Indiana TechTech & Business Articles Contributed by the IU Student Community

We have been working on increasing our digital presence for years now. As a result of all that work, effort, and time, we now sit on the verge of a new era, the completely digital age. We already exist in the digital age; certain technological advancement and digitalisation has seen to that. Over time, our increased invention and utilisation of technology and digitalisation has resulted in the increased investment in instilling pieces of ourselves in the digital landscape. As we have begun to use digitalisation more and more often, we have made ourselves privy to the increasingly vicious cybersecurity threats in the process. As it current stands, the biggest threat to cybersecurity is the next evolution in malware.

Cybersecurity has never been as important as it is right now. The current state of cybersecurity is a testament to a much-needed reality check: we must be more vigilant in protecting ourselves online. If you want to read more into the biggest security threats of the present-day, there are avenues you can access information from. In this day and age, we should all be taking it upon ourselves to learn as much as we can, as quickly as we can, and as intricately as we can. We cannot afford not to.

Historically, cyber criminals have designed malware to be insistent, even to the point where it is able to survive a reboot. It sounds impossible, but that is how malware has made its [negative] mark on the modern world. Malware has always dropped at least one single file onto a device. This file is capable of changing or realigning things on the device like registry settings, to survive a complete reboot. As if that were not terrifying enough, the latest evolution in malware is more vicious than anything we have known previously. Why? Because malware can now operate fileless.

It sounds impossible, but fileless malware has gained prevalence in recent times. Unlike its traditional counterpart, this type of online threat loads itself into a device’s volatile memory (RAM). It can also spread itself by carrying itself on the back of other existing legitimate processes that your computer uses to function and thrive seamlessly. The cyber criminals who use this fileless malware make use of software vulnerabilities on devices, dropping code on said devices and then using that access to set fileless malware into the device’s system.

To combat this malware evolution, individuals should make constant use of endpoint detection and response (EDR) software solutions, as well as (or in place of) other anti-malware responses that offer viable solutions by looking beyond a device’s files and registry settings. The processes that run on a device are important, so paying active and constant attention to them is vital. Looking for memory injection techniques that cyber criminals use to launch these new fileless threats is important as well. Fileless malware is just the latest in an increasingly rapid onslaught of cybersecurity threats, and we must be vigilant in our measures to protect ourselves and our devices – at all times.

There is a misconception floating around that, because a website is live on the internet, that it must already be secured by third party companies whose jobs are to secure the internet. While there are indeed companies that are dedicated to making the internet a safer place for our increasing interest and investment in its reaches, the reality is that cyber security is largely something that we ourselves are accountable for. While many of the tools are laid out by companies dedicated to the cause, we must make use of those online privacy tools. They cannot do their jobs if we do not make it our business to know what they are, and how to use them. In short, cybersecurity is a fantastic innovation, but it can only operate at its most effective if we are willing and able to do our part to ensure that our devices are operating at their most effective protected counterpoints.

Taking accountability for the measures of digital protection

Because there are indeed companies whose primary goal is to increase cybersecurity measures around the globe, it can be easy for us to default to the mindset that the hard work is taken care of for us. What is most important is that we realise this is not true, and that we respond by taking charge of our cybersecurity. It is irresponsible to assume that just because one has online security software imbedded into their device, that they are 100% safe as they carry out activity online or on their devices in general. Realistically, we are responsible for our presence online and we are at least partially accountable for how that presence is protected.

Being aware of and utilising personal cybersecurity measures

Our privacy when we use any of our devices or spend time online is something that is at once both important and often disregarded. While it can be difficult to know where to begin arching to protect our digital privacy, there are various ways we can do so. First and foremost, having cybersecurity software installed into our devices will provide a constant virtual wall between our data and potential threats. Other healthy online habits include making use of a registered VPN, having password encryption apps on one’s devices, using quite different passwords for each separate account, and having password protection or fingerprint ID on all devices (to name a few cybersecurity methods).

Understanding what occurs when you “delete” data from a device

Every year, millions of cameras, phones, tablets, laptops, and even hard drives are discarded. The individuals who throw them away empty them, believing that this erases all the data from the devices entirely. This could not be further from the truth. Much like the internet, once something is put onto a device, an imprint is left. Unlike the internet, however, there are ways to entirely erase these digital imprints – but it takes much more effort than simply “deleting” the files. These devices, if found by interested parties, can and do present a wealth of personal information and sensitive data. To avoid this, there are plenty of free apps or even professional companies that truly wipe all the data from a device – make use of them. It is too important not to.

The next time you’re on a flight, take a look around you. Whether you realize it or not, you’re in one of the safest pieces of technology the world has ever seen. It’s filled with more safety features than you can count – including some that you don’t even realize are present.

There are hundreds of thousands of flights around the world every single day. Billions of people fly commercial airlines annually. Yet air travel, for all of the high speeds and altitudes, is far safer than cars, trains, bikes, boats, or any other mode of transport.

In 2017 – the safest year on record for air travel – there wasn’t a single accidental death recorded on a commercial passenger jet. And while this made it the safest year in aviation history, it wasn’t exactly an outlier year.

Over the past couple of decades, aviation deaths have experienced a steep decline. As recently as 2005, there were more than 1,000 deaths aboard flights. But in recent years, the average total has hovered between 400 and 800 deaths (with almost all of these deaths occurring in general aviation accidents – not commercial passenger airlines). This decline has occurred in conjunction with increases in the number of flights and passengers. As such, the relative risk has been dramatically reduced in the past decade.

But what is it that makes air travel so safe? Advances in training and security protocols certainly play a role, but so do the technology and safety features that are built into the commercial airplanes. Let’s explore some of these features to get a better idea for why things have improved so dramatically in recent years.

1. Shielded Wiring

Use the term “grounded” in the context of airplanes and most people roll their eyes and let out a sigh. There’s nothing more frustrating than being grounded as the result of a flight delay. But sometimes being grounded is a good thing – particularly when it comes to the wiring of an aircraft’s critical systems.

In today’s commercial airplanes, flight-critical systems like flight controls and electronic engine components are protected from lightning strikes and extremes of pressure in shielded enclosures that are grounded to the aircraft. They also receive regular loop resistance testing to ensure they’re safe from flight to flight.

2. Tiny Holes in Plane Windows

Have you ever noticed those tiny holes in plane windows? Well, they aren’t there by accident. These little holes are actually part of a complex design that helps the aircraft withstand the changing air pressure outside.

Each airplane window is made up of three different acrylic layers. Only the middle layer contains a hole. The hole regulates the pressure and makes the flight much more comfortable for passengers.

3. Wing Hooks

If you’ve ever had a window seat near the plane’s wing, then you’ve probably noticed tiny yellow hooks on the wing. These hooks are actually used to help the airplane crew secure and tether life rafts to the plane in case of an emergency landing on water. Passengers walk across the wing using ropes and get in the life rafts.

4. Ash Trays in Toilets

By now, everyone knows that there’s no smoking allowed on commercial airplanes. There are enough signs and warnings to make this clear. However, people don’t always listen.

In addition to having smoke detectors in bathrooms, there are also ashtrays. While they don’t want to encourage smoking, airlines also want to be sure passengers have a safe method of disposal if they happen to break the law.

5. Ultrasound Inspections

The wings of a plane undergo a lot of pressure, friction, and wear over the years. And while they’re designed to endure significant amounts of stress, there are limits. Wing skin is installed on wings and held into place with fasteners. In order to look for holes and cracking, maintenance crews inspect the areas around the fasteners with ultrasound equipment that identifies weak spots. This makes it far less likely that a problem will go undetected.

6. Enhanced GPS Technology

In the last decade alone, GPS technology has made positive strides. Pilots and air traffic controllers now have far greater visibility into the exact positioning and flight paths of aircraft. This makes collisions nearly non-existent.

Safer Than You’ll Ever Know

Name something totally unlikely to happen in your life and you’re far more likely to experience it than an airplane crash. Whether it’s being born with an extra finger or toe, getting murdered in the Grand Canyon, or winning an Olympic gold medal, you’re far less likely to experience one of these incidents than you are to be involved in a deadly plane crash. This is due in large part to the increases in safety features – such as the ones highlighted in this article.

So next time you find yourself killing time on a flight, take a look around. You’re safer than you’ll ever realize.

Building a new home is one of the most exciting rites of passage in many people’s lives. There is something exhilarating about the process of designing, fine-tuning, and bringing your dream home to life. In the excitement and lead up to bringing the vision to fruition, there are often periods of distress and unease, where building the home can feel like too much of a burden, with too many alternating factors. This is not an uncommon feeling. Sometimes the exhilaration of taking on such an ambitious project can be overridden by the innate sense of panic at having to collaborate and be responsible for so much of what is going on.

Wanting to bring the home to life is not enough these days. It never has been, but it is time that people took notice of the big factors that go into deciding and going through with the construction of a new home. Unlike simply buying a home that is already there and ready to go, building a new home demands a lot of patience, determination, and grit. There are many reasons to build the home, but not many people talk about the big things to consider before building the home.

Whether you opt for custom home builders, or to buy a premade package through a home development company, the builder is arguably the most important thing to nail down before any contracts are signed and any cement foundation is laid on the property. The builder can and does control most aspects of the construction, so having the right builder on site is crucial to the success and longevity of any building project. The right builder makes the process a dream. The wrong builder makes the process a nightmare.

Home development is an important and all-encompassing task, and scouting out the location is often one of the most difficult aspects of that task. It is easy enough to say what you want in a house, but to know where you want it is another matter entirely. Location is important because, depending on your lifestyle, being close to far away from schools, the workplace, medical institutions, and shopping centres and markets can be a deal breaker for many. Location is so important because you want your new home to be in the perfect location for your preferences, so that you can make the most of it.

The cost of building the house is one thing, but many people do not consider the additional costs that go into building a house. First and foremost, sorting out the current living situation. Many people who are wanting to build their next home are still living in their current one. If you must sell your current living space, then allow for the costs of getting it advertised and represented, as well as the costs of getting belongings from house A to house B.

This all must be done in a cohesive time frame, because there is no use in selling the current home only to be homeless for however long the building process on the new home takes. The same can be said for having the new home finished and having to continue paying selling costs and mortgage repayments on the old home.

The fintech industry is continuously evolving and expanding. There are new apps and sites that are competing for the attention of consumers looking for fintech developments. When thinking of trends to follow and use to your advantage, take these five into consideration:

1. The Rise in Need for Fake Credit Card Numbers

When you think of fake credit cards, you think something probably isn’t right. This isn’t true actually because fake credit card numbers can be used to make safe purchases. There are generators allowing people to tie the number to their real number and purchase something without fear of getting their card information stolen. This increased level of security is making buyers more confident in their purchases, as well as shifting the credit card industry in a positive direction.

2. Blockchain is Here to Stay

Blockchain and cryptocurrencies all seemed to be a fad, but that isn’t the case. This form of fintech is here to stay and will only develop further. This means investing in crypto probably isn’t a bad idea. It will most likely get more and more popular with time. Crypto has been fluctuating, but there is not sign of it going away for good, so don’t ignore this trend.

3. Change in the Strategies of Traditional Banks

Traditional banks are struggling in these times of innovation. We are seeing more banks offering services like online check depositing. This is a huge step for traditional banks. They are continuing to become more and more automated, which is creating competition between banks. Consumers want to make the banking strategy as simple as possible. We will continue to see traditional banks cater more and more to the fintech audience.

4. Apps that Cater to Financial Needs

Investing can be complicated and fintech developers know that. This is creating competition for websites and apps that automate investing and make it increasingly simple. Apps like Acorn are making it easy for younger people to invest. Fintech is making investing a hot topic that is discussed more. It isn’t just for business men and investors—it can be for everyone. It will slowly become fully user-friendly and there will be investing sites for every type of demographic out there.

5. Better Banking Security with the Rise of Fintech

Not only is fintech making banks smarter, it is making them safer. Things are more automated and this means there is more room for safety when looking at passwords and data. Instead of speaking to a teller at a bank, there are levels and levels of coded automation that allows your information to be safe. There also is more opportunity to split up your money between different online banks. This also keeps more of your money safe as well.

Fintech is smart and only getting smarter. Prepare for positive developments and more Millennials getting involved in investing and keeping their money safe. Fintech is forcing traditional banks and consumers to change for the better.

Digitisation has struck the automotive world in more ways than it was expected to this early on in its disruption of the industry. Innovations like Bluetooth connectivity and integrated GPS systems were the humble beginnings of technological disruption, and now we are seeing the initial developmental stages of semi-autonomous vehicles being tested. This is just the first step to fully-autonomous transport systems and even so is an entirely new revolutionary introduction to the automotive industry and the world. Everyone wants a piece of the pie, and the demand is only going to increase as time goes on. Even now, we are seeing interest from all over the globe, even from some unexpected places and revenues. From fleet leasing companies to the empires themselves that make the cars, technological advancement has begun to play a steadier part in the story of automotive evolution.

In the wake of such technological advancement throughout the automotive industry, it is somewhat surprising to note that the purchasing experience itself has moved at a snail’s pace, barely evolving since the first car dealership opened its doors more than a century ago. Technological advancement has done incredible things for the automotive industry, but now the heat is on and the pressures are rising for those that work in the industry to step up and adapt to tech-woven sales techniques. This means not only will traditional selling methods be interwoven with modernised updated versions, but digital extensions such as websites, email updates for interested buyers, and mobile applications will drive sales higher. Sales aside, technology is set to take the automotive industry digital…and that advancement is much closer than some people may think.

Over the last decade there have been continuous changes that have contributed to the further evolution of the automotive industry. In fact, it is expected that by 2020 the digitisation and technological advancement of the industry will have amassed a further $82 billion in investments. Semi-autonomous vehicles are incredible feats of technological advancement in transport and engineering, but this is just a glimpse at what the future of the industry has to offer. Drivers today are intrigued by the concept of having to have less manual control over their vehicles, but they are aware of the implications that first introducing such technology has had. There is very few (if any) revolutions that did not require a trial period to fine tune their craft, and the innovation of semi-autonomous vehicles is no different.

The difference between this innovation and most of the others that have played out in the automotive industry over time is exactly this: taking vehicle control out of our hands – even if only partially to begin with – frees up a whole lot of time to be more productive with our day. While we presently have to focus all of our attention on the road and driving, the (potentially near) future hints that we will have more time to spend organising to do lists and setting reminders, doing business over the phone and organising social events, or just generally having time to ourselves in between tasks throughout the day. It is the dawn of a potentially life-changing revolution, and more and more people are jumping on board.

The automotive industry is quite literally responsible for keeping us moving. Every day, we get into our vehicles and drive to work. We fly across oceans in giant metal birds. We travel across bodies of water in vessels that float. The automotive industry is solely responsible for giving us the power to travel far distances in short time frames. From the vehicles we drive to work every day, to the construction fleet management services we hire to carry business through efficiently, and even to the planes that soar across the sky, we are immersed in an era that is dominated by the automotive industry.

Digitalisation has revolutionised many industries, and the automotive industry is one of the industries that has felt the effects the most boldly. As one of the most integral industries in the modern world, the automotive industry was somewhat slow to adapt to the digital transformative power. But now, with moves towards electric vehicles as well as significant movements towards self-driving vehicles (the first semi-autonomous vehicles are currently being rolled out in their prototyping phases), that domination has come at just the right time.

With increasingly persistent effects on the planet because of our carbon footprint as a species, innovations like technology’s positive shift in the automotive industry should be not only acknowledged, but openly and vibrantly celebrated. The gravitational shift of entire industries to work towards a stronger, healthier, cleaner future is nothing if not inspiring. We are currently existing in an era of such incredible change, that it literally holds the power to bring the planet to its healthiest point. All that is left to do, is continue to advocate for positive changes.

When the first car was invented, many thought that the innovation was a waste of time, that it would not be long before the vehicle passed on as all sweeping trends do. As time went on, however, and the minds pioneering the movements at the time continued to tinker with the invention, the vehicle proved its value continuously, and today that “sweeping trend” is on the verge of electrifying itself into a more efficient, capable, clean future. And that is the kind of impact that the world needs more of. That is something to be proud of.

Throughout the ages, the automotive industry has produced the very vehicles that drive us to work and back, that take us to events, that take us across the country in search of more beyond the horizon. Without the revolutionary first vehicle, there is no knowing where we would be right now, but one thing is certain: we would be getting there a lot slower.

By the year 2020, the increase in technological advancement and digitalisation in the automotive industry will have exceeded the $82 billion mark, which is an astronomical figure. The investments have been significant – both financially and developmentally – but they have been worth it. And to think, this is only the beginning. The digitalisation and electrification of the automotive industry is set to change the world forever, in all the best ways.

In many ways, modern life is all about saving time, resources and energy for which technology is an undebatable bliss, enabling its users to focus on their daily lives with the confidence of knowing that they are going places. As user experience, market impact and scientific reliability of modern day technologies increase, the human factor is slowly losing its relevance, preparing the intuitive mind for a brand new industrial revolution. Tools and services such as online shopping and delivery, driver navigation technologies and digital identity have already entered human lives at a fundamental level, signaling further collaboration between people and technology. In such a scenario, understanding the motives, processes and effects of technological progress is crucial for which people are expected to be aware of the pros and cons of the transition into the age of advanced technologies for the sake of safety, comfort and productivity.

Today’s industry relies on computational technologies to operate and profit and IBM has always been a leader in supplying such services to the world. Recently, the company announced its plans to acquire ‘Red Hat’, a North Carolina based open-source software company, for $34 billion to integrate it into its struggling cloud computing department. The company intends to become the global leader in the field, relying on the capabilities of Red Hat, which employs more than 2,000 qualified personnel in America as well as 12,600 workers in more than 35 countries globally. IBM’s current cloud system is a private one, with the company lacking crucial infrastructure to enter the public markets for which the Red Hat’s facilities will be sufficient. The companies have a converging history with IBM supporting early versions of the Linux system that Red Hat utilizes for software distribution and the acquisition will strengthen the ties between the two entities in the years to come. Red Hat will continue to operate as “a distinct unit within IBM,” reporting directly to Ginni Rometty, IBM’s current CEO.

Continuing with Cloud systems, which have managed to create a promising $260.2 billion business market in a short period of time, a new rival’s entry into the game might re-arrange the rules of the game: Edge Computing. The newly popularized phenomenon of ‘Internet of Things’ refers to AI-backed individual computers and devices carrying out information processes without adhering to a centralized server. Such servers within the cloud necessitate intermediation between cloud members, which costs time and resource in the process. Edge computing creates ‘cloudlets’ of information which are connected to the general cloud network with respect to regulation and reporting. However, for time-sensitive operations such as police regulation, firefighting and warfare, such cloudlets enable their members to bypass some of the time and resource consuming procedures of the original cloud system, providing their users with a ‘Tactical Edge’. The newly emergent industry is expected to add $20 trillion to the global GDP within the next 20 years while technologies such as Microsoft’s Azure Stack and Amazon’s AWS Snowball are already being modified to meet future demand.

Employment is a major issue in modern life as billions of people are drawn into factories, offices and worksites daily to earn a living. With the introduction of automated processes and robots intended to substitute human labor, the prospect of a healthy global human society has been subjected to significant risks and threats. In such an environment, it is crucial for future generations of laborers to focus on the new skills required by the industry to be able to reserve a spot in the future job markets. Artificial Intelligence and nanotechnologies are considered to be fundamental for the new age of industry and therefore seeking a degree related to these fields is not a bad idea. Computer science education such as coding or programming will also provide a head start in the race for such job seekers. Fortunately, skills such as collaboration, creativity, problem solving and empathy are still in high demand and numerous institutions will prefer youngsters who choose education or profession in fields that require such skills. Eradicating gender prejudices will also be useful as many men and women shy away from taking jobs that are culturally linked to a specific gender, creating inefficiency in the job market.

The world we live in today is nothing like the one that existed fifty years ago. The introduction and continuous innovation of technology has meant that practically every industry has been disrupted and revolutionised by technology in some way. From healthcare and education embracing digitalisation, to retail brands investing in live chat software, and even the travel industry being modernised by automation and the like…every industry has felt the gravitational pull towards technologically-enhanced operation.

Take the world of business. Historically, businesses have thrived for generations using traditional advertising, marketing, and operational methods. This has never been an issue. Until now. The modern consumer lives in the same world that every business aims to operate and excel in. That world has been increasingly pivoting towards technological enhancement for a while now, and as such shifts have taken place. We are living in a world that is more reliance on technology than ever before, and that reliance will only deepen the more that technological advancement and digitalisation are implemented into the modern user experience.

The modern consumer expects that their interactions with businesses mirror their interactions with every other aspect in life. They want technology, because technology equates to efficiency. When it comes down to it, that is what all consumers want. Efficiency. It is not an unreasonable expectation. The thing is that, if it were not for technological advancement and digital innovation speeding every aspect of business and consumer experience so much, then traditional business methods would still be more than apt. But technological advancement has well and truly arrived, and consumers expect it to be used.

The business world is no stranger to change, but technological advancement and digitalisation are concepts that are still being slowly added into many business models. Unbelievably, there are even businesses that have yet to include a single technological innovation. This is a crucial error on their part – and one that could prove to be fatal to their business. It has been proven time and again that technologies and digital innovations make business easier, more convenient, more efficient, and even faster than ever before.

Take the modern consumer, for example. Consumers today are surrounded by technology, they used it in practically every aspect of their lives. There is no longer room for businesses to operate solely on traditional methods and models of practice. If a business refuses or does not take the active steps to understand why, and then actively utilise, modern technologies that are already being proven to work, then they will almost certainly fall apart.

Every business operates to serve a purpose, to cater to a demographic. Without the unyielding support of that demographic, that consumer base, the business fails. This is a well-known fact. Every business in the world needs to be making money to stay afloat, and solid consumer communication and relationships are the key. That key is now constructed of technology. Business has changed. The modern consumer has changed. The world has changed. Thanks to technological input, business is smoother than ever, and businesses that do not implement technological innovation will fall behind and, ultimately, fall away.