source: pcpro.co.uk

Researchers at Ohio State University have claimed a “spintronics” breakthrough that could revolutionise storage by packing more data into less space.

Using spintronics – which measures the spin of electrons – the scientists have created a plastic memory device that can write and then read data in an entirely new way.

We could solve many of the problems facing computers today by using spintronics

“Spintronics is often just seen as a way to get more information out of an electron, but really it’s about moving to the next generation of electronics,” said Arthur Epstein, professor of physics and chemistry and director of the Institute for Magnetic and Electronic Polymers at Ohio State.

“We could solve many of the problems facing computers today by using spintronics,” he added.

Conventional electronics encode data in a binary code of ones and zeros depending on the presence or otherwise of an electron, but researchers have for years been trying to harness the fact that an electron’s orientation can be altered, like a bar magnet.

Electrons are either “spin up” or “spin down”. Scientists say electronics that can differentiate between the two states would let computers store and transfer twice as much data per electron.

According to Epstein, the current research device is little more than a thin strip of dark blue organic-based magnet layered with a metallic ferromagnet and connected to two electrical leads.

But the researchers still successfully recorded data on it, retrieving it by controlling the spins of the electrons with a magnetic field.

“The material is a hybrid of a semiconductor that is made from organic materials and a special magnetic polymer semiconductor,” Epstein explained. “As such, it is a bridge between today’s computers and the all-polymer, spintronic computers that we hope to enable in the future.”

According to Epstein, the technology should transfer easily to industry, because “any place that makes computer chips could do this and we made the device at room temperature”.

Not just data storage

Although data storage has been touted as the most likely deployment area for spintronics, higher data density is only part of the story, the researchers said.

Spintronics creates far less heat than conventional circuitry so can be arranged more densely and run on smaller batteries, said Epstein.

“We would love to take portable electronics to a spin platform,” he said. “Think about soldiers in the field who have to carry heavy battery packs, or even civilian ‘road warriors’ commuting to meetings."

"If we had a lighter weight spintronic device which operates itself at a lower energy cost, and if we could make it on a flexible polymer display, soldiers and other users could just roll it up and carry it,” he added.

source: pcpro.co.uk security news

 

A new version of the Zeus trojan has robbed £675,000 from a UK bank.

During July, more than 3,000 customer accounts were compromised using the trojan at one unnamed bank, according to a report from M86 Security, which uncovered the scale of the theft after cracking into the criminals’ command and control server.

The third version of the Zeus trojan isn’t only harvesting data, but actually performing illegal banking transactions. M86′s chief security architect, Mark Kaplan, said the attack was unique because "it actively steals money and not only gathers username or passwords".

It actively steals money and not only gathers username or passwords

M86 said the trojan watches as banking customers login to their accounts, and checks to see if they have sufficient funds. If their account holds more than £800, the trojan transfers money to a mule account. The mules are valid accounts held by real banking customers, but compromised by the criminals to transfer money and cover their tracks.

The attackers used the Eleonore exploit kit – which can be bought online for a few hundred dollars – to take advantage of flaws in software such as Adobe and Internet Explorer to install the trojan after users visit a malicious web page. M86 said the command server for the scheme appeared to be based in Eastern Europe.

Kaplan said his firm had passed the details of the case to the police, saying the attacks are likely still happening. "As far as we know, it is still going on," he said. "However, the bank and law enforcement agencies are managing the situation now." M86 would not name the bank involved.

To avoid being hit by the attack, Kaplan advised online banking customers to set up text or email alerts to keep an eye on transactions, and to ask their bank to disable the ability to transfer money to third parties.

As the attackers are taking advantage of flaws in Adobe software, he advised using a different PDF reader. "I am not saying that those won’t have any vulnerabilities, but at least they are less exposed," he said.

Following an astonishing conversation with one of my customers just now I have discovered that some companys/individuals pay incredibly over the odds for simple services such as web and email management, or domain hosting.

 

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Microsoft have released on their blog that the National Cyber Security Alliance recently hosted a discussion about the role of the individual in computer security. Representatives from Microsoft and other companies agreed that businesses are responsible for providing security tools in addition to education and they discussed the steps that individuals should take to secure their own computers.

Andrew Cushman, senior director of Trustworthy Computing at Microsoft stressed that people should use updated web browsers when they surf the Internet.

Here are four steps you can take right now to increase your security:

1. Keep your firewall turned on.

2. Keep all your software and your operating system up-to-date.

3. Keep your antivirus software up to date.

4. Keep your antispyware technology up to date.

BBC News reports today that telecoms giant BT has said it will increase call charges by 10% and its monthly line rental by 50p from the beginning of October.

The majority of customers will be informed of the move by letter this week.

The cost of connecting a call will go up from 9.9 pence to 10.9p. The daytime rate rises from 5.9p to 6.4p a minute.

Customers who sign up to a year-long contract upfront will avoid the increased charges.

BT said it estimates the impact of the changes will be just 1p a day, because its average customer makes only 80 seconds of daytime calls each day, and more than half subscribe to inclusive packages.

It said “calling plans enable customers to avoid the set-up fee and charges for most calls altogether”.

From October, BT customers will pay a landline rental charge of £13.29 a month, or £12.04 if they receive their bills by e-mail.

The price changes are part of a concerted move by the company to get customers to sign up to longer-term contracts and special bundled packages.

They are offering cheaper rates for those that do.

After 1 October, the standard cost of a landline will be £159.48. For those who pay the entire sum upfront, it will be £131.88. If they sign up before the end of October, the cost will be £113.88, which works out at £9.49 a month.

If you would like advice on switching your telephone provider to ensure that this increase does not affect you, please d not hesitate to contact us on 0845 180 0000.

Today Microsoft released 4 new security updates.

• 2 updates for Microsoft Windows
• 1 update for Microsoft Office
• 1 update for Microsoft Office Outlook

You can download the updates via Windows Update or click here to visit the bulletin page.