Tag: tech evolution Page 1 of 2

Understanding Self-Driving Cars

On May 2, 2023

Self-driving cars, also autonomous vehicles, are no longer just a concept of the future. Technological advances make these cars more prevalent on our roads and highways. But what exactly are self-driving cars, and how do they work?

Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about autonomous cars.

What are Self-Driving Cars?

Self-driving cars use sensors, cameras, and other advanced technology to navigate roads and make decisions without human intervention. The vehicles use a combination of cameras, radar, lidar, and GPS to “see” their surroundings, identify obstacles, and decide how to proceed. Self-driving cars can be fully autonomous, meaning they require no human input. Alternatively, they can be semi-autonomous, meaning they still require a human driver to monitor and control if necessary.

How Do Self-Driving Cars Work?

Self-driving cars use advanced software and hardware to navigate roads and make decisions. The software is responsible for processing data from the car’s sensors, including cameras, radar, and lidar, and deciding how to proceed. The hardware includes the sensors, the car’s computer, and other components.

Self-driving cars use “sensor fusion” to gather information from their various sensors and create a comprehensive picture of their surroundings. The cars can identify and track other vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles in real-time and decide how to proceed based on that information.

There are different levels of autonomy for self-driving cars. Level 0 means no automation, where the driver is responsible for all tasks. Level 1 is considered “driver assistance,” where the car can assist with either steering or acceleration/deceleration. Level 2 is “partial automation,” where the vehicle can control both steering and acceleration/deceleration but still requires human input. Level 3 is “conditional automation,” where the car can make decisions and control itself in some situations but still requires a human driver to take over in certain circumstances. Level 4 is “high automation,” where the car can drive itself in most situations but still has a manual override option for the human driver. And finally, Level 5 is “full automation,” where the car is completely autonomous and requires no human input.

Self-driving cars are becoming more prevalent on our roads and highways, and they rely on a combination of advanced software and hardware to navigate roads and make decisions. These cars use sensors, cameras, and other technology to “see” their surroundings, identify obstacles, and decide how to proceed. Self-driving vehicles have the potential to make our roads safer and reduce congestion. However, many questions and challenges still need to be addressed before they become widely adopted.

A Guide for Cybersecurity Terms

By Chika Wonah

On December 6, 2022

In Blockchain, Chika Wonah, Technology

The topic of cybersecurity is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide due to the number of companies that cyber-attacks have hit in the last few years. Social security numbers and other sensitive data were stolen in the Equifax hack, which affected over 145 million people.

Despite the technological advancements in the past few years, we remain at risk of having our digital data stolen and manipulated. However, being in the digital age is not as frightening as it sounds.

In addition to having a good understanding of how your device works, you should also learn cybersecurity basics. This will allow you to protect yourself and your company from various threats.

VPN

This tool encrypts traffic and masks the user’s location so they can remain anonymous on the internet.

IPN

Your computer’s internet version is known as its home address, typically displayed when it connects to a network.

Exploit

An exploit infects a computer with a malicious application or script.

Breach

Once a hacker successfully exploits a vulnerability, they can access a computer’s files and network.

Firewall

Defend yourself from bad guys with this defensive technology. It is possible to have a hardware firewall or a software firewall.

Malware

Malware is an umbrella term that refers to various types of harmful software that can affect a computer. Some of these include viruses and ransomware.

Virus

Viruses are designed to modify, corrupt, or wipe information on a computer before it can spread to other people.

Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malware designed to prevent a user from accessing their computer’s files. It typically demands a ransom to get the files decrypted.

Bot

An attacker can take over a computer through a command-and-control system typically performed through a software application or script. This type of attack is referred to as a botnet.

Rootkit

A type of malware known as a rootkit is another attack that allows hackers to take over a computer. Since it’s hard to detect, this type of malware could remain on a computer for a long time.

Phishing

Criminals use a variety of techniques to trick people into providing their personal or sensitive data to them. For instance, they can send out email messages designed to trick people into entering their bank account information.

Blockchain Technology: Explained

By Chika Wonah

On April 4, 2022

In Blockchain, Chika Wonah, Technology

Many financial experts believe that blockchain technology is why Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are becoming more popular. According to Lule Demmissie, the president of the financial firm Ally Invest, blockchain technology is a transformative technology that can transform the way people think about more than just cryptocurrencies. Blockchain technology is also expected to change the way we live our lives.

Even crypto skeptics believe that blockchain technology has the potential to transform the way we do business. Chris Chen, a financial advisor from Massachusetts, believes that blockchain technology will have a stronger hold on the market than Bitcoin.

Blockchain Defined

A blockchain is a digital form of record-keeping commonly used in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. It’s also used in other applications such as financial transactions. A blockchain is a distributed ledger that multiple people can access. This record-keeping system allows users to keep track of their data across multiple computers. Unlike traditional record-keeping methods, which require a central server to store data, nodes can perform various tasks.

Each blockchain block is organized into groups of data or blocks. These groups are linked to each other and form a chain. Each block has its own unique code, which is known as a cryptographic hash. This unique code prevents unauthorized access to the data within the block.

The information stored on a blockchain is immutable, and it can’t be changed. This means that if someone tampered with the data, it wouldn’t affect the record held by other nodes. This ensures that the data is not altered for their own benefit. It’s almost impossible to reverse engineer a blockchain due to how it works. This means that it’s virtually impossible to replicate its computing power.

How Blockchain Is Used

For example, a consumer buys Bitcoin and sends the transaction data to the network of Bitcoin’s nodes. These nodes then approve the transaction and form a block added to the blockchain’s growing list of transactions. Since Bitcoin’s blockchain is public, anyone who owns a Bitcoin can see the details of its transactions. Its public record also allows anyone with a computer to approve transactions and record them on the network.

Blockchains don’t have to be public, though. A private blockchain is designed to prevent unauthorized changes and additions to the network. It can limit the number of people who can access the data on the blockchain. This type of blockchain also ensures that the data is secure. The idea of a secure, decentralized record of information has attracted the attention of various industries. It could help solve multiple issues related to record-keeping and data ownership.

Predictions on Future Uses of Blockchain

Blockchain technology can transform how people store and manage their information. It can provide complete certainty about the authenticity of the data they’re storing. Recent stories about celebrities and meme subjects cashing in on digital property using non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have raised concerns about the potential of blockchain technology.

NFTs are digital assets that can be bought and sold using blockchain. They can be verified by adding the transaction to the blockchain ledger and becoming a verifiable record of ownership. This allows sellers to verify the authenticity of digital works easily.

One of the most promising uses of blockchain technology is to secure the transfer of personal data. For instance, if your bank’s data was stored on a blockchain, it could be used to protect it. A blockchain can also be used to secure the transfer of financial data between different financial institutions. It can be used to ensure that the data is secure and accurate.

According to Chen, blockchain technology has the potential to transform almost every industry. For instance, an election could be conducted using blockchain technology to prevent unauthorized changes. Another promising use of blockchain technology is to improve the accuracy of inventory records. It could also help food producers track recalled products and avoid exploited labor practices. Its use in securing sensitive information also illustrates the advantages of blockchain technology.

U.S. Tech Hubs

By Chika Wonah

On February 10, 2022

In Chika Wonah, Technology

A vibrant tech ecosystem provides numerous benefits to both consumers and the industry. Millions of Americans and billions of dollars worth of investment capital flow into technology hubs. One such hub is Silicon Valley, which boasts a dense network of venture capital firms, large corporations, startups, and established businesses.

Silicon Valley Statistics

The yearly amount of VC funds in Silicon Valley has risen steadily since the early 2000s. Between 2008 and 2010, the number of companies accepting venture capital increased by an average of 20%. According to the National Venture Capital Association, California has become the leading startup capital of America. In 2008 alone, over 60 billion dollars were invested in new startups.

Silicon Valley has successfully replaced New York City as the most important technological innovation and commercialization center for the past few years. 2014 was a particularly fruitful year for Silicon Valley.

The Advent of Major Tech Companies

In 2014, technology giant Apple opened its first research facility in Beijing, China. In April, Google announced it was establishing a new campus in Singapore. Later in the year, the internet technology company Yahoo announced a new campus in New York City.

Apart from this, San Francisco city is home to several networking groups such as Startup Grind and Founder’s Forum, which provide opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs.

Benefits of Tech Hubs

Being a hub is beneficial for the government, consumers, and businesses. For instance, a high density of venture capital firms makes it easier to access investments. A non-exhaustive list of the benefits to consumers includes technological innovation and commercialization, improved products, and faster response to demand.

However, the benefits to businesses are highly variable. Some benefits include increased revenues, increased profits, and improved products. It is easy for a firm to get more customers through access to larger markets. A high market value is a definite advantage to businesses because it allows companies to access more extensive funding.

Silicon Valley has long been an innovator in technology and has made many breakthroughs. However, the presence of competition from China has reduced the prices and quality of products in Silicon Valley. The low-cost shipping of Chinese goods via companies such as E-bay, Alibaba, and Amazon has threatened to wipe out Silicon Valley’s position as an innovator.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Silicon Valley is a leading center for technological innovation, commercialization, and global trade. The presence of high-paying jobs has attracted entrepreneurs, and the entrepreneurial environment has led to increased venture capital firms.

The Risks of Login Codes Sent via Text Message

By Chika Wonah

On April 19, 2021

In Blockchain, Chika Wonah, Digital, Internet of Things, Technology, Uncategorized

Two-factor authentication can seem very useful for securing your essential accounts from intruders. However, more and more hackers have been getting into accounts that use text messages for two-factor authentication. Look into these reasons why you should switch over the type of two-factor authentication you operate away from text messaging.

Routing Messages

When you’re holding your phone close to you, you might be thinking that an intruder will have to get into your phone by getting you to install malware. For the past couple of years, though, intruders have been more clever into how they get into mobile phones. They can do this by going directly to your mobile phone carrier.

The way they do this is by first finding some personal details about you. These can be as complicated as your social security number or as simple as the address you live on. From there, they call up your phone carrier.

Depending on the phone carrier, they can be easily convinced that you’re locked out of your mobile device, and you need your number transferred to a separate phone. Intruders can accomplish this by giving up their details and paying a small fee. If it goes successfully, an intruder will have full access to any phone calls or text messages coming your way, with no way to stop them until you’re able to call your phone carrier again. This all is why you shouldn’t ever use text messaging for your two-factor authentication.

Notifications

Sometimes, an intruder might not even be far away to the point where they can be looking at your phone screen in public. Depending on your mobile device settings, you might have notifications popping up with security codes on any screen of your device. Intruders can come up with a plan to get a security code this way.

For example, you might be live-streaming a game on your phone to the internet. Intruders will use this to their advantage by logging into your account online and checking your stream for when the phone notification appears. After that, they can log in to your account and do enough damage before you even have the chance to change the passwords on your accounts. Notifications are just another reason why you shouldn’t be using text messaging linked to your two-factor authentication.

Resetting Your Cybersecurity Strategies in 2021

By Chika Wonah

On March 9, 2021

In Chika Wonah, Digital, Technology

2020 was the year of the unexpected, biologically and digitally. This is true in terms of many changes and served as an eye-opener for better preparedness. It is an era that shows preparation, caution, and due diligence matters in all aspects or one would face similar consequences.

One of the significant shifts was the switch from physical interactions to compulsory digital ones, leading to an expansion in digitization. People started working from home, and many businesses joined the digital movement; this led to a more substantial focus on cybersecurity with the rise of many cyber attacks.

The Need for Cybersecurity in A Distributed Working Environment

Hackers capitalized on the ‘work from home’ trend, and there was a surge in global cyber attacks. Phishing and the use of fake accounts to access individual personal information were in vogue. Ransomware was on a rampage as many firms, companies, organizations, and even networks in their entirety were held as hostages.

Accelerated machine learning significantly impacted widespread digitization, and artificial intelligence technologies are on the rise as well. Like every other digital creation, digitization has its vulnerabilities; this leads to hackers exploiting the vulnerabilities in these creations, including networks and devices.

The Rise of Cybersecurity Must Follow

The cyber breaches of 2020 were recorded to almost double that of 2019 due to the digital expansion. An estimate of 59% of the world’s population, amounting to 4.6 billion, was the rate of active internet users as of July 2020.

As the usage went up, so did the attacks.

Statistics for online crimes reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) in 2020 were nearly quadruple that of 2019 due to the pandemic.

Everyone is susceptible to breaches, but with actions, one can limit the damages. Indeed, individuals and organizations can attribute risks to new business models, innovations and technologies. Hence, a need to reset cybersecurity strategies so that 2021 can be better.

Simple Actions To Take

Cybersecurity organizations project that in every 11 seconds, a business may fall victim to a ransomware attack in 2021. The prediction for global ransomware damage costs is about $20 billion by 2021. However, with the right actions, one can flatten the cybersecurity attack curve.

Reviewing cyber budgets, planning for resilience, investing in security solutions, and enhancing security in organizations are part of the focus on resetting cybersecurity strategies.

Amidst rapid global digitization in businesses and every other aspect of life, a holistic cyber strategy is required. One that encompasses adequate prevention and protection and will lead to a foreseeable decline in cyber attacks.

2021 Cyber Security Predictions

By Chika Wonah

On February 15, 2021

In Blockchain, Chika Wonah, Digital, Internet of Things, Technology, Uncategorized

Many corporations have prioritized cyber-security amid the COVID-19 pandemic. PwC’s recent report shows that 96% of managers have changed their cyber-security techniques, and 40% of them claim that their digitization efforts have increased. Correspondingly, IDC anticipates that global security expenditure will increase by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1% during the 2020-2024 prediction period, reaching $174.7 billion in 2024. Similarly, Forrester’s 2021 cyber-security forecasts indicate that funding for cyber-security companies whose headquarters are outside the United States will rise by 20% in 2021. Analysis Mason also predicts that between 2019 and 2025, mobile device security will be the fastest-growing cyber-security category and will reach $13 billion with a CAGR of 17%.

In 2020, breaches became a challenging problem that was difficult to stop. For example, the U.S Depart of Health and Human Services (HHS) Breach Portal shows that in 2020, 436 breaches attacked healthcare organizations, affecting 17.3 million.

Here is a list of predictions that apprehend how cyber-security will advance in 2021:

1. In 2021, 55% of businesses will increase their cyber-security budget allocations, and 51% will hire more full-time cyber staff.

2. In The Next Three Years, the most dominant cyber-security technologies will be the Cloud Workload Protection Platform, Passwordless Authentication, and Posture Management. As Gartner’s Impact Radar for Security framework indicates, the Zero Trust Networking will have a significant impact within a period of one to three years.

3. Security services will be the fastest and largest growing security market sector, occupying half of the security budget meant for the 2020-2024 prediction period. The segment will also attain a CAGR of 10.5% in five years.

By 2021, cyber-security IT spending will reach a CAGR of 12% due to the drastic increase in cybercrimes, such as breaches, endpoint security attacks, phishing, and privilege access credential abuse.

Intellectual Property will be cyber criminals’ target in 2021.
The global cyber-security expenditure for small and medium-sized businesses will increase by 10% CAGR between 2019 and 2024, making this segment an $80 billion industry in four years.

4. Business cybersecurity spending will grow at a higher rate in four major industries- healthcare services and systems, financial and banking, technology and media, and social and public segments.

5. Improvements in AI and machine learning will contribute to 80% of devices’ capability to self-secure-and-heal, enabling IT to implement policies and remain confident that their data and devices are safe.

Many companies will struggle to reduce their vulnerability to cyber-attacks in 2021 and beyond.
Over the next five years, cyber-crime costs will increase at an annual rate of 15%, reaching $10.5 trillion per year by 2025.
Security vendors will continue to consolidate endpoint security in 2021.

In 2021, cybercriminals will devise new and innovative ways to attack personal devices to access corporate networks. While the COVID-19 pandemic has forced workers to work remotely, many organizations have not fully protected their employees. As a result, cyber attackers will exploit these gaps, leading to increased cybercrimes.

Understanding if Your Device Has Been Hacked

By Chika Wonah

On February 15, 2021

In Blockchain, Chika Wonah, Digital, Internet of Things, Technology, Uncategorized

From social sites to banking, smart devices are increasingly becoming part of most people’s daily lives. Unfortunately, they are also exposing them to data snatchers, popularly known as hackers. The hackers may gain access to a device in many ways, but we will discuss how to know when that happens.

Receiving Random Pop-ups

Random pop-ups are not annoying, but they are among the most popular signs that a device got hacked. If one is getting random pop-ups from their browser, something has compromised their device with adware. Adware is popular with hackers when trying to force someone to view certain websites to drive revenues through viewership.

Draining Battery without Any Reason

If one notices that a device battery is quickly losing power for no reason, that is a sign that it has malware. This sudden loss of battery power is due to malware or spy-app that is operating from the background. The spy-app uses a lot of battery power to scan the device and transmit it to the hacker.

Poor Performance

One may notice that their device is suddenly crashing all the time or loading web pages much slower. When such happens, first try shutting down the machine, and take notice of what happens. If the device has gotten hacked, it may fail to shut down correctly or not shut down at all.

One can also notice slowed functionality of some operations, such as making calls or receiving text messages. Such things shouldn’t take long unless the device has a spy-app.

Increased Data Usage

Another indication of a compromised device is the exceptionally high data usage. The usage may be a result of a background running app communicating to a third-party.

Contact List Gets Call and Tests That the Owner Didn’t Make

When a device gets hacked, the hacker leaves the malware in the gadget and may use the contact list to spread it. One’s email list, text messages, or instant messages may transmit the malware to his contact through messages with links or attached files. Check out for complaints from the contact list about notifications that they supposedly received.

The Device’s Settings Change

If the hacker physically accesses a device, they may manually change its settings. For instance, one may notice that their device Bluetooth is on, despite them not switching it on. Such settings change maybe a sign of malware interfering with the device settings to spread it to other devices.

There are many ways to know when a device has gotten hacked. To prevent losing data or money, always take preventive measures. For example, one can run a malware scanner on their device.

Cybersecurity Predictions for 2021

By Chika Wonah

On December 15, 2020

In Chika Wonah, Digital, Technology

The fast advancing technology comes with a significant challenge of cybersecurity for most enterprises. Cybersecurity has become a consideration for many organizations as attackers deploy all tactics to breach any security protocol laid down by companies.
The following will be the main focus, risks, and considerations in 2021 that cybersecurity leaders and other professionals will have to deal with:

1. Cybercriminals will target remote workers in 2021.
Remote working is trending in every organization due to COVID-19 restrictions. COVID-19 guidelines have made employees be allowed by their employers to work from home. Cybercriminals will, therefore, target enterprises with employees working remotely. Cybercriminals will be very busy launching attacks on companies unprepared to secure their remote workers from such attacks. As of now, numerous organizations have incurred unexpected costs caused by security breaches into their systems. Most of the employees’ gadgets lack advanced protection from malware infections.

2. Zero Trust Network Access will replace VPNs.
After many companies allowed their workers to work remotely, they installed Legacy Security Architecture such as VPNs to prevent attacks. However, VPNs have become prone to attacks. VPNs are not long-term solutions as they grant excessive access to the company’s internal resources. Cybercriminals can easily deploy ransomware to attack the unpatched VPNs.
However, global IT security teams are aware of the threat, and they are currently developing the Zero Trust Security Model, which will be released by 2021. Zero Trust Network Access only gives users access to only the area they are working on; thus, users have no permission outside their jurisdiction.

3. Widespread adoption of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE).
COVID-19 pandemic continues to make enterprises get reduced revenue; hence, many organizations have reduced their IT spending to cut down expenditures. Many companies will use multi-service integration technologies like Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) to cut down IT cost. The single control point will reduce IT cost, but a breach in the integrated system will allow attackers to access every resource.

4. The health sector will face significant security breaches.
Attackers will target hospitals as they face financial pressures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health sector will experience more financial transactions hence making it a primary target in 2021.

5. Widespread digital transformation and internet use will lead to massive data exposure.
Most organizations will continue to allow their teams to work remotely. Businesses will continue to experience digital transformation with the remote worker embracing the 5G network, AI and ML-powered analytic, and cloud data management to ease their operations. However, data breaches will increase as hackers target the adoption of new technologies like the 5G network.

However, the challenges will not stop organizations from fully implementing and integrating modern technology into business operations. The advanced security remedies will caution the remote workforce from numerous cybersecurity exposures.

Technology’s Impact on Hiring and Recruitment

By Chika Wonah

On April 24, 2018

In Chika Wonah, Digital, Technology

Burgeoning tech has been laying claim to multiple industries from real estate to insurance, and more recently technology began to disrupt our hiring and recruitment tactics. In the digital age, it’s no surprise that how people find openings and apply for jobs changed. Now the vast majority start their searches online with sites like Linkedin and Indeed, but the actual interview process itself is also changing. Portfolios all take place online, interviews originally happen via video and personality diagnostics are standard.

One Way Interviews

Interviews are typically two-sided. A few business representatives interview a potential hiree, and while the hiree wants to impress the business, it’s also a chance to field questions and get to know each other.

Tech poses to change that with the rise of video interviews. As Dave Lee describes, “Traditional interviews with an interviewer and interviewee could go by the wayside, too. Rather than a two-way interaction, job candidates will upload video responses to interview questions. New technology will detect non-verbal cues such as those facial expressions and tone while eliminating human bias.” Brands like Red Bull already hopped on board with video interviews. This added step tests the applicant’s ability to think on their feet while also working through potential red flags or false starts eliminating wasted time for recruiters. Then, once the cream rises, formal interviews can take place. As Rajpreet Heir highlights, “Not only does digital interviewing allow candidates and employers to connect earlier in the interviewing process, it also saves time and money. A study by OfficeTeam revealed that 63% of companies are using video interviews vs. 13% from 2011.”

Analytics and Diagnostics

Personality diagnostics are also increasingly popular as an inexpensive means to gauge fit and placement within a larger company. As Chamanpreet Singh says, “Data is critical in the digitisation of recruitment. It allows you to determine the effectiveness of any strategy implemented and will enable HRs to develop future recruitment strategies based on the metrics and measurements received. This data will give an insight into channels that can work for your company which means cutting down on time and expenditure.”

Building a Business-Savvy Brand

It’s important to remember that if you can find them, potential recruits can also find you. As a result, recruiting in the digital age requires a larger emphasis on companies’ online brands. People want to understand the company culture they throw themselves into. Show personality, but also be sure the image you portray is accurate. Top talent is going to do their research, and if your digital presence is non-existent or inaccurate, they won’t want to work with you. As Rachit Jain says, “Building a healthy working culture and employer brand is getting more important day by day. But most importantly, employers and recruiters have to adapt and move to the modern recruiting technology faster.”