Newslink: Crypto-Currency Software Emerges as Tool to Block Cyberattacks

The U.S. defense agency that helped invent the internet is now looking at blockchain, the database technology behind the digital currency bitcoin, to help protect the networks its research made possible.

The technology can secure an organization’s network by placing the identities of all authorized users in the blockchain ledger, which continuously verifies them. In theory an unauthorized user is instantly detected. A blockchain can also continuously ensure that all the bits of code used to run a network are authorized and genuine, and that files haven’t been modified.

The technology can also help companies collect evidence from a hack. An appliance sold by Guardtime Federal, based in Alexandria, Virginia, uses the blockchain database to track who is accessing what and when.

That said, the blockchain is no panacea. It may need to be augmented with other technologies, analytics and employee training to protect companies and even the combination may not always work against attacks like phishing, for example, where an employee clicks on an e-mailed link and unwittingly grants hackers access to a network.

image and Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-19/crypto-currency-software-emerges-as-tool-to-block-cyberattacks