With a new administration in the White House, securing the president’s smartphone is a national security priority, but exactly what steps are taken to secure the phone are not made public. In a new article in The Conversation, Anupam Joshi, professor and chair of computer science and electrical engineering, and director of the Center for Cybersecurity at UMBC, discusses several likely ways President Trump’s security team is building protections into his phone, through everything from hardware to settings to app restrictions.

Limiting the number of people who have the president’s new phone number and keeping the unique International Mobile Equipment Identity number guarded can prevent potential attackers from accessing confidential information stored on the phone. This method is called “security by obscurity,” says Joshi.

Joshi also says the device Trump will use was likely made by a trusted manufacturer with carefully created and checked parts, explaining that this minimizes the “risk that the hardware would have any vulnerabilities that an attacker could exploit.”

Customizing the operating system, and allowing the phone to connect only with predetermined networks that are regularly monitored can also help protect against attacks, says Joshi. “Limiting its contact with the internet would, of course, by key,” he notes, “though that would also significantly limit the phone’s usefulness to a president whose routine involves constant connection.” Joshi says that limiting the number of apps on the phone, reducing the ability for additional apps to be downloaded and installed, and disabling automatic updates to the phone could keep the device even more secure.

While it is not certain which methods have been employed to secure the presidential smartphone, Joshi says that Trump trading in his commercial-grade phone for a government-secured device is an important first step in protecting the U.S. from hacks and attacks.

In another article in The Conversation, Rick Forno, assistant director of the UMBC Center for Cybersecurity and director of the Cybersecurity Graduate Program at UMBC, addresses the importance of addressing both short-term and long-term cybersecurity issues. He explains that ignoring underlying problems and only addressing small, attention-grabbing issues does not lead to lasting progress.

“Cyber-fatigue,” explains Forno, is an “inability to think critically about what needs to happen for meaningful, lasting cybersecurity improvements while focusing only on near-term problems.”

He says that while it is important to evaluate the benefits, conveniences and savings that new products and services may offer, the potential risks and problems should be considered, too. “So instead of repeating the same guidelines and recommendations of the past, it’s time to take a new and unconventional look at our approach to technology and how we secure it,” Forno explains. “Unless we’re willing to go beyond our traditional cybersecurity ‘comfort zone’ and explore new solutions, our cyber-fatigue will worsen.”

Read “How to secure a smartphone for the tweeter-in-chief” and “Overcoming ‘cyber-fatigue’ requires users to step up for security” in The Conversation. Joshi’s piece also appeared in Mashable and Channel Newsasia, and together the articles have already been read over 36,000 times.

Images: Anupam Joshi (top), and Rick Forno (bottom). Photos by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.

With the aid of big names from  past generations the MLS is attempting to take soccer in the United States out of the basement of professional sports and onto the forefront of attention for both national and international audiences. The MLS has an interesting place in the sports. To say there is a small would be a little to general and insulting, the fan base can more accurately be described as concentrated, similar to that friend you have who is a die hard fan of a niche t.v. cable show and who will stay up till 1:15 in the morning to watch that show on a Friday. But with everything in the world, especially in capitalistic America, money= opportunity and opportunity= money. The MLS is no different. So it is no suprise that rather than continue to develop home grown talent and cater to those die hard fans, the MLS has seized the opportunity that has been created. That grand opportunity is offering a place for  the biggest names in international soccer a place to continue their career. In turn these big names will generate more revenue for the MLS. And with more money comes more opportunity. Opportunity for bigger t.v. deals, for larger events to be held centered around MLS.

What was at first an experiment has turned into a trend. In 2007 L.A. Galaxy signed euro superstar David Beckham. Beckhem went onto have a  successful career in the MLS and most importanly he validated the idea that U.S. soccer fans want to see big names. According to FoxBusiness league wide attendance has risen 12.7% in the 2015 season, around the boom of the euro stars signing with M.L.S soccer teams. Most importantly the majority of that spike contained the 18-34 demographic, assuring that generations to come will also be nurtured to have a passion for MLS soccer. By 2020 the MLS plans to expand from 20 to 24 clubs.

The only dilemma the MLS faces is maintaining this growth. Can this momentum carry them into the top tier of professional sports, or will it prove to be a big bubble waiting to be punctured and to burst the organization.

Increase in player development and fan interest in MLS play will hopefully create a sustainable long term home for competitive U.S. soccer.

The post Euro aging stars dawn of new generation or cause of a bubble waiting to burst appeared first on The Retriever.

Are you looking for a last-minute addition to your schedule? Do you need an upper level elective, or are you looking to expand your horizons in entrepreneurship? In that case, take a quick look at a couple of classes we offer that are still open for enrollment.

Course Title:  IS498-02 Special Topics - 3D Printing and Entrepreneurship

Instructor: Erin Buehler

Location: ITE 458
Meeting Time: Fridays, 10am to 12:30pm (3 credits)
Permissions: Instructor Permission Required

Course Description:

Students will learn about digital fabrication and entrepreneurship. The course focuses on 3D printing, an innovative technology that support creativity, rapid prototyping, and personal-scale manufacturing. Students will learn introductory 3D modeling, 3D printing, and financial concepts including service models, retail sales, and e-commerce considerations. Students enrolled in this course will leverage their skills providing 3D printing and design services to the campus, in addition to exploring other applications of 3D printing in prototyping and entrepreneurial ventures.

This course is offered in cooperation with the Shriver Center’s SUCCESS program, an integrated four-year certificate for students with intellectual disabilities. Undergraduate students will work alongside SUCCESS students learning about 3D printing technology and how it can be used to produce, and market printed objects. In leveraging an integrated classroom environment, this course will also teach students concepts of social entrepreneurship with a special focus on employment and community support for people with diverse abilities.

Course Title:  ENTR 320--  Entrepreneurial Marketing

Instructor: Jeremy Steinberg
Location: Janet & Walter Sondheim 204
Meeting Time: Tuesdays, 4:30pm to 7:00pm (3 credits)

Course Description:

 This course arms student entrepreneurs with an overview and understanding of the new media and marketing landscape. New media have fundamentally changed the way that all businesses approach marketing.  Students in this course can expect to develop a high level understanding of the planning and execution of messaging and engagement within new marketing media. This course will include a combination of both individual and team based projects, (such as blogs, pod casts, and E-mail newsletters).

Are you looking for a last-minute addition to your schedule? Do you need an upper level elective, or are you looking to expand your horizons in entrepreneurship? In that case, take a quick look at a couple of classes we offer that are still open for enrollment.

Course Title:  IS498-02 Special Topics - 3D Printing and Entrepreneurship

Instructor: Erin Buehler

Location: ITE 458
Permissions: Instructor Permission Required

Course Description:

Students will learn about digital fabrication and entrepreneurship. The course focuses on 3D printing, an innovative technology that support creativity, rapid prototyping, and personal-scale manufacturing. Students will learn introductory 3D modeling, 3D printing, and financial concepts including service models, retail sales, and e-commerce considerations. Students enrolled in this course will leverage their skills providing 3D printing and design services to the campus, in addition to exploring other applications of 3D printing in prototyping and entrepreneurial ventures.

This course is offered in cooperation with the Shriver Center’s SUCCESS program, an integrated four-year certificate for students with intellectual disabilities. Undergraduate students will work alongside SUCCESS students learning about 3D printing technology and how it can be used to produce, and market printed objects. In leveraging an integrated classroom environment, this course will also teach students concepts of social entrepreneurship with a special focus on employment and community support for people with diverse abilities.

Course Title:  ENTR 320--  Entrepreneurial Marketing

Instructor: Jeremy Steinberg
Location: Janet & Walter Sondheim 204
 

Course Description:

 This course arms student entrepreneurs with an overview and understanding of the new media and marketing landscape. New media have fundamentally changed the way that all businesses approach marketing.  Students in this course can expect to develop a high level understanding of the planning and execution of messaging and engagement within new marketing media. This course will include a combination of both individual and team based projects, (such as blogs, pod casts, and E-mail newsletters).