Cyber Crooks Targeting Windows XP-Based ATM Machines

You may want to think twice the next time you drive up to an ATM machine and blithely insert your bank card into the nondescript machine and plug in your PIN number, because a gang of cyber crooks are now targeting ATM machines.

European hackers are targeting ATM machines that run on Windows XP with a new malware program that provides full access to a user’s pin codes and other personal data.
Trustwave’s SpiderLabs analyzed the unique malware program discovered in nearly 20 ATM machines in Eastern Europe and have never seen anything like it. All of the infected machines were found to run on Windows XP.

The hackers used a simple dropper file to install and activate the malware virus. A dropper file is a tiny infected, standalone program that drops a virus into a system. One the dropper installs and activates the malware program; the hackers obtain full access to the private memory space of all of the transaction-processing applications on ATMs.

The malware program works by capturing the magnetic strip data and PIN codes. The cyber crooks then access the personal data by inserting a specially designed card into the ATM, where they can pull up their own customized user interface.

Once this occurs, the hackers have effectively hijacked the ATM and you can say goodbye to your money.

Cyber security experts have issued previous warnings to banking institutions regarding the risk of using a Windows based system to run ATM machines. Some have even called the practice stupid.

Many ATMs now run Windows operating systems connected to a large group of servers over an IP network, exposing personal data to theft, and denial of service attacks.

Many systems don’t even encrypt data as it travels through the network, exposing card numbers, card expiration dates, transaction amounts, and account balances in plain text, making it easy for determined cyber crooks to harvest customer’s data.

The virus experts of SpiderLabs believes the cyber crooks are using Eastern Europe as a testing ground for their malware program, before they launch the virus to infect ATMs in the United States and other countries.

How Wind Power Works?

It's hard sometimes to imagine air as a fluid. It just seems so ... invisible. But air is a fluid like any other except that its particles are in gas form instead of liquid. And when air moves quickly, in the form of wind, those particles are moving quickly. Motion means kinetic energy, which can be captured, just like the energy in moving water can be captured by the turbine in a hydroelectric dams. In the case of a wind-electric turbine, the turbine blades are designed to capture the kinetic energy in wind. The rest is nearly identical to a hydroelectric setup: When the turbine blades capture wind energy and start moving, they spin a shaft that leads from the hub of the rotor to a generator. The generator turns that rotational energy into electricity. At its essence, generating electricity from the wind is all about transferring energy from one medium to another.

Wind power all starts with the sun. When the sun heats up a certain area of land, the air around that land mass absorbs some of that heat. At a certain temperature, that hotter air begins to rise very quickly because a given volume of hot air is lighter than an equal volume of cooler air. Faster-moving (hotter) air particles exert more pressure than slower-moving particles, so it takes fewer of them to maintain the normal air pressure at a given elevation (see How Hot Air Baloons Work) to learn more about air temperature and pressure). When that lighter hot air suddenly rises, cooler air flows quickly in to fill the gap the hot air leaves behind. That air rushing in to fill the gap is wind.

­If you place an object like a rotor blade in the path of that wind, the wind will push on it, transferring some of its own energy of motion to the blade. This is how a wind turbine captures energy from the wind. The same thing happens with a sail boat. When moving air pushes on the barrier of the sail, it causes the boat to move. The wind has transferred its own energy of motion to the sailboat.

BMW Z4 Coupe

Munich. Following strong consumer reaction to the concept Z4 Coupe at the 2005 Frankfurt and Tokyo Auto Shows, BMW has confirmed that both the Z4 Coupe and an M version, the M Coupe will enter series production.

Visitors in Frankfurt and Tokyo were captivated by the car’s stylish body with its unique silken matte finish, tailored in the very best style of a classic sports coupe. While the driving dynamics potential of the vehicle was clear in its strong, purposeful lines, equally appealing to visitors was the striking interior design.

To be produced in Spartanburg, S.C., the first vehicles will be delivered to customers as early as June 2006.

The proven 255 horsepower (U.S. SAE net) in-line 6-cylinder engine with its high output and lightweight magnesium and aluminum construction promises superior agility and high performance. It not only catapults the Z4 Coupe to the top of the international competitive field but is also demonstrates the enormous performance capacity of the fundamental BMW Z4 Roadster concept – which forms the basis of the coupe.

BMW is also working to produce a high-end variation as quickly as possible and the result will be the return of the M Coupe, based on the new Z4 Coupe. Powered by the exciting 3.2-liter high-rpm engine, familiar from the BMW M3 and winner of many international awards, it will also come out in June 2006.

FMG9 Folding Machine Gun

The concept of a discreet, foldable submachine gun is at least two decades old. Legendary gun designer Eugene Stoner developed one in the 1980s, but Magpul Industries made news this past March with its own updated take on the lethal cult classic. The FMG9, short for Folding Machine Gun, looks like some sort of toolbox with a flashlight mounted on top.

One moment, that flashlight is in your eyes, and one moment later—one very pregnant, James-Bond-by-way-of-Cyberpunk moment—and you're being fired at by a 9mm submachine gun. It's a quicker transition than anything Stoner was able to pull off, and that could make the weapon an effective tool for lightning raids on terrorist hideouts where surprise could play a major part. The gun also has an integrated laser sight, and can be carried without the handle and flashlight, for a sleeker, more pocketable profile.

Corner Shot Launcher

The Corner Shot is a brutally simple contraption: a modified gun that, thanks to a hinged frame, under-the-barrel camera and handy video screen, allows the user to shoot around corners. Currently, there are three versions available, each with a different weapon at the business end of the frame—a pistol, a compact assault rifle or a 40mm grenade launcher. The device is designed for urban environments, where the ability to peek around corners with impunity is useful, but being able to open fire while behind cover is even better.

With the Corner Shot Launcher, the concept is the same, but the result is less subtle. Essentially a sideways-firing rocket launcher, it allows the user to aim with the same kind of integrated camera and video screen, and fire a massive 60mm round into an enemy vehicle or reinforced position, such as a bunker. This device, which could be an overwhelming weapon in urban engagements, is a collaboration between Israeli and German defense firms.

SAR-21

While the United States has repeatedly—and spectacularly—failed to replace the aging M-16, Singapore has been using a newer and possibly better-performing assault rifle since 1999. The SAR 21 replaced Singapore's licensed version of the M-16, and has gained a reputation among gun experts as one of the best “bullpup” assault rifles—where the action and magazine are behind the trigger—on the market. It has a smaller overall profile than the M-16, without sacrificing barrel length (the shorter the barrel, the less accuracy at longer ranges) and significantly more manageable recoil, due in part to the weapon's center of balance. The recoil tends to drive directly back against the firer, instead of pushing the barrel upwards.

All of this is useful in an assault rifle, but particularly for urban warfare, where more compact weapons are crucial to maneuvering indoors, and where close-range, fully-automatic fire is more common. The SAR 21 has a Kevlar cheek plate to deal with chamber explosions occurring next to the user's face, a regular safety issue for bullup weapons. It's also one of the few assault rifles in the world equipped with an integrated laser aiming device.

Apache Attack Helicopter

Apache AH-64 military attack helicopter is one of the most respected combat helicopters ever created. Two seate r with four blades in the main and tail rotor was seen in action in Panama, Gulf war, Afghanistan and Iraq. First one produced in 1984 and ever since it was one of major air to land, air to air weapons in U.S. Army.Designed by Hughes Helicopters for Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program.

Through many years AH-64 got many improvements. Latest is AH-64D Apache Longbow which is currently in use of U.S. Army.

AH-64 variations:

AH-64A is the original attack helicopter. Two seater with four blades combined with two turbo-shaft engines. 30mm M230 chain gun in combination with AMG Hellfire anti-tank missiles, Hydra 70 unguided rockets and air to air missiles for defense AIM-92 Stinger.

AH-64B upgrade from AH-64A brought newly developed GPS system and other electronics including improved navigation system and new radios. This model was soon cancel and all new gadgets were built in previously mentioned AH-64A.

AH-64C and AH-64D both quite similar and brought a lot of new improvements in sensor and weapon system. Helicopter also got a new more powerful engines. The key improvement was a small dome installed over the main rotor which housed FCR - "Fire control radar."

Sea Apache was a modified AH-64A for Navy purposes.

Design and armaments:

AH-64 power comes from two General Electric T700 turboshaft engines. The power from engines is transferred in four blades in the main rotor and in the tail rotor. There are two seats, one for a pilot and copilot(gunner) which takes care of firing weapons. Its armor provides some safety and can sustain hits from 23mm gunfire.AH-64 is armed with the main 30mm M230 Chain gun, which aim is in the gunner's helmet mounted display. Other weapons are stored in its stub-wing pylons. Usually it is armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles used for ground targets, Hydra 70 unguided 70mm rockets and AIM92 air to air missiles.

Sophisticated radars and other electronics such as GPS, Target acquisition and designation system combined with pilot night vision system allow this steeal bird to operate in combat during the day or night.

Today AH-64 is used in countries all over the world including Egypt, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.

General characteristics:

Crew: 2: pilot, co-pilot/gunnerLength: 58.17 ft (17.73 m)Rotor diameter: 48 ft (14.63 m)Height: 12.7 ft (3.87 m)Empty weight: 11,387 lb (5,165 kg)Loaded weight: 18,000 lb (8,000 kg)Max takeoff weight: 21,000 lb (9,500 kg)Engines: two T700 turboshaft enginesFuselage length : 49 ft 5 in (15.06 m)Rotor systems : 4 blade main and tail rotorPerformanceMaximum speed: 158 knots (182 mph, 293 km/h)Cruise speed: 143 knots (165 mph, 265 km/h)Combat radius: 260 nmi (300 mi, 480 km) Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (12.7 m/s)

ArmamentGuns: 1× 30x113 mm M230 chain gunRockets: Hydra 70 unguided rocketsMissiles: AGM-114 Hellfire, AIM-92 Stinger, and AIM-9 Sidewinder