Open Source Monday: How to Spot Malware in Your NFT

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Like the internet and GPS that we use every day, VIA’s data privacy and security platform was first tested at scale by the U.S. Department of Defense.

A major U.S. intelligence agency has been actively testing the ability of VIA’s blockchain platform to detect potential cyber threats to data sources. 

We can’t disclose much that we did in detail. Actually, we can’t disclose anything in detail. After six months and well over 350 tests, there is one insight, however, that we feel is important to share publicly:

It’s ridiculously easy to inject malware into a file that can then be downloaded as an NFT!

As NFTs have exploded in popularity (23% of millennials in the U.S. collect them), adding malware to an NFT is an easy and fast way for malicious users to spread chaos.

So, today, VIA is making a malware check for NFTs code available for free, for anyone: https://github.com/viascience/nftscan. Special thanks to the steganography open source community for their help to create this NFT vulnerability scanner.

This initial version on GitHub has three separate malware checks. There are instructions on how to submit a pull request for you to add your own additional malware checks. If you’re interested in using the code on your website, write to us at info@solvewithvia.com. 

Want to learn more about how hidden text and malware code can be easily transferred when not checked? Watch this 43 second video.

If you’re interested in making the NFT community safer, please share this blog with your networks!

Stay safe out there everyone!

VIA CEO Colin Gounden Invited to Fireside Chat with Sarah Hammer of The Wharton School

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What’s the role of blockchain in driving the clean energy transition? Don’t miss Colin Gounden’s fireside chat with The Wharton School’s Sarah Hammer on May 9th at 1:00pm ET to find out. Register here: https://bit.ly/3K8yM4a.

That Tech Pod Interviews VIA CEO Colin Gounden

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Laura Milstein and Gabi Schulte of That Tech Pod interviewed VIA’s CEO Colin Gounden for the latest episode of their podcast which covers topics ranging from data privacy to tech innovations. During their chat, Colin described how valuable Web3 is for the future of data privacy and more specifically, how it plays a critical role in making data more accessible:

“It doesn’t matter how good your AI is, your math is, or your quant skills are if you can’t get access to data … the most successful companies in the world, the biggest market caps, the ones that have grown fastest, they did it by saying data is valuable, we need to learn from that data. Blockchain and Web3 are making vast amounts of data available to everyone, not just a select few.”

For the full 34 minute episode, play it here.

Why Switzerland?

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Yes, we love chocolate, cheese, and clean mountain air.
That (alone), however, is not why VIA is spending so much time in Switzerland.
Switzerland is the leader in three areas core to VIA: clean energy, data privacy, and blockchain.

Clean Energy

More than 190 countries around the world have pledged to reduce carbon emissions. Switzerland is one of the few that has legislation, a deadline, and active programs to move towards net zero. Not only is this commitment aligned with VIA’s mission, it enables VIA to actively support the clean energy transition and exactly where that transition is happening the fastest. As part of VIA’s commitment to energy and Switzerland, we’re pleased to have been admitted to the Association of Swiss Electrical Companies last week.

Data Privacy 

Arguably no country in the world has a stronger reputation for data privacy than Switzerland. The laws around data privacy continue to evolve and become stricter over time. By being aware of the leading edge of privacy regulations, VIA’s platform is in a position to support any jurisdiction.

Blockchain

Switzerland’s Crypto Valley is to blockchain what Silicon Valley is to software. With over 1,000 blockchain companies and one of the world’s first countries to enact crypto and blockchain legislation, Switzerland is an ideal location to lead blockchain initiatives. Earlier this year, VIA was admitted to the Swiss Blockchain Federation (see photo below). It’s in everyone’s interest to participate in an active innovation community that also has a clear regulatory framework.

Pictured above at the general assembly of the Swiss Blockchain Federation in Zurich: Ray Neubauer, Expansion Manager at VIA, Markus Riner, Head of Digitalization at VSE (Swiss Association of Electricity Suppliers), and Dr. Fabian Streiff, Head of Economic Development Agency of the Canton of Zurich.

If you’re interested in hearing more about how and why we chose Switzerland as our European headquarters, you can watch this ten minute video with our CEO, Colin Gounden being interviewed by the Swiss Ambassador to the U.S.

Swiss Ambassador Markus Börlin Interviews VIA CEO Colin Gounden

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VIA’s CEO Colin Gounden was invited by Ambassador Markus Börlin, Consul General of Switzerland to join him for an interview in New York City. During the interview, Colin talks about the reasons we selected Switzerland as a European office for VIA and why blockchain and AI are critical to the clean energy transition happening in Switzerland. Watch the full interview below.

VIA Expansion Manager Ray Neubauer Invited to Participate at SUEID Conference

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For the 5th consecutive year, VIA has been invited to participate in the Swiss-US Energy Innovation Days (SUEID) Conference. VIA’s Expansion Manager, Ray Neubauer, will present at the event which will take place in person in Bern, Switzerland and cover the challenges we face as we accelerate the clean energy transition. For more information, visit the event website: https://www.energyinnovationdays.com/sueid-2022/

VIA Selected for Panel Session Moderated by VIA Advisor General Tom Blackstock at 2022 JETC Conference

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VIA is pleased to share that our submission for a panel session moderated by our advisor, General Tom Blackstock, has been selected for the Joint Engineer Training Conference (JETC) held on May 10-12 in Aurora, CO. The topic, “SMEs in Installation Facility Management and AI” will take place on May 11th from 4:15 – 5:15pm and will include panelists, Maj. John Kulikowski from Osan AFB; William Nesbitt, (MG, USA Ret), former Adjutant General for Georgia; and Lance Marrano (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ERDC). For more information, visit the event website: https://www.samejetc.org/

VIA Swiss Advisor, Ray Neubauer Invited to Speak at 4th Swiss Municipal Utilities Congress

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VIA’s newly appointed Swiss advisor, Ray Neubauer, will be presenting at the 4th annual Swiss Municipal Utilities conference. The event will cover the ways organizations can contribute to creating stronger and more resilient cities. For more information, visit the event website: https://stadtwerkekongress.ch/

EPRI Tests VIA Data Privacy Platform Through Independent Evaluation Process

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VIA’s blockchain-based data privacy platform successfully passes independent validation

SOMERVILLE, Mass., March 2, 2022 — VIA, the only U.S. Department of Defense cybersecurity accredited blockchain provider, is pleased to share that after an objective evaluation process, the company successfully completed an independent validation of the functionality of key data privacy protection features of its blockchain-based software platform. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), a leading energy R&D non-profit, began testing VIA’s platform capabilities at the request of multiple power companies to address the requirements of data analytics for clean energy rollout and individual consumer data privacy. Notable observers of the validation process included American Electric Power (AEP), Consolidated Edison (ConEd), Électricité de France (EDF), Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), and Salt River Project (SRP). 

“Data privacy and cybersecurity are critical challenges facing the grid, and are requirements for the clean energy transition,” said Matt Wakefield, director of information, communication, and cyber security (ICCS) at EPRI. “The energy industry needs to explore and evaluate privacy-preserving technologies like VIA’s to maintain reliable and affordable electricity.”

EPRI’s evaluation process used Advanced Metering Infrastructure (smart meter) data as a use case. Smart meter data has value to both traditional power providers and also new entrants to the energy sector (see chart below).

User of Smart Meter DataUse Case
System OperatorCalculating grid service requirements
Electricity RetailerTariff setting
Network OperatorDemand growth forecasting
Solar Installers and EV Charging CosCustomer targeting and pricing
Amazon, Google, City PlannersAmazon, Google, City Planners Proxy of citizens’ activity levels over time and geography to direct services, manage infrastructure, target marketing

“The value of smart meter data to make communities cleaner, safer, and more equitable is clear,” said VIA CEO Colin Gounden. “At the same time, individual consumer privacy is a top priority. Data privacy technologies, like VIA’s platform, enable a “no trade-off” solution where insights from data can be leveraged for good while individual data privacy is guaranteed.”

VIA’s platform passed several scenarios representative of typical requests made to power companies for their meter data. The specific data privacy protection algorithm employed “K-anonymity” along two dimensions: number of customers and amount of data per customer per request. Smart contracts that controlled the K-anonymity rules were stored on VIA’s blockchain, the first and only blockchain to have cybersecurity accreditation from the U.S. Department of Defense up to top secret level. In addition, VIA’s multi-cloud platform capabilities were demonstrated on both Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.

As data privacy rules evolve, VIA continues to validate its software platform with the strictest regulations worldwide. As an example, VIA is currently working with legal experts in Switzerland to match recent Data Privacy Act enhancements passed in September 2020 due to be enforced later this year.

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About EPRI

Founded in 1972, EPRI is the world’s preeminent independent, non-profit energy research and development organization, with offices around the world. EPRI’s trusted experts collaborate with more than 450 companies in 45 countries, driving innovation to ensure the public has clean, safe, reliable, affordable, and equitable access to electricity across the globe. Together, we are shaping the future of energy.

About VIA

90% of the world’s data is trapped in silos. VIA makes it accessible. Trusted by leading government agencies and clean energy companies around the globe, VIA’s secure, digital collaboration platform overcomes the most common barriers to AI: lack of data, data quality issues, and data privacy risks. VIA enables decentralized energy data analysis at the locations where datasets are stored. Blockchain-based permissioning ensures that only anonymized or aggregated results are transmitted instead of the underlying datasets. VIA brings AI to data 100 times faster than alternatives. As the first and only U.S. Department of Defense-wide cybersecurity accredited blockchain application, VIA’s platform is the driving force to unlock data-driven business cases for power and energy service providers. VIA is headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, with a technology center in Montreal, Quebec, and European offices in Denmark and Rotkreuz, Switzerland. For more information, please visit www.solvewithvia.com.

Three Years Running: VIA Again Named to Tech Tribune’s Best Tech Startups List

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We did it again! For the third year in a row, VIA was named to Tech Tribune’s Best Tech Startups in Somerville list. We join nine companies in Somerville, Massachusetts that are shaping the local tech scene with solutions in the engineering, AI, healthcare, robotics, and utility spaces.

Tech Tribune chose the companies for the 2022 list based on four deciding factors including, 1) revenue potential, 2) leadership team, 3) brand/product traction, and 4) competitive landscape. We recently moved our Somerville headquarters to accommodate our growing team and look forward to continued contributions to the community. 

For the full list of startups, check out Tech Tribune’s website.

U.S. Department of Defense Selects VIA for Seventh Contract

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VIA expands work with U.S. Air Force in multi-million dollar contract for JARVIS™, VIA’s cyber secure building and runway maintenance software platform

SOMERVILLE, Mass., February 17, 2022 — VIA, the only U.S. Department of Defense cybersecurity accredited blockchain provider for data privacy, integration, and analysis, announced today that it has been awarded a new two-year, multi-million dollar contract with the United States Air Force (U.S. Air Force). The contract solidifies the existing partnership between VIA and the U.S. Air Force to support data-driven decision-making for base safety, mission readiness, and comfort for personnel. Selected over more than 160 competitors, VIA will collaborate with the U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command (AMC) to make JARVIS™, VIA’s blockchain-based building and runway maintenance software platform, the standard for analyzing infrastructure condition across multiple air bases worldwide.

Tasked with instantaneous global responsiveness, AMC supports missions through airlifts, air refueling, air mobility support, and aeromedical evacuation across air bases and air strips worldwide. 

Together with AMC, VIA will build and enhance dashboards that will serve as the one-stop-shop for all of AMC’s infrastructure strategy and decision-making processes. With the ability to access these critical insights from multiple data sources and locations in real-time, commanders will have what they need to make faster and better data-driven decisions about how to keep infrastructure safe, mission-ready, and comfortable while saving taxpayer dollars.

Brigadier General Thomas H. Blackstock, Jr. added: “When faced with mission-critical situations, it’s imperative to have best practices and trusted data ready to make timely, effective resource decisions. After seeing success at Tyndall Air Force Base and Al Udeid Air Base, it’s clear JARVIS will have a significant impact, improving our installation management on a global scale.”

Pictured above: A bird’s eye view of critical infrastructure statistics from JARVIS™.

“In partnership with AMC, VIA is adding to JARVIS leading-edge infrastructure management capabilities that will improve U.S. Air Force operations enterprise-wide. These enhancements will augment the ways airmen already use JARVIS to save significant time performing their civil engineering duties,” said Joe Babiec, VIA’s senior vice president of strategic initiatives. “Ultimately, JARVIS eliminates the data tasks that keep airmen from focusing on what matters most: safety, mission readiness, and the comfort of personnel.”

Already in use by Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, JARVIS enables airmen to make data-driven decisions 100 times faster than any other infrastructure decision-making support system by automating all data science tasks and quickly generating reports. 

Follow the latest from VIA by visiting https://www.solvewithvia.com/latest/ or on social media, including LinkedIn and @solvewithvia on Twitter and Instagram.

About VIA

90% of the world’s data is trapped in silos. VIA makes it accessible. Trusted by leading government agencies and clean energy companies around the globe, VIA’s secure, digital collaboration platform overcomes the most common barriers to AI: lack of data, data quality issues, and data privacy risks. VIA enables decentralized energy data analysis at the locations where datasets are stored. Blockchain-based permissioning ensures that only anonymized or aggregated results are transmitted instead of the underlying datasets. VIA brings AI to data 100 times faster than alternatives. As the first and only U.S. Department of Defense-wide cybersecurity accredited blockchain application, VIA’s platform, is the driving force to unlock data-driven business cases for power and energy service providers. VIA is headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, with a technology center in Montreal, Quebec, and European offices in Denmark and Rotkreuz, Switzerland. For more information, please visit www.solvewithvia.com.

Wharton Selects VIA to Join Highly Competitive Blockchain Accelerator

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VIA has an all-access pass to the club. The blockchain club. VIA is proud to be one of only 10 companies accepted into Cohort 1 of Wharton University’s Stevens Center Cypher Accelerator program. 

In this prestigious three-month program, VIA will work with the biggest names in blockchain such as Mark Cuban and Tim Draper. Together with direct feedback and coaching from powerhouse investors including Andresseen Horowitz, Bain Capital, Dexterity Capital, and Pantera Capital, VIA will work to advance the blockchain ecosystem alongside academics and other Stevens center experts.

“We’re excited to have so much one-on-one access to the leading thinkers and investors in blockchain,” VIA CEO Colin Gounden said. “While customers first started using our blockchain application in 2018, we only launched our own blockchain in 2021. This was driven by the cybersecurity requirements for our U.S. Department of Defense customers. We see the Wharton program as a way for VIA to sharpen our differentiation, accelerate our growth, and expand our market leadership position.”

To learn more about the Cypher Accelerator program, visit the Stevens Center website here.

Guidehouse Insights Names VIA as Leader in Energy Asset Management

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The continued integration of renewables into global electricity grids is accelerating the need for asset management technologies such as blockchain to streamline transactions, share information, and allow data access. VIA is proud to be recognized by market intelligence firm, Guidehouse Insights, as one of the top companies in this space, alongside Energy Web and LO3 Energy, that are meeting this demand with blockchain-based solutions. To learn more about the role of blockchain in energy asset management and why power providers are turning to VIA’s Global Data Asset Collaborative (GDAC™) to predict transformer performance while preserving data integrity, read the full piece here.

The End of Pilot Purgatory

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We’re excited to have Andrew Bright, former ABB executive and VIA’s advisor to our Swiss office, contribute to our blog. Read on to hear his commentary on VIA’s GDAC™ Transformers: 3-Minute Pilot, which was recently upgraded to maximize the value of transformer data while minimizing time.

Many industrial digitalization projects suffer from “Pilot Purgatory.” The pilots seemingly take forever and never end because no one can decide if they are a success or a failure. Since the term Pilot Purgatory was first coined a few years ago, much has been written about how to avoid it. However, the vast majority of this advice seems to involve throwing more resources, money and scale at the pilot, until well it no longer looks like a pilot but a full-scale roll-out. The logic is clear if the monthly cost of a pilot project is high enough – no one can afford to let the pilot continue indefinitely. How refreshing then, that VIA has come up with a radically different and frankly opposing approach for avoiding Pilot Purgatory.

Their new GDAC™ Transformers: 3-Minute Pilot takes just 3 minutes to complete once data is gathered. If this were a recipe, you would be allowed up to 27 minutes to source the ingredients and just 3 minutes to do the cooking. Resources, time and money are all minimized. After this experience, VIA hopes to have delivered a valuable summary of the health of one of your transformers. If this has proved insightful, the pilot has been a success, if not then GDAC™ may not be for you. Either way, the pilot will have been concluded.

With their 3-Minute Pilot, VIA aims to demonstrate three specific concepts:

  1. show valuable insights about the health of one transformer and that the math really works;
  2. show that valuable analysis can be conducted whilst keeping data private and confidential; and
  3. provide an educational component about how VIA does what it does. VIA does more than provide recommendations, it also explains why & how a particular recommendation was made.

All three of these components are embedded in the 3-Minute Pilot. If you are interested in performing a full fleet analysis going back say 20 years, that’s more of a project and not the goal of this pilot. VIA’s 3-Minute Pilot is true to the spirit and literal about the term “proof-of-concept.” This seems to be an industry first and given the simplicity and radical reduction in resources, I hope that it becomes an industry standard approach.

VIA note:

If you are interested in learning more about VIA’s GDAC™ Transformers: 3-Minute Pilot and perhaps want to give it a try, feel free to contact us.

VIA’s 3-Minute Pilot provides valuable insights on the health of transformers in just 3 minutes.

 

Swiss Media Features VIA and HSLU in Article on Securing Smart Meter Data

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Smart meters are rich with insights that can optimize the operation of the power grid. Yet, the current practice of gathering energy consumption and production data from a centralized source carries data privacy and security concerns. Our partners at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) recently penned a piece for Bulletin.ch about our research through the Swiss Federal Office of Energy to solve this dilemma. A key component of the KnowlEDGE project, VIA’s Trusted Analytics Chain™ (TAC™), allows utilities to access distributed datasets while maintaining cybersecurity and regulatory compliance.

To learn more about this work with HSLU and how it’s supporting Switzerland’s decarbonization goals, read the full article here.