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Facebook Acquires Server-Focused Security Startup

Posted by samzenpus on from the answering-the-acquisition-request dept.

wiredmikey writes In a move to bolster the security of its massive global server network, Facebook announced on Thursday it was acquiring PrivateCore, a Palo Alto, California-based cybersecurity startup. PrivateCore describes that its vCage software transparently secures data in use with full memory encryption for any application, any data, anywhere on standard x86 servers. "I'm really excited that Facebook has entered into an agreement to acquire PrivateCore," Facebook security chief Joe Sullivan wrote in a post to his own Facebook page. "I believe that PrivateCore's technology and expertise will help support Facebook's mission to help make the world more open and connected, in a secure and trusted way," Sullivan said. "Over time, we plan to deploy PrivateCore's technology directly into the Facebook server stack."

2 of 18 comments (clear)

  1. Just use OpenBSD. It's the sensible option. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    I see all sorts of people and companies spending a whole lot of time and money and personnel trying to improve the security of Linux or even Windows.

    But security isn't the sort of thing you can just patch in or tack on! Security needs to start from the very core.

    There's only one operating system around today that takes security that seriously: OpenBSD.

    Security is the first and foremost thought of the OpenBSD developers. It is the centerpiece of all of their decisions. It isn't just an empty promise among many in a marketing checklist like it is for so many other operating systems. Security is OpenBSD's top priority.

    OpenBSD is security. Security is OpenBSD. They have become one and the same.

    So if you need to engage in secure computing (and everybody does, whether they realize it or not!), you really only have one choice, and that choice is OpenBSD.

    1. Re:Just use OpenBSD. It's the sensible option. by manu0601 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      OpenBSD is security. Security is OpenBSD

      If you think that choosing OpenBSD will magically produce secure setups, you are doomed.

      While I acknowledge valuable security-related work in OpenBSD, a moto such as "Only two remote holes in the default install, in a heck of a long time!" is harmful PR speak. Who use an OS as in the default install, without touching any settings? Just configuring the network push you out of default install (and you win two more remotely-exploitable holes in DNS resolvers).

      And we could also speak about the numerous "reliability fixes" that are often really security fixes you should install to remain secure.