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5G Networks Pose New Security Problems

As 5G rolls out in select cities, the hype train for the technology has picked up steam. Everyone is claiming it’s going to disrupt this and transform that. It’s true 5G offers exciting speeds and new possibilities. It also has security vulnerabilities that need to be addressed before we all hop aboard.

What is 5G?

5G refers to the fifth-generation of wireless cellular networks. It promises incredible speeds that rival some of the fastest residential internet solutions.

The new 5G New Radio interface is used, which operates on a completely new signal spectrum compared to previous generations of cellular networks. It utilizes two sets of high-frequency bands, FR1 (410MHz-7.125GHz) and FR2 (24.25GHz-52.6GHz)[1]. FR1 includes the typical LTE frequency ranges and will carry the bulk of the communications traffic. The ultrawide FR2 is also known as the millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum and is the band capable of the highest performance.

The downside of using millimeter-wave frequencies is the signal has a much shorter range. This means that more cellular towers need to be present to have the same area of coverage as a 4G network. This is why a 5G rollout is a time-consuming process. More infrastructure has to be built throughout the country to see the full benefits of high-band 5G.

The new towers are fitted with Massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology. This allows for signals to be concentrated into “beams” and directed precisely at the connected devices. The result is improved speed, capacity, and coverage with decreased signal waste.

Compared to 4G networks

Being more modern, 5G provides a host of improvements compared to existing 4G networks. This includes up to 100x faster download speeds, reduced latency and higher bandwidth[2].

Increased bandwidth isn’t only useful for download performance. It also means more devices can be connected to the network without congestion. So those in population-dense areas can still catch up on their favorite Netflix shows while riding the subway home at rush hour.

Strengths become weak points

No new technology is perfect. Paradoxically, some of the 5G network’s biggest strengths introduce security weaknesses.

For instance, the increased number of devices supported by 5G has the potential to transform the IoT industry. IoT, or the Internet of Things, is a term that refers to the vast number of small physical devices now connected to the internet. Devices in a “smart home” are examples of IoT. Things such as the thermostat and lighting system are connected to your phone via the internet and controlled with a dedicated app. You can then program automatic functions or send instructions to these devices.

Widespread 5G coverage opens up possibilities for IoT that aren’t achievable by relying on home or business networks. Soon, cars could be outfitted with sensors connected to 5G networks that alert emergency contacts immediately in the event of an accident.

Unfortunately, billions of newly-connected devices mean billions of potential security vulnerabilities. This exponential increase in the surface area for malicious attacks is sure to attract the attention of hackers.

This is especially concerning as more critical infrastructure is connected. Smart cities have long been a desired goal for technologically advanced societies. In theory, it would be great for power plants with thousands of connected sensors to adjust electricity output based on dynamic changes in demand. It could reduce energy waste and increase environmental sustainability. But, what if

It may seem like hyperbole, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility. At a smaller scale, similar ransomware schemes happen today frequently to large and small businesses alike. Raising the stakes (and potential rewards to malicious agents) could have disastrous consequences.

As a result of its decentralized nature, 5G networks make use of high levels of virtualization where former networks required physical hardware. This makes hardware maintenance more straightforward and less prone to failure but increases the potential for software exploits. The amount of traffic routing points in these systems has increased significantly.

In particular, software-based routing tools are used and high-level network functions once performed by physical equipment now rely on digital solutions. Additionally, the networks themselves could be managed moment-to-moment by new Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs that assuredly have unknown security weaknesses.

So, not only is the attack surface area increased by a growing number of connected devices, but also by the amount of software required for the connection.

Another strength that turned to weakness is the amount of bandwidth passing through the network. 5G allows for much more bandwidth, but that also makes monitoring it more difficult. Without advanced AI tools proven to be secure, it may be impossible to monitor the immense traffic in real-time for threat identification.

Legacy network concerns

5G networks are being deployed slowly due to the infrastructure investment needed. The highest speed 5G is only on the Verizon network in 35 U.S. cities. Even then, only certain regions of the cities are covered. This means that 4G and 3G spectrums are still necessary for nearly all customers. This requires 5G devices to switch between spectrums as necessary. The process of switching uses the GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) to move data packets seamlessly between the various networks. This protocol has been around since 2G moved to 3G and has known security issues.

This is not the only way legacy technologies can be used to exploit new 5G devices. Researches at Purdue University and the University of Iowa demonstrated other possibilities in February of 2019[3]. Using “torpedo” attacks, they were able to intercept calls and text messages. This technique could also be used to track a user’s location and obtain identification data such as phone numbers or social media account info.

Supply chain issues

The final security weakness commonly cited regarding 5G technology relates to the supply chains of the components. Due to the globalization of manufacturing around the world, some nations are concerned that hardware made in other countries could have secret backdoor exploits installed from the onset.

These fears are not altogether unfounded. Recently, the United States revealed that Chinese electronics manufacturer, Huawei, had access to backdoors in 4G base stations and other carrier equipment[4]. While it may be difficult to separate the truth from political theater, these are issues of national security and should be taken seriously.

The path to increased security

Hopefully, now you see the need to beef up security for 5G networks. If it is to live up to its potential as a transformative technology, rigorous safety procedures need to be implemented.

There are many ways we can head down this path, and it starts with promoting corporate responsibility. Organizations are compelled by market forces above all and are therefore less incentivized to pursue actions without clear growth outcomes. Historically, this has led to underinvestment in cybersecurity policies. This needs to change.

One way to nudge corporations to revamp their cultures in this way is for regulatory agencies to provide more incentives and fewer punishments. Criminally-negligent companies should still be punished, but in general, incentivizing good behavior is a better way to go. This could take the form of monetary benefits such as tax breaks or regulatory advantages afforded to organizations that prioritize cybersecurity.

If an overarching framework based on cooperation is too large of a task, there are more granular approaches. Companies should increase investment in cutting-edge network monitoring tools that integrate AI and machine learning. These technologies can learn from the mammoth amount of information generated and predict where malicious attacks occur. This makes network management more -ahem- manageable.

Great care should be taken to ensure these programs are secure so they don’t do more harm than good, though. Any new AI solution will need to be thoroughly tested to ensure no obvious exploits exist. We recommend enlisting the help of some white hat (ethical) hackers to see just how secure the program is before its full implementation.

Businesses should also focus on developing robust cybersecurity metrics. These metrics help identify weak points, along with leading indicators of problem areas. Without them, firms are forced to rely on lagging indicators of a breach that don’t do much good during a crisis. Knowing exactly how you got hacked after a major incident is much less valuable than catching an infiltration before it has a chance to do significant damage.

Our final suggestion is to only purchase network hardware from thoroughly vetted suppliers. Cheap gear may seem like a great idea at the time, but if it ends with an exploitable backdoor that compromises client information, was it worth it? No. The answer is always no.

Securing data at rest and in motion

As technology continues to advance, privacy and security are at a premium. Axel is dedicated to providing the most secure and private data sharing tools to users worldwide. Our filesharing platform, Axel Go, employs powerful blockchain encryption and decentralized IPFS technology to ensure your files are secure and accessible at all times. Download it today and receive 2GB of free storage.

 

 

 

[1] “5G Frequency Band, Channels for FR1 & FR2”, Electronics Notes, https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/connectivity/5g-mobile-wireless-cellular/frequency-bands-channels-fr1-fr2.php

[2] Clare Duffy, “The big differences between 4G and 5G”, CNN, Jan. 17 2020, https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/17/tech/5g-technical-explainer/index.html

[3] Kayla Zacharias, “Flaws in 4G, 5G networks could let hackers intercept calls, track location”, Purdue University, Feb. 27, 2019, https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2019/Q1/flaws-in-4g,-5g-networks-could-let-hackers-intercept-calls,-track-location.html

[4] Corinne Reichert, “US finds Huawei has backdoor access to mobile networks globally, report says” CNET, Feb. 12, 2020, https://www.cnet.com/news/us-finds-huawei-has-backdoor-access-to-mobile-networks-globally-report-says/

The 10 WORST Data Breaches of the Decade

As another decade comes to a close, now is the perfect time to reflect on some of the top 10 worst data breaches and cyber-security blunders from the last ten years. Over the 2010s, we’ve seen the pace of technological growth rapidly advance. From the development of facial recognition software to the growth of artificial intelligence and quantum computing, the digital age has taken a monumental leap forward.

And while this technology has brought innumerable benefits, the vast quantity of personal information now stored digitally has exposed us to catastrophic privacy violations from even the smallest data breach.

While there have been data breaches as long as data has existed, the danger has never been more apparent. Our entire lives are stored digitally, from personal files like family photos to vital business data like employee records and legal documents. The digital world is inescapable, and millions of users across the web are unknowingly putting their privacy at risk.

Data breaches have become so common that society has become desensitized to the effects, which, ironically, makes it all that more dangerous.

So in case you’ve forgotten just how pervasive data breaches have become, we’ve assembled a list of the ten most damaging breaches of the last decade.

10) Facebook

Date: 2017-2019
Impact: 50 Million Users

Starting off our list is the social media powerhouse, Facebook. Although a prominent social platform, Facebook is not 100% bulletproof and has become a victim to hackers and data breaches in the past. Two years ago, Facebook announced the discovery of a bug in their site that resulted in the exposure of over 50 million accounts. By abusing the flaw, hackers were able to obtain account access tokens, which are security keys that enable users to stay logged into a Facebook account without the need to re-enter passwords when returning to the site. The real significance of this data breach was that the access tokens didn’t just allow hackers to spy on users’ private information; the tokens gave hackers full control over the victims’ accounts. The breach forced Facebook to reset the access tokens of the over 50 million affected accounts, in addition to 40 million more accounts out of precaution. (Source)

9) Uber

Date: 2016
Impact: 57 Million Users

Uber, a multi-national ride-sharing company, suffered a major data breach in 2016, which involved at least 7 million drivers and 50 million passengers. The breach compromised all sorts of personal information: names, email addresses, and phone numbers, to name but a few examples. In addition, the breach exposed over 600,000 drivers’ license numbers. What makes this data breach so much worse, is that Uber initially attempted to hide the incident to regulators and users. Instead, Uber tried to pay a $100,000.00 ransom to the hackers, in the hope that they would get rid of the data and keep the breach concealed from the public. Their plan failed, but to Uber’s credit, they did take immediate steps to secure the data and shut down further unauthorized access by the hackers. (Source)

8) JP Morgan Chase

Date: 2014
Impact: 76 Million Users and 7 Million Small Businesses

In 2014, JPMorgan Chase was the victim of a cyber-attack that resulted in the theft of nearly 80 million users’ data. From confidential information like home addresses to business information like corporate banking documents, the breach affected millions of files. Reporters and journalists stated that the hackers likely operated out of Russia or Eastern Europe and that they were able to break into the Chase network by hacking a Chase employee’s personal computer. (Source)

7) Target

Date: 2013
Impact: 110 Million Accounts

The retail giant faced a data breach that resulted in the unauthorized access of almost 110 million accounts. The attackers stole information stored on the magnetic stripe of the back of credit and debit cards swiped in several Target stores. It was incidents like this that contributed to the rise of the EMV chip, now embedded into all new credit and debit cards. Several years later, Target paid out an $18.5-million-dollar settlement, which included a $10,000.00 payment to consumers who provided evidence that they suffered losses resulting from the data breach. (Source)

6) eBay

Date: 2014
Impact: 145 Million Users

In 2014, the online commerce company, eBay, announced that its records had been breached and suggested that almost 145 million users needed to change their passwords. This cyber-attack was carried out by a team of hackers who were able to obtain the credentials of three eBay employees. Names, emails, passwords, and even security questions were all compromised in the hack. Even more concerning was that due to eBay and Paypal being so interconnected, hackers were able to gain access to people’s Paypal accounts too. In the end, eBay did not provide any reimbursement towards the consumers that had their credentials misused or their money stolen. (Source)

5) Equifax

Date: 2017
Impact: 148 Million Users

Equifax, one of the largest consumer credit reporting agencies in the United States, suffered a data breach in September 2017. In addition to the theft of 209,000 credit card numbers, approximately 148 million Americans had their name, phone number, home address, date of birth, driver’s license number, and social security number compromised as well. As more details came to light, a lack of regard for consumer data by many of Equifax’s senior staff became apparent. It was a catastrophe; they even hired a Chief Information Security Officer who’s credentials were entirely made up of not one, but two degrees, in music. Yes, music.

Fast forward to July 2019, Equifax announced a $675 million consumer settlement. They offered people who were affected by the breach a choice of  4-years of free credit monitoring services or a $125 cash payment. (Source)

4) Adult Friend Finder

Date: 2016
Impact: 400 Million Users

Almost half a billion users had their data compromised from a litany of websites across the FriendFinder network. Over 20 years of data, including names, email addresses, and passwords were all exposed. Even more worrying, is that this wasn’t FriendFinder’s first rodeo…

In May 2015, it was revealed that around 4 million FriendFinder accounts were stolen. The good news is that FriendFinder was transparent and updated the public as soon as they became aware of the attack. The breadth of this data breach is still under investigation; however, FriendFinder Networks suggests that all users reset their passwords. (Source)

3) Marriot International

Date: 2018
Impact: 500 Million Customers

In November 2018, Marriot International announced that a data breach had occurred within their system. However, the incident initially began in 2014. The breach originated in the Starwood Hotel guest reservation database, where hackers laid dormant in the system for several years before Marriott acquired the company. With that time, the attackers were able to steal passport and credit card information from hundreds of millions of people. (Source)

2) First American

Date: 2019
Impact: 885 Million Customers

Not only is First American second on this list because of volume, but they are here due to their carelessness. Data from at least 885 million people was easily accessible on the First American’s site by inputting a specific set of URLs. These URL’s had a sequential system, meaning you could simply plug and play with different numbers to find confidential information. This sort of reckless behavior regarding data security seems like it would be a story from the 1990’s. What makes it so sad though… is this is the most recent data breach on this list, occurring in 2019. (Source)

1) Yahoo!

Date: 2013-2014
Impact: Over 3 Billion Users

Yahoo takes the number one spot for the largest data breach of the decade due to the pure volume of records stolen. The internet giant that was once the face of the internet had names, email addresses, passwords, and security questions compromised due to outdated and easy-to-crack encryption. Also, Yahoo failed to correctly pinpoint the number of users affected and released several revisions on the estimate. In 2016, Yahoo announced that 500 million users had their data compromised in a 2014 data breach. That announcement was later amended with information that there was another 2013 data breach that affected approximately 1 billion users. After drastically increasing the estimate with each subsequent announcement, the final estimate was that over 3 billion people were affected. In the spirit of schadenfreude, though, you can find some solace in knowing that Yahoo did pay. When the breach was announced, Yahoo was in the process of selling the company to Verizon. The data breaches ended up chopping off approximately $350 million off Yahoo’s sale price and the two companies agreed to share regulatory and legal liabilities from the incident. (Source)

On the plus side, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Yahoo and people who’ve had a Yahoo account since 2012 are entitled to up to $358.80 of compensation. You can learn more on YahooDataBreachSettlement.com. Don’t let these Yahoo’s get off cheap for exposing your data.

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Based on big tech’s terrible track record with data protection, it is safe to say that our data is not safe. Cybersecurity, which should be at the forefront of any company’s mind -especially when you hold the private information of millions of people- is looked at as an expense to be mitigated.

And what may be the most disheartening part is that it’s not a super team of elite hackers cracking into databases. It’s pure and simple negligence in many cases, from not updating security software, to leaving private information exposed on a public database with no password.

But finally, the decade is coming to an end, and hopefully, data breaches are ending with it. But with how little is being done to prevent them… it might be best to start keeping your data to yourself.

Projects We Love: PrivacyWall

This is part of our series highlighting startups who share our mission of trying to bring data privacy back to users.

You’ve had a rough week, maybe it’s a relationship or health problem, but either way, you’re feeling down. Fortunately, your family is there for you, and reach out to console you through a few private messages on social media.

Mom: “I know it’s expensive, I’m sorry your health care doesn’t cover it, we’ll do what we can to help you pay.”

Dad: “Don’t worry sport, she’s just going through a phase, I’m sure you guys will work through it.”

Friend: “Hey man, let’s meet up for a drink this weekend, cheer up!”

After reading your messages, you lay down in bed to rest and start scrolling through social media to pass the time until you fall asleep, and you’re astounded by what you find.

Ads.

But not just the usual ads for food, or some new tech gadget.

“Lower your healthcare costs now! Save 20% off market rate plans!”

“Relationship trouble? Local family counseling is available!”

“Cheapest beer in town, and half-price shots on Fridays!”

Maybe it’s just coincidence, or maybe every single thing you say or do online is being tracked and sold to advertisers… That “free” social media website has to make money somehow.

And that’s where PrivacyWall comes in- a startup that is returning data privacy and security to users. By blocking unwanted data collection by everyone from Facebook to Google, PrivacyWall puts you back in the driver’s seat.

Why PrivacyWall?

Every website you visit, every search you type in, every message you send and photo you post, it’s all tracked, recorded, and monitored. PrivacyWall is the “off” switch we’ve been waiting for.

By blocking over 3,000+ trackers from many of the largest tech companies in the world you can once again browse the internet without fear of being tracked like the target of a CIA investigation. We expect privacy in our homes, and we should get the same treatment on the internet.

PrivacyWall even blocks Facebook Connect from building a shadow profile of your online activity when you are not on Facebook. If you didn’t know, that convenient “log-in with Facebook” turns that account you just signed up for into another data collection point for Facebook to build a profile on you.

If you didn’t know that, you aren’t alone. And that’s exactly why PrivacyWall blocks threats you don’t even know about yet. Because you shouldn’t have to become a security expert and worry about your private information being leaked just because you used Facebook to sign-up for a food delivery app, or a dating site, or anything.

You deserve privacy, and PrivacyWall is a step towards a more private world.

How Artificial Intelligence is Shaping the Future of Cybersecurity

This article is a guest post by Maddie Davis, co-founder of Enlightened Digital.

The threat of a cyberattack in today’s world reaches far beyond just enterprise level companies. Government systems, small and large businesses, educational institutions and non-profit organizations are all targets for the vicious hackers of the dark web. Moving forward, the advancement of technology will contribute to changes in both attack methods and defense mechanisms of cybersecurity. Artificial intelligence (AI), in particular, is currently viewed as a leading technology in this transformation. AI’s capabilities carry significant advantages. As AI-enthusiast, Mark Hurd has stated, “the advantage of AI not only is that it constantly learns, but it also never forgets.” We’re taking a look at how AI will use this advantage, among others, to shape the future of cybersecurity.

AI-powered security

An AI-powered defense system is no longer just a possible option for businesses today, but a necessity, considering the threat of AI-fueld cyber attacks. As attackers become more vigilant about their techniques and more vicious in their invasions, organizations must step up their defence in retaliation. Moving forward, AI will play a large role in how cybercrimes are both prevented and dealt with. As Executive Director of NCSA (National Cybersecurity Alliance, Kevin Coleman puts it, “this new era in tech and cybersecurity is driven by prediction, detection and rapid response.”

Attack detection

Using machine learning algorithms, AI will be able to improve a victim’s ability to detect potential threats. Every user within a given system can be tracked and monitored based on their individual roles, allowances and common behaviors, so any deviation from the standard can be flagged to prompt a second form of authentication. Password protection can also be improved. AI can monitor how individuals enter their passwords, which characters are used and the length of passwords to better identify and rectify poor practices. Moving forward, the hope is that AI will ultimately transform the current password model with something more advanced and secure.

Natural language processing (NLP)

AI’s natural language capabilities are expected to significantly improve cybersecurity efforts through better attack identification and reaction. Armorblox’s natural language understanding platform for example, uses NLP to more accurately inspect text content of everything within an organization’s system. This technology enables companies to detect threats regardless of whether or not they contain links or file attachments and provides heightened visibility of all communication and data transferring across an organization. As Armorblo explains it there are three main offerings of the platform that can improve cybersecurity

  1. A natural language engine that derives new insights from enterprise communications and data.
  2. Automated policy recommendations through learning what is important for the organization.
  3. An alert remediation framework that distributes context-sensitive alerts to the relevant users, saving time for the security team.

AI-powered attacks

The level of sophistication in modern cybercrime is continuously increasing. Both cyber criminals and their attacks are equipped with more advanced technology than we, as a society, have ever combated before. Artificial intelligence, specifically, is contributing to frightening new malware that goes beyond the level of attacks we’ve traditionally seen from computer algorithms without the help of AI. 

There are numerous new threats to consider for businesses and individuals alike now that hackers are armed with machine learning technology. According to an article by Towards Data Science, there are essentially five ways machine learning can be used for potential attacks.

  1. Information gathering: AI can analyze vast amounts of data quickly.
  2. Impersonation: Self-learning AI can accurately imitate human communications.
  3. Unauthorized access: AI is adaptable to new environments, enabling easier access to secured systems.
  4. Attack: Malware and DDoS attacks can be made more scalable and harder to detect.
  5. Automation: AI botnets are capable of automating various aspects of an attack. 

The main function of machine learning is its ability to continuously learn and adapt. In terms of cyber crime, this ability presents an advantage to attackers. Self-learning AI could potentially lead to scalable attacks that can adapt to victims’ changing environments and modify itself to compromise each unique system it encounters. This agility may also make it more difficult for IT teams to detect intruders.

Artificial intelligence in the world of cybersecurity is seemingly both friend and foe. In the right hands, technology is the key to better detection and faster incident response. In the wrong hands, it can be the conductor of devastating attacks. Moving forward, we can certainly expect to see continuous AI advancement and implementation in the future of cybersecurity.

Maddie Davis is the co-founder of Enlightened Digital and self-described tech-obsessed female from the Big Apple who lives by building and redesigning websites, running marathons, and reading anything and everything on the NYT Best Sellers list.

You can read more great content from Maddie and her team right now on Enlightened Digital’s website.

Q&A With The Developers Of AXEL IPFS

We sat down with AXEL’s development team to discuss their AXEL IPFS Pinning Facility.

Q: What inspired you to develop AXEL IPFS?

The next evolution of computing is distributed. IPFS or something very similar is going to be the basis of distributed storage. The AXEL IPFS integration into our ecosystem has given us a worldwide public distributed storage system to build practically anything on top of including AXEL IPFS Pinning, AXEL IPFS Search, and many other services to come. AXEL is building a very strong foundation in distributed storage and will be a leader in the next evolution of Web 3.0!

Q: What excites you the most about AXEL IPFS?

AXEL IPFS will allow our users to immediately and securely distribute their data around the world for personal or business use. AXEL will be fostering the movement from centralized to decentralized computing and AXEL IPFS is the start of the process. For AXEL users, they can share files or even distribute website information with IPFS. It is very exciting to bring Web 3.0 technology to the masses. AXEL has made it super easy to use, which is very important when you want to increase the adoption of complex technologies like IPFS.

Q: Do you see a future for IPFS and what industries will adopt it first?

Web 3.0 will be distributed. IPFS seems likely to be a core technology of Web 3.0 and the distributed Internet. Right now archivists, service providers, researchers, developers, and content creators have begun to adopt IPFS to address many problems caused by centralized computing. IPFS also addresses many issues around high-latency networks found in developing countries. Even NASA is using similar systems to address the high-latency involved in space communications. So there is a lot going on in this field. With that said, though, it is still very new. AXEL is bringing this technology to users today by making it secure and easy to use so anyone can take advantage. I think it will be interesting to see how IPFS develops and is integrated into more and more consumer products. 

Q: What industries will IPFS be the death blow for? Is there a future for cybersecurity in a distributed web?

I do not think we are talking extinction but evolution. Current centralized systems will evolve into decentralized/distributed systems as users demand the flexibility, security, and efficiency of decentralized/distributed systems. The only companies that will go extinct are those that fail to evolve or evolve without taking into account customer needs. And as far as cybersecurity goes, as long as we use computers and the human condition remains as it is, cybersecurity will also be a lucrative and in-demand career.

Q: How much will AXEL IPFS cost to use?

The IPFS is the backbone for our private, secure file-sharing and cloud storage platform; AXEL Go. You can sign up for a free Basic account and receive 2GB of online storage and enough network fuel for hundreds of typical shares. Power users or enterprise customers have a choice of pricing tiers to accommodate their specific needs. 

Q: Is IPFS the death of HTTP?

In the computer industry, protocols die hard. As much as we want to criticize the problems with centralized computing, it has provided one of the greatest revolutions in mankind’s history. Never before have so many had access to almost the entire world’s knowledge. Individuals and entrepreneurs have tapped into this knowledge to develop some incredibly cool tech over these past 20 years. So, HTTP has been a great success, and it will not disappear quickly. But as 5G becomes more prevalent and developing countries increase their demand for data, decentralized and distributed technologies will be selected as the protocol over HTTP. It is also interesting to note that Tim Berners-Lee who created the HTTP protocol and the World Wide Web is now working on the next distributed/decentralized protocol. It is one of the greatest qualities of humans, we never stop creating.

Q: Do you have any concerns that content on IPFS can’t be removed or censored?

Yes, absolutely. There are clearly certain types of information that are not suited for publication anywhere at any time, such as child pornography or sex trafficking. Universally, this type of abhorrent information has no place on IPFS or anywhere else on the internet for that matter. When it is so universal and clear-cut like this, AXEL will do everything in its power to prevent this content from being listed on IPFS.

Q: What was the most challenging aspect of developing AXEL IPFS?

The IPFS is still actively being developed and there are always difficulties with anything new and in-development. But otherwise, I have been developing technology for over 30 years and with that experience, you learn how to be diligent and get it done the right way.

Q: What does AXEL IPFS do that sets it apart from any other IPFS platform?

We believe our IPFS integration is the most easy-to-use, intuitive solution on the market. In the past, IPFS pinning required extensive technical knowledge or expensive third party services. We’ve eliminated both barriers and made utilizing this decentralized technology simple and affordable. For instance, with AXEL Go, the process isn’t any more complicated than using other popular cloud storage and sharing applications. And it doesn’t get much more affordable than a free Basic account! 

Q: How can someone help or participate in the project?

Join us on Discord or Telegram and get involved. Telegram has a lot of great community activity and Discord is where the Devs hang out. Come chat with us! There are so many ways to get involved, ask any of the channel admins and they’d be happy to help!

The Distributed Future

According to Blade Runner, we only have 7 months left for the invention of sentient androids, but that seems unlikely at this point (I’m still hoping though). And we’re already four years late for Back to the Future’s flying cars and hover-boards. 

Looking back, all of these predictions seem a little bit silly in comparison to how fast technology has actually progressed. We don’t have androids, we don’t have flying cars, we don’t even have a printer that works without having to beg and plead for it to just print your document correctly for once. Physical tech has lagged behind our predictions. No matter how hard we work, there’s only so efficient you can make a chemical process, like the one that powers the batteries any of this tech would require. 

But what hasn’t slowed down… is digital technology. Smaller, lighter, and faster than anybody ever imagined even 30 years ago. Look at Blade Runner, they had sentient androids and still worked with magnetic tape recordings for data storage, not exactly a great prediction there Ridley Scott… 

The computing power in your cell phone dwarfs even the most advanced supercomputer of the early 1990s. And it doesn’t take up an entire warehouse and enough power to run a small town. And all you use it for is to watch cat videos on Youtube… really? 

So in a world where we’re all carrying around a supercomputer in our pocket, what are we going to do with it? (And please… don’t just say watch more cat videos, yes I know they’re adorable but come on, aim a little higher, please?) Why not run the internet ourselves? 

When we’re all running around with supercomputers, why should we be putting our trust in these large tech conglomerates when they’ve continually shown themselves, at best as ambivalent and at worst as downright negligible when it comes to our data privacy. Every other day it seems like there’s a new data breach, hack, or the company itself selling our private data to advertisers. They haven’t earned our trust, and even if they did at some point, they’ve certainly lost it by now. 

But we don’t have to anymore. We aren’t beholden to big tech if we are willing to take the plunge and dive into the distributed web. A web like our predecessors in the 80s imagined it, free to surf, send, and share without someone looking over your shoulder. A web free of censorship, where the only boundaries are our imaginations. A web hosted by people for people, not advertisers and tech monopolies. 

The distributed web is not the web like you’re used to though. It’s not some massive server farm hidden away in a warehouse, its independent server operators sharing the network load among them. It’s every one of us having the opportunity to participate in the governance of the internet. It’s freedom from control and freedom from censorship. 

It’s not just about escaping big tech though; it’s about building something better. Joining the distributed web doesn’t mean you don’t get to share photos and videos with your friends, it means sharing content in a way that doesn’t compromise your data privacy. It’s about creating a web where you are in ultimate control of your data, your privacy, and your life. 

Welcome to the future of the internet.