Lifeboat Foundation

Please see the latest edition of the Security & Tech Insights Newsletter.

Risk mitigation in the cyber and emerging tech landscapes in 2024 will be a challenge as technologies become more sophisticated and interconnectivity grows. This edition of the newsletter explores some of those trends.

TOKYO — Nikon, Sony Group and Canon are developing camera technology that embeds digital signatures in images so that they can be distinguished from increasingly sophisticated fakes.

Nikon will offer mirrorless cameras with authentication technology for photojournalists and other professionals. The tamper-resistant digital signatures will include such information as date, time, location and photographer.

In the modern digital age, where data flows freely and sensitive information is constantly in transit, secure communication has become essential. Traditional encryption methods, while effective, are not immune to the evolving threat landscape. This is where quantum key distribution (QKD) emerges as a revolutionary solution, offering unmatched security for transmitting sensitive data.

Image Credit: asharkyu/Shutterstock.com

The idea of quantum key distribution (QKD) dates back to Stephen Wiesner’s concept of quantum conjugate coding at Columbia University in the 1970s. Charles H. Bennett later built on this idea, introducing the first QKD protocol, BB84, in the 1980s, using nonorthogonal states. Since then, it has matured into one of the most established quantum technologies, commercially available for over 15 years.

High-frequency terahertz waves have great potential for a number of applications including next-generation medical imaging and communication. Researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, have shown, in a study published in the journal Advanced Science, that the transmission of terahertz light through an aerogel made of cellulose and a conducting polymer can be tuned. This is an important step to unlock more applications for terahertz waves.

The terahertz range covers wavelengths that lie between microwaves and infrared light on the electromagnetic spectrum. It has a very high frequency. Thanks to this, many researchers believe that the terahertz range has great potential for use in space exploration, security technology and communication systems, among other things.

In medical imaging, it can also be an interesting substitute for X-ray examinations as the waves can pass through most non-conductive materials without damaging any tissue.

WASHINGTON — Space launch provider and satellite manufacturer Rocket Lab has secured a deal worth over half a billion dollars to build 18 satellites for a U.S. government agency.

As disclosed in an SEC regulatory filing Dec. 21, Rocket Lab National Security will “design, manufacture, deliver and operate 18 space vehicles” as part of a U.S. government contract valued at $515 million. A spokesperson said the company could not provide further details.

Sources indicate that the customer is likely the Space Development Agency.

A high voltage direct current cable will connect UK homes with fresh green energy from the wind farms of Denmark.

Viking Link, the world’s largest interconnector, connecting electrical grids in Denmark and the UK using a 475-mile (765 km) undersea cable is days away from being put into operation. The interconnector will go online at reduced capacity and eventually power 1.4 million homes in the UK.

Interconnectors enable a quick way to tide over demand-supply fluctuations in an electrical grid. These are especially important in a world where energy comes from renewable sources and is known to be produced intermittently. This is why the EU expects them to play a crucial role in the region’s energy security in the future.

Continue reading “World’s largest electric cable close to power, could light 1.4 million homes” »

Nature Communications published research by an international team from Wits and ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences, which demonstrates the teleportation-like transport of “patterns” of light—this is the first approach that can transport images across a network without physically sending the image and a crucial step towards realizing a quantum network for high-dimensional entangled states.

Quantum communication over long distances is integral to information security and has been demonstrated with two-dimensional states (qubits) over very long distances between satellites. This may seem enough if we compare it with its classical counterpart, i.e., sending bits that can be encoded in 1s (signal) and 0s (no signal), one at a time.

However, quantum optics allow us to increase the alphabet and to securely describe more complex systems in a single shot, such as a unique fingerprint or a face.

Over the past 8.5 years, its predecessor, the K5, has successfully patrolled diverse locations across the US, contributing significantly to crime reduction and ensuring safety in various environments, claims the firm.

Knightscope, a prominent developer of autonomous security robots, has officially commenced the shipment of its highly anticipated 5th Generation K5 Autonomous Security Robot (ASR), the company announced in a press release.

This represents a significant milestone for the company and marks a thorough redesign to elevate the flagship ASR’s capabilities. Production is in full swing at Knightscope’s Silicon Valley Headquarters. It is proudly made in America, with machines ready to fulfill nationwide contracts.

Continue reading “US firm unveils 5th-gen security robots trained on 2.5 million field hours” »

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently awarded Pangiam, a leading trade and travel technology company, a prime contract for developing and implementing Anomaly Detection Algorithms (ADA).

Pangiam, in collaboration with West Virginia University, aims to bring cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision, and machine learning expertise to enhance CBP’s border and national security missions, the company announced in a press release.