Squire1039

Summary:

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) detected the incident in February 2024.
• Hackers compromised 11 email accounts, but no evidence suggests access to other systems.
• The IMF uses Microsoft 365 for email and is investigating the incident with cybersecurity experts.
• This is not the first IMF cyberattack; a major breach occurred in 2011.
• Connection to recent Microsoft 365 breaches by a Russian hacking group is unclear.

This article discusses a new study on the link between gut bacteria and diet, particularly the ability to digest cellulose, a major component of plants.

Key Points:

• Humans have gut bacteria that can break down cellulose, but the amount varies depending on diet.
• Rural populations and hunter-gatherers have more of these bacteria compared to urban dwellers.
• The decline is likely due to modern, processed diets low in fiber.
• Some cellulose-digesting bacteria may have come from our primate ancestors, while others were acquired from domesticated herbivores like cows.
• These bacteria, though digesting cellulose for themselves, may provide benefits to human health through byproducts and immune system interaction.

The study identified:

• Four distinct groups of cellulose-digesting bacteria in humans.
• A historical decline in these bacteria with dietary changes.
• Potential benefits to gut health from these bacteria, even if they contribute minimally to direct food processing.

Researchers presented new techniques to fight sophisticated hacking at a tech conference. Here are the highlights:

Self-destruct chips:

• A team from Vermont and Marvell created chips with unique fingerprints that can destroy themselves (through increased voltage) if tampered with. This prevents both counterfeiting and unauthorized access to information.
• Probe detection: Columbia and Intel researchers developed a circuit that detects probes attached to a circuit board, preventing hackers from gaining physical control of a system.
• Signal Obscuring: Researchers from Texas and Intel created a method to hide a chip's power and electromagnetic signals, making it harder for attackers to steal information.

These innovations could improve chip security and save businesses billions from chip counterfeiting.

Comments

NGL. After I saw "Self-destruct chips", I was just overwhelmed by Mission Impossible theme song.

https://youtu.be/PeKW0stTThk

A French study found people who eat a breakfast high in refined carbs (like pastries and juice) were rated less attractive than those who ate whole grains (like wholemeal toast) for breakfast. This might be because refined carbs affect blood sugar and insulin, potentially impacting skin health and sex hormones. The researchers suggest swapping refined carbs for unrefined options to improve both health and attractiveness.

Summary

Hackers are compromising WordPress sites to inject malicious scripts. These scripts can either steal cryptocurrency from visitors' wallets or hijack their browsers to launch brute-force attacks against other websites. The hackers are likely building a larger pool of compromised sites to launch more extensive attacks in the future.

The article discusses the mysterious nature of large language models and their remarkable capabilities, focusing on the challenges of understanding why they work. Researchers at OpenAI stumbled upon unexpected behavior while training language models, highlighting phenomena such as "grokking" and "double descent" that defy conventional statistical explanations. Despite rapid advancements, deep learning remains largely trial-and-error, lacking a comprehensive theoretical framework. The article emphasizes the importance of unraveling the mysteries behind these models, not only for improving AI technology but also for managing potential risks associated with their future development. Ultimately, understanding deep learning is portrayed as both a scientific puzzle and a critical endeavor for the advancement and safe implementation of artificial intelligence.

A trial program conducted by Pornhub in collaboration with UK-based child protection organizations aimed to deter users from searching for child abuse material (CSAM) on its website. Whenever CSAM-related terms were searched, a warning message and a chatbot appeared, directing users to support services. The trial reported a significant reduction in CSAM searches and an increase in users seeking help. Despite some limitations in data and complexity, the chatbot showed promise in deterring illegal behavior online. While the trial has ended, the chatbot and warnings remain active on Pornhub's UK site, with hopes for similar measures across other platforms to create a safer internet environment.

Summary:

• US courts have received over 130 requests from law enforcement to access push notification data from phones, reported the Washington Post.
• This data can reveal a user's location, device details, IP address, and more, even if they use encrypted messaging apps.
• This raises concerns about privacy, as prosecutors and foreign governments could potentially access this data for various reasons.
• While Apple and Google are promising more transparency regarding data requests, security experts highlight the potential for abuse by governments and marketing organizations.

Key Points:

• Push notification metadata includes information like the app receiving the notification, timestamp, and network details.
• This data is not encrypted and can be used to track user movements and activity.
• Law enforcement can use this data for investigations, but it also raises concerns about potential misuse by other parties.
• Experts recommend increased awareness about the information users share through push notifications and the potential privacy risks involved.

A security breach exposed two-factor authentication (2FA) codes/password reset links for millions of users on platforms like Facebook, Google, and TikTok.

Key Points:

• YX International, an SMS routing company, left an internal database exposed online without a password.
• The database contained one-time 2FA codes and password reset links for various tech giants.
• YX International secured the database and claims to have "sealed the vulnerability."
• The company wouldn't confirm how long the database was exposed or if anyone else accessed it.
• Representatives from Meta, Google, and TikTok haven't commented yet.

Concerns:

• This leak highlights the vulnerabilities of SMS-based 2FA compared to app-based methods.
• The lack of information regarding the leak's duration and potential access by others raises concerns.

Gemini Recommendations:

• Consider switching to app-based 2FA for increased security.
• Be cautious of suspicious communications and avoid clicking unknown links.
• Stay informed about potential security breaches affecting your online accounts.

Haha, brand new company with MD5 password hashes. Maybe they oughta consult about securities with their/other AIs more often. Hopefully, nobody did anything naughty on the site.

Other links on the story:

• https://cybernews.com/security/ai-editing-service-leaks-images-customer-data/
• https://www.hackread.com/ai-image-editing-tool-cutout-data-leak/

Scammers hacked the late actor Matthew Perry's Twitter account and posted a fake plea for cryptocurrency donations in the name of his foundation. The foundation confirmed the post was a scam and urged people not to donate.

The article details several possibilities for how the account may have been compromised, highlighting the importance of strong passwords and multi-factor authentication for securing social media accounts, especially for celebrities with large followings.

From: https://www.tumblr.com/memeuplift/732625248536723456/2024-chevrolet-trax?source=share