Use'cloud browsers' for large-scale, anonymous computing

[indianacarnie]

Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University of Oregon have found a way to exploit cloud-based Web browsers, using them to perform large-scale computing tasks anonymously. The finding has potential ramifications for the security of "cloud browser" services.

Read more at: Researchers identify ways to exploit 'cloud browsers' for large-scale, anonymous computing

Makes me wonder just how "safe" using the cloud services are. But I must admit to a bias against anything cloud based.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
If we take the "US Consultant Jargon-ese" out of this it's just basically a Torrent by any other name.

Didn't SETI have something like this years ago when they needed extra compute power -- They used loads of (volunteers -- no hacks - users freely logged on) users who connected to their system and they parcelled out chunks of the application to run on the various "clients" -- i.e logged on users.

The cloud will work like bit torrent -- so the application exploiting this will just be looking for the equivalent of "Seeds and peers" and run the application that way.

Nothing really new in all this -- sounds a bit like "Back to the future" to me.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[indianacarnie]

Hadn't thought of it that way...... hmmmmmm

And yes the SETI thing is still going on I think..... actually did it for a winter once a few years back.

Participate in SETI@home