QuintessenceLabs (Australia)

Agriculture Technology (AgTech) integrates various technologies, devices, protocols, and computational paradigms to improve agricultural processes. Big data, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud and edge computing are applied to provide capabilities for collecting, transmitting, storing, processing, and analyzing agricultural data. Large amounts of data are gathered from multiple sources and processed in real time, enabling more effective decision-making. Data can be used to automate processes, resulting in savings on farm labor. To obtain the benefits of AgTech, data trustworthiness is essential and cyber resilience is required. Security flaws may result in farming equipment and processes being interrupted or inoperable, with significant revenue and capital losses. It is important for farmers to identify and respond to cyber incidents. Several existing works have attempted to classify AgTech technologies. However, most existing classifications are based on a limited set of characteristics and only focus on communication technologies in use or provide generic adversarial scenarios. There are real risks to data trustworthiness that impact on digital agriculture, and many of these risks are yet to be addressed. It is critical to understand the building blocks and possible components to be considered in a future security framework and their capabilities for satisfying the data confidentiality, quality, authenticity, and integrity requirements. This paper proposes a taxonomy to enable a consistent means of classifying the technologies that form the backbone of AgTech and outline the building blocks of data trustworthiness. This taxonomy consists of seven main criteria that recognize the technologies and systems (used to enable the movement of data at different stages) in terms of how it operates, its features, its benefits, and its limitations. Understanding the taxonomy enables effective implementation of anomaly detection and cryptographic methods to ensure data trustworthiness. Efficient AgTech with no security represents a serious risk to long-term sustainable smart farming and food security. Further, this paper outlines the integration of post-quantum cryptography with AgTech. The usefulness of the proposed taxonomy is demonstrated using two different types of case study related to the design and implementation of a modular security framework in real-world scenarios. The paper also identifies and discusses other important factors that impact data trustworthiness.

As a security extension of DNS, DNSSEC is critical to the reliable translation of domain names to IP addresses. This reliability - i.e., authenticity and integrity of translated responses in DNSSEC is underpinned through digital signatures. However, the evolution of Quantum Computers has put conventional digital signatures on the brink of compromise. Given this, NIST has recently selected candidates for post-quantum digital signatures that can run on conventional computers but withstand the attacks conducted using the Quantum Computers. However, since these post-quantum digital signatures are in their infancy, simply replacing the pre-quantum digital signatures schemes with postquantum candidates in DNSSEC is deemed a risk until the postquantum candidates are fully analyzed for security. Given this, herein, we investigate the possibility of using Double-Signatures in DNSSEC, combining a post-quantum digital signature and a classic one. The rationale is that double-signatures will offer protection against quantum threats on conventional signature schemes as well as unknown non-quantum attacks on postquantum signature schemes, hence even if one fails the other provides security guarantees. To accomplish this, we built a functional testbed using Docker and Docker networks and leveraged the modified source code of commercial-grade DNSSEC software BIND9 for generating and verifying double-signatures in DNSSEC resolution. Through a comprehensive empirical analysis, we show the efficacy of Double-Signed DNSSEC (in terms of performance) with an insignificant overhead. Hence, this article provides an analysis-based evidence advocating the implementation of double-signed DNSSEC until the Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computer (CRQC) is fully realized.

The Gaussian modulated continuous variable quantum key distribution (GM-CVQKD) protocol is known to maximise the mutual information between two parties during quantum key distribution (QKD). An alternative modulation scheme is the discrete modulated CVQKD (DM-CVQKD) protocol. In this paper, we perform a feasibility study for practical satellite-to-ground CVQKD with a focus on comparing existing GM-CVQKD and DM-CVQKD protocols with the application of the performance of recent reconciliation methods. We use a satellite-to-ground link model which takes into account geometric losses, scintillation, and scattering losses from the link distance, atmospheric turbulence, and atmospheric aerosols, respectively. In addition, recent multidimensional (MD) and multilevel coding and multistage decoding (MLC-MSD) reconciliation method models in combination with multiedge-type low-density parity-check (MET-LDPC) code models have been used to determine the reconciliation efficiency. Realistic parameters have been used for the calculation of the secret key rate (SKR) along with a comparison between MD and MLC-MSD reconciliation during satellite-to-ground GM-CVQKD, for the first time. The results show that GM-CVQKD outperforms DM-CVQKD. In addition, GM-CVQKD with MD reconciliation outperforms GM-CVQKD with MLC-MSD reconciliation in the finite size limit by producing positive SKRs at larger link distances and lower elevation angles.

Advances of emerging Information and Communications Technology (ICT) technologies push the boundaries of what is possible and open up new markets for innovative ICT products and services. The adoption of ICT products and systems with security properties depends on consumers' confidence and markets' trust in the security functionalities and whether the assurance measures applied to these products meet the inherent security requirements. Such confidence and trust are primarily gained through the rigorous development of security requirements, validation criteria, evaluation, and certification. Common Criteria for Information Technology Security Evaluation (often referred to as Common Criteria or CC) is an international standard (ISO/IEC 15408) for cyber security certification. In this paper, we conduct a systematic review of the CC standards and its adoptions. Adoption barriers of the CC are also investigated based on the analysis of current trends in security evaluation. Specifically, we share the experiences and lessons gained through the recent Development of Australian Cyber Criteria Assessment (DACCA) project that promotes the CC among stakeholders in ICT security products related to specification, development, evaluation, certification and approval, procurement, and deployment. Best practices on developing Protection Profiles, recommendations, and future directions for trusted cybersecurity advancement are presented.

The nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and its insect vectors from the Monochamus genus are major global quarantine pests of timber products. Owing to the phase-out of methyl bromide for plant quarantine and preshipment treatments, an alternative fumigant is essential. Based on preliminary laboratory studies on the efficacy of ethanedinitrile (C2 N2 ) to B. xylophilus and Monochamus alternatus, three quarantine trials were conducted at three dosages and three temperatures. Potential for inhalation exposure was assessed by monitoring atmospheric C2 N2 in relation to the threshold limit value. Concentration × time products (Ct) of 398.6, 547.2 and 595.9 g h m-3 were obtained for each trial. A 100% mortality of B. xylophilus and M. alternatus larvae at 23 ± 4 °C and 10 ± 4 °C occurred with a load factor of pine logs of 46% and at 3 ± 1 °C with a load factor of 30%. During all fumigations, atmospheric levels of C2 N2 20 m downwind were below the TLV. During aeration, levels 10 and 5 m downwind were below the TLV after 0.4 and 1 h respectively. For the purpose of quarantine or phytosanitary treatment, specific doses of C2 N2 at the trial temperatures could control B. xylophilus and M. alternatus larvae without significant inhalation risk to workers. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

This paper investigates the design of low-complexity error correction codes for the verification step in continuous variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) systems. We design new coding schemes based on quasi-cyclic repeat-accumulate codes which demonstrate good performances for CVQKD reconciliation. Given quasi-cyclic repeat-accumulate codes' commercial maturity, low implementation complexity and existing high-speed ASIC implementations, this makes these codes viable candidates for commercial CVQKD systems.

The reproductive behaviour of Libel/ago semiopaca was studied on a swift-flowing shallow forest stream in Brunei.Females oviposited just below the water-line, commonly in groups, only on large, firm-textured, semi-submerged logs, usually guarded by males.Both sexes were very sedentary.Suitable sites, with good illumination and deep deposits of fine gravel and leaf mulch in dead water immediately behind the log were scarce.When stream levels were high, no oviposition sites were available.When possible, females generally oviposited every day, arriving between 10:00 and 15:00 h, and usually remaining on site for at least two hours.Males arrived earlier, between 09:00 and 13:00 h, and established small territories along the log.Females apparently began reproductive activity only when all oocytes were mature, and the egg load diminished daily as eggs were laid.Most matings occurred before 12:00 h with early-arriving females.Females mated every 2-3 days, probably to replenish sperm supplies.Male density was at its highest after 11:00 hand males shared territories, spending much of their time flying in low intensity confronting contests.Removal of males from a site, just as it was becoming available by falling water levels, resulted in little use of the site by females.Pinning decoy dead females at a good oviposition site failed to attract females if males had been removed.It is suggested that the prolonged male agonistic display attracts females to the site, and possibly commits them to future matings with the territory holders.

"Advanced access" is a set of change principles for improved scheduling in office-based health care, widely applied in the United States and in the United Kingdom. Examination of advanced access in two Australian general practices indicates it is feasible in this country and may offer improvements in patient access to care, practice income and workplace conditions. Rigorous evaluations of advanced access are lacking, but in the Australian National Primary Care Collaborative, 300 practices will implement advanced access, providing an opportunity for a rigorous evaluation of these principles.