Experts hack iPhone SMS database in 20 sec

Two security researchers have found an exploit to hack iPhone's SMS Database in 20 seconds, while displaying their skills at the Pwn2Own contest at the CanSecWest Security show. Ralf Philipp Weinmann of the University of Luxembourg and Vincenzo Iozzo of German company Zynamics found this exploit for the iPhone that won them $15,000 prize, reported ZDNet.



iPhone was not the only thing to get hacked. Safari on Snow Leopard and Internet Explorer 8 as well as Firefox browsers on Windows 7 got hacked too, according to TechTree. Weinmann and Iozzo collaborated to finding vulnerability and then writing an exploit - the entire process took two weeks. As a part of the hack, iPhone users have to visit a website hosting malicious code and then steal iPhone's SMS database - all in the matter of 20 seconds! Weinmann explained, "Basically, every page that the user visits on our [rigged] site will grab the SMS database and upload it to a server we control".

Thomas Dullien, Weimann's colleague explained that the attacker had potential to do more damage without leaving the iPhone Sandbox, a tightly-controlled set of resources for running unverified codes. The exploit was written to bypass the digital signatures for verifying if the code in memory is from Apple or not. Weinmann pointed out that there's a non-root user called 'mobile' with certain user privileges and using that exploit, he could can do anything that 'mobile' (non-root user) can do.

Charlie Miller, principal security analyst at Independent Security Evaluators, found an exploit to hack Safari on a MacBook Pro without physically touching the machine and won $10,000 worth prize money.

Scientists develop laser security for Internet

Scientists at Tel Aviv University have developed a new security system for Internet using a special laser that will help in keeping hackers' prying eyes off for good. It is developed using fiber optic and computer technology that transmits binary lock-and-key information in the form of light pulses.

Dr. Jacob Scheue, who came up with this device, said that a shared key code can be unlocked by the sender and receiver, and absolutely nobody else. "Rather than developing the lock or the key, we've developed a system which acts as a type of key bearer. The trick is for those at either end of the fibre optic link to send different laser signals they can distinguish between, but which look identical to an eavesdropper."

Adding to that, he said, "We've already published the theoretical idea and now have developed a preliminary demonstration in my lab. Once both parties have the key they need, they could send information without any chance of detection. We were able to demonstrate that, if it's done right, the system could be absolutely secure. Even with a quantum computer of the future, a hacker couldn't decipher the key."

500 Million Wi-Fi enabled handsets to ship in 2014

The ubiquity of both Wi-Fi technology and advanced mobile phones are ushering in a new age for people who want a high-performance multimedia experience at their fingertips. Carriers, handset makers, and end users are embracing Wi-Fi on the handset for its coverage benefits, bandwidth boost, and wide availability. New data from ABI Research indicates that out of approximately 580 million Wi-Fi devices shipped in 2009, 141 million were handsets.

The momentum of Wi-Fi enabled handsets reflects the recognition of the rigorous Wi-Fi CERTIFIED testing program from the Wi-Fi Alliance. Wi-Fi handset certification volume grew 142 percent in 2009 from 2008 levels. To date, more than 500 different handset models are now Wi-Fi CERTIFIED, giving consumers more choices than ever before.

"The phenomenal growth of handsets offering Wi-Fi is no surprise. Carriers and manufacturers have come to know Wi-Fi as a reliable, high-performance technology that's been independently validated in our renowned certification program. The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED program helps ensure a seamless user experience when using Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phones," said Edgar Figueroa, CEO of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

ABI Research expects this growth trend to continue, forecasting that half a billion Wi-Fi enabled handsets will ship in 2014, with 90 percent of smartphones incorporating Wi-Fi. "In the age of data-centric multimedia phones, carriers have embraced Wi-Fi technology as a way to offload traffic from licensed spectrum and improve the consumer experience. We are seeing handset users starting to demand Wi-Fi because of its higher data rate and indoor reception benefits," said Michael Morgan, Industry Analyst, ABI Research.

The next major technology advancement for handsets is on the horizon -- advanced Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n technology is beginning to appear in mobile phones, offering consumers increased coverage. The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n program incorporates a broad range of performance features required to meet market needs in a wide range of applications.

The first ten Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n handsets have been announced, and given the benefits of this next-generation Wi-Fi technology compared to older generations, the migration toward 802.11n is expected to continue. ABI Research predicts that by 2012, 802.11n will be the predominant Wi-Fi technology in handsets.

Initial handset implementations of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n technology will offer consumers greater effective ranges and improved coverage. Since data transmissions are more efficient with Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n, there is a lower impact to battery life compared to older forms of Wi-Fi technology. Enterprise IT managers will appreciate that Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n networks have greater capacity than legacy networks, allowing more users to be supported on a single network node.

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n devices also incorporate WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia) Quality of Service. WMM prioritizes network resources for voice and video applications to improve the performance of real-time applications. All Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices are also tested to ensure that they support advanced WPA2 security capabilities.

Recognizing the need for handsets to be aligned with Wi-Fi industry standards for interoperability, security, easy installation, and reliability, the Wi-Fi Alliance began including mobile phones in its Wi-Fi CERTIFIED program in 2003.

One third of U.S. to be covered by 4G in 2010

Verizon plans to launch its 4G LTE network in Alabama, Georgia, and Minnesota according to announcements made at CTIA Wireless 2010. The company announced that it will be using U.S.Carrier Telecom to supply backhaul services to backhaul links to LTE cell sites to build the first 4G LTE networks in Georgia and Alabama.

"We are thrilled to help Verizon Wireless launch and grow its LTE offering in portions of Minnesota. As the wireless industry switches from T-1s to Ethernet backhaul, we are proud to work through the migration with a leader such as Verizon Wireless. The bandwidth that TTM is now deploying at each LTE cell site will enable Verizon Wireless to seamlessly scale and meet the dramatic growth in consumer data consumption," said TTM's Chief Executive Officer, Lynn Refer.

The carrier's Chief Technology Officer Tony Melone expects that the 25 to 30 cities launching in the "not too distant future" would be enough to cover a third of the U.S. by the end of the year. Coverage should double in about 15 months and should finally match or exceed 3G by late 2013.

U.S.Carrier is utilizing the most advanced Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) transmission over its high-capacity optical transport network and will supply backhaul links between major Verizon Wireless switch centers throughout Georgia and Alabama. Additionally, U.S.Carrier is coordinating efforts with Verizon Wireless partners to aggregate cell tower traffic to major switch centers. "Verizon Wireless has been one of U.S. Carrier's most prominent customers since 2004," said Joaquin Luna,President of U.S.Carrier Telecom. "Because of the increased demand for mobile data traffic, U.S.Carrier is dedicated to staying in the forefront of network technology as we continuously upgrade our core network to help deliver the most innovative, cost-effective 3G and 4G services available to Verizon Wireless."

Is Internet access a fundamental right?

A recent study proposes that a many adults view Internet access as a basic right, and a significant portion believes it should not be regulated.

As reported by Reuters, the global survey for the BBC World Service showed that four out of every five adults maintain the view that web access is a right, and many survey respondents view it as a source of freedom for expressing their views, etc.

Doug Miller, Chairman of survey conductor GlobeScan said, "Despite worries about privacy and fraud, people around the world see access to the Internet as their fundamental right. They think the Web is a force for good, and most don't want governments to regulate it."

BBC quizzed more than 27,000 adults across 26 countries, and found that 87 percent of browsers believed Internet access should be the "fundamental right of all people". The survey also found significant number of supporters in favour of net access on both sides of the virtual divide, with those in South Korea forming the majority (96 percent) in supporting the idea, the BBC reported.

Even respondents in Japan, Mexico and Russia confessed that they could not live without the virtual world. Most of the users in Japan, South Korea and Germany also said that they were afraid to express their opinions safely online, while those in Nigeria, India and Ghana were much more confident about speaking out.

Google, Dish test TV search service

To help users in getting content from television and the web, Google and U.S. satellite TV operator Dish Network are testing a television programming search service.

The report published in The Wall Street Journal said that the service, which runs on TV set-top boxes containing Google software, allows users to find shows on the satellite TV service as well as video from websites like YouTube. It also allows users to personalize the line-up of shows.

With this step, Google e3ntered into a group of companies, which have been trying for years to marry the web and TV and their business models - from rivals Microsoft and Apple to the makers of TV and set-top boxes.

Besides Dish Network, Google is also in touch with a range of other television service providers and hardware makers, prodding them to use its Android-based technologies to offer a broader range of programming, a more personal experience and ads.

Mobile phones to offer X-ray vision

Researchers at the University of South Australia with the collaboration of Nokia have come up with software, which will offer X-ray vision to see what's on the other side of the building, reports ANI.

Talking to Sydney Morning Herald, Christian Sandor, Researcher at University of South Australia, said that the application works by using the phone's camera. Users can point the camera at a building and an image of it would appear on the screen. Then, the image would change to show what was behind the building, as if it was no longer there.

The application is likely to be introduced in the market in the next two years. The technology, known as augmented reality, appears to be X-ray vision, but in reality it uses pictures and images that already exist in databases such as Google Earth and Google Streetview.

Explaining the usage of application, Sandor said, "The application needs two pieces of information: 3D model of the area or city the phone user is in and the user's exact position. A 3D model of a city could be built using information collected from aerial surveys." He also said that the technology could not be used to see into people's houses because only the exterior views of buildings and streets were held in the databases.

Take nap to boost your brain learning power

It is being witnessed that people who slept for 90 minutes during the day did better at cognitive tests than those who were kept awake, according to study. Scientists claim that a nap during the day improves the brain's ability to absorb new information.

The latest study done by University of California at Berkeley suggests that the brain may need sleep to process short-term memories, creating "space" for new facts to be learned. In their experiment, 39 healthy adults were given a hard learning task in the morning - with broadly similar results, before half of them were sent for their siesta. When the tests were repeated, the nappers outperformed those who had carried on without sleep.

Dr Matthew Walker, who led the study, reported at the AAAS conference in San Diego, said, "Sleep not only rights the wrong of prolonged wakefulness, but, at a neurocognitive level, it moves you beyond where you were before you took a nap. It's as though the e-mail inbox in your hippocampus is full, and, until you sleep and clear out all those fact e-mails, you're not going to receive any more mail. It's just going to bounce until you sleep and move it into another folder."

However, Professor Derk-Jan Dijk, Director of the Surrey Sleep Research Centre said that there was no clear evidence that daytime napping offered a distinct advantage over sleeping just once over 24 hours. "The sleep-wake cycle is not as rigid as we might think.

PCs to use one net password for multiple accounts

A single-sign on system that enables web users to log in only once to access to a multitude of accounts has drawn renewed interest from researchers, reports ANI. According to Suriadi of the Information Security Institute, Queensland University of Technology, the Internet authentication system from the 1980s would require extreme privacy to avoid information spies and account hackers.

Suriadi explained, "Single-sign on systems are already being used by organizations. For example, a bank could link their Internet banking site to an online trading site, thus relieving users from having to perform an extra log in step. However, if one of the parties is compromised, for example by a virus, a 'denial of service' attack or insecure set-up, it puts all the user's linked accounts at risk."

Suriadi's study was based on a little-used "anonymous credential system" dating back to the 1980s. He added, "Using this credential system, we could enhance the security and privacy of a single sign-on system. The system works by revealing as little information about who you are as necessary for logging into an account, therefore allowing you to remain anonymous. This way, a company wouldn't be able to track your shopping habits and target spam or marketing at you. This method could also confirm you are over 18 and not reveal your birthday."

Now, a keypad on your forearm

An international team has come up with a system, called 'Skinput,' which has the ability to detect the ultralow -frequency sound produced by tapping the skin with a finger, and microchip-sized projectors now found in some cellphones. According to the scientists, the system beams a menu or keyboard onto the user's forearm and hand from a projector housed in an armband, reports PTI.



An acoustic detector, in the armband, then calculates which part of the display to be activated. But how does the system know which icon, button or finger the user tapped? Well, for this, the scientists have identified various locations on the forearm and hand that produce characteristic acoustic patterns when tapped, the New Scientist reported. The acoustic detector in the armband contains five piezoelectric cantilevers, each weighted to respond to certain bands of sound frequencies.

Different combinations of sensors are activated to differing degrees depending on where the arm is tapped, say the scientists. Twenty volunteers tested the system and most found it easy to navigate through icons on the forearm and tap fingers to actuate commands.The subjects were able to deftly scroll through menus whether they moved up and down or flicked across their arm, according to the team. "Skinput works very well for a series of gestures, even when the body is in motion," Chris Harrison at Carnegie Mellon University, who led the team, was quoted as saying.

20 yr old engineers design Earth-bound system

Making their dream a reality, Gokul Kannan and Aswin Kadri, students of M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore, designed a system which is Earth-bound. The system would help in generating electricity continuously using wind power.

Kannan is the son of Mylswamy Annadurai, Project Director of Chandrayan-1, who won the awards for discovering water on the lunar surface. Kannan and Kadri won a cash prize of Rs 55,000 and certificates by a team of judges of IIT Kharagpur and American multinational, General Electric for the system, which might proved to be a boon to power-starved cities of India.

Talking to The Times of India, Gokul and Aswin, who are III year BE mechanical engineering students, said that they won the award based on theoretical calculations. "Our next step is to prove it practically which we plan to do during our holidays in June," said Gokul. He also said that it was a low cost, small-scale wind turbine generator producing electricity ranging between 5KW to 7.5KW, which can be easily used in ordinary households. "Once implemented, it will certainly prove a tremendous advantage to power-starved cities of India," claimed Gokul.

Talking about the inspiration to do this kind of project, Gokul said, "We felt that some major domestic problems have to be solved in India and one of them was power. Keeping this in mind we decided to take up this project which took about two-and-a-half months to complete."

This project would not have been possible without the support of parents. Both the parents had left their son to work independently on their project. Annadurai said, "I left Gokul to work independently on his project with his classmate and never interfered with them. If some of the practical issues are resolved and once implemented, it is bound to prove an advantage to many parts of this country."

Over 60 Women Technology Leaders, 1000+ delegates to congregate at Women Leadership Summit

Over 60 women technology leaders, that include leaders from companies like Google, Microsoft, Cisco, Intel, Texas Instruments, UST Global, Harbinger, Nokia, Steria, Capco, IBM, Wipro, Yahoo!, Amazon, AOL, GE, Tech Mahindra, Adobe, Cognizant and many more, are going to speak at the siliconindia Women Leadership Summit on Friday the March 5, 2010.

"Your company perhaps may have a structured women initiatives program. There aren't many forums where women professionals can meet their counterparts from other organizations and exchange note. Peer networking is essential for one to rise up in a professional career. SiliconIndia Women Leadership Summit is our endeavor towards that goal. This is an opportunity for all women professionals in your organization to benefit from the Summit. CEOs, HR Managers and Team Leads in various companies should encourage women professionals in their teams/companies to attend the summit," says Harvi Sachar, CEO of siliconindia.

Being held on the eve of International Women's day, over 1500 women from all levels of the technology industry are expected to attend the event across six cities -- Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune. This is a platform for wide range of professional development and networking opportunities. One of the Summits goals is to create a forum where women professionals can find role models. For instance in the New Delhi event, Kiran Bedi, Retired IPS Officer and Social Activist will be the inaugural keynote speaker.

Some of the topics to be discussed at the Summit include:

Stepping UP and Developing The Leader in YOU

Ascending the Corporate Ladder

Women's Work: The Great Juggling Act

Strategic Mentoring: The Power of Many

The Women Innovators

The Women Entrepreneurs (Achieving Success: Turning every Adversity in to an Advantage

The Summit is all about how women professionals can reach the next level in their professional life. They will discover how to channelize their expertise and creativity into an effective leadership style that delivers results and allows them to stand out from the crowd. The Summit has been designed to enable women technology professionals to expand their network and help in professional development. They benefit from networking, connecting, learning and interacting with women at all levels in their careers, in all areas of technology.