Latest news with #Halder
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Newsweek
You Might Never Need to Change Your Password Again
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Passwords have been ubiquitous to online activity since the invention of the internet, but experts told Newsweek that may not be true for much longer. Developments in artificial intelligence and new authentication systems mean that traditional passwords are rapidly being upgraded or replaced with biometric security options—something that can't be replicated. Why It Matters Most people's password etiquette falls short of where security experts say it should be. In the U.S., the most common password length is only eight to 10 characters, and a significant portion contain only lowercase letters and digits, making passwords vulnerable to brute-force attacks. Because of this, and the instant access they grant, passwords are the most desirable piece of information a hacker or a fraudster can obtain, and the bulk of scamming techniques are designed to get them, giving criminals access to devices, computer networks, or even bank accounts. The Future of Passwords For many users, entering passwords manually is already a thing of the past, with top-level password managers proving a supposedly safe way to store and enter passwords automatically. However, Subho Halder, the co-founder and CEO of security firm Appknox told Newsweek that password managers have major problems of their own, and that Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) was one of the most reliable ways to boost the strength of any password-based security system. "Password managers are becoming more advanced but also more exposed," Halder said. "They now use zero-knowledge encryption and hardware-backed MFA, yet they remain prime targets because of what they protect. The LastPass breach showed that even encrypted vaults can become liabilities if metadata is leaked or if users don't enable MFA. Passwords have been ubiquitous to online activity but experts told Newsweek that may not be true for much longer. Passwords have been ubiquitous to online activity but experts told Newsweek that may not be true for much longer. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva "Users should protect password managers the same way enterprises protect crown jewels: with MFA, encryption, regular audits and a healthy dose of paranoia. A password manager is a vault, but without a hardened door, it's still vulnerable." Kyle Kurdziolek, the vice president of security at data firm BigID, echoed this sentiment, telling Newsweek that password managers were reliable but still susceptible to traditional hacking methods. "Password managers continue to get more secure overall with most now using strong encryption, adopting zero trust architecture, and additional security controls. "But like any tool, they're only as secure as the people and systems around them. We see breaches happen when master passwords are reused or stolen through phishing, or when vulnerabilities in the software go unpatched. "The best way to protect a password manager is to use strong, unique master passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, and keep the software up to date. But it doesn't stop there. Even with a good password manager, credentials and secrets often get duplicated and hidden across code, cloud storage, or collaboration tools." Biometric Security Both experts said that biometrics, physical data like fingerprints and facial recognition that can't be easily separated from their owner, was one of the most likely ways passwords could be phased out in the near future. "We are at an inflection point, not in terms of technology but in trust and consistency," Halder said. "Passkeys, biometric authentication and token-based access are already here, but adoption is fragmented. A 2024 FIDO Alliance report showed less than 15 percent of websites currently support passkeys despite growing support from Apple and Google. "At Appknox, we consistently find that while apps may offer 'passwordless' logins like OTPs or biometrics, they often implement them insecurely, exposing users to interception, reuse or replay attacks. "So, we are not just replacing passwords, we are rebuilding the idea of access from the ground up. Until secure, passwordless authentication becomes interoperable and foolproof across platforms, passwords will persist as a legacy fallback." Kurdziolek agreed with the focus on biometrics, but said that the industry needed to take special care that the adoption process did not include any gaps or flaws in the technology. "There's real momentum behind technologies that could replace traditional passwords, like biometrics, MFA, and hardware security keys but widespread adoption is still in progress. While there is momentum behind organizations taking steps toward a passwordless future, for many, it's still years away. "Replacing passwords is just part of the solution. Secrets, credentials, and keys often remain hidden across cloud storage, code repositories, and everyday tools. Organizations need to take control of their sensitive data wherever they live so even as they move toward passwordless security, they can reduce risk and close gaps that attackers could exploit." Artificially Intelligent Passwords As with any space in tech right now, the biggest question is how AI will impact the future. When it comes to passwords, the consensus is that AI is a double-edged sword; it provides users greater tools and detection methods for security purposes, but it gives criminals and hackers those same tools as well. "It is helping both users and attackers, but right now, attackers are scaling faster," Halder told Newsweek. "AI isn't just speeding up brute-force attacks; it's decoding password patterns, auto-generating phishing content and simulating human behavior more convincingly than ever. "On the flip side, AI is helping defenders, too — from spotting credential stuffing attacks in real time to alerting users when their passwords are weak or reused. But we can't let AI be a Band-Aid. "The real leap will come when we stop relying on passwords altogether and move toward continuous, contextual authentication powered by behavior, biometrics and device identity, not just secrets." Kurdziolek was similarly cautious of AI, and said that criminals are using it to crack passwords faster and faster. "AI is reshaping the security landscape for passwords on both sides of the equation. For everyday users and defenders, AI helps detect suspicious logins, flag credential stuffing attempts faster, and power smarter passwordless authentication methods like biometrics. "But attackers are also using AI to crack passwords faster through automated brute-force attacks and to craft more convincing phishing schemes that steal credentials in the first place. "Ultimately, AI makes strong password hygiene and secrets protection even more critical. Replacing or supplementing passwords with multi-factor or passwordless authentication is a smart step but it's equally important to uncover hidden credentials and secrets that attackers could exploit."
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
TMC student leader says many like rape accused Monojit Mishra present in other Kolkata colleges
Kolkata Suspended Trinamool Congress student leader and former president of Jadavpur University unit Rajanya Halder has accused that there are many like Monojit Mishra, the prime accused in South Calcutta Law College student rape case, in many colleges across West Bengal. 'There are many such characters like Monojit Mishra hiding inside the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMC student wing) and they should be identified and given specific punishment. They also shared my distorted pictures - made by AI. Many 'dadas' like Manojit Mishra used to send such pictures to their juniors' phones on WhatsApp,' Ms. Halder accused. She called for strict action against such 'criminals' and asked the party to identify them. 'They exploit women and lure them about giving them positions in the party or other favours. This just means that women still do not have equal rights in the organisation,' Ms. Halder told The Hindu. Ms. Halder said that she informed the party's higher ranks at the beginning of July and has brought the matter to their attention. She also said that the party has assured her that they will look into the accusations and take necessary action against the accused. On enquiring why, she has not filed an FIR against the perpetrators, she claimed that if she files an FIR many TMC leaders' names will come up in the list. 'I am not against the party, I still love my party. That is why I have informed party seniors and not the State authorities till now,' Ms Halder further added. Reacting to the comments made by Ms. Halder, Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) State president Trinankur Bhattacharjee said that they have not received any formal complaint from Ms. Halder about the issues she has spoken about. Priyadarshini Hakim, general Secretary of Trinamool Mahila Congress said that if Ms. Halder's allegations are true then the perpetrators should be held accountable and punished. 'There is no need to make this about any party. There are good and bad things inside every human. We need to hold the people accountable,' Ms. Hakim said. Debanjan Dey, Students Federation of India (Student wing of CPI(M)) West Bengal State secretary accused that TMCP has promoted the rise of the 'Monojit Da model across campuses in Kolkata. There were multiple allegations against Monojit in multiple police stations, then why did they not take action?' Mr. Dey accused. Suspension from party Last year in October, Ms. Halder and her husband Prantik Chakraborty were suspended for anti-party activities, student leader Mr. Bhattacharya had said. The duo had made a short-film about the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder incident and the subsequent protests. The short film titled Agamani was allegedly made without any 'party permission'. They were suspended before the short-film's release.
The Print
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Print
Relief for households as edible oil prices set to dip after import duty cut
For families battling rising food bills, the impact may be felt soon in 'Kirana' (grocery) shops and supermarkets. 'The edible oil prices that had surged by nearly 17 per cent in recent months are finally showing signs of cooling. We expect it to ease into single digits very soon,' Emami Agrotech director and CEO Sudhakar Rao Desai told PTI. Kolkata, Jun 2 (PTI) In a respite to households, the prices of cooking oils are expected to fall by 5–6 per cent at the retail level over the next two weeks following the central government's decision to reduce import duty on crude edible oils by 10 per cent, officials said on Monday. While the benefit is expected to reflect in retail prices in about a fortnight, the wholesale markets are already showing early signs of softening prices, the executive from the leading branded edible oil manufacturer in eastern India said. The price correction will not be limited to imported oils alone. 'Even mustard oil, which is not dependent on imports, could see a 3–4 per cent reduction due to the overall downward pressure in the edible oil market,' Desai added. Behind the scenes, the policy shift is also giving a fresh lease of life to India's edible oil refining industry. The widened gap between crude and refined oil duties—from 12.5 per cent to 22.5 per cent—has made it significantly more cost-effective for companies to import crude oil and refine it domestically. 'The 10 per cent duty cut is a game-changer,' said Keshab Kumar Halder, Managing Director of Halder Venture Ltd. 'Domestic retail prices of imported edible oils such as soybean, sunflower, and palm oil are expected to decline gradually. This downward trend is also likely to extend to domestically produced oils like rice bran and mustard oil,' the chief of the publicly listed agro firm said. 'It not only helps consumers but also strengthens the position of Indian manufacturers who were losing out earlier due to unfair competition from duty-free re-exports from countries like Nepal,' Halder added. Indian refiners had been squeezed by high input costs and low margins, but the revised duty structure now offers them a clear competitive advantage, he explained. 'This will lead to better capacity utilisation, improved profit margins, and a stronger domestic refining ecosystem,' Halder said. Industry leaders estimate that capacity utilisation across the refining sector could rise by 20–25 per cent, boosting the central government's Make in India initiative and reducing dependence on imported refined oil. PTI BSM SBN SBN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Relief for households as edible oil prices set to dip after import duty cut
In a respite to households, the prices of cooking oils are expected to fall by 5-6 per cent at the retail level over the next two weeks following the central government's decision to reduce import duty on crude edible oils by 10 per cent, officials said on Monday. "The edible oil prices that had surged by nearly 17 per cent in recent months are finally showing signs of cooling. We expect it to ease into single digits very soon," Emami Agrotech director and CEO Sudhakar Rao Desai told PTI. For families battling rising food bills, the impact may be felt soon in 'Kirana' (grocery) shops and supermarkets. While the benefit is expected to reflect in retail prices in about a fortnight, the wholesale markets are already showing early signs of softening prices, the executive from the leading branded edible oil manufacturer in eastern India said. The price correction will not be limited to imported oils alone. "Even mustard oil, which is not dependent on imports, could see a 3-4 per cent reduction due to the overall downward pressure in the edible oil market," Desai added. Behind the scenes, the policy shift is also giving a fresh lease of life to India's edible oil refining industry. The widened gap between crude and refined oil duties-from 12.5 per cent to 22.5 per cent-has made it significantly more cost-effective for companies to import crude oil and refine it domestically. "The 10 per cent duty cut is a game-changer," said Keshab Kumar Halder, Managing Director of Halder Venture Ltd . "Domestic retail prices of imported edible oils such as soybean, sunflower, and palm oil are expected to decline gradually. This downward trend is also likely to extend to domestically produced oils like rice bran and mustard oil," the chief of the publicly listed agro firm said. "It not only helps consumers but also strengthens the position of Indian manufacturers who were losing out earlier due to unfair competition from duty-free re-exports from countries like Nepal," Halder added. Indian refiners had been squeezed by high input costs and low margins, but the revised duty structure now offers them a clear competitive advantage, he explained. "This will lead to better capacity utilisation, improved profit margins, and a stronger domestic refining ecosystem," Halder said. Industry leaders estimate that capacity utilisation across the refining sector could rise by 20-25 per cent, boosting the central government's Make in India initiative and reducing dependence on imported refined oil.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Relief for households as edible oil prices set to dip after import duty cut
Good news for Indian households. Cooking oil prices are set to decrease. The central government has reduced import duties on crude edible oils. This decision will lead to a 5-6% drop in retail prices within two weeks. Wholesale markets are already showing signs of price softening. Mustard oil prices may also see a reduction. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In a respite to households, the prices of cooking oils are expected to fall by 5-6 per cent at the retail level over the next two weeks following the central government's decision to reduce import duty on crude edible oils by 10 per cent, officials said on Monday."The edible oil prices that had surged by nearly 17 per cent in recent months are finally showing signs of cooling. We expect it to ease into single digits very soon," Emami Agrotech director and CEO Sudhakar Rao Desai told families battling rising food bills, the impact may be felt soon in 'Kirana' (grocery) shops and the benefit is expected to reflect in retail prices in about a fortnight, the wholesale markets are already showing early signs of softening prices, the executive from the leading branded edible oil manufacturer in eastern India price correction will not be limited to imported oils alone."Even mustard oil, which is not dependent on imports, could see a 3-4 per cent reduction due to the overall downward pressure in the edible oil market," Desai the scenes, the policy shift is also giving a fresh lease of life to India's edible oil refining industry. The widened gap between crude and refined oil duties-from 12.5 per cent to 22.5 per cent-has made it significantly more cost-effective for companies to import crude oil and refine it domestically."The 10 per cent duty cut is a game-changer," said Keshab Kumar Halder, Managing Director of Halder Venture Ltd "Domestic retail prices of imported edible oils such as soybean, sunflower, and palm oil are expected to decline gradually. This downward trend is also likely to extend to domestically produced oils like rice bran and mustard oil," the chief of the publicly listed agro firm said."It not only helps consumers but also strengthens the position of Indian manufacturers who were losing out earlier due to unfair competition from duty-free re-exports from countries like Nepal," Halder refiners had been squeezed by high input costs and low margins, but the revised duty structure now offers them a clear competitive advantage, he explained."This will lead to better capacity utilisation, improved profit margins, and a stronger domestic refining ecosystem," Halder leaders estimate that capacity utilisation across the refining sector could rise by 20-25 per cent, boosting the central government's Make in India initiative and reducing dependence on imported refined oil. PTI
