Resolving the Password Security Purgatory in the Contexts of Technology, Security and Human Factors

YesPasswords are the most popular and constitute the first line of defence in computer-based security systems; despite the existence of more attack-resistant authentication schemes. In order to enhance password security, it is imperative to strike a balance between having enough rules to maintain good security and not having too many rules that would compel users to take evasive actions which would, in turn, compromise security. It is noted that the human factor is the most critical element in the security system for at least three possible reasons; it is the weakest link, the only factor that exercises initiatives, as well as the factor that transcends all the other elements of the entire system. This illustrates the significance of social engineering in security designs, and the fact that security is indeed a function of both technology and human factors; bearing in mind the fact that there can be no technical hacking in vacuum. This paper examines the current divergence among security engineers as regards the rules governing best practices in the use of passwords: should they be written down or memorized; changed frequently or remain permanent? It also attempts to elucidate the facts surrounding some of the myths associated with computer security. This paper posits that destitution of requisite balance between the factors of technology and factors of humanity is responsible for the purgatory posture of password security related problems. It is thus recommended that, in the handling of password security issues, human factors should be given priority over technological factors. The paper proposes the use of the (k, n)-Threshold Scheme, such as the Shamir’s secret-sharing scheme, to enhance the security of the password repository. This presupposes an inclination towards writing down the password: after all, Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver are not memorised; they are stored.Petroleum Technology Development Fun

Telecommunication Network Security

YesOur global age is practically defined by the ubiquity of the Internet; the worldwide interconnection of cyber networks that facilitates accessibility to virtually all ICT and other elements of critical infrastructural facilities, with a click of a button. This is regardless of the user’s location and state of equilibrium; whether static or mobile. However, such interconnectivity is not without security consequences. A telecommunication system is indeed a communication system with the distinguishing key word, the Greek tele-, which means "at a distance," to imply that the source and sink of the system are at some distance apart. Its purpose is to transfer information from some source to a distant user; the key concepts being information, transmission and distance. These would require a means, each, to send, convey and receive the information with safety and some degree of fidelity that is acceptable to both the source and the sink. Chapter K begins with an effort to conceptualise the telecommunication network security environment, using relevant ITU-T2* recommendations and terminologies for secure telecommunications. The chapter is primarily concerned with the security aspect of computer-mediated telecommunications. Telecommunications should not be seen as an isolated phenomenon; it is a critical resource for the functioning of cross-industrial businesses in connection with IT. Hence, just as information, data or a computer/local computer-based network must have appropriate level of security, so also a telecommunication network must have equivalent security measures; these may often be the same as or similar to those for other ICT resources, e.g., password management. In view of the forgoing, the chapter provides a brief coverage of the subject matter by first assessing the context of security and the threat-scape. This is followed by an assessment of telecommunication network security requirements; identification of threats to the systems, the conceivable counter or mitigating measures and their implementation techniques. These bring into focus various cryptographic/crypt analytical concepts, vis a vis social engineering/socio-crypt analytical techniques and password management. The chapter noted that the human factor is the most critical factor in the security system for at least three possible reasons; it is the weakest link, the only factor that exercises initiatives, as well as the factor that transcends all the other elements of the entire system. This underscores the significance of social 2*International Telecommunications Union - Telecommunication Standardisation Sector 12 engineering in every facet of security arrangement. It is also noted that password security could be enhanced, if a balance is struck between having enough rules to maintain good security and not having too many rules that would compel users to take evasive actions which would, in turn, compromise security. The chapter is of the view that network security is inversely proportional to its complexity. In addition to the traditional authentication techniques, the chapter gives a reasonable attention to locationbased authentication. The chapter concludes that security solutions have a technological component, but security is fundamentally a people problem. This is because a security system is only as strong as its weakest link, while the weakest link of any security system is the human infrastructure. A projection for the future of telecommunication network security postulates that, network security would continue to get worse unless there is a change in the prevailing practice of externality or vicarious liability in the computer/security industry; where consumers of security products, as opposed to producers, bear the cost of security ineffectiveness. It is suggested that all transmission devices be made GPS-compliant, with inherent capabilities for location-based mutual authentication. This could enhance the future of telecommunication security.Petroleum Technology Development Fun

A Versatile and Ubiquitous Secret Sharing: A cloud data repository secure access

NoThe Versatile and Ubiquitous Secret Sharing System, a cloud data repository secure access and a web based authentication scheme. It is designed to implement the sharing, distribution and reconstruction of sensitive secret data that could compromise the functioning of an organisation, if leaked to unauthorised persons. This is carried out in a secure web environment, globally. It is a threshold secret sharing scheme, designed to extend the human trust security perimeter. The system could be adapted to serve as a cloud data repository and secure data communication scheme. A secret sharing scheme is a method by which a dealer distributes shares of a secret data to trustees, such that only authorised subsets of the trustees can reconstruct the secret. This paper gives a brief summary of the layout and functions of a 15-page secure server-based website prototype; the main focus of a PhD research effort titled ‘Cryptography and Computer Communications Security: Extending the Human Security Perimeter through a Web of Trust’. The prototype, which has been successfully tested, has globalised the distribution and reconstruction processes.Petroleum Technology Development Fun

Slotted Printed Monopole UWB Antennas with Tuneable Rejection Bands for WLAN/WiMAX and X-Band Coexistence

YesFour versions of the compact hexagonal-shaped monopole printed antennas for UWB applications are presented. The first proposed antenna has an impedance bandwidth of 127.48 % (3.1 GHz to 14 GHz), which satisfies the bandwidth for ultra-wideband communication systems. To reduce the foreseen co-channel interference with WLAN (5.2GHz) and X-Band systems (10GHz), the second and third antennas type were generated by embedding hexagonal slot on the top of the radiating patch. The integration of the half and full hexagonal slots created notched bands that potentially filtered out the sources of interference, but were static in nature. Therefore, a fourth antenna type with tuneable-notched bands was designed by adding a varactor diode at an appropriate location within the slot. The fourth antenna type is a dual-notch that was electronically and simultaneously tuned from 3.2GHz to 5.1GHz and from 7.25GHz up to 9.9GHz by varying the bias voltages across the varactor. The prototypes of the four antenna versions were successfully fabricated and tested. The measured results have good agreement with the simulated results.This work is carried out under the grant of the Fundacão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT - Portugal), with the reference number: SFRH / BPD / 95110 / 201

Performance Comparison of Particle Swarm Optimization, and Genetic Algorithm in the Design of UWB Antenna

yesAn efficient multi-object evolutionary algorithms are proposed for optimizing frequency characteristics of antennas based on an interfacing created by Matlab environment. This interface makes a link with CST Microwave studio where the electromagnetic investigation of antenna is realized. Very small, compact printed monopole antenna is optimized for ultra- wideband (UWB) applications. Two objective functions are introduced; the first function intends to increase the impedance bandwidth, and second function to tune the antenna to resonate at a particular frequency. The two functions operate in the range of 3.2 to 10.6 GHz and depend on the level of return loss. The computed results provide a set of proper design for UWB system in which the bandwidth achieved is 7.5GHz at the resonance frequency 4.48GHz, including relatively stable gain and radiation patterns across the operating band

Compact Microstrip Antenna Design for Microwave Imaging

YesAn ultra-wideband microstrip antenna design is considered with respect to applications in breast cancer detection. The underlying design concept is based on ground penetrating radar (GPR). Simulated and measured prototype performance show excellent performance in the input impedance and radiation pattern over the target range from 4 GHz to 8 GHz. The 4 GHz to 8GHz frequency band for microwave imaging perform better in comparison with other microwave frequencies. The antenna also shows a reasonable uniform radiation performance in the broadside direction which contributes to the reduction of clutter levels, thus aiding the reconstruction quality of the final image

Electromagnetic Field Interaction Between Overhead High Voltage Power Transmission Line and Buried Utility Pipeline.

yesThis work presents the development of a new approach of modelling the source excitation and the penetration of structures by continuous propagating electromagnetic (EM) plane waves. The technique incorporates the solution of time-dependent Maxwell¿s equations and the initial value problem as the structures are illuminated by the plane waves. The propagation of waves from source excitation is simulated by solving a finite-difference Maxwell's equation in the time domain. Subgridding method is used to condense the lattice at the point of interest locally for observing field distribution in high resolution. The computational burden due to huge number of time steps has been eased by employing quasi-static approach. An example of induced EM fields near an underground pipeline runs parallel to a 132 kV overhead power transmission line (OHTL) has been presented which paves the way in the development of new approach of EM fields interaction modelling.MSCR

Design of Radiation Pattern-Reconfigurable 60-GHz Antenna for 5G Applications

noReconfigurable beam steering using circular disc microstrip patch antenna with a ring slotis proposed. The overall dimension of the antenna is 5.4×5.4 mm2 printed on a 0.504 mm thick, Rogers RT5870 substrate with relative permittivity 2.3 and loss tangent 0.0012. The designed antenna operates at the expected 5G frequency band 60 GHz with a central coaxial probe feed. TwoNMOS switches are configured to generate three different beam patterns. Activating each switch individually results in a near 70 degree shift in the main beam direction, whereas the frequency characteristics are unchanged. The power gains are between 3.9 dB and 4.8dB for the three states of switches configurations. Simulated results in terms of return loss, peak gains and radiation pattern are presented and show a reasonable agreement at the expected 60 GHz bandfor 5G applications.The published journal webpage is no longer available

Horn Antennas Loaded with Metamaterial for UWB Applications

YesIn this paper, a conical horn antenna has been designed for Ultra-Wideband ap-plications by loading its section with a metamaterial. The work aims first to compare results obtained by the wavelet-moment method to a simulation performed using HFSS. Secondly the conical horn is loaded with a very thin layer of metamaterial to enhance the radiation pattern and the bandwidth performance of the conical horn antenna and reduce the size of the antenna. The operating bandwidth of the proposed antenna is in the range of 10{13 GHz. The results obtained from HFSS and moment method are in good agreement.Electronics and Telecommunication