Cisco Offers $300,000 Prize For Internet of Things Security Apps

alphadogg writes "Cisco today kicked off a contest with $300,000 in prize money that challenges security experts around the world to put together ways to secure what's now called the 'Internet of Things,' the wide range of non-traditional computing devices used on the electric grid, in healthcare and many other industries. A Cisco SVP concluded his keynote at this week's RSA Conference by announcing what he called the 'Internet of Things Security Grand Challenge.' Christopher Young said the idea is 'a contest of experts around the world to submit blueprints' for how security issues created by the Internet of Things could be addressed. It's expected that up to six winning entries would be selected and the prize money awarded at the Internet of Things Forum in the fall."

the one answer they won't find acceptable

[Anonymous Coward]

I want to keep my devices secure. This means: Let me control them. Don't require them to phone home, or to be connected beyond my local network if I don't want. If they need to talk to a server, let me run that server on my own locked down box in my own house. Let me replace the OS on the "thing", if I want, because I won't be able to trust yours, because you have every incentive to sell me down the river.

Unless I control what software is run, and what it talks to, then there can be no security for my "internet of things".

But you won't, will you? You didn't really want to know I can keep my "internet of things" secure. What you really wanted to know was: how to present a facade of broken security while data-mining me to hell.

Cisco is looking for a few good genius morons

[Zero__Kelvin]

What kind of combination of genius and moron do you have to be to solve a major security issue like this and then give it to Cisco in exchange for virtually nothing?

Re:I have the solution right here:

[pla]

This.

I don't want my fridge online. I don't want my toaster online. I don't want my lights online. I don't want my toothbrush online. And dear Zeus but I sure as hell don't want my HVAC or oven or even my car online!

The "Internet of Things" doesn't even rate as a solution in need of a problem - More like a marketing gimmick in need of a thin excuse to get ever more personal data from us.

Dear Cisco - Go home, you've had too much to drink. Don't worry, your fridge says it has leftover mac&cheese for you to snack on.