RIP encryption? Quantum computers, cutting-edge machines that promise to be much more powerful than binary PCs, could eventually defeat current encryption schemes, said Jason Matheny, director of the U.S. Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity. The agency is looking for new encryption standards that could stay ahead of quantum computers, he told Federal News Radio.
Taking fake news by surprise: During the SXSW conference, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki announced plans to add Wikipedia text to videos the service determines to be conspiracy related. YouTube didn’t notify Wikipedia of its proposal to fight fake news and conspiracy theories, however, reports The Verge. While the Wikimedia Foundation doesn’t require notice or a licensing deal for other organizations to use its content, it suggested companies that repurpose its articles contribute to the service in the “spirit of sustainability.” Vanity Fair called the YouTube announcement a “Band-Aid” for a much larger problem.
Blockchain the vote: Sierra Leone has used Blockchain technology to assist with a nationwide election this month, according to a story in Quartz. In the country’s most populous district, Swiss foundation Agora offered digital voting services using a permissioned Blockchain. The goal was more system transparency by recording each vote using the technology.
Not just for Bitcoin anymore: “Dodgy” cryptocurrencies are getting a lot of attention these days, but there’s much more to Blockchain, the technology behind them, The Register writes. The Blockchain technology will likely have a prominent role in legitimate businesses that aren’t involved in cryptocurrencies, said Brian Behlendorf, executive director of The Hyperledger Project.
Insecurity cameras: Security researchers have found vulnerabilities in a brand of security cameras that could open the IoT devices up to hackers, ZDNet reports. The security holes could allow hackers to conduct their own surveillance and to compromise the network the cameras are connected to.
Learn more about IoT, including what you can do to make it more secure.
Are you a manufacturer wondering how to make your products more secure? See the Online Trust Alliance’s IoT Trust Framework, which provides guidance for device manufacturers and developers to enhance the security, privacy, and sustainability of their devices and the data they collect.
The post The Week in Internet News: Quantum Computing vs. Encryption appeared first on Internet Society.
