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DHS S&T Expands Mobile App Archiving Technology

The expansion of mobile application archiving technology across all major mobile apps markets was announced Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T).

“In addition to Android apps, the technology can now archive apps from iTunes, Windows Phone Store, Google Play, Amazon and 83 global third-party mobile app markets such as Baidu and Cydia,” DHS said in its announcement.

“The demand of today’s IT service has evolved from desktop computers to mobile technologies,” said DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology Dr. Reginald Brothers. “To accomplish the department’s mission, we are leveraging mobile technologies and enabling a mobile workforce. This technology will help manage and secure mobile apps and the delivery of next generation IT services.”

In 2013, the S&T Cyber Security Division (CSD) developed the mobile app archiving project to help the government vet and inventory mobile apps quickly. In December 2014, the project, developed by George Mason University and commercializedthrough a small business, KryptoWire, announced the first technology phase, which archived Android smartphone apps and integrated existing app vetting capabilities to help analysts understand app changes over the app’s lifespan.

“The technology’s second phase has now been commercialized by KryptoWire and currently archives more than 2.4 million unique free apps and the top 200 paid apps across four major app stores,” DHS stated, adding, “The technology has the capability to archive additional mobile apps on-demand.”

DHS said “this mobile app archiving technology will be featured at the upcoming 2015 RSA Conference on April 21- 24, along with other S&T-funded technologies ready for transition into the marketplace.”

“With the success of the mobile archiving application technology’s expansion and as technology continues to evolve, S&T will continue to fund research and development for projects that will enable the adoption of secure mobile technologies."

In an emergency conference call, Web Presence In China CTO Alex Ververis advised more than 50 Western organizations’ representatives on the fallout of the revelations that Baidu Tongji is being used to weaponize website traffic against Western sites such as Github, the company said in an announcement, saying China’s default analytics tool constitutes malware.

“If you have Baidu’s analytics tool Tongji associated with your Chinese Website, you’re essentially hosting malware,” Ververis told attendees of the conference call. “The Chinese government’s people at China Unicom can redirect your traffic to take down Western sites it has issue with, as it has with Github’s New York Times and Greatfirewall.org sites.”

DHS S&T Expands Mobile App Archiving Technology Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Today
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.
Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Todayhttp://www.hstoday.us
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.

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