Tag: hack

  • Samsung Launches "Industry First" Self-encrypting SSDs


    Samsung Electronics has unveiled what it claims are the first hardware-based self-encrypting solid-state drives.

    To be available in 256-, 128- and 64-GB versions, the SSDs provide full-disk encryption using Wave Systems’ technology, which activates and manages the encryption.

    Dell has already said that it will use the drives in its next laptops.

    Despite the improved security, Samsung maintains the SSDs’ performance is not affacted.

    It says the encryption provides better security than the software alternative, because encryption keys and access credentials are generated and stored within the drive hardware, making it more difficult to hack.

    Each Samsung self-encrypting SSD will come bundled with Wave’s EMBASSY Trusted Drive Manager, which provides pre-boot authentication to the drive and enrolling drive administrators and users.

    Jim Elliott, memory vice president, Samsung Semiconductor, said the SSD drives offered business users the best of performance and security in a single drive.

    "Samsung has combined the tremendous performance advantages of solid state technology with integrated hardware encryption for drives designed especially for today’s ‘road warrior’ professionals," he said.

  • TringMe Offers VoIP Calls From Silverlight Apps


    TringMe has launched a widget that allows users to make VoIP calls from Microsoft Silverlight applications. 

    Silverlight doesn’t allow access to a mic – a problem for VoIP calls – so TringMe used a backdoor Flash widget to access it. 

    The Indian start-up’s founder and CEO, Yusuf Motiwala, said they had used a workaround to get past the lack of microphone support in Silverlight. 

    Controversially, this makes use of a competing platform to strengthen an existing platform. 

    Motiwala said it opened the VoIP door to "millions" of Silverlight developers. 

    "There are Silverlight developers who like to create telephony applications but due to the Silverlight limitation, it wasn’t possible so far," he said. 

    "However, with this, they can now easily integrate telephony functionality in their Silverlight applications". 

    Essentially the hack allows users to get the benefits of Silverlight while using Flash for things that Microsoft hasn’t yet programmed into Silverlight.