DARPA is taking a cue from cyperpunk novels in a project that seeks to improve network security by giving the backend of the Internet a graphic interface.

The system could help prevent intrusions by showing if someone is where they shouldn't be on a network, and displaying it in a way more comprehensible to an outsider rather than just an analyst looking for the digital footprint of hackers. The $125 million per year project is called Plan X.

Visualizing the network could also help the tired eyes of cybersecurity experts poring over lines of text data. Instead, they might be able to see a visualization of a hacker breaking in, and shut it down more quickly. Wired previously reported that DARPA is even working on porting this system to Oculus virtual reality units.

This could be the project that makes goofy movie network interfaces into a less-goofy reality. Or the coming of Neuromancer. We prefer Neuromancer.

Source: Christian Science Monitor via Popular Science

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io