The Next Cyber Warfare Wave: AR and VR Worlds

1. The Next Cyber Warfare Wave: AR and VR Worlds
Robert Fine
Editor
VR Voice
July 5, 2018

2. A little bit about me…
• 20+ years of engineering and IT
• Early days in telecom and wireless
• Popular website in dot.com days (‘99-’01)
• The Cool WAP Site of the Day.com
• M.S. and ABD in Env. Science & Policy
• Global IT Director for Conversation Int’l – 10 yrs
• Started Cool Blue Media in 2009

3. 3

4. 4 Publications
100K+ Email Subscribers
60K+ Uniques Monthly
250K+ Social Media Followers
3000+ articles
COOL
BLUE
MEDIA

5. The Next Cyber Warfare Wave: AR and VR Worlds
Robert Fine
Editor
VR Voice
June 16, 2018

6. It’s all VR, AR, MR, XR and roses……. ……or is it?
Right now…

7. What do we have to worry about?
Or who do we have to worry about?
This guy?
Or whom do we have to worry about?

9. What concerns should we have in terms
of cyber security in VR and AR?
The illegal recording and theft of user behavioral data.
Possibly leading to a ransomware attack.
The use of misleading information to entice users to take
a certain action.
Perhaps giving up personal and/or credit card information.

10. What concerns should we have in terms
of cyber security in VR and AR?
During critical maneuvers.
Is the individual(s) you’re interacting with
who you think they are?
VR/AR devices being taken over remotely in the workplace?
Avatar impersonations.
In defense.
In medicine.

11. Is this the future of the six o’clock news?
Is this news we can trust?

12. Do we need to be concerned about a
Cambridge Analytics situation
on steroids?

14. Hyperlinked Worlds in VR Web 4.0?

15. Whether it’s in AR or VR, or whatever R…..
How do we know it’s safe when we traverse worlds?

17. Actual pepperoni
slices

21. Possible ways to implement cyber security
within VR and AR systems.1
1. https://www.antuit.com/blog/virtual-and-augmented-reality-cyber-security-challenges/
Implement secure messaging between VR/AR devices.
Use proper identity and authentication
mechanisms between agents (VR/AR).
Secure VR/AR applications and firmware residing on devices.
Validate the integrity and relevancy of VR/AR content.
Oculus recently bricked all rifts w/ firmware update.

22. Possible ways to implement cyber security
within VR and AR systems.1
Monitor for abnormal behavior of the VR/AR device,
application and ecosystem.
1. https://www.antuit.com/blog/virtual-and-augmented-reality-cyber-security-challenges/
Implement tamper detection.
Force authentication of communication
between VR/AR devices.

23. 3/4 of respondents (74%) say the presence of
VR tools increases their likelihood of pursuing
cybersecurity careers.2
72% said it would increase their efficiency.
2. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/virtual-reality-and-immersive-technology-are-game-changers-for-cybersecurity-job-growth-300541719.html
But, it’s not all bad…
77% said they would get more enjoyment from
VR based tools compared to desktop based tools.
74% said VR would increase their ease of use.

24. Closing Thoughts on VR and Blockchain
- Recently attended an all day conference in NYC on Blockchain
- Represented by Fortune 500 brands and enterprise
- Lots of head scratching
PLEASE!!! I Want To Be Corrected!

25. My skepticism and summation:
Blockchain is not a panacea.
The accounting rules of any particular ledger are defined by the
individual(s) or company(s) establishing that ledger.
Those rules can be modified, updated, deleted or nullified by said
individual(s) or company(s) at anytime.
Closing Thoughts on VR and Blockchain

26. The Blockchain and Ledger are only as good/valid/secure as the
actors involved participating in good faith.
When humans are involved…. ….good faith can be questionable.
Closing Thoughts on VR and Blockchain

27. Plug #1

28. Plug #2
2nd Annual Global
Virtual Reality Day.org
A day of education about VR and AR to the public.
Free to attend.
Last year – 8 cities globally participated
This year – 50 city goal!
Saturday, November 17, 2018

29. Contact Info:
Robert Fine
Editor
VR Voice
Email: bob@coolbluemedia.net
Tel: +1-202-746-9125
@bobfine
@thevrvoice
http://vrvoice.co
Questions?