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[IT-Security] White-Fi Internet, Digital Locker, Antikythera

Computer, Detekt-Regin, Nanodot Charger, Ezhil Language, Logbar
Ring
Posted By Mrunal On 06/01/2015 @ 9:41 pm In Technology | 40 Comments
1. Microsofts White-Fi technology
2. Digital Locker
3. Antikythera Mechanism
4. Regin, or Backdoor.Regin
5. Detekt Anti-surveillance tool
6. Nanodots for fast charging phones
7. Nanotech for Flash memory
8. Ezhil programming language
9. Logbar Ring
10.

Merxius software.

11. Mock Questions

Selected IT-Electronics topics from November-December 2014.

Microsofts White-Fi technology

 At present, unused spectrum is allotted to television broadcasters. This unused

gap is called White space Microsoft wants to use it, to beam wifi on a bigger
scale of 10 kms radius, with 15 mbps speed at a cost of Rs.10 lakh per router.
This can provide internet connectivity to villages and tribal areas. But government
must give the unused spectrum to tech companies first. Microsoft got trialpermission for Bangalore.
Telangana Government also interested in this technology for Hyderabad.
CEO Satya Nadella met Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad for all-India
application.
Recall that other tech-giants too want to increase internet penetration. Example
Facebooks solar-drones (Internet.org) and Googles helium balloons (Project
Loon). Some other companies want to give free internet to non-smart phones
using USSD code service.
Because if more people have internet, then tech giants can make more money
through advertisements and e-commerce.

Digital Locker

 In Dropbox, Google drive, Mediafire you can store your personal files on
cloudnetwork.
Digital Locker aims to store certificates in governments cloud (online hard disk).
For example, you store your birth certificate online and provide only the link when
you apply for passport.
Maharashtra government already launched Maha Digital Locker where you can
login with your Aadhar id. This website can directly upload your certificates to third
party website- during job application, passport registration etc.
Microsoft CEO Nadella wants to help implement this technology at all India level.
Pro: Paperless operations, no need for photocopies and attestation by gazetted
officer.
Anti: Concerns about online privacy and security.

Antikythera Mechanism

What?

An astronomical calculator a.k.a. worlds oldest computer.

Where? It was found in a shipwerck near a Greek island called Antikythera, hence the name.
Who? This bronze instrument was built by Greeks >2000 years ago.

Features?

Complex clock like mechanism with ~30 gears and dials. Being called a computer
doesnt mean it had electronic chips!

Antikythera could predict astronomical phenomena like eclipse, position of sun,

moon, planets.

Experts are still divided over who invented this computer and what was its main
purpose?

Regin, or Backdoor.Regin

What?

Who?

When?

Regin is a Malware to spy on government, infrastructure, private companies, individuals.

Difficult to detect because of its advance stealth features, and even after detection it is
hard to find out how exactly Regin is damaging the system or whom is it sending the
database?

It uses Modular approach similar to Stuxnet, Flamer, Duqu etc. blockbuster malwares.

Given its complex mechanism, Symantec experts believe it was created by a government

Most of the targets were non-Western nations (Russia, Saudi, Iran, India, Pak) so
perhaps a Western country could have designed it. Although American agencies believe
this is handiwork of Russian or Chinese hackers!

Regin malware has been circulating since 2008, but American anti-virus companies detected it
in late 2014.

Virus
Worms
Trojan
Spyware
Spam
Phishing

Examples of Malware Malicious+Software

a program which copies itself and multiplies
copies and disitributes itself through networks
seems like performing some function, but breaches security
covertly tracks your activities
useless messages spreading through internet/emails
inducing you to reveal your passwords/bank details. E.g. those messages which claim that you
have won a lottery.

Detekt Anti-surveillance tool

Problem

Solution

A Germany tech company created finspy software to help government in criminal

investigation.

But same software also detected in human right activists and NGOs from third world
countries.

Meaning, authoritarian regimes are misusing technology for mass-surveillance.

A German NGO built this free anti-surveillance software for Windows-OS, called
Detekt.

Detekt software helps people find whether their system is infected or not?

Although Indian NGOs need not worry much because our intel-agencies cant even
maintain a proper facebook page, let alone running mass-surveillance programs

Nanodots for fast charging phones

Who? Israeli firm StoreDot.
Designed new technology to charge mobile phones in just 30 seconds, and electric cars/ hybrid
What?
cars in a few minutes.

How?

They created bio-organic molecules called Nanodots.

Nanodots behave as semi-conductors and acilitate the battery to absorbe and retain
electricity efficiently.

Although technology is not yet ready for commercial production. These Nanodot-enabled
batteries are too bulky and expensive.

Nanotech for Flash memory

Data stored in flash memory is permanent even when electricity is off. For
example USB Pen drives, Digital Cameras etc.
At present flash drives are made from metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) devices.
But, If we use nanotechnology, we can further increase the storage capacity of
these flash drives.
Because Nano Technology deals with molecules at the scale of 10 rest to -9
meter. At this scale, materials show unique physical, chemical and biological
properties.
For example, at Nano-scale, the Selenium oxides can be used for storing data.
Scotland researchers working on this technology.

Ezhil programming language

Who? Muthiah Annamalai- software engineer from Chennai, living in USA

What?

Developed a Python based programming language in Tamil.

Ezhil is not mere translation of codes from C++/Java etc but it accepts logical sequences
similar to spoken Tamil.

Why? To help Tamil school-children cultivate interest in Computer programming.

Logbar Ring

Who? A Japanese company has deleveoped an electronic Ring with bluetooth.

To control IT-gadges with finger gestures- using bluetooth network.

E.g. open SMS, type messages and send emails without touching your phone or tablet.

What?

Merxius software
Who?

What?

Hasan Ali Khan and Vaishali Neotia from Hyderabad.

They designed a software Merxius, for Augmented Reality (AR) with help of
google glass.

For example, while wearing google glass, if you look at a machine or gadget, itll
automatically fillup the screen with instruction on how to operate or repair that
gadget.

Why in
They won Aegis Graham Bell award for this software.
new?

Mock Questions

Q1. Find correct statements

A. Flash memory is volatile memory.
B. RAM is an example of non-volatile memory.
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
Q2. What is white-fi technology?
A. Beaming internet over an area using helium balloon
B. Beaming internet over an area using solar drones
C. Beaming internet over an area using underground cable network running along
with water and gas connections.
D. Beaming internet over an area using unused television spectrum.
Q3. Who among the following will benefit from a Digital locker?
A. Person wanting to hide his IP address while downloading torrents.
B. Person wanting to store his pirated movies, softwares and games.
C. Person wanting to run applications made by strangers, without exposing his
system to malware.
D. Person wanting to store government certificates on a cloud.
Q4. Recently, archeologist discovered an Antikythera device. Find correct
statements about it
1. This device was found from shipwreck at Antikythera islands in Caribbean
archipelago.
2. Leonardo Da Vinci had designed this instrument for calculating solar eclipses.
3. Both A and B
4. Neither A nor B
Q5. Which of the following are malware or security threats?
1. Regin
2. Heartbleed
3. Shellshock

4. Detekt
Answer choices
A. Only 2 and 3
B. Only 2, 3 and 4
C. Only 1, 2 and 3
D. All of them
Q6. Correct Pair
A. Finspy: Surveillance tool
B. Detekt: Anti-Surveillance tool
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
Q7. Whats the use of Logbar ring?
A. It is a medical device with embedded GPS chip to trace persons suffering from
Alzheimer or Dementia
B. It is a special plutonium ring meant to control the chain-reaction in nuclear
reactors.
C. It is a newly discovered belt of asteroids by ISROs Mars Mission.
D. None of above.
Q8. Ezhil Programming language is written in ____.
A. Telugu
B. Tamil
C. Kannada
D. Oriya
Mains: General Studies Paper-3
1. Explain the mechanism of White-fi technology and its significance in removing
digital divide in India. 150 words.
2. List the applications for nanotechnology in electronics and IT sector. 150 words.
3. What is Digital locker? What are its application for E-governance? 100 words.

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