Joe Harris

http://it.slashdot.org/story/13/01/29/0111238/58000-security-camera-systems-critically-vulnerable-to-attackers

@ Chris - I am talking about other interfaces on the device - not signalling or polling. Where are the regulatory controls for web servers built into devices etc... @ Carl - The point highlighted is that this exploitation of a consumer device is a mirror for potential exploitation of non-consumer devices. The only reason that this is not happening in our industry is through less exposure and obscurity. As equipment is replaced and things end up in the hands of curious members of the public then we will very possibly end up with a similar exploit affecting equipment we all use. A 'hack' or exploit affecting old machines may be inherited by newer firmware also (they rarely go back to the drawing board) so do not think that up to date hardware or firmware will resolve the issue unless the specific flaw is fixed. This occurred because so many people had access to the device and one person got curious and a manufacturer was lazy in their coding. A function probably used for test purposes was left in the official firmware release of a product. I have reviewed some 'professional' equipment code already and I have to tell you now, it is often spaghetti code (in other words put together to make it work but not efficient / clean / organised code). There are no standards on device access through other interfaces and developer counts in manufacturers are low as price pressure hits. When time is money code is rushed. We need to be pro-active in ensuring that our industry does not end up with egg on its face through a lack of controls.

You can still access the lists and local devices can still be shown via sites like Shodan (Swap happyland for the city of your choice - or remove it for full gb listing) Also there are pastebin listings of devices and other websites like cryptogasm showcasing connected devices. The point about heitel is basically what I am trying to convey in the article. This exploit was discovered as trendnet devices were widely deployed and a user was experimenting with bypassing security measures. The user posted details on his blog as he was as suprised as anybody else at how easy it was to bypass all password security by affixing a simple string to the end of the url to access a script within a folder hosted on the devicem or by feeding a string of data that was too long as one off the variables (sFilter) The worrying side of things which I did not want to add to the original blog post was that due to a lack of 3rd party accreditation the only reason we have not seen more exploits in commercial / professional devices is down to obscurity. Which is never a long standing defense particularly in these days of ebay sold second hand items. Do you think that professional security devices will be more securely coded than mass produced consumer devices? From the speghetti code I have seen on some devices so far I do not think that is the case. A lack of resources at manufacturer level and no 3rd party pen testing tells me that it is only a matter of time.

Security Flaw Some of you may be aware that last year there was some exposure given to a vulnerability in Trendnet camera firmware allowing access to their consumer webcam devices despite password protection being enabled. They claimed to have released a patch within a month to solve the issue and to have contacted every customer to advise them to update their devices. This is (despite the assurances of Trendnet) still a common issue, to help highlight it a real time map was produced showing where such devices were located and allowing you to connect directly to them. The website has now been taken down thankfully as the goal of highlighting the issue in mainstream media again was achieved. Professional Security This is a pretty good demonstration though of just how prolific an issue this can be when Joe Public gets his hands into the pot but it also reminds me of the many poorly secured 'professional' installations I have come across in my time (I'm sure you have too) and it is hopefully a wake up call to some businesses to improve their security practices. How would you feel if 'XYZ Security - Live CCTV feeds' was the next google map mashup launched showing devices which you are maintaining or monitoring? Also take note that despite the publicity around the Trendnet devices, they are not the only ones affected. There was a website called Shodan HQ launched some time ago which gives the ability to search devices which are 'web facing' (in other words can be connected to over the internet) and list those matching specific url strings or other flags. This offers much more capability than Google searches for example in highlighting potential 'target devices'. It is already possible now to list unsecured access points on some very well known 'professional' DVRs and NVRs. Ease of connectivity is very much a double edged blade. We must remember that many of the devices we use are now starting to utilise built in web servers and connectivity. Considerations How are you ensuring that you are aware when exploits are announced on devices you utilise? What are your plans to identify, notify affected users and upgrade potentially affected devices quickly and effeciently? Are you considering these issues when investigating new web facing technology? How do you measure for and protect against potential built in backdoor access to foreign equipment? As well as looking outwards at your clients are your own systems secured and protected? Is technology advancing too quickly to ensure adequate security is deployed? As always I welcome your thoughts, questions, answers and debate.....

　 Bigger = Better? Many barriers currently exist for businesses which are planning to run their own Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). In the coming months we could potentially see some of those barriers crumble and a whole new way of doing business materialise. 　 　 Winners & Losers Traditionally setting up an ARC from scratch has been an expensive and time consuming process, which can rely upon expertise in the field to implement and is surrounded by very little shared information or open resources (ARCs for Dummies is not out yet). Existing ARCs face to lose out if more competition enters the fray and yet at the same time suppliers could benefit if more new business is generated. 　 Barriers So what exactly are the barriers to setting up a modern ARC? Building / Structure Buildings and structures must comply with specific requirements of the standards Equipment / Hardware In some cases specialist equipment may be required Communication Networks From voice communications to PSTN to IP via fibre links and all flavours in between AE Platforms Software packages used to monitor remote system Licensing / Accreditation Strict standards must be met in order to escalate calls to authorities Employees Skilled and capable staff are needed (You can automate some of this process but not all - yet Processes & Procedures You can have all of the above but without the correct procedures they will fall over Investment A large amount of money must be spent before you can earn a penny back If you think of any others please add them in a reply... 　 　 What's so 'Super' about that?... These and I am sure other points which I have likely overlooked, all make that first step of implementing an ARC a tough proposal. Given an ever improving core broadband network, with rapidly reducing prices and a growth in 4G wireless IP communication, can we now consider another approach though? ARCs usually build in a certain amount of spare capacity at any given time; this is good practice and is recommended at all times. Could some of this spare capacity be utilised to allow an ARC to operate as a 'Super ARC' by receiving and processing signals on behalf of a client ARC and relaying these processed alarms and signals back to them for handling? Why even go to another ARC? Could suppliers of alarm handling software packages not offer their own hosted 'Super ARC' platform? Maybe signalling providers could operate their own Super ARC to encourage more startups or extend reach? Why would a user choose to go to an ARC outsourcing to a Super ARC? Well, maybe they prefer the personal service offered by the smaller ARC but want the assurance of the capacity of the larger ARC. This could give rise to a stepping stone approach to bringing an ARC online, streamlining costs whilst allowing processes and procedures to be ironed out. The current standards would not lend to such a proposal, however the incoming standards allow a much less restricted approach and this type of centralised cloud based processing of signals is going to become a reality in many industries. Current latency and bandwidth restrictions will simply not exist in the same way in future. 　 Questions, questions... As usual we can end up with more questions than answers so I would like to ask you all to consider the following: 1. What problems would you foresee with such an approach? 2. Would you use an ARC which outsourced it's platform in this way? 3. Would you want to host services on behalf of a.n.other ARC? 4. What pros and cons do you see with this type of solution? 5. Is more ARCs a good thing or a bad thing? As always, please feel free to discuss, debate or disagree...

Crossing of paths... Alarm Transmission Systems (ATS) are increasingly adding capabilities that would traditionally have been performed by dedicated devices, for example CCTV verification. At the same time Control and Indicating Equipment (CIE, or control panels in plain English) feature built in IP communication functionality and are giving us access to Home Automation integration and more. This type of blurring of what would previously have been clear and distinct roles that equipment played is becoming much more common and is set to extend even further in the future. We are already in a position where individual cameras and detectors of all types can communicate directly with the software at an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) without utilising at ATS if they so wished. Installers are being empowered with the ability to not only connect instantly to a remote CIE to analyse a potential fault, but to be in a position to connect directly to a detector or camera or any other component of a system to amend settings, re-enable or even repurpose a generic multi-purpose device to enable the maximum potential protection for clients at all times. This type of convergence leads to some fantastic opportunities and will mean that the next few years will certainly be interesting. It will also however, mean that those whom are writing the standards to which we each adhere, will have to write them without constraints on the form of equipment utilised in some cases. A very tough ask of them when they are trying to give reasonably specific guidance. Confusion or cohesion? Given this merging of functions and the seemingly inevitable move towards every component being addressable where does that leave our suppliers? Will there be a place for specialised equipment if the same function is provided to the same standard in an integrated manner by another supplier? Does this lead to an eventual move away from processing of alarms by dedicated CIE at the protected property to instead provide processing 'in the cloud' at the ARC or any other centralised location? Will instant and thorough control of remote devices by installers lead to a change in business models when attendance is much reduced? Does dedicated equipment improve the structure of the overall system or benefit us in another way? Will ATS suppliers be bypassed or will they 'lead the revolution'? Will we see less competition as a result or more? As always, please feel free to discuss, sharing your thoughts and views on this subject…

Early indications from Apple and Samsung are that they intend to utilise AR in the next 12 months to provide 'meta data' primarily, such as help, guides and additional information to allow a more uncluttered main display without this extra information. It seems like this will be a popular route for integrating this type of technology. How will this fit in with your products and service offerings?

Current regulations prevent it, but those regulations are under review right now. Police forces have been using these actively for more than 5 years now and in built up areas. The fact is that some of the previous restrictions were based on technical limitations which have now been overcome by technological breakthroughs which have come into place so the CAA and government have to now reconsider if the restrictions are appropriate and if the controls are adequately regulated to ensure that members of the public are not impacted upon or their privacy invaded by unregulated or unlawful users. It would be better for us all if a suitable framework could be implemented for us to follow if it were to take off (sorry for the pun...)

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Some press exposure was given recently to the news that Secom are actively looking to utilise ‘drones’ for the private security market on a rental basis. [1] This appears to relate to the American market with the rental price given in dollars, yet is the UK market also ready to consider the possibilities? The usage of drones, also referred to as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (‘UAVs’), in the military sector has been known about and discussed widely for quite a while now. However, the typical lapse into commercial operations is beginning to take place quite quickly now and with the addition of Chinese CCTV market into the mix along with a thriving amateur hobbyist community (thankfully both non-weaponised for now) we are now able to consider the application of this technology in a serious manner in relation to the UK electronic security industry. [2] Scope Drones generally come many forms, it seems though that two main types are established at the moment in the commercial and civilian markets – ‘Multicopter’ types which are devices with several rotors designed to assist in direct and immediate flight and the more traditional aircraft types similar to model planes. Drones are defined as “an aircraft without a human pilot on board. Its flight is either controlled autonomously by computers in the vehicle, or under the remote control of a pilot on the ground or in another vehicle” This also leaves open the possibility of a drone definition as an unmanned aircraft under the control of a pilot in a remote location. ARCs & UAVs – A good match? There are some restrictions in the utilisation of drones in the UK. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) states that drones can be flown without a pilot's licence as long as they meet the following criteria: They must weigh less than 20 kilograms Remain below a height of 122 metres Remain within visual line of sight of the pilot Remain within 500m of the pilot Only be flown away from populated areas and airports Pilots must also be able to take over manual control if required Permission must be sought from the CAA [3] [4] This would seem to prevent the deployment of drones by remote centres but how would this affect an Alarm Receiving Centre ('ARC') with trained and licensed pilots with drones utilised under regulatory control for protection of a building? What about site based rooftop drones, which have a single application following an activation of flying directly upwards, transmitting footage from an aerial viewpoint before descending to recharge again? Protection in the event of a fire or duress situation could be more effectively managed perhaps with aerial thermal imaging and CCTV. Would manual PTZ control of such devices and utilisation of 4G for transmission purposes open up a new avenue for protection of property? Would we, in this scenario, eventually be petitioned by the police to take things a step further and follow suspects away from the property whilst they are en route so as to assist in a successful arrest? The use of two way audio in combination with a flyover by a drone device could be a powerful tool to deter would be burglars from a property. With a carefully managed marketing exercise to demonstrate effective results (similar to the smartwater approach) we could as an industry add another difficult to overcome layer of protection causing less well prepared miscreants to be caught and/or identified more effectively. Considerations There are some caveats to consider of course as with any new technology. Weather restrictions – wind shear, storms affecting flight Fog and other visibility issues restricting vision – much as with tradtional CCTV Recharging the UAV – Contact based charging solutions are now viable however Communications – The usage of robust 4G and 5G solutions should resolve this Auditing – On board encrypted SD cards should assist here Security of control – An important issue which I will describe below in more depth Health & Safety – Any such vehicle could potentially cause an accident or harm if lost Privacy – As always privacy concerns would have to be addressed and respected [5] [6] On the issue of security of control I would like to point out that where control of a Drone is intercepted by a third party we must be able prove that such action has taken place. There ought to be mandatory requirements regarding the security of access in line with current standards relating to all other security equipment in use. Though the application may be different the same level of care ought to be considered. This leaves us with some more questions to ask and discuss with regards the impact on and usage of UAVs within our sector: Would you consider implementing this technology? Do our current standards suitably allow for this technology to be utilised? Is it appropriate for ARCs to implement licensed pilots for this purpose? Would installers consider implementing these devices in specific installations? Does an aerial viewpoint offer advantages over properly sited CCTV? Should individual ARCs be licensed to pilot security UAVs? Would a single RVRC specialising in remotely controlled UAVs be a better approach than many RVRCs/ARCs offering individual solutions? As always, please feel free to discuss, sharing your thoughts and views on this subject… References: [1] – Engadget.com – Secom offers a private security drone (December 2012) [2] – Wired.co.uk – Here come the drones… (July 2012) [3] – Civil Aviation Authority – Policy for Light UAV Systems (May 2004) [4] – Civil Aviation Authority – CAP722 Guidance (August 2012) [5] – Global Research – Civil liberties and the CAA (December 2011) [6] – Youtube – BBC coverage of increased drone usage (Decembe 2012)

http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240175468/UK-to-launch-public-cyber-security-awareness-campaign 93% of large corporations and 76% of small businesses experienced a cyber security breach in 2012

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20121211151616-458190-hackers-show-how-to-break-into-leading-finance-and-accounting-software-system-programs Have you considered the potential impact and risk exposure of your accounting software? Do you take stateful snapshot backups which can be queried in a standalone format as well as provably restorable on demand?

http://www.professionalsecurity.co.uk/news/training/espionage-films/ UK seen as a priority target for espionage

Thanks for the info Nexlar, though at the same time CSL & NSI among others are busy canvassing insurers to 'advise caution regarding the use of LPS1277'. This is public not trade so I will not go into detail on the subjet

Collaboration Our current generation is without doubt the most "connected" generation yet. We have numerous tools available which allow us to convey our thoughts instantly in every possible media format and yet we still occasionally struggle to communicate with each other effectively. I want to look at some specific examples of platforms for collaboration and see how our industry might be able to put them into useful practice as well as considering our motivation for contributing towards a collaborative approach. Documentation Creating standards and policy documents is a very difficult and often thankless task which must be carried out in order for our industry to continue to progress. If we were to sit everyone around a table to try and agree the wording of an important document then we could be there for a very long time (if indeed we were able to sit down in the first place). Using free, secure applications such as Google Drive (formerly Google Docs) means that a collective of people could all work on a single document as and when they have time to do so, and at a pace that suited them. All changes would be audited, commented upon and can be discussed in an easy manner alongside the document so that people can find a way to reach an agreement. At any stage people can look at who has edited what and why and a final draft document would be the output of the process. People may be hesitant at the idea of putting content out securely into ‘the cloud’. To those people I ask one simple question: "Realistically, whose servers are more secure? Is it Googles data centres or your own servers?" What would an independent auditor say if comparing the two options on a like for like basis? The primary consideration will always be one of risk versus reward. The opportunity to encourage engagement from an occasionally apathetic and yet well informed industry is one which we should strive to grasp. Impact & Opinion I recently had the pleasure of contacting representatives of all NSI Gold and SSAIB accredited ARCs. It was quickly apparent that across a broad spectrum of different types of alarm receiving centres, that the people I was talking to were all well informed, had a great deal of experience in their particular disciplines and were passionately interested in the industry on the whole moving forward and progressing. They all had something useful and positive and unique to contribute. This is a valuable resource which our industry ought to be taking the fullest possible advantage of (in the nicest way possible). The same I am sure can be said of installers, manufacturers and other interested parties. Often the difficulty can be in taking the wide variety of people and preferred contact methods they may have into account when trying to gauge the opinion of the whole. We could use tools such as private LinkedIn groups and built in polling facilities: This can quickly help to identify the collective opinion of individual members. However, though users can comment on polls in such groups it is important that a facility somehow remains for users to contribute comments anonymously if they wish as it may be that an unpopular or controversial opinion may in fact be an important point for all to consider. It is also important that such questions remain relevant, neutral and help to identify or resolve key concerns in the day to day operation of such facilities, as this will promote participation and engagement while providing useful output for interested parties. Sharing ideas Why would potential competitors want to share information and ideas? Everyone knows that our industry historically has thrived on secrecy and that unique technology can give businesses a cutting edge over others with whom they are in competition, so why would anyone want to share? There is value in effective collaboration which can simply not be achieved in isolation. We have gone from being one way consumers of information to instead being very effective communicators of information. What seems interesting to one person could inspire another to actually create an innovative idea or approach. It is now recognised that there is a "cognitive surplus" which is often untapped and which is willing to give input autonomously to the benefit of the greater good. Now, whilst I am very mindful of intellectual property and issues related to it, there are issues which are broader and affect all interested parties within a group. These are the types of challenges to which a collective group of experienced and interested people can help to overcome. Given the opportunity to participate and with enough barriers to participation removed, then people will go out of their way to help. Many individuals in our industry have valuable contributions to make, it is a question of giving them an opportunity to have a voice whilst accounting for their hectic schedules and any genuine concerns.

App-something?.... The recent launch of the Windows 8 operating system has become the flagship of a new thrust in technology culture that is here to stay if we like it or not. Windows are trying to push their desktop experience into the App based smartphone sector whilst at the same time crossing paths with Google who are busy working on selling their App based platform to desktop users. At the same time Apple is looking to futher improve communications between their many available devices to ensure a smooth user experience and to bond users more closely to their brand. Users are increasingly being taught to think less about the specific machine that they are using to access tools and data (Laptop / Mobile / PC) and to instead focus on a common interface and a shared pool of data. More content is being delivered to users in the 'App' format. By 'App' I mean simple, modular applications that are generally geared towards a specific focus area or subject. The aim in most cases is to simplify the interface used, allowing the more non-technical minded among us to interact in ways that would have been either slow or difficult to achieve previously. This combines with an ever increasing 'Always on' mindset to create a demand whereby users are surprised and disappointed if they can't 'find an app for that' when they search. Conversion One of the most common themes at the moment is the migration of existing products and services from a traditional email / letter / phone approach to instead utilise an App. What name is given to the process of converting something which is not an App into an App though? Imagine converting your hard copy lens calculator into an App, or maybe making your invoice payment system into an App. How do you describe this process of taking a none-app format procedure or task and making the same process achievable through an App? I came across this dilemma recently and discovered the following terms actively being used in this context: Appifying? (4.7k Google hits) Sounds satisfying but not quite self explanatory enough Appverting? (14.4k Google hits) "Converting into an App" sounds feasible however this term was hijacked by the marketing industry for use as 'Appvertising' (A failed marketing attempt to channel adverts to mobile devices) Appetising? (Huge number of irrelevant Google hits) Hungry? This causes confusion already... Apping? (576k Google hits) A term that is used already to cover many different non App based uses (Such as applying for something) Appification: (23.3k Google hits) Probably the most prominent term currently in use, perhaps also the least self explanatory one for ‘Joe Bloggs’ non-technical person Applicable applications Why would this process be important to the Electronic Security industry? Our industry already embraces this technology in many ways you could say, with many hardware manufacturers beginning to make interfaces to their products possible through apps. Is this the only narrow use for this approach though? We are a service industry. Many of the services we provide can be made more efficient or more easily accessible to a wider audience if converted to a format with which an end user can easily and securely access. Processes which currently soak up valuable staffing hours could instead be made automated or at least interactive. The evolving possibilities presented by the internet of things (IoT) and IPv6 offer amazing scope but also an amazing level of potential complexity. Apps could help organise and empower users so that they are able to be informed, advised and participatory in the naming and configuration process. Communication can be made much simpler and the secure sharing of information to relevant parties can be done in a transparent, seamless and immediate manner. Many of the back end systems currently utilised by Installers and ARCs have common protocols such as SOAP or XML available which means that your App can directly interface with your core products if you wish. You may find it worthwhile to take some time to stand back from your organisation and consider how you could use this ‘App momentum’ to your advantage. There is potential for all sectors of our industry to take advantage of this migration including but not limited to Installers, ARCs and service providers. How can you empower your end users and staff through this technology?

Innovation It is easy with hindsight to look at some developments and think 'why didn't I come up with that?' We are currently living at point in time where technology is developing rapidly across a wide spectrum of disciplines, this is at the same time as we are bringing billions more people online to join the global discussion. Will this inevitably lead to progression or will these new minds need first to assimilate all of the current and existing ideas in order to further innovate? I beleive that there is immense value in being able to look at your existing problems from an outside perspective. It is all too easy today to say that something is "impossible" if you have only one or a few fixed ideas about how something can be acheived. We can focus too often on fixing the symptom of an issue rather than looking to the root cause. In addition, some of the barriers that led to dead ends when perhaps we first investigated an issue have perhaps been removed since or will be over the next few years. There is a risk that a viable solution could be missed as you may automatically write off what is a valid answer based on your past experiences, without looking objectively at the issue as it presents itself here and now (and in the future). Progress The British government has indicated in the past that it sees innovation as a key 'currency' in the future as more mundane or manual tasks become automated: "We want to make sure that Britain is the best place in the world to run an innovative business or service - this is critical to the UK's future prosperity, our quality of life and future job prospects" (Department BIS - Policy statement) Innovation is celebrated in our sector with annual award schemes and peer review. There have been attempts within the industry to push the benefits of apprentiships with programmes such as the "Engineers of tommorow - 100 in 100" (pdf) which has been vocally led by Simon Banks We have a history within our industry of being at the cutting edge of technology in order to stay one step ahead of the more manevolent members of society and this continues to be the case. There is no doubt that many of the people working within the industry already have an idea of the capabilities they want to see from equipment within 5 - 10 years and currently the technology is lagging behind the ideas being generated, how long will this last for though? Electronic Security This perhaps leads to some questions that the Electronic Security industry can ask of itself regarding innovation: What steps can we take to avoid blind spots and recognise all possibilities? How do we as an industry ensure that such opportunities are not missed? Are we introducing enough new thinkers to our industry through measures such as apprentiships? Should we do more to encourage transparency from manufacturers about their roadmaps? Is some innovation only possible through collaboration? Not all change is good, how do we differentiate the good from the bad? Do we consider other points of view enough? Does your business carry out enough research and development? These questions are worth considering regardless of the sector of the industry to which you belong as they may have a impact upon you at some point. As always please share your thoughts and views on the subject.

Hah - Yes it is MrHappy To test it out yourself take a peek at Aurasma Lite on iphone or Android for a quick test of what can be done directly from a phone to set this type of thing up. This can be based on specific graphics or specific geolocation. I think they have a 3D shark you can use as a test

James, You are spot on and as mentioned existing 'old style' PSTN comms can be affected just as much as 'new style' IP / GPRS connectivity. There are a number of methods that would be effective against ARCs though I see some ARCs beginning to implement counteractive measures as a form of target hardening. Forward thinking ARCs are ensuring as much redundancy as is feasible and structuring their systems to ensure that such a threat is minimised. The only sad part is that for each ARC that does approach things this way, twice as many will bury their heads. As for false signals vs outright bandwidth flooding - The former may be more effective initially as it will form shaped traffic more likely to pass through any initial early stage filtration. The issue will be (as it is for unrelated websites usually) how to distinguish genuine traffic from spoofed traffic and to ensure that this is carried out with zero latency and zero errors. A tough ask. Joe

Augmented Reality There was a glut of press attention given recently to a free Android and iPhone application called "Chestburster" which allowed users to see a 3D ‘alien’ type creature emerge and come to life when viewing a particular static image along with gory sound effects. This image could be downloaded from their website and placed; for example, on a t-shirt / computer screen or as a printed image. Whilst this was very much a niche ‘toy’ to demonstrate the possibilities it is a powerful reminder that augmented reality (AR) is very much here and all of the tools required to utilise it are available now. AR uses static ‘trigger’ images or location data such as GPS to overlay virtual content on top of the real world. This virtual overlay can then be interacted with based on user input if they so wish. To bring people up to speed and help explain the possibilities we can look to Google as a good example of usage. Apple have been developing wearable systems (iShades?) to provide AR functions since 2008 or earlier. Google have been working for just as long on "Project Glass" which is in effect a pair of clear glasses which overlays 3D virtual images and data onto a real 3D landscape. In a basic form it would effectively allow you to have a ‘Streetview’ style view of streets as you walk around in an area or for the purposes of directions. This could theoretically extend to whilst driving and can indicate locations of landmarks or retail outlets etc… Go a step further if you would and imagine looking at a retail outlets signage and suddenly it comes to life listing the current special offers and promotions. With this being Google of course the content of such promotions can be specifically targeted for your demographic or interests. They can even remind you of that item which you looked at before but didn’t buy at the time for which they can offer you a unique one off discount…. Billboards will just be blank canvasses in future, a man and woman walking down the road may see a different moving advertisement each or may even see a different advert if together than they would each see apart. Those in a vehicle would see the same billboard specific perhaps to the type of vehicle they are driving or their plans for that evening. This is aside from any seamless integration of social networking applications, checking in to locations, advising stores or restaurants of your details as you enter the premises… “Hello Mr. Smith, it’s good to see you again, did you enjoy the steak last week?” You can begin to see what could be achieved through careful application of this additional layer of reality when usage becomes common. - So you may rightfully ask ‘What does this mean to us in the Electronic Security Industry though Joe?’ Whilst it is arguably the retail and entertainment sectors that will see the most dramatic impact from this technology it still allows our industry many ways of capitalising on the technology to deliver our services more effectively and efficiently. Some examples could be as follows: Training Whilst there is no replacement for full on training it would be a powerful tool to allow engineers to see a video demonstration or a list of specifications when viewing a signalling device or alarm panel. A link can be given to contact the manufacturer or ARC or maybe to documentation or a replacement parts lists. Circuitry can be overlaid with plans and inputs and outputs labelled to millimetre accuracy in clear text and full colour with active links to enable context based content. This training can also be extended to security system users to explain how to reset an alarm or to help them understand how to omit a detector or zone or other such issues. Marketing It can be difficult sometimes to convey an important message in the short length of time in which you hold captive a persons attention whilst they read a brochure or advertisement. Through AR you have an opportunity to showcase your products and services in a manner that is relevant to the end user. Complex issues can be more effectively delivered through media playback or animated images or diagrams triggered by static images on a website or leaflet for example. Day to day usage Aside from training and graphical overlays it may be that suppliers can start to think more diversely in their approach. Why have a keypad on the wall at all if a virtual keypad could display upon approach for verified users carrying an authenticated fob or similar? Why not allow engineers to receive feedback from detector positioning and any masking to allow an overlay showing precisely where the detection covers within an environment during the installation of equipment? This data could even be used as a form of Kinect style visual overlay of a scene to provide ARCs with an image of the specific activity that led to an alarm activation so as to allow them to make an informed decision on a relevant handling procedure. Bell Boxes These already provide a form of advertising for Electronic Security companies but what if the same devices could trigger advertisements in full even with geographic based promotions? Imagine a virtual billboard on every home which can be constantly updated remotely if you wish? Promotional offers could be provided simply on the basis of having viewed an existing installation and then making an enquiry or you could even elect to provide some form of promotion for specific properties which generate enquiries based on their location. - I have only scratched the surface of some of the possibilities that could potentially be achieved. With a little imagination I am sure that each of you could find a way to use this technology to your advantage and I would ask that you begin to consider how you could go about utilising it to full effect in your own business by making it a reality before it becomes ubiquitous. The final word goes to T.S.Eliot... Human kind Cannot bear very much reality. Time past and time future What might have been and what has been Point to one end, which is always present

With standardised chargers now being implemented for mobiles and the "optimal" phone designs now settling in, I would like to see a system where my phone docks into a cradle to form the keypad / home control unit or docks in my vehicle dash when out and about to act as my satnav etc. These things are possible already but I want a more seamless and intuitive integration that just works. Once you remove the shackles of sticking to conventions and assuming that the old way was always the right way you can really start to explore truly ergonomic solutions. The only thing to be careful of is that not all change is good change - so research carefully and test fully. P.S. - Trifactor authentication based on: Physical device (Phone) Code entry (Keypad displays on insertion into dock) Iris / facial recognition (Using camera built into phone) Could be a useful way to provide further authentication without requiring a lot of time or equipment which could work for several applications.

An excellent summary and analysis thanks Chris.

Summary Many specific industries in the UK are currently being targeted for online attacks in order to access the information which they hold. This information is rapidly becoming a new commodity in these changing times. The financial sector saw a 3000% increase in the volume of attacks directed specifically at them in the first quarter of 2012. [1] [2] The electronic security industry is a definite target due to the ‘low risk, high yield’ target nature of ARCs & Installers for potential attackers coupled with the lack of up to date awareness in many parts of the industry. The risk from DDoS type attacks in particular is a well founded one but also comes on the back of other concerns in respect of “information security”. Our industry is at particular risk from this threat for a number of reasons: In the first case we hold (as an industry) vast amounts of sensitive data on our clients. We are ourselves a means by which access can be granted to further information from our clients. As an example consider an attacker armed with a security firms authorisation credentials or a site password then contacting a client of the ARC whilst performing a social engineering attack. Mobile telephone numbers can lead to location data or voicemail access of end users. The other aspect to consider is that as an industry we face an increased exposure from this type of attack that can be very detrimental to business. “Electronic security” is not the same thing as information security but to end users and clients this distinction is not so clear. We operate in an environment of trust and robust security protocols. Clients would potentially steer clear of the victim of a data breach as they would be seen as ‘untrustworthy’; this can have a massive impact within the industry. [3] A small investment in time and resources now could save businesses a great deal of cost and time at a later date. Following some basic principles [4] of system management will help. In the long term a complete managed structure is the only effective solution to mitigate the increasing risk and exposure. To manage system updates, audit all of the many server and client machines, keep up to date with trends and exploits and to effectively harden the many networks, software platforms and systems is a lengthy and laborious task which businesses small and large may struggle to keep up with. [5] [6] Threats & Exposure To understand the risks and better manage them we ought to first understand who would be aiming to access data. I believe we can categorise the majority of potential attacks as coming from one of five primary sources presenting the highest risk factors for our industry: Hacktivists Whilst traditionally few ARCs or Installers are seen to have any specific political or corporate ties (which reduces exposure to this threat) the servers and bandwidth available to ARCs can be seen as a potentially lucrative target to use for attack redirection or to include within a zombie network for attacking other targets Staff / Industry competitors Whilst a lower risk it needs to be considered and accounted for. Attacks such as competitors taking up similar domain names in the hope of emails being mistakenly delivered to them needs to be monitored for and addressed. Sensitive commercial information is in itself of value to a potential attacker from this sector. Criminals Well, at least with this source it is one we are all very familiar with. It is interesting that information security and electronic security are both very similar when criminals form the source of the attack. Target hardening is effective and will cause criminals to instead opt for an easier alternative target. The reason and target of attack is financially motivated. The best defence here can be to make it labour intensive, time consuming and expensive for anyone to perform a successful attack and it will reduce the impact from this source. It must be remembered though that the criminal enterprises can have *significant* resources available to them and they are becoming wise to utilising cheap mass labour to perform the legwork which can complicate matters. Script Kiddies This is becoming a dwindling form of attack source, however, it cannot be discounted entirely. While this particular source of attack generally uses widespread and basic tools which can be protected against, there is also the opportunity for talented and determined individuals to find previously unknown 0sec (zero seconds / newly discovered) exploits, which would not be so easily detected. State sponsored This is the largest threat to our industry. The sheer numbers involved and the impunity in which attackers operate highlight the fact that the internet is now very much like the old west with very few laws and regulations and several different highly active groups (the UK is no exception). Please take a moment to consider the type of information that could be useful to a potential attacking state. Vast amounts of data is stored which can all be funnelled into pool of information for later analysis. Nation states have many Petabytes / Exabytes of data storage for just this purpose and in many cases employ very effective attack teams. They have staff dedicated to harvesting and categorising target clients (IPV4 means fairly limited numbers which they can go though quite literally one by one). In the case where a target client is not immediately exposed to any current risk their equipment and services can still be categorised. When a new ‘0sec’ exploit is then released / discovered or purchased then these categorised targets can all be revisited quickly and with ease. This is also a form of attack that will not entirely disappear in the future without significant changes, indeed there are claims that this is now the modern battlefield between nations, we need to be careful to ensure that as an industry we do not become the injured innocent bystanders. Attack Vectors For the modern ARC or Installer there are several attack vectors and points of exposure: External webservers / client interfaces Company websites Mail servers Corporate intranets USB / Removable media Precompiled VMs IP Signalling device connectivity Receiver software / firmware You must ask questions of yourselves in relation to each of the above vectors remaining honest with yourself whilst doing so. Are each of your systems adequately protected? Is the authentication procedure appropriate to the risk exposure? How do you know if you have already been infiltrated? What measures can you take to prevent exposure to each of the above? Are your staff members trained to respond to and recognise these risks? Are you opening up more data than is required to perform the task at hand? If so why? Are your contingency arrangements formed with these risks in mind? Does your backup procedure give you scope for recovering to a point prior to an attack occurring which may be discovered at a later date? The reality in our industry is that the technical expertise employed within and by third parties on behalf of ARCs and Electronic Security Installers is often quite specialised. Whilst there are very many incredibly talented individuals working in the industry, it does not follow that they are necessarily aware of all aspects which are required in order to effectively protect company assets. The Solution? There is no "one size fits all" solution that would work for all types of businesses. There are however, some good practises and recommendations that can be made. Where possible implement managed network provision from a suitable supplier. Ensure that you have the support of any ISP utilised in order to help counter DDoS types of attacks. There has been a gradual evolution of some signalling products and back office systems to utilise remote access and various forms of IP technology. Ensure that the systems you are utilising have approached the implementation of this technology with a sound understanding of the risks involved. Other products have been designed from the very start around the core principles of data security and robustness, this should be a primary consideration. With all the points raised above, the key thing is awareness. Understand the capabilities and weaknesses of each product and perform your own risk assessments. You may conclude that it is no longer appropriate to utilise some equipment or demand more robust solutions from the supplier. In either case at least you are prepared and aware. Ensure that you are able to accurately track the flow of data in and out of your business and be able to see the status of all critical equipment and networks instantly at any time (keep your fingers on the pulse). We are all in the habit of assuming the worst case scenario in order to minimise risk. This puts our industry in a good position to be able to overcome such issues as and when they arise as long as we continue to be prepared. Consider your existing networks and infrastructure carefully. What is your exposure to risk? Can action be taken to reduce or ideally, entirely negate the risk? It will become crucial in future for Installers and ARCs to communicate effectively to highlight and manage risks. We have already begun to see the efectiveness of this approach when nationwide issues occur and in future we should all take advantage of these networks to help mitigate and protect from risk.

Enjoyable read Jim, echoes a great deal of that which I have seen recently in industry. Thanks for taking the time and I look forward to the next article. 'J

Thankfully I can assume that the pic above isn't a batch for return to CSL As recommended already, talk to CSL they are a good team and will go out of their way to look after you. 'J