Radio Warned About Hackers

As we adapt the leading edge of digital technology, have we become more susceptible to cyber attack? Some local stations have been taken off the air. The air signal isn't the only thing hackers can play havoc with.

Inside radio posted two articles about the dangers of being hacked.

Alarm sounded for stations to step-up cyberattack preparations.

Some operators are already solidifying cyber defenses.

Rear Admiral (ret.) David Simpson, chief of the FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau says it no a matter of if, but when. For now the FCC wants to see stations to voluntarily have a back-up plan in place. He says the FCC is considering mandates. SONY and a French TV network were taken down by hackers earlier this year. ISIS attacked the French network.

So many stations are now going to the Cloud. The fear is the security of those cloud based systems. Local stations have valuable information hackers want like credit card numbers and other personal information. There are also concerns about EAS System. It was hacked setting off false alarms.

WBUR's Wearable App

WBUR on Google Glass

In order for Public Radio to remain relevant, it needs to be on the platforms its listeners are using.

WBUR is now on Google Glass. They have an app for that. My question...is Google Glass relevant? Is a large and growing segment of the public radio audience gravitating to Google Glass? Google says yes. Sales projections are in the billions.

Last week Sony announced a competitor. Before you start thinking there may be another Beta/VHS battle looming...The article about the Sony glasses and Google Glass points out that the market has been uncertain with some backlash against the product. You can read more at Silicon Angle.  The price is high...$1,500 to about $2000.

WBUR is the first public radio station in the country to debut Google Glass app.

http://www.wbur.org/

You can read more at Tech Flash.