Lifeboat Foundation

Over the past week, the White House appointed five new senior National Security Council staff officials. Two in particular signify the emerging and disruptive influence Billionaire tech investor Peter Thiel could have on U.S. national security and how he might bring his venture capital perspective — visionary but unconventional leaders, big bets on disrupting established industries — to national security.

Kevin Harrington, a Thiel acolyte, has been named Deputy Assistant to the President for strategic planning. Since early December, Harrington served on the Trump “landing team” at the Commerce Department, where his job was to help hire people for open positions and identify policy priorities. Before that, he worked at hedge funds started by Thiel. Michael Anton, a former executive at an investment management firm and speechwriter, was named Deputy Assistant to the President for Strategic Communications, virtually the same job that Obama advisor Ben Rhodes held. POLITICO reports that he received the position “thanks to an entree from Thiel.”

The Harrington appointment is unusual for a couple of reasons. First, the elevation of this position to “Deputy Assistant to the President,” the second highest rank within the White House, suggests that Harrington will have a larger role than his predecessors. Although the strategic planning office is one of the most important at the NSC, it is typically staffed by a lean team of forward thinkers and the head of the office is ranked accordingly.

Continue reading “Disrupting the White House: Peter Thiel’s Influence is Shaping the National Security Council” »

Quantum Tech and Bank security.

BT’s research arm showcased the future of banking technology, including quantum key distribution and biometrics.

Definitely q-dots/ graphene technology involved.

Smartphones are about to get a lot smarter, thanks to rapid advances in sensor technology, which is set to hugely impact homeland security.

Wish these guys a lot of luck; however, they need to hurry up soon as China is already had a head start with QC.

As we saw during the 2016 US election, protecting traditional computer systems, which use zeros and ones, from hackers is not a perfect science. Now consider the complex world of quantum computing, where bits of information can simultaneously hold multiple states beyond zero and one, and the potential threats become even trickier to tackle. Even so, researchers at the University of Ottawa have uncovered clues that could help administrators protect quantum computing networks from external attacks.

“Our team has built the first high-dimensional quantum cloning machine capable of performing quantum hacking to intercept a secure quantum message,” said University of Ottawa Department of Physics professor Ebrahim Karimi, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Structured Light. “Once we were able to analyze the results, we discovered some very important clues to help protect quantum computing networks against potential hacking threats.”

Continue reading “Protecting quantum computing networks against hacking threats” »

Latest on border plans.

Despite President Trump’s executive orders to extend walls along the US-Mexico border, real border security will likely take longer than he thinks.

Hmmmm.

Computers based on quantum mechanics have been in the realm of science fiction for years, but recently companies like Google (Nasdaq: GOOGL), and even the National Security Agency, have started to think practically about what their existence would mean.

These super-powerful computers would be exciting in many respects, but they would also be able to break the methods of data encryption that currently make it safe to browse the internet or pay for things online.

Continue reading “Boston startup Whitewood Encryption Systems awarded patent for encryption to fend off quantum computers” »

Can’t wait to see it.

Troops in remote regions around the world often struggle to operate with limited networks for data sharing and communication—an encumbrance that is amplified when U.S. troops need to share classified or otherwise secure data with each other and coalition partners. The usual process for sharing such information requires an end-to-end connection to secure servers via a dedicated digital “pipe” approved for the specific security level of data being transmitted. If that tactical network is overloaded or if a glitch causes a break in the digital chain, the message or data is typically lost and the process must be repeated until a connection is completed, potentially hindering the mission in fast-moving tactical situations. Additionally, the current computers and infrastructure needed to manage multiple levels of U.S. classified and coalition information are too bulky for tactical use in the field and can take months or longer to deploy.

Continue reading “New DARPA Technology Could Simplify Secure Data Sharing” »

For all my friends in Dubai or travelling to Dubai; wish I could go.

EyeLock LLC will be exhibiting its suite of iris authentication technology at Intersec Dubai 2017, on January 22–24 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Dubai.

Featuring EyeLock’s proprietary software, security, algorithms and optics, the iris authentication technology delivers secure, reliable and user-friendly capabilities, according to the company.

EyeLock’s technology analyzes more than 240 unique iris characteristics to deliver dual-eye authentication, an unmatched security architecture and anti-spoofing technology.

Continue reading “EyeLock to exhibit iris authentication technology at Intersec Dubai 2017” »

Want to take someone’s site down and need a cheap hacker; well the Dark Web has them.

In the lawless digital hinterlands of the dark web, hackers hire out their expertise for just £20, offering to cripple websites with an overload of data from ready-made “botnet” armies.

On hidden forums, accessible only by using encrypted technology, clients tout for their services, bidding to have cybercriminals perform all manner of illegal activities, such as compromising university systems to alter grades.

Continue reading “Cybercriminals charge just £20 to paralyse websites” »