PCAP CyberSecurity Workshop Tomorrow

iphone_forensics_580x1Tomorrow, at Pace’s White Plains campus, the CSIS program will be having a community college outreach event. The event will take place at the Graduate Center (1 Martine Ave) in rooms 430 A and B starting at 10am.

The workshop will begin with an overview of the Information Assurance program and a discussion of Cybersecurity Awareness, including information on careers and scholarships in the Cybersecurity field, especially in reference to programs (of both undergraduate and graduate levels) available at Pace.

Dr. Darren Hayes will also be speaking at the event to share his knowledge and research in Mobile Forensics, which is something he’s been a leading expert on for many years. Not only will this event relate to the technological fields of Computer Sciences and Information Technology, but fields such as Criminal Justice as well.

Along with Mobile Forensics and programs offered, Professor Li-Chou Chen will be discussing Data Privacy and Security on the Web. This discourse will look at the daily activities of an every-day life online and how personal and shared data is handled in terms of security. How many people actually read the entirety of a website’s Privacy Policy? Few people read it all the way through (unless it’s to find the jokes in certain policies — Tumblr’s, for example, which can be worth the read). Beyond this, Prof. Chen will take attendees to a deeper level in Web Security, looking at privacy information as it hides in data.

The concluding topic is to focus on Biometrics, led by Dr. Chuck Tappert, whom many cite for his research on Keystroke Biometrics and Iris Biometrics, to name a few.

The workshop will serve as an introduction to the related fields of study, and anyone who is interested in furthering their knowledge and research on such topics can apply to the PCAP Student Summer Research program.

Does an Apple a Day Really Keep the Doctor Away?

Find Out Which OS Is the Healthiest for Your Cell Phone 
by Suhail Bhandari

In 540 AD, a plague near Egypt killed over 100 million people.
In 2003, SARS terrorized nearly 3.5 billion Asians.
Last month, a cell phone virus deleted all my contacts, accessed my bank accounts and reset my passwords – but not before sending out a mass SMS to everyone I know, supposedly “outing” me!

Granted my little epidemic might not have been as horrific as my first two examples, and while the overwhelming, yet misguided, support of my “coming out” was touching, in that moment, losing all my data and nearly $1,000 felt like the worst thing possible. So, here are a few heartfelt words of wisdom and a WARNING! Screen-size, megapixels, and quad core processors are important – BUT don’t forget to take a close look at your phone’s OS before you buy it.

Apple iOS  
Gorgeously overpriced, I think this is the only plausible plus to Apple’s restrictive attitude when it comes to their OS. By automatically encrypting every file and “promising” not to keep track of device pins and fingerprint scans, the risk of malware attacks is reduced tremendously, which is why ‘jail breaking’ your iPhone might not be the smartest idea. Jail-breaking allows malicious applications to enter your device when you “accept” third party applications and grants them access to your personal information, including bank account details. These applications are not subjected to the same sheltered limitations that Apple enforces and therefore are easier to get from a rogue reference that will infect your cell phone. Additionally, not changing the password on a jail-broken iPhone makes it easy for malicious attackers to create worms used to infect your operating device.

Windows Mobile
If you plan on closing the door on an Apple or Android and opening a Windows, proceed with caution. When it comes to threats, Windows Mobile takes the cake, attracting a tremendous amount of malware via SMS. Adding further risk, since most of the system calls are shared with its full-featured desktop counterparts, the Windows Mobile OS is susceptible to hundreds of other pieces of malware that originated from the Windows OS and can be ported to the Windows Mobile OS.

BlackBerry
This isn’t 2012, but if you can manage to find one, BlackBerry uses what is arguably one of the most closed-source and secure operating systems of all time. Having done an excellent job of keeping the sensitive inner workings of this smart phone a secret from the public, a Blackberry is still the preferred choice for most government organizations and legal offices.

Android
More than 70% of malware out there exists on Android phones. You may literally be opening up a can of worms! The Android operating system is by far the most popular open-source operating system today. However, being community driven with no real ownership or responsibility, and minimal focus on everyday-app encryption, virtually anyone can submit applications containing malicious functions and most likely get away with it. It is said that Google Play has about 15 malware apps present at any given time. Scary, no? Well, the same research company  went on find that from  April to June 2013, Android malware increased by 40%, creating over 718,000 new variants.

For those of you looking for a solution, or simply some more information before you decide on a new phone, there will be an interesting discussion on Thursday, April 3rd, from 8am to 10am, at Pace University’s Michael Schimmel Center. In the meantime, while I feel that Apple is your best bet, the trick is to simply stay alert. Be wary of backdoor applications masquerading as secure ones, try not to use a common password for your email and banking requirements, and for the love of God, remember – you are not the lottery-winning, long-lost-cousin of a wealthy Nigerian Prince!

Sources:

  1. CSO Online

  2. Engadget.com

  3. Windows Forums

Asif Khan to Discuss Mobile Health Initiatives

Asif Khan, from the UN Foundation (UNF), will be making an appearance at Seidenberg on March 27th to introduce the UNF and Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (MAMA) to anyone interested in learning about the ways in which mobile apps can help solve age-old issues around the world.

“The UNF links the UN’s work with others around the world, mobilizing the energy and expertise of business and non-governmental organizations to help the UN tackle issues including climate change, global health, peace and security, women’s empowerment, poverty eradication, energy access, and US-UN relations.”

Asif, who has been with the UNF since 2011, currently works with the Director of Global Partnerships, based in New York, on sustaining and building corporate and NGO partnerships for the UN Foundation. His previous role was as the Global Coordinator for MAMA, where he oversaw communication, coordination, finances and outreach for MAMA Global in Washington as well as MAMA’s three country programs in Bangladesh, South Africa and India.

Through the MAMA Global Learning program, a team creates tools and resources to strengthen new and existing mobile health programs that provide trusted information to mothers. MAMA has developed free, adaptable messages informed by experts in maternal, newborn, and child health. These evidence-based, culturally sensitive mobile messages are currently in use by 300 organizations in 70 countries around the world.

As MAMA is an innovator in mobile health, which is one of Seidenberg’s top initiatives, Asif will be demonstrating how his work with the alliance can involve you, the students (or whomever else may be interested), in the futures of your careers. The event will be on Thursday, April 3rd, 6pm, at 163 William St (Seidenberg HQ).

Seidenberg-developed augmented reality game nominated for Prix Ars Electronica

An innovative augmented reality app developed with the aid of Verizon Thinkfinity Grants and the creative talent of Seidenberg School students has been nominated for the Prix Ars Electronica 2014 prize in Interactive Art.

The prize is a very prestigious award and one we are thrilled to be nominated for. Development for the app in question, titled “Biomer Skelters”, goes back to fall 2013 when Professor Will Pappenheimer and Dr Jonathan Hill invited three students to join an Augmented Reality Lab within the Seidenberg Creative Labs initiative. The students who took part were Julie Gauthier, Alexander Gazarov, and Paat Sinsuwan.
The team’s goal was to explore and develop a way to transmit heart rate data from an exercise monitor to a mobile phone via Bluetooth. The data was to then be analyzed, and if the heart rate was in a median range, the phone would instruct the database to begin planting virtual vegetation, which could be seen if the area was viewed through a Google Maps API. So as participants walk through a city, the app populates a given location with trees, plants and flowers. Depending on the heart rate, “native” or “invasive” plants would appear and the app can thus be used as a game, with participants competing to populate an area with different plants.

According to Professor Pappenheimer, “The project is a very unique application and combination of nascent technologies, body blogging and mobile augmented reality. It also explores the very interesting areas of user state sensing and monitoring that gaming and educational technological explorations are interested in.”

Professor Pappenheimer and collaborator Tamiko Thiel are both known internationally for important artistic exploration of its possibilities and implications.

The Prix Ars Electronica, part of an institution based in Linz, Austria is considered one of the world’s most prestigious new media and media art prizes. Only one project is chosen in each of six categories so the competition is very steep.

We wish our students and faculty working with Seidenberg Creative Labs the very best of luck!

Seidenberg and AHRC Are Hosting an International Film Festival

As many of you know, one of Seidenberg’s outreach programs works with AHRC of New York City, an organization for helping individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Together, with Pace’s Dean of Students, Dr. Marijo Russell-O’Grady, they will be hosting an International Film Festival in celebration of Individuals with Disabilities in Film.

This is the second annual film festival to be held at Pace for the occasion. According to an official media release for the festival, “the festival focuses on individuals with disabilities expressing dreams and hopes to be contributing members of society like other individuals without disabilities.”

A discussion of the films will be included, featuring distinguished panelists

  • Alice Elliott (Director, Welcome Change Productions)
  • Dr. Marilyn Jaffe-Ruiz (Member, Board of Directors, AHRC New York City)
  • Maria Hodermarska (Parent and Teacher, NYU)
  • Gary Lind (Executive Director, AHRC New York City, Community Engagement Partner with Pace University)
  • Adil Imran Sanai (Self-Advocate)
  • Issac Zablocki (Co-Founder and Director, ReelAbilities: New York Disability Film Festival)
  •  and Dr. Marijo Russel-O’Grady, Dean of Students, who will act as Moderator.

The festival is free and welcomes all members of the public. For seat reservations and RSVPs, you may email Dr. James P. Lawler, Chair of the International Film Festival and Professor of Service-Learning of the Seidenberg School, at lawlerj@aol.com or at 212-346-1013.

The festival will take place Monday, March 31, 2014, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, Pace University, 3 Spruce Street, Manhattan, New York City.

Dean Gupta Owes Everyone on This List a High-5

 

We think it’s healthy to give a quick shout out to all you students (New York campus and Pleasantville) who made it onto the Fall 2013  Dean’s List from your hard work last semester. Congratulations — and thank you for all the hard work you put forth in your studies — you’ve earned this honor!

“This honor is reserved for the highest achieving students at Pace who exemplify excellence in the attainment of their educational goals.”

Dean’s List First Honors
Wassim K Abedrabbo Marc A Kowtko
Ariana N Abramson George M Kulakis
Michael A Ang Stephen A LaVigna
Julien Attick Katherine M Mcguire
Shannon A Bernard Dheer M Mirchandani
Michael F Bloom Cayman C Mitchell
Ryan J Campbell Shannon T Pace
Daniel Celikoyar Joao M Pinto
Kevin Cheng Douglas J Pope
Michael D Conte Francisco J Rojas
Christopher Curanaj Aamir A Shah
Erik F Duran Derek R Slayton
Kyle S Eng Christopher Snow
Kevin Gonzalez Nick F Terrasi
Alfred W Grossklaus Mayrimar A Vega-Vazquez
Joseph M Jacob Robert Wilkinson
Hassan A Joseph Siobhan D Wilmot-Dunbar
Douglas A Kandl Emil A Zahariev
Dean’s List Second Honors
Chrystelle C Atok Kyle O Lue
Crystal D Boatright Matthew J Michael
Anthony T Bonifacio Jesse Rahman
Nida A Butt Chris Sakai
John P Capalbo Patrick Samtani
Rebecca A Cuebas Cynthia Shaw
Matthew P Desimini Joshua P Shor
Aren B Douglass Christopher J St Fleur
Richard M Eng Gary A Stewart
Xing Fang Daniel R Walker
Emilio A Feliciano Donald D Webster
Ethan K Garrison Wayne R Williams
Ali A Hajihaidari Christina M Yamagata
Julian Hernandez Kristopher C Yang
Joel A Lebron Martin A Zahariev
Derek Li Richard Zhao
Dean’s List Third Honors
Sabiya Bacchus Kevin M Ng
Michael A Brown Zachary L Oneal
Xavier C Carlson Nelson V Schoenbrot
Steven D Cassidy Daniel A Schreiber
Malik M Davis Daniel M Sim
Luis H Flores Hana Stanojkovic
Christian T Francisque Chabiraj Sukhu
Shawn C Gross Josue F Vicioso
Stefan G Howansky David J Wallach
Wei Huang Brandon S Weaver
Alexander Mei Brian Wu
Cynthia Mikulecky   
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