
HProvided is a weekly snapshot of the recent mobile security, electronic scrap, data center, and IoDT related news that HOBI’s blog reported during the week 7/08-7/12.
Critical warning issued regarding 10 million Samsung phone updates
More than 10 million users of Samsung smartphones have done the right thing in looking to manage firmware updates that improve and secure the running of their devices. Unfortunately, they may have fallen victim to a misleading software update application that convinces them to pay for software updates that should be free of charge. According to a malware analyst, the fact that the app was named “Updates for Samsung” and made available through the official app store was the key to its unwarranted success.
The world’s first electronic scrap bio-refinery facility
New Zealand based Mint Innovation, a clean technology company focused on developing unique biometallurgical approaches to recover precious metals from e-waste, has unveiled what is described as “the world’s first bio-refinery.” Using a combination of chemistry and biology, the company’s technology offers local solutions for cities overrun with electronic waste. Mint Innovation’s CEO Dr. Will Barker comments, “Our bio-refinery uses microorganisms to scavenge precious metals from complex waste streams. It is cyanide-free and the process streams themselves are recycled, providing an environmentally responsible solution for the particularly noxious waste stream.”
The interconnected world places new demands on data center infrastructure
Connectivity is changing the outlook for data centers and putting new requirements on data center infrastructure. In the ever-evolving Information and Communications Technology (ITC) industry, protecting and securing equipment from the data center all the way to the edge can be a challenge. The rise of the IoT is requiring network connections to be stretched beyond the boundaries where electronics are normally developed. Today, a soaring number of smart devices are processing real-time data in non-traditional environments, such as manufacturing floors. Meanwhile in data centers, rack densities continue to increase. As a result, critical factors such as power management, cooling capacity and physical security take on even greater importance.
A future of eco-friendly internet of disposable things is soon headed our way
We’ve embraced the IoT lifestyle but are you ready for a greener life filled with disposable IoT devices? Researchers are currently working towards commercializing a non-hazardous, bacteria-powered miniature battery that will help propel the Internet of Disposable Things (IoDT). The devices could help in a myriad of ways, but researchers are most hopeful about integration in single-use plastics packaging and other packaging material, to help tackle the rising waste amounts in a booming logistics sector.