Why Botnets Work: Distributed Brute-Force Attacks Need No Synchronization

In September 2017, McAffee Labs quarterly report estimated that brute force attacks represent 20\% of total network attacks, making them the most prevalent type of attack ex-aequo with browser based vulnerabilities. These attacks have sometimes catastrophic consequences, and understanding their fundamental limits may play an important role in the risk assessment of password-secured systems, and in the design of better security protocols. While some solutions exist to prevent online brute-force attacks that arise from one single IP address, attacks performed by botnets are more challenging. In this paper, we analyze these distributed attacks by using a simplified model. Our aim is to understand the impact of distribution and asynchronization on the overall computational effort necessary to breach a system. Our result is based on Guesswork, a measure of the number of queries (guesses) required of an adversary before a correct sequence, such as a password, is found in an optimal attack. Guesswork is a direct surrogate for time and computational effort of guessing a sequence from a set of sequences with associated likelihoods. We model the lack of synchronization by a worst-case optimization in which the queries made by multiple adversarial agents are received in the worst possible order for the adversary, resulting in a min-max formulation. We show that, even without synchronization, and for sequences of growing length, the asymptotic optimal performance is achievable by using randomized guesses drawn from an appropriate distribution. Therefore, randomization is key for distributed asynchronous attacks. In other words, asynchronous guessers can asymptotically perform brute-force attacks as efficiently as synchronized guessers.Comment: Accepted to IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Securit

Perspective and Prospects of Commencing New Education Policy (NEP) of Pakistan: A Review of Conference.

This article focuses on four important factors: Assessment, Curriculum and Text Books’ Policy, Teachers for quality education and Education and management, as formulated by Education and Literacy Department of Sindh Government. Open poll discussions and views given by educationists and experts were taken. All the views have been summarized for consideration by all concerned. Chief Minister Sindh, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Javed Hussain, Education Minister, Hamida Khoro and Education Secretary to Government of Sindh, Ghulam Ali Pasha also shared their opinions on the new Education Policy and Government’s intention to ensure quality education in Sindh Province. The purpose of this article is to review and summarize the views presented in the Education Conference and reach fruitful conclusions. The implications are also made keeping in mind the targets of New Millennium Development Goals (NMDGs).Assessment, Curriculum and Text Book Policy, Education and Management, Literacy

Gastric corpus polyps associated with Proton Pump Inhibitors therapy

The prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is rapidly rising in Asia. We describe here a case of 51 years old man who had surgery for esophageal leiomyoma and received long-term therapy with Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) for persisting reflux symptoms. On Esophago-Gastroduodenoscopy (EGD) several sessile polyps were seen in the gastric corpus. Earlier EGD done 15 years back had not demonstrated those polyps. Sections revealed polypoid fragments of glandular epithelium with dilated glands and negative histology for H. pylori. Polymerase chain reaction for 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S rRNA PCR) of H. pylori was also negative. This is the first report originating from an Asian country describing Fundal Gland Polyps (FGPs) in the corpus of stomach rather than fundus in a patient on long-term PPI therapy

Stiff person syndrome: a diagnostic and management challenge

Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by progressive muscle stiffness and rigidity, mostly involving axial muscles, resulting in functional disability. It is associated with elevated anti- Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibody levels. Electromyography findings are often diagnostic. We present a case of a 48 years old male, who presented with progressive stiffness and rigidity of axial muscles and limbs. His EMG was consistent with SPS. Anti GAD antibodies were markedly elevated. He was treated with rituximab and has improved significantly. SPS is a difficult diagnosis, usually under diagnosed due to lack of awareness among medical community. There is a dire need to further study the disease and invent better treatment options for patients suffering from SPS

Open Access Religious Journals- An Analytical Study of the DOAJ

The main purpose of the paper is to study the publishing trends of the open access religious journals available in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). The data were collected online from the Directory of Open Access Journals and quantitative method was applied for data analysis. The data were collected in December 2017 and later presented in tabular forms to reveal the findings. The findings show that 119 religious journals are registered in the DOAJ, published from the 27 countries by 114 publishing agencies in 14 languages. The maximum number of journals (21, 17.65%) is published from Indonesia in the English language (79, 66.39%) during the 2nd decade (2010-2017) of the 21st century

Novel Effects Associated with the Use of Probiotics, Synbiotics and Prebiotics

To maintain the wellbeing of the human gut, the role of its microflora and their metabolites is fundamental. Probiotics is a Greek term, which is used to define non-living microbes that are beneficial in nature and exert numerous advantages on the host body. The intestinal microflora’s function and activity may also be improved by administering some of the prebiotics (indigestible dietary fibers) independently or in a c combination with probiotics. The term “Synbiotics” is used to denote the combination of both prebiotics and probiotics. It should always be noted that numerous disorders are being associated with the abnormal function of microbiota/microflora that can be regulated and stabilized with the help of ingestion of probiotics, prebiotics or their combination. Multiple benefits are associated with the use of these probiotics, synbiotics and prebiotics including healthier digestive system, proper immune response of the gut and treatment of numerous GI tract disorders. All these issues are encountered because of treatments with new synthetic drugs that affect the digestive system as well as numerous organs in the body. Ulcerative colitis is a term that refers to chronic inflammation of the colon emerging as a result of improper immune response to intestinal microflora of the host. Researchers have studied the effects of synbiotics to treat this chronic condition1. As for the action mechanism of the synbiotics is concerned, it is assumed that they modulate the inflammatory response through expression of the cytokines, probiotic bacteria assisted modulation of the immune cells and prebiotics assisted production of certain short chain fatty acids. Jayanama and Theou studied the consequences of improper ingestion of probiotics and prebiotics in elderly patients. They revealed that physical inactivity, sarcopenia, and polypharmacy could be treated with the help of probiotics, prebiotics or a combination of both2. All the aforementioned disorders can lead to gut dysbiosis. The researchers have also revealed that the gut microbiota homeostasis can be improved with the help of probiotics and prebiotics and they can be a helping hand in the prevention of aging and frailty. It is evident that left and right prescriptions of antibiotics and their use caused antibiotic resistance in the pathogens. This issue can be best resolved with the ingestion of probiotics and prebiotics. The systematic evidence to treat infected chronic wounds has been provided by Brognara et al3. Similarly, chronic wounds and burns treatment is done widely with the use of Lactobacillus plantarum. Some other researchers have reviewed the available data associated with the use of numerous prebiotics in the treatment of idiopathic constipation, and highly prevalent GIT disorrderrs4-6. This is due to the capability of prebiotics to improve the consistency of the stool, bloating and number of bowel movements. A limited data is available regarding the efficacy of prebiotics in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and pouchitis. It is concluded that probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics have been imparting a role in treating GIT disorders including indigestion, traveler’s diarrhea, IBD etc. Scientific reports have revealed their role in the treatment of cancerous disease, obesity, kidney and brain disorders. Many tools for the research of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics are now available; therefore, the future bio-therapeutics are going to be changed with the passage of time

Impact of E-Service Quality on Purchase Intention Through Mediator Perceived Value in Online Shopping

It is vital to know the variety in many features of consumer purchase intention among Internet users. Paper scrutinizes the relationships e-service quality, perceived value and purchase intention for Chinese online shoppers of food products. We applied the questionnaire technique for data gathering for the measurement of an tool, and sample design was non-probability purposive of sample 600 respondents. Members were selected using non-probability purposive sampling, which documented personal information and confirmed that there is no study prejudice because the data examination is anonymous. Cronbach's alpha was used to checked the reliability through SPSS, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate the validity complete through AMOS software, structural equation model (SEM) was also used to checked the model fitness. The testing outcomes show that, for the direct path, electronic service quality has a significant, positive effect on perceived value and purchase intentions and also, perceived value directly significant, positive impact on purchase intentions. For the indirect path, electronic service quality has a significant, positive impact on purchase intentions through perceived value. Managerial implications of these results are discussed. Keywords: E-service quality, perceived value, purchase intention, online shopping, Food product