Window Snyder Launches Startup to Fill IoT Security Gaps

Window Snyder Launches Startup to Fill IoT Security Gaps
Thistle Technologies aims to help connected device manufacturers securely deliver updates to their products.

(image by ZinetroN, via Adobe Stock)



Security veteran Window Snyder has launched a new startup to tackle the growing and complex security issues of Internet-connected devices as they become more prevalent in organizations. 


Snyder has spent more than 20 years helping some of tech's biggest firms build security into their products, with senior security roles at Mozilla, Apple, Fastly, Intel, Microsoft, and Square. Her new company, Thistle Technologies, aims to help the connected device market get up to speed by making it easier for manufacturers to securely deploy updates to their products.


"Software systems have gone through a lot of work to get to the place where they are right now, and I've had a front row seat for most of that … more than a front row – I'm actually in the trenches," says Snyder. But, she adds, "a lot of the work hasn't happened in the devices space." 


For systems that face highly visible attacks, such as operating systems, more time and resources are allocated toward building resilience. As an example, Snyder points to some of the work she did on Windows to reduce the attack surface or make it more difficult for an attacker to exploit memory corruption flaws. Over time, this work has led to more robust security mechanisms. 


In the connected device market, she sees a large attack surface and small security investment.


"There are so many devices out there that don't have any of these mechanisms in place," she explains. "Even for those that do have security mechanisms, not all of them are built to the kind of r ..

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