Day: May 1, 2018

Infosec brainiacs release public dataset to classify new malware using AI

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Researchers at Endgame, a cyber-security biz based in Virginia, have published what they believe is the first large open-source dataset for machine learning malware detection known as EMBER. EMBER contains metadata describing 1.1 million Windows portable executable files: 900,000 training samples evenly split into malicious, benign, and unlabeled categories and 200,000 files of test samples Read more about Infosec brainiacs release public dataset to classify new malware using AI[…]

Russian State-Sponsored Cyber Actors Targeting Network Infrastructure Devices

Posted on by Robin Edgar

On April 19, 2018, an industry partner notified NCCIC and the FBI of malicious cyber activity that aligns with the techniques, tactics, and procedures (TTPs) and network indicators listed in this Alert. Specifically, the industry partner reported the actors redirected DNS queries to their own infrastructure by creating GRE tunnels and obtained sensitive information, which Read more about Russian State-Sponsored Cyber Actors Targeting Network Infrastructure Devices[…]

Facebook admits it does track non-users, for their own good

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Facebook’s apology-and-explanation machine grinds on, with The Social Network™ posting detail on one of its most controversial activities – how it tracks people who don’t use Facebook. The company explained that the post is a partial response to questions CEO Mark Zuckerberg was unable to answer during his senate and Congressional hearings. It’s no real Read more about Facebook admits it does track non-users, for their own good[…]

Artificial intelligence can scour code to find accidentally public passwords

Posted on by Robin Edgar

researchers at software infrastructure firm Pivotal have taught AI to locate this accidentally public sensitive information in a surprising way: By looking at the code as if it were a picture. Since modern artificial intelligence is arguably better than humans at identifying minute differences in images, telling the difference between a password and normal code Read more about Artificial intelligence can scour code to find accidentally public passwords[…]

This AI-Controlled Roach Breeding Site Is a Nightmare Factory

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In the city of Xichang, located in the southwestern Sichuan province, there is a massive, artificial intelligence-powered roach breeding farm that is producing more than six billion cockroaches per year. The facility, which is described by the South China Morning Post as a multi-story building about the size of two sports fields, is being operated Read more about This AI-Controlled Roach Breeding Site Is a Nightmare Factory[…]

Many Satellites run Windows 95 – and are ripe for hacking

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Hundreds of multi-ton liabilities—soaring faster than the speed of sound, miles above the surface of the earth—are operating on Windows-95.They’re satellites, responsible for everything from GPS positioning, to taking weather measurements, to carrying cell signals, to providing television and internet. For the countries that own these satellites, they’re invaluable resources. Even though they’re old, it’s Read more about Many Satellites run Windows 95 – and are ripe for hacking[…]

Hackers Steal Data on 14 Million Users From Ride-Hail App Careem

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Careem, a ride-hail startup based in Dubai and operating in 14 countries, announced today that hackers stole data belonging to 14 million riders and drivers. The company discovered the breach on January 14 but waited to notify its customers because the investigation was ongoing. “Cybercrime investigations are immensely complicated and take time. We wanted to Read more about Hackers Steal Data on 14 Million Users From Ride-Hail App Careem[…]

Forget the Double Helix—Scientists Discovered a New DNA Structure Inside Human Cells

Posted on by Robin Edgar

For the first time ever, scientists have identified the existence of a new DNA structure that looks more like a twisted, four-stranded knot than the double helix we all know from high school biology. The newly identified structure, detailed Monday in the journal Nature Chemistry, could play a crucial role in how DNA is expressed. Read more about Forget the Double Helix—Scientists Discovered a New DNA Structure Inside Human Cells[…]

Yahoo! fined! $35m! for! covering! up! massive! IT! security! screwup!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Disaster Formerly Known as Yahoo! has been fined $35m by US financial watchdog, the SEC, for failing to tell anyone about one of the world’s largest ever computer security breaches. Now known as Altaba following its long, slow and painful descent in irrelevance, Yahoo! knew that its entire user database – including billions of Read more about Yahoo! fined! $35m! for! covering! up! massive! IT! security! screwup![…]

McAfee’s Cryptocurrency Leaks Personal Information for Thousands of Investors

Posted on by Robin Edgar

On Mar 30, researchers at Kromtech Security identified a database open to the public containing full names, addresses, email addresses, encrypted passwords, wallet information, along with links to scanned passports, driver’s licenses, and other IDs for over 25,000 investors of the newly created Bezop. The information was found within a MongoDB database without any security. Read more about McAfee’s Cryptocurrency Leaks Personal Information for Thousands of Investors[…]

Gaia creates richest star map of our Galaxy – and beyond / Gaia / Space Science / Our Activities / ESA

Posted on by Robin Edgar

ESA’s Gaia mission has produced the richest star catalogue to date, including high-precision measurements of nearly 1.7 billion stars and revealing previously unseen details of our home Galaxy. A multitude of discoveries are on the horizon after this much awaited release, which is based on 22 months of charting the sky. The new data includes Read more about Gaia creates richest star map of our Galaxy – and beyond / Gaia / Space Science / Our Activities / ESA[…]

Researchers are keeping pig brains alive outside the body

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In a step that could change the definition of death, researchers have restored circulation to the brains of decapitated pigs and kept the reanimated organs alive for as long as 36 hours. The feat offers scientists a new way to study intact brains in the lab in stunning detail. But it also inaugurates a bizarre Read more about Researchers are keeping pig brains alive outside the body[…]

The World’s First Working Projector Smartwatch Turns Your Arm Into a Big Touchscreen

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Your browser does not support HTML5 video tag. GIF: Carnegie Mellon University & ASU Tech Some smartwatches come with powerful processors, lots of storage, and robust software, but have limited capabilities compared to smartphones thanks to their tiny touchscreens. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, however, have now created a smartwatch prototype with a built-in projector Read more about The World’s First Working Projector Smartwatch Turns Your Arm Into a Big Touchscreen[…]

The Golden State Killer Suspect’s DNA Was in a Publicly Available Database, and Yours Might Be Too

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Plenty of people have voluntarily uploaded their DNA to GEDmatch and other databases, often with real names and contact information. It’s what you do if you’re an adopted kid looking for a long-lost parent, or a genealogy buff curious about whether you have any cousins still living in the old country. GEDmatch requires that you Read more about The Golden State Killer Suspect’s DNA Was in a Publicly Available Database, and Yours Might Be Too[…]

‘Forget the Facebook leak’: China is mining data directly from workers’ brains on an industrial scale

Posted on by Robin Edgar

the workers wear caps to monitor their brainwaves, data that management then uses to adjust the pace of production and redesign workflows, according to the company. The company said it could increase the overall efficiency of the workers by manipulating the frequency and length of break times to reduce mental stress. Hangzhou Zhongheng Electric is Read more about ‘Forget the Facebook leak’: China is mining data directly from workers’ brains on an industrial scale[…]

Chinese government admits collection of deleted WeChat messages

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Chinese authorities revealed over the weekend that they have the capability of retrieving deleted messages from the almost universally used WeChat app. The admission doesn’t come as a surprise to many, but it’s rare for this type of questionable data collection tactic to be acknowledged publicly.As noted by the South China Morning Post, an anti-corruption Read more about Chinese government admits collection of deleted WeChat messages[…]

AI boffins rebel against closed-access academic journal Nature

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Thousands of machine-learning wizards have signed an open statement boycotting a new AI-focused academic journal, disapproving of the paper’s policy of closed-access.Nature Machine Intelligence is a specialized journal concentrating on intelligent systems and robotics research. It’s expected to launch in January next year, and is part of Nature Publishing Group, one of the world’s top Read more about AI boffins rebel against closed-access academic journal Nature[…]

Revealed: how bookies use AI to keep gamblers hooked | Technology | The Guardian

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The gambling industry is increasingly using artificial intelligence to predict consumer habits and personalise promotions to keep gamblers hooked, industry insiders have revealed.Current and former gambling industry employees have described how people’s betting habits are scrutinised and modelled to manipulate their future behaviour.“The industry is using AI to profile customers and predict their behaviour in Read more about Revealed: how bookies use AI to keep gamblers hooked | Technology | The Guardian[…]