Brigham Young Univ. has received a $527,112 award from the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate to develop a web authentication middleware tool that would significantly upgrade the current Internet website authentication process and improve online security. S&T says recent studies have documented many problem areas within the current certificate-based authentication system such as errors and issues with server certificates, invalid chains and subjects, self-signed certificates, and popular websites not properly using them. S&T says that BYU’s authentication tool will provide a better solution to web authentication that increases Internet security and decreases the vulnerability of individuals and businesses to cyber attacks.
Booz Allen Hamilton [BAH] has received a one-month $525,612 contract extension from the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate to continue providing on-site assistance to S&T’s First Responder Group for pogrom and technical management, program planning and oversight, financial management, and technical website administration. So far Booz Allen has received $8.6 million under its contract with S&T that was first awarded in June 2015. He task order is being recompeted.
The Federal Trade Commission has initiated a public challenge to create an innovative tool to help protect consumers from security vulnerabilities in home devices connected to the Internet of Things. Under its Home Inspector Challenge, the FTC is offering a cash prize of up to $25,000 for the best technical solution, with up to $3,000 available to up to three honorable mention winners. Submissions are due between March 1 and May 22 with winners announced by the end of July.