Bittium exhibits its secure and strong Bittium Tough Mobile smartphone and related products and solutions for authorities at the Critical Communications World exhibition in Hong Kong, May 16 - 18, 2017.

Bittium will take part in a panel discussion “Indrustry roasting – meeting user expectations (focus on broadband)”, where the panelists will discuss how to best fulfill authorities’ end user needs. The panel discussion will be held on Thursday, May 18, in the Critical Communications Live Theatre stream. Bittium’s panelist is Mr. Michael Long, Sales Director.

Bittium’s products and solutions:

• Bittium Tough Mobile™ is a secure and durable Android-based LTE smartphone combining the latest information security and commercial device technologies. Bittium Tough Mobile incorporates a hardware-based security platform, which enables strong device security as well as deep integration of both customers' own and third party software security solutions. This dedicated hardware is essential for building layered device and software security solutions. In addition, Bittium Tough Mobile’s features include for example a programmable Push-to-Talk button (PTT), glove-usable 5” full HD display, IP67 level water and dust protection, and MIL-STD-810G level shock resistance.
• Bittium Secure Suite™ is a device management and encryption software product that complements the Bittium Tough Mobile smartphone with a scalable set of new software services for remote management, remote attestation and securing the network connections of the device. Bittium Tough Mobile smartphone and Bittium Secure Suite form a unique, complete, reliable system for processing and transferring sensitive and classified material and securing critical communication.

Friday's cyberattack on tens of thousands of computers around the world revealed businesses' and other organizations' vulnerability to ransomware and extortion. Elliptic (www.elliptic.co) is a Bitcoin intelligence firm that can guide banks and corporations through the ransomware process and work with law enforcement to identify the attackers. 

“Through our extensive Bitcoin ransomware work in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe, we have put together a comprehensive plan for ransomware readiness,” says Dr. James Smith, Elliptic’s co-founder and CEO. 

“Most ransomware attacks follow the same general pattern,” explains Elliptic co-founder and lead investigator Dr. Tom Robinson. “The victim is given a Bitcoin (or other cryptocurrency) payment address, and a deadline to make payment. Most people incorrectly assume there is nothing that can be done to identify the perpetrator after payment is made.”

Elliptic works with clients to deploy a four-step plan for ransomware readiness and response, including measures to identify the attacker. 

1. Assess the risk

Not all ransomware is worth paying. Elliptic's team of experts may be able to decrypt the ransomware; or there may be indications that the attacker will not decrypt your machine even after payment. In the case of last week’s WannaCry attack, there is no evidence at the time of writing that the attacker will ever decrypt the compromised machines. 

Based on its deep experience and extensive network in ransomware investigations, Elliptic provides clients with an expert recommendation on whether to proceed with the ransomware payment.  

2. Obtain the Bitcoins 

Ransomware operations usually demand payment quickly, sometimes in as little as 24 hours. It can be difficult for a company to secure large quantities of Bitcoins at short notice. “Most Bitcoin exchanges have Know Your Customer (KYC) policies that prohibit them from selling new clients a significant amount of Bitcoins," explains Dr. Robinson. "Often a company will have the cash ready to purchase Bitcoins, but the exchange cannot legally open an account and complete the transaction before the ransom is due.”

Elliptic helps its clients draw up a plan to rapidly access large volumes of Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies in case of a ransomware attack. Elliptic can help clients obtain Bitcoins through its network of exchanges and liquidity providers.   

3. Make the payment 

Large Bitcoin payments can be confusing for companies that are not used to dealing in cryptocurrencies. “Constructing a large Bitcoin transaction is a technical process. You need to define the right transaction fee, verify the destination, and sign the transaction appropriately.”, explains Dr. Robinson. “Too low a fee and your transaction might never clear; send it to the wrong address and your Bitcoins are gone forever. It’s also important that the ransomer knows which of their victims is making the payment.”

Elliptic will prepare and execute your transaction, or we can also dispatch one of our experts to your location to perform the transaction on the premises. 

4. Identify the attacker

Bitcoin transactions are difficult but not impossible to trace. Elliptic has developed advanced Bitcoin investigation software and employs a team of investigators with advanced degrees in computer science and decades of experience in the world’s top law enforcement agencies. Elliptic’s software and investigators have delivered actionable intelligence to identify ransomware and cyber-extortion attackers in the US, UK, and EU. “We are able to connect the dots between Bitcoin activity and real world actors,” says Dr. Smith. “We only provide our forensic investigation services in collaboration with law enforcement, and we have a very high success rate in delivering actionable intelligence on complex Bitcoin investigations.” 

Dr. Robinson adds: “We actively trace proceeds of ransomware and cyber extortion, and we alert our Bitcoin exchange customers if they receive illegal funds. Our goal is to defeat ransomware by making it extremely difficult to launder the proceeds of these crimes.” 

Gemalto, the world leader in digital security, is providing its Trusted Services Hub (TSH) to support Daimler AG's new smartphone-based 'digital vehicle key' for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class range. The premium car maker's innovative solution gives drivers the freedom to lock/unlock and start their vehicles using nothing more than an NFC smartphone. Gemalto's TSH enables seamless and secure over-the-air deployment of the digital keys to any type of phone that supports the solution. 

With the key safely downloaded to a secure element* via Gemalto's TSH, drivers can lock/unlock their cars by simply placing the smartphone against the door handle. The engine can also be turned on with the phone in the charging tray of the dashboard and pressing the start button. Capable of operating even if the phone battery** is drained, the need to carry a conventional key is eliminated. 

As an integral part of the 'Mercedes me connect' program, the digital vehicle key will connect seamlessly with services that meet the demands of modern mobility and digital lifestyles. 

"Digitalization demands that companies harness their expertise to forge strong relationships with all stakeholders within the connected car ecosystem," said Christine Caviglioli, vice president New Mobility Solutions at Gemalto. "For Daimler AG, this aim is fully supported by our solutions, which enable it to offer customers innovative services through their preferred device, without compromising security." 

*A Secure Element is a tamper resistant hardware platform, capable of securely hosting applications and storing confidential and cryptographic data. It can be found in a SIM provided by a Mobile Network Operator and/or an eSE (embedded Secure Element) built into phone handset by OEMs."

Unity Trust Bank, a Birmingham based commercial bank with a social conscience, is delighted to announce the appointment of Daryl Wilkinson as Director, Customer Propositions and Strategic Marketing.

• Product Reviews
• 15.05.2017 08:21 am

SecuredTouch is the first leading provider of behavioral biometrics for mobile services that offers digital-world authentication solutions to strengthen security and reduce fraud, at the same time allowing smooth digital experiences.

Idea Behind the Launch of Behavioral Biometrics

There has always been a big trade off between functionality, user-friendliness, and security. On one hand companies want to allow users the best functional experience and on the other hand, they want to avoid friction. In order to balance all these factors together, the company tried to think about the technique that could provide the best option. The solution was considered to be invisible to users, as well it had to be very strong in terms of functionality and security.  

Moreover, as a financial organization that delivers or allows doing a lot of sensitive operations in the mobile channel, the user needs to feel very safe to do all the things, without being stopped at every place. So this is how SecuredTouch came up with behavioral biometrics, something that should be run at the background, just by leveraging the existing things that are already out there.

Behavioral Biometrics

Mobile behavioral biometrics refers to the stage when a user is analyzed by different physical interactions with several types of connected devices, in order to draw significance of identity of the user, who will specifically be deploying the device.

Furthermore, the way users interact with the mobile device is analyzed and measured by 100 different parameters. For instance, how big is the user’s finger that touches the device, how much of the pressure does the user’s finger put on the device, how fast you move your finger across the screen or how fast you scroll. As a result, about hundred parameters are collected, so later on they can be compared between the current behavior and the user’s profile that will come behind the scene. This way, we can make sure that this is a real user using a device just by looking at the behavior and see if there is a match.

Target Market

Currently, target market includes financial organizations that provide any kind of mobile service, or mobile application, where authentication or identification is a big issue. Mostly, these applications involve money transfers, or e-commerce applications, and every other application that involves authentication or knowing that this is a real user behind every transaction.

Integration Process

The integration is done to a specific mobile application. The process normally takes a few hours and consists of two parts. It is very easy and fast to integrate into the application and that is the application side. There is also integration on the back end, which takes approximately two or three days.

Real-life Example of Applying Behavioral Biometrics within Financial institutes

As an example, in Israel the company works with one of the credit card issuers, Leumi card. The company develops a mobile wallet, which can be downloaded by users and deals with all sorts of transactions. Behavioral biometrics was integrated into the mobile wallet platform, for both the IOS and Android. This collaboration allowed better user experience and simplified authentication process. Normally, every time customers want to transfer money, or want to look at the card bank and do something sensitive, they will act like putting a password or a pin code to proceed with further transaction. When it comes to transaction with a SecuredTouch, user behavior is continuously monitored. Then, when the user wants to do a transaction, the wallet calls to SecuredTouch and asks for a trust code, which is an out-code of the technology. It is kind of a confidence level and if the technology recognizes over 90%, the user does not need to enter a pin code and customers can proceed to the transaction, without being stopped on the way. 

Challenges and Opportunities

The main challenge is to provide mobile users with the best of the user experience in all aspects. In terms of service, while staying very competitive, SecuredTouch is looking for the edge of making the services even better than it is now. There is a need to have security biometrics that complements one another, and choose the best one to make it more functional, user-friendly, and secure.

Yandex.Checkout enabled companies to accept payments via marketing newsletters. 

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today entered into a co-operation agreement with the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong to foster collaboration in support of financial technology (Fintech) innovation. 

The Malta Stock Exchange is to continue its use of Deutsche Börse trading technology. The two stock exchanges have extended their agreement retroactively from 1 January 2017, for another five years, until 31 December 2021. 

The Royal Mint has timed its first entry into the platinum bullion market to coincide with London Platinum Week. 

Blockchain Expo Europe, the leading conference and exhibition covering blockchain technologies and its practical uses on global industries, has announced the addition of Deloitte and PwC to the line-up for its Berlin event on 1-2 June 2017.

The event, which takes place at the Estrel Congress Center, will see Deloitte and PwC speaking at the Blockchain for Industry conference track.

Deloitte has published several reports and articles on the rise and expected impact of blockchain, naming it as one of its eight tech trends for 2017 and noting that blockchain is “changing our digital landscape… it will change the way consumers interact with each other, and the way in which traditional digital services are provided across all industries globally,” while PwC has said it sees “enormous potential” for blockchain in financial services.

“These latest additions to our speaker line-up emphasise the increasing importance of blockchain technologies in a variety of use cases, as well as noting its implications to reach a much wider community,” said Ian Johnson, event director, Blockchain Expo. “We are delighted to feature the expertise of Deloitte and PwC for our event attendees.”

Other confirmed speakers for the Berlin event include:

• Dr. Thomas Schönfeld, Director, Financial Services Advisory, Pricewaterhouse Coopers
• Benoit Abeloos, Policy Officer, ICT Innovation, European Commission   
• Stefan Thomas, CTO, Ripple
• Khalid Aziz, Head of Commercial Management, Nokia
• Leon Zuicchini, Data Science Strategy, Airbus
• Achim Jedelsky, Head of Processes/IT, Daimler Real Estate
• Jesus del Valle, Deputy Director. Head, M&S IT Intrapreneurship & Innovation, Bayer
• Dirk Vollmann, Head of Customer Onboarding, BMW Group
• Sönke Bartling, Senior Scientist, dkfz - German Cancer Research Center
• Jacob Bejoy, Head of Group Treasury Operations, BPO & Technology, Deutsche Post DHL
• Bruce Pon, Founder/CEO, BigchainDB
• Francois Sonnet, Co-founder, Solarcoin
• Alex von Frankenberg, Managing Director, High-Tech Gründerfonds GmbH

The last Blockchain Expo, held in London in January this year, exceeded all expectations with in excess of 50 exhibitors and 1500 attendees, with speakers from Hitachi, Microsoft, HSBC, Innovate UK and Nordea Bank setting the precedent.

Registration for the event is free with advanced rates on Gold passes currently available. For more information, please visit www.blockchain-expo.com/europe

For further information contact:

Beth Betts, Marketing Manager

Blockchain Expo

enquiries@blockchain-expo.com / +44 (0)117 980 9020

www.blockchain-expo.com