Ditch WhatsApp
Switch to Signal for encrypted messaging, EC tells staff An interesting article about how the top government agencies and companies are ditching WhatsApp in favour of a new one called Signal. A good read for GCSE students for examples of encryption and why it’s needed and why governments are trying to ban it. One thing …. Read More
Programming Challenges
The best way to improve your programming is to try new challenges. The below are some websites that offer challenges to help you improve and see how good you are! https://coderbyte.com/challenges http://www.programmr.com/exercises?lang=python https://www.hackerrank.com/challenges/py-if-else/problem https://www.practicepython.org/ https://codingbat.com/python https://projecteuler.net/ – Caution: A-Level only
Learning Python
A nice video playlist on learning to program with Python. It takes it from the start, so if you’re struggling in KS4 or want to learn more before the GCSE, then it’s a good series. Let me know if you have any other good tutorials that you found useful. There is also several other links …. Read More
Hacking passwords
Your password is rubbish. Statistically speaking that statement is probably true. This video gives a demonstration of thousands of passwords being hacked during the video. Year 11 have recently been looking at cyber security so this has done interesting ideas about weak passwords explored.
Sorting
https://youtu.be/WaNLJf8xzC4 This is a good graphical and easy to understand look at the sort algorithms. Unfortunately it doesn’t include merge sort which is on most exam specs. One nice thing about it is the real scenario, and also that it gives real world time calculations. It covers: Bubble sort Insertion sort Quick sort
Phishing with the coronavirus
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/coronavirus-china-computer-virus-face-mask-malware-emotet-a9314761.html I wouldn’t call it a more sophisticated attack, but it’s certainly using relevance to get clicks. Using fears around the latest health outbreak, or just fears in general, is one of the ways social engineering can try to increase success rates.
Hacking WhatsApp
https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/23/21068815/whatsapp-two-factor-authentication-how-to-security-privacy-hacking-pin-backup The above article is advising how to secure your WhatsApp account to not get hacked. Worth reading and worth following for all. It’s especially interesting for GCSE students as it’s using a particular exploit, and then exploiting the prevention measures. Cheeky, interesting and cool.
Logic gates game
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ViacheslavRud.Circuit This app is a good excuse to play a game on your phone and call it homework. Year 10 and above do work on logic gates, this app is a nice practise on various logic gates and how they work together.
Infrared camera hidden on Pixel 4
Biometric authentication is on the rise. Fingerprint sensors, iris recognition in airports, and face unlock on phones. Does it work if you just put a picture of the owner in front of the camera? It shouldn’t. Here’s a look at the technology hidden in a Pixel 4 which maps your face in 3D with an …. Read More
Meltdown and Spectre
Interesting video about some vulnerabilities. What GCSE students need to take from it is the carving up on the RAM for different programs, that’s part of the operating systems job in the system software lessons.