Cyber criminals only need one weak link
The Guardian this week drew attention to the threat cybercrime poses to the complex modern supply chain. While it is important for firms to have their own established IT protection, perhaps even more so is ensuring that partner companies (suppliers, distributors etc.) are equally as protected and aware of the risks. One small breach is all that is required for hackers to access sensitive data—from IP and customer information, to trade secrets— and potentially gain access to this information across the whole supply chain.
Advice the article gives includes “common sense” measures, such as ensuring your partners and collaborators are as protected as you are. In addition the use of multiple forms of required authentication when accessing data, such as temporary, one use only passwords which the recipient receives by text message, is highly recommended.
To read more, click here.
iWatch in production
According to Chinese sources, Apple’s latest creation, a wearable technology dubbed the “iWatch”, is currently in production. Current information suggests that the iWatch will be slimmer than its Samsung competitor through utilizing a manufacturing process called “System-in-Package.” Essentially all parts of the device will be seamlessly connected together during the production process, greatly minimizing the amount of space required within the device. Should however, one part be faulty, the entire device is compromised.
The launch date is expected to be around September 2014, with Apple intending to sell over 20 million iWatches in 2014.
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3D printing a house
A private company based in eastern China has accomplished the amazing feat of constructing ten full-size houses in one day. The accomplishment was not achieved however, by just any means, but by using four 10 meter wide by 6.6 meter high printers. The houses were created out of cement and construction waste. The planners behind the project are however not ready to make all their methods public just yet.
Ma Yihe, the creator of the printers, believes his method to be both more environmentally sustainable and cheaper in comparison to traditional building methods. The quality of the design and construction of the buildings is currently being audited.
To read more, click here.
