One of the themes of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code is the need to keep vital and sensitive information secure. Today, we take it for granted that most of our information is safe because it's encrypted. Every time we use a credit card, transfer money from our checking accounts -- or even chat on a cell phone -- our personal information is protected by a cryptographic system.

Dutch computer scientist Martin Bravenboer has developed new techniques that make it easier to combine programming languages. Thanks to these techniques, software is no longer sensitive to the most common method of misuse by hackers: so-called injection attacks.

What are young people really doing online, and does it really matter? Well it certainly matters to them, but all too readily we think we know what they're doing. We also think we know what's required to keep them safe and secure in this space. But do we?

If the proverbial genie gave Internet users three wishes for an improved network what would they ask for" Peace of mind about secure financial transactions" Protection from hackers" Inventive new applications that improve the quality of life"