A serious weakness has been discovered that endangers Wi-Fi users. The problem is made worse by the fact that the problem is in the WPA2 standard, not a specific device or network.
The Wi-Fi vulnerability was discovered by Mathy Vanhoef and Frank Piessens of Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium, according to RCR Wireless . The two researchers set up a website to describe the threat, which focuses on key reinstallation attacks (KRACKs). The site says that the attack can be used to steal sensitive information and inject malware, including ransomware, into victim’s devices.
The good news is that the dangers can be alleviated with a patch. A paper will be presented on the attacks at the Computer and Communications Security conference on November 1 in Dallas.
The Robots Are Here
Robots raise a tremendous amount of workplace issues. These are not just questions that must be answered in the future. They are here today. Berg Insights reports that as of the end of last year, there were 29.6 million service robots deployed.
The press release says that there are three main types of service robots. Floor cleaning robots, which represent about 23.8 million units, are 80 percent of the total. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) segment and the robot lawn mower segment finished the year at about 4 million and 1.6 million units deployed, respectively.
The total number of active service robots is expected by the firm to reach 264.3 million by 2026, which is a compound annual growth rate of 24 percent from 2016 to 2014.
Intel Capital: $60M in Funding to 15 Companies
Fifteen data-focused startups were named at the Intel Capital CEO Showcase in San Francisco. The company is investing $60 million in the firms, which brings its 2017 investment to more than $500 million.
Data analysis firms being funded are Amenity Analytics (U.S.); Bigstream (U.S.); LeapMind (Japan) and Synthego (U.S.). Those aimed at data capture are AdHawk Microsystems (Canada); Trace (U.S.); Bossa Nova Robotics (U.S.) and EchoPixel (U.S.). Data management startups are Horizon Robotics (China); Reniac (U.S.) and TileDB (U.S.). Security firms are Alcide (Israel); Eclypsium (U.S.), Intezer (Israel) and Synack (Israel).
Panasonic Introduces Worldwide LTE Network
Panasonic Corp.’s North American division has introduced the P.180 network. It is, according to the firm, an end-to-end worldwide platform that will provide connectivity without roaming fees.
Panasonic Connected Solutions will oversee the network. It will use Cubic Telecom’s eSIM technology to span more than 180 countries. It now has almost 25 mobile operator partnerships and 60 fully integrated networks, according to the press release. The network will be available in the fourth quarter of the year.
The press release says that the network is structured around the Panasonic Toughbook ruggedized devices, though it does not specify precisely what that means. The implication is that the network is intended for mobile field workers. The press release does not elaborate on whether other types of devices will be able to use the network.
iOS 11 Gains Fast Adoption, Passes iOS 10
The adoption of the newest release of Apple’s operating system, iOS 11, has been very fast, according to Mixpanel.
The firm, as reported by ITWorld, found that a month after its Sept. 19 release, iOS 11 is running on 53.83 percent of Apple devices. iOS 10 is at 39.37 percent. The story points out that though the uptake has been speedy, it has not been as fast as iOS 9’s replacement of iOS 8. Launched on Sept. 16, 2015, it blew by its predecessor in only eight days. It reached the 50 percent level two days later and, after a month, was on 62 percent of iPhones and iPads.
Mixpanel paints a starkly different picture for Android. It found that the latest version of the OS, Oreo (Android 8.0), is on only 0.49 percent of Android-based devices. Marshmallow (Android 6.0) is at 25.82 percent and Nougat (Android 7.0) is at 22.62 percent, according to Mixpanel.
Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at cweinsch@optonline.net and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk.
