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Submission + - 'World's most secure' messaging app PQChat is unhackable

rofkool writes: A new messaging app is hoping to take on the likes of WhatsApp and SnapChat by providing an ultra-secure communication service that does not collect or mine user data. PQChat claims to be completely hack-proof, even when pitted against the processing power of a quantum computer.

In a post-Snowden world, PQChat aims to capitalise on people's privacy concerns by eliminating concern about third-party spying or data collection through its Never-The-Same (NTS) technology. NTS employs the McEliece cryptosystem, an algorithm developed in 1978 that has never been broken.

Submission + - It's time for a 21st century successor to Agile: Async (asyncmanifesto.org)

An anonymous reader writes: A parody of the Agile Manifesto and Scrum called the Async Manifesto has been floating around recently and despite its satirical framing device, it makes some good points by stressing modern tools and flexible work environments over meetings and office hours. The parody has inspired some good debates on /r/programming and hacker news so it seemed worthy of a discussion here too. What does Slashdot think of Async development? Should it or something like it replace Agile/Scrum?

Submission + - The true cost of Microsoft (technet.com)

Simulant writes: A recent blog post on Microsoft's Volume Licensing Website attempts to clarify just what requires a CAL (Client Access License). The answer appears to be more or less everything on your network if you have Windows servers doing network basics like DNS & DHCP. According to MS, not only do all your network printers and other gear need CALs, but also your e-commerce customers, once they've authenticated to any software running on Windows.

The ridiculous CAL situation has never gotten the outrage it deserves with most of us being ignorant or in denial. With more and more MS audits happening these days perhaps we can spread the word.

Comment Re:Why only partial encryption? (Score 1) 193

Why do these companies repeatedly store only *some* of my personal information encrypted?

Because cowboy attitude. We just had here the story on the EU law about deleting older links to personal data from search engines. Where most US contributors insisted that this data is "facts" and it would be "free speech" to disseminate it as businesses see fit. Combine this with EULA practices where businesses (many in monopoly position) will not service you unless you agree that they collect your personal data and share it freely with various "partners". When such practice is questioned they always justify it through "it's good for the economy". Case closed. Unless we take the time to question what exactly "economy" is. But we never do.

Comment Re:DRM (Score 1) 76

Cinavia. Except its effect is rather bizarre. While it doesn't prevent you from "making copies", it prevents you from playing audio of said copies on a PS3 and selected Blu-Ray players. Guess it didn't help increase Blu-Ray disk sales, but it surely helped decrease PS3 and Blu-Ray player sales.

Submission + - New "Dual Carbon" Battery Charges 20 Times Faster Than Li-ion (gizmag.com)

Zothecula writes: Japanese company Power Japan Plus has announced the development and planned mass-production of "Ryden," a disruptive carbon battery that can be charged 20 times faster than an ordinary lithium-ion cell. The battery, which is cheap to manufacture, safe, and environmentally friendly, could be ideal to improve the range and charging times of electric cars.

Submission + - China bans Windows 8 on government computers (muktware.com)

sfcrazy writes: China has banned use of Windows 8 in government offices. Windows 8 is the latest version of Windows which is already facing hard time due to its revamped user interface. Chinese decision is a major blow for Microsoft which is struggling to find its place in the post PC era as Windows market shares are declining and it’s hard core partners are adopting Linux based Chrome OS. The move comes at an interesting time as the US government has filed criminal charges against China accusing them of economic espionage.

Submission + - China excludes Windows 8 from new government computers,plans to migrate to Linux

Mojo66 writes: News.cn reports that China has announced that it will forbid the use of the Windows 8 operating system (OS) in new government computers, a move to ensure computer security after the shutdown of Windows XP. The Chinese government obviously cannot ignore the risks of running OS without guaranteed technical support. It has moved to avoid the awkwardness of being confronted with a similar situation again in future if it continues to purchase computers with foreign OS. Apart from purchase restrictions for central government offices, China will focus on the development of its own OS based on Linux, a move which An Yang, a security expert with Qihoo 360 Technology, said was a necessity although progress has been disappointing. There are several Linux-based OS developed by Chinese companies, such as KylinOS and StartOS, but they have not proved popular. An said the first step is to promote the use of Chinese-designed OS among official users, while their popularity among civilian users will be subject to market forces.
HP recently announced shipping PCs with Kylin pre-installed, while there have been about 4 million downloads of the OS from the website so far.

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