Researchers crack XML Encryption

German researchers have demonstrated a technique for breaking the encryption widely used to secure data in online transactions, which they say “poses a serious and truly practical security threat on all currently used implementations of XML Encryption.”

The attack is able to recover 160 bytes of plain-text message in 10 seconds and decrypt larger amounts of data at the same pace, the researchers said.

Although the attack, described in a paper delivered last week at the ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security in Chicago, was directed against the XML Encryption standard, it exploits weaknesses in the cipher-block chaining (CBC) mode of operation that is commonly used with many cryptographic algorithms. This makes it likely it could be used against non-XML implementations as well.

Source: XML Encryption cracked, exposing real threat to online transactions

The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers

Not recommended. Only "positive" points: no knowledge of history, physics or brain required :)

Art in progress

My work-in-progress folder is now art-in-progress, thanks to Joana and Vincent :)

I hope it will be a source of inspiration.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Indeed a classic. Recommended. Be prepared to question yourself and your choices in life.

Download ebook

Wikipedia PDF

Wikipedia has a new very cool feature:

If you notice on the left side menu, you can now download as PDF or even create a book!
Very useful! I just downloaded a couple of article to read on my Kindle.

Steve Jobs RIP

This morning started with sad news: Steve Jobs died.

Rest In Peace Steve Jobs.

Red Herring

Red herring is an idiomatic expression referring to the rhetorical or literary tactic of diverting attention away from an item of significance. For example, in mystery fiction, where the identity of a criminal is being sought, an innocent party may be purposefully cast in a guilty light by the author through the employment of deceptive clues, false emphasis, "loaded" words or other descriptive tricks of the trade. The reader's suspicions are thus misdirected, allowing the true culprit to go (temporarily at least) undetected. A false protagonist is another example of a red herring.

More about Red Herring idiomatic expression.

Trust Me, I'm an "Engineer"

http://9gag.com/gag/305093

Selecting the optimal programming language

There are many programming languages to choose from, and it's a personal choice for many--you might just pick your favorite, or you might choose the one with the best performance figures. Sometimes, however, other factors are just as important as performance. In this article, learn how to analyze the relevant factors when selecting a programming language. A few project scenarios are outlined to illustrate different variables in your myriad choices.

Source: IBM Developer Works

Tweets of the month

Action points are set. Go CP, go! You have a MSc to finish!
30 Sep

Finished two paper reviews. Too bad I had to recommend their rejection... :(
30 Sep

Today I've been reworking the cost model.
23 Sep

I've produced valid XML data files. Now I have some work to do with an in-memory representation. Tomorrow.
22 Sep

Eclipse still sucks. Just lost 30 minutes with a stupid refresh bug! I just had to delete the workspace and import the project to fix it!
22 Sep

DTD hacking... it has been a while :)
22 Sep

De vuelta al trabajo, lleno de energía
5 Sep