Code trolley: hardware-assisted control flow obfuscation

Many cybersecurity attacks rely on analyzing a binary executable to find exploitable sections of code. Code obfuscation is used to prevent attackers from reverse engineering these executables. In this work, we focus on control flow obfuscation - a technique that prevents attackers from statically determining which code segments are original, and which segments are added in to confuse attackers. We propose a RISC-V-based hardware-assisted deobfuscation technique that deobfuscates code at runtime based on a secret safely stored in hardware, along with an LLVM compiler extension for obfuscating binaries. Unlike conventional tools, our work does not rely on compiling hard-to-reverse-engineer code, but on securing a secret key. As such, it can be seen as a lightweight alternative to on-the-fly binary decryption.Published versio

CodeTrolley: Hardware-Assisted Control Flow Obfuscation

Many cybersecurity attacks rely on analyzing a binary executable to find exploitable sections of code. Code obfuscation is used to prevent attackers from reverse engineering these executables. In this work, we focus on control flow obfuscation - a technique that prevents attackers from statically determining which code segments are original, and which segments are added in to confuse attackers. We propose a RISC-V-based hardware-assisted deobfuscation technique that deobfuscates code at runtime based on a secret safely stored in hardware, along with an LLVM compiler extension for obfuscating binaries. Unlike conventional tools, our work does not rely on compiling hard-to-reverse-engineer code, but on securing a secret key. As such, it can be seen as a lightweight alternative to on-the-fly binary decryption.Comment: 2019 Boston Area Architecture Workshop (BARC'19

How to accelerate export-led growth in contemporary world?

Globalization brings the threat of a weakened SME sector, since its role in (direct) exporting is less than proportional to its size; this reflects the economies of scale characterizing big markets. But globalization can also increase the importance of a strong SME sector, either where direct SME exports are feasible or where SME subcontractors help keep the country's large exporters competitive. Many markets are too small to have enough large firms to curtail the use of monopoly/monophony and oligopoly/oligopoly power, so price-competition and quality-based competition tends to come from SMEs. Prices of domestic products on international markets are often underestimated because of the poor reputation or ranking the products with a low degree of processing. Namely, it is necessary small and medium enterprises to make efforts in this domain to contribute in a way that they will make the promotion of domestic products, have organized a joint presentation on external markets, will exhibit initiatives for creation of distribution centers. In this regard, the entry of FDI in manufacturing is expected to contribute to the production of high quality products, and distinctive products, which would lead to higher absolute prices, higher productivity and lower unit labor costs of products. So the recommendations are on building relationships with financial institutions, especially with banks, to facilitate funding to SMEs. In this context, it is useful to identify where SMEs are dealing in foreign currency and seek opportunities to provide value-adding advice in areas such as managing foreign exchange risks and forecasting currency needs. In this context, the key factors for realization of these aims are innovation and knowledge that would help for increasing competitiveness as the role of FDIs for productivity and efficiency growth, with support of real exchange rate by stimulating the growth of export, too. The domestic industry by using knowledge, innovation development and upgrading the capacity of the small and medium enterprises can take the necessary changes for its output and increase export performance. All of this can contribute to sustainability of the economic growth and economic integration especially of small economies on which mainly this paper is focused with special emphasis on the Macedonian economy

SMEs Empowerment Through International Aspirations

Challenges for SMEs development are multi-dimensional. As trade barriers, transport and communication costs fall, SMEs are required to add more value to their products to stay ahead and compete with lower cost rivals. Consumer demand is changing rapidly as incomes rise and choices increase when imported products become easily available in domestic markets. Competition within the developing world for export markets, foreign investment and resources is also intensifying. This was motivation to focus in this paper on SMEs, its export competitiveness, business strategies, access for financing and so on. Enhancing SME competitiveness requires creation of enabling legal, regulatory and administrative environments and capable institutional structures, and most importantly human capital and a sustainable environment. Removing supply-side constraint to trade and investment, require firms to build up their competitive advantages. Public and private sectors in transition and developing countries must work together to improve the functioning of markets at home, while intensifying efforts to integrate into the world economy

Financial Crisis and Balkan Perspectives on the EU

In this paper we put emphasis on the financial crisis and prospects of the euro and the Western Balkans. Here are highlight the problems with the size of the status quo related to the euro-zone financial and political crisis, which will make a frame and describe the current crisis and its management in order to assess its consequences. They will be reviewed and the consequences for the Balkans, which includes problems with the Balkan EU perspective. It will also sketched what should be done in institutional terms in order to prevent future crises. Part of the paper is devoted to assessing proposals for a European Monetary Fund, which would define a plan in the context of labor. It will eventually make a different perspective on issues that are still open and critical and which are important for crisis management in the euro zone, and will refer to the resolution of sovereign debt

Strategic thinking and management elements for strategu execution positively affect on business performance

Business leaders are under pressure from stakeholders to comply with their demands while maintaining the organization’s competitiveness in increasingly complex markets. So, leaders are striving to continuously formulate strategies with management elements that will help them deliver more value to their customers and stakeholders. Strategic thinking is important to guide for examining all markets which are relevant to the core business of interest. Also, its necessary for analyse the relevant forces creating new markets as identifying business strategy requirements. Therefor, are used management elements, management models as guides for managerial activity in the business world for increasing a firm’s competitive advantage. Business management tools positively affects business performance and a strategic management orientation for formulating and implementing objectives, policies and performance. Companies confirms that integrated management model will result in dramatic benefits. In this way, strategy thinking enable company to determines its objectives, purposes, or goals, produces the principal policies and plans for achieving those goals, as defines the range of business the company is pursue and positively affects business performance

Почеток на ново геополитичко и трговско рекомпонирање на светот?

По прашањето како CBDC влијае на БДП и благосостојбата на една земја, резултатите укажуваат на различни придобивки потенцирајќи ја ограничената способност на економските модели да ги проценат исходите поради сложеноста на условите. Прогнозите укажуваат на идни форми на CBDC кои ќе ги олеснуваат алтернативните или билатерални меѓународни платежни системи кои работат надвор од актуелните доминантни системи. На пример, државна валута со blockchain основа може да функционира надвор од системот за плаќање SWIFT, што ги олеснува глобалните плаќања. Ова ни дава за право да резимираме потенцијална поголема диверзификација во меѓународните платежни процеси и монетарни системи далеку од американскиот долар и други големи валути и далеку од лимитираниот пакет на институции. Како резултат, голема е веројатноста државните и финансиските актери да стекнат поголема независност и автономија над плаќањата кои ги спроведуваат во меѓународната сфера. Но дали на повидок е можно геополитичко рекомпонирање во светот, што и не треба да го сфаќаме како далекусежна импликација. Напротив, државите може потенцијално да користат дигитални валути на DLT-основа за геополитички добивки и јакнење на својата позиција

EFFECTS OF NEW ORGANIC PREPARATIONS BASED ON ZEOLITE AND DOLOMIT OVER SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GRAPE IN R. MACEDONIA

In our research are covered the results of applying new organic products of mineral origin based on zeolite and dolomite. The specific substances processed at our paper represent minerals geographic origin of the mining localities in R. Serbia and the same are protected by intellectual property. In R. Macedonia are implemented on several agricultural crops including the grapevine. According to the method of application to plants can be as improvers of soil features which are applied on the soil of planted place, as well as their other formulations that are applied as fertilizer on the foliage (leaves). Way of their influence is based on improving the health and conditions and capacity of plant organisms and strengthening the entire immune system of the plant. Usually affect an increase in foliage and Equating the flowering and fertilization. Thereby receive yields that have improved quantity and quality. They represent formulations which are allowed to apply organic production ofgrapevine. In this examination are presented results of treating many varieties of grapevine on several localities in R. Macedonia. They are chosen at plantations with low condition and individual plantings for periods of two years. Were obtained visible results in increasing the useful leaf mass and in a timely and evenly flowering. Also, this year, these preparations improve the situation with the frozen vineyards

Globalization and International Trade

Globalization as a term refers to the growth of interdependence between countries, resulting in increased integration of trade, finance, people and ideas in a common global market. International trade and cross-border investment inflows are main elements of this integration. As a process, globalization began after World War II and has accelerated significantly since the mid-1980s. It is considered to be governed by two main factors. The first one, includes technological advantages that have reduced transportation, communication, and deployment costs. These advantages are usually economically feasible for companies that locate different stages of production in multiple countries. The other factor relates to the increasing liberalization of trade and the capital market. Namely, a growing number of governments are refusing to protect their economies from foreign competition or from the effects of import tariffs and non-tariff barriers such as import quotas, export restrictions and legal bans. Numerous international institutions established during World War II, including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and GATT, succeeded in 1995 through the WTO (World Trade Organization), all playing an important role in promoting protectionism to be replaced by free trade. Empirical evidence suggests that globalization has significantly boosted economic development in economies of East Asian such as Hong Kong (China), the Republic of Korea, and Singapore. But not all developing countries equally participate in globalization or are in a position to benefit from it. In fact, except for most countries in East Asia and some in Latin America, developing countries are rather passive in their integration into the world economy. For example, Sub-Saharan Africa's share of world trade has declined steadily since the 1960s, as the share of major oil exporters plummeted as oil prices fell in the early 1980s. Overall, countries that actively participate in the process of globalization, the benefits come with new risks and challenges

Financial Flows, Financial Stability and Managing The Capital Structure in Emerging Country

: New financial flows and the development of fin-tech are making up different rules of managing the structural of company’s capital. The globalization brings new views and acting of managers for using financial sources and rise of the company. So, capital structure is linked with financial market development, market conditions, availability of debt, type of industry sector as the control of managers. Capital structure is linked with company’s success. Measuring the profitability of the company is not enough due to the fact that there are cases where profitable company does bankrupt. That is the reason in this paper to analyze the financing performance and successful managing of the financial (capital) structure in Macedonia. The companies (the sample in the survey) are divided on companies which have opened bankruptcy proceeding in 2021 and companies which haven't opened bankruptcy proceeding in 2021. The analysis of the survey is done by Chi-square test, T-test and Levene's test for equality of variances