Cybersecurity officials warn against potentially costly Medusa ransomware attacks
What's happening: The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have issued a warning about the Medusa ransomware, active since 2021, which has recently affected hundreds of individuals.
Who is involved: Medusa has targeted over 300 victims across various sectors, including medical, education, legal, insurance, technology, and manufacturing.
Zoom in: The ransomware operates on a double extortion model, encrypting victim data and threatening to publicly release it if the ransom is not paid.
Why it caught my attention: This underscores the critical need for digital literacy. Just as financial literacy is essential, understanding how to protect one's digital footprint is vital in today's interconnected world.
How to protect yourself:
Keep operating systems, software, and firmware updated.
Use multifactor authentication for all services, such as email and VPNs.
Employ long, unique passwords and avoid frequent, predictable password changes.
Maintain offline backups of critical data.
By enhancing digital literacy and implementing these measures, individuals and organizations can better safeguard against such cyber threats.
Source: AP | The Washington Post
Everything you say to your Echo will be sent to Amazon starting on March 28
What's happening: Starting March 28, Amazon will discontinue the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" feature on Echo devices, meaning all voice commands will be sent to Amazon's cloud for processing.
Who is involved: This change affects users of certain Echo devices, specifically the Echo Dot (4th Gen), Echo Show 10, and Echo Show 15, who had enabled the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" setting.
Zoom in: Amazon states that this shift is necessary to support new generative AI features that rely on cloud processing power.
Why it caught my attention: Privacy fosters creativity and freedom, allowing individuals to explore ideas without fear of exposure. The rapid advancement of AI and the Internet of Things raises concerns about Big Tech's use of personal information, especially given their history of prioritizing rapid development over careful consideration of societal implications. This policy change by Amazon exemplifies the need for vigilance regarding how our data is utilized.
Source: Ars Technica
Microsoft teams up with AI start-up to simulate brain reasoning
What's happening: Microsoft has partnered with Swiss AI start-up inait to develop advanced AI models that emulate mammalian brain reasoning, aiming to enhance applications in sectors like financial trading and robotics.
Who is involved: This collaboration brings together Microsoft's extensive AI resources and inait's expertise in digital neuroscience, built on two decades of research.
Zoom in: The initiative focuses on creating AI systems capable of learning from real-world experiences, moving beyond traditional data-driven models to more adaptive and efficient technologies.
Why it caught my attention: It’s always fascinating to see how computers attempt to emulate the human brain.This effort coul
d lead to AI that is not only more intelligent but also more efficient in its use of electricity and data storage, addressing key challenges in AI infrastructure.
Source: Financial Times | Microsoft