What I Read This Week #2 - Feb 2024
News at the Intersection of Technology and Intelligence
AI
The use of AI-generated deepfakes in scams increases. More and more celebrities being used in fake ads to promote financial schemes. Social media companies are struggling to address the issue.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/deepfake-ai-scam-ads-1.7104225
A deepfake scam targeted a company in Hong Kong, using a fake video of the CFO to swindle an employee into transferring $25 million. This marks the first such scam in Hong Kong.
AI chatbots, designed for diplomacy, turned warmongers in a simulated war game. This scenario, unveiled in a recent Nature study, has ignited debate on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/gpt-4-ai-chatbots-choose-violence-in-war-games-we-have-it-lets-use-it
London's Underground eyes get AI-powered, sparking debate: security savior or privacy nightmare? Docs leak, revealing behavior prediction and "suspicious activity" flags.
https://www.wired.com/story/london-underground-ai-surveillance-documents/
China's recent launch of the purported world's first in-orbit AI commercial hypersatellite underscores their growing prowess in commercial space missions and highlights the potential of AI-driven satellite technology in reshaping the future of space exploration.
Crypto
A key player in the infamous BTC-e exchange, accused of facilitating cybercrime and money laundering, faces US charges.
https://therecord.media/us-arrests-belarussian-cypriot-national-in-btc-e-cybercrime-case
Germany Seizes $2.17 Billion in Bitcoin: Piracy Crackdown or Power Play?
https://cointelegraph.com/news/german-authorities-seize-50k-bitcoin
Taiwan busts suspected Triad members accused of scamming investors out of millions in a phony crypto mine expansion.
https://protos.com/taiwan-investigates-triad-members-for-crypto-mine-fraud/
Haru Invest executives, including CEO Hyung-soo Lee, have been arrested for allegedly defrauding over 16,000 customers of $830 million worth of digital assets. They are charged of falsely advertised "risk-free" investments with promised returns of up to 12% per annum.
It appears Ripple was hacked for approximately 213 million XRP (equivalent to $112.5 million), with the stolen funds laundered through various exchanges. Notably, the Ripple attribution for the account was marked by XRP block explorers, and significant amounts of XRP were traced to BTC withdrawals possibly connected to Chris Larsen’s hacked account. Chris Larsen is Ripple's co-founder and executive chairman.
https://twitter.com/zachxbt/status/1752694489905528943
National Security
Korean Air, along with two other South Korean companies, has commenced the mass production of a medium-altitude reconnaissance drone. As tensions persist on the Korean Peninsula, the deployment of domestically developed surveillance technology underscores South Korea's commitment to bolstering its military capabilities and enhancing its strategic position in the region.
https://battle-updates.com/update/unmanned-systems-update-925/
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has traced attempted cyberattacks on Philippine government agencies to China, signaling potential state-backed cyber threats.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1898793/dict-traces-hack-attempts-to-china
Swiss police are turning to "super recognisers" with extraordinary facial memory to catch criminals.
The surge in publicly accessible data presents a challenge for US intelligence agencies, who lean towards open-source intelligence (OSINT) to get valuable insights. New strategies and tools emerge to effectively harness this wealth of information.
https://www.tbsnews.net/tech/theres-so-much-data-even-spies-are-struggling-find-secrets-783446
Space Force should play a vital role in protecting U.S. interests in space amid increasing threats and reliance on space-based assets, but faces challenges in public perception and articulating its mission clearly.
https://gizmodo.com/what-does-space-force-do-1849009908
An interesting window into 1980’s interception infrastructure built allegedly by GCHQ to monitor the communication from the Northern Ireland.
Chinese government-linked hackers operated undetected for years in critical US infrastructure networks, exposing security vulnerabilities.
https://thehackernews.com/2024/02/chinese-hackers-operate-undetected-in.html
Iran's cyber conflict with Israel has become global, with attacks targeting businesses and governments beyond its borders, raising concerns about wider disruption and escalating tensions.
https://www.darkreading.com/ics-ot-security/iran-israel-cyber-war-goes-global
OSINT, Social Media & Web
Scale AI ended its partnership with TikTok over national security concerns stemming from reports of ByteDance's plans to surveil American citizens through TikTok's geo-location data, highlighting the significance of prioritizing national security in business partnerships.
Epik, a haven for controversial websites, is now owned by a secretive company facilitating anonymous business operations.
https://www.wired.com/story/epik-domain-registrar-new-owner/
Israeli army's positions in Gaza are being inadvertently exposed online, despite efforts to prevent such leaks, raising concerns about operational security during military operations in the region.
Spyware
The U.S. State Department has imposed visa restrictions on those linked to the illegal use of commercial spyware. Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the threat to privacy and freedoms, aiming to hold individuals and companies accountable for misuse. This move reflects efforts to combat the proliferation of intrusive surveillance technologies and emphasizes the need for international collaboration to address cybersecurity and human rights concerns.
https://thehackernews.com/2024/02/us-imposes-visa-restrictions-on-those.html?m=1
Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) actively tracks over 40 commercial spyware vendors with varying levels of sophistication and public exposure.
https://blog.google/threat-analysis-group/commercial-surveillance-vendors-google-tag-report/
Despite increased scrutiny from governments and tech giants, the commercial spyware industry continues to thrive, raising concerns about accessibility and potential misuse of surveillance tools, despite efforts to track and disrupt vendors.
https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/07/spyware_business_booming/
Mini PCs sold on Amazon from Chinese manufacturer AceMagic were found to contain factory-installed spyware, compromising users' privacy and security. The spyware, including Redline and Bladabindi, was detected by Windows Defender and could steal sensitive data and credentials.
https://www.techspot.com/news/101796-mini-pcs-sold-amazon-contained-factory-installed-spyware.html
35 states and many large companies have joined the Pall Mall Process to fight spyware misuse. The coalition aims to address spyware availability and misuse by promoting legal and responsible use, enhancing monitoring, and fostering market transparency. This aligns with the US State Department's decision to impose visa restrictions on spyware misuse.
https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366569276/Dozens-of-surveillance-companies-are-supplying-spyware-to-governments-says-Google
Government hackers exploited three unknown vulnerabilities in Apple's iPhone operating system last year to deploy spyware developed by a European startup called Variston, according to Google's Threat Analysis Group. The hackers targeted iPhones in Indonesia using zero-day vulnerabilities and delivered the spyware through malicious links in SMS text messages. Variston collaborates with organizations like Protect Electronic Systems, based in the United Arab Emirates, to develop and sell spyware.
Events and Shows
ISS World Middle East and Africa
📅 13-15.02.2025
🗺 JW Marriot Marquis, Dubai, UAE
https://www.issworldtraining.com/iss_mea/
World Defense Show
📅 4-8.02.2025
🗺 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
https://www.worlddefenseshow.com/
Just ended, the show attracted a wide audience and lots of chatter on social media.