http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/computers_math/hacking/ Hacking and computer security. Read today's research news on hacking and protecting against codebreakers. New software, secure data sharing, and more. en-us Tue, 13 May 2008 01:05:01 EDT Tue, 13 May 2008 01:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/computers_math/hacking/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080508143107.htm Quantum cryptography has been regarded as 100-percent protection against attacks on sensitive data traffic. But now a research team in Sweden has found a hole in this advanced technology. The risk of illegal accessing of information, for example in money transactions, is necessitating more and more advanced cryptographic techniques. Sun, 11 May 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080508143107.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080501155234.htm Researchers from HP Labs have proven the existence of what had previously been only theorized as the fourth fundamental circuit element in electrical engineering. This scientific advancement could make it possible to develop computer systems that have memories that do not forget, do not need to be booted up, consume far less power and associate information in a manner similar to that of the human brain. Thu, 01 May 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080501155234.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428123555.htm Quantum cryptography may be essentially solved, but getting the funky physics to work on disciplined computer networks is a whole new headache. Cryptography is an arms race, but the finish line may be fast approaching. Up to now, each time the codemakers made a better mousetrap, codebreakers breed a better mouse. But quantum cryptography theoretically could outpace the codebreakers and win the race. Forever. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428123555.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080421133025.htm Although the digital age is well under way, one crucial detail remains to be worked out -- how to store vast amounts of digital information in a way that allows future generations to recover it. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080421133025.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422160001.htm The exchange of information between distant sources is the basis of all communications, but quantum mechanics may open up this distant exchange as never before. Quantum key distribution, for instance, would allow for absolutely secure encryption of information exchange by encoding information keys on single photons. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422160001.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416161215.htm There's safety in numbers -- especially when those numbers are random. That's the lesson learned from new research that is already helping to beef up security at LAX airport in Los Angeles. Soon it may be used across the country to both predict and minimize risk. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416161215.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080324102640.htm Researchers are reporting an advance toward a new generation of ultra-powerful computers built from DNA and enzymes, rather than transistors, silicon chips, and plastic. They describe development of a chemical "keypad lock," one of the first chemical-based security systems of its kind. Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080324102640.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080317141210.htm Researchers have developed new software that can reduce the impact of cyber attacks by identifying the possible vulnerability paths through an organization's networks. By their very nature networks are highly interdependent and each machine’s overall susceptibility to attack depends on the vulnerabilities of the other machines in the network. Attackers can take advantage of multiple vulnerabilities in unexpected ways, allowing them to incrementally penetrate a network and compromise critical systems. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080317141210.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080305104847.htm Physicists have made a discovery that may revolutionize encryption technology while bringing quantum computing one step closer. Consumers, credit card companies and high-tech firms rely on cryptography to protect the transmission of sensitive information. The basis for current encryption systems is that computers would need thousands of years to factor a large number, making it very difficult to do. However, if new observations can be fully understood and applied, scientists may have the basis to create quantum computers -- which could easily break the most complicated encryption in a matter of hours. Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080305104847.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080221105820.htm Researchers have demonstrated a new class of computer attacks that compromise the contents of "secure" memory systems, particularly in laptops. The attacks overcome a broad set of security measures called "disk encryption," which are meant to secure information stored in a computer's permanent memory. Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080221105820.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080219124512.htm A rapid way to spot insider threats from individuals within an organization such as a multinational company or military installation is reported in the International Journal of Security and Networks. The technology uses data mining techniques to scour email and build up a picture of social network interactions. The technology could prevent serious security breaches, sabotage, and even terrorist activity. Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080219124512.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080208133900.htm Safeguarding sensitive information -- no matter how sophisticated the IT system -- can never be foolproof, according to new research. The loss of a CD by HM Revenue & Customs in the UK in November 2007 containing personal and financial details of over 7 million families claiming child benefit was swiftly followed by assurances that such a mistake would never happen again. Then in February, an agency of the Department for Health admitted that over 4,000 NHS smartcards, giving potential computer access to patient records, had been lost or stolen - and nearly a third of these in the last year alone. Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080208133900.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080124092529.htm A computer scientist has developed new techniques that make it easier to combine programming languages. Thanks to these techniques, software is no longer sensitive to the most common method of misuse by hackers: so-called injection attacks. Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080124092529.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080107121923.htm New technology that protects Internet advertisers from "click fraud" -- falsely driving up hits to ads on Web pages. The extra clicks drive up costs for pay-per-click advertising. Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080107121923.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071221214400.htm Quantum cryptography, or quantum key distribution, enables two communicating parties to produce a shared random bit string know only to them, which can be used as a key to crypt and decrypt messages. An important and unique feature of quantum cryptography is the ability of the two communicating parties to quickly detect the presence of any third party trying to gain access to the key. This third party, the eavesdropper if you like, is commonly known as Eve among cryptographers. Quantum cryptography then is essentially all about cutting Eve out of the equation. Sun, 23 Dec 2007 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071221214400.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071108162007.htm NIST has opened a competition to develop a new cryptographic hash algorithm, a tool that converts a file, message or block of data to a short "fingerprint" for use in digital signatures, message authentication and other computer security applications. Mon, 26 Nov 2007 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071108162007.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071109171634.htm A study has revealed large gaps in data available to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility -- the world's largest single data network which gives access to millions of current digitized biodiversity records. Tue, 13 Nov 2007 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071109171634.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071112091850.htm Computer scientists have found a security vulnerability in Microsoft's Windows 2000 operating system. The significance of the loophole: e-mails, passwords, credit card numbers, if they were typed into the computer, and actually all correspondence that emanated from a computer using Windows 2000 is susceptible to tracking. Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071112091850.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071107091540.htm Using an SMS password as an added security measure for Internet banking is no guarantee your money is safe, according to a new study which reveals online customers are not protecting their accounts. Researchers said one in five online transactions was vulnerable to obvious attacks despite added security methods such as SMS passwords being adopted. Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071107091540.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071108162004.htm As this year's holiday season approaches, your credit card transactions may be a little more secure thanks to the Common Vulnerability Scoring System. When you make an electronic transaction -- either swiping a card at a checkout counter or through a commercial website -- you enter personal payment information into a computer. Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071108162004.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071108141303.htm Computer scientists have watched malicious traffic on the Internet evolve from childish pranks to a billion-dollar "shadow industry" in the last decade, and the profession has largely been one step behind the bad guys. Viruses, phishing scams, worms and spyware are only the beginning, according to one computer science specialist. Sat, 10 Nov 2007 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071108141303.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071101144942.htm Researchers have succeeded in controlling the spin of a single electron merely by using electric fields. This clears the way for a much simpler realization of the building blocks of a (future) super-fast quantum computer. Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071101144942.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071031111146.htm Researchers have invented a computer architecture that enables the secure transmission of crucial rescue information to first responders during events such as natural disasters, fires or terrorist attacks. Electrical engineering professor Ruby Lee said the new architecture allows for what she describes as "transient trust." Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071031111146.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071030091438.htm An inventive way of improving password security for handheld devices such as iPhones, Blackberry and Smartphone has now been developed. The software, which uses pictures instead of letters and numbers, has been initially designed for handheld devices, but could soon be expanded to other areas. Those who took part in testing this system created passwords that were a thousand times more secure than ordinary textual passwords. Most testers also found them easy to remember. Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071030091438.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071015102827.htm Computer scientists have designed new computer tools to better understand and potentially thwart the growth of Internet black markets, where attackers use well-developed business practices to hawk viruses, stolen data and attack services. Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071015102827.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071011180823.htm Researchers have designed and demonstrated a transistor containing quantum dots that can count individual photons. The semiconductor device could be integrated easily into electronics for applications such as quantum key distribution for 'unbreakable' encryption using single photons. Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071011180823.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071005185129.htm Are you a terrorist? Airport screeners, customs agents, police officers and members of the military who silently pose that question to people every day, may soon have much more than intuition to depend on to determine the answer, thanks to computer and behavioral scientists. Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071005185129.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071005142527.htm Scientists have devised an inexpensive and efficient way to improve security for radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, the wireless devices that allow consumers to pay for their gas or access buildings without pulling out their wallets. The breakthrough, which uses variations in the tags' existing memory cells, will make their stored information more secure while retaining their small, convenient size. Mon, 08 Oct 2007 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071005142527.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070928104257.htm According to a new article, technological and security issues will stall maximum transmission rates at levels comparable to that of a single broadband connection, such as a cable modem, unless researchers reduce 'dead times' in the detectors that receive quantum-encrypted messages. Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070928104257.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070926172232.htm Physicists have transferred information between two 'artificial atoms' by way of electronic vibrations on a micro-fabricated aluminum cable, demonstrating a new component for potential ultra-powerful quantum computers of the future. The setup resembles a miniature version of a cable television transmission line, but with some powerful added features, including superconducting circuits with zero electrical resistance, and multitasking data bits that obey the unusual rules of quantum physics. Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070926172232.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070926172350.htm Two major steps toward putting quantum computers into real practice -- sending a photon signal on demand from a qubit onto wires and transmitting the signal to a second, distant qubit -- have been achieved. Over the past several years, the scientists explored basic building blocks in the design of a quantum computer. Now, for the first time, they report that superconducting qubits, or artificial atoms, have been able to communicate information not only to their nearest neighbor, but also to a distant qubit on the chip. Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070926172350.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070905133621.htm Physicists have coaxed two separate atoms to communicate with a sort of quantum intuition that Albert Einstein called "spooky." In doing so, the researchers have made an advance toward super-fast quantum computing. The research could also be a building block for a quantum internet. Fri, 07 Sep 2007 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070905133621.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070830150102.htm Agencies like the US Census Bureau produce a voluminous amount of data, much of which is of tremendous value to researchers. But the data also includes personal information that could be harmful were it to fall into the wrong hands. Thus, organizations that maintain such databases need to devise ways to protect individuals' privacy while preserving the value of the information to researchers, writes Carnegie Mellon University Statistics in a recent article. Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070830150102.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070824185539.htm College students do it. Coffee shop customers do it too. Your neighbor in Apartment 3C is probably doing it right now. Many computer users search for an available wireless network to tap into--whether at the mall, at school or at home--and whether they have permission to use that network or not. Knowingly or unknowingly, these wireless "parasites" may be doing more than filching a signal. When they connect, they can open up the network--and all the computers on it--to an array of security breaches. Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070824185539.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070816143801.htm By using pulses of light to dramatically accelerate the development of quantum computers, researchers have made strides in technology that could foil national and personal security threats. Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070816143801.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070730184838.htm Flaws that leave electronic voting machines vulnerable to security attacks were discovered by University of California researchers as part of an unprecedented "Top-to-Bottom Review" of the systems commissioned by California Secretary of State Debra Bowen. Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070730184838.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070725143630.htm Physicists have induced thousands of atoms trapped by laser beams to swap "spins" with partners simultaneously. The repeated exchanges, like a quantum version of swinging your partner in a square dance but lasting a total of just 10 milliseconds, might someday carry out logic operations in quantum computers, which theoretically could quickly solve certain problems that today's best supercomputers could not solve in years. Thu, 26 Jul 2007 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070725143630.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070614104042.htm Researchers have succeeded in carrying out calculations with two quantum bits, the building blocks of a possible future quantum computer. Quantum computers have superior qualities in comparison to the type of computers currently in use. If they are realised, then quantum computers will be able to carry out tasks that are beyond the abilities of all normal computers. Sun, 17 Jun 2007 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070614104042.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070609112919.htm Researchers have built a prototype high-speed quantum key distribution system, based on a new detector system that achieves dramatically lower noise levels than similar systems. Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070609112919.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070601162438.htm Particles of light serving as "quantum keys" -- the latest in encryption technology -- have been sent over a record-setting 200-kilometer fiber-optic link by scientists. The experiment, using mostly standard components and transmitting at telecommunications frequencies, offers an approach for making practical inter-city terrestrial quantum communications networks as well as long-range wireless systems using communication satellites. Sun, 03 Jun 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070601162438.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070521100535.htm Mathematicians and number buffs have their records. And at last, an international team has broken a long-standing one in an impressive feat of calculation. Mathematicians have just reached the end of eleven months of strenuous calculation, churning out the prime factors of a well-known, hard-to-factor number that is a whopping 307 digits long. Mon, 21 May 2007 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070521100535.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070323104932.htm Have you ever wondered how fraudulent or malicious Web sites can rank highly on search engines like Google or Yahoo? Queensland University of Technology IT researcher Professor Audun Josang said a Web site's ranking was determined by the number of people who visited the site -- the more hits the higher the ranking. Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070323104932.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070313114354.htm Three out of five data breaches involving sensitive personal information are attributable to organizational malfeasance, according to a review of compromised records over the past 26 years. A better picture of who is responsible has emerged as a result of recent disclosure laws. Tue, 13 Mar 2007 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070313114354.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070208131708.htm A new anti-worm technology developed by Penn State researchers can not only identify and contain worms milliseconds after a cyber attack, but can also release the information if the quarantine turns out to be unwarranted. Fri, 09 Feb 2007 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070208131708.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070108094028.htm How can defense or intelligence agencies safeguard the security of top-secret data protected by a computation device the size of a single molecule? With cryptography approaching that sobering new era, scientists in Israel are reporting development of what they term the first molecular system capable of processing password entries. Thu, 11 Jan 2007 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070108094028.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070109171355.htm Two Dartmouth engineers think that PQS, or process query systems, are the way to go to make sense of the huge volume of data we collect each day from computer network monitors, video surveillance cameras, financial transaction records, databases of email exchanges, etc. The duo present their case in a paper published in the January 2007 issue of the journal IEEE Computer. Wed, 10 Jan 2007 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070109171355.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070102095717.htm Today's computers have more than 2,000 times as much memory as the machines of yesteryear, yet programmers are still writing code as if memory is in short supply. Not only does this make programs crash annoyingly, but it also can make users vulnerable to hacker attacks, says computer scientist Emery Berger from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Wed, 03 Jan 2007 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070102095717.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061018150842.htm Physicists at NIST have taken a significant step toward transforming entanglement -- an atomic-scale phenomenon described by Albert Einstein as "spooky action at a distance" -- into a practical tool. They demonstrated a method for refining entangled atom pairs, a process called purification, so they can be more useful in quantum computers and communications systems, emerging technologies that exploit the unusual rules of quantum physics for pioneering applications such as "unbreakable" data encryption. Wed, 18 Oct 2006 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061018150842.htm