The Federal Trade Commission said it will hold a public workshop about all things ransomware on Sept. 7.“With alarming frequency, ransomware hackers are sneaking into consumer and business computers, encrypting files containing photos, documents and other important data, and then demanding a ransom in exchange for the key needed to decrypt the files. Consumers, businesses, and government agencies are falling prey to these schemes, including hospitals whose servers may contain sensitive patient data. New forms of ransomware encrypt files of website operators, threatening not only their files containing stored data, but the very files needed to operate their websites. Other variants of ransomware are now targeting files on mobile devices,” the FTC wrote.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The Federal Trade Commission said it will hold a public workshop about all things ransomware on Sept. 7.“With alarming frequency, ransomware hackers are sneaking into consumer and business computers, encrypting files containing photos, documents and other important data, and then demanding a ransom in exchange for the key needed to decrypt the files. Consumers, businesses, and government agencies are falling prey to these schemes, including hospitals whose servers may contain sensitive patient data. New forms of ransomware encrypt files of website operators, threatening not only their files containing stored data, but the very files needed to operate their websites. Other variants of ransomware are now targeting files on mobile devices,” the FTC wrote.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Cisco’s security intelligence and research group Talos, said that it had reported a serious vulnerability in Rockwell Automation’s industrial control system – the MicroLogix 1400 programmable logic controller (PLC).The Simple Network Management Protocol exploit could let an attacker take complete remote control of the MicroLogix system and modify the device firmware, letting an invader run his own malicious code on the device. Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation’s MicroLogix systemTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Cisco’s security intelligence and research group Talos, said that it had reported a serious vulnerability in Rockwell Automation’s industrial control system – the MicroLogix 1400 programmable logic controller (PLC).The Simple Network Management Protocol exploit could let an attacker take complete remote control of the MicroLogix system and modify the device firmware, letting an invader run his own malicious code on the device. Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation’s MicroLogix systemTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The developers of open source virtual networking technology Open vSwitch (OVS) said this week they will move future development to the Linux Foundation Project.The move releases Open vSwitch, which usually runs on hypervisors, up to a greater number of developers who can use it to further develop tools and applications for the virtual networking world. OVS works on a wide variety of systems, including Linux, DPDK, Hyper-V, and FreeBSD. The technology is used in a variety of Software Defined Networking applications, including NFV and network virtualization and it is the most widely used networking back-end in OpenStack, the foundation said.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
NASA this week picked six companies to develop prototype deep space habitats that astronauts could somewhat comfortably live in on long space journeys – particularly to Mars.According to NASA, an effective habitat contains “pressurized volume plus an integrated array of complex systems and components that include a docking capability, environmental control and life support systems, logistics management, radiation mitigation and monitoring, fire safety technologies, and crew health capabilities.” +More on Network World: The weirdest, wackiest and coolest sci/tech stories of 2016 (so far!)To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The hype over the deployment of Software Defined-WAN technology and services is quickly becoming something more so far this year.Just this week EarthLink announced a partnership with SD-WAN vendor VeloCloud to offer a managed WAN-SD service. And recently Verizon teamed with SD-WAN purveyors at Viptela to offer SD-WAN services. Also this month another SD-WAN player -- CloudGenix -- announced a partner program to build out its SD-WAN offering to the masses. AT&T and other players are in on the managed SD-WAN service world as well.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The hype over the deployment of Software Defined-WAN technology and services is quickly becoming something more so far this year.Just this week EarthLink announced a partnership with SD-WAN vendor VeloCloud to offer a managed WAN-SD service. And recently Verizon teamed with SD-WAN purveyors at Viptela to offer SD-WAN services. Also this month another SD-WAN player -- CloudGenix -- announced a partner program to build out its SD-WAN offering to the masses. AT&T and other players are in on the managed SD-WAN service world as well.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Perhaps one day we’ll see bridges that repair themselves or houses that could restore walls after a fire.Sounds a bit like science fiction yes but a new program announced by the masters of making science fiction fact, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, this week announced a program that would combine the structural properties of traditional building ingredients with attributes of living systems to offer a class of living material that could be grown where needed, self-repair when damaged and respond to changes in their surroundings.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Perhaps one day we’ll see bridges that repair themselves or houses that could restore walls after a fire.Sounds a bit like science fiction yes but a new program announced by the masters of making science fiction fact, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, this week announced a program that would combine the structural properties of traditional building ingredients with attributes of living systems to offer a class of living material that could be grown where needed, self-repair when damaged and respond to changes in their surroundings.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Wireless transmitters that operate at very or ultra low frequencies (0.3‐30 kHz) typically require some big antenna complexes to handle their communications.
Scientists at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) said they are interested looking to eliminate that issue and develop smaller physical structures that could handle new long-distance communication applications.
+ DARPA wants huge Holy Grail of mobile ad hoc networks
DARPA in search of a 100 Gb/sec wireless technology that can penetrate clutter+To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
With one of the largest telecommuting communities – over 1 million -- in the country many of the Federal agencies that support it have little information to show about its benefits.Watchdogs at the Government Accountability Office this week issued a report that found that many agencies “had little data to support the benefits or costs associated with their telework programs. All of the selected agencies could provide some supporting documentation for some of the benefits and only two could provide supporting documentation for some of the costs.”+More on Network World: Black Hat: Quick look at hot issues+To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
With one of the largest telecommuting communities – over 1 million -- in the country many of the Federal agencies that support it have little information to show about its benefits.Watchdogs at the Government Accountability Office this week issued a report that found that many agencies “had little data to support the benefits or costs associated with their telework programs. All of the selected agencies could provide some supporting documentation for some of the benefits and only two could provide supporting documentation for some of the costs.”+More on Network World: Black Hat: Quick look at hot issues+To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Security subjectsImage by Reuters/David BeckerBlack Hat includes a variety of security topics from how USB drives are a menace and how drones are fast becoming a threat you need to pay attention to and much more. Here we take a look at just a few of the hot topics presented at the conference.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Security subjectsImage by Reuters/David BeckerBlack Hat includes a variety of security topics from how USB drives are a menace and how drones are fast becoming a threat you need to pay attention to and much more. Here we take a look at just a few of the hot topics presented at the conference.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The Federal Aviation Administration this week granted permission to a privately-held space firm to launch a robotic spacecraft to the moon.
Moon Express expects to launch its MX-1 spacecraft on a two-week mission to the lunar surface in 2017. The MX-1, which is about as large as a suitcase will include instruments and a camera to explore the moon’s surface.
+More on Network World: NASA: Top 10 space junk missions+
“The MX-1E is a spacecraft/lander capable of transfer from Earth orbit to the Moon, making a soft landing on the lunar surface, and performing post-landing relocations through propulsive ‘hops,’” the FAA stated. The FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation holds controlling powers over space launches and their payloads.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The Federal Aviation Administration this week granted permission to a privately-held space firm to launch a robotic spacecraft to the moon.
Moon Express expects to launch its MX-1 spacecraft on a two-week mission to the lunar surface in 2017. The MX-1, which is about as large as a suitcase will include instruments and a camera to explore the moon’s surface.
+More on Network World: NASA: Top 10 space junk missions+
“The MX-1E is a spacecraft/lander capable of transfer from Earth orbit to the Moon, making a soft landing on the lunar surface, and performing post-landing relocations through propulsive ‘hops,’” the FAA stated. The FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation holds controlling powers over space launches and their payloads.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
In the ideal world the infamous Internal Revenue Service call scam should have faded away replaced by some other stupid ploy but alas…The IRS said today that the scammers have ramped up their efforts to grab even more money -- over $26 million -- and rip-off even more people -- -- 5,000 or so since last count.+More on Network World: IRS: Top 10 2015 identity theft busts+To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
In the ideal world the infamous Internal Revenue Service call scam should have faded away replaced by some other stupid ploy but alas…The IRS said today that the scammers have ramped up their efforts to grab even more money -- over $26 million -- and rip-off even more people -- -- 5,000 or so since last count.+More on Network World: IRS: Top 10 2015 identity theft busts+To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The National Science Foundation will devote $35 million in research funding over the next five years to accelerate the safe, intelligent, design and control of unmanned aircraft applications.+More on Network World: Hot stuff: The coolest drones+The announcement was part of a wide-ranging White House Office of Science and Technology Policy proclamation to, as it said, promote the safe integration and innovative adoption of unmanned aircraft systems across the United States.The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is today hosting a workshop on “Drones and the Future of Aviation.”To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Michael Cooney