04 April 2016
Professor Alan Marshall led the team which demonstrated the first threat to Wi-Fi from viruses.
A university spin-out which is developing a new range of Wi-Fi security products has secured £350,000 investment to help bring its technology to market.
Traffic Observation via Management (TOM) was founded by telecoms expert Professor Alan Marshall of the University of Liverpool. In 2014, his team hit the headlines when they demonstrated the first threat to Wi-Fi systems from viruses that could spread from site to site over the air.
Marshall’s team is now developing software and hardware products that can monitor Wi-Fi networks, report additional networks operating within the area, and highlight abnormal activity. Their work is based on over a decade of earlier research carried out at Queen’s University, Belfast.
TOM’s SpriteGuard portfolio of products includes a cloud-based management monitoring dashboard and analytics portal. It’s claimed to provide a unique insight into the Wi-Fi environment, allowing the security performance of a public or open systems to be assessed.
At its core, the SpriteGuardproduct range will allow establishments offering free Wi-Fi access the ability to monitor, detect and where necessary remove rogue APs and other vulnerabilities within the Wi-Fi environment.
“Wi-Fi has now become ubiquitous and is used in almost every aspect of our daily lives,” said Marshall. “Consequently, ensuring the security of these networks and maintaining privacy for the clients who use them has become a key issue, particularly for public and open networks, where the challenge is to balance security against the convenience offered by Wi-Fi internet access. “
TOM’s development team are also looking to engage with regulators and those offering free Wi-Fi to offer solutions that satisfy both parties which can be at odds. This was demonstrated towards the end of last year with the US Federal Communications Commission’s decision to fine Marriott Hotels for blocking guest Wi-Fi access even though the action was based on security concerns.
TOM’s £300,000 investment comes from the North West Fund for Venture Capital which is part of the £155m North West Fund and is financed jointly by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Investment Bank.
Doug Stellman of Enterprise Ventures, which manages the North West Fund for Venture Capital, believes TOM’s technology offers a proven and low-cost way for Wi-Fi providers such as hotels, banks and retailers to monitor and safeguard their networks and therefore their valued customers.
He added: “The company has already attracted interest from Wi-Fi equipment suppliers as well as companies that install and manage Wi-Fi systems for other companies, or provide free Wi-Fi to customers directly.”
Stellman said the funding will enable TOM to bring SpriteGuardto market, develop pilot projects in all the key industry sectors, establish partnerships with Wi-Fi providers and licensees, and attract further rounds of funding.
