Read Kirk Carapezza's story on college network security at our On Campus blog.
2014 is shaping up to be the year of cyber security. With each new data breach or hacking operation we hear about, tech companies are scrambling to fix the problem and cash in. Waltham security firm Bit9 has acquired Texas startup Carbon Black as it reinvents itself to respond to cyber attacks as well as preventing them. The company has also raised a new round of venture capital, bringing its total to $120 million. Meanwhile, a young Boston-Israeli startup called Cybereason is emerging as a leader in profiling hacker behavior. In the end it’s probably an unwinnable arms race, but it could be good for business.
In other innovation news:
— Two more life sciences IPOs in Boston. This time it’s Flexion Therapeutics and Concert Pharmaceuticals going public and raising a total of $150 million. Nationally there have been at least 17 biotech IPOs already this year.
— Our startup of the week is Swirl. The Boston mobile company is rolling out its in-store location technology with retailer Alex and Ani. The idea, which is starting to gain traction around the country, is to send offers to customers’ phones based on where they are in the store.
— And lastly, if you’re looking to escape real life on this Valentine’s Day, you might try Lovelines. The mobile app for women lets you take part in an interactive love story by exchanging text messages with a fictional guy. I’m guessing the app is not super popular with husbands and boyfriends, even fictional ones.
