Fujitsu Simplifies, Reduces Costs of Preventing Facial Authentication Fraud
September 25, 2020
Fujitsu says it has developed a cost-effective way to thwart attempts to fool facial recognition systems, we learn from IT-Online’s write-up, “Fujitsu Overcomes Facial Authentication Fraud.” The same factor that makes facial authentication systems more convenient than other verification methods, like images of fingerprints or palm veins, also makes them more vulnerable to fraud—photos of faces are easy to capture and reproduce. We’re told:
“Fujitsu Laboratories has developed a facial recognition technology that uses conventional cameras to successfully identify efforts to spoof authentication systems. This includes impersonation attempts in which a person presents a printed photograph or an image from the internet to a camera. Conventional technologies rely on expensive, dedicated devices like near-infrared cameras to identify telltale signs of forgery, or the user is required to move their face from side to side, which remains difficult to duplicate with a forgery. This leads to increased costs, however, and the need for additional user interaction slows the authentication process. To tackle these challenges, Fujitsu has developed a forgery feature extraction technology that detects the subtle differences between an authentic image and a forgery, as well as a forgery judgment technology that accounts for variations in appearance due to the capture environment. … Fujitsu believes that, by using these technologies, it becomes possible to identify counterfeits using only the information of face images taken by a general-purpose camera and to realize relatively convenient and inexpensive spoofing detection.”
We’re told the company tested the system in a real-world office/ telecommuting setting and confirmed it works as desired. Fujitsu hopes the technology will prove popular as remote work continues and, possibly, grows. The venerable global information and communication tech firm serves many prominent companies in several industries. Based in Tokyo, Fujitsu has been operating since 1935.
Cynthia Murrell, September 25, 2020
Mayflower Autonomous Ship Gets a Mate Named Watson
September 24, 2020
Christopher Columbus had to make do with mere humans when he sailed the oceans blue. The Mayflower Autonomous Ship or MAS has IBM Watson on board. The MAS is a maritime autonomous drone. Drones are subject to command and control hacking. Will the MAS be the target of this type of attack with bad actors running the ship into vacationers sailing into Zephyr Sailing’s Pandora at six knots? DarkCyber sincerely hopes that IBM Watson can operate at Jeopardy game show performance levels. We learned from “Mayflower Autonomous Ship Launches”:
MAS features an AI Captain built by ProMare and IBM developers which gives MAS the ability to sense, think and make decisions at sea with no human captain or onboard crew. The new class of marine AI is underpinned by IBM’s latest advanced edge computing systems, automation software, computer vision technology and Red Hat Open Source software.
The MAS operates with no human interventions. The ship includes more than 30 sensors and has a maximum speed of 10 knots. The software includes “IBM Visual Insights computer vision technology, IBM edge systems, IBM Operational Decision Manager automation software, IBM Maximo asset management software, and data from The Weather Company.”
Will the MAS be hacked by bad actors? Will the Level 5 drone operate without creating excitement for those in fishing boards, kayaks, and rentals like the Pandora? Watson, what say you? Also, how did that dog matching gig in Mexico work out? And what’s the next PR play from Big Blue?
Stephen E Arnold, September 24, 2020
Cyber Threat Intelligence Report
September 24, 2020
DarkCyber finds cyber-centric research interesting. We spotted a new report, current through June 30, 2020. The report costs about $1,600. The publisher / creator identifies 62 vendors, includes contact information, and details about each firm. For the $1,600, the information hungry buyer receives a 34 page report and — hang on to your hats — an Excel spreadsheet. One enthusiastic reviewer reports that vendors included in the report are:
Anomali
DarkOwl
Intsights
LookingGlass Cyber Solutions
Recorded Future acquired by Insight Partners in 2019
Sixgill (named after a type of fish)
SpyCloud
ZeroFOX
Factoids from the report include:
Funded companies had healthy growth despite the headwinds; for example, Sixgill almost doubled in size.
Headcount among the sample grew at an astounding three percent.
And revenue across the 62 companies, more than $500 million by December 31, 2020.
Want more information? Navigate to IT Harvest.
One minor point, DarkCyber could not rely on the firm’s blog posts through September 21, 2020. Here’s what was available in that service:
Yep, nothing. What’s that say about the firm’s attention to detail?
Stephen E Arnold, September 24, 2020
Google Joins German Retailers in Digitization Project
September 24, 2020
The German Retail Federation (HDE) has teamed up with Google in what looks like a move to outflank Amazon in that country. MNA International shares this tidbit of information in the very brief post, “German Retailers, Google Launch Digitization Program.” The federation reports the pandemic has had a severe impact on Germany’s retail sector. The write-up reports:
“The digitization program consists of different instruments and is intended to accompany participating companies step by step from the classic offline store to a ‘hybrid company,’ both offline and online, according to HDE. ‘The retail trade forms the foundation of our inner cities and makes an essential contribution to social cohesion,’ said Stephan Tromp, deputy managing director of HDE. The aim of the program, which is directed at around 250,000 companies in Germany, is to ‘strengthen the stationary business with the help of online tools and make it fit for the future,’ according to HDE. The existence of up to 50,000 stores in Germany was threatened, HDE warned. Another reason for the digitization program was that many retail businesses in Germany were only digitalized to a limited extent due to a lack of resources.”
The federation hopes this initiative will make it easy for retailers to move part of their operations online, facilitating their recovery and boosting the economy. We are sure Google has a solid plan to boost its revenue with this program, as well.
Cynthia Murrell, September 24, 2020
DarkTrace: Details about the Company Floated
September 24, 2020
DarkCyber noted “Goldman Snubs £2bn Darktrace Float Amid Lynch Extradition Battle.” The Sky News article presented some information which struck the DarkCyber research team as interesting. The story reported:
Legal issues surrounding the British technology star have led to Goldman Sachs deciding not to seek an IPO role…
The question is, “Why?” Goldman Sachs, like other high profile financial institutions, has been embroiled in interesting deals in the past. Wikipedia offers a list which warrants consideration if only to weed out the realities from the allegations.
SkyNews includes these data in its story:
- The sale of Autonomy to Hewlett Packard allegedly influenced the decision
- Invoke Capital (founded by Michael Lynch) was the first investor in the cyber-centric firm Darktrace
- Darktrace employs more than 1200 people and has more than 40 offices
- The company has “more than $200 million in revenue”
- “Mr Lynch stepped down from the Darktrace board in 2018, Invoke remains the company’s largest shareholder.”
- “KKR had increased its stake in Darktrace as part of a reorganization of the company’s shareholder structure.”
- “Darktrace might quickly be valued at well over £2bn.”
- Poppy Gustafsson, a former Autonomy professional, is the CEO
- Darktrace has $1bn in “cumulative bookings.”
- Customers include AIG, BT Group, Jimmy Choo, the Science Museum Group and William Hill.
According to The Register, Autonomy’s auditor Deloitte was fined about $20 million US for “misconduct.”
Stephen E Arnold, September 24, 2020
Palantir Technologies: A Problem for Intelware Competitors?
September 24, 2020
The Palantir Technologies initial public offering is looming. Pundits are excited; for example, “Palantir Has A Long Uphill Battle Towards Customer Acquisition, But Benefits From Stickiness And Contract Expansion” makes clear that the journey to profitability may be like the Beatles observed: A long and winding road. Others are focused on churn; for example, “5 things to Know about Palantir’s Upcoming IPO.” DarkCyber’s response: “Just five?”
The issue is intelware. Many companies have tried to convert selling to law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and regulators into a billion dollar software and services business. There are some success stories; for example, Booz Allen fits the bill. The company sells time. The company has its own software, not much, but it exists. The company cheerleads, which is a nice way to say that for money “experts” will talk about promising products from the competitive marketplace.
Palantir is more like Autonomy than a blue-chip consulting firm. Autonomy played the “secret black box” chip with its neuro-linguistic programming. It worked until it did not. The firm licensed its black box to BAE Systems in the 1990s. The Autonomy marketing machine then generated revenue slowly and steadily. Then Autonomy acquired companies and cranked up its sales machine. At “peak Autonomy,” the well managed outfit Hewlett Packard, grabbed a brass ring with Autonomy engraved on it. The cost was north of $10 billion and years of legal bills. Autonomy was a publicly traded company, and it had a revenue track record dating from 1996. The HP deal was completed in October 2011. That means that the FY2010 data give us an idea about how much secret black box software can generate with “advanced” software, great marketing, and demanding management. The revenue for Autonomy after 15 years was in the neighborhood of $870 million.
One of Palantir Gotham’s innovations: A right mouse click displays a wheel of choices. The interface is definitely jazzier than that of Analyst’s Notebook, now owned by IBM.
Palantir Technologies opened for business in 2003. The company has been in business for 17 years. Yep, that’s two years longer than Autonomy. And what is Palantir’s alleged revenue for the last fiscal year? $742 million. The company’s advantages were the support of Peter Thiel (a Silicon Valley Thor), secrecy, a method for importing ANB files (if you don’t know what this is, well, what can I tell you in a free blog post?), and okay sales and so-so marketing. (One of Palantir’s innovations was a wheel of choices, not Bayesian methods wrapped in mystery.)
If my math is correct, Autonomy generated $128 million more revenue that Autonomy. If one uses 2011 dollars, not the Rona roiled 2020 dollars, the difference is more like $400 million, give or take $20 million or so. Yep, Autonomy appears to have outperformed Palantir: Less time, more revenue.
What?
Why?
Who?
How?
Let’s take each question.
First, what? The lackluster performance of Palantir Technologies illustrates the difficulty intelware companies, even ones with great advantages like the aforementioned ANB filter, have making really big money quickly. Remember. To generate less revenue than Autonomy, Palantir required $2.6 billion in funding. DarkCyber thinks that patient investors may be nervous about their investment which could melt away like a real snowflake. You can work out the math. Take 17 years of losses, subtract the revenue generated over 17 years, add in some interest just for spice, and mix into a pressurized container containing the fumes of burning a big cash pile. Read more
Microsoft and Search: Here We Go Again
September 23, 2020
Microsoft cannot create reliable software. Example: The Surface Duo, née Andromeda. Example: Windows 10 updates. Example: Windows Mobile. Example: Bob (remember Bob?) The company has good ideas, but it cannot move beyond imitating Amazon for the cloud, piggybacking on Google for a Windows 10X vehicle, and buying Fast Search & Transfer for the jargon-charged enterprise search system the company acquired in 2008.
“Microsoft Gets Exclusive License for OpenAI’s GPT-3 Language Model” makes clear that the smart software efforts of Microsoft Research, acquisitions like Powerset and XOXCO, plus the numerous application specific search and NLP functions are not doing the job. The fix is to license the next big thing. Perhaps the challenge is an organization and work process within Microsoft? Maybe technology is not the problem? Maybe execution is?
The write up in the Silicon Valley real news article states:
Microsoft today announced that it will exclusively license GPT-3, one of the most powerful language understanding models in the world, from AI startup OpenAI. In a blog post, Microsoft EVP Kevin Scott said that the new deal will allow Microsoft to leverage OpenAI’s technical innovations to develop and deliver AI solutions for customers, as well as create new solutions that harness the power of natural language generation.
Here we go again. Will the result be a blend Bing, Windows ME, Vista, and MSN?
Stephen E Arnold, September 23, 2020
US Social Media Companies: More Financial Brutality Coming?
September 23, 2020
DarkCyber spotted “EU Could Shut Misbehaving Tech Firms Out of Single Market.” The write up concerns the European regulators’ Digital Services Act, 2020 edition. The article reports:
The bill would increase the responsibilities and liabilities of tech companies, particularly regarding content on social media platforms. Breton said that EU regulators are preparing a list of activities that tech companies would be required to eliminate. It may also establish a rating system which allow the public and shareholders to score companies on factors such as tax compliance and – for online platforms – how quickly they remove illegal content. Under these proposals, tech companies may be forced to break up or sell some of their European operations if their market dominance is judged to be a threat to the interests of consumers and competitors.
There are precedents. The Great Firewall of China and the exclusionary actions directed at US technology companies. The American attempts to shut down or co-opt TikTok and WeChat. The Indian government’s aggressive stance toward Chinese apps. Russian actions, including the preferential deal with Telegram, a messaging service.
Observations:
- American technology companies are the target of these legal machinations
- Fragmentation of online services seems to be a response to decades of flawed regulation
- Tax revenues may lead to deals, which may do little to address the impact of non-intermediated content flows.
Stephen E Arnold, September 23, 2020
Kiddie Ads: Facebook and Google Called Out
September 23, 2020
DarkCyber noted “Google and Facebook Under Pressure to Ban Children’s Ads.” The write up seems to demand more than a sleek Silicon Valley “I will have to look into that and get back to you.” The write up states:
Tech firms have been urged to stop advertising to under-18s in an open letter signed by MPs, academics and children’s-rights advocates. Behavioral advertising not only undermines privacy but puts “susceptible” youngsters under unfair marketing pressure, the letter says. It is addressed to Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft. In a separate move Google-owned YouTube is accused of unlawfully mining data from five million under-13s in the UK. European data protection laws forbid the mining of data of young children.
Does advertising to young people make any difference. The messaging environment is one giant selling and motivating ecosystem.
DarkCyber believes that if the information in the ZeroHedge article “Popular Children’s App Allegedly Requests Minor To Take Naked Pictures” is accurate, more than advertising needs attention.
Government regulators have been slow to understand the knock on effects of unfettered messaging and interaction via digital services.
The write ups are interesting. The question is, “How does one undo decades of missteps?”
Stephen E Arnold, September 23, 2020
Alleged Russian Spy Training Information
September 23, 2020
DarkCyber is not sure if the information in “How to Catch a Spy who Uses Numbers Stations? The KGB Experience.” The write up includes an introduction, an alleged translation of Russian information along the lines of “How to Catch a Spy,” and some illustrations. Accurate or shapeshifted? DarkCyber does not know, but the information is interesting.
We noted this passage:
One of the main objectives was to infiltrate Filatovs apartment to add tracking devices and carry out covert search to find objects indicating espionage activity. However, it was impossible at first as the entry door had a difficult lock of foreign origin.
Interesting. Too bad there was no Google Local available to direct the agents to a locksmith.
DarkCyber was intrigued by this passage:
This case was chosen by KGB educators as an exemplary case on how to discover an agent who is using radio signals, how to prove it, how to secure evidence and how to arrest both the Soviet CIA agent and his embassy handler.
Relevant to the world of mobile phones, encrypted chat, “in plain site” posts on social media forums, and anonymous text messages on a pastesite?
Nope.
Stephen E Arnold, September 23, 2020
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