World's first hack-free software 'developed'

Scientists have developed what they claim is the world's first hack-free software which can protect systems from failure or malicious attacks. The 'seL4' microkernel has been developed by a team led by Australia's ICT Research Centre of Excellence's spinout company -- Open Kernel Labs (OK Labs). It is a small operating system kernel which regulates access to a computer's hardware.

Its unique feature is that it has been mathematically proven to operate correctly, enabling it to separate trusted from untrusted software, protecting critical services from a failure or a malicious attack, say the scientists.

In future applications, seL4 could ensure that trusted financial transaction software from secure sources like banks or stock exchanges can operate securely on a customer's mobile phone alongside "untrusted" software, such as games downloaded from the Internet, according to its developers.

It could also provide a secure and reliable environment for mission-critical defence data, operating on the same platform as everyday applications like email. Or, it could protect the life-supporting functions of an implanted medical device, such as a pacemaker, from hacking, they say.

"Our seL4 microkernel is the only operating system kernel in existence whose source code has been mathematically proven to implement its specification correctly. Under the assumptions of the proof, the seL4 kernel for ARM11 will always do precisely what its specification says it will do," lead scientist Gerwin Klein said.

Added another scientist Gernot Heiser: "Verification of operating-system kernels has been attempted since the 1970s -- we pulled it off!"

via hindustantimes

In China, a new software helps battle corruption

Nanjing Urban Planning Bureau, corruption in official ranks, Chinese provincial government, software to continuously monitor the work of officials

With corruption among official ranks emerging as a major menace, a Chinese provincial government has introduced a computer software which continuously monitor the work of officials.

In the Nanjing Urban Planning Bureau of Jiangsu Province, a yellow light will flicker in the office computer system of the department, a warning signal, if an official does not finish a case within 20 days.

“If an official violates the protocol when dealing with a case, a red light will flicker,” Ding Haiyang, head of the discipline department of the bureau told official Xinhua newsagency.

The system enables public to follow their case, know the result of the official’s work on a website and make complaints online, Ding said. “Since the system was installed, every official has tried his best to finish his part of his work in time and hand it to colleagues in the next step.

“No one wants to be the one who delays the case and causes the yellow light to flicker,” Ding said, adding that the discipline department will monitor the work of all officials through the system.

The new system is proving effective as 52 departments of the provincial government, 13 city governments and 106 county departments in Jiangsu are linked by the new monitoring system.

According to the provincial discipline agency, the system has sent about 3,200 yellow-light warnings and 22,400 red-light warnings throughout the province since it started operation in January last year.

“Transparency of government work and effective supervision are the best way to prevent corruption. The new system helps us supervise the administrative power and stem graft at its source,” Xie Chang, deputy secretary of provincial commission for discipline inspection said.

The new system is one of many measures the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CPC) is publicising as a part of its efforts to show that fighting corruption is its major priority as it continued unabated despite cases where some high profile officials have been given death sentences.

According to new figures, recent commercial bribes alone amounted to a whopping 16.59 billion Yuan (USD 2.65 billion) during the past five years. Prosecutors at all levels investigated more than 240,000 cases of embezzlement, bribery, dereliction of duty, and rights infringement.

via indianexpress

Google software for the masses lands in Iran

(AFP) – Google has made mapping, photo-sharing, and Web browsing software available for the first time to people in Iran but blocked access by government computers there.

Google worked with US officials on the nuances of making Earth, Picasa and Chrome programs available for download in Iran in a way that comports with export restrictions eased early last year.

"For the first time, we are making Google Earth, Picasa and Chrome available for download in Iran," Google export compliance programs manager Neil Martin said in a blog post.

"As a condition of our export licenses from the Treasury Department, we will continue to block IP addresses associated with the Iranian government."

Martin recounted how Iranian officials deported foreign journalists, disrupted mobile phone connections, and shut down media outlets to suppress protests of the controversial presidential election results in June of 2009.
"In spite of this, the sharing of information using the Internet prevailed," Martin said.

read more at  yahoo

American brings in ITA Software to design passenger technology platform

American Airlines has hired ITA Software to help it use technology to offer more customized products to its passengers.

Over the next year, Fort Worth-based American will roll out various computer programs that will enable the airline to better manage its inventory and do more targeted offers of products, like hotel rooms to a passenger whose flight may be canceled.

"It allows us to take any combination of services that we sell, whether it’s carrying a bag for you, accessing the Admirals Club, purchasing Wi-Fi or food during your flight, and allow us to package those things more effectively and quickly and target them to an individual or group," said American’s chief information officer, Monte Ford.

Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. Google has agreed to acquire ITA for $700 million, but Ford said that presented no obstacles to working with ITA.

American chose ITA because it could create a software platform designed for all distribution channels and could be modified to work with new technology, Ford said. He added that global distribution system companies, like Sabre and Galileo, also bid on the project.

American and online travel agencies, including Sabre, are locked in a dispute related to fees that the distribution systems charge the airline for each ticket or product booked through those systems. American has said it is trying to lower its distribution costs by having customers buy tickets and other products directly from the airline.

via blogs.star-telegram