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WASHINGTON The Pentagons top research agency thinks it has developed a new generation of technology that will make voting machines, medical databases and other critical digital systems far more secure against hackers.

Now, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which helped invent GPS and the Internet, is launching a contest for ethical hackers to try to break into that technology before it goes public. DARPA is offering the hackers cash prizes for any flaws they find using a program called a bug bounty.

The new technology is based on re-engineering hardware, such as computer chips and circuits, so that the typical methods hackers use to undermine the software that runs on them become impossible. Thats far different from the standard approach to cybersecurity, in which tech companies release a never-ending stream of software patches every time bad guys discover a new bug.

If industry widely adopts the new systems, DARPA researchers believe they can finally shift the tide in a battle that has favored hackers over defenders basically since the birth of the Internet.

It [would have] a huge, huge impact, DARPA Microsystems Technology Office Program Manager Keith Rebello, whos running the program, told me. About 70 percent of all cyberattacks are due to hardware vulnerabilities. If we can fix those permanently, we can take a large portion of the attack surface away.

The agency purposefully chose some of those models to demonstrate the dangers of the current generation of poorly secured hardware and to show how much safer the world could be with more secure versions, Rebello told me.

The biggest ticket item is a voter registration database. State and federal election officials have identified such systems as one of the greatest vulnerabilities if hackers from Russia or elsewhere try to undermine the 2020 election. Kremlin-linked hackers successfully broke into voter databases in Illinois and Florida in 2016, though theres no evidence they changed any votes.

If DARPA can prove its version of the database is far tougher to hack, that could be a game-changer, allowing officials to be far more confident about election security.

Another model for the bug bounty is a medical database containing research into the novel coronavirus information that FBI and Department of Homeland Security officials say is being targeted by Chinese hackers.

We wanted to use demonstrations that are relevant to show the impact that we can have with this technology, Rebello told me.

The program, which is officially called System Security Integration Through Hardware and Firmware, or SSITH, started in 2017 and will run for another year. So there will be time to make fixes based on problems the cybersecurity pros uncover.

The secure hardware itself is funded by DARPA but is being built by researchers and academics at places like Lockheed Martin, the University of Michigan and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

DARPA is working with the Defense Digital Service, a technology tiger team inside the Pentagon that has managed bug bounties for the Army, Navy and Air Force and recently helped find hackable bugs in systems on a U.S. fighter jet.

The project is also being managed by the cybersecurity company Synack, which specializes in running bug bounties and has worked with the Defense Digital Service on some of its earlier projects.

The largest share of the hacking will be done by cybersecurity pros who work regularly with Synack and have expertise in a number of specialized areas, including hacking hardware. There will also be a broader part of the program thats basically open to anyone with hacking experience who isnt barred from working with the government, such as people on terrorist watch lists.

This is a wide pool of people with different skill sets that we might not always find in government, Rebello said. Well have three months for the hacker community to experiment and take things apart, and try and reverse-engineer our hardware to see if they can break it.

DARPA couldnt say how much money it expects to pay out to hackers who find bugs. Synack said its payouts typically range from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars for very severe vulnerabilities.

But Rebello is hopeful it will start being integrated into some commercially available computer chips in the next two to four years, he told me.

A handful of companies have already expressed interest in piloting some version of the system, including the British firm Arm Holdings, he said.

The rush is on because cybersecurity is going to grow far more important during the next decade.

Thats partly because critical business sectors will be doing far more of their work using online systems, such as manufacturing, medicine, transportation, energy and agriculture. The Internet will also begin connecting to a slew of new devices that werent networked before, such as driverless cars, thermostats and home security systems, creating far more opportunities for hackers.

The attack surface is going to explode, so we really need to start thinking about how we can rein that in, Rebello said. And having secure hardware, I think, is one very important key to solving that puzzle.

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DARPA wants hackers to try to crack its new generation of super-secure hardware - Seattle Times

Turn your smartphone into a security camera  |  Photo Credit: Representative Image

There are plenty of things that you can do using your smartphone. You can make calls, conduct video meetings, surf the internet, explore content on social media platforms, click and post pictures and whatnot. But what we often forget is that we can exploitthe features of our smartphones beyond their designated use.

For example, did you know that you can use your camera as a home security system? No right? Well just hear us out because we are about to suggest an exciting way to put your old smartphone to use.

Do you have an old smartphone lying around your house that you dont use because its an old version or model? Then time to find that phone because with our help, you can turn that smartphone into a security camera.

Download a third-party security camera app, preferably Alfred Camera on both your old and new smartphone. On the new phone, tap on Start and select Viewer. On the old phone, tap on Start and select Camera. On both these phones, you will have to Sign in using a Google account. Thus it is better to create a new email ID only for getting surveillance alerts and notifications. This is pretty much how you have to set up the app. You can now view the video feeds on your mobile or on the web using alfred.computer

This app has features like recording and storing footage etc. that will help you monitor your living space. This particular app is compatible with both Android and iOS so does not matter what version or model you have.

Once you are done setting up the app, you can make some additional changes like enabling or disabling audio. You can also ensure that the app automatically reopens if the phone reboots or drains out of charge. However, it is recommended that you fix the phone at a location where the power plugis nearby. You should keep in mind that the phone is old so the battery might be an issue.

On your new phone, you can make changes like adding a trust circle (people who can access the video footage). You can also make changes to the motion detection sensitivity and you can enable a low-light filter on the cameras.

However, remember that not all these changes can be made for free. There are only a limited number of things that you can do using the free version of Alfred. If you want some advanced level surveillance, then you might consider purchasing its premium version. If not, you should consider installing other security camera apps that operate equally well.

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Enhance the security at your home; turn your old smartphone into a security camera, heres how - Times Now

If you're a pet owner, having your dog escape your backyard is probably among your worst nightmares. But locking your furry friend inside the house isn't a great solution, either, since dogs need to run around and burn off energy. If your backyard has a traditional fence that your dog can't jump over, you can probably let your pal run free without worry. But if you don't have a standard fence, and you're not looking to invest in one, then an electric fence may be a solution worth contemplating.

The average cost of an electric fence is about $1,200, reports HomeAdvisor (NASDAQ: ANGI), which is much cheaper than a traditional fence. The average cost of an electric fence is $2.40 per linear foot. For a vinyl fence, it's $20 to $40 per linear foot. And for a wooden fence, you're looking at $17 to $45 per linear foot. Of course, the larger your outdoor space, the more you'll pay, so you'll need to keep that in mind as you run the numbers.

An electric fence uses a signal that activates when your dog gets too close to your property line. Your dog wears a collar that gets triggered when that signal goes off via the delivery of a small shock. While that may sound scary, many pet owners and experts alike swear by the fact that these shocks aren't actually painful to dogs.

An electric fence is an affordable way to keep your dog contained. Electric fences are also much easier to install than traditional fences, which means you may not need to hire a contractor to put yours in. And if you prefer the feel of an open yard, electric fences are invisible, whereas it's hard to hide the presence of an actual fence.

While an electric fence may help keep your dog from escaping your property, it won't offer privacy like a traditional fence. Furthermore, while an electric fence may do a good job of keeping your dog contained within your yard, it won't help keep other animals out. So if your goal is to allow your dog to run free unsupervised, an electric fence may not solve that problem.

Furthermore, with an electric fence, you'll need to be really careful about replacing the batteries on your dog's associated collar. Otherwise, that fence will be rendered useless, and you'll risk having your dog escape -- and losing your pet for good.

Some dog owners don't like the idea of their pets getting shocked, even if it's minor. If you feel the same, an electric fence clearly isn't for you. Furthermore, while your primary goal in getting an electric fence may be to keep your dog from running away, you may also find that if you're going to invest in a fence, you're better off with a physical enclosure that offers the benefit of privacy.

If you decide you're interested in an electric fence, you'll need to research your town's zoning laws to make sure you're allowed to put one in. You may also need to obtain a permit, so check on that before you get started.

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Electric Fences: the Pros and Cons - Motley Fool

Earlier this week, an elephant was found dead in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand. A vet team determined that the cause of death was due to severe electric shock from the fence of a mango farm.

Most likely on the search for food, the creature had burn marks on its trunk, as reported by the park rangers. Komsak Sithadee and Siamrath Moyai, the landowners, admitted that their mango farm is protected by electric fences.

They remain uncertain if the elephant died on their fence as there are other elephants in the area that have not been electrocuted. 'Normally, our generator would stop working after it has touched something but when we checked, the generator was still working. So we don't know if the elephant touched our electric fence or another,' they shared.

A vet team worked with the rangers to determine the cause of death. The post-mortem examination including assessment of the animal's organs has yet to reveal if it was indeed electrocuted. Rakpong Boonyoi, the head park ranger, said that if the result agrees with their speculations, Komsak and Siamrath will be charged. Rakpong said, 'we will interrogate the owners of the fruit grove for more information to check if they were involved in the death of the elephant. If they are, we will have to charge them for harming the animal.'

Since the pandemic forced all elephant tourist sites in Thailand to shut down and gravely affecting the nation's tourism industry, hundreds of elephants have been freed, rescued, and roam freely on protected land. Last month, the greatest elephant migration occurred across the land for elephants to arrive in the safe villages of Chiang Mai where they currently coexist peacefully with the community.

In Khao Yai National Park, almost 300 elephants have been roaming freely, reclaiming the land without human disturbance, as the park closed for the first time since its opening in 1962. Without heavy traffic and mass crowds, the normal scenario pre-pandemic days, other creatures have joined in the freedom as well, namely the Asian black bear and the gaur, a wild bison. Chananya Kanchanasaka, one of the park's vets, expressed her excitement to witness the park go through restoration.

Before, human activity disturbed the nature park so drastically that the development of roads broke the elephant's former trails towards the river. The herd was pushed to make a route at the cliffside, which was prone to flash floods and where many elephants have fallen and drowned.

Last year October, a baby elephant fell over the edge of a waterfall called Haew Narok (Hell's Fall), and some members jumped to try and save it. The tragic accident involved the mass drowning of 11 elephants, the highest record since the mass drowning of eight elephants in the same place in 1992.

Read Also:Hundreds of Captive Elephants are Freed for 'The Biggest Migration In Thailand's History': Here's Why

Kemthong Morat, a prominent conservationist who went on a hunger strike on behalf of the creatures and catching international attention, had said that the 11 deaths could have been prevented if the park had only been managed properly. She also said that park management 'forgot that the national park's purpose is for research and conservation. Khao Yai's big tourism revenues made them forget the main purpose of the park.'

Vet Chananya remains hopeful with how the pandemic is affecting wildlife. 'Nature can restore itself to its fullest.'

Read Also:Pregnant Wild Elephant Found Dead After Eating Pineapple Full of Explosives

Excerpt from:
[Graphic Video] Elephant Searching for Food Dies After Electrocuted by a Fence of a Mango Farm in Thailand: Wa - Science Times

Updates for Sunday June 7, 2020

by: KOIN 6 News Staff

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Demonstrations outside the Justice Center in downtown Portland continued into the tenth night. Elsewhere in the city, thousands of protesters gathered at Irving Park after marching from Revolution Hall in Southeast Portland.

The protesters at the Justice Center began throwing full beverage containers, glass bottles, hard boiled eggs, rocks and other items at police officers. They used sling shots to fire them from a block away and one Portland Fire Medic was hit in the stomach by a rock. A Molotov cocktail was thrown, but no one was hurt. An unlawful assembly was declared around midnight and after warnings, police began clearing the crowd.

It was during this time that at least 20 people were arrested and 4 vehicles towed.

Police repeat their statements of criminal activity happening in the crowd outside the Justice Center. Authorities reported via Twitter that projectiles were being thrown and lasers were being pointed at officers.

Several hundred demonstrators remained in Chapman Square and outside the Justice Center. American Civil Liberties Union observers were visible around the edge of the crowd.

At 11:43 p.m. police declared the protest a civil disturbance and unlawful assembly.

We are advising crowed to leave immediately. Disperse immediately. The downtown area is now closed between SW Natio and 13th and SW Lincoln to Burnside, said police on Twitter.

Downtown is now closed. We are advising the crowd they need to leave to the west. Leave or be subject to arrest or use of force.

At the Justice Center, police could be heard addressing the crowd over the loudspeaker: There is criminal activity occurring in the crowd. If you are a nonviolent demonstrator, we are asking you to leave now.

Police said at one point the Elk Statue in Chapman Square was on fire, but self-extinguished.

TriMet moved all bus lines on the Portland Transit Mall from 5th and 6th Avenue to 10th and 11th Avenue due to protest activity.

All bus lines on the Portland Transit Mall have been moved from 5th & 6th Ave to 10th & 11th Ave, serving Portland Streetcar stops due to protest activity. More information at https://t.co/4lg5hMH5mX.

Demonstrators in Irving Park knelt for roughly nine minutes in a moment of silence.

At 9:30 p.m., a spokesperson for the Portland Police Bureau released an update via Twitter in which she said demonstration liaisons were out, connecting with participants at the two current demonstrationsIrving Park and Chapman Square.

We support lawful engagement and first amendment rights, and support those who are managing events safely, said Lt. Tina Jones.

The demonstration at Irving Park wrapped up shortly before 10 p.m.

Faith leaders from across the Portland metro area stood in solidarity with protesters outside the Justice Center.

Thousands of protesters filled Irving Park. From the sound system in the park, speakers talked about the next steps for change. They said they are already in discussions with local leaders about their message, which includes defunding multiple law enforcement agencies including the Portland Police Bureau and its Gun Violence Reduction Team.

Another speaker talked about the need for lengthy protests and cited the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which went on for roughly a year.

Shortly before 8 p.m., protest activity briefly disrupted TriMet services for Line 8.

For Line 8 trips to Dekum & M L King Jr Blvd, no service to stops from NE Multnomah & 11th to NE 15th & Fremont. And for trips to Marquam Hill, no service to stops from NE 15th & Siskiyou to NE Multnomah & 11th due to protest activity.

Follow KOIN 6 for the latest news and weather

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Police, protesters, and the Justice Center fence - KOIN.com

President Donald Trump is literally and figuratively fencing himself off from a moment of national reckoning. High barriers have sprung up around the White House complex and an adjacent park, formalizing a state of siege amid nationwide protests.

Trump fancies himself a law and order enforcer but the imagery of a President hidden behind high walls from his own people is stark, especially since recent protests have been largely peaceful. He may also be missing something very important: History is littered with failed "conversations about race" in American politics, but this time feels a little different.

In the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, some white Americans have begun to examine the personal and institutional racial bias from which they always assumed they were immune. Small anecdotes, like Amazon bestseller lists dominated by books about race and the story of an airline executive's heart to heart with an African American flight attendant offer tentative hints of a societal shift. NFL quarterback Drew Brees, who criticized players for kneeling to protest racist policing during the national anthem, was forced to backtrack on Thursday.

"I recognize that I should do less talking and more listening ... and when the black community is talking about their pain, we all need to listen," Brees said. His fellow quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the first to take a knee, was driven out of the league and became a target for Trump. But if the NFL were suiting up this weekend, it's certain many more players would follow Kaepernick's example.

Trump, in his bubble of tweets and self-regard, sure isn't reexamining any of his prejudices. But it would be a huge irony if a President who built a political career on racist rhetoric unwittingly triggered an unprecedented public zeal to understand injustice in America -- even if only for a moment.

Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free.Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution today.

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Behind the fences, Trump may be missing a national moment - The Albany Herald

CLEVELAND At a moment when all eyes are on protests and marches across Northeast Ohio, Cleveland police said there is a plan it place but aren't releasing any information about what that plan includes.

The City of Cleveland also reminds demonstrators to exercise special caution due to the coronavirus pandemic by wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.

City of Cleveland

The signs of the preparations are clear along Fulton Road across the street from Cleveland Police Departments 2nd District Headquarters.

Concrete barriers are waiting on the grass with metal fencing stacked up by the station.

A business owner across the street said he was told police officers will be on his buildings roof and on the roof of the station.

Protesters plan to gather outside the station to protest the killing of Desmond Franklin.

He was killed on April 9 when an off-duty police officer opened fire on a maroon sedan in the middle of the day, near West 25th Street and Pearl Road.

Franklin, 22, was killed, and a 17-year-old who was also inside the car was injured by broken glass.

The city and police department are trying to prevent the same kind of vandalism and destruction that happened last weekend, when and originally-peaceful protest downtown was denigrated by agitators near the Justice Center and in other parts of the neighborhood.

Those were not the images Rod English remembers when he marched a few hours earlier and left the then-peaceful gathering.

I cant excuse it, but at the same time, I understand the frustration, obviously, English said.

Frustration, he said, over unequal access to education, economic success, and fairness in the American justice system.

There doesnt seem to be any active engagement at any level to address the disparities in the great wealth of this country, English said. Regardless of what the issue is, distraction of property is not the way to go.

English said he hopes the extra steps and planning by police arent needed.

Were being tested, English said. You have to decide: where do you stand on these issues?

Its a question he and his wife, Rebecca, have been tackling all week.

I think that Im very open-minded and diverse and attuned to whats happening, I still learn from this, Rebecca said.

Tough lessons at a tough time.

Ive cried quite a bit over the last week over some of this, Rebecca said. But, its good.

Original post:
Cleveland police say they have security plan for protest; barriers, metal fences stand ready - News 5 Cleveland

Indeed, these days it seems hard to stay calm and focused. 2020 seems to develop into what the Queen of England would call an annus horribilis (i.e. a horrible year). Not even considering political sensitivities, I guess we all agree that we are not happy about a devastating pandemic and its immediate consequences. And we are not happy about the violence that seems to have been unleashed in the aftermath of the murder of a defenseless black man by persons who are supposed to be on the right side of the law, some police. Contemplating all these things can make one depressive and aggravated and hopeless.

It is hard to find a topic these days that doesnt make one look mindless if it doesnt touch on whats going on out there. And on the other hand, we all crave something that takes our minds off the constantly appearing, increasingly worse news. A friend of mine said just the other day that she envies the astronauts who were able to leave the planet with the latest manned rocket launch. I guess that helped me. For my first thought was No.

If I switch off the news and contemplate my immediate existence do I really find everything so devastating? Am I not surrounded by caring, mindful people? Shouldnt I count my blessings and go from there?

Resilience is something you can learn. I actually took a week-long class about it a few years ago. It showed me how to focus on the good stuff that happens in my life. It makes me analyze why something makes me happy and whether I can make this happiness last or even repeat itself. It makes me reconsider the state of something that seems to be bad maybe there is something I can learn from it. Maybe, though I dont like it, it is still of some value.

Think of dandelions. Nobody likes them in a garden bed or in a tidy lawn. But in a colorful meadow oh yes! And they feed pollinators, which in turn secures our food that relies on pollination. And dont we somehow admire those little guys that make it through cracks in the asphalt and defy all plans to make our world gray and concrete?

Shelter-in-place might be going on a while yet where I live. It might return if there is another wave of the pandemic. I have never published as much in so little time as this year. Im blessed with my best buddy as my husband and with friends who are of the same mindset: that we need to keep each other and others safe. Im becoming more resourceful in everyday challenges.

The riots out there and hopefully, by the time you get to read this, they are under control and/or over make me contemplate the value of a human life. Each one is unique in its best sense. In our little street, my husband and I are the only white persons. We neighbors look out for each other. We share food with each other. Do I ever consider what color they are? They are friends! They are warm-hearted human beings with the same worries I have. Maybe, because of their ethnicity sometimes worse.

Indeed, in dire times we learn who our friends are. We learn to count our blessings. And in a way we all still hope even if we feel hopeless at the moment. As we cant turn back the clock and undo all that went wrong, we already look into the future and talk about when its over. When there will be vaccinations available. When we can do what we love to do unimpeded again. When

My biggest hope is that mindfulness will prevail. That the people who societys prejudices keep in a corner of discrimination will finally get justice, not just through law but through consideration. It takes all kinds of people to make a world. It would be a very uniform world if everybody were the same. A smile that reaches ones eyes is visible even above a mask. I find myself smiling at strangers in public places way more often these days. Come to think of it, a smiling mouth is curved like a rainbow. And rainbows are a sign of hope.

Related

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Across the Fence: Finding the Good Stuff - The Suburban Times

Q: Dear Ask Us god,

Why?

A: This brief question was accompanied, thankfully, by a photo of a statue of a Native American behind a fence topped with barbed wire at the North Mankato Public Works Center.

The question is a couple of weeks old, and before Ask Us god, um, Ask Us Guy could get around to calling North Mankato officials, it came up at Mondays City Council meeting.

Its been suggested that the Native American chief statue currently positioned behind a fence is insensitive and perhaps maybe should be placed in a more appropriate setting, North Mankato resident Barb Church told the council during the public comment portion of the meeting. When the gates locked, it looks like were fencing in the Native chief.

City Administrator John Harrenstein provided a brief response and Mayor Mark Dehen a longer one.

Harrenstein said the statue is only behind the fence until it can be cleaned and placed in a city park.

I reject any perception or comment that where its placed is a place of dishonor, Harrenstein said. Its actually preparing it to be restored and moved on, and well be doing it as quickly as we can.

The mayor provided some additional background information about why the statue is in the lot along Webster Avenue.

We have been gifted the statue of Sitting Bull that was made by Tom Miller a number of years ago, Dehen said. It used to reside on the corner of Sherman and Belgrade, and the property owner donated that to the city. ... We intend to clean him up and make him a bright and beautiful statue again the way he was when he was crafted.

Dehen said plans are in place to meet with Miller, a longtime local sculptor, citizens and members of the Native American community for advice on a proper location to honor Sitting Bull and the history we have with North Mankato and the Native community.

Sitting Bull doesnt have a direct connection to the Mankato area. He would have been roughly 30 years old and living with his Lakota people in the Dakota Territory when the Dakota War of 1862 erupted in southern Minnesota, ending with the execution of 38 Dakota warriors across the Minnesota River from where North Mankato would later be founded.

But the Dakota War prompted the U.S. Army to retaliate against even bands that hadnt been involved, including Sitting Bulls Hunkpapa Lakota people. Over time Sitting Bull became a key leader in the resistance against the Army, against white settlement and against the arrival of railroads, according to online histories.

Sitting Bull is best known as the spiritual leader of the Lakota and Cheyenne people when they won a legendary military victory over Gen. George Armstrong Custer and his 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in eastern Montana in 1876. He remained defiant even in the face of an onslaught of troops that followed Custers disastrous defeat at Little Bighorn, eventually leading his band across the border into Canada in 1877.

By 1881, with bison nearly extinct and struggling to keep his people fed, he returned to Fort Buford in Montana to surrender, saying, I wish it to be remembered that I was the last man of my tribe to surrender my rifle, according to the website of the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center in Chamberlain, South Dakota.

He died at the Standing Rock reservation in 1890 and his remains were later reburied in Mobridge, South Dakota, to be nearer his birthplace.

Miller, who sculpted the Winter Warrior statue outside of the Blue Earth County Library, did not have a commission for his earlier work of Sitting Bull. He told The Free Press in 2007 that hed been working on and off on the statue for about 17 years. He later sold it to Jon Pluto, who lived at 615 Belgrade Ave. It was Pluto who recently donated the statue to the city.

Contact Ask Us at The Free Press, P.O Box 3287, Mankato, MN 56002. Call Mark Fischenich at 344-6321 or email your question to mfischenich@mankatofreepress.com; put Ask Us in the subject line.

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

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Ask Us: The reason Sitting Bull is behind that fence in N. Mankato - Mankato Free Press

Inky, a cybersecurity company developing products designed to protect against phishing, today announced it raised $20 million. The startup says it will use the infusion to accelerate enterprise adoption, global expansion, and R&D. In conjunction with this, Inky intends to expand its geographic footprint across Europe, Asia, and Latin America through a strategic buildout of its channel and partner programs.

Malware is a significant threat to organizations, with the cost of an attack averaging around $2.4 million, and two-thirds of all malware infections beginning with an email attachment. Phishing emails are the primary delivery mechanism for it. Over 30% of phishing emails are opened by their recipient, and 12% of users either click on a malicious link or open a malicious attachment within the email, potentially infecting their computer and the network with malware.

Inkys Phish Fence platform, which runs on a cloud installation and works with G Suite, Office 365, and Exchange, ostensibly shields against this through a combination of AI and million of lines of code. It comprehends emails and searches for signs of fraud, leveraging computer vision and machine learning to detect imposters from pixels. Using over two dozen image and text classifier models, Phish Fence isolates text, type, character, and image anomalies (including in domain names and text-only designs without real logo images), placing banners directly in emails to offer guidance and providing visibility and threat tracking via a backend dashboard.

Phish Fences brand forgery detection technology spots logos within emails and determines those emails origin points. Broadly speaking, with natural language processing, the platform develops social profiles and graphs that identify suspicious behavior and identities. It also analyzes email header information to create a model of common contents (like wire or invoice payment requests and password-related emails) against which it compares future emails to suss out domain spoofing, and it uses signature types like DKIM, DMARC, SPF, and Sender ID to verify that emails actually originate at the alleged senders domain.

When Phish Fence sees an email from a sender that doesnt match a known profile, it sends an impersonation warning, which customers like Kaizen Approach, Directed, Catholic Charities, Collibra, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra can report from any platform, including from the web, a phone, or email clients. Beyond the messaging vector, Phish Fence can detect zero-day phishing attacks in Microsoft Office macros, which malicious actors sometimes use to install malware on machines. And its able to spot embedding links to harmful websites within documents as well as PDFs carrying destructive payloads and code containing scripts.

Inky, which was founded by Dave Baggett the cofounder of airfare search company ITA Software, which Google acquired in 2011 for $730 million and whose technology now powers Google Flights is well-capitalized with this latest raise, a series B. Led by Insight Partners, it brings the College Park, Maryland-based companys total raised to over $31.8 million.

The global anti-counterfeit technologies market is anticipated to be worth $104 billion by the end of 2024, and Inky is far from the only startup gunning for a slice of it. One rival is Spain-based Red Points, which raised $38 million in April to further develop its tools to fight counterfeiting and piracy. Another is 3PM Marketplace Solutions, a Chicago-based company thats worked with clients like HBO to spot counterfeit products. Theres also RedMarlin, which raised $10 million to fight counterfeiting with its AI-powered platform.

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Inky raises $20 million to prevent phishing attacks with AI fence - VentureBeat