Guest Editorial by Dr. Danny Ritttman, Chief Technology Officer at GBT Technologies
Government organizations and commercial businesses understand the need to protect themselves from malicious cyberattacks intent on stealing their trade secrets, intellectual property, and other sensitive data.
However, while most companies and government agencies will have effective cybersecurity policies in place for protecting their wired Ethernet connections, they often don’t pay enough attention to the lurking vulnerabilities posed by their unsecured wireless-based devices.
Many of these devices can be easily hacked through radio frequency (RF) attacks.
Today, there are up to 15 billion wireless devices in the world that communicate through the RF spectrum.
This includes mobile phones, laptops, tablets, wireless keyboards, handheld inventory scanners, and countless other smart devices scattered around your typical corporate building.
That number is expected to grow as more government agencies, and commercial businesses embrace the advantages of the Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructures.
It’s no longer just smartphones and laptops that can present an attack vector. Any device with IoT capability – be it a smart wearable, a medical device, even the refrigerator in the break room – can now be a prime target for RF security breaches.
As such, every business and government agency needs to recognize the dangers posed by RF attacks and take steps to safeguard their organizational airspace and sensitive data better.
(Learn More. Industry leaders discussed cybersecurity concerns around the Internet of Things (IoT) and the role NIST could play to help secure our future back in 2018. Featuring thought leaders from the Global Cyber Alliance, Symantec (now NortonLifeLock Inc.), Cisco, Cylance Inc. (now Blackberry Security), Tufts University, the Cloud Security Alliance, and Twistlock (now Palo Alto Networks). Courtesy of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and YouTube. Posted on Apr 26, 2018.)
Understanding RF
Radio waves have long served as a mode of communication for electronic devices, such as TV remotes, cellular telephones, garage door openers, and countless other devices.
Previously, radio didn’t present much, if any, threat for cyberattacks. But the recent explosion in the use of highly interconnected IoT devices has opened the floodgates to mass RF-based attacks, which traditional wire-based cybersecurity practices may not be able to detect or stop.
To understand the threat posed by RF-based attacks and the difficulties in stopping them, it helps first to understand how RF communication works. Every single device that uses Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) communicates through special RF key signals that are sent from one device to another when initiating a connection.
The security problem is that this signal key, when generated, is exactly the same every time.
Worse yet, the RF signal is usually unencrypted and operating on an unsecured channel, meaning it’s very easy for them to come under a “relay attack,” in which one device thinks that a trusted device is connecting when really it’s a malicious third party.
When successful, this type of RF-based attack can go completely unnoticed by a cybersecurity system that isn’t designed for detecting such threats. As far as the system is concerned, it’s just one trusted device connecting with another.
What the system doesn’t see is that the compromised device has now become a spy portal that can be used for siphoning off sensitive data or eavesdropping.
For a corporate facility that uses a wide range of IoT devices, the consequences of such a security breach are dire, opening the doors for a mass system breach through the initial bridgehead.
(Learn More. As of May 2021, more than a dozen CIA officers last year returned to the U.S. from abroad, reporting symptoms including vertigo, dizziness, and persistent headaches. Courtesy of CBS Miami and YouTube. Posted on May 10, 2021.)
Protecting Sensitive Data from RF Attacks
Nowadays, large organizations are inescapably reliant on wireless connectivity.
Therefore, it’s impractical to think you can protect your most sensitive data by simply disabling wireless features on all devices in your facility.
Other security measures such as air-gapping, in which a sensitive computer network is kept physically isolated from the internet, may also prove futile. A 2014 Israeli research study found that a compromised cellular phone could lead to a bad actor extracting data from seemingly hard-to-reach systems.
What’s needed instead is an in-depth series of security protocols to minimize the number of security gaps and attack vectors, while also allowing for the detection of unsecured RF signals.
As a first order of business, CISOs and their security teams should carry out assessments to catalog all RF-based devices, both corporate and personal, that are operating in a facility.
All RF signals on these devices should be fully secured through a key-rolling algorithm that will generate a unique signal key each time a data transfer takes place. In addition, a two-way handshake protocol will provide synchronization between the sender and receiver devices for a more secure connection.
Next, security teams should deploy additional cybersecurity systems to detect any unsecured RF signals operating within corporate airspace.
Such a system must work in real-time and provide 24/7 scanning so that the system can identify any unsecured device before it has time to do any damage.
(See a brief overview of the Zone Protector and the Zone Manger, both cell phone detection technology from Cellbusters, a Finalist in the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program, and previous ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program Champion. Courtesy of Cellbusters and YouTube.)
Successfully integrating this new system within your existing cybersecurity and IoT infrastructures will also be crucial to ensuring there are no incompatibility or future-proofing issues.
Final Thoughts
Each passing year sees more businesses and government agencies embrace the benefits of IoT infrastructures.
Yet, these benefits can come with an unseen threat in the form of RF attacks that may lead to high-level data breaches and foreign government espionage.
As we move towards a more interconnected world, it’s imperative that CISOs and their security teams recognize the threat of RF attacks and take all necessary measures to plug their security gaps.
(Learn how the FBI partners with the private sector through InfraGard and the Domestic Security Alliance Council to rapidly share threat information and collaborate with the private sector to support the protection of critical infrastructure. Courtesy of the FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation and YouTube.)
About the Author
Dr. Danny Ritttman, who serves as Chief Technology Officer at GBT Technologies, is an experienced technologist in the integrated circuit physical/backend and EDA (Electronic Design Automation) domains.
Over the past decade, he has led intelligent application development, IoT, and mobile technologies, focusing on the delivery of advanced Hi-Tech solutions.
In addition, Dr. Rittman, a technology expert at GBT Technologies, has patented a radio frequency (RF) device capable of detecting signs of life. This technology could be extremely helpful for disaster response teams that are reporting to areas with no visible survivors.
GBT’s patented device could identify the exact locations of the victims and stimulate response teams to orchestrate rescue operations before it’s too late.
Dr. Rittman served as the Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Marketing of a private smart-chip design company from 2007 through 2012, where he led the company’s technological direction, including architecture, design, and development of Electric Design Automation software tools, to the successful launch of operating products.
From 2012 through the present, Dr. Rittman has served as a Senior Integrated Circuit Design Consultant for several leading technology companies, where he managed teams of integrated circuit designers within the mobile technology arena, leading these teams’ technological direction for next-generation mobile-oriented integrated circuits.
(Hear directly from Dr. Rittman as he provides a conceptual overview and vision about GBT’s patented technology in the areas of tracking, radio transmission, secure mesh network, and IoT technology. Courtesy of GBT Technologies, Inc and YouTube.)
Dr. Rittman received his Bachelors of Science degree in Electrical Engineering VLSI Design from the University of Bridgeport, M. Sc. from Colorado Technical University, and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science from LaSalle University.
Dr. Rittman completed professional courses, including Machine Learning from Stanford University and Artificial Intelligence in Health Care from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has published technical papers in Frontier and other technical publications.
Related Technologies…
Cellbusters Named a Finalist in 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program
American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.
Cellbusters
Best Cell Phone Detection Solution
-
Zone Protector
-
The Zone Protector™ from Cellbusters provides maximum protection for your environment by continuously scanning for cell phone and user-selectable RF transmissions, and is far more sophisticated than a cell phone detector.
-
Comparable to a spectrum analyzer, the Zone Protector™ has the ability to scan user-definable frequency ranges along with the ability to alert, notify, control a third party device, or simply log as soon as it detects relevant transmission activity.
-
Precise frequency filtering technology, managed and controlled by a 32-bit microprocessor, enables the Zone Protector™ to deliver accurate detection with virtually zero false positives.
-
Once cellular or appropriate RF activity is detected, the Zone Protector™ can be set to activate a choice of alerting options or to silently log all detected activity.
-
Additionally, Cellbusters Zone Protector has been updated to detect 5G phones, proving a leading edge in the market, and protects its investment in this technology for years to come.
-
*Cellbusters has now officially been recognized for Seven Consecutive Years in the ‘ASTORS’ Awards Programs.
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program highlights the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
AST has officially Announced the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Finalists in our 2022 ‘ASTORS’ FINALISTS EDITION *Fully Interactive* Mobile Magazine Here.
Additionally, the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Government Excellence and Public Safety Award Honorees have also been announced (Click Here), although there are several late-entry nominations still to be announced!
Register for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon Today
Homeland Security remains at the forefront of our national conversation as we experience an immigration crisis along our southern border, and crime rates that are dramatically higher than before the Pandemic across the United States.
These challenges have become a national priority with an influx of investments in innovative new technologies and systems.
The pinnacle of the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony Luncheon Banquet, an exclusive, affordable, gourmet, full-course plated meal event, in the heart of New York City, held at the International Security Conference & Exposition (ISC East) since it’s inception in 2017.
And who better to address the aforementioned challenges, and initiatives to meet today’s threat landscape than Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane J. Sabatino of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the opening keynote speaker at the much-anticipated 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon, on Wednesday, November 16th, 2022.
As the DEAC of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Mrs. Sabatino leads over 31,000 employees and oversees an annual operating budget of $6.5 billion.
American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.
(See highlights from the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony and Luncheon in NYC. Courtesy of AST and Vimeo.)
The continually evolving ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program will emphasize the trail of Accomplished Women in Leadership in 2022, as well as the Significance and Positive Impact of Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in our Next Generation of Government and Industry Leaders – because #MentorshipMatters.
My mission is to teach people their role in ending gun violence in their community.
You can make a difference. Parents, educators, community leaders, policymakers, and security professionals can all help stop the killing.
It starts with knowledge. You are part of the solution.” (Courtesy of Katherine Schweit)
In addition, the First 100 Registered Attendees to the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Ceremony and Banquet will receive a complimentary autographed copy of ‘STOP THE KILLING: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis‘ by the former head of the FBI’s active shooter program, Katherine Schweit.
Ms. Schweit offers insight into what we can do to end the active shooter crisis plaguing America.
Within the pages of STOP THE KILLING she provides us with an insider’s look at what we’ve learned and failed to learn, about protecting our businesses, houses of worship, and schools.
So Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon on November 16th, 2022, to reserve your copy!
Special Guests at the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, include Commissioner Bill Bratton (and executive director of TENEO RISK Advisory Group), Katherine Schweit, former head of the FBI’s active shooter program, NYPD’s Finest Chief of Department Kenneth Corey, as well as Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, President at NEC National Security Systems (NSS, which deploys groundbreaking solutions for government use, including access control and security, next-gen identity verification, scene processing, advanced analytics, and intrusion detection, and is our Platinum Sponsor for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program).
AST Honors Thomas Richardson, FDNY Chief of Department; Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, President of NEC National Security Systems; and Richard Blatus, FDNY Assistant Chief of Operations, at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon at ISC East.
Dave Cagno, Comm Bratton’s Chief of Staff will also be in attendance; as well as Kym Craven, Executive Director for National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE); representatives from DHS Federal Protective Service (FPS); Argonne National Laboratory (ANL); DHS Science & Technology (S&T); the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); the United States Coast Guard, and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM); CISA’s Interagency Security Committee (ISC), and Executive Leadership including Director Shonnie Lyon, of the DHS Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM).
We have representatives of the esteemed New York City Fire Department(FDNY); the New York City Police Department(NYPD); and the NYC Hospital Police, invited this year, as well as Executive Management from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA); Mr. Michael Breslin of LexisNexis Risk Solutions, and Mr. Tom O’Connor of FedSquared Consulting; nominated by Professor Dean Alexander; Women In International Security Global (WIIS); the 30×30 Initiative, a coalition of professionals advancing the representation of women in policing; and Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) (rail safety advocates).
The United States was forever changed on September 11th, 2001, and we were fortunate to have many of those who responded to those horrific tragedies join us at our 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon.
In the days that followed 9/11, the critical need to protect our country catapulted us into new and innovative ways to secure our homeland – which is how many of the agencies and enterprise organizations that are today ‘ASTORS’ Awards Champions, came into being.
Enter, American Security Today, the #1 publication and media platform in the Government Security and Homeland Security fields with a circulation of over 75,000 readers and many tens of thousands more visiting our AST Website at www.americansecuritytoday.com each month.
The 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is Proudly Sponsored by New PLATINUM SPONSOR: NEC National Security Systems (NSS),
New Premier Sponsors Rajant Corporation, guardDog AI, plus IPVideo Corporation, and
Returning Premier Sponsors ATI Systems, Automatic Systems, Fortior Solutions, RX Global, and SIMS Software!
In 2021 over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State, and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms gathered from across North America, Europe, and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields.
Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon
ISC East is the Northeast’s leading security & public safety event, hosted in collaboration with premier sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA) and in partnership with ASIS NYC.
Each year, in order to keep our communities safe and secure, security dealers, installers, integrators, and consultants, along with corporate, government and law enforcement/first responder practitioners, convene in New York City to network, learn and evaluate the latest technologies and solutions from premier exhibiting brands.
This combination of one-on-one conversations with top innovators, high-quality special events, and cutting-edge education and training, makes ISC East the most comprehensive East Coast event to guide the industry in getting back to business.
Taking place November 15-17 at the Javits Center in NYC (SIA Education@ISC: November 15-17 | Exhibit Hall: November 16-17), ISC East will be co-located with the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management Expo (NDEM EXPO), a comprehensive trade event and online resource dedicated to the preparation, response, and recovery of physical and human assets of public and private organizations, and the 33rd ASIS NYC Expo.
Qualified professionals who register for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Banquet Luncheon, will receive complimentary access to all three events.
Corporate firms, the majority of which return year to year to build upon their Legacy of Wins, include:
Advanced Detection Technologies, AMAROK, ATI Systems, Axis Communications, Automatic Systems, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., Cellbusters, CornellCookson, CyberArk Fortior Solutions, guardDog.ai, Hanwha Techwin of America, High Rise Escape Systems, IPVideo Corporation, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, NEC National Security Systems, NICE Public Safety, OnSolve, PureTech Systems, Quantum Corporation, Rave Mobile Safety, Regroup Mass Notification, Robotic Assistance Devices, Rajant Corporation, SafeLogic, Select Engineering Services LLC, Singlewire Software, SolarWinds Worldwide, Teledyne FLIR, Valor Systems, and West Virginia American Access Control Systems, just to name a few!
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old-school basics to what is Today – a fast-changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State, and local levels of government as well as firms allied to the government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers’ eyes throughout the story with cutting-edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications
AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals, in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from Government at the federal, state, and local levels as well as from private firms allied to the government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
To learn more about ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, Be On the LookOut for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2022 ‘A Year in Review’.
The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.
It will serve as your Go-To Source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2022 Products and Services’ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION will have what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It will also include featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
For a complete list of 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, begin HERE.
For more information on All Things American Security Today, as well as the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
Subscribe to the AST Daily News Alert Here.
Learn More…
Menu Set and VIP Guests Registering for 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon
