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From: "ber..._at_netaxs.com" <ber..._at_netaxs.com>
To: TSCM-List <tscm-..._at_googlegroups.com>
Subject: Fortifying Phones From Attackers: AT&T Hires Ph.Ds for Security
Lab; Verizon Wireless Teams With Start-Up on Data-Security App
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704774604576035960449272404.html
Fortifying Phones From Attackers
AT&T Hires Ph.Ds for Security Lab; Verizon Wireless Teams With
Start-Up on Data-Security App
By SPENCER E. ANTE
The Wall Street Journal
December 22, 2010
As consumers and companies embrace smartphones to do more of their
computing, the wireless industry is taking its first steps to beef up
security on mobile devices.
(Photo: A trader talked on his cellphone outside the New York Stock
Exchange in October. The wireless industry aims to beef up mobile
security.)
Carriers are deploying new services and cutting deals with start-ups
to help protect people from malicious attacks and misuse of their
personal data stored on a smartphone. Meanwhile, handset makers and
chip firms are taking steps to fortify their hardware as the number of
attacks on mobile devices grows larger and more sophisticated.
"Everyone is realizing that this is an uncontrolled environment," said
Edward G. Amoroso, chief security officer of AT&T Inc. "We don't want
to have the same problems that we had with PCs."
WSJ's Julia Angwin talks with Commerce Department General Council
Cameron Kerry about how the administration plans to regulate internet
privacy, including establishing an internet privacy office, and
whether they will enforce any new rules.
Security researchers and technology executives say their moves to
improve security mark the start of an effort that will take years to
play out because the wireless industry until recently was more focused
on signing up customers than hardening mobile devices against attacks.
As consumers and companies start doing business on their devices, the
industry also believes it is critical to be proactive before a major
attack so that the public feels comfortable conducting commerce on
their mobile devices.
"Right now it is a daily fight with security issues," said AT&T Chief
Executive Randall Stephenson in an interview in June. "If we as an
industry don't really get ahead of this and get a good controlled
environment around this mobile broadband world it will limit growth
potential."
AT&T has hired 13 Ph.Ds in the last six months to open a new lab in
New York City focused on mobile security. The researchers are working
on technology that detects and blocks worms, viruses and other
malicious software from reaching mobile devices.
Carriers are also working with start-ups to fill in some gaps. In
October, Verizon Wireless signed a marketing and distribution
partnership with Lookout Inc., a mobile-security provider based in San
Francisco. Lookout makes a free application for Google Inc.'s Android
software as well as BlackBerrys and Windows-based devices.
The application allows consumers to locate lost or stolen phones, back
up their data, and remotely erase data so the information doesn't fall
into the wrong hands. The company also blocks malicious apps through a
global computer network that detects and analyzes mobile threats as
they are released.
"We can respond in a number of hours" to a new threat, said Lookout
Chief Executive John Hering.
Lookout claims its app has more than four million registered users. In
November, it started selling a premium version that costs $3 a month.
The company is expected to announce this week that it has raised $19.5
million in venture capital from Index Ventures, Accel Partners and
Khosla Ventures. The money will help the company expand overseas and
build out its detection network.
Jennifer Byrne, executive director of business development for Verizon
Wireless, said the company is promoting apps such as Lookout that help
customers to protect their phones. "It is a real obvious problem we
are solving," she said.
In November, AT&T struck a reseller deal with MobileIron Inc. to
distribute the start-up's software to help companies to manage
security of mobile devices and app stores. AT&T also recently signed a
deal with McAfee Inc. to resell its device management software.
"The next wave of security questions is about the explosion of
enterprise apps," said Bob Tinker, chief executive of MobileIron.
Hardware makers are also taking new steps. Research In Motion Ltd.,
whose BlackBerry smartphones are known for their business security, is
preparing to roll out a free product called BlackBerry Protect that
will let consumers to back up their data such as contacts and text
messages, and remotely locate or lock the device or wipe the data.
The company is also working to make its security software for
corporate technology managers more easy to use. The tools let managers
control the apps that employees are allowed to download, and the types
of data the apps can access on a device.
Security is also migrating down to the silicon on a computer chip.
Adrian Turner, chief executive of Mocana Corp, said his start-up is
selling its security technology to chipmakers such as Intel Corp.
Mocana's technology helps companies to encrypt wireless data and
detect and block malicious software from infecting mobile devices.
Down the road, Mr. Turner said Mocana and other companies are working
on technology that would allow companies to control data based on the
location of an employee through a new technique called "geo-fencing."
That way a company could prevent an employee from, say, accessing data
over a wireless network if they leave a certain area. "No one is doing
that now," he said.
Copyright 2010 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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