Teledyne FLIR recently announced the release of Conservator™, a cloud-based dataset development subscription software for perception engineers using thermal infrared and visible image datasets to train neural networks. Subscribers also gain access to application specific segments of the Teledyne FLIR annotated image library of more than one million images with more than 100 object label categories. Designed to meet the workflow demands of data scientists in automotive, defense, security, and smart cities applications, Conservator scales to support enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) teams in the research and development of object detection models. “Conservator is a powerful application for data scientists developing datasets with a full complement of workflow functions including annotation, version control, data right access and model performance,” said Arthur Stout, Director of AI Product Management at Teledyne FLIR Infrared Imaging OEM, “AI starts with quality data and this application supports collaboration to advance multi-sensor neural network development in commercial and defense AI applications.” Conservator includes dataset workflow tools for annotation, curation, quality assurance, and dataset version control. Built on a scalable and stable database, Conservator can manage petabyte scale libraries. In addition, the included Conservator Insights™ desktop tool provides analysis and visualization of model performance against ground truth references. This empowers data scientists to quickly pinpoint the specific images in large datasets causing false positives or missed detections, enabling rapid dataset iteration and neural network re-training. Conservator follows the recent release of the Teledyne FLIR expanded free starter thermal dataset for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and self-driving vehicle researchers and developers. With both thermal and visible annotated images across fifteen object categories, the free starter thermal dataset allows the automotive and academic community to quickly evaluate the vehicle safety algorithm performance, neural network testing, and thermal sensors, such as the FLIR ADK™.  

The Omicron variant has a much higher transmission rate, and as a result, daily counts of new Omicron patients have become a global concern. This has again renewed heightened concern about the pandemic, and cyber threat actors don’t shy away from using the situation to their advantage. FortiGuard Labs recently came across a curiously named file, ‘Omicron Stats.exe,’ which turned out to be a variant of Redline Stealer malware. The first reports of RedLine Stealer go back to March 2020 and it quickly became one of the most popular infostealers sold in underground markets. The information harvested by RedLine Stealer is sold on the dark net marketplace for as low as 10 US dollars per set of user credentials. The malware emerged just as the world began to deal with increased numbers of COVID patients and the growing fear and uncertainty that can cause people to lower their guard, which may have prompted its developers to use COVID as its lure. Normally, victims whose systems have been infected with this stealer unknowingly have their account passwords and full browser details recorded, and then sent to marketplace operators. Generally, in such cases, each compromised user profile includes login credentials for accounts on online payment portals, e-banking services, file-sharing or social networking platforms. The file name of this current variant, ‘Omicron Stats.exe,’ was used just as the Omicron variant was becoming a global concern, following the pattern of its previous variants. FortiGuard Labs has concluded that email is the infection vector for this variant as this malware is embedded in a document designed to be opened by the victim. Based on the information collected potential victims are spread across 12 countries. The information that it steals can be used for malicious actions by the same cybercriminal or sold to another threat actor for future activities. Advised Rajesh Maurya, Regional Vice President, India & SAARC at Fortinet, “Stay outside of the red zone by exercising basic security practices. Look at the sender’s email address before clicking on emailed links or downloading attachments, even if they appear to come from a trusted source. In most cases, phishing emails are sent from addresses that do not contain the supposed sender’s organization’s legitimate web address. Educate employees, family members, and friends about what to avoid and keep devices updated with the latest security software.”  

Ford and ADT launch Canopy to provide AI-powered connected security cameras and a corresponding mobile app for a variety of vehicle makes and models. Offerings will integrate the Safe by ADT platform to provide professional monitoring and help businesses protect valuable work equipment in vehicles and individual owners strengthen security inside and outside vehicles. Canopy will build and sell its first product and subscription service early next year to protect cargo areas of high-volume commercial trucks and vans in the U.S. and U.K. Canopy was incubated by Ford’s New Business Platform team and plans to begin integrating its security solution with on-board vehicle cameras in Ford vehicles next year. Canopy expects to expand offering to other manufacturers over time. Ford and ADT Inc. will invest in a new joint venture called Canopy that combines ADT’s professional security monitoring and Ford’s AI-driven video camera technology to help customers strengthen security of new and existing vehicles across automotive brands. “The combination of our technologies and our deep security experience creates a new category of protection for work and personal vehicles,” said Elliot Cohen, ADT Chief Business Development Officer, “Vehicles represent the second-most-valuable asset for consumers, and helping to protect them extends ADT’s safe, smart, and sustainable solutions far beyond the home.” Canopy plans to launch industry-first, multi-sensor security systems with available professional monitoring early next year. The first products to be manufactured and sold will be available in the U.S. and the U.K. for the industry’s highest-volume commercial and retail pickups and vans – including the Ford F-150, F-150 Lightning, Transit vans and E-Transit – and will be easily installable by customers to protect expensive work and recreational equipment. “Thieves have been even more active during the pandemic and know business owners store valuable equipment in vehicles, often hauling more than $50,000 of gear. Canopy is here for those who’ve had enough of thefts that threaten their livelihoods,” said Franck Louis-Victor, Vice President, Ford New Business Platform, “Key to Ford’s software-led transformation are new ideas such as Canopy and collaborating with other innovators such as ADT, which brings to vehicle security their leadership protecting families, homes, and businesses.” The FBI estimates that stolen work equipment cost more than $7.4 billion in 2020 in the U.S., and theft of valuable work equipment is believed to be underestimated in stolen vehicle reports. Small business owners face even greater opportunity costs with the deferral or loss of jobs while replacing stolen items. Canopy also plans to begin integrating camera security solutions in Ford vehicles next year for seamless protection inside and outside vehicles. Canopy will seek factory-vehicle integrations with other automakers over time. Starting a vehicle security revolution Canopy’s first smart vehicle security system accessory offering will make use of acoustic sensors for vans, onboard cameras, radar, LTE, and GPS. The initial product will have a camera that can be mounted in either a van’s cargo area or on a pickup facing the bed. The platform will use AI technology to identify and report credible threats while reducing false alarm signals. Customers will be connected to the system via the Canopy app to livestream video from the vehicle, get notified of suspicious activity, or review past events. The system will trigger a smartphone alert of any indicators of potential criminal activity, such as breaking glass, metal cutting, or suspicious motion or sound near the vehicle. Customers can warn potential thieves they are being monitored by speaking through the smartphone app, enabled by a two-way audio feature that will be available by next year. The system’s AI is designed to distinguish true threats from benign acts – such as a cat jumping into a pickup bed or construction sounds near a vehicle – before alerting the owner or ADT monitoring agents of potential theft. The system will alert ADT monitoring professionals if it detects a person loitering around or breaching the vehicle. ADT monitoring agents can then contact customers, fleet managers, or police to take additional measures to help prevent theft. Credible threats will trigger additional responses, including audible alerts and programmable voice recordings and two-way audio in future updates. The first-of-its-kind Canopy products will be sold through vehicle dealerships, major retailers, and online. Ford Pro will be an important launch partner delivering these solutions to commercial and government customers of all sizes, helping drive business forward and accelerate productivity at a global scale. “Commercial customers around the world are laser focused on protecting investments from costly replacements that can impact their bottom lines,” said Ted Cannis, CEO, Ford Pro, “Canopy will help Ford Pro deliver another service to fleets helping to improve total cost of ownership by staying productive and avoiding downtime associated with stolen tools and damaged vehicles – including the majority with mixed fleets since Canopy technology will be available across brands.” More innovation to come The Canopy team has been developing and testing its first technologies for two years as part of Ford’s New Business Platform innovation incubation group. They will now be headquartered in Detroit and London and led by Interim CEO Christian Moran. The Canopy team has been developing and testing its first technologies for two years as part of Ford’s New Business Platform innovation incubation group. They will now be headquartered in Detroit and London and led by Interim CEO Christian Moran. Canopy also will seek relationships with other automotive, insurance, and technology companies to expand offerings, explore insurance benefits for use of the technology, and co-create new innovations. Ford and ADT’s investment in Canopy is subject to certain conditions, including regulatory approvals, and initial funding is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022. The partners expect to invest approximately $100 million during the next three years.  

NICE and Magnet Forensics recently announced a partnership to digitally transform police case building and investigations to accelerate the pursuit of justice. The integration of NICE Investigate and Magnet REVIEW will enable police agencies to automatically merge digital forensic evidence from Magnet REVIEW with other digital evidence sources in NICE Investigate to streamline case building and investigations. As a one-stop solution for managing digital evidence and investigations, NICE Investigate improves operational efficiency by enabling investigators to collect, analyze and share digital evidence through a single login. NICE Investigate automatically pulls evidence into electronic case folders from records management, CAD (computer aided dispatch), body-worn video, mobile apps and other core systems. When investigators log into NICE Investigate, their evidence is waiting. With the additional integration of Magnet REVIEW, investigators will receive automated alerts when additional forensic evidence becomes available. Chris Wooten, Executive Vice President, NICE, commented, “We’re excited to partner with Magnet Forensics. Our partnership will create seamless workflows and efficiencies for investigators and further simplify the digital evidence review process across more data types. Now, police departments will be able to review all evidence, connected in one place, to accelerate case building, and get to the truth faster.” Adam Belsher, Chief Executive Officer, Magnet Forensics, said, “Police agencies are burdened with an overwhelming volume of digital evidence from a variety of sources, which require their own specialized investigative tools and highly trained specialists. It’s slowing down their investigations and compromising justice. We’re partnering with NICE because we’re both committed to making our digital investigation solutions interoperable so that investigators can consolidate critical digital evidence and leverage analytics tools to complete their cases in a more timely and effective fashion.” Magnet REVIEW is a cloud-based, collaborative and secure digital forensic review platform that enables investigators to access and examine digital forensic evidence and associated metadata acquired through a variety of digital forensic tools (from sources such as smartphones, computers, and IoT devices). Through the integration of Magnet REVIEW and Evidencentral’s NICE Investigate, forensic evidence from Magnet REVIEW will be pulled into NICE Investigate case folders through a seamless, automated, electronic process, where it can be consolidated and cohesively analyzed alongside other types of digital evidence, using analytical tools. As both solutions leverage Microsoft Azure, agencies will also be able to leverage the cloud to facilitate remote work and collaboration, scale to handle heavier caseloads, better safeguard and manage growing digital evidence, reduce infrastructure and overhead costs, and improve security and resiliency. “This collaboration between NICE and Magnet Forensics enables public safety organizations to use the power of the cloud to improve digital evidence review processes,” added Kirk Arthur, Microsoft’s Sr. Director of Worldwide Public Safety & Justice, “This is the future of digital evidence management and processing, especially for law enforcement agencies who can now leverage these technologies together to reduce case backlogs and accelerate investigations, while also benefitting from the security and scalability of the trusted Microsoft Azure cloud.” Under the partnership, Magnet Forensics is also joining NICE’s Evidencentral Marketplace. The Evidencentral Marketplace is the first open digital evidence management ecosystem created specifically for public safety and criminal justice agencies.  

Around 33,000 donations are needed every week in Australia. These are critical to the healthcare system as donations help patients experiencing cancer, surgery, trauma and childbirth complications or might support patients who have serious health conditions such as auto-immune disorders. The Milestone Blood Drive runs between 1 November and 31 December and staff members, as well as suppliers, friends and family have been invited to donate blood or plasma. As states emerge from lockdowns, regular donors are likely to face more competition for their time, especially during November to December. They will be figuring out new routines that include returning to sporting and lifestyle activities, work commutes and socialising. In an effort to address the ongoing need for blood, Milestone staff are rolling up their sleeves and donating blood and plasma, as an important part of their ‘new normal routine’. In doing so, they hope to form new giving habits, whilst also raising the awareness of blood donations and are taking a collaborative approach to encourage the wider industry to join the blood drive. To ensure donations can be counted towards this blood drive, a Lifeblood team has been set up for Milestone staff, friends, family and suppliers. The Lifeblood Team forms part of the blood donation program run by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and the blood drive is designed to bring people together to save lives. As each blood donation is broken down into three parts and sent to three different recipients, the blood drive has the benefit of counting donations, as well as the amount of lives saved by participating donors. In this way, every donation is considered a gift of life. “In this time of Covid-19 where people are feeling vulnerable, and discouraged, our team in Australia decided to come together to spread the word amongst the security industry about the importance of blood donation. The idea is that we work together and encourage our partners, customers, and wider industry community to join the Milestone ‘Lifeblood Team’ with the goal of helping others and saving as many lives as possible by the end of the year,” said Brett Hansen, Country Manager for South Pacific at Milestone Systems. When blood is separated, there are parts that last for only 7 days, so maintaining this supply, regardless of the upcoming festive period, is essential. “The need for donations never stop, so it is important to keep supplies flowing. By spreading information or donating blood, we are doing our best to save lives. We can see this initiative spreading across the video technology industry here too, and strongly encourage our friends, partners, and colleagues to join us in our quest.” said Danielle Joynson, Marketing Manager for Milestone Systems South Pacific. “While it is very much a part of Milestone’s DNA to contribute to the greater good and give back to society, this particular program is much bigger than just us. It takes only a little effort to donate blood, but this small act can have a huge positive impact on somebody’s life. We urge our friends in the security and tech industries to help us and turn a small act of kindness into a major movement of goodwill,” concluded Hansen.