21,169 research outputs found
Securing the Participation of Safety-Critical SCADA Systems in the Industrial Internet of Things
In the past, industrial control systems were ‘air gapped’ and
isolated from more conventional networks. They used
specialist protocols, such as Modbus, that are very different
from TCP/IP. Individual devices used proprietary operating
systems rather than the more familiar Linux or Windows.
However, things are changing. There is a move for greater
connectivity – for instance so that higher-level enterprise
management systems can exchange information that helps
optimise production processes. At the same time, industrial
systems have been influenced by concepts from the Internet
of Things; where the information derived from sensors and
actuators in domestic and industrial components can be
addressed through network interfaces. This paper identifies a
range of cyber security and safety concerns that arise from
these developments. The closing sections introduce potential
solutions and identify areas for future research
From Social Data Mining to Forecasting Socio-Economic Crisis
Socio-economic data mining has a great potential in terms of gaining a better
understanding of problems that our economy and society are facing, such as
financial instability, shortages of resources, or conflicts. Without
large-scale data mining, progress in these areas seems hard or impossible.
Therefore, a suitable, distributed data mining infrastructure and research
centers should be built in Europe. It also appears appropriate to build a
network of Crisis Observatories. They can be imagined as laboratories devoted
to the gathering and processing of enormous volumes of data on both natural
systems such as the Earth and its ecosystem, as well as on human
techno-socio-economic systems, so as to gain early warnings of impending
events. Reality mining provides the chance to adapt more quickly and more
accurately to changing situations. Further opportunities arise by individually
customized services, which however should be provided in a privacy-respecting
way. This requires the development of novel ICT (such as a self- organizing
Web), but most likely new legal regulations and suitable institutions as well.
As long as such regulations are lacking on a world-wide scale, it is in the
public interest that scientists explore what can be done with the huge data
available. Big data do have the potential to change or even threaten democratic
societies. The same applies to sudden and large-scale failures of ICT systems.
Therefore, dealing with data must be done with a large degree of responsibility
and care. Self-interests of individuals, companies or institutions have limits,
where the public interest is affected, and public interest is not a sufficient
justification to violate human rights of individuals. Privacy is a high good,
as confidentiality is, and damaging it would have serious side effects for
society.Comment: 65 pages, 1 figure, Visioneer White Paper, see
http://www.visioneer.ethz.c
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