The Stuxnet Virus Essay Example for Free

The Stuxnet Virus Essay Historic data shows that Iran accounted for almost sixty percent of the early infections. According to Siemens, 15 of its customers were identified as having detected the worm on their systems as of Sept. 14. Stuxnet used stolen digital certificates from Realtek Semiconductor and JMicron Technology to legitimately slip through and hide. The certificates also helped keep Stuxnet under the radar. 1. 1 Why are all the fingers pointing to the United States and Israel? Most cyber security experts who have researched this complex attack call it a joint U. S. Israeli operation, which may have also included Germany and Great Britain. It is also a well known fact which, incidentally, has not been denied by either the US. or Israel, that Israeli intelligence tested aspects of the worm using centrifuges identical to Irans at Israel’s Dimona complex. Even Siemens the German company cooperated with Idaho National Laboratories in the US to identify the vulnerabilities of computer controllers that the company sells to operate industrial machinery around the world. Not too long afterwards, those very vulnerabilities were exploited by Stuxnet. . Why a Cyber Attack? Cyber warfare requires intellect not military might and a country does not have to be a military superpower to wage a cyber attack. Cyber attack tracks are much easier to cover and are easily attributable to another entity. While cyber attacks are only recently been declared by our military and political leadership as acts of war, compared to an actual physical military attack on another country life can go on as usual for most of the citizens on both sides of the conflict without the slightest idea that their country is at war. It does not cost billions of dollars to run or manage and is hardly a long-term commitment of hundreds of thousands of troops and the logistics to support them and their equipment at the front lines. In case of Iran, a cyber attack was the most viable option available to global powers because the Iranian regime did not hesitate to make threats against the United States and Israel should it have been attacked militarily to make it stop trying to produce nuclear weapons. 2. 1 What exactly is Stuxnet designed to do? Graphic: Courtesy of The New York Times, January 15, 2011 Stuxnet is the first malware of its type designed to cross over the cyber – industrial divide and attacking critical infrastructure like power stations and electricity grids. On 26 September 2010, Irans state news agency reported that computers at its Bushehr nuclear power plant had been infected. The New York Times article, Israeli Test on Worm called Crucial in Iran Nuclear Delay, describes the complex function of Stuxnet in very simple terms: â€Å"One part of the program is designed to lie dormant for long periods, and then speed up the machines so that the spinning rotors in the centrifuges wobble and then destroy themselves. Another part, called a â€Å"man in the middle† in the computer world, sends out those false sensor signals to make the system believe everything is running smoothly. That prevents a safety system from kicking in, which would shut down the plant before it could self-destruct. † The same article further quotes Ralph Langer, widely credited for having solved Stuxnet, as saying: â€Å"Code analysis makes it clear hat Stuxnet is not about sending a message or proving a concept,† and later saying â€Å"It is about destroying its targets with utmost determination in military style. † Stuxnet was designed to seek out its target, cripple it beyond repair without causing any collateral damage; stay lurking in the shadows to continue to strike, all without leaving any conclusive evidence of who sent it on its mission in the first place. Needless to say, it succeeded in its mission. 2. 2 How effective was Stuxnet and why? To sit remotely, thousands of miles away and receive an email update from your smart malware that it has disabled your enemy’s commercial power grid says something about the power and effectiveness of this new weapon of cyber warfare. By most accounts and estimates damage from the Stuxnet virus has apparently set back the Iranian nuclear program by at least two years. This makes the virus as effective as a military strike, perhaps even more; all this without loss of life, collateral damage, or risk of a full-blown war. 3. History and future of nation state cyber warfare According to the Council on Foreign Relations, although few countries beyond the well-known players like China, Russia, and Israel and a handful of others have historically possessed the capability to launch a full scale cyber attack along the lines of the Stuxnet attack, over one hundred countries have begun to organize cyber warfare units. (Masters, 2011, sec. 2) Across the world, countries are either engaged in cyber battles with their arch enemies or gearing up to bolster their defenses against cyber warfare.

Graduation Speech: We Are Giants :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Sept. 8, 2008: Colossal corridors and mammoth Seniors greeted our frightened Freshmen. Though we clung desperately to our remaining drops of confidence from the pinnacle of eighth grade, they evaporated under the sheer intensity of high school. We dared not poke our unprotected heads out to view this new realm, too terrified of who or what we might find. Some of us, it seemed, feared our strange surroundings would swallow us whole. Fortunately, curiosity overpowered even the most paralyzing insecurity, and slowly we prodded our boundaries, cautiously testing our skills and talents. We joined clubs and teams that matched our abilities, carving a circle of compassionate friends from the once-distant swarm. And backed by the support of these caring allies, we settled into the routine of adolescence. Until someone uttered those eight terrifying words: "What will you be when you grow up?" Of course, we had first been introduced to this ambiguous question while still in diapers, but always had brushed it aside with the thought, "I'll decide later." High school, we discovered, was later. So we embarked on the tedious process of inventing our dreams. We scoured the career center, hounded our counselors, pestered our parents and teachers. We pleaded with friends to answer in our stead. Certainly, we knew it was our decision, but we had to try to get out of it, right? Make someone else decide. But there is one instant in everyone's life when they explode from beneath that Xeroxed shroud of "General Public" and slip into the shimmering gown of "Individualism." Soon we understood that to find our passions we must step beyond the tight, comfortable confines or our abilities. We were forced to expose ourselves once more to the vulnerability of trial and error. But this time, as we delved into unfamiliar activities, we had the self-assurance to attempt the experiment. And so, amid the swirling waters of high school, backed by constant guidance from faculty, parents, and peers, we gradually formulated a future.

Porter Generic Stratey Essay

The key drivers of competitive advantage are cost leadership and differentiation product †¢COMPETITIVE STRATEGY- the means by which an organisation seeks to achieve and sustain a competitive advantage†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Porter suggests that competitive strategy means taking an offensive or defensive action to create a defendable position to cope with the competitive forces- this would lead to greater returns †¢Porter suggests that a firm’s strengths fall into two headngs; cost advantage and differentiation. By applying these strengths in a broad or narrow focus, three generic strategies result: COST LEADERSHIP, DIFFERENTIATION AND FOCUS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦they are generic because they are not specific to a firm or industry. †¢4 strategies to gain a competitive advantage: COST LEADERSHIP-(superior profits through lower costs), DIFFERENTIATION-(higher profits by adding value the products areas that are of real significance for customers who are willing to pay a premium price), FOCUS STRATEGY-(concentrate on a specific area on the market) †¢COST LEADERSHIP- concentrates on becoming the lowest cost producer through economies of scale. With this, the organisation can compete on price with the potential to earn higher unit profits. Cost reduction provides the focus for the orgaisations strategy. Competitive advantage is achieved by driving costs down. There is room for only one cost leader †¢Firms that succeed in cost leadership have the following strengths: access to capital to make big investment, design skills, high level of expertise in manufacturing process, efficient distribution channels †¦. EXAMPLES- RYANAIR, TOYOTA, TESCO, AND WALMART †¢Cost leadership is often seen as a strategy that aims to attract customers with low prices made by low costs†¦.. ut this doesn’t necessarily mean the lowest selling price, but due to low costs, the profit margins are higher †¢DIFFERENTIATION- this strategy calls for a development of a product or service that offers unique and valued attribute by customers. The customers believe that the product is different than rivals. – the uniqueness gives a product added value which enables companies to charge a higher price premium. Successful differentiation- differentiating products from competitiors, charging a higher price†¦. an base differentiation on omage, durability, after-sales customer service/ needs strong R&D †¢HOWEVER, adding value increases a firms cost base for a product which reduces the unit profit margin- these costs can only be recouped if the consumer is willing to pay the premium price. Also, customers must recognise these differences†¦. EXAMPLES: BMW, MIELE (HIGHER QUALITY DOMESTIC APPLIANCES), BANG AND OLUFSEN, MERC, ETC †¢Benefit – a chance of charging a premium price, demand for differentiated less elastic, above average profits, additional barriers to entry? Risks – difficult to sustain, higher costs, risk of creating differences, comsumers may become too price sensitive, compititors who attain a focus strategy may achieve greater differentiation. †¢FOCUS STRATEGY- Like differentiation, but organisation concentrates on one or more segments of the market, this may offer the firm more security for achieving its competitive advantage†¦. However there are specific requirements for the focus strategy†¦. Firms benefit form specialisation, differentiation on a lower scale, so the costs are lower than full scale differentiation

Historical and cultural context Essay

All three of these stories create strange but similar atmospheres. Three similarities that these stories have is that they all took place around the 1880s/1890s,all three stories in the beginning always take place at 221B Baker Street, and all three stories seem to take place in and out of Victorian London. The mystery of â€Å"The Red-Headed League† takes place mainly around Victorian London and is described as very busy, crowded and swarming full of pedestrians. There are references to carriages, cellars and lanterns throughout the story so this will give you an image of the kind of atmosphere to expect. The way London is described it will probably strike people as it being old fashioned if you compare it from then and now when read. The value of money was different from then and now. In â€Å"The Red-Headed League† i 4 a week is seemed to be an awful lot, because most people in those days would maybe make that in a month or two. The story shows conflict between rich and poor people. The Blue Carbuncle is set in a few places around London, and has references to old buildings and carriages when Holmes and Watson are in the search of the goose. The background for all these stories reflects London of a hundred years ago. This was when forty percent of the population were servants. The police as you would notice belonged to lower social class and were poorly thought of at the time because of the inefficiency and corruption. Another feature in contrast to today is that the trains always seem to run on time, carriages are always there when needed and Holmes and Watson are never delayed by the traffic. The structures between all three stories do not seem to be all that different. All three stories have unusual and strange titles (The Speckled Band, The Red-Headed League, and The Blue Carbuncle) that intrigue the reader. The title gives you an idea to what the story will be about. They all have exciting openings, because they all start at 221B Baker Street with Holmes sitting down talking to a strange and mysterious person with Watson interrupting for the case to be retold and explained to us readers. When a new a new character is introduced it grabs the readers attention wanting to find out more so they keep on reading. In the beginnings of all three stories whenever Holmes is interrupted by Watson the new character will explain the case again so that Holmes will start to observe the person and make mental notes about him/her. Holmes is able to find clues just from the person and the clues are used to build up tension so that Holmes can make deductions. There are often flashbacks from the new character to give a history of them that will obviously be linked to the mystery. The dramatic ending for â€Å"The Speckled Band† was danger but justice was done as the villain had got what was coming to him. In â€Å"The Red-Headed League† the dramatic ending was that justice was done as the criminals were arrested and the dramatic ending for The Blue Carbuncle was not danger and nor was it justice done because the character had owned up to his mistake and said he had punishment enough. The points in short story structure (how the writer puts the text together) are as follows: Paragraph structure which is how the meaning is revealed from sentence, book structure which might affect the reader if the book is split into chapters, with language of implications and what is left unsaid, through the narrator which is how the story is told and with imagery which is how the emotions and scenes are built up. The language which is used for all three stories is quite old fashioned. The words and sentences seem confusing as they are not what we use today. For example instead of â€Å"Holmes said† like we would say now it is â€Å"said he†. The language is very different but understandable. The stories use old fashion words like: dog cart, would fain, forceps, whimsical, commissionaire, billycock, labyrinth, unimpeachable, deduce, inferences, foresight†¦ etc. The stories all give detailed descriptions for unusual objects, new strange characters and peculiar places by using similes and metaphors. Holmes and Watson both in the three stories use many similes and metaphors to give us descriptions of things. The dialogue is shown by Watson as he asks all the questions the reader wants to ask, and when Holmes impatiently explains what to him is obvious, Watson is acting on our behalf. The story gets retold just for us with more detailed language and more explanations.

AIDS, A Global Health Problem essay

buy custom HIV/AIDS, A Global Health Problem essay Description of Global Health Global Health refers to prevalent health problems that go beyond the national borders of any given country such as infectious diseases and some of the insect borne diseases that can easily spread from one country to another. Global Health includes other health problems that have major magnitudes so as to have a global political and economic impact. Description of Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) as a Global Health Problem. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most advanced stage characterized by occurrence of any of the opportunistic infections or related cancers that occurs when one is infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that infects and destroys the bodys immune system. This virus attacks vital body immunity cells hence leading to decreased level of the immunity making it prone to other opportunistic infections. HIV is a retrovirus that infects and destroys cells and some of the body neurons hence depleting its immunity(Ltd, 2010). As earlier noted, AIDS is a result of HIV infection. This virus is usually transmitted via sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral or anal) with an infected person; sharing of contaminated needles, syringes, or other similar sharp instruments or transfusions of contaminated blood. It is also transmitted between during pregnancy between a mother and her baby, childbirth or even breastfeeding. But what are the contributing factors that lead to these infections(Ltd, 2010)? There are many social, biological and economic factors that arguably contribute to the infection and spread of AIDS. Amongst the factors that have continuously led to HIV Spread are Gender Orientation, Social Status, and Lack of Information amongst most population. The feeling of Invincibility, Infection with Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and Alcohol and drug abuse are also some of the factors as articulatd by Patria Rojas et.al. (Patria Rojas, 2011) Justification From the above it is clear that HIV/AIDS is a crosscutting issue whose effects are entrenched to all people and both poor and the rich regardless of their gender. This syndrome therefore has a great impact on the global economic arena and political sphere. But how is HIV/AIDS related with Nursing? On the onset of other opportunistic infections such as TB amongst others, usually at the prevalent final stage, the patient requires a lot of attention and nursing so as to offer them physical, social and emotional attention. Similarly, Aids led to an increasing number of Orphans who after the death of their parents need to be loved and provided with a well balanced stake of life. In such instances, Nurses are very fundamental since they have the professional capacity to offer care to the orphans. Relatives and friends of the infected person are equally prone to emotional and social dysfunctions. Michelle Burden Leslie, Judith A. Stein, Mary Jane Rotheram. (2002), in their journal noted that medications meant to counter opportunistic infections can cause emotional reactions hence affecting the emotional and social development. This may affect the persons emotional life that further spreads to the workplace and other social places. Once diagnosed with the syndrome, initial feeling of shock and denial will most often turn to guilt, fear, sadness and sense of hopelessness. This may lead to withdrawal from the society hence shielding one off the social life. It is at these times that a person will need professional support as well as support from friends and family members. This forms a vicious cycle that touches on the individuals infected and those affected often with negative impacts. (Rotheram-Borus, February 2002).More so, Nursing school are taking the lead in HIV/AIDS researches thus any meaningful development and breakthrough in HIV/AIDS almoost goes hand in hand with the nursing and nurses. Contrast: How Aids is viewed America and in South Africa. HIV/AIDS in America is viewed as a gay and urban problem and disproportionately affects black Americans and Hispanic Americans who exist in both major metropolitan areas and rural areas. (AVERT, 2011)America has acknowledged HIV/AIDS as an endemic and in its fight back have established the National Hiv/Aids Strategy for the United States whose vision is: The United States will become a place where new HIV infections are rare and when they do occur, every person, regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or socio-economic circumstance, will have unfettered access to high quality, life-extending care, free from stigma and discrimination It is therefore evident from the above vision statement that the America not only views HIV as a national Health problem but has also put structures such as policies in place to mitigate this problem. In South Africa, a study carried out by Harvard indicated that there were poor policies to mitigate the effects of HIV/AIDS. It further notes that South African government would have prevented the premature deaths estimated at 365,000 people earlier this decade if it had provided antiretroviral drugs(Pride Chigwedere, 2008). Such poor policy managements therefore reflects how the South African Government viewed HIV/AIDS in light weight with one the top government officials, the health minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang ridiculing the remedy to HIV/AIDS by suggesting the use of lemon and garlic to cure it(DUGGER, CELIA W., 2008). It is to be noted that the number of people living with Aids was 5.6 Million this being the highest number anywhere else in the world thus South Africa had the Highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate during this time(UNAIDS, 2010). Buy custom HIV/AIDS, A Global Health Problem essay

Good Essay

Good Essay Good Essay Good Essay Good writers are not born, they are trained. Similarly, good essays are written with inspiration and patience.   Yes, you cannot write a good essay rushing through writing.   You should give your mind an opportunity to think about the topic, to generate supporting details, to organize your writing, and proofread the drafts.   Below is the short sample of good essay.   Do not copy it!   Read it and make notes.   Pay attention to the sentence structure and paragraphing. If you need help with your own writing, do not hesitate to request professional essay writing help at our site.   Our essay writing services are affordable, legal, and absolutely confidential.   There is also a free blog with numerous sample essays, term papers, research papers and much in our writing blog. Good Essay Sample Any attempt to understand the female preponderance in depression must explain both the long-term and the short-term trends. Conventional explanations have assumed that the female preponderance in depression has been a long-term trend. Most of the studies do support this, and the data that exist from the nineteenth century indicate a female preponderance of depression. These enduring trends can be interpreted as supporting either the biological or the social status theories. On the other hand, recent evidence suggests short-term trends. There has been an increase in the rates of depression, especially among young women, manifested by rising suicide attempt rates among young women and by high attendance by women at psychiatric outpatient clinics. This has prompted speculation about the possible role of recent historical changes, especially the presumed pathogenic pressures of modern life. Rising expectations, increased life events, separations, and loss of attachment bonds are all risk factors of depression that have been suggested as mechanisms by which social change can be psychic stressors. These stressors are proposed to have a greater impact on women because of their more vulnerable social position. Rate increases in depression have been reported to have occurred during earlier periods of rapid social change. Schwab has pointed to possible historical parallels to the current era in late Elizabethan and early seventeenth-century England, when depression was described to have reached epidemic proportions. Similarly, Rosen, citing the example of late eighteenth-century England, quotes Edgar Shepherd who, attributing the rise in mental illness to the "wear and tear of a civilization," speculated on the reasons for the differential prevalences of mental disorder between the sexes. Rising expectations, access to new opportunities, and efforts to redress the social inequalities of women have been suggested as further explanation for the recent increase in depression among women. Depressions may occur not when things are at their worse, but when there is a possibility of improvement and a discrepancy between one's rising aspirations and the likelihood of fulfilling these wishes. The women's movement, governmental legislation, and efforts to improve educational and employment opportunities for women have created higher expectations. Social and economic achievements often have not kept pace with the promises, especially in a decreasing job market and where long-standing discriminatory practices perpetuate unequal opportunities. These new role expectations may also create intrapsychic personal conflicts, particularly for those women involved in traditional family tasks but who also desire employment and recognition outside the family. Good Essay Writing Service If writing is a nightmare for you, do not panic! We offer a solution - customized assistance. Our writing service is individual. It means that your essay is written from scratch by an experienced and responsible writer who meets deadlines and follows instructions.   Your completed essay will not be posted online, never!   We guarantee confidentiality and unlimited revisions.

Patient Safety and Medical Errors Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Patient Safety and Medical Errors - Essay Example Failure by this group to follow due process or any negligent behavior increases the risks of the patients and compromises their safety. Patient safety is considered as a wide area that has grown out of the current use of technology and the development of different medical approaches in healthcare. According to the global nursing association, patient safety has no financial needs as it involves the commitment of the healthcare professionals and the provision of quality services to the patients (Stern, 2008). Medical errors do occur in a hospital setting as a result of professional negligence or omission which could have been avoided thus affecting the healing process of the patient. In medical history, the medical errors and their impacts on patients recovery has been documented beginning from the time of Socrates. However, most professional healthcare workers lack information on the impacts of the errors they commit and these results into misreporting or lack of reporting altogether, an event that has led to the death and chronic injury of patients (Leape and Berwick, 2005). A number of studies have indicated the prevalence of medical errors in the health system across the globe, affecting developed and developing countries alike. In Australia, the medical errors documented in one year caused more than 18,000 deaths that could have been avoided and prevented. In the United States, the number was high, standing at over 44,000 in one particular year. The number of injuries remains high though their accuracy is doubtable due to lack of documented information on the same at any particular time (Nieva and Sorra, 2003). The cost of medical errors on patients can be categorized into human and economic costs and this provides a description of human life lost or the number of adverse effects caused on the health of the patient.