Technology to Better Protect Mobile Devices to be Presented at IEEE Homeland Security Conference in Boston

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IEEE-USA (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

Nov 09, 2012, 05:57 ET

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ARM-based processors commonly found in smartphones and tablet computers can contain security vulnerabilities that make mobile devices more susceptible to hacking.

Researchers from University of California, Irvine have proposed a new algorithm that would screen for system vulnerabilities to such an attack before the devices are deployed. It will be a featured paper at the 2012 IEEE International Conference on Technologies for Homeland Security (HST '12), 13-15 November in Waltham, Mass., outside Boston.

Zi-Shun Huang will present his paper, "Return-Oriented Vulnerabilities in ARM Executables" during the conference. He will discuss the new algorithm and demonstrate experimental results of detecting vulnerabilities on a Texas Instruments' Stellaris microcontroller.

The latest vulnerabilities in ARM-based processing systems have been unleashed by the Return-to-Zero-Protection attack.

"Our algorithm for detecting ARM-based vulnerabilities will provide security to the processors before they are deployed," Huang said. "This technology has impact on widespread embedded devices, making them safer and reducing the risk of attack."

HST '12 will kick off Tuesday afternoon with plenary speeches by:

* Paul Benda, Director, Department of Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency

* Patricia Hoffman, Assistant Secretary, Department of Energy Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability

* Mark S. Borkowski, Assistant Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Technology Innovation & Acquisition

* Gregory D. Ambrose, Chief Information Officer, Department of Homeland Security US-VISIT

In addition to cyber security, HST '12 will feature peer-reviewed technical papers highlighting emerging technologies in:

* Attack & Disaster Preparation, Recovery & Response
* Borders & Maritime Security
* Biometrics & Forensics

The HST business panels will address effective business strategies in the current homeland security market.

For more information and to register, visit www.ieee-hst.org or contact Bob Alongi at [email protected] or 781-245-5405.

HST '12 is produced by IEEE with technical support from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate, IEEE Biometrics Council, IEEE Boston Section (http://www.ieeeboston.org) and IEEE-USA. MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Raytheon, MITRE and Battelle are providing organizational support.

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SOURCE IEEE-USA (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)