The Acronis True Image 2017 New Generation NYC Launch Event — Blockchain, Ransomware, and the Race Toward the Future

The Acronis team landed in NYC last week to discuss the global threat of ransomware and present groundbreaking technology that lifts the concept of data protection to a brand new level. The event was packed to capacity with standing room only — hundreds of professionals and media representatives came to hear about the latest developments in the world of cyber security and personal data safety.

It was the launch of Acronis True Image 2017 New Generation. Acronis CMO John Zanni and Acronis VP and GM of Consumer Business Gaidar Magdanurov were joined by a former FBI cyber security expert Eric O’Neill and blockchain expert Alex Tapscott to launch the new product and talk about the ever-evolving technical landscape and our responsibilities in keeping data protected.

The speakers pointed out, the digital world is becoming increasingly complex and there is increased risk of potential cyber-attacks. We have to educate ourselves in order to keep up with the latest threats. We have to be safe, take precautions, and actively protect ourselves. But we also have to be ready to put our faith in emerging technologies like blockchain which can make our connected world safer.

Blockchain is a quickly emerging technology that works as a digital ledger of transactions, providing transparency with its public chain of recordings. However what’s most important, is its decentralized chain of authority.

Alex Tapscott presents a talk about blockchain revolution at the Acronis True Image 2017 New Generation Launch Event in New York.

“Anything that is centralized is vulnerable to hacking and attack,” said Alex Tapscott. He highlighted the ways in which blockchain can revolutionize our digital lives by decentralizing the technological landscape through blockchain initiatives.

As he put it, we’ve all got virtual copies of ourselves, and these virtual copies know us better than we do. They know how we think, and how we act. And they hold some of our most important data — think social security numbers and bank account information. But this information, this data, can be easily hacked into, taken advantage of, and used against us. He urged the crowd to take the “virtual you” back, leaving the room ready to take that next step into the future alongside emerging blockchain innovations. He closed his speech with this powerful statement:

Going forward, the future could be bright or the future could not be bright, but it appears once again, that the technology genie has been released from the bottle, summoned by an unknown person or persons, at an uncertain time in history. This genie is once again at our disposal to transform the economic power grid and the old order of human affairs for the better, but only if we will it.

Another theme of the evening was ransomware, the largest cybersecurity threat of 2016, and a threat that will continue growing well into this year.

Eric O’Neill emphatically reflected on his experience in cyber security, delving into what ransomware is, how it operates, and what we can do to protect our data. He hit the room with cold, hard facts:

 “88% of the ransomware attacks that occurred in 2016 were against hospitals.”

This statement stunned the room, and with good reason. How can we feel safe when these hackers are putting people lives on the line by shutting down operations in an industry where every data point, every medical reading, and every test taken is vital for health and safety?

And if these hackers are willing to hit hospitals, what’s to stop them from shutting down other businesses, or even our own personal devices?

 Eric O’Neill at the Acronis True Image 2017 New Generation Launch Event in New York.

“Think of [ransomware] as locking all of your doors, and there’s no way to break through, and the attackers have that key. If you want that key, if you want your data back, you have to pay them.”

It was another great metaphor for ransomware by Eric O’Neill. Hackers will do everything in their power to make you powerless, ultimately forcing you to pay them the ransom they demand.

But it’s not just your computers that you have to worry about being hacked into, as Eric explains. “In 2017, one of the worst things we’re worrying about are your smartphones and tablets.”

Imagine driving to a place you’ve never been. You’re relying heavily on Google Maps aren’t you? Well if you click on the wrong link, and ransomware gets in, you’ll probably be forced to pay. Otherwise, how will you get home? How can you contact anyone for help? When smartphones start regularly getting hacked, it’ll be a whole new ball game. And that’s what experts like Eric are predicting. And that’s why backup is so important.

Luckily, Acronis has come out with a new product that integrated both of these themes—ransomware and blockchain.

With Acronis Active Protection™, your data patterns are constantly being analyzed. This software will learn how you operate so that if it detects data encryption, it can freeze it and notify you immediately. If any files were encrypted before the software noticed, it can immediately pull these files from your backup. Problem solved.

Similarly, Acronis introduced Acronis Notary™ data verification and Acronis ASign™ electronic signatures, both powered by blockchain technology, to take advantage of an encrypted, transparent ledger that keeps track of you data.

Acronis is taking giant leaps into the future with these groundbreaking features included in its latest release. And these features are making Acronis leaders in the backup world—integrating capabilities that have never before been included in a backup solution.

Acronis is readying itself, and its customers, for the future. Are you ready?

To find out more about Acronis True Image 2017 New Generation, visit the personal backup product page and follow the speakers on Twitter:

• Alexander Tapscott: @AlexTapscott
• Eric O'Neill: @eoneill
• John Zanni: @jzanni_hosting
• Gaidar Magdanurov: @gaidar

READ MORE:

• Acronis True Image 2017 New Generation: Your Ultimate Backup Destination and Protection Against Ransomware
• INDEPENDENT TEST: Acronis True Image 2017 New Generation Outperforms Competitors in Self-Protection Against Ransomware