The cyber attack This attack highlights a larger problem with proprietory software and hardware sold by companies such as Microsoft. Ritchie Tongo / EPA
The cyber attack This attack highlights a larger problem with proprietory software and hardware sold by companies such as Microsoft. Ritchie Tongo / EPA
The cyber attack This attack highlights a larger problem with proprietory software and hardware sold by companies such as Microsoft. Ritchie Tongo / EPA
The cyber attack This attack highlights a larger problem with proprietory software and hardware sold by companies such as Microsoft. Ritchie Tongo / EPA

One way to secure tech infrastructure


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  • Arabic

By now, most of the world is aware of the ransomware attack that spread like wildfire through global computer systems. Using an exploit stolen from the National Security Agency in the United States, hackers took advantage of a known flaw in several Microsoft operating systems to take control of computers and encrypt data until victims paid a ransom in bitcoin. The hack was only stopped after a malware researcher found a kill switch, but analysts believe that more systems could be attacked in the coming days.

This attack highlights a larger problem with proprietory software and hardware sold by companies such as Microsoft. Customers pay for extra features and even enhanced “virus protection” software. As such, security, in some types of computing, is a commodity. With regards to the recent ransomware attack, the NSA alerted Microsoft to the vulnerabilities in their operating platforms. Microsoft responded with a special security patch for older operating systems such as Windows XP.

Only after the attack began, did Microsoft begin aggressively pushing the security patch and targeting Windows XP users. Not all technology companies operate according to Microsoft’s business model. Google and Apple, for example, have built security-minded infrastructure and offer programs such as Google Docs for free. As such, Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS, and Google’s Chrome operating system have both been designed with virus protection in mind. Security updates are pushed out to users as soon as a new virus is discovered. More importantly, these updates are hard to avoid as anyone with an iPhone can attest. On Google’s operating platform, updates quietly happen in the background without the need for users to check to see if their system is up-to-date.

That is one lesson of this global computer attack. Our computer infrastructure is shockingly vulnerable to both criminal and extremist attack. In the interest of defence, security updates should happen on a regular basis and can’t be subject to monetisation. Technology companies can still expand profits with the creation of new features and operating systems but the security of our individual devices is arguably in the public interest.

We can’t stop malware and viruses but we can defend ourselves by demanding that technology companies don’t leave our devices vulnerable to known flaws and exploits.

Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

PROFILE BOX

Company name: Overwrite.ai

Founder: Ayman Alashkar

Started: Established in 2020

Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai

Sector: PropTech

Initial investment: Self-funded by founder

Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

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THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

The Gandhi Murder
  • 71 - Years since the death of MK Gandhi, also christened India's Father of the Nation
  • 34 - Nationalities featured in the film The Gandhi Murder
  • 7 - million dollars, the film's budget 
What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

The Perfect Couple

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

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%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20will%20host%20Scotland%20for%20a%20three-match%20T20I%20series%20at%20the%20Dubai%20International%20Stadium%20next%20month.%3Cbr%3EThe%20two%20sides%20will%20start%20their%20Cricket%20World%20Cup%20League%202%20campaigns%20with%20a%20tri-series%20also%20involving%20Canada%2C%20starting%20on%20January%2029.%3Cbr%3EThat%20series%20will%20be%20followed%20by%20a%20bilateral%20T20%20series%20on%20March%2011%2C%2013%20and%2014.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

While you're here
Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.