Automation is a machine and a machine only does what it is told to do. Complicated tests require a lot of preparation and planning and also have certain boundaries. The script then follows the protocol and tests the application accordingly, Ad-hoc testing helps testers to answer questions like, “What happens when I follow X instead of Y?” It helps the tester to think and test using an out of the box approach, which is difficult to program in an automation script. Even visual cross-browser testing needs a manual approach. Instead of depending on an automated script to find out the visual differences, you can check for the issues manually either by testing on real browsers and devices or even better, by using cloud-based, cross-browser testing tools, which allow you to test your website seamlessly across thousands of different browser-device-operating system combinations. ... Having a manual touch throughout the testing procedure instead of depending entirely on automation will ensure that there are no false positives or false negatives as test results after a script is executed.
Understanding the key role of ethics in artificial intelligence
It has become faddish to talk about the important of ethical AI and the need for oversight, transparency, guidelines, diversity, etc., at an abstract and high-level. This is not a bad thing, but often assumes that such ‘talk’ is concomitant in addressing the challenges of ethical AI. The facts, however, are much more complex. For example, guidelines themselves are often ineffective (a recent study showed the ACM’s code of ethics had little effect on the decision making process of engineers). Moreover, even if we agree on how an AI system should behave (not trivial) implementing specific behavior in the context of the complex machinery that underpins AI is extremely challenging. ... Ethics in AI is extremely important given the proliferation of AI systems in consequential areas of our lives: college admissions, financial decision-making systems, and what the news we consume on Facebook and other media sites.
The "flaw" discovered in the DICOM file format specification could allow attackers to embed executable code within DICOM files to create a hybrid file that is both a fully functioning Windows executable as well as a specification-compliant DICOM image that can be opened and viewed with any DICOM viewer, the report says. "Such files can function as a typical Windows PE file while maintaining adherence to the DICOM standard and preserving the integrity of the patient information contained within," according to the report. "We've dubbed such files, which intertwine executable malware with patient information, PE/DICOM files." By exploiting this design flaw, the report says, attackers could "take advantage of the abundance and centralization of DICOM imagery within healthcare organizations to increase stealth and more easily distribute their malware, setting the stage for potential evasion techniques and multistage attacks." The fusion of fully functioning executable malware with HIPAA protected patient information adds regulatory complexities and clinical implications to automated malware protection and typical incident response processes, the researchers say.
Sometimes, rather than look at problem areas in the business, he says the team focuses on exploring pure technology. As an example, Chatrain says Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) can benefit from algorithms that generate fake data, such as fake pictures of people who do not actually exist. “We dedicate part of our exploratory time to such techniques and technologies and then look for applications,” he says. Looking at a practical example of how a fake data algorithm could be deployed, he says: “With GDPR and the need to feed test systems with high volumes of realistic data, we used [synthetic data algorithms] to create fake travellers with travel itineraries.” Such synthetic data is indistinguishable from the data that represents the travel plans of real people, and this data can be used to test the robustness of systems at Amadeus. “Today, no one tests the systems if we have twice as much data,” says Chatrain. But this is possible if data for a vast increase in passenger numbers is simply generated via a synthetic data algorithm. Beyond being used to test application software, he says synthetic data also enables Amadeus to anonymise the data it shares with third parties. “We are not allowed to share [personal] data, but we still need a business partnership.”
What is project portfolio management? Aligning projects to business goals
With PPM, not only are project, program, and portfolio professionals able to execute at a detailed level, but they are also able to understand and visualize how project, program, and portfolio management ties to an organization’s vision and mission. PPM fosters big-picture thinking by linking each project milestone and task back to the broader goals of the organization. ... Capacity planning and effectively managing resources is largely dependent on how well your PMO executes its strategy and links the use of resources to company-wide goals. It is no secret that wasted resources is one of the biggest issues that companies encounter when it comes to scope creep. PPM decreases the chances of wasted resources by ensuring resources are allocated based on priority and are being effectively sequenced and wisely leveraged to meet intended goals. ... PMOs that communicate to project teams and other stakeholders, such as employees, why and how project tasks are vital in creating value increase the likelihood of a higher degree of productivity.
Optane memory is designed to sit between high-speed memory and solid-state drives (SSDs) and acts as a cache for the SSD, since it has speed comparable to DRAM but SSD persistence. With Intel’s new Xeon Scalable processors, this can make up to 4.5TB of memory available to a processor. Optane runs in one of two modes: Memory Mode and App Direct Mode. In Memory Mode, the Optane memory functions like regular memory and is not persistent. In App Direct Mode, it functions as the SSD cache but apps don’t natively support it. They need to be tweaked to function properly in Optane memory. As it was explained to me, apps aren’t designed for persistent storage because the data is already in memory on powerup rather than having to load it from storage. So, the app has to know memory doesn’t go away and that it does not need to shuffle data back and forth between storage and memory. Therefore, apps natively don’t work in persistent memory.
The group hopes to turn out the first iteration of its Token Taxonomy Framework (TTF) later this year; afterward it plans work to educate the blockchain community and collaborate through structured Token Definition Workshops (TDW) to define new or existing tokens. Once defined, the taxonomy can be used by businesses as a baseline to create blockchain-based applications using digital representations of everything from supply chain goods to non-fungible items such as invoices. "We'll do some workshops...to validate and make sure we have the base definition of a non-fungable token," said Marley Gray, Microsoft's principal architect for Azure blockchain engineering and a member of the EEA's Board of Directors. "As we go through workshops, we will probably find we should add this attribute or this clarification or this example that helps someone understand it." The organizations that have agreed to participate in the standardization effort include Accenture, Banco Santander, Blockchain Research Institute, BNY Mellon, Clearmatics, ConsenSys, Digital Asset, EY, IBM, ING, Intel, J.P. Morgan, Komgo, R3, and Web3 Labs.
Each micro-component runs an independent processing flow that performs a single task. For example, if your application has a network layer, you may also have Network Receiver and Network Sender components which only have the responsibility for receiving/sending data through the network. If your application has a logging layer it might also be implemented as an independent micro-component. Each micro-component defines its own interface of outgoing/incoming events, and the internal processing flow for them. For example, the Network Receiver might define the OutgoingClientRequests channel, which would be populated with newly received requests from the users. Interfaces, as you might guess, are implemented on top of channels, so the communication flows look very obvious, predictable, and easily maintainable in this perspective. The core’s role is to connect various outgoing channels with various incoming channels and to enable data flow between various micro-components.
Cisco Talos details exceptionally dangerous DNS hijacking attack
Talos noted “with high confidence” that these operations are distinctly different and independent from the operations performed by DNSpionage. In that report, Talos said a DNSpionage campaign utilized two fake, malicious websites containing job postings that were used to compromise targets via malicious Microsoft Office documents with embedded macros. The malware supported HTTP and DNS communication with the attackers. In a separate DNSpionage campaign, the attackers used the same IP address to redirect the DNS of legitimate .gov and private company domains. During each DNS compromise, the actor carefully generated Let's Encrypt certificates for the redirected domains. These certificates provide X.509 certificates for Transport Layer Security (TLS) free of charge to the user, Talos said. The Sea Turtle campaign gained initial access either by exploiting known vulnerabilities or by sending spear-phishing emails. Talos said it believes the attackers have exploited multiple known common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) to either gain initial access or to move laterally within an affected organization.
Wipro Detects Phishing Attack: Investigation in Progress
Wipro's systems were seen being used as jumping-off points for digital phishing expeditions targeting at least a dozen Wipro customer systems, the blog says. "Wipro's customers traced malicious and suspicious network reconnaissance activity back to partner systems that were communicating directly with Wipro's network," according to the blog. In a statement, Wipro says: "Upon learning of the incident, we promptly began an investigation, identified the affected users and took remedial steps to contain and mitigate any potential impact." The firm tells ISMG that none of its customers' credentials have been affected, as was alleged in the blog. Some security experts, however, say Wipro may be the victim of a nation-state sponsored attack. "It is most likely by a nation-state. They use this modus operandi to breach a vendor network first and through that route the attack their customers," says a Bangalore-based security expert, who did not wish to be named. "That is because customers will consider Wipro's network safe.
Quote for the day:
"A good leader leads the people from above them. A great leader leads the people from within them." -- M.D. Arnold
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