Prpl Foundation Explained

The prpl Foundation is a non-profit open source software Foundation started in 2014 by Imagination Technologies and others to encourage use of the MIPS architecture (and “open to others”), through the promotion of standards and open source solutions,^[1] with a particular focus on equipment for data centers, networking (with a focus on residential gateways), and devices for the Internet of Things.^{[2] [3]}

The Foundation manages projects in specific topic areas via “pWGs” (prpl Working Groups), including groups focused on processor emulation (QEMU),^[4] carrier-grade networking (prplOS, based on OpenWRT, prplMesh, prplLCM),^[5] and virtualization and security.^{[6] [7]} The organization also collects and disseminates information of interest to its members, including patterns in consumer use of smart devices and security issues.^{[8] [9]} In 2016 the organization released a study, "The prpl Foundation Smart Home Security Report".^[10] The group also finds and reports security issues in smart devices.^[11]

Members of prpl include: Verizon, Orange, AT&T, SoftAtHome, Vodafone, Broadcom, MaxLinear, and Qualcomm.^[12] The security pWG includes several of the above, as well as CUPP Computing, Elliptic Technologies, Imperas Software, Kernkonzept, and Seltech.^[6]

External links

• • Open source software supported by prpl Foundation

Notes and References

1. http://semiengineering.com/security-improvements-ahead/ "Security Improvements Ahead"
2. News: Burt. Jeffrey. MIPS Open-Source Group Takes Aim at ARM, Intel. 1 April 2015. eWeek.com. Quinstreet Enterprise. 23 May 2014.
3. http://www.informationsecuritybuzz.com/hacker-news/vulnerability-philips-hue-lightbulbs/ "Vulnerability In Philips Hue Lightbulbs"
4. http://iotdesign.embedded-computing.com/articles/how-virtualization-modern-silicon-and-open-source-are-conspiring-to-secure-the-internet-of-things/ "How virtualization, modern silicon, and open source are conspiring to secure the Internet of Things"
5. News: Turley. Jim. Prpl With Envy. 1 April 2015. EE Journal. techfocus media, inc. 24 September 2014.
6. News: Bernstein. Peter. prpl Foundation Forms Security Working Group for Multi-domain Virtualization-based Security. 1 April 2015. TechZone360. 23 March 2015.
7. http://www.iottechnews.com/news/2016/jul/14/first-open-source-hypervisor-internet-things-unveiled/ "The first open source hypervisor for the Internet of Things is unveiled"
8. http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/routers-achilles-heel-home-small/ "Routers Branded 'Achilles Heel' of Home and Small Biz Security"
9. http://www.ifsecglobal.com/security-trumps-ease-use-consumers-smart-home/ "Security trumps ease-of-use for smart-home consumers as market reaches critical mass"
10. http://www.itproportal.com/news/smart-homes-rising-their-security-not-so-much/ "Smart homes rising, their security not so much"
11. http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/security-concerns-as-amazon/ "Security Concerns as Amazon Prepares for UK Drone Deliveries"
12. https://gigaom.com/2014/05/22/chip-firms-form-prpl-foundation-to-keep-mips-architecture-in-the-pink/ "Chip firms form prpl foundation to keep MIPS architecture in the pink"