The Evolving Ransomware Threat


Ransomware has become a serious threat in recent years, with thousands of new variants surfacing in 2016 alone. This is really bad news for system administrators, as computers infected with ransomware are typically locked down until cyber criminals are given a hefty sum to unlock encrypted files. Disturbingly, IDG recently confirmed the existence of a new file-encrypting ransomware program f... » read more

Side-Channel Attacks


There are many techniques available for hackers to gain access to a system and obtain secret keys or other proprietary information– from invasive methods, such as microprobing, to noninvasive methods, such as cryptoanalysis. However, one of the easiest and most effective ways to extract the contents of a chip is through a side-channel attack using power analysis. To read more, click here. » read more

Dealing With Unintended Behavior


Functional verification was already tough enough, but having to identify behaviors that were never defined or intended opens up the search space beyond what existing tools are capable of handling. However, while you may not be able to eliminate unintended behaviors, a design team is not helpless. There are several steps that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of these problems getting int... » read more

Test More Complex For Cars, IoT


With increasing focus on safety-critical semiconductors—driven by ADAS, IoT, and security—functional safety concerns are going through the roof. Engineering teams are scrambling to determine how to conduct better in-field or online testing because test no longer can be an afterthought. This has been a common theme across the automotive ecosystem for the past few years, and as the automot... » read more

Fix Processes, Then Silos


Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, was a big proponent of what he called a "boundaryless corporation." It was a good sound bite, but it pales in comparison to former Intel CEO Andy Grove's philosophy of working out of a cubicle, just like the rest of his staff. While it's great to have corporate buy-in for breaking down silos, which are vertically integrated, the real problem for semiconductor c... » read more

Connected Car Driving Change In Defect Detection


Automotive product design is rapidly evolving and the magnitude and pace of change facing engineering organizations is challenging incumbent processes and resources, especially in the area of software design. While connected cars are not new, the frequency and depth to which the industry is embracing this dynamic is accelerating. Software has emerged as a primary vehicle for innovation and diff... » read more

Uncovering Unintended Behavior


Very few companies ever had to worry about security until recently. Over the past couple of years, we have seen increasing evidence that our connected systems are vulnerable. The recent distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, which made many Internet sites unavailable, has focused attention on Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as digital video recorders and cameras that have Internet a... » read more

IoT Security Ratings Needed


Concerns about security have been growing alongside adoption of the IoT, and it seems to be making some headway. This is good news, if it continues, because one of the biggest concerns about buying connected devices is that they can provide inroads into personal data. Data security has been a persistent annoyance for several years. Almost anyone who travels or shops at major department store... » read more

Fixing Security Holes


Connected devices can do everything from save lives to improve the quality of life. They also destroy that quality or cause harm if these things or systems of things are not secure. Security is a complex multi-level problem. It spans the entire seven-layer OSI communication stack, as well as the software that is used to run, manage and operate hardware. And it needs to be dealt with from mul... » read more

How Ransomware Threatens Unsecured Systems


Cyber criminals typically use ransomware to lock systems and encrypt files, effectively denying access to data until payment is remitted. Unsurprisingly, ransomware payments for 2016 were estimated to hit a billion dollars, with some businesses paying considerable sums to unlock their data. Cyber criminals continue to set their sights on a wide range of targets, including CCTV cameras, schools,... » read more

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