Tag: Innovation

(7 minutes reading)


Authentication is, nowadays, one of the artifices that guarantee most the security of users on the internet, preventing information of great value from falling into wrong hands. With that in mind, get ready to learn a little more about digital authentication, in addition to the main types and methods of application currently used.


WHAT IS AUTHENTICATION?

Although complex at its core, the concept of authentication is not a mystery. Authentication, as the word itself suggests, concerns something authentic, that is, something that shows truthfulness.

On the internet, authentication is a seal that guarantees the exclusivity of something or someone. Imagine that you land on a unique piece of content (like the one you are reading), and you realize that, in many searches you've done, you've never found anything like that. Well, this authentication gives the site, or the content, a kind of reliable "pedigree".

However, there are also certified authentications, which we will cover in detail below.

Basically, digital certificates fulfill the role of protecting users and their valuable information, such as bank details, passwords and access to e-commerce and social networks, among others.

For each user, institution or site, there is a specific style of authentication. But to know what the advantages and disadvantages of each of them are, first, it is necessary to know them in depth.


TYPES OF AUTHENTICATIONS

Although widely known, document authentication has a wide variety of applications, whether for biometrics, passwords and even tokens. Therefore, knowing how to identify them is extremely important so that you can evaluate and identify them immediately.

After all, depending on the level of complexity, you may choose to use more than one type of authentication.

Here are the 5 types of Document authentication you need to know about.


PASSWORDS AND PINS

Considered as the most common authentication options, passwords and PINs are nothing more than the combination of characters, such as letters and numbers, to form a code.

PINs, while very common for smartphone users, are not among the most secure options available. The reason for this is quite simple, all it takes is a small number of attempts for other users to discover your password and gain access to your information.

It is possible to get a sense of these facts when we analyze the number of social networks hacked in the year, or information and media documents leaked by smartphones. Therefore, evaluate very well before registering a “weak” password.


BIOMETRY

Biometric authentication has been gaining a prominent place among the most efficient methods of ensuring user security.

As its name suggests, biometric authentication aims to identify physiological traits of its users, such as:

- Iris and retina scanning;
- User fingerprint reading;
- Hand scanning;
- Face scan;
- Voice identification.


TOKEN

When it comes to authentication and security, it is impossible not to think about tokens.

Token authentication is one of the most secure in the world and the reason for this is quite simple. Tokens generate different types of passwords in a matter of minutes. Confused? So, let's imagine an everyday situation.

Imagine that a person saw the password you entered into your banking app, for example. Within a few minutes, the password that the person has observed very carefully will no longer be valid, having been replaced by a new, completely different password.


TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION

Two-Factor Authentication has an extra layer, providing even more protection for users.

SMS messages, emails and encryption readings from your phone's camera are just some of the main methods of verifying two-factor authentication, which works as follows:

1) In the first process, the user must enter a PIN password on their device (computer, notebook, etc.);

2) When the password is checked, a message will be sent to the user, containing a specific code;

3) Upon receiving it, the user must use it on the new screen that opened;

4) If confirmed, the user will then have full access to the required platform or service;


DIGITAL IDENTITY AUTHENTICATION

Supported by external characteristics, such as location, device and equipment, authentication by digital identity emerges as one of the most efficient methods of guaranteeing total user security.

A clear example of how digital identity authentication works is looking at credit and branch cards, confirmation tokens, among other methods.


MAIN AUTHENTICATION METHODS

In addition to the main types of authentications used today, we also come across some methods that imply its functionality, in question.

So, let's get to know the main authentication methods.


OWNERSHIP BASED AUTHENTICATION

As its name suggests, property-based authentication requires an object or device on the user's part.

A very common example of this type of authentication is traditional credit cards, bank account cards or even tokens, which require a device to be activated. This authentication method is one of the most effective and reliable today, as the method invalidates any type of intrusion by other people.


KNOWLEDGE BASED AUTHENTICATION

Knowledge-based authentication is one of the most inefficient methods of protecting your information.

Generally, the knowledge-focused method uses passwords and PINs, forming a code that only the owner recognizes. However, due to the fragility of this method, the number of scams applied to profiles that use this type of authentication has been growing astonishingly, showing its real deficiency.


AUTHENTICATION BASED ON CHARACTERISTICS

Based exclusively on “what you are”, the authentication by characteristics makes a true analysis in some specific characteristic of the individual.

Although it sounds confusing, the concept is quite simple, just look at your smartphone. It is likely that your device is equipped with some readers specific to this method. Want to see?

Today, most cell phones produced in the world have a biometric reader, which is used to protect the device from people other than the user. In addition to the biometric reader, the latest smartphones also have facial scanning and iris scanner, which further expand the security of the device and the information contained in it.

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(9 minutes reading)


Surely you have heard or read about blockchain in the media. The subject is very popular nowadays and much is said that the blockchain came to revolutionize the world and our way of making transactions.

Despite all the fuss around digital currencies, many people still don't really understand how this universe works.

The concept of Blockchain is associated with a ledger, which records transactions and asset tracking on a network and/or bitcoins. It is shared and immutable, thus facilitating the process of recording these transactions. This creates consensus and trust in direct communication between two parties, that is, without the intermediary of third parties.

Blockchain is constantly growing as new complete blocks are added to it by a new set of records. Blocks are added to the blockchain in a linear and chronological fashion. Each block obtains a copy of the blockchain upon joining the network and any computer that is connected to that network is tasked with validating and forwarding these transactions.

Blockchain is seen as the main technological innovation of bitcoin, as it is the proof of all transactions on the network. Its original design has served as an inspiration for the emergence of new cryptocurrencies.


WHAT IS BLOCKCHAIN?

As stated earlier, blockchain technology is a public ledger that records a virtual currency transaction (the most popular virtual currency is Bitcoin), so that this record is reliable and immutable.

With the blockchain we have the record of information such as the amount in bitcoins (or other cryptocurrency) transacted, who sent it, who received it, when this transaction was made and where in the book it is registered. This shows that transparency is one of the main attributes of blockchain.

Blockchain is a concept, that is, a database architecture. There is no single blockchain, there are several. The best known is the blockchain that supports bitcoin transactions. But there are many others, and you can create a blockchain yourself if you want.

But before we continue talking about blockchain, do you know what bitcoin is?

Bitcoin is an asset that can be tangible or intangible, for example a house, money, cars are tangible assets. Patents, copyrights, and intellectual property, for example, are intangible assets. Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonym of the person who created the Bitcoin currency, was also the first person to develop a blockchain database.

Backing to our main topic: Blockchain, which, as already said, is a kind of database, where all the information about the transactions of bitcoins and other virtual currencies are stored and this database is accessible to all users, so we can access this database from the computer and see a negotiation that took place between two people anywhere in the world.

As this is an encrypted transaction, we are not able to know who is involved, but it is known that that transaction took place and that it is recorded on the blockchain.

In short, blockchain is a chain of blocks that are part of a collective system of record. This means that the information is not stored in one place, because instead of being stored on a single computer, all the information on the blockchain is distributed among the various computers connected to it.


HOW DOES BLOCKCHAIN WORK?

Blockchain technology is innovative, and it is thanks to it that Bitcoin gained worldwide fame.

As previously mentioned, blockchain is a chain of blocks where each block is formed by various information about the various transactions and has a unique digital signature, called a hash or proof of work. This signature works as a fingerprint of the block and helps to give more security to the process, since everything is encrypted.

The hash works as a connecting link between blocks, as a block carries its own hash and the hash of the previous block. With this, the chain is formed, which links several blocks of information to each other.

Those responsible for gathering information into blocks and joining one block to another are miners who gather transactions that have not yet been entered into a block and add them to the blockchain with the correct hash.

To be able to do this nowadays, it is necessary to do complex calculations, which are only performed by state-of-the-art computers. Upon accomplishing this, these miners receive a reward in bitcoins validating the information.

Each block has a maximum capacity and is created in a constant rhythm, like a beat of a song or a heart. In the case of bitcoin, new blocks are added to the network approximately every 10 minutes. That is, at that time, several transactions of purchase or sale of bitcoins between users are verified and added to the blockchain. It is only after an entire block has been filled and verified that an amount of the currency can leave the virtual wallet of the user who sold it and pass to the wallet of the person who bought it.

As these blocks are sealed by very complex cryptographic codes, it is practically impossible to tamper with them and tamper with the information contained in them.

Anyone who is logged in to the network can see the encryption for a transaction. However, without being able to see the identity of those involved or change this process.


MAIN ELEMENTS

There are 3 main elements of blockchain. They are:

Ledger technology: This allows all users to be able to access the ledger, where transactions appear. In addition, the ledger eliminates any chance of duplicate records, for example.

Immutable records: once a transaction is recorded in the ledger, it cannot be changed or corrupted.

Smart contracts: is a set of rules that can be stored and thus automatically executed on the blockchain. This is done to make transactions faster.


WHY IS BLOCKCHAIN IMPORTANT?

Blockchain is important because it helps in updating, reliability and especially security of information on that blockchain. Blockchain allows data to be accessed only by authorized people.


HOW IS DATA STORAGE DONE?

It stores the information of a group of transactions in blocks, marking each block with a timestamp. Every 10 minutes, a new block of transactions is formed, which is linked to the previous block.


HOW IS THE NETWORK FORMED?

Blocks are dependent on each other and form a chain of blocks (hence the name blockchain). This makes the technology perfect for recording information that needs to be trusted, such as in the case of a transaction of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

The blockchain network is made up of miners who verify and record transactions on the block. To make this possible, miners lend their computers to the network. For this they receive a reward in cryptocurrencies.


HOW IS THE TRANSACTION VALIDATED?

A miner can only add a transaction to the block if a simple majority of the network agrees that that transaction is legitimate and correct, called the blockchain network consensus.

Two blockchains can be formed at the same time, the deadlock will be resolved when the network needs to choose one of them and in the end, the one with the most work wins.


SECURITY, SECRECY AND PRIVACY OF DATA

Another essential feature of blockchain is data secrecy and privacy, that is, no one can know who the people involved in the transaction are. And this is done through encryption.

Regarding security, each of the transactions carried out has a unique code, that is, a digital signature. This code is verified by the users themselves and the transaction needs to be approved to then be incorporated into the blockchain through a block.

The surveillance and verification of all this information is done by the miners and this verification is an extremely important step to prevent fraud. Another important factor for the security of this process is the hash. Each block has its own hash, that is, a specific cryptographic signature.

To access the information contained in a block, it is necessary to decrypt the hash of the block and the previous block. As everything is connected as a chain, this process would have to be done successively and would have practically no end.

To defraud the blockchain, it would be necessary to change the data recorded on each of the various computers connected to the network. This would require the hacker's computer to have a greater processing power than the total of all computers in existence today.

The security that the blockchain system offers is so relevant that companies and even government institutions are showing interest in using the technology. This is because the idea allows not only to protect data, but also to share it with whoever wants to without relinquish control over that information.


BLOCKCHAIN BEYOND BITCOINS

Today, blockchain is directly linked to bitcoins, now, despite the strong link, it does not mean that blockchains will only be used with this cryptocurrency.

It is believed that this technology could be the key to a new way of storing and accessing information.

If today we consider the internet the most efficient way to share information with people around the world in a matter of seconds, blockchain can offer a new proposal.

In the financial system, we see blockchain changing the landscape, as this technology can help simplify operating systems and maintain a more secure and fraud-free environment.

Not to mention that we don't have to be stuck only with financial transactions. It is believed that this new system can be used to archive and share other things, such as music, art, votes, and documents.

In addition to practicality and security, blockchain offers the advantage of dispensing with intermediaries. With this, it is believed that it will be possible to catalog, track, certify and authenticate information and valuables in a whole new way and without being at the mercy of fees and bureaucracy.


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(7 minutes of reading time)


Digital transformation has taken technology to all areas of our lives, today we can't do almost anything without the internet. In this way, computer security, or just cybersecurity, is a topic that is on the rise and developing more and more, especially in the corporate world, since no company wants to suffer the loss of having a cyber-attack.

Cybersecurity is what we're going to talk about in today's article. Come check it out to stay on top of all the advances that are happening in this area.


WHAT IS CYBERSECURITY?

Cybersecurity is the protection of computer systems from theft or damage to hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as the interruption or disruption of the services they provide.

Cybersecurity helps corporations have a more robust and reliable technology infrastructure. With this infrastructure, companies can reduce risk and optimize the workflow of the IT team.

The main objectives of cybersecurity actions are the following:

- Protect the IT infrastructure from possible attacks by external agents;
- Optimizing the IT team's workflow so that it is able to easily identify security breaches and threats;
- Give teams the resources they need to mitigate possible attacks and reduce their losses.

A company that manages to do all these actions decreases the chances of falling victim to cyber-attacks. As a result, the IT infrastructure will be more reliable, which allows the business to bring the technology to more environments.


HOW IMPORTANT IS CYBERSECURITY?

Currently, cybersecurity is essential for the proper functioning of any company. Since it guarantees the proper functioning of the IT infrastructure, without risk to users and the company.

Here are a few more reasons a company should invest in cybersecurity:

- Increased productivity as teams will be able to use the technology in more locations, increasing the level of business automation;

- More scalability because the company will be able to use the technology in a scalable way, helping in the rapid expansion of its operations whenever necessary;

- More mobility as teams that work remotely will be able to use their resources to the fullest, which increases productivity, for example in the home office;

- Fewer interruptions in operations involving IT as attacks will be less frequent, which leads to a scenario where there are fewer interruptions caused by unforeseen events.

In this way, the company will function better and be more efficient.


THE BENEFITS OF CYBERSECURITY

Here are some benefits cybersecurity can bring to your business:

- Business protection against cyber-attacks and data breaches;
- Data and network protection;
- Prevention of access by unauthorized users;
- Improved recovery time after a breach;
- Protection for end users and terminal devices;
- Regulatory compliance;
- Business continuity;
- Greater confidence in the company's reputation and trust for developers, partners, customers, stakeholders, and employees.


KEY CHALLENGES FOR CYBERSECURITY

Hackers challenge the cybersecurity of companies daily. Issues such as data loss, privacy, risk management and changes in cybersecurity strategies are part of the routine of a large company. Unfortunately, the number of cyber-attacks is not expected to decrease, even more so with the increase in entry points for attacks, as with the arrival of the internet of things (IoT), it is necessary to further protect the networks and devices.

One of the biggest problems of cybersecurity is that when new technologies emerge or different ways of using an existing technology, new avenues of attack are developed. And being able to keep cybersecurity up to date on an ongoing basis can be very challenging, especially for smaller organizations without in-house staff or resources.

Another issue is user education, as employees can accidentally bring viruses into the workplace on their computers or mobile devices. Security awareness training helps employees do their part to keep your business safe from cyber threats.

One of the biggest challenges for cybersecurity is the lack of qualified personnel in this area. As we have already said, it is an area that is on the rise and the demand for qualified labor is far beyond expectations.


AUTOMATION IN CYBERSECURITY

With the increase in cyber threats, one solution found by companies was automation and the use of AI to improve cybersecurity in the three areas below:

- Threat Detection - AI can analyze data and recognize threats.
- Threat Response - AI automatically creates and applies security protections.
- Human augmentation - AI helps eliminate alert fatigue by automatically triaging low-risk alarms and automating big data analysis and other repetitive tasks, freeing up humans for more sophisticated tasks.

Other benefits of automation in cybersecurity include attack classification, malware classification, traffic analysis, compliance analysis, and more.


CAREER IN THE AREA OF CYBERSECURITY

With the continuous growth of new threats, such as IoT threats, professionals with cybersecurity knowledge and hardware and software skills are increasingly needed.

The main professionals in the technology area that are sought today to work with Cybersecurity are:

- Chief Security Office (CSO) - is responsible for the physical and cybersecurity of a company.

- Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) - who implements the security program across an organization and oversees the operations of the IT security department.

- Security Engineer - is the one who protects the company's assets against threats with a focus on quality control within the IT infrastructure.

- Security Architect - is responsible for planning, analyzing, designing, testing, maintaining, and supporting a company's critical infrastructure.

- Security Analyst - is the person who plans security measures and controls, protects digital files, and conducts internal and external security audits.

- Penetration tester (Penetration testers) - is the famous ethical hacker, it is he/she who tests the security of systems, network and applications, looking for vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious agents.

- Threat hunter (Threat hunters) - is the threat analyst who tries to discover vulnerabilities and attacks and prevent them before they compromise a business.

Other cybersecurity professionals are: security consultants, data protection officer, cloud security architects, security operations manager managers and analysts, security investigators, cryptographers and security administrators.

If you are interested in this area, it is worth studying and specializing, as it is growing a lot and the demand for qualified professionals is very high.


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