Google login pages aren’t safe at all, research finds

Taking a deeper look at Google’s service login pages, researcher Aidan Woods discovered that it’s “possible to seamlessly insert any Google service at the end of the login process”.

In short, this flaw allows dark lords of the web to insert additional parameters, websites or even Google Docs files into the URL of a login page. The website would be hidden aesthetically, instead showing a Google login page.

Woods does give a few pointers to end users though:

• Always check the URL – before entering credentials – including at each stage of the login process
• Avoid login after clicking links that don’t come directly from Google – bad links could be anywhere: even Google search results
  An example use case would be behind the ruse of user protected content that requires sign-in (e.g. content on Google Drive)
• If it looks like Google sent you a file at sign-in, don’t run it. Regardless of what it is named, you can’t trust it.

Full report along with the correspondence with Google | https://www.aidanwoods.com/blog/faulty-login-pages

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Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library

Khaitan & Co

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/

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Advanced Robotics!!!!! Indian industry pushes for advanced robotics, but question of jobs remains

NEWDELHI: Indian companies feel that advanced robotics is one way forward for the government’s signature Make in India campaign, a survey has found.

The survey, by industry lobby group Ficci and Tata Strategic Management Group, says that it is crucial to adopt futuristic manufacturing trends such as greater use of advanced robotics.

This could also help Indian industry leapfrog past China, which is at least 8-10 years ahead of the country in adopting conventional robotics.

“Advanced robotics can dramatically improve productivity and safety. Its adoption along with other advanced technologies can help Indian manufacturing successfully ‘make in India’ for India and the world,” said Shripad Ranade, practice head – automotive & engineering, Tata Strategic Management Group.

Advanced robotics is used in a variety of fields ranging from manufacturing, nuclear power, construction, space and underwater exploration, healthcare and especially engineering.

The survey found that about 17% of the respondents were prepared togo ahead with investment in advance robotics right away, and commit 15-30% of their capex outlay for the same.

Advance robotics can help companies cut cost and time taken in setting up assembly lines, said K Sreekumar, vice-president at engineering giant Larsen & Toubro. “This will enable companies to respond to market demand quicker and reduce inventory carrying cost,” he said.

The downside, especially for a labour-intensive country like India, is that automation will not generate employment figures that the government is eyeing from Make in India. And therein lies the challenge. “Automation does not mean that manual labour jobs will dry up, traditional sectors will continue to be labour intensive, so we need not worry,” said a senior government official.

“It may not be possible to substitute manual labour for manufacturing advanced products, which need high levels of precision and speed,” said Keval Doshi, partner, Make in India, at EY.

By sticking to manual jobs, the country may be forced to let go of technological advancements that are happening in the west, industry sources said. This would run contrary to the Make in India philosophy that foreign partners bring in technology into the country along while setting up manufacturing facilities.

Source | Hindustan Times | 31 August 2016

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Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library

Khaitan & Co

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/

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Private unaided schools to get 20% aid from state govt

MUMBAI: After several years of protests by teachers, the Maharashtra government has decided to aid private unaided schools, beginning with covering 20% of all administrative costs that will be disbursed as salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff.

The state cabinet on Tuesday also decided the aid will be gradually scaled up to 100% in five phases of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%, but has not yet specified a timeline for their implementation. Tuesday’s decision to grant the 20% aid will cost the exchequer Rs143 crore annually.

The grant will be disbursed to 1,628 primary and secondary private unaided schools that have qualified for aid according to the state’s norms.

The government expects this will benefit 19,247 teachers and non-teaching staff.

“These are schools that had given an assurance to the state government on a stamp paper that they will remain permanently unaided. Most of these schools are providing a great service educating students from all corners of the state, but teachers aren’t getting a commensurate honorarium,” said Vinod Tawde, the state’s school and higher education minister.

While it was decided to remove the word ‘permanently unaided’ attached to these schools in 2009 itself, the state government did not act on actually making a provision to roll out aid to any of these schools, he said.

“However, there are some schools that are not functioning honestly and as per procedure, so we have decided to apply stringent evaluation norms to decide which of these can be given aid,” the BJP minister said.

The schools will be required to adopt a biometric attendance system for teachers and students. All schools will also have to submit Aadhar card details of every student to their district education officer for the state to determine the exact number of students.

Source | Hindustan Times | 31 August 2016

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Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library

Khaitan & Co

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/

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6 habits of the most productive people

6 habits of the most productive people

Source | Economic Times | 31 August 2016

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Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library

Khaitan & Co

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/

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Goa, Google sign MoU to promote digital literacy

‘Internet Safety Education’ for students to be unveiled

The Goa government on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google India to promote digital literacy and drive a digital transformation across the State.

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Vice President, Google South East Asia and India Rajan Anandan, signed the MoU.

The Chief Minister said the scope of this association would be expanded to unveil a digital literacy drive amongst women in Goa, programmes to help small and medium businesses, besides a mobile app development skilling programme for start-ups to take advantage of the growing digital economy.

As a first step, the Goa State Government will unveil ‘Internet Safety Education’ for students in Goa in association with Google India. The State government has approved the inclusion of internet safety education as part of the school curriculum of classes IX and XII in government schools.

Google has created a curriculum in consultation with experts, and has also developed and shared modules for integration in the existing curriculum. As part of the programme, it has initiated teacher training and will soon expand to cover 460 schools, teaching over 80,000 students on how to stay safe online, said Mr. Anandan.

“The Internet today is an essential part of the learning experience for students and it’s important that they understand how to use the medium responsibly and stay safe online,” said Mr. Parsekar.

Mr. Anandan said the scope of the MoU envisages Google India and the State working collaboratively to make all government sites mobile-friendly, to introduce programmes to help local small and medium businesses stay safe online.

It will also aim at driving awareness and help businesses adopt measures to safeguard themselves online, putting the rich cultural heritage of Goa on the global map, and so on.

Source | The Hindu | 31 August 2016

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Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library

Khaitan & Co

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/

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Govt relaxes norms for PhD through open univs

NEW DELHI: Open universities, including the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), will now be able to offer distance education PhD courses after the University Grants Commission (UGC) allowed them a relaxation for offering non-technical courses.

In 2012, the UGC had directed IGNOU and 14 other state universities to stop offering PhD courses through distance education.

Human resource development (HRD) minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday discussed the issue with the vice-chancellor of IGNOU and representatives from 14 other open universities from different states.

The universities had taken up the matter with the HRD ministry and the University Grants Commission. All non-technical courses will now be allowed as they do not require laboratories and practical examination, officials said.

However, the UGC has said the universities should follow its regulations which are in force in regular universities. Such regulations include undertaking a course work for six months.

Sources said the UGC had earlier enforced the ban stating that research courses conducted through distant mode were of poor quality.

Many students who were pursuing such courses were affected by the UGC’s move. The HRD minister had reviewed the issue in a meeting held last week and had assured the open universities of resolving the issue.

Source | Hindustan Times | 31 August 2016

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Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library

Khaitan & Co

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/

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One man’s interest in science opens 5,000 books to public

In the last three years, it has been a second home to 30,000 students who have sat there and read from his collection.

When he was Pune MP, Pradeep Rawat’s favourite place to unwind was the Parliament library. And when his term as a BJP MP in the A B Vajpayee government ended, Rawat decided to build a library of his own.

Today, his library has more than 5,000 books, mostly on science and evolutionary biology In the last three years, it has been a second home to 30,000 students who have sat there and read from his collection.

“The collection is helpful for civil services aspirants. The encylopaedias, magazines and books ranging from .spiritualism and science were terrific,” said Atul Kanade, who used to be a frequent visitor and went on to top the Maharashtra PSC exam last year.

Source | Indian Express | 31 August 2016

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Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library

Khaitan & Co

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/

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6 tips on how to improve your memory

6 tips on how to improve your memory

Self-Plagiarism: BARC scientist copied own work for journal articles

Google Partners With Academic Librarians To Designing The Best Online Libraries 2016! [VIDEO]

Steven Bell, Associate University Librarian at Temple University recalls how the Google effect had served to increase the professional value of his relationship with academic librarians. Whether by sheer intent or excess of service, Google had unconsciously partnered and valued even more relationship among academic librarians within themselves and towards designing the best online libraries this year.

In recently published book entitled "Crucible Moments: Inspiring Library Leadership", Steven Bell urges readers who happen to be social media users to rethink their positions in the face of media technology, information and research.

He recollects how the Google technology and thus, the Google effect raise the bar among existing online libraries with its ever-evolving information system. Academic librarians are nevertheless pleased by the inconspicuous partnership that has been going on around with Google.

By all means, the types of information assessed by the media technology are constantly challenging how online libraries are to be improved by the preceding years. Ultimately, who among the academic librarians would not recognize the larger-than-life profiled ASRS installations in University of Chicago and North Carolina State University, for instance? The big names of online library hubs which were once maintained by real-life librarians are now monitored by high-end intelligences with the exact same human features, Library Journal reported.

All thanks to Google's loyalties to real-life librarians, the online libraries are positioned at best. Now, this should be the kind of partnership that rekindles the very librarians' professional relationship with co-librarians.

All thanks to Google, the online library and the media technology system gets better by each turn. Yet, Google could not exist alone in the act of replenishing media technology. Researchers could not rely solely on Facebook as its weakness evidences its very package in a black and white sheet. Very clearly, one cannot dialogue with Google as it obviously cannot contextualize what the researcher is looking for, Inside Higher Ed reported.

But instead of celebrating such weakness, researchers, social media users and innovators are constantly reminded to keep track on both sides- the organic and digital information sources. Thus, academic libraries are only the sources capable of conversing with researchers.

With this mentality ensured, we are confident that the next online libraries in line will be dynamically inclined.

Video Link | https://youtu.be/39K2m4VgOZc

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Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library

Khaitan & Co

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/

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Video : Knowledge has no rank

This was a key theme of a discussion between information executives Major Barry Byrne, Chief Information and Knowledge Management Officer at the Irish Defence Forces, and Rita Zonius, Head of Internal Digital Communication at ANZ.

“In some commercial sectors they call it ‘working out loud’ or ‘collaboration’,” Byrne told BlueNotes on video. “It’s a sense that with anything you are working on, you have a responsibility to your colleagues and the organisation to share that knowledge.

“Try and turn the old paradigm of knowledge is power – and hoarding of knowledge is power – on its head.”

Zonius said a key plan of getting organisations to embrace such a mindset is getting leaders of businesses onside.

“Through their use of enterprise social networks it makes it ok for their people to do the same,” she said, reflecting on her experience installing an ESN at ANZ.

Byrne said encountering resistors along the way when pushing such cultural change is inevitable, even when a positive end result is obvious.

“Privacy concerns are massive,” he said. “Convincing end users of the viability of what you are proposing… is key.”

The two execs also touched on growing volumes of information and giving a voice to the unheard across an organisation. Watch the video above to find out more.

Video Link | https://youtu.be/NFvd2ise0HQ?list=UUbI66UPDS2YRIvwejUcSp-w

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Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library

Khaitan & Co

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/

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Still confused about downloading torrents?

Still confused about downloading torrents?

Let’s be clear, Indians will not be penalised for simply viewing a blocked torrent website or URL!

Here’s what an expert has to say

There seems to be much debate and controversy surrounding the message that appears while trying to access torrent sites. It’s time to put things in perspective.

The relevant part of the message states, “Viewing, downloading, exhibiting or duplicating an illicit copy of the contents under this URL is punishable as an offence under the laws of India, including but not limited to under Sections 63, 63-A, 65 and 65-A of the Copyright Act, 1957 which prescribe imprisonment for 3 years and also a fine of up to Rs. 3,00,000.”

Since the relevant provisions of law are quoted, it would be a fair exercise to try and understand what the four provisions stated above mean.

Section 63 makes knowingly infringing or abetting the infringement of a work’s copyright an offence. Infringement happens when someone makes copies of, distributes, makes a video or sound recording, translates, and/or creates adaptations of any work without the permission of the person who has the exclusive right to do any or all of the above acts.

Section 52 of the Copyright Act lists the exceptions to infringement of copyright. Under Section 52, one of those exceptions includes fair dealing (except a computer program) for private use of any copyrighted work. What constitutes fair dealing is not defined in the law. So, if a person views or downloads a song, video, etc, for his own viewing, it may not amount to an offence under Section 63.

Section 63A provides for greater punishment with respect to a second or subsequent offence.

Section 65 makes possessing a “plate” for the purpose of making an infringing copy an offence. A plate is defined as duplicating equipment intended for reproducing copies of any work. Viewing or downloading work may not be interpreted as possessing a plate for the purpose of making infringing copies. Hence, this provision is not applicable to the downloading of torrents.

Section 65A talks about circumventing technical measures deployed for protecting copyright. This section is directly applicable to cracks used for installing pirated software. Any person using a crack for defeating activation requirements or to dispense with a license key is liable under this provision. Other instances would include access to a subscription site like Netflix or any other similar site by hacking.

Merely browsing a torrent website cannot be an offence unless one begins to download and store. Even then, if one is not distributing or circulating the content downloaded from torrent websites, it is doubtful whether an offence is made out under the current laws.

However, this discussion does not apply to computer programs. We can always stretch the law and prosecute by misusing. So if given a choice, download a movie, but don’t share it amongst your friends.

The Author is Director, Asian School of Cyber Laws

Source | Daily News Analysis | 29 August 2016

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Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library

Khaitan & Co

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/

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Music at work increases cooperation, teamwork

In a paper newly published by the Journal of Organizational Behavior, Cornell researchers Kevin Kniffin, Jubo Yan, Brian Wansink and William Schulze describe two studies they conducted to test the effect of different types of music on the cooperative behaviour of individuals working as a team.

For each study, participants were grouped into teams of three. Each team member was given multiple opportunities to either contribute to the team’s value using tokens or keep the tokens for personal use.

When happy, upbeat music was played — researchers chose the Happy Days theme song, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison, Yellow Submarine by the Beatles and Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves — team members were more likely to contribute to the group’s value. When music deemed unpleasant was played — in this case, heavy metal songs by less than well-known bands — participants were more likely to keep tokens for themselves. The researchers found contribution levels to the public good when happy, upbeat songs were played were approximately one-third higher compared to the less pleasant music.

When researchers conducted a second experiment testing how people react when no music is played, the results were the same. The researchers conclude that happy music provokes people to more often make decisions that contribute to the good of the team.

“Music is a pervasive part of much of our daily lives, whether we consciously notice it or not,” said Kniffin, a behavioural scientist at Cornell and lead author on the paper. “Music might melt into the background in places like supermarkets or gyms and other times it’s very prominent like places of worship or presidential nominating conventions. Our results show that people seem more likely to get into sync with each other if they’re listening to music that has a steady beat to it.”

Wansink, director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab, added: “What’s great about these findings, other than having a scientific reason to blast tunes at work, is that happy music has the power to make the workplace more cooperative and supportive overall.”

The researchers suggest managers consider not only the customer experience but also workers’ when picking the day’s music. Starting the day with this simple consideration in mind could result in happier employees and more teamwork. “Lots of employers spend significant sums of time and money on off-site teambuilding exercises to build cooperation among employees. Our research points to the office sound system as a channel that has been under-appreciated as a way to inspire cooperation among co-workers,” said Kniffin.

Source | Asian Age | 29 August 2016

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Pralhad Jadhav

Senior Manager @ Library

Khaitan & Co

Blog | http://pralhad-fyilibrarian.blogspot.in/

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