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February 12, 2024

Well, I bet you thought you could get rid of me (please don’t try, the unsubscribe button is easy to find). It’s been a busy week, but still enough time to find an awful joke:

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Big News

Uncle Sam’s Infrastrucure: A Chinese Hacker’s Playground?

Remember that creepy feeling you get when you find an old sock under the couch? Turns out, the US government had the same sensation, but instead of dusty footwear, it was Chinese hackers in our critical infrastructure networks for the past five years. That analogy seems a bit off, but you get it.

The FBI, NSA, and CISA are throwing around warnings like confetti, claiming these digital criminals are prepping for some serious havoc (link). Power grids, water systems, transportation hubs – you name it, these attackers had the potential to unleash chaos.

If it all sounds doomsday-ey, it is, but take a minute and think about the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in 2021 (link). That was one critical infrastructure company, infiltrated by non-state-backed cyber criminals. It wreaked havoc on the East Coast, primarily because of panic-buying and our reaction to the event, rather than the event itself. I won’t even get into the potential for loss of life by attackers modifying chemicals in our water (happened: link), catastrophic industrial attacks (happened: link), or cutting our power (happened: link)

The real scare? Take that attack up a level and consider a coordinated attack against multiple pieces of infrastructure and we have a bonified doomsday scenario. Imagine blackouts, transportation meltdowns, and water rationing because some state-sponsored cyber squad decided to flex their muscles. Not exactly a recipe for national calm.

So, what's the takeaway from this cyber security horror story? Well, for starters, maybe we should invest in some serious digital deadbolts for our critical infrastructure. And secondly, maybe it's time to stop trusting international relations as much as a Kardashian marriage. Just sayin'.

Of course, the Chinese government plays it cool, denying any involvement. But let's be honest, their denials are about as believable as a used car salesman with a toupee.

The good news? We're finally aware of the problem. The bad news? These hackers have had five years to get comfy. So, buckle up, folks.

Deepfakes and Dollar Bills: A $25 Million F-up

Aw shit. It’s Monday and you get an email from your company’s CFO that you need to wire a large amount of money. It seems phishy (yes, a dumb cyber joke), but the CFO invites you to a conference call with some of your colleagues so you know it’s legit. On the conference call, your CFO gives you instructions to make 15 transactions amounting to about USD 25.5 Million to various bank accounts. You knock it out, hop off, and go about your business.

That is, until a week later when you find out that it wasn’t your real CFO or colleagues, but they were all deepfaked and you’ve been deep-shitted. Deepfakes have steadily gained mainstream popularity, especially with the rise in apps to make your own, viral videos popping up online, and unfortunately, fake celebrity sex tapes. For the uninitiated, a deepfake is a digitally altered video that looks and sounds like the desired person using video and voice recordings. Recently, it’s been used in movies to resurrect dead actors to play their characters, with Star Wars coming to mind (link) and a rumor turned fake news about Bruce Willis selling his likeness (link). Scammers have also apparently been playing dress-up with AI, creating hyper-realistic voice and video simulations of executives to fool employees into handing over hefty sums. This isn’t even considering the effects of deep fakes on public figures’ reputations, elections, news, etc.

While this might sound like something out of a Black Mirror episode, it's a stark reminder that with cheap technology, publicly available photos and videos, and determined cybercriminals, things are only going to get more difficult (and maybe interesting). These deep fakes aren't just funny internet memes anymore; they're becoming weapons of mass destruction.

Side note for the scammed company though: This isn't financial advice, but maybe don't keep all your company's money in a single, easily transferable account. Just sayin'.

Let’s try something new: Advice

Passwords, legacy access, and the great digital beyond

Ok, so this is less of Big News, and more so a lecture. Let's face it, none of us like thinking about our mortality. But the truth is, planning for the inevitable can spare your loved ones a world of stress and hassle down the line. And trust me, dealing with your digital footprint after you're gone is no walk in the park.

Imagine someone you love staring blankly at your computer, locked out of essential accounts filled with precious memories, financial records, or even sentimental online projects. It's a nightmare scenario, but one that's easily avoided with a little foresight and, you guessed it, a password manager.

I know what you're thinking: "Passwords are a pain, and sharing them sounds risky!" You're not wrong. But hear me out. Instead of scribbling them on a sticky note destined to vanish, or worse, reusing the same one everywhere (guilty!), consider this:

Password managers are your digital vault keepers. Think Fort Knox, but for logins and passwords. They securely store everything in one encrypted place, accessible only with a master password you control. Plus, many offer legacy access features, allowing you to designate a trusted person who can gain limited access after your passing.

Here's why it's a win-win:

  • Peace of mind for you: No more panicking about forgotten passwords or the security of your data.

  • Reduced stress for your loved ones: They won't be left scrambling to unlock your digital life.

  • Access to crucial information: Imagine needing important documents or financial records your partner didn't know about. A password manager can bridge that gap.

  • Preserving memories: Photos, social media accounts, even unfinished online projects – with proper access, your loved ones can cherish these digital memories.

I won’t try to sell you on any specific one. They all come with pros, cons, and concerns, but using one is better than none. Now that being said, they won’t clear your browser history, so make sure you’re in Incognito mode to avoid any post-death surprises.

More: PCMag | WashingtonPost 

Weird News

Tired of the Dating Game? Have AI Do it.

A Russian man, Aleksandr Zhadan, was playing the numbers game when he programmed ChatGPT to talk to over 5,000 potential partners on Tinder. The crazier part? ChatGPT suggested he propose to one.

If it sounds crazy, it is. He trained the A.I. model to know his interests, talk like him, and filter out people who didn’t match his preferences, such as no profiles with alcohol or zodiac signs. He created himself, only as someone who could speak to 5,239 people on Tinder, schedule dates via Google Calendar (he went on over 100 btw), and give him advice. If that’s creepy, one of his first versions asked a woman to “go for a long walk in the woods” in one of the initial messages. As ChatGPT released further versions, his AI self became a more attentive potential partner.

Eventually, he would match with Karina Vyakshakaeva, who would hit it off with both the A.I. Aleksandr and the IRL version (“in real life”). They meshed so well that he turned off his AI wingman, told Karina about his AI bot, and the couple moved in together. Luckily for Aleksandr, Karina didn’t feel duped since it was technically his interest, and he was trying to be a better partner. Still not confident in his own dating game though, he reprogrammed it to help be his dating coach. Then his AI coach told him it was time to propose, and Karina said yes.

Having missed the dating app phase (I’m cool with it, it seems awful), I can only relate so much, but jeeeeeez. Here’s betting Tinder comes out with a paid A.I. tier.

You might have missed

  • If you’re using a password manager, make sure you download the right app when installing it on your phone. LastPass warned there is a fake version in the Apple App Store.

  • Want to become a bounty hunter? Start with the $15 Million bounty the US government has out for a ransomware group.

  • Look like crap today (don’t worry, you don’t)? Microsoft wants to use your live selfie to verify your identity at work.

  • Thinking about scanning that QR code? Make sure you know where it’s coming from before doing something you may regret.

Cool Sh*t Corner

LG showed off its transparent OLED technology in an upcoming TV. Now, not only can someone stand in front of the TV and bother you, they can stand behind it and tick you off.

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