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- AI in Court, Hollywood Hacked, and the OG Insta Hackers
AI in Court, Hollywood Hacked, and the OG Insta Hackers
Another week in the cyber-verse
🧠 CyberFact of the Week:
The first known ransomware attack occurred in 1989 and was distributed via floppy disk. Called the "AIDS Trojan," it demanded payment via snail mail to a P.O. box in Panama. Retro malware vibes, anyone?
📬 This Week’s Clickables
🤖 AI Fakes Court Hearing: Deepfakes enter the justice system
🎬 Sony Pictures Breached (Again): Hollywood hacks, the sequel
🔎 Can’t Miss: FBI stings, EV hacks, and SIM swap rules
⚡ Might Have Missed: TikTok trouble, loan leaks, and patient care delays
🧙 Strange Story: Instagram unmasks OG account stealers
🚨 Big Stories This Week
🤖 AI Voice Impersonation Tricks Federal Court
The Intro:
AI deepfakes are no longer just fooling friends—they're sneaking into the U.S. legal system.
What Happened:
A federal court was duped by a deepfake voice impersonating a defendant during a virtual hearing. The impersonation delayed proceedings and led to a broader investigation into remote verification methods.
Why It’s Important:
It marks a disturbing evolution of AI misuse, undermining the integrity of remote judicial processes.
The Other Side:
Some court tech specialists argue this incident will fast-track secure biometric identity checks for all digital appearances.
The Takeaway:
Judges might need a CAPTCHA soon. AI's courtroom cameo just rewrote the rules.
TL;DR:
AI voice impersonation crashed a federal court hearing. Justice isn’t blind—but it might be fooled.
More Reading:
🎬 Sony Pictures Breached (Again)
The Intro:
Sony Pictures, infamous for its 2014 breach, just earned a sequel no one asked for.
What Happened:
A ransomware group claimed responsibility for a cyberattack against Sony Pictures, releasing sample data and threatening full leaks if ransom demands are unmet.
Why It’s Important:
It's a harsh reminder that even tech-savvy entertainment giants need constant security overhauls.
The Other Side:
Sony states the breach is under investigation, and it's unclear how much internal data was actually compromised.
The Takeaway:
From film scripts to internal emails, Hollywood leaks are back on the cyber stage.
TL;DR:
Sony Pictures may have just greenlit another blockbuster breach.
More Reading:
🔥 Can’t Miss This Week
FBI arrests 65 in BEC scams that took $51M from US businesses: The FBI busted 65 people in a global email scam ring that stole $51 million—proof email fraud still pays (until it doesn’t).
Spain and Portugal power outage: what caused it, and was there a cyber-attack?: A blackout hit the Iberian Peninsula, and while it might not have been a cyberattack, no one’s ruling it out just yet.
How Google Became Cautious of AI and Gave Microsoft an Opening: Google hesitated on AI while Microsoft YOLO’d into it—guess who’s winning the chatbot war?
Twitter's 2FA Policy Is a Call for Passkey Disruption: Twitter ditching SMS 2FA is basically an open invite to start using passkeys already.
U.S. Cyber Command: U.S. Cyber Command just got a flashy new website—because even cyber armies need rebrands.
Intel Patched 374 Vulnerabilities in 2024: Intel fixed 374 bugs last year, reminding us that even the silicon giants spring leaks.
👀 Might Have Missed
Crypto Exchange KuCoin Sued in New York's Industry Crackdown: New York is suing KuCoin for doing crypto things without asking permission first.
Albanian TikTok Shutdown Tool Raises Privacy Concerns: Albania built a TikTok kill switch and privacy experts are understandably nervous.
Okta Fixes Auth Bypass Bug After 3-Month Lull: Okta finally patched an auth bypass bug after letting it simmer for three months—cozy.
Kettering Health faces a ransomware attack and confirms a scam targeting its patients: Ransomware hit Kettering Health and scammers followed up with fake calls to patients—gross, but effective.
🧟♂️ Strange Cyber Story of the Week
🤝 Instagram Unmasks OG Account Stealers, Threatens Legal Action
The Intro:
Instagram has taken a bold step against cybercriminals by identifying and threatening legal action against individuals involved in stealing and selling high-profile "OG" usernames.
What Happened:
Members of the OGUsers forum, known for trafficking in coveted short usernames, have been unmasked by Instagram. The platform has issued cease-and-desist letters and is considering lawsuits against those involved in hijacking accounts and reselling them for profit.
Why It’s Important:
This move highlights the growing issue of digital identity theft and the black market for social media handles, emphasizing the need for platforms to protect user accounts proactively.
The Other Side:
Some argue that platforms should implement stronger security measures to prevent such hijackings in the first place, rather than relying solely on post-incident enforcement.
The Takeaway:
Instagram's actions serve as a warning to cybercriminals and a reminder of the importance of account security in the digital age.
TL;DR:
Instagram is cracking down on OG username theft, unmasking perpetrators and threatening legal consequences to protect user identities.
More Reading:
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