On Sundays I offer comments on some of the most interesting information technology stories that I have found on the web that week. Please feel free to join in the discussion or suggest stories during the week.
This week’s news story is hot on the heels of my post two days ago explaining Darknets. It seems that with BlackHat, the world’s biggest computer security conference, happening this week, stories like this are all over the wire. If you have not read my introduction to darknets article, it provides excellent background for this story.
CNET.com news - HP researchers develop browser-based darknet
“Two researchers for Hewlett-Packard have created a browser-based darknet, an idea that could make it easier for businesses to keep eavesdroppers from uncovering confidential information.
Darknets are encrypted peer-to-peer networks normally used to communicate files between closed groups of people. Most darknets require a certain level of technological literacy to set up and maintain, including taking care of the necessary servers. However, HP researchers Billy Hoffman and Matt Wood plan next week to demonstrate a browser-based darknet called "Veiled," which they claim requires little proficiency to set up and run.”
For background, Wikipedia provides this refresher on darknets:
“A darknet refers to any type of closed, private group of people communicating; however, since 2002, the term has evolved to more specifically refer to file sharing networks in general, whether that network is private or (without respect to the legality of such) readily accessible to the public. The phrase "the darknet" is used to refer collectively to all covert communication networks.”
Basically, these two gentlemen are reporting that they have found a way to have modern browsers handle all the tricky configuration issues for establishing a darknet. Previous to this story, darknets required complicated, manual configurations that, if done incorrectly, defeated the entire purpose of having a darknet in the first place – secure, undiscoverable, un-attributable computer communications over a public backbone. Now, using javascript and browsers supporting HTML 5.0, all of the negotiation and settings can be auto-discovered. This will result in much lower costs, complexity, and manpower involved with establishing darknets, and probably drive their usage way up.
So imagine all of the applications for this innovation!
- Truly anonymous web browsing from anywhere – including work, if desired.
- Secure research and development interactions between distant users and third-parties.
- Secure document and story collaboration.
- Anonymous web shopping.
- And many more…
One thing is for sure, the cat is out of the bag on darknets if this innovation can mature into a mainstream application. Also, this could hasten the move from operating system dependence to browser independence if you no longer require the operating system to perform security functions. Finally, I am sure that this will be the tip of the iceberg for “turn-key” darknets… stay tuned for many more news stories on this one
Do you think that this story will come to deliver a real product? Do you think that HP should develop it or hand it off to the open source community? Comment? Please share.
That is my Information Technology Thought of the Day (ITTOD) for August 16, 2009 ©Scott Coughlin
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News Commentary: Browser Based Darknet
On Sundays I offer comments on some of the most interesting information technology stories that I have found on the web that week. Please feel free to join in the discussion or suggest stories during the week.
This week’s news story is hot on the heels of my post two days ago explaining Darknets. It seems that with BlackHat, the world’s biggest computer security conference, happening this week, stories like this are all over the wire. If you have not read my introduction to darknets article, it provides excellent background for this story.
CNET.com news - HP researchers develop browser-based darknet
For background, Wikipedia provides this refresher on darknets:
Basically, these two gentlemen are reporting that they have found a way to have modern browsers handle all the tricky configuration issues for establishing a darknet. Previous to this story, darknets required complicated, manual configurations that, if done incorrectly, defeated the entire purpose of having a darknet in the first place – secure, undiscoverable, un-attributable computer communications over a public backbone. Now, using javascript and browsers supporting HTML 5.0, all of the negotiation and settings can be auto-discovered. This will result in much lower costs, complexity, and manpower involved with establishing darknets, and probably drive their usage way up.
So imagine all of the applications for this innovation!
One thing is for sure, the cat is out of the bag on darknets if this innovation can mature into a mainstream application. Also, this could hasten the move from operating system dependence to browser independence if you no longer require the operating system to perform security functions. Finally, I am sure that this will be the tip of the iceberg for “turn-key” darknets… stay tuned for many more news stories on this one
Do you think that this story will come to deliver a real product? Do you think that HP should develop it or hand it off to the open source community? Comment? Please share.
That is my Information Technology Thought of the Day (ITTOD) for August 16, 2009 ©Scott Coughlin
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
This entry was posted by Scott Coughlin on August 16, 2009 at 5:39 am, and is filed under Human Resources, Information Technology, News Commentary, Security. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0.You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.