Go Green! Go Security!!

As broad as my articles have been for the last few posts, I can't stress enough the importance of Going Green! We only have one earth and I think it's great the I.T. world steps up with new advancements in technology that is safe and yet good for the environment.

Without further ado allow me to present for your reading pleasure.....A new low powered Microchip. Let's discuss this chip and its features a little bit more and discuss how we can relate this in the grand scheme of Database!

Now despite this article being a bit dated I am sure even in this day the technology is being improved upon even further than this articles gives justice. But for the sake of just being informed its important to note some of the key points it had to offer when the article was first published! The chip I am discussing is a PIC 8-bit flash micro controller with integrated KEELOQ^® cryptographic peripheral. This chip uses a combination of low power consumption and a reliable battery powered operation. This chip boasts that it is the total solution for secure data transmissions and authentication applications. That I think is very important for those with sensitive information stored in databases and servers. I do not think anyone else would disagree with me on that notion. But we must know, is this all it can do? Sure there has to be other features that set it apart from the rest! What possible applications could the new PIC12F635 and PIC16F636 microcontrollers have in store?

It is important to note that these chips can be used for Remote security control which in turn is basically Remote Keyless entry, an example would be perhaps the lock/unlock feature on your automobile. Passive Keyless entry and remote door locks and gate openers are other Remote security control types associated with these microchips. These microchips don't stop there, they can also be used for Authentication purposes for example property and identity. The microchips also boast of being associated with remote sensor and their intercommunications for Security Systems. So we see that it has some many general purposes to those listed but the real question we should be asking for those not completely tech inclined is " What does this all mean and why is it better then my wireless door locker in my car or my garage door opener in my house?" Well I am glad you asked that, you see in this day and age new devices exist that can intercept signals given off by your garage door opener or current keyless entry controllers for your car. With the properly equipped thief and the right tool for intercepting this signal they can take that signal and store it into their signal stealing device and use it to gain access to your car or home when you are away and unsuspecting. I don't think I have to tell you what that means when an outsider gains access to your belongings! So how does this tie back into these microchips now that I have seemingly gone off into a tangent. Well fear not a direct quote from the article states that

" KEELOQ technology is based on a proprietary, non-linear encryption algorithm that creates a unique transmission on every use, rendering code capture and resend schemes useless. The new devices now feature this encryption algorithm as an integrated hardware peripheral to the PIC microcontroller core. " ( credit to Eric Lawson on this well stated article ) Article web address to be found by clicking on "here"

So there you have it, a new kind of chip that boasts lower energy consumption for our environment and some great features to help better protect those sensitive files in your database or even in your own home! I personally enjoyed this article because it basically killed two birds with one stone. Microchip Technology Inc. developed a way to go green while increasing security for anything that has these microchips integrated!