Mobile Banking Fraud – Be Aware!

Stealing money through your mobile banking application is burning news nowadays. Mobile banking started with the use of SMS banking. The evolution of smartphones, which brought several easiness by transforming human’s daily life, also fascinated banking sector. In 2011, the first mobile application launched for banking functions. 

Pakistan also adopted mobile banking facilitation for their customers. With around 75 million smartphones users out of 165 million total mobile phone users in Pakistan, more than 5 million users have been registered for mobile banking with 23 different banks. There is huge surge found in transactions through mobile banking from last year. 

Thus, this becoming the center of attraction for hackers or scammers for looting money. Last year, Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) Pakistan received more than 1200 complaints regarding online banking. The mobile applications provided by your bank are being targeted by hackers around the world. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) noted 50% surge in mobile application exploitation during this pandemic situation 2020 in United States. 

This all happening by tricking people and getting unauthorized access to mobile accounts. Hackers are using malicious virus, fake application, malicious email asking you to click on bad links or directly breaking your device to use your mobile accounts for transactions. 

       

Some precautions here that you must take e.g. use strong password, change your account password every 2 or 3 month, use 2 factor authentication at least when you log in, be aware of scam emails, be aware of criminals calling for one-time-pin or pretending your friend, on Whatsapp, asking for emergency transaction, keep update your mobile software and the bank application, avoid using public wi-fi, use any phone lock method and etc. If any such incident occurs with you, you can do approach National Response Centre for Cyber Crime (NR3C) Pakistan or can call helpline 9911. With all above, our concern authority also needs to take precautionary steps by making comprehensive policy for banks, providing mobile application to their customer. 

Regards,

Yasir Iqbal 

An American Muslim Girl - Hijab Story

This is a story of a girl, Ayesha Siddiqua, who grew up in America but has great interest and depth knowledge in Islam, its history, culture and she wants to see Pakistan a true 'Madina ki Riyasat'. She also possesses motivation and views in politics of Pakistan and world. Here is her story of Hijab, what she faced during her schooling, how and why she finally adopted Hijab:

"I grew up in western culture with a vague understanding of Islam. To me, Islam was peaceful, Allah, a Merciful Creator, and hijab was modesty in one's niyat. I am a proud Muslimah and this is my Hijab story. I began wearing a hijab in third grade simply because all the Muslim girls around me were wearing them. Without understanding the meaning behind why one should wear a hijab, I abandoned it in fifth grade after getting bullied in school. Throughout middle school, my mom continuously asked me to wear hijab, and I repeatedly rejected, sometimes out-rightly, other times by stalling and promising to wear it once I enter high school. During that time, a relative advised me to wear hijab, and I rejected by saying, my intentions are pure, thus I don't need a piece of fabric to protect me. Those with impure thoughts simply shouldn't look at me if they have 'Iman' in their hearts. This truly hurt her.

Then one day in 8th grade, I was walking home after school when a couple of boys from my school bus began catcalling. Among them, 2 were Hispanic, thus I didn't understand what they were saying besides Mamacita. I ran home, locked my room, wrapped myself in a scarf and cried. At that point, I understood that even though my heart is pure, I must try to protect myself from those with disgusting intentions toward me. However, I still didn't wear the hijab, fearing I'd be bullied and might lose my friends. Through the World History class at school and my keen interest in proving that my religion is the best in debate class, I did some research to find that Islam surely is peaceful but also just. Allah is indeed merciful, but also mighty. And Hijab means physical modesty as well. At the end of 8th grade, I became very vocal about atrocities being committed against Muslims across the globe along with showing disgust towards the LGBT fad followers to which my friends didn't respond appreciatively. They were taken aback, giving me the strength to accept myself.

Ramadan began and let me tell you it was one of the scorching hot summer Ramadans I've lived through, a perfect time for me to begin wearing the hijab. Yes, I did lose my friends, and it hurt not that I've lost them, but that I was friends with fakes. High school began and once a popular outspoken girl, I became shy and a mere shadow, a simple nobody, a social outcast. Many came up to me to say how good I looked without my hijab and that they miss my hair to which my only response was, I like it this way. I don't know what it is, but my hijab empowers me to speak on issues that matter, that I care about without being afraid of others' reaction or their hate. It strengthens me to hold fast to my religion & stand up for it against its vile enemies."

She says, "Hijab gives me an identity of a Muslimah!"

Regards,

Ayesha Siddiqua

The purpose of this post was to share her journey of finally accepting who she is. Yes, she may not have fake friends now, but she has a true purpose, an individual voice that she tried hiding for years behind highlight and fancy hairstyles. And honestly, this life is way better according to her. :)

TURKISH HACKERS ATTACKED ON ICELAND AND INDIA (10th June 2019)

INCIDENT DESCRIPTION:

This cyber security breach news is exciting and interesting for obviously all of us but specially for the football lovers too. The incident is related to the two teams Turkey and Iceland. On 8^th of June, Turkey defeated world cup champion France from 2-0 and took a flight of 6.5 hours long overnight for Iceland for another qualifying match of UEFA Euro 2020. It all started from Keflavík International Airport, when team arrived there. Actually, two incidents happened that apparently disturbed the Turkish players badly. 

First one was sort of racist jeering at Turkish players when a man approached players and used a dish-scouring brush as a microphone and tried mimicking the players jokingly. 

Second was a matter of total disrespect for the whole team, who claimed that they were kept waiting for 3 hours for searching their luggage at passport control by the police. Turkish diplomatic sources claimed the official request for fast track security check was already made on 16^th May, they also reminded Iceland authorities again on 6^th June after some alternation in request for fast track security check. While ministry from Iceland claimed that the request was received just few hours before team’s arrival at airport. This incident was strongly condemned by Turkey’s president Tayyib Erdogan and foreign minister of Turkey. A diplomatic note, from Embassy of Turkey in Oslo, also sent to government of Iceland to record protest against disrespect shown to team. Meantime, Turkish people in social media burst and demanded for finding root cause and the culprit behind mimicking at airport.

Hackers Response and Analysis:

In response to this disrespect of team, the Turkish hacker group ‘Anka Neferler Tim’ attacked below on Iceland’s websites:

1)      Isavia websites (operates Keflavík International Airport)

2)      Icelandic football association ksi.is

3)      News website sunnlenska.is

4)      South Iceland general interest

Hackers shut down several Icelandic websites using DDoS attack. The attackers simply crashed sites by sending overwhelming traffic from different networks and choked the network bandwidth. This attack targets the availability of resources for legitimate users as they cannot access after the attack. The Isavia website later posted note and explained about DDoS attack caused website unavailable and their engineers recovered it. Extra Bandwidth must be available to avoid such incidents.

Another Turkish group ‘Ayyildiz Tim’ hacked verified twitter account of Indian actor who has over 37.4 million followers. This group then defaced the profile picture of celebrity with PM of Pakistan Mr. Imran Khan’s picture and posted several tweets but in one tweet they condemned irrespective behavior of Iceland with Turkish footballers.

Password of actor would be leaked ago and people use often same password for multiple accounts. Password must be different for accounts and also enable 2 factors authentication. Later, account recovered shortly and their cyber unit announced that they are investigating this incident.

Conclusion:

This was a game and it could be any other incident.
But the response can be in result of cyber attack.

“WORLD IS IN THE MIDST OF A CYBER WAR”As per research conducted by Venafi

VAYU CYCLONE

A little bit research: #VayuCyclone is making pattern which is going to hit the western india i.e. #Gujrat tomorrow. This will ultimately affect #karachi and will stop sea breeze due to which heat wave will occur and temp will rise in khi. As per my personal analyze, this cyclone can hit to Karachi coastal areas. This would be category 2 cyclone. Metro-logical dpt sindh, khi announced high alert for heat wave. May Allah protect every human being from this cyclone.

#Vayu #heatwave #weather

Some Facts of Pakistan Nuclear Weapon

A.Q khan being patriotic person, he was influenced by 1971 for loss of East Pakistan. After India launched nuclear weapon in 1974, he wrote to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to develop own weapon based on Uranium. On December 15, 1975, he left the Netherlands for Pakistan, accompanied by his wife and two daughters. He carried drawings of gas centrifuges (used for uranium separation), his blueprint copies and parts suppliers list.
First he started work with Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) but due to several disagreement and complexion, A.Q. Khan founded the Engineering Research Laboratories (ERL) near Kahuta on 31 July 1976. Pakistan acquired blueprints of nuclear weapon from China in 1980 and nuclear parts from European countries suppliers.
At ERL, G.D. Alam solved the major centrifugal problems for uranium separation. A.Q Khan joined the team of theoretical physicists headed by theorist Dr. GD Allam. Their joint cooperation leaded them to successfully separation of 235U and 238U isotopes. Pakistan carried out first successfully cold test of nuclear weapon in 1983. But the real test was required to claim. Before 28th May explosion, there was also a problem that PM Nawaz Sharif did not allow scientists and engineers name include in nuclear test preparation but later after A.Q khan protest to Joint chief, he included their name and made sure presence of A.Q Khan and other engineers.
Finally, on 28 May 1998, Pakistan successfully detonated first nuclear device under codename Chagai-I. I bet, many of us would not know about Chagai-II, which was detonated two days later on 30 May 1998 under the leadership of Samar Mubarakmand (PAEC) but this weapon was based on Plutonium.
In 2004, A.Q Khan was arrested for supplying nuclear technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya. He accepted and then General Musharraf pardoned him. Therefore till 2009, he was under house arrest.
I personally believe this was his passion and patriotism to Pakistan that he leaved Natherland from his lavish life and came back, insisted Zulfikar Ali Bhutoo and made us proud by tested Pakistan nuclear weapon.

#28مئی_یوم_تکبیر
#SalutetoDrAQKhan
#PakistanTakbeerDay

Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart City in Pakistan

IoT in simple words is a technology which allows daily use objects to be sense, monitor and control from your smartphone. It includes everything from your hand watch to monitor your blood pressure, fuel alert in car, alert if your refrigerator out of eggs, coffee maker, air conditioner, smart doors and so on. All the devices embedded with sensors which allow devices to be smart enough and able to share information to its owner or communicate with other device. For example, your watch will tell your coffee machine to make your favorite coffee at morning wake up. Isn’t cool?

Main purpose of cultivating IoT is only to make life easier. IoT is revolutionizing many sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, transportation, smart homes, industries and manufacturing. Though, other countries are achieving target of smart city. In Singapore, the city can even detect if people are smoking in unauthorized zones or if people are throwing litter out of their buildings.

Pakistan is now in the state of adopting IoT in every sector. Pakistan telecom market is highly favorable with over 50 million number of 3G/4G subscribers. IoT is cost effective solution, as prices of sensors and processing devices are being decreased, while internet users are increasing.

Pakistan government needs to take some serious steps now for future. Although, Punjab government is leading in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and implementing free wifi project which aiming for smart city. But this is not enough, Pakistan needs stat-of-the-art research center for future smart city in each province to promote IoT and its application for smart cities, especially for the city like Karachi. Without this step, smart city is just a dream!

Engr. Yasir Iqbal

Karachi.

home automation using Internet of Things (IoT) by YnStek

Samsung unveils 8K Artificial Intelligence (AI) QLED TV

Samsung unveils its 8K smart Artificial Intelligence (AI) QLED TV at first look 2018 event. This LED with Ambient Mode turns your LED to intelligent mode. It has lots of features such as it can show you weather conditions and smart enough that can change picture according to sunny, rainy or snowy day. This LED TV connects your home to outside world. Using ambient mode, this LED can adjust its picture according to environment just like your background wall. Samsung introduced "one invisible connection" cable that supplies both power and data to LED. It's SmartThing app platform will let you control everything in your home.

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Wireless Controlling Home Appliances Using RF Trx 433Mhz 

DTMF Based Project

Dual-tone multi-frequency signaling DTMF Based Project using M8870 IC

By Yasir Iqbal

DESCRIPTION

In this project, which based on DTMF decoder Ic M8870, we showing the output of M8870 ic in 7 segment. The 4 bit data output of M8870 ic further connected with LS7447 decoder which is BCD decoder to 7 segment display unit.

Input tone from mobile gives to M8870 ic which further connected to BCD decoder LS7447 ic and then 7 segment.

WORKING

When we press any key from mobile (mobile keypad tone should be on) the tone goes to decoder ic which receiver certain key frequency and then converts to 4 bit data which further given to BCD decoder and then 7 segment connected to BCD decoder show that number which key pressed on mobile.

It can remotely operate when someone calls to that mobile (which is connected to circuit) and remotely press any dial number which can be received and circuit can show dial pressed number of caller .

Circuit Diagram

Components required

1. DTMF decoder IC (M-8870)                          5. BCD decoder 7447
2. Resistors (100kΩ; 70kΩ; 390kΩ;470Ω)         6. 7 Segment
3. Capacitors (0.1µFx 2)
4. Crystal oscillator (3.579545MHz)

Table showing DTMF Low and High frequency tones and decoded output

Uses of other pins:

• The entire process from frequency detection to latching of the data, is controlled by steering control circuit consisting of St/GT, Est pins, resistor (390kΩ) and a capacitor (0.1µF).

• 5th Pin, INH is an active high pin, inhibits detection of A, B, C, D tones of character.

• 6th Pin, PWDN is an (active high), inhibits the working of oscillator thus stops the working of our circuit.

• The 10th pin 10; TOE is the output enable pin which is active high logic and enables the latching of the data on the data pins Q0, Q1, Q2, and Q3.

• 15th Pin StD is the Data valid pin, turn out to be high on detection of valid DTMF tone or else it remains low.

• Pins 7 (OS1) and 8 (OS2) are used to connect crystal oscillator. An oscillator of frequency 3.579545 MHz is used here.

An Experimental Realization of Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio.

An Experimental Realization of Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio. 

The purpose of this project is to effectively utilize the bandwidth. The implementation of Cognitive radio makes sure full use of spectrum for secondary user while primary user (licensed user) is not available. Spectrum sensing is the function of cognitive radio which responsible to sense and understand its spectrum environment then detect unused spectrum in licensed band. The research paper on this project has been published in 2nd International Electrical Engineering Conference IEEC 2017 here.

Proposed Work

We have implemented an essential part of cognitive radio which is termed as spectrum sensing. As described above the spectrum sensing is a technique by which we determine which part of the licensed user spectrum is available. This spectrum sensing technique has many algorithms such as ED, MFD and FD. We have implemented ED (energy detection).

For this purpose the platform used are MATLAB and raspberry pi. The MATLAB is used as a PU or licensed user and raspberry pi act as SU or unlicensed user.

In this scenario the PU has five channels. On these five channels, MATLAB randomly allocate the user and starts transmission. This can be shown in the figure below.

Fig ure 6.1: PU Transmission

It is clear from the above figure that out of 5 channels the 1^st, 4^th  and 5^th channels are allocated to PU. Now the MATLAB transmits the signal to raspberry pi. The raspberry pi and MATLAB are connected via Ethernet cable.

Raspberry pi which is our sensor after receiving the signal performs FFT. After performing FFT the energy is calculated. The calculated energy is then compared with the predefined threshold. The threshold can be static and it could be variable depending upon the selection.

If the value of energy of the channel is less than the threshold then PU is not present else it is present. The channels which are not used by the PU are called spectrum holes. As shown in the figure 6.1.

Figure 6.2: Indicating Spectrum holes And PU

The SU (Raspberry pi) starts transmission on the Spectrum holes. This can be shown in figure 6.2.

Figure 6.3: SU Transmission on Spectrum Holes

Process

·         Generate Channels Randomly: We generated five channels on different frequencies and set a center frequency for each channel. As we are not working on real spectrum, we have generated channels of our own through MATLAB.

·         Sensing: Spectrum is sensed by Raspberry Pi and PSD/ energy of each channel is calculated in this step by calculating the energy and summing it up.

·         Threshold: we have set a fixed threshold, on calculating energy of channels it has been comparing to a threshold.

·         Decision: If the calculated energy is less than the threshold it detects that PU is absent and if the calculated energy is greater than threshold it detects that the PU is present.

·         Allocation: On detecting which of the channels are vacant, Raspberry Pi allocates those channels to a secondary user which can use the channel until PU resumes its transmission.

Results And Simulation

The results we have after using algorithm of energy detection and coding on Raspberry Pi are shown as follows.

We run the algorithm of energy detection on Raspberry pi and show the results through graphs and on circuit through LEDs.

      

Figure 6.4: MATLAB results (a)

The above graph shows the detection of primary user. On x-axis frequencies are mentioned and on y-axis mentioned power. In above graph, channel 1st, 3rd and channel 5th indicate the presence of signal whereas the other three channels are vacant indicating the spectrum holes.

                                                              Figure 6.5: MATLAB results (b)

This graph shows that the spectrum holes are now in use by secondary user. In figure. we received no primary user on channel-2 and channel-4, after sensing one out of these two channels are allocated to secondary user for transmission.

Presentation In Model Form. 

Tic-tac-toe game in Matlab

Tic-tac-toe (or Noughts and crosses, Xs and Os) is a paper-and-pencil game for two players, X and O, who take turns marking the spaces in a 3×3 grid. The player who succeeds in placing three respective marks in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row wins the game.

The following example game is won by the first player, X:

Players soon discover that best play from both parties leads to a draw (often referred to as cat or cat's game). Hence, Tic-tac-toe is most often played by young children.

The simplicity of Tic-tac-toe makes it ideal as a pedagogical tool for teaching the concepts of good sportsmanship and the branch of artificial intelligence that deals with the searching of game trees. It is straightforward to write a computer program to play Tic-tac-toe perfectly, to enumerate the 765 essentially different positions (the state space complexity), or the 26,830 possible games up to rotations and reflections (the game tree complexity) on this space.^[1]

The game can be generalized to an m,n,k-game in which two players alternate placing stones of their own color on anm×n board, with the goal of getting k of their own color in a row. Tic-tac-toe is the (3,3,3)-game.