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Net Work Alan Winstanley This month, Net Work ranges from a spookily accurate prediction of tech use from the 1940s, to the latest plans for visiting the Red Planet and the launch of microsatellites. A fascinating video recently surfaced on YouTube entitled La Télévision, œil de demain (Television, eye of tomorrow) by JK Raymond Millet (1947). The prophetic French film shows ordinary people walking around and travelling on public transport while viewing a smartphone-like TV screen. Engrossed by these devices, they bump into each other or walk in front of traffic. Sound familiar? You can view it on: https:// youtu.be/ZKfOcR7Qbu4 Some 35 years later, we reported in our November 1982 issue that the world’s longest optical fibre telephone cable had just come into service in Britain. Located between London and Birmingham, and measuring 205km (128 miles), it was the product of British Telecom (BT) scientists who developed the precision fibre manufacturing process critical to transmitting data efficiently over long distances. We foretold that tomorrow’s communication ‘highways’ in Britain, carrying thousands of phone calls, computer data and TV pictures between towns, would consist of hair-thin strands of glass like these. BT’s ‘Lightlines’ technology would go on to be licensed to British, European and US companies and ‘fibre’ is now the byword for highspeed Internet access. It is may be no surprise that a besieged Huawei intends to base its new international fibre optic research HQ right here in the UK. Glued to his screen: a prescient view of a French future mobile technology user in La Télévision, œil de demain (1947) – JK Raymond Millet. (Image: YouTube) 12 Google has just announced the construction of its fourth privately funded undersea fibre optic cable to carry data between the US, the UK and Spain. Due for completion in 2022, the British end of the 6,300km cable, named ‘Grace Hopper’ to commemorate the work of computer scientist Grace Brewster Murray Hopper, will terminate in Bude in the south-west county of Cornwall – the same county where in 1901 Marconi used a 13kW spark transmitter to send the world’s first transatlantic radio signal (the letter ‘s’ in Morse) to Newfoundland. Details of the Marconi Centre and some history are at: http://bit.ly/pe-oct20-marconi Fibre optics play essential roles in ground-based telecoms networks and the gradual roll-out of ‘fi bre to the property’ (FTTP) will enable large volumes of ‘hyperfast’ Internet data to be delivered to the home and workplace. Faster Wi-Fi networks are also in the pipeline (see later). In data centres around the world, capacity has spiralled upwards as well, allowing ‘cloud computing’ to manage everyday online services. For most of us, cloud computing means that complex data processing, web content management, social media and services such as search or email are hosted off-site, but we’re not sure where, nor do many of us worry about it. The data centres themselves might be in Washington, Tyne & Wear or Washington DC for all we know, and of course they are heavily interconnected by satellite and fibre optics to spread the load and maintain uptime. Held to ransom As Internet users, we casually upload often-sensitive data onto the web and we trust the service providers to take good care of it, wherever it may be hosted. In May this year, the cloud-computing service provider Blackbaud was the subject of a ransomware attack in which a subset of user data was exfiltrated by blackmailers. Blackbaud hosts online services for countless ‘good causes’ like universities, charities, fundraisers and political groups around the world, but news of the ransomware attack only broke in the UK several months later when, in July, it was learned that wide-ranging student personal data hosted on behalf of mainstream UK universities had been stolen. The breach also hit the UK’s National Trust, which safeguards Britain’s historical monuments, parks and gardens; US and Canadian institutions were affected as well. The impact of the data breach is still emerging several months later, but the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has so far been silent about the incident. Honour among thieves? Blackbaud PR claimed that it had detected the intrusion and intervened to prevent large-scale file encryption on its servers. Extortionists then demanded a ransom to supply the decryption tool (maybe). Cybercriminals may even leak some stolen data onto a website in order to tighten the thumbscrews. Authorities including the FBI and police remind us that paying a ransom is never recommended: it merely encourages more cybercrime and there is never any guarantee that you will Google’s Grace Hopper is its fourth undersea fibre optic cable get your data back anyway. One cannot and will connect the US, UK and Spain (Image: Google) Practical Electronics | October | 2020 know whether stolen personal data is likely to end up for sale somewhere on the dark web. However, the cybercriminal marketplace has moved on in the past year or two, and realists recognise that payment of a ransom is now deemed an option of last resort. Blackbaud did indeed pay up. ‘Because protecting our customers’ data is our top priority, we paid the cybercriminal’s demand with confirmation that the copy they removed had been destroyed. Based on the nature of the incident, our research, and third-party (including law enforcement) investigation, we have no reason to believe that any data went beyond the cybercriminal, was or will be misused; or will be disseminated or otherwise made available publicly,’ said a Blackbaud PR statement. They have been far from alone in suffering fallout from a ransomware attack. In late July, navigation gadget maker Garmin was also hit by malware which crippled their online platforms. The WastedLocker file encryptor is considered impregnable and the only way to unlock files is to buy the corresponding decryption key, according to tech website Bleeping Computer which simulated the Garmin attack and decryption using sample files before concluding that a ransom must have been paid for Garmin services to be restored so quickly afterwards (see their expert analysis at https://tinyurl. com/y59kjwk7). Ransomware can cripple small businesses, as I have witnessed first-hand, but larger enterprises are insured against such losses and a new sector of threat management has evolved. Specialist firms such as Arete Incident Response (https://areteir.com) are employed to monitor and investigate a data breach and will even negotiate a Bitcoin settlement directly on their client’s behalf. Perversely, it’s possible that cybercriminals, seeing the millions of dollars that can be made from their racket, are on a reputation management drive of their own, as they reposition themselves as ‘honourable crooks’ keen to do business with victims and offering them a reliable service in return for a ransom. In my book, ransomware remains the Number 1 threat to Internet users because of the serious damage it can do when valuable user data is stolen or goes up in smoke, whether it’s hosted on your PC or somewhere in the cloud. Regular readers will recall my advice to remain vigilant and take a ‘last gasp’ data backup onto a pocket drive or SSD. Even data backed up onto a DVD is better than nothing. If a computer drive suffers an attack, it’s probably best replaced with a new one rebuilt from scratch. Practical Electronics | October | 2020 An artist’s concept shows the Mars Ingenuity helicopter on the Martian surface. (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech) The TikTok countdown Huawei continues to feel the force of brutal US sanctions to choke off component supplies to the privately owned Chinese tech giant, citing risks to national security. Huawei’s smartphone business in the West has undoubtedly been hit by the loss of Google services. However, emerging from the Coronavirus pandemic, Chinese industry has sprung back to life and Huawei’s global smartphone sales surpassed Samsung for the first time. ‘It marks the first quarter in nine years that a company other than Samsung or Apple has led the market, a remarkable result that few people would have predicted a year ago,’ said Canalys Senior Analyst Ben Stanton. The boost is attributed to higher sales in China, up 8%. ‘If it wasn’t for COVID-19, it wouldn’t have happened.’ That picture may change once the global economy ramps up to speed again. Meanwhile, the US has turned its attention to TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned platform that hosts short video clips. TikTok and scores of other Chinese apps have already been banned in India for ‘security reasons’ with the risk, consistently denied by TikTok, that sensitive user data is sent to China. Geo-politics is probably involved after the two countries skirmished on a disputed border. The US has since moved to shut down TikTok for similar security reasons but has granted TikTok 45 days to work out a takeover deal with Microsoft for some operations that could be worth up to $50bn. As if the dynamics aren’t complicated enough, TikTok is also investigating siting its new HQ in London. Ingenuity Unlimited In July, NASA successfully launched its latest Mars-bound explorer called Perseverance in their Mars 2020 program (see: https://youtu.be/JIB3JbIIbPU). The Martian rover is the largest and most sophisticated vehicle NASA has ever built, and it carries a proof-of-concept helicopter called Ingenuity that will test-fly through the Martian atmosphere. Perseverance is destined to land in February 2021. Back in July 2019’s Net Work I mentioned how Amazon was recruiting for its Project Kuiper, which aimed to, ‘offer high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world’ using a constellation of no less than 3,200 satellites. It has now received FCC approval to proceed and eventually its low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites will compete for business with SpaceX’s Starlink service. SpaceX also celebrated the first commercial launch and safe return of two astronauts who spent 63 days on board the ISS (International Space Station). The return flight was the first US splashdown in 45 years. Four astronauts are scheduled for the next manned mission in October. How small can a satellite be? Swarm Technologies (www.swarm.space) is a relatively new satellite company offering lowest-cost global connectivity through its own pint-sized ‘SpaceBEE’ satellites. They claim to operate the world’s smallest satellites with target markets of Internet of Things, maritime, ‘connected cars’ and agricultural data transmission in mind. Just as rack-mounted appliances like network servers are based on standard ‘1U’ sizes, so-called CubeSat nanosatellites really are tiny – here, 1U is just 10 × 10 × 10cm (see https://go.nasa.gov/3hpZ5p5). Swarm’s SpaceBEEs measure even less, a diminutive ¼U and fit in the palm of your hand. Swarm expects to launch 150 SpaceBEE microsatellites and build up a network of 30 ground stations, with SpaceBEEs hitching a rideshare on any rocket platform as they become available. The microsatellites last up to two years. Other news Ofcom is making the lower 6GHz band available for next generation Wi-Fi and 13 Swarm’s SpaceBEE is a tiny ‘¼U’ microsatellite that will handle data for IoT, agriculture, marine and similar dedicated tasks. (Image: Swarm Technologies) Radio LAN (RLAN) use, on a licence-exempt basis. They hope to increase speeds and reduce Wi-Fi congestion locally and promote the development of new technologies. ‘Wi-Fi 6’ has been compared to advances in 5G mobile telecoms, and network devices built to the 802.11ax standard are expected to follow in due course. Upgraders will therefore have to check their specs for 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz Wi-Fi. Currently, dual-band routers offer 2.4Ghz and 5GHz frequencies, but a so-called ‘triband’ router offers one 2.4GHz and two 5GHz radios, which may be overkill for average Internet users. A great GET T LATES HE T COP Y OF TEACH OUR -IN SE RIES A VAILA B NOW! LE summary of 802.11 tech specs can be found at: http://bit.ly/pe-oct20-wifi If you own a Netgear router or extender, then it’s worth checking to see if it’s on Netgear’s list of devices that have reached end-of-life and will not receive any further patches or security updates. They are classed as ‘outside security support period’ and the risk from unpatched vulnerabilities means that it may be time to source a more modern replacement; see: http://bit.ly/pe-oct20-netg BT has launched a new broadband service which provides busy households with a second broadband service, enabling residential customers to split work or schooling (say) and gaming or videoconferencing traffic into two network connections. BT’s ‘Dedicated Connection’ includes a Smart Hub and a home visit from a BT tech expert and costs £49.99 a month or £59.99 for non-BT customers. On 1 September most existing BT phone customers are also being pushed onto a new ‘Unlimited Minutes’ calling plan offering unrestricted calls to UK landline and mobile numbers for a fixed price of £4.50 a month, though other pricing options will still be available. Following my item last month on buying IP cameras, another option worth checking is whether cameras offer ONVIF Order direct from Electron Publishing PRICE £8.99 (includes P&P to UK if ordered direct from us) compatibility. ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) is a non-profit industry group aiming to offer interoperable security standards. Independent ONVIF-compatible apps and software can be viable alternatives to paid-for IP camera software licences such as Synology Surveillance Station. A free ONVIF viewer app allowed the author to dedicate an older Android tablet to checking a Ucam IP Camera (see last month) when the maker’s app wasn’t suitable. Twitter was recently the subject of a highly embarrassing attack when social engineering techniques were used over the phone on some key Twitter employees that ultimately led to 130 prominent users’ accounts being hacked, including those of Bill Gates, Barack Obama and Elon Musk. Bogus philanthropic tweets were then sent to solicit $1,000 Bitcoin payments in return for supposedly receiving back double that amount. In the space of just two weeks, three hackers were traced and have since been charged, including a 19-year old British man. See you next month for another Net Work roundup! The author can be reached at: alan<at>epemag.net EE FR -ROM CD ELECTRONICS TEACH-IN 9 £8.99 FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF GET TESTING! Electronic test equipment and measuring techniques, plus eight projects to build FREE CD-ROM TWO TEACH -INs FOR THE PRICE OF ONE • Multimeters and a multimeter checker • Oscilloscopes plus a scope calibrator • AC Millivoltmeters with a range extender • Digital measurements plus a logic probe • Frequency measurements and a signal generator • Component measurements plus a semiconductor junction tester PIC n’ Mix Including Practical Digital Signal Processing PLUS... YOUR GUIDE TO THE BBC MICROBIT Teach-In 9 Teach-In 9 – Get Testing! 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ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY JUST CALL 01202 880299 OR VISIT www.electronpublishing.com 14 Practical Electronics | October | 2020