Connect with us

Science & Technology

CHERI Alliance Officially Launches, Adds Major Partners including Google, to Tackle Cybersecurity Threats at the Hardware Level

Published

2 years ago

on

[ad_1]

Founding members include global commercial, research, and open-source organizations, and several UK universities and government entities

CAMBRIDGE, the United Kingdom – November 12, 2024 – The CHERI Alliance CIC (Community Interest Company) today announced its official launch and the expansion of its membership, welcoming Chevin Technology (UK), Critical Technologies (USA), the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL, UK), Google (USA), Light Momentum Technology Corporation (Taiwan), National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, a part of GCHQ, UK), Parvat Infotech (India), SRI International (USA), TechWorks (UK), Trusted Computer Center of Excellence (USA), the University of Birmingham (UK), and the University of Glasgow (UK) as founding members.

Founded to unite hardware security leaders and system developers, the CHERI Alliance aims to establish CHERI (Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions) as the new standard for memory safety and scalable software compartmentalization.

Previously announced founding members of the CHERI Alliance include Capabilities Limited, Codasip, CyNam, the FreeBSD Foundation, lowRISC, OpenHW Group, SCI Semiconductor, Swansea University, and the University of Cambridge. Following its initial formation in June 2024, the CHERI Alliance’s new additions reinforce the collaborative effort to protect against memory-related vulnerabilities, a critical security challenge that constitutes approximately 70% of the vulnerabilities exploited in cyberattacks.

“Expanding our membership signals growing recognition of CHERI’s transformative potential,” said Dr. Robert N. M. Watson, Professor, University of Cambridge, Director of the CHERI Alliance, and Director of Capabilities Limited. “After more than a decade of development, it’s rewarding to see the CHERI community grow as new members bring their innovation and commitment to the Alliance. We are now well-positioned to advance our mission of delivering scalable, hardware-based security solutions that address critical vulnerabilities.”

UK Minister for AI and Digital Government Feryal Clark said: “Digital and online security is a fundamental part of our duty as a government to keep the British public, our vital services, and our critical national infrastructure safe. CHERI is a fantastic example of how brilliant British ingenuity is rising to that challenge, focusing on shoring up our defences in areas which are so often a target for would-be cyber attackers. It’s great to see our national security community and some of the leading lights in tech backing this work – ensuring a joined-up approach which will keep our digital economy and the services we rely on daily safe, secure, and alert to the growing range of online threats that we face.”

CHERI technology, developed starting in 2010 through a collaboration between the University of Cambridge and SRI International, offers robust protection against memory safety issues such as buffer overflows and heap use-after-free vulnerabilities. The technology’s ability to enable high-performance, scalable compartmentalization significantly reduces the risk of both known and future unknown vulnerabilities.

With a broader range of companies, open-source organizations, and research institutions on board, the CHERI Alliance is poised to strengthen its efforts in standardization, technical alignment, and educational outreach to promote CHERI’s adoption as an industry-standard security measure.

Supporting Quotes from New Alliance Members

Ben Laurie, Lead Security Researcher at Google, commented: “Google’s interest in CHERI stems from our unwavering commitment to security and privacy. We recognize the potential of CHERI in significantly enhancing system security by mitigating common software vulnerabilities. CHERI offers fine-grained compartmentalisation, which isolates sensitive data into secure compartments, and deterministic memory safety. In security-critical systems that handle sensitive information and personal data, such as those found in generative AI applications, CHERI helps protect against breaches and ensures robust protection against malicious attacks.”

Stuart W. Card, VP & Chief Scientist, Critical Technologies, said: ”Critical Technologies Inc. (CTI) designs to integrate Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions (CHERI), driven by the CHERI Alliance, into open platforms for trustworthy networked autonomy. With Syracuse University, CTI previously developed the first (and still to our knowledge only) capability based, formally verified, open source, multiboot loader for x86 processors with ‘late launch’ DRTM instructions and TPMs; we will do likewise with CHERI as needed to enable seL4® based virtualization for safe AI/ML.”

Allen Cheng, CEO of LMT, said: “LMT is excited to join the CHERI Alliance and contribute to a future of enhanced security and reliability in computing. Our commitment to providing dependable computing solutions aligns perfectly with CHERI’s vision of a safer digital landscape. We look forward to leveraging CHERI technology to develop innovative and secure IC products and services. As a CHERI ambassador in Taiwan and the APAC region, we will actively promote this cutting-edge technology to industry leaders, agencies, and associations, addressing the growing cybersecurity challenges posed by today’s geopolitical climate.”

Dr. Divya Atkins, co-founder, Director, and CEO of Parvat Infotech, said: “CHERI is a transformational technology, but until now has been largely limited to the UK. We want to see its advantages extended to the rest of the world, and especially to India, where, at one end of the spectrum, there is a vast digital public infrastructure using server class hardware, and at the other end, smart cities full of IoT devices. All of these need better security, and our goal is to make that happen. Parvat, being an Indian company, is a newcomer to CHERI, but our principals have been working with CHERI in the UK, so we have the knowledge and experience to support our goal, as well as the mission of the CHERI Alliance.”

Patrick Hurley, TCCoE Executive Director, said: “Trusted Computing Center of Excellence (TCCoE) members are eager to work with CHERI Alliance members to foster trustworthy foundations for computing. CHERI Alliance driven standard hardware support for efficient memory access capabilities complements TCCoE facilitated and promoted formal methods for development and verification of operating systems and other software. These synergistic techniques offer a path out of the current crisis in the safety/security/complexity of software dependent systems to a more resilient and prosperous future.”

John Moor, COO, TechWorks, said: “The challenge of memory safety is a significant and growing problem for computing and cybersecurity – it simply cannot be ignored. Industry must provide solutions for this challenge as the world becomes increasingly digital and connected. As the UK’s deep tech trade association, we understand the power of collaboration and TechWorks is fully supportive of the CHERI Alliance and its ambitious goals. We look forward to working with the CHERI Alliance to help raise more awareness and enable more commercially-available memory-safe solutions.”

Jeremy Singer, a Reader in Programming Language Implementation at the School of Computing Science, University of Glasgow, said: “We are delighted to join the CHERI Alliance, since we are actively contributing CHERI patches to open-source codebases and we want to do all we can to encourage wider adoption of memory safe compute platforms like CHERI.”

Membership Requests

The CHERI Alliance welcomes applications from forward-thinking companies looking to shape the future of cybersecurity. Interested companies can apply via the CHERI Alliance website or contact us directly at the email address provided for more details.

The CHERI Alliance has received funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT, UK).

###

About The CHERI Alliance

CHERI Alliance is a community interest organization promoting the global adoption of the Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions (CHERI) security technology across the computing industry. Building on over a decade of pioneering research by the University of Cambridge and SRI International, CHERI introduces a proven architecture designed to enhance system security through fine-grained memory protection and software compartmentalization. The Alliance is actively engaging with industry, academia, and the public sector to standardize and implement CHERI across a diverse range of computing platforms. Founding members include Capabilities Limited, Chevin Technology, Codasip, Critical Technologies, CyNam, DSTL, the FreeBSD Foundation, Google, LMT, lowRISC, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), OpenHW Group, Parvat Infotech, SCI Semiconductor, SRI, Swansea University, TCCoE, TechWorks, the University of Cambridge, the University of Birmingham, and the University of Glasgow. To learn more, visit http://www.cheri-alliance.org

Media Contact

Tora Fridholm

[email protected]

[ad_2]

Source link

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Science & Technology

Quantum Computing Breakthroughs: Disrupting Industries with Oxford’s Innovations

A recent breakthrough in quantum computing at the University of Oxford promises to disrupt multiple industries by significantly enhancing computational capabilities. Explore the technological implications and potential disruptions poised to redefine sectors.

Published

2 days ago

on

May 20, 2026

By

In May 2026, the University of Oxford announced a significant breakthrough in the field of quantum computing, unveiling an advanced error correction algorithm that has the potential to transform computational capabilities. This development is not just a scientific triumph; it heralds a new era of technological disruption across multiple industries. Quantum computing, long anticipated as the next frontier in technology, promises to solve complex problems beyond the reach of classical computers, and Oxford’s latest advancement brings this closer to reality.

At the core of this breakthrough is the enhancement in quantum error correction, a critical component that addresses the inherent instability of qubits, which are the fundamental units of quantum information. Traditional computers use bits of 0s and 1s, but quantum computers operate on qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This superposition allows quantum computers to process information exponentially faster than classical computers. However, qubits are notoriously prone to errors due to environmental noise and operational inaccuracies. Oxford’s new algorithm significantly improves the error correction process, maintaining qubit stability longer and allowing extended computational tasks to be performed accurately.

The implications of this are profound. Industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to finance stand on the cusp of disruption as quantum computing offers the ability to model complex molecular structures, optimize large-scale financial portfolios, and even revolutionize artificial intelligence algorithms. In pharmaceuticals, for example, quantum computing can expedite drug discovery by accurately simulating molecular interactions, potentially reducing the time and cost associated with bringing new drugs to market. Similarly, in finance, quantum algorithms can optimize trading strategies and risk management with a precision unattainable by current technologies.

Moreover, the ripple effects of such a leap in computational power extend to data encryption and cybersecurity. Quantum computers possess the potential to decrypt classical encryption methods, prompting a race for quantum-resistant cryptography. This necessitates a paradigm shift in how we secure digital information, affecting every sector that relies on data security.

Despite the tremendous promise, the transition to quantum computing is not without its challenges. The infrastructure required to support quantum technologies is expensive and complex. There is also a significant skills gap; experts in quantum computing are scarce, and training a new generation of scientists and engineers is imperative. Furthermore, ethical considerations regarding the power of quantum computing must be addressed, particularly in terms of privacy and security.

Looking forward, as quantum computing continues to evolve, industries will need to adapt swiftly to harness its capabilities. Early adopters who invest in quantum technologies and develop quantum-ready strategies will likely dominate in the coming decade. As Oxford’s breakthrough demonstrates, the race is on to fully realize the potential of quantum computing and redefine the boundaries of what is technologically possible.

Continue Reading

Science & Technology

Apple’s AI Innovations: Shaping the Competitive Landscape in 2026

Apple’s latest advancements in artificial intelligence are setting the stage for a competitive showdown with other tech giants. This article explores how Apple’s AI strategy is positioning the company in the fast-evolving tech landscape.

Published

5 days ago

on

May 17, 2026

By

In the bustling realm of technology, few companies command as much attention as Apple. In 2026, the Silicon Valley titan has once again captured the tech world’s gaze with its latest advances in artificial intelligence. As Apple unveils a suite of AI-driven innovations, the competitive landscape is poised for a seismic shift.

Apple’s strategic focus on AI is not merely about introducing new features but is a calculated move to redefine user experiences while maintaining its staunch advocacy for privacy. At the heart of Apple’s AI initiatives is the promise of personalization—an AI that learns and adapts to the user’s preferences, offering seamless interaction across its range of devices. This focus is especially pertinent in an era where user data is a hot commodity, and privacy concerns are at an all-time high.

What sets Apple apart in the AI race is its dual emphasis on innovation and privacy. While competitors like Google and Amazon have long been heralded for their AI prowess, often prioritizing expansive data collection to fuel their AI engines, Apple has carved out a niche by leveraging on-device processing. This approach not only mitigates privacy risks but also enhances real-time responsiveness, a crucial factor in user satisfaction.

The competitive implications of Apple’s AI advancements are profound. Google’s AI, renowned for its search and recommendation algorithms, faces a formidable challenger in Apple’s ecosystem-centric approach. Meanwhile, Amazon’s Alexa, which dominates the smart assistant market, must contend with Apple’s Siri, now equipped with enhanced contextual understanding and predictive capabilities.

Microsoft, another major player, has been making strides with its integration of AI in cloud services and productivity tools. However, Apple’s holistic approach—integrating AI across hardware, software, and services—presents a cohesive strategy that is difficult to replicate. This integration not only ensures a seamless user experience but also reinforces brand loyalty, a cornerstone of Apple’s business model.

As AI continues to evolve, the stakes in the tech industry are higher than ever. Apple’s innovations are not just about keeping pace but are strategically designed to place the company at the forefront of the AI revolution. In doing so, Apple is not only safeguarding its market position but is also setting new benchmarks in how technology can enhance and secure our digital lives.

The road ahead will undoubtedly see further advancements and competition, but Apple’s current trajectory suggests it is well-positioned to lead in the AI domain. By prioritizing user-centric design and privacy, Apple is not just participating in the AI race; it is setting the pace.

Continue Reading

Science & Technology

AI Fitness Instructors and Unreal Gains: Revolutionizing the Fitness Industry

The rise of AI-driven fitness programs is transforming the fitness industry. Explore the technology, its impact on traditional fitness models, and how it is reshaping consumer expectations.

Published

2 weeks ago

on

May 10, 2026

By

Artificial intelligence is making its mark across various sectors, and the fitness industry is no exception. With the advent of AI-driven fitness instructors, there is a seismic shift underway in how fitness is perceived and pursued. This article delves into the rise of AI in fitness, examining the technology behind it, its effects on traditional fitness models, and the shifting expectations of consumers.

In recent years, AI fitness instructors have become increasingly popular, offering personalized workout programs, real-time feedback, and virtual coaching. These AI systems utilize advanced algorithms to tailor fitness routines that adapt to an individual’s progress and preferences, making fitness more accessible and engaging than ever before.

At the core of AI fitness instructors is sophisticated machine learning technology. These systems collect data from various sources, such as wearable devices and user inputs, to create personalized fitness plans. AI analyzes this data to optimize workouts, ensuring they are challenging yet achievable, and provides insights that were previously accessible only through one-on-one sessions with human trainers.

The integration of AI into fitness is transforming traditional models. Gyms and fitness centers are incorporating AI technologies to enhance their offerings, while some consumers opt for entirely virtual experiences. This shift is challenging the status quo, pushing traditional trainers to adapt by integrating technology into their own practices to remain competitive.

As AI fitness programs become more prevalent, consumer expectations are evolving. Users now demand more personalized and flexible fitness solutions that fit into their busy lifestyles. AI provides this adaptability, offering users the ability to engage in workouts anytime, anywhere, without compromising on quality or effectiveness.

Looking ahead, the role of AI in fitness is set to expand. As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more innovative solutions that enhance user experience and outcomes. AI-driven gamification elements, for example, are already being explored to increase engagement and motivation.


The rise of AI fitness instructors represents a significant evolution in the fitness industry. By offering personalized, accessible, and innovative solutions, AI is not only transforming how people engage with fitness but also challenging traditional models and expectations. As this technology continues to develop, the potential for further disruption and improvement in the fitness sector is immense.

Continue Reading

Trending