Press Releases – :: Exire Technologies ::

Exire Technologies Sri Lanka Signs Technology Distributions Partnership with High-Tech Bridge, Geneva

November 26, 2018October 22, 2018 by Nigel Stork

Exire Technologies Sri Lanka Signs
Technology Distributions Partnership
with High – Tech Bridge, Geneva

Exire Technologies Sri Lanka CEO Nishan Wimalachandra and High-Tech Bridge, Switzerland CEO Ilia Kolochenko in
Geneva

12 October 2018 marked the 8th Geneva ‘Information Security Day’ which was conducted at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Geneva. Experts from around the world flew to Geneva to address the cybersecurity need of the hour and preparedness against future cyber threats.

The Conference emphasised the importance of adopting Statistical and Artificial Intelligence as well as the importance of Machine Learning and Cyber Incidence Responses required to battle the future Artificial Intelligence based cyber threats. High-Tech Bridge of Geneva is an award winning organisation for Application Security, Web Application security, Mobile Application security and Application Discovery, utilising Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence technologies.

Exire Technologies which is an innovative technology distribution firm in Sri Lanka and High-Tech Bridge in Geneva, Switzerland commenced operations in South Asia with the signing of the distribution partnership. The CEOs of both companies are committed to addressing the applications security needs of the South Asian Region.

The signing of this document once again proves the high level of trust between the two countries. It reflects the spirit of genuine strategic partnership that is typical of Swiss-South Asian region relations. The agreement shows the striving of both parties to the agreement to expand bilateral cooperation on one of the most important aspects of maintaining international and national security.

The products of High-Tech Bridge addresses security flaws of web and mobile based applications which are static as well as dynamic, and also provides reports on vulnerability of applications security and how attractive these are to hackers based on hackability and attractiveness score.

All solutions of High-Tech Bridge, Switzerland could be accessed through Exire Technologies Ltd.

TACKLING THE INTERNET

November 2, 2018August 22, 2018 by Nigel Stork

With the advent of the digital age, it is imperative, now more than ever, for individuals of all ages to become digital-savvy in order to leverage the opportunities of tomorrow. Be it in school, your job or even to run a home business, tech capability is a vital node in one’s skillset. This learning curve now begins at tender ages, where children are taught digital skills in classrooms, making a computer or network-enabled device a part of their day-to-day life.

The Internet is a precarious playground. Today, with accessing online content is easier than ever before, parents have to be very careful when it comes to kids’ online activity due to increasing child predators, pornography, cyberbullying, online drug peddling, social media misuse and incidents of online grooming. According to a survey done by many international agencies, the teenage suicide rate is increasing due to cyberbullying; and many crimes related to child exploitation take place through the Internet. However, with ICT being taught in schools as a vital subject, not having access to the Internet at home is out of the question. So What is the solution?

Marketed and distributed by Exire Technologies, Fingbox is the most awaited solution for parents of growing children. Today, Internet access for children is a must as schools demand online research for assignments and projects. However, by giving full access to the Internet, parents will expose children to unknown dangers and unlimited cyber roaming. Fingbox allows parents to control their home Internet from anywhere in the world via their mobile: they can limit Internet access, block smart-phone, tabs, games consoles and unwanted websites, check who is using the Internet most, and see what other devices are trying to access the network through digital fencing.?

Fingbox can also give reports to parents on what websites their children are accessing and how often and how long they are on the Internet. Fingbox not only protects your home from online dangers but can also guard small businesses against intruders and unauthorized devices trying to access classified information or use your networks. The productivity of many small businesses is drastically diminishing due to unnecessary social media use and cyber threats. This technology can prevent such problems from occurring.

A noteworthy point of Fingbox operation is that everything can be controlled and monitored from a mobile phone. Fingbox is a plug-and-play system that can be installed by anyone. It’s just a matter of plugging the unit to your everyday router and using the features from the mobile application.

The effect of crime has multiplied with the access of internet, with children being mostly in danger. We must protect what matters most to us. Fingbox solution can help us save our children. As a company, Exire Technologies is committed to addressing the growing social need for protecting children online, which is often unnoticed by the telecommunication industry.

WannaCry AGAIN? Cyber Crime Is Everywhere and Is Out of Control

November 2, 2018June 1, 2017 by Nigel Stork

The UN estimates that Cybercrime will cost $2 trillion by 2019. WannaCry Ransomeware
recently affected 200,000 computers and affected 150 countries.

Cybercriminals made estimated illegal profits of up to $445 billion last year, which is larger than the GDP of 160 nations,
including countries like Ireland, Finland and Denmark, and most of these incidents were a result of internal breaches.

Ransomware is a malicious software designed to block access to a computer until a sum of money is paid by the victim. Although Ransomware has thus far been targeted at individuals, at present, it is being targeted at many large businesses worldwide.

Due to the recent catastrophic digital security threat the world faced, Echelon met Nishan Wimalachandra CEO of Exire Technologies along with their Security Specialist Livan Jayasekara to discuss how Exire Technologies could help prevent similar future incidents; according to them, many Sri Lankan Companies could have prevented this attack if the right technology, which was already in Exire Technologies’ possession, was deployed.

What is at stake due to Ransomware?

Nishan Wimalachandra: We believe the most terrifying experience is that the hacker could destroy all the data in that computer including emails, images, documents, login credentials, banking data, passwords, electronic certifications, credit card details, and even intimate details if the victim does not pay the hacker. What id the most important memories your computer held of your family and friends were gone in a few hours if the ransom is not paid (this includes your cloud-based backups as well)?

What is the worst-case scenario?

Even if the ransom was paid to get your life back and access to your computer data. there is no guarantee that your privacy will remain private. After a Ransomware attack, your privacy is no longer private.

How are businesses affected by Ransomware?

A Ransomware attack may steal everything a business has built in a lifetime. Once attacked, everything the company had been working on will be gone forever, including R&D, Blueprints, customer details, intimate financial details, the patent-worthy technology that is not yet registered, recipes, pricing, marketing strategies, vendor details, contracts, legal documents and confidential dealings with other corporate or government agencies.Once a business is affected, there is no point going ahead with existing strategies and tactical business plans as the hacker may sell the stolen data to the highest bidder regardless whether or not you pay the ransom. Ransomware can take away a company’s competitive advantage and bring it to ruins within a few hours.

Q: Can Exire Technologies help protect businesses from Ransomware?

Yes, NetSHIELD of SnoopWall Inc. introduced by us secures mission-critical and highly valuable confidential information behind firewalls with an award-winning patented NetSHIELD appliance, and WinSHIELD on Windows and MobileSHIELD on Google Android and Apple iOS mobile devices. This next generation technology detects and blocks all remote control, eavesdropping and spying. NetSHIELD provides critical IntraNet security that firewalls and antivirus systems are not designed to address.

Q: How do you know if a system has critical vulnerabilities that are easily exploitable?

Livan Jayasekera: NetSHIELD possesses security features that could detect critical vulnerabilities of systems, and its scalable solution allows you to harden your network and cover your assets with ironclad network access control and vulnerability management.

Q: Are Sri Lankan businesses vulnerable to Ransomware, and what is the way out?

Yes, Ransomware is a global threat, therefore any computing device that connects to the internet should be frequently hardened.

NetSHIELD runs a comprehensive internal network evaluation that can help businesses understand the following:

Baseline Security – ensures to inform you who and what is really on your network, this also helps to build a trust list to identify unknown and unwanted assets.

Threat Prevention – identifies zero-hour malware not detected with Anti Virus and strengthens security infrastructure by capturing real-time phishing attacks with no false positives.

Vulnerability Assessment and Compliance Reporting – enables the discovery of vulnerabilities, prioritizes them on your network and runs compliance assessments for PCI – ISO etc.

Q: What is the solution given by NetSHIELD to battle Cybercrime?

The human attack surface is to reach 4 billion people by 2020. As the world goes digital, humans have moved ahead of machines as the top target for cybercriminals. Hackers smell blood now, not silicon. Up to 200 billion IoT devices will need security by 2020. Regardless of which estimate proves right, the bottom line is that the digital attack surface will grow massively over the next five years. With the expansion of IoT, from home appliances to security monitoring systems, new security challenges are becoming pervasive. Without proactive testing, networks are more vulnerable than ever before. Hackers have new entry points via which they cannot only gain unauthorized access into our homes or business network but also intrude our privacy.

Corporates can take charge of their corporate network(s) with a highly scalable, affordable and simple-to-manage network access control (NAC) solution, NetSHIELD, introduced by Exire Technologies. They can gain control and confident oversight of trusted LAN(s), manage compliance reporting, audit assets, identify vulnerabilities, and defend against malicious insiders, rogue access, zero-day malware, phishing attacks and data exfiltration. In a world of digital catastrophes, there are only winners and losers.

Strengthening your IT infrastructure is critical to be ahead of the game. Talk to Exire Technologies; they are able to help you secure your business.

Source: ECHELON Magazine June 2017

Thought You Were Safe? Experts Thought So Too, But Not Anymore.

November 2, 2018December 1, 2016 by Nigel Stork

In a connected world where information is the key asset and data are knowingly or unknowingly transferred, we often face the threat of a security breach where an organization’s data are exposed to prying eyes. Most mobile devices hold integral data and simple firewall can always be brought down from inside the network, thus exposing your device to vicious and malicious attacks and data thefts compromising safety for all. Many big organizations, such as Anthem, Sony Pictures, Ashley Madison and Financial institution such as the Bangladeshi Bank who got affected in February 2016 have also proved to be vulnerable and been subjected
to data breaches .

SnoopWall, the global leader in breach prevention, is the world’s first counter surveillance security company focused on protecting all computing devices connected to a network. Highly valuable confidential information hidden behind firewalls and on mobile devices are protected with a patented cloaking technology, which aims to detect and block all rogue network access, remote control, spying and eavesdropping mechanisms with the next generation of technology.

The company’s products range is extensive, with NetSHIELD, a patented intranet intrusion prevention products deployed in 32 countries, and patented mobile security software named mobileSHEILD, WinSHEILD and App SHEILD SDK, a software Developer toolkit used by over 100 financial institutions globally. Snoowall offers the complete range of essential end to end requirement of network security Gary Miliefsky, CEO of snoopwall and a co-inventor of the company’s innovative breach prevention technologies, a founding member of the US Department of Homeland Security , the National Information Security Group,and part of the OVAL advisory board of SnoopWall’s worldwide channels; and Nishan Wimalachandra, CEO of Exiretechnologies, the local partner for Sri lanka and Maldives sat down with Echelon to stress the importance and growing need for network security

Nishan Wimalachandra
Chief Executive – Exire Technologies

Gary S. Milliefsky
Chief Executive -SnoopWall

Mark Bermingham
Vice President -SnoopWall

> Does Network Security in Sri Lanka Need Immediate attention?

Wimalachandra : Yes, Until I Saw how SnoopWall’ NetSHIELD work, I didn’t know that the ICT infrastructure of Sri lankan companies was Alarmingly vulnerable including the financial institutions that recently introduced mobile apps. Many local incidents reported were internal security breaches, which could have been prevented if the right technology was deployed.

> With Srilanka being a global IT hub, why is it important that a company takes steps to protect their networks?

Miliefsky : Today, 95% of security breaches occur from within the company regardless of whether they have firewalls or virus guards.

Information security is an integral part to an organization’s success, and the technology introduced by SnoopWall can protect an organization’s integral ICT infrastructure even from its own employees.

> How exactly is NetSHEILD an effective intranet intrusion product for a local company?

Bermingham : company intranets are large and it’s hard to keep a track of who’s on it. NetSHEILD is a family of networks Access Control (NAC) appliances from SnoopWall, which ensure that only authorised devices gain access to your network. It works with existing hardware and in conjunction with firewalls to protect the company’s intranet, and allows for each connected device to be treated individually. In the case of an untrusted device, it will shut it down immediately, leaving other trusted

devices to work as necessary, if you have visitors who wants to use their own laptops or smartphones to access the internet,

NetSHIELD can grant them access to only the internet while restricting them from your organization’s intranet, NetSHEILD NAC’s deal with issues that firewalls do not address, eliminating internal threats.

> Is the NAC similar to a firewall?

Bermingham : The NetSHEILD solution is available as a hardware appliance, which scales from 25 to 10,000 protected assets per appliances. In addition, it runs as an embedded command center, allowing administrators to manage up to 1000 remote sites, which makes it far superior to a firewall; but for a complete security plans, you do need both because they protect from the edge of your network (keeping away hackers and malware) while snoopwall’s NAC protects the network from within, keeping an eye on computers and mobile devices connected.

> How big of an issue is Cybercrime and how do mobile/laptops and wireless devices form the larger part of the security problem ?

Miliefsky : Cyber Crime has already surpassed all other forms of crime this year, reaching $600 billion in 2016, according to a world bank report. Most of it due to the Bring Your Own Device(BYOD)/ Wear Your Own Device(WYOD) policy in many organization and open Wi-Fi network, which opens these networks, as the devices logged on are susceptible to threats. SnoopWall’s patented MobileSHEILD agent is deployed via the NetSHEILD command centre and enables control. So that the network can be used without compromising the security of the rest of the devices connected. BYOD/WYOD users are are usually employees, Guests or contractors who are like to disable certain security settings and downloads apps on their devices that are virulent in nature. Therefore, as non-corporate assets, they should be steered away or detected to not pass on the breach to the network or compromise the safety of the organization’s data. If not, this can be detrimental to the organization’s intranet or network.

> How big of an issue is Cybercrime and how do mobile/laptops and wireless devices form the larger part of the security problem ?

> Does NetSHEILD and products like MobileSHEILD provide real-time security?

Wimalachandra : Yes, SnoopWall’s NetSHIELD is agentless, and provides rock-solid, real-time security in an easy-to-deploy appliance. it allows blackholing and VLAN quarantining of entrusted assets, and detects malware and phishing attempts from infected devices. Adding ISO 27001 compliance to reporting and enforcement make NetSHEILD NAC and MobileSHEILD, and the rest of SnoopWalls products, a comprehensive and compelling offering.

SnoopWall and Exire Technologies plans to secure the IT Infrastructure in Sri Lankan organizations, as trends of device usage are changing due to the digital transformation. Today, network security has become far more important than before, As Cyber-attacks are increasing in frequency and in complexity, companies have to ensure they secure their data. With snoopWall’s technologies advance products, these issue can now be addressed, giving firms an edge over the ever-growing threats in the Cyberspace.

Sometimes your network is full of Cyber criminals. zero-day malware, ransomware, rogue devices and malicious insiders. we can’t help you with the eels in your hovercraft, but we can now help you with your intranet security. preventing breaches in Sri Lanka. we are honoured to have this opportunity to bring our award- wining, cost-effective, patented solution NetSHIELD into the Sri Lankan market.