A smart card contains an integrated circuit (IC) chip containing a central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM) and non-volatile data storage. Data stored in the smart card’s microchip can be accessed only through the chip operating system (COS). Smart cards provide a secure, portable platform for “any time, anywhere” computing that can contain and manipulate substantial amounts of data, especially an individual’s personal digital identity. Smart cards are a type of mini computer with an operating system capable of running a variety of applications. JavaCard is a multi-application Read More

A proxy server is one that receives requests intended for another server and that acts on the behalf of the client (as the client proxy) to obtain the requested service. It is often used when the client and the server are incompatible for direct connection. For example, the client may be unable to meet the security authentication requirements of the server but may be required to access some services. It may also be used for screening purposes to enable the administrator to control access to undesirable sites. The proxy server Read More

Breaking into secured networks or computers is not an easy job, especially with the level of security some companies employ. Still, the fact remains – anything the mind of man can conjure can be broken into – and this is a challenge that no hacker can resist. Understanding the means by which hackers pursue their nefarious activities is one way of dealing with the problem; knowing how they do it provides you with a basis for developing countermeasures. Among the tools that hackers use are: Password-Cracking Tools People and organizations Read More

Data is laid out on a standard magnetic card in three tracks. A magnetic stripe card may have any of these tracks or a combination of these tracks. Track 1 was the first track standardized. The International Air Transportation Association (IATA) developed it and it is still reserved for their use. It is 210bpi with room for 79 7-bit characters. Track 1 is encoded with a 7-bit scheme (6 data bits plus one parity bit) that is based on ASCII. If the reader does not perform the ASCII conversion, add Read More

Despite the claims that Macs are somehow invulnerable to cyber threats, Macs are, in theory, no safer to use than PCs or any other device. However, because PCs are still much more common than Macs and have been around for much longer, virus writers attack Windows users much more often than they attack Mac users. While this means that Mac users are attacked less often, they are still often attacked and are under the same obligations to regularly use antivirus software in order to protect themselves from malicious programs.   Read More

Yahoo password recovery methods include: Reset your Yahoo password online Recover your Yahoo password from your web browser Recover your stored password from the Windows Registry Reset your Yahoo password The easiest way to recover a Yahoo password is to go to the Yahoo! Sign-in Problems page. To use this page, first enter your Date of Birth, Zip Code, and Country to verify your identity. Next, enter your Yahoo ID and Yahoo will e-mail your Yahoo password to the e-mail account associated with it. If you can not remember your Read More

MD5 is a message digest algorithm. MD5 takes a variable length input and produces a 128-bit message digest. MD5 was designed by Ron Rivest in 1991. MD5 is officially defined in RFC 1321 – The MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm. MD5 Usage MD5 is used in many applications, including GPG, Kerberos, TLS / SSL, Cisco type 5 enable passwords, and RADIUS. Software Implementations of MD5 Ready-to-use MD5 implementations are available in C, C++, JavaScript, PERL, ActiveX, and Delphi. The Difficulty of a Brute Force Attack Against MD5 The difficulty of creating two Read More

Trendnet advertises itself as an Ethernet based device manufacturer, but also boasts a large collection of wireless devices as well. Trendnet routers often include dual antennas for maximum coverage, four Ethernet ports, and advanced WPA encryption. Trendnet devices tend to be small, lightweight, and stylish, allowing users to set them up and forget about them. Trendnet Default Password All Trendnet devices are equipped with a control panel that allows the user to make changes to the device’s settings and configure it to work with other computers and devices throughout his/her Read More

The Macintosh platform suffers from fewer spyware applications, and there are correspondingly fewer Mac spyware removal programs. MacScan MacScan is designed to detect, isolate and remove spyware, keystroke loggers, trojans, and bring awareness to remote administration type applications which could have been maliciously or inadvertently installed on your Macintosh. MacScan is available for Mac OS and Mac OS X containing the latest definitions for spyware. MacScan detects, isolates and removes: Spyware Keystroke Loggers Trojan Horses Administration Applications MacScan will locate these stealth software applications, warn you of their presence, and Read More

A key logger, or keystroke logger, is a piece or hardware of software which records user keystrokes. They can be used for legitimate purposes such as checking a minor child’s Internet and email use or for illegal tasks such as stealing email and bank account login and password data. Keyboard loggers use keylogging technology to record keys that are typed on a computer keyboard, and even take screen shots of the computer when in use. Hardware Key Loggers A hardware key logger is a small piece of hardware which is Read More