"Mashups," web applications that pull information from multiple sources, such as Web sites, databases or emails, to provide a single view, are ever more popular. But with them has come concern about security.
A new technology created by IBM researchers, code named "SMash," could be the solution. Short for secure mashup, it allows information from different sources to talk to each other, but keeps them separate so malicious code cannot creep into a firm's systems.
"Web 2.0 is fundamentally about empowering people, and has created a societal shift in the way we organize, access and use information," said Rod Smith, IBM Fellow & Vice President. "Security concerns can't be a complete inhibitor or clients lose out on the immense benefit mashups bring. The same way you wouldn't buy a car and then later decide to have the seatbelts or airbags installed, as an industry we've learned how to build security into business operations from the ground up instead of tacking it on after the fact."
To let users take advantage of mashup technology, IBM is contributing the SMash technology to the OpenAjax Alliance.
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MADE IN IBM LABS: IBM Cracks Web 2.0 Security Concerns with "SMash" (press release)