Abstract: A payment card system for authorization and authentication is provided. A computing device monitors one or more transactions to detect various security threats comprising one or more accounts. A computing device determines to elevate a security level associated, at least, with one account based, at least, in part, on detection of, at least, one security threat. A computing device generates at least one temporary personal identification number based, at least, on determination to elevate a security level associated, at least, with one account.

Abstract: A shared networked storage may be separated from a key vault system. A storage request with data to be stored and the storage request with a confidentiality rating may be received. The confidentiality rating may indicate a level of confidentiality the data is associated with. The storage request with the data and the confidentiality rating may be received via a shared networked storage access interface by a security layer. The data to be stored by the key vault system and the confidentiality rating may be encrypted on request of the security layer and into a data container. The shared networked storage may be categorized into Cloud zones. Each Cloud zone may be assigned a trust level. The data container may be stored in one of the Cloud zones of the shared networked storage. The trust level of the one of the Cloud zones may correspond to the confidentiality rating.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include selecting an archive storing one or more archived files. Respective locations are identified for each of the one or more archived files, the respective locations are stored to a memory, and using the respective locations in the memory, a corresponding accessible file is defined for each of the one or more archived files. Upon receiving a request to access a given accessible file, a given location in the archive for the given archived file is identified, and the given accessible file can be accessed at the given location. In embodiments where the given accessible file consists of a data file, the given accessible file is accessed by reading data from the data file. In embodiments where the given accessible file consists of an executable file, the given accessible file is accessed by executing the executable file.

Abstract: For adding cooperative file coloring protocols in a data deduplication system using a processor device in a computing environment, a preferred character is represented for file coloring in a file using a code selected from a multiplicity of codes that represent a variety of contexts. The original meaning of the preferred character is retained when representing the preferred character for the file coloring by the code selected from the multiplicity of codes. The file is deduplicated by the data deduplication system according to the file coloring that represents a source file of a backup application.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention may include a method, computer program product and computer system for optimizing course understanding. The method, computer program product and computer system may include a computing device to receive fueling location data and vehicle identification data of a vehicle from a radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver from a plurality of fueling stations. The RFID transceiver may receive the vehicle identification data at the RFID transceiver from a cryptographic RFID transponder as part of the vehicle. The computing device may receive user authentication signals authorizing a plurality of fueling stations from an authorized user of the vehicle. The computing device may determine from the fueling location data, the vehicle identification data, and the user authentication signals one or more fueling patterns. The computing device may detect a fueling location deviating from the one or more fueling patterns send an alert to an authorized device.

Abstract: A method for defending a computing system against ransomware attacks is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes identifying, on a computing system, files to be protected against ransomware attacks. The method appends a public key to each of the files. Upon receiving a request to modify a specific file, the method reads the public key appended to the file, requests an authentication token from a user, and computes a private key associated with the files. The method combines the public key, authentication token, and private key to generate an unlock key. This unlock key is compared to a validation key. The method authorizes modification of the file in the event the unlock key matches the validation key. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for synchronizing data to update backup files. In one embodiment, data associated with files to be synchronized is sent to a second computer system by a first computers system. The second computer system matches data associated with the files to be synchronized to a database, and the first computer system determines differences between an old and new version of the files to be synchronized and creates a backup of the files. The backup of the files is stored in a storage device.

Abstract: A method and system are provided. The method includes analyzing, by a hardware processor, one or more images to determine cognitive characteristics related to the one or more images and to a user. The method further includes forming, by the hardware processor, a composable template relating to the cognitive characteristics. The method also includes performing, by the hardware processor or another hardware processor, an amelioration action with respect to a displaying on a display device of at least one image from the one or more images, based on the composable template. The amelioration action is selected from a set of amelioration actions that include transmitting the at least one image to the disturbing image repository.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving configuration information which corresponds to hardware and software configurations of a user computing environment. This configuration information is used to create a test computing environment which emulates the hardware and software configurations of the user computing environment. Moreover, a software update is applied to the test computing environment, and the test computing environment is operated with the software update applied thereto. Results which correspond to performance of the test computing environment during the operation are received, and a determination is made as to whether one or more errors were experienced by the test computing environment during the operation. In response to determining that at least one error was experienced by the test computing environment during the operation, implementation of the software update in the user computing environment is postponed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provides methods, computer program products, and a system for improving serial performance of a computer system storage volume. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to reduce a partition scheme of a storage volume to allow for a computer system to read the storage volume using additional system resources that were previously idle during a serial read operation. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to reserve random-access memory (RAM) to store metadata describing data stored on a storage volume that utilizes a reduced partition scheme. Once the serial read of the storage volume is complete, the embodiments of the present invention can revert the partition scheme back to the original partition scheme for normal, non-serial read operations.

Abstract: A computer controls deduplication of data. The computer generates a hash of a remote data and a hash of a local data. The computer generates a set of unmatched hash data based on a comparison of the hash of the remote data against the hash of the local data. The computer generates a splitting cost that is associated with splitting the set of unmatched hash data. The computer sends a request to a server based on a comparison of the splitting cost to a threshold. The request dictates sending of the remote data to a storage controller.

Abstract: A controller-implemented method includes reading, by a controller, a scrub unit containing a read unit and, in response to determining that the scrub unit is not marked as being scrubbed in a current scrub cycle, storing, by the controller, the scrub unit to a memory. The method also includes marking, by the controller, another scrub unit associated with the stored scrub unit as a scrub-pending scrub unit and reading, by the controller, the scrub-pending scrub unit in response to determining that a subsequent read matches predefined criteria. The method includes performing, by the controller, a scrub using the stored scrub unit and the scrub-pending scrub unit. A system includes a processor and logic integrated with the processor, executable by the processor, or integrated with and executable by the processor. The logic is configured to perform the foregoing method.

Abstract: A technique for operating a data storage system includes generating information that identifies data that is currently stored in a write cache of the data storage system. The information is stored in a data structure associated with the data storage system. In response to a failure of the data storage system, the information in the data structure is accessed to identify the data that was lost in the failure.

Abstract: A data security method may include storing user data to a first device and storing metadata corresponding to the user data to a second device. The method may further include making a first determination that at least one device selected from the group of the first device and the second device is not in communication with a third device. The method may further include disabling utilization of the user data in response to the first determination.

Abstract: Methods and systems for culturally sensitive operation of an electronic device. One or more cultural characteristics (CC) related to use of a communication device are determined and one or more cultural characteristics rules are learned. An amelioration action is triggered based on use of the communication device, the one or more cultural characteristics rules, and a confidence/risk level.

Abstract: A method for establishing an index of usability associated with a replacement payment card is provided. The method may include receiving a payment card replacement request in a vending facility. The method may further include identifying at least one possible risk factor associated with a user utilizing the replacement payment card. The method may also include creating a risk assessment based on the at least one identified possible risk factor. The method may further include establishing an index of usability for the replacement payment card based on the created assessment, whereby a value of the index of usability correlates to a plurality of restrictions placed on using the replacement payment card. The method may also include storing the established index of usability in a database.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments described herein, device, computer-implemented methods, and/or computer program products that facilitate biometric authentication. According to an embodiment, a device can comprise a memory that stores computer executable components and a processor that executes the computer executable components. The computer executable components can comprise a sensor component comprising one or more pressure sensors and that measures pressure. The computer executable components can further comprise a pressure processing component that determines a first pressure sequence employed to authenticate the device, wherein the first pressure sequence is determined based on a pressure applied at the one or more pressure sensors. The computer executable components can further comprise an authentication component that authenticates the first pressure sequence by determining that the first pressure sequence matches an authentication pressure sequence.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, is for performing internal striping within a subset of slices. The computer-implemented method includes: receiving, by a computer, a logical unit; splitting, by the computer, the logical unit into a plurality of data chunks; and distributing, by the computer, the plurality of data chunks across the subset of slices such that the plurality of data chunks are striped across the subset of slices, and striped across a plurality of physical partitions in each of the subset of slices. Moreover, each of the subset of slices correspond to a different physical storage module in a single storage device. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Abstract: A method for establishing an index of usability associated with a replacement payment card is provided. The method may include receiving a payment card replacement request in a vending facility. The method may further include identifying at least one possible risk factor associated with a user utilizing the replacement payment card. The method may also include creating a risk assessment based on the at least one identified possible risk factor. The method may further include establishing an index of usability for the replacement payment card based on the created assessment, whereby a value of the index of usability correlates to a plurality of restrictions placed on using the replacement payment card. The method may also include storing the established index of usability in a database.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: determining whether an error has occurred for each block of storage space in memory by sequentially evaluating each of the blocks of storage space. In response to determining that an error has occurred for a given block, the given block is scanned for an identifier at an end of data stored in the given block, and a trailer appended to the identifier is located. Metadata included in the trailer is further used to identify each additional block which corresponds to a same file as the given block, and a data scrubbing procedure is performed on the given block and each of the additional identified blocks. A result of the scrubbing procedure is also output in response to detecting an error in the given block and/or the additional identified blocks.