Security News Update for April 14, 2023
Tech Industry Pain Good for NSA
Rob Joyce, NSA’s cyber director, says that they are seeing a boost in recruitment following waves of layoffs in the tech sector. While he is not giving numbers, any help with mid and high level recruiting would be good for the good guys. Remember that due to the clearance process, it often takes a year for someone to be onboarded. While it is possible that the NSA might pay a few people that they really want during this time, for most people, they have to find a paying job. That is a barrier for them. Credit: The Record
Another Spyware Company Outed
The thing that is interesting to me is not that another spyware company is outed, but rather that their are so many undiscovered security vulnerabilities in the iPhone that all these companies can stay in business. Probably, there are multiple companies exploiting some of the same vulnerabilities, but still interesting. This one, name QuaDream, based in Israel (like NSO), was outed by Microsoft and the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab. The problem is that since these iPhone exploits are zero-click, meaning the user doesn’t do anything to detonate the exploit, there is also nothing the user can do to protect themselves. Credit: University of Toronto Citizen Lab
Italy Has Banned ChatGPT – Now Tells OpenAI What Must be Done
Italy has told OpenAI what it needs to do in order to get un-banned. I am not sure that it is possible, but stay tuned. The Italian DPA (Data Protection Authority) says that they need to let users and non-users object to having their data processed by ChatGPT, let them correct false or inaccurate information and access other rights granted by GDPR. This will be a challenge. Credit: Gizmodo
In Light of Intelligence Breach, Expect Greater Surveillance
The government is looking at increasing surveillance of social media and chat rooms in light of not detecting the sharing of classified data about Ukraine for months. This likely will drive terrorists and others who don’t like government surveillance further underground. Credit: NBC
Sucks to be Apple
Burglars broke into an Apple store in Seattle by breaking into a coffee shop next door, breaking through the wall in the bathroom and looting the Apple store without setting off the alarms. The crooks stole over 400 iPhones, worth more than a half million dollars. Sounds like they need to rework their security system. Credit: Motherboard by Vice
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