KataOS
 | Author:
Victor Sample
Vic Sample: MT43 News Treasurer |
Google recently unveiled KataOS, a secure operating system written specifically for “embedded systems on open-source” chips. The operating system is not designed to run on PCs or on Smart Phones. It is designed for the “Internet Of Things” (IOT). Well, that is a lot of tech-speak!
The Internet Of Things refers to the growing number of devices that are not PCs or Smartphones but that are internet ready. Many people have devices that interface with Alexa (The Amazon device that understands voice commands). The Ring Doorbell with a security camera is a popular Alexa-based home monitoring device.
Amazon offers “Dash Buttons”: small electronic devices that can be placed near where you use specific products (like laundry detergent). When you are low on detergent you can just press the button and it will automatically reorder the product – from Amazon, of course. However, the Internet Of Things offers very little security. If they are connected to a network they can be hacked. Alexa in particular was found to be vulnerable to hackers (although there have been no reported incidents of Alexa being hacked).
The Google KataOS project is specifically to make the IOT devices secure. In other words, Google is your watchdog looking over your IOT devices. But who is watching Google? Since its inception and until recently, the Google Code of Conduct contained the phrase “Don’t Be Evil”. In 2015 the Google Parent Company Alphabet revised the motto slightly to: “do the right thing”.
However, Google is quite often accused of violating your privacy. The Google Chrome Browser offers an “incognito mode”. Incognito stops Chrome from saving your browsing history, cookies, the information you entered in forms, etc. Your browsing history is not visible to other users of the device. (Note: Google incognito mode does not claim your activity is invisible; you might still be visible to websites, the owner of your network, your ISP, etc.)
Google recently received a $5 billion proposed class-action lawsuit with plaintiffs accusing Google of illegally invading the privacy of millions of users by tracking their internet use even when they browsed in “incognito mode”. Incognito mode was touted as keeping your browsing history private – except to Google, of course.
The Google KataOS is designed to keep your IOT devices secure – except maybe from Google?
