challenge the user in thinking big as well as to speculate regarding technological `moonshots’ which would alter the world for enhancement. Solve For X is said to be a think tank project that has been launched by Google in order to motivate collaboration in solving global problems where `X’ signifies a undertaking.

On February 1, 2012, the project had kicked off at a three-day convention in San Martin, California, at CordeValle Resort. Its talks were offered and hosted by Google executives Eric Schmidt, Astro Teller and Megan Smith to 50 individuals. The website had been inaugurated on February 6, 2012. The conventions are anticipated to take place `a few times a year’.

The platform has been connected to TED talks as the projects seem to host seminars by innovators that can be seen vicariously through the respective websites of the projects, by others. Bruno Giussani, European director had commented on Google endeavour stating that the world requires additional ideas not fewer and more commitment in sharing openly and freely in order that we could test run them collectively and turn them into reality.

Discover the Value for X

Since Google had been the source of this, it is obvious that technology and engineering would be playing a dominant role in Solve For X. Initially, Solve For X was believed to have been linked to the Google X lab which has been working on new technology like web-linked appliances, space elevators and driverless cars though according to eWeek reports that Google X is united to more realistic undertakings and not the `moonshot’.

Solve for X solution was intended to pursue.Almost half of all the instructions in algebra book have a tendency to state something alongside the lines like `solve the following for x’. Solve For X means to discover the value of x which would make the equation seen to be true. For instance, consider the equation – x + 1 = 3. If asked to solve the same would mean discovering some value for x which would give three when one is added to it.Solving an equation is what it is all about.

This formula is to work irrespective of how complicating the question may be. The difference is that with simple equations such as these, there is a possibility of thinking about it and arriving at an answer.

Solve the Equation – Discover its Solution

However confusing the equation may tend to be, more work would be needed in arriving at a precise answer. Overall, the concept is the same. In mathematics, to solve an equation would be to discover its solution which is said to be the values fulfilling the condition which is stated by the equation. This would comprise of two expressions related by an equality sign.

A solution is said to be a task of expressions to the unknown variable which tends to make the equality true in the equation. A solution is said to be an expression or a collection of expressions, where, when substituted for the unknowns, the equation seems to receive an identity. Solving an equation symbolically is said to be that expressions which may comprise of known variables or probably variables which are not in the original equation, admitted as solution.