A group of computer security experts want to turn that model on its head with
Wickr, a new
mobile app that they hope will set a new standard for how personal data is
disseminated.
Wickr’s motto: The Internet is forever. Your private conversations don’t need
to be. The app, which became available in Apple’s iTunes store on Tuesday, lets
users transmit texts, photos and videos through secure and anonymous means
previously reserved for the likes of the military and intelligence
operatives.
Text messages, photos and videos sent via Wickr are secured using
military-grade encryption and never stored. The service camouflages user names
and other identifiable information, such as a phone’s identification number, by
appending several random digits to each value, then mashing them up with a
mathematical algorithm, a process security experts refer to as “salting” and
“hashing.” Wickr hashes and salts that information several times and only stores
the encoded result.
dustinrthompson on 29 Apr 13BodyCom is a new technology from Arizona-based Microchip that uses the human body as a secure communication channel. As the number of devices at our disposal continues to increase, authentication and security become more important than ever. The system communicates bi-directionally between a centralized controller and one or more wireless mobile fobs, using the human body as the transmission medium. So, a gun could only be used by the person with the right key fob, for example, or a pet door could be secured so only the right pet can open it. Neither RF antenna nor wireless transceiver are required by the system, which also offers low power consumption. Other potential applications include security systems, patient monitoring, and gaming profile management.
