University of Oxford collaborates to secure routers
Author: EIS Release Date: Apr 20, 2022
The University of Oxford has teamed up with UK organisation in an attempt to defend routers from malware infections.
The project, known as Secure Networking by Design (SNbD), is a partnership between the University, TechWorks Hub and NquiringMinds.
The aim is to put an existing TechWorks router security project called ManySecured on top of a combination of the Cheri security software stack on Arm’s Morello secure computing hardware platform which provides memory protection and secure compartmentalisation. Commercial hardware will be one outcome of the project.
“ManySecured and Morello provide a mighty combination to deliver security,” said NquiringMinds CEO Nick Allott. “Remote network attacks present a security threat with a frightening ability to scale. Hardening this network interface right down to a fundamental silicon level is an essential component of global security strategy.”
It is a modular approach, making individual upgradeable software modules available across common operating systems, according to TechWorks, which said: “From the outset, SNbD is intended to be a self-sustaining, collaborative initiative, with a long-lasting legacy and will adopt an open-source style operation which accepts third party contributions.”
SNbD is part of the Digital Security by Design challenge, funded by the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF).
TechWorksHub is an industry association consisting of AESIN Automotive Electronics Innovation, IoT Security Foundation (IoTSF), nmi Electronics Manufacturing, TechNES and Power Electronics UK. “SNbD is driven by the IoTSF, established in 2015 with a mission to make it safe to connect by helping to secure the IoT,” said TechWorks.
NquiringMinds, founded in 2010, is an AI company that develops distributed data sharing and data analytics. it has built secure data sharing systems for the central government, the public sector and industry and agriculture, said TechWorks.