Security Guru Bruce Schneier to Keynote Battelle CyberAuto Challenge

COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwired - Jun 23, 2014) -  Bruce Schneier, one of the world's leading experts on computer security and privacy issues, will deliver the keynote at the July Battelle CyberAuto Challenge, a practicum-based camp designed to address cybersecurity in automobiles for students, engineers, scientists, policy leaders and white hat "hackers."

 Schneier, a cryptographer, security technologist and author of a dozen books and countless articles, will discuss the emerging field of vehicular cyber security at the third annual event, which takes place July 13 -18 at the Troy, Mich., offices of Delphi Automotive PLC. 

Battelle, the world's largest nonprofit research and development organization and a leader in STEM education as well as cybersecurity and connected-vehicle technology, developed the CyberAuto Challenge in 2012 to champion science and technology as a career choice for today's youth. Today's vehicles have more computational power than most laptops and increasingly sophisticated communications systems that could be vulnerable to corruption, misuse or unauthorized access.

"As one of the world's leading cyber security gurus, Bruce brings valuable insights and expertise to the CyberAuto Challenge," said Karl Heimer, director of Battelle's Center for Advanced Vehicle Environments. "No one has a better understanding of how the sophisticated communications systems available in vehicles today need to be protected from corruption and misuse."

Schneier is a fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School, a program fellow at the New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute, a board member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an advisory board member of the Electronic Privacy Information Center and chief technology officer at Co3 Systems, Inc. He has addressed Congress on issues of security and privacy and publishes the newsletter "Crypto-Gram" and blog "Schneier on Security."

Schneier is scheduled to speak on Tuesday, July 15.

At the event, students will be divided into teams with an equal ratio of working professionals from a variety of organizations, including automotive manufacturers, federal agencies such as the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Homeland Security and Defense and research organizations. The teams will participate in daily lecture and instruction in subjects such as secure system design, secure programming, embedded systems, IT law and ethics. Then, each day, they will apply their new knowledge to practical challenges on actual cars. Many of the sessions will have time constraints to simulate real-world conditions.

A trusted leader in national security, Battelle has unparalleled experience in cybersecurity, providing risk analysis, threat assessment and detection, countermeasures and other security services to federal agencies and financial services companies. Battelle's work in automotive technology includes contributions to the development of anti-lock brakes and cruise control, as well as crash safety and collision avoidance programs with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Battelle is applying that expertise to the automotive industry's growing need for security and performance technologies that protect the connected car, creating a portfolio of cyber automotive products and services. This offering includes a new technology, called NEM, which Battelle is currently testing with several automotive manufacturers. NEM applies machine-learning to understand normal behaviors through vehicle usage and then detect system anomalies. NEM can alert the driver, intervene or alert authorities, depending on the severity of the threat.

Another innovative automotive technology from Battelle, VITAL™, provides drivers with a wide variety of real-time vehicle telematics data that can be used to monitor and coach driver behavior, conduct performance based maintenance, and even update and fine-tune engine and performance parameters.

Visit the Battelle CyberAuto Challenge page at www.battelle.org/cyber-auto-challenge or follow @Battelle and use the #cyberauto hashtag on Twitter.

About Battelle

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.