Manufacturing Archives

Manufacturing

IT meets OT as Belden buys TripWire for $710m

December 10, 2014 Paul Roberts

In a move that heralded the growing convergence of information security and IT operations, Belden, a maker of industrial networking equipment, said it is acquiring Tripwire, an IT security services firm for $710 in cash. The announcement, on Tuesday, underscores the degree to which traditional IT security focused on securing enterprise networks is becoming part and parcel of the services that industrial firms wish to offer to their customers in heavy industries and critical infrastructure. [Read more Security Ledger reporting on Internet of Things and IT-OT convergence.] In a published statement, Belden said that, together, the companies will “work to deliver the next generation of cybersecurity solutions that can be deployed across enterprise, industrial, and broadcast markets.” John Stroup, President and CEO of Belden, said TripWire will extend his company’s capabilities. The two companies had previously worked together to improve critical infrastructure cybersecurity in manufacturing organizations, tailoring cyber security solutions for specific customer […]

Security Ledger Talks Car Hacking on NPR’s AirTalk

December 9, 2014 Paul Roberts

Just a note to our readers that you can listen to a great conversation on hacking automobiles on Airtalk, a National Public Radio call-in talk show that airs on WPCC, Pasadena, California. Interestingly: the other expert guest on the show was none other than Chris Valasek of IOActive, one of the most recognized researchers on security vulnerabilities in modern automobiles. [Read more Security Ledger coverage of Chris Valasek’s research here.] Chris and I spoke with host Larry Mantle about the current state of affairs with regard to car hacking: what is possible (theoretically), what is practical and what are car makers doing about it. Check out our conversation via KPCC’s web site: The next frontier for computer hackers: Your car | AirTalk | 89.3 KPCC.

Big Data, Security Drive Dell In Post-PC Future

December 9, 2014 Paul Roberts

If you consider how the Internet of Things is transforming the technology industry, one of the most interesting and thought-provoking areas to pay attention to is what we might consider technology “majors” – firms like HP and IBM and Cisco that made their mark (and their hundreds of billions) serving the needs of an earlier generation of technology consumers. How these established technology firms are pivoting to address the myriad challenges posed by the “Internet of Things” tells us a lot about how the IoT market is likely to shake out for consumers and – more pressingly- the enterprise.

More Supply Chain Woes: DeathRing Is Factory-Loaded Smartphone Malware

December 5, 2014 Paul Roberts

The folks over at Lookout Security have an interesting blog piece on “DeathRing,” a Chinese Trojan that comes pre-installed on a number of smartphones most popular in Asian and African countries. According to the bulletin, the Trojan masquerades as a ringtone app, but downloads an SMS and WAP (or “wireless access protocol” ) content from a command and control server to the victim’s phone once it is installed. That downloaded content can be used for various malicious, money-making schemes, according to Lookout. For example, DeathRing can use the SMS content to send phishing text messages to the phone to elicit sensitive information from the user. The WAP content to manipulate a mobile user’s web browsing session. For example: the attackers might prompt victims to download additional mobile applications or add-ons, potentially extending their reach over the victim’s device and data. [Read more Security Ledger coverage of supply chain risks.] Lookout […]

Is IoT Innovation Outpacing Our Ability To Keep It Safe?

October 20, 2014 Paul Roberts

GigaOm has an interesting, high-level piece that looks at the issue of law, liability and the Internet of Things. The article takes off from a discussion at the Download event in New York City earlier this month, wondering whether adoption of Internet of Things technologies like wearables is starting to run far ahead of society’s ability to manage them. Specifically: is the pace of technology innovation outstripping the ability of our legal system to reign in excess and protect public safety and civil liberties? On the list of ‘what-if’s’ are some familiar questions: How to assign liability. (“If one of Google’s automated cars crashes, is it the fault of the driver or Google?”) Read more Security Ledger coverage of Internet of Things here. What responsibility to users have to take advantage of safety features in connected products? (Does a parent’s failure to password-protect a baby monitor change the manufacturer’s liability when and […]