PDF Version: Key-Lessons-On-Digital-Transformations
Author: centexitguy Page 46 of 142
With continuous growth in the number of cyber-attacks, user authentication has become one of the most important aspects in information security. User authentication is accomplished through passwords that should be entered by a user in order to prove his identity and gain access to a computer or communication system. Traditionally, text based passwords are used for authentication. However, text passwords are highly vulnerable and pose as an easy target for hackers. Thus, modern authentication techniques based on graphical methods are now being used to combat hacking practices.
Graphical user authentication is an attractive alternative to alphanumeric passwords. To setup a password, the users have to select an image at a series of subsequent screens. The images are presented specifically in a graphical user interface. As a large number of pictures are presented at every screen; the number of possible combination of images is extensive. This offers better resistance to dictionary attacks as compared to text-based password approach. Also, the graphical password approach is considered to be more user friendly than a text based password.
Due to the advantages that graphical passwords offer, there is a growing usage of these in workstations and web log-in applications. Graphical passwords are also being applied to ATM machines and mobile devices.
Categories of graphical password techniques are:
- Recognition Based System: In this technique, the user is presented with a set of images and is challenged to identify a single or more images that were selected during the registration stage. The user has to identify the pre-selected images in order to be authenticated. Such recognition systems are also called search metric systems. To use graphical recognition schemes, the system is required to retain some information from user specific profile data. This helps the system to know which images belong to a user’s portfolio and display them at the time of login authentication.
- Recall Based System: In recall based techniques, the user is required to create a drawing to set up the password. The recall based passwords are typically drawn on a blank canvas or a grid. At the time of login, the user has to reproduce the drawing that he created during the registration process. These graphical based systems are referred to as draw metric systems because user authentication is based on using the drawn image as a reference.
Following are some points that should be considered before implementing a graphical password:
- The password contains image as a reference and encryption algorithm.
- The login contains username, images, graphical password and related methods.
- SSR shield for shoulder surfing.
- The grids contain unique grid values and grid clicking related methods.
For more information on graphical user authentication, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213 – 4740.
Ultra-modern business systems based on latest technologies like Augmented Reality, AI, IoT and Blockchain are changing the way enterprises used to function. Among these, blockchain is a relatively new revolutionary technology that is impacting various industries miraculously.
Understanding Blockchain:
Blockchain is a global online database where data or information is stored in a chain of blocks. It is managed by a cluster of computers but not owned by any single entity. Each of these blocks of data is secured and bound to each other using cryptographic principles. Through this technology, you can securely exchange any kind of transactions. It has brought a new perspective to security, resiliency and efficiency of systems.
Innovations in blockchain have enabled more agile value chains, faster product innovations, quicker integration and much more.
- Lightning Networks: To match the current payment processors without sacrificing decentralization, lightning networks have been designed to facilitate majority of bitcoin transactions. This type of network does not need block confirmations while making payments as they are instant and atomic. It also allows financially viable micro transactions where transfer of value occurs off-chain. Only the balance of the channels is broadcasted, dramatically reducing the load of chain.
- Sharding In IOST: Internet of Services Token (IOST) is an enterprise-level blockchain system. Many blockchains are constrained by their scalability capabilities; so, IOST is implementing its unique form of ‘Sharding’ to overcome this limitation. Sharding is a method of data partitioning that splits a database into smaller and easily manageable segments called ‘shards’. The customized sharding method introduced by IOST is called ‘Efficiently Distributed Sharding’. It reduces transaction processing workload on individual node and increases the total transaction throughput of the network which is proportional to increase in number of nodes. This ensures that IOST blockchain is infinitely scalable.
- Secret Contracts: Privacy is pivotal for usage of blockchain among mass number of users. The privacy issues are now solved by some blockchain developers such as ‘Enigma’ by implementing an innovative technology called ‘Secret Contracts’. Data that runs through Enigma’s secret smart contracts can be processed by nodes without actually seeing any of the data they are operating on.
- Interoperability: Importance of interoperability in blockchain is vital so that users won’t have to switch from one blockchain to another blockchain for every separate application they are using. The leaders in blockchain industry, such as ‘Ark’, are working on harmonizing the blockchain space by facilitating inter chain communication. This can be facilitated by incorporating a technology that allows different blockchains to connect and communicate with each other.
For more information on innovations in blockchain technology, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213 – 4740.
Sensors are sophisticated electrical devices composed of sensitive materials that detect and respond to electrical or optical signals. They are also variably known as transducers. Usually, sensors operate in a variety of manners and are designed to sense physical properties like temperature or radiation. However, they can also be used to detect motion or proximity.
The industry of sensors is flourishing due to the advancement in material science and engineering. Its application is relevant in virtually all aspects of life to test, measure and control various processes.
Due to research and development activities, sensors have found application in various industries:
1. Importance Of Sensors In Internet of Things (IoT) Solutions: Sensors are one of the most important elements in IoT solutions. For an IoT system to work, a manual or environmental signal input is always required. Sensors collect data from the surrounding environment and are connected to IoT networks after signal conversion and processing. Note that different IoT applications require different types of sensors. Common types of IoT sensors include:
- Temperature Sensors: These types of sensors have found application in air-conditioners, refrigerators and similar environmental control devices. They measure the amount of heat energy generated from an object.
Humidity Sensors: Humidity adversely affects human comfort. Also, there are various manufacturing processes that are affected by humidity in the operating environment. This makes it essential to monitor the humidity level through sensors. - Motion Sensors: These are popularly used for security purposes as well as in automatic door controls, hand dryers, energy management systems, etc
2. Use Of Sensors In Healthcare Industry: Fitness gadgets and medical devices are extensively using sensors to monitor medical condition and health statistics of individuals. Sensors are also finding their way in technology that tracks progression of a disease. Sensors are also used in devices that finds out how medicines are interacting with patient’s body.
3. Aerospace & Military Applications: Due to the surviving capability of temperature sensors in extreme conditions, it has found widespread use in aerospace and military application.
4. Use Of Sensors In Chemical Industry: Chemical identifications are achieving accuracy as sensors are being integrated into cameras. For example, sensors are used to detect valuable minerals in rocks. This is possible due to the hyper-spectral imaging that gathers information about each pixel of the image. It then determines material and objects despite the complex background.
5. Use Of Sensors In Agriculture: Sensors are used to determine crop quality, pest infestation, effect of weather on crops, sorting of produce, etc. Advancements in sensor technology has allowed agriculturists to have better output which leads to economic benefits.
Most of the innovations in IoT are based on the efficacy of sensors to collect data from different sources. For more information on how sensors and IoT devices can help your business process, contact Centex Technologies at (254) 213 – 4740.
Computer hacking is the term used for describing the act of gaining access to a computer without authorization and by unfair means. Hacking is generally performed for financial benefits; however, hackers may have variety of other motives as well. Some of these motives include stealing sensitive data, learning business secrets, defaming an organization, etc.
As computer hacking incidents have increased in the corporate world, it has given rise to an increased need for cyber security among organizations. But, before deciding a course of protection against cyberattacks or hacking, it is necessary to understand the effects of computer hacking on organizations or businesses.
- Identity Theft: Organizations maintain a wide variety of information databases on their computers including financial information of customers, business credit card information, confidential accounts, etc. They may also store files with employee information such as home address, health information, Social Security Number and other personal details. If a computer hacker gains access to this sensitive information, he may impersonate an employee or customer leading to identity theft. This poses a threat to the employees, customers as well as reputation of the organization.
- Stolen Trade Secrets: In addition to stolen customer information, hackers may also steal trade secrets of an organization. They may sell these trade secrets to a business competitor which may result in a serious blow to the market position of the victim organization.
- Website Security: As internet marketing and E-commerce has taken over the businesses, websites play an important role in attracting new customers and offering internet feasibility to existing customers. However, if a computer hacker gains access to the website, he may destroy the website data, compromise customer transactions, alter the product information and steal financial information. Some hackers may use malicious viruses to permanently destroy the website data, which can cause huge financial loss.
- Email: Email hacking is a well explored forte by the computer hackers. Once they gain access to the email accounts of an organization’s employees; they may exploit the accounts for eavesdropping on business communication, send illegitimate emails to clients and steal confidential documents or other sensitive data.
- Defamation: Hackers may have a personal grudge against an organization or the ideologies that a business follows. Thus, they may hack the social media accounts of the organization to post obscenity, fake announcements, change the look of social media page, etc. These actions may lead to serious and widespread defamation of the organization.
Considering the impacts of computer hacking and the numerous roadblocks it can create in the success of an organization; it is important to make efforts to keep your business safe. Following are some ways to keep your organization protected:
- Invest in cybersecurity
- Keep the computer software updated
- Regularly update the antivirus
- Maintain a back-up of your data
- Educate your employees about computer hacking and sources of attack
For more information on how to protect your organization’s data and ways to implement different computer security measures, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213 – 4740.