Cryptography

US Postal Service sees potential in blockchain technology

The U.S. Postal Service is looking to use blockchain technology to shore up its systems while saving money, according to a new report by the agency's Office of Inspector General.

Used mainly for financial transactions, blockchain technology could also be used by USPS for property transfers, contract execution, authentication services, network and device management, and records management, according to the OIG report (pdf).

The OIG contracted with Swiss Economics, a consulting firm with interest and expertise in blockchain technology, to learn more, the report stated.

Blockchain technology "is a decentralized digital ledger that's accessible to millions of users and cryptographically secured, making it tamper-proof," according to a Government Executive article.

Cryptography

France DGSE: Spy service sets school code-breaking challenge

France's external intelligence service, the DGSE, has sponsored a school competition to find the nation's most talented young code-breakers.

It is the first time the DGSE has got involved in such a project in schools.

The first round drew in 17,000 pupils, and just 38 competed in the final on Wednesday, won by a Parisian team.

A DGSE spokesman said the aim was to spread awareness about intelligence work. Security is a major concern after last year's jihadist attacks in Paris.

DGSE stands for Directorate-General for External Security.

Part of the DGSE's work involves spying on Islamist groups. In November jihadistbombings and shootings in Paris, claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group, killed 130 people.

Cryptography

The New Cryptography: Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes – is there anything they can’t do? They’re strong, hard, loaded with unique electrical, thermal, and optical properties, and have been heralded as the secret ingredient in everything from hydrogen storage to space elevators. Now, new research reveals they show promise in improving hardware cryptography.

Due to the semiconductor-like properties of carbon nanotubes, proposals of their application for microchips have been floating around for years. But the difficulty of working with the material, of positioning it in the precise way required for a working processor, and the unpredictable blend of semiconducting and non-conducting tubes made these proposals essentially unworkable.