Contest: DARPA offers $2 milllion for security software to be written

[kyrathaba]

http://gizmodo.com/darpa-will-give-you-2-million-to-build-hacker-proof-de-1451009416

Sometimes throwing money at problems works. As the Pentagon continues to struggle with cybersecurity, their sci-fi-like R&D department, DARPA, is ready to start writing checks. The agency just announced a competition to build a "fully automated cyber defense system." The grand prize? $2 million.

[Renegade]

WOOHOO!

I'm going to send them in a robot that unplugs computers!

[Vurbal]

And this explains the entire reason why the government's systems are so easily hacked. If you're Joe Six Pack automated protection will usually be good enough to secure your network. If you're the highest profile target in the world your only chance at defending yourself is an elite team of security professionals.

They aren't being attacked by code. There aren't any 1s and 0s on a mission to break into their systems. They are being targeted by hackers - in other words people. No computer, no cluster of supercomputers, can effectively strategize against expert human hackers any more than a giant armored wall can defend against a human army. In both cases people will just go around it.

If you want to defend yourself against people you have to have people of your own. Otherwise you've lost before the first attack comes in.

[Vurbal]

WOOHOO!

I'm going to send them in a robot that unplugs computers!

-Renegade (October 25, 2013, 10:28 AM)

That's outdated technology. They already have contractors who not only unplug them but take them home when they're done. 

[wraith808]

What's the better response to this article?  Crickets and Silence?  Or Laughter?

[Vurbal]

What's the better response to this article?  Crickets and Silence?  Or Laughter?

-wraith808 (October 25, 2013, 12:25 PM)

I tend to favor point and laugh.

[Stoic Joker]

They want one "with reasoning abilities exceeding those of human experts" that "will create its own knowledge." They want it to deflect cyberattacks, not in a matter of days—which is how the Pentagon currently works—but in a matter of hours or even seconds. That's profoundly difficult.

This sounds like a job for Lawnmower Man!

[Vurbal]

I'd go with the HAL 9000. Already proven against the human threat. 


I know that you and Frank were planning to disconnect me, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.

[wraith808]

How about Skynet?  That seems like an obvious one.

[Stoic Joker]

I'd go with the HAL 9000. Already proven against the human threat. 

-Vurbal (October 25, 2013, 02:20 PM)

HAL9000 was still just a computer that only had control of its own direct environment. Lawnmower Man (by the end of the movie) was a pure energy being ... So he could travel up the wire and kill the hacker in their own home. Which would greatly simplify security response times because you don't have to waste time analyzing the attack to mount a counter strategy. Because you could simply kill the person launching it.


...And no I couldn't say that IRL with a straight face.

[Stoic Joker]

How about Skynet?  That seems like an obvious one.

-wraith808 (October 25, 2013, 02:44 PM)

That would be like HAL9000 with drones. Collateral damage would be rather high...but that's never really bothered the pentagon much ... Shit man you could win!

[Vurbal]

I'd go with the HAL 9000. Already proven against the human threat. 

-Vurbal (October 25, 2013, 02:20 PM)

HAL9000 was still just a computer that only had control of its own direct environment. Lawnmower Man (by the end of the movie) was a pure energy being ... So he could travel up the wire and kill the hacker in their own home. Which would greatly simplify security response times because you don't have to waste time analyzing the attack to mount a counter strategy. Because you could simply kill the person launching it.


...And no I couldn't say that IRL with a straight face.

-Stoic Joker (October 25, 2013, 02:55 PM)

Yeah but could the Lawnmower Man sing?

https://www.youtube..../watch?v=OuEN5TjYRCE

[Stoic Joker]

I'd go with the HAL 9000. Already proven against the human threat. 

-Vurbal (October 25, 2013, 02:20 PM)

HAL9000 was still just a computer that only had control of its own direct environment. Lawnmower Man (by the end of the movie) was a pure energy being ... So he could travel up the wire and kill the hacker in their own home. Which would greatly simplify security response times because you don't have to waste time analyzing the attack to mount a counter strategy. Because you could simply kill the person launching it.


...And no I couldn't say that IRL with a straight face.

-Stoic Joker (October 25, 2013, 02:55 PM)

Yeah but could the Lawnmower Man sing?

https://www.youtube..../watch?v=OuEN5TjYRCE

-Vurbal (October 25, 2013, 06:44 PM)

Nope! ...And based on your video...I'm gonna put that in my plus column. 

[Vurbal]

You're just jealous. 

[4wd]

Not sure I get it.

Is this to protect the Government from the NSA or to give the NSA a heads up on the next encryption/protection methods so they don't have to work as hard?

[wraith808]

Yes?

[app103]

WOOHOO!

I'm going to send them in a robot that unplugs computers!

-Renegade (October 25, 2013, 10:28 AM)

Better to send them a robot that can also encase them in a solid block of concrete, buried deep underground, and then stands guard against anyone that comes along with any type of shovel, so nobody can plug them back in, access them, or even move them. 

Hey, maybe mouser can do it as a NANY project and call it Unplug + Bury And Guard Against Access Robot? (UBAGAAR)

[kyrathaba]

Or someone could write a FARR plug-in to do that. 

[app103]

Or someone could write a FARR plug-in to do that. 

-kyrathaba (November 01, 2013, 03:13 PM)

But we don't want anyone to find and run those computers!