Google and Nasa Show Off

Google and Nasa Show Off Ridiculously Fast Quantum Computer

Google and Nasa have given  the world a first proper look at its joint effort experimental quantum super computer.

Both companies have been experimenting with the cutting edge technology for over two years now, and the public display last Tuesday has led some commentators to wonder if Google and NASA might not just have won the race to build the world’s first fully viable and fully functional quantum computer.

When NASA and Google announced that they were to collaborate on building a quantum super computer, back in 2013, not all that many people were sure it would actually work. Some even  queried whether even if a quantum computer could be built if would be faster than a conventional super computer.
But now  it seems the garden shed sized black box currently being housed in NASA’s Advanced Super computing facility in the heart of Silicon valley might have silenced its critics. What’s even more surprising is that despite its size it’s actually considered to be quite small, for a super computer.
The D-Wave 2X quantum computer works on fundamentally different principles than both regular computers and also regular super computers. Whereas standard computers operate using bits that can be either 1 or 0, quantum computing uses bits that can use both 1 and 0 at the same time. It all gets a bit more complicated after that, but essentially what it all means is that quantum computing should be a lot faster, because in theory, quantum computers will be able to perform calculations at much greater speeds. That was the science bit.
While the D-Wave 2X is in effect just a prototype machine, Google and NASA engineers announced last Tuesday that it could execute a common benchmark optimization equation 100 million times faster than a conventional desktop PC running a single core processor. Of course while that does sound rather impressive, it should be noted that these days even budget smartphones typically come with quad core processors.  Still, it’s a pretty good analogy for all that.
Quantum computing may be the future of computing, but it will be a long time before anyone can order one online. Designing and building a quantum computer is beset with difficulties. Part of the reason that the D-Wave computer is so big is because of the refrigeration system needed to keep the quantum computing chip at practically absolute zero degrees. For the rest of us, that’s -273 degrees Celsius.
The head of Google’s Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab, Hartmut Nevin, said the latest test results were encouraging and intriguing, but that quantum computing still had a long way to go before it could be turned into anything resembling a practical technology. Google, NASA, and others working on the problems of Quantum computing still aren’t sure just what a fully commercially viable quantum computer could actually be used for.

Quantum Computer Hacking

 

Ordinary Computers Will Be Safe From Quantum Computer Hacking

German research engineers have successfully managed to develop what they think will protect regular computers from the future danger of Quantum computer hacker attacks.  

The scientists at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) are in the middle of working toward the practical application of current technology to defend “data against threats of tomorrow with the devices available today.” 

While the era of the quantum computer  itself is only in its infancy, and beset with difficulties such as the fact that quantum processors have to be cooled at a pretty frosty -273 degrees Celsius, as well as being ridiculously expensive; the implications of what quantum computing could one day achieve are worrying from a security point of view.
Google have claimed its D-Wave 2X quantum computer is 100 million times faster than a conventional desktop PC running a single core processor.” In the wrong hands, this could mean that hackers would be able to successfully use “brute force” attacks against commonly used encryption protocols and access confidential and private information.
Faced with this future possibility, the engineers at RUB have been developing and discovering new types of cryptographic techniques that will hopefully ensure “security even in the era of the quantum computer.”
While to ordinary layman IT writer (me) taking preventative steps against potential quantum computing hacking may seem like jumping the gun, the team behind the Post Quantum Cryptography project at RUB think not.
According to ScienceDaily.com “Cryptography is implemented in many devices with a long service life, for example in satellites. Those devices have to remain secure in many years’ to come. Likewise, micro devices handling long-term critical data, such as electronic health cards, require cryptographic systems that are secure in the long term.”
By incorporating existing encryption techniques and merging them with other complex and innovative solutions, RUB engineers think they may have the means to blunt the future danger of the type of quantum computer utilized to hack encrypted systems, and do it with today’s technology.
In any case, this at least answers SoL’s comment  about hacking with quantum computer’s from the original article I wrote about quantum computing:
“Hackers must be eagerly awaiting for this to arrive ASAP, exploiting the hell out of existing conventional computers and breaking cryptography will be much less time consuming with QC. Looks like Darth Vader is on it’s way.”

 

Oracle Settles With FTC Over Faulty Java Security

Google Sending Messages To Webmasters For SSL/TLS Certificate Not Matching

Google starts notifying webmasters of broken SSL/TLS certificates. Will this lead to a stricter HTTPS ranking factor?

Google is now sending some webmasters notifications when their SSL/TLS certificates do not match their domain names. The new notification was first spotted by @MediaWyse.
It had the subject, “SSL/TLS certificate does not include domain name,” with the message:

Google has detected that the current SSL/TLS certificate used on [domain] does not include [domain] domain name. This means that your web site is not perceived as secure by some browsers. As a result, many web browsers will block users accessing your site by displaying a security warning message. This is done to protect users browsing behavior from being intercepted by a third party, which can happen on sites that are not secure.

I’d expect to see more flavors of these SSL/TLS warnings from Google and for Google to become stricter about the ranking boost for HTTPS sites.
Currently, HTTPS errors don’t affect whether the site gets an HTTPS ranking boost, even if it isn’t valid; if it is on an HTTPS URL, it would get the boost. But these notifications show two things: (1) Google wants to notify webmasters when there are issues with their SSL/TLS certificates; and (2) Google is aware of it. Meaning, I’d suspect, that in the future, Google will update their HTTPS algorithm to not give the ranking boost for pages that have SSL/TLS issues.
Here is a screen shot of the notification:

Zineb from Google did confirm Google is sending these notifications, saying, “[W]e are now letting users know about issues with their TLS certs.”

 

Google Changes

 

Cortana now available on iOS and Android

Microsoft personal assistant, Cortana is now fully available for both Android and iOS …as long as you live in China, or the USA.
Not that that news will come as any surprise to most people who’ve followed recent app releases. As seems to be the case with growing numbers of apps across all platforms, software updates are becoming more and more staggered as the complexity and power of modern software increases.

Developing and launching core Windows apps such as Cortana for other platforms has been part of the “cloud first, mobile first,” direction Microsoft has been following for the last few years. A Beta version of Cortana was made  available on Android back in July, that anyone could sign up for. The iOS Beta however was much more limited, and was available to only 2,000 lucky testers because of the tight rules that Apple demands for iOS Beta test.

While not originally built for either Android or iOS, Cortana is supposed to be just as ‘intelligent’ as it on PC, and should also sync across all linked devices regardless of Operating System. That said, while Cortana on both Android and iOS is supposed to be as smart, it has lost something of its native core functionality that comes as standard on Windows powered devices. Microsoft state that:

“This includes toggling settings or opening apps, and the ability to invoke Cortana hands-free by saying “Hey Cortana.” The ‘Phone Companion’ app on your Windows 10 PC will help you install the Cortana app from the Google Play or Apple App Store onto your phone so you’ll be able to take the intelligence of Cortana with you, wherever you go.”

…which isn’t quite the same thing, if we’re honest. While Cortana does work well on Android and iOS, it’s hard to tell quite what Siri and Google Now users will make of it. Both of these native apps do inherently allow more in built functionality, and are just that little bit more capable. Not that Cortana can do all that much about it, especially when it comes to iOS. Apple’s tight control over what they will and won’t allow app developers to do on Apple devices has constrained Cortana significantly.

In that respect Cortana for Android and iOS might be more of a sales and marketing tool for Microsoft’s own hardware and software than a genuine native replacement.

Anyone using Windows 10 though that is looking for a level of cross device integration before anything else may however be able to overcome these limitations, and find Cortana a worthwhile addition to their life.

 

6 Things to Consider When Buying a PC

You’ve found a few PCs you like the look of but how do you decide which is the right one? Let’s break down the different parts of a PC to help make your choice.

Processor speed
Processors are the heart of your PC, deciding how fast everything gets done. New processors also do many tasks that help provide a better overall experience. 
5^th gen Intel® Core™ i3 processor
Start with this for simple email and web browsing, entertainment and games.
5^th gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor
Get productive and enjoy mainstream entertainment and games.
5^th gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor
Get hard-core tasks like 3D gaming, designing and video editing done smoothly.
5^th gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor Extreme Edition
Customize your performance for the most demanding games and apps.

RAM
More RAM makes it easier to multitask and switch between different files quickly.
2GB
This is the minimum you need to run an operating system and basic programs.
4GB
Enough RAM to multitask between apps easily and run common popular games.
8GB+
This will let you run video editing apps or extreme 3D games smoothly.

Hard disk space
Generally, it’s a smart idea to buy a larger hard disk than your current needs as files and apps are constantly growing in size.

500GB
Good for storing work files, photos with space enough for a few games.
1TB+
You’ll want this much if you’re a movie collector, play lots of games or want to edit videos.

Graphics card
There are two types of graphics cards to consider – integrated and dedicated graphics cards.      
Integrated cards
Packaged with your processor or motherboard, they use your system’s RAM for graphics processing. Less powerful but cheaper and less demanding on your battery, it’s a good choice for an Ultrabook™ or notebook.
Dedicated graphics cards
If you’re a serious gamer or professional graphic designer, opt for this. A good entry-level graphics card should have at least 1GB of RAM but more is better. If you’re intending to watch movies in HD, be sure to get one with a HDMI output port.

Software
The main factor to consider here is the Operating System (OS). This will decide what software you’re able to use.
Windows*
Windows OS is the most commonly used operating system for PCs. That means most software is designed to be compatible with it. If you want to play most of the latest games or need your PC for common office applications, this is the right choice.
Mac*
Macs are great for graphic designing, video editing and music producing. These functions are not unique to Macs but they are more commonly done on this OS. This helps avoid compatibility issues.

Extras
There are a few hardware options you may want to go with your new PC.
Printer
If you’re intending to use your PC for work, a printer may be in order. When you’re choosing, check the cost of ink replacement for the model  as that can quickly add up. Consider a dedicated photo printer if you’re an avid photographer.
Monitor
If you’re getting a notebook, a larger screen at home can make watching movies more immersive. A 22-inch screen or larger should offer HD quality viewing. Ensure the resolution is at least 1080p.
Optical Disks
Get a Blu-ray player if you’re intending to collect an extensive collection of Blu-ray discs. If not, a DVD drive will meet most needs.