TOP OF THE DAY
Governance and Innovation
The False Prophets of Silicon Valley
(Kyle Hiebert – Centre for International Governance Innovation – 8 January 2025) “In the future, everyone’s lives can be better than anyone’s life is now,” wrote OpenAI’s leader Sam Altman in a September blog post. It’s a spectacular assertion from a 39-year-old CEO rumoured to be gaining a seven percent equity stake in a company valued at US$157 billion. Altman insists artificial intelligence (AI) will soon outperform the mental abilities of most people. Afterward, he foresees climate change being solved, poverty erased and humanity colonizing space. All of this, Altman claims, is just around the corner — if only tech titans receive enough resources and leeway. Such views are common in Silicon Valley. Google DeepMind CEO and co-founder Demis Hassabis says software capable of human-level reasoning — artificial general intelligence, or AGI — will emerge by 2030. DeepMind’s chief AGI scientist, Shane Legg, pegs it at 2028. The head of Anthropic, Dario Amodei, sees humans lagging behind machines as early as 2026. Elon Musk thinks this could happen by the end of this year. – https://www.cigionline.org/articles/the-false-prophets-of-silicon-valley/
US Launches Cyber Trust Mark for IoT Devices
(James Coker – Infosecurity Magazine – 8 January 2025) The US has launched a Cyber Trust Mark for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, enabling consumers to easily assess the cybersecurity standards of such products when making purchasing decisions. Consumer smart device manufacturers that qualify for the Cyber Trust Mark will soon able to display a trademarked, distinct shield logo on their products. – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/us-cyber-trust-mark-iot/
Security
Pall Mall Process to tackle commercial hacking proliferation raises more concerns than solutions
(Alexander Martin – The Record – 8 January 2025) A year on from the launch of the Pall Mall Process to tackle “the proliferation and irresponsible use” of commercial hacking tools, there are concerns among its participants that the initiative lacks the ability to actually change how these tools are traded and used. The market for what are formally called commercial cyber intrusion capabilities (CCICs) is growing, according to a consultation summary published by Pall Mall Process organizers Wednesday, which warned that the threats CCICs pose to national security and human rights “are expected to increase over the coming years.” – https://therecord.media/pall-mall-process-commercial-hacking-concerns
UN aviation agency ICAO confirms its recruitment database was hacked
(Alexander Martin – The Record – 8 January 2025) The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a part of the United Nations, confirmed on Wednesday a hack of its recruitment systems involving the compromise of more than 40,000 records containing personal information. It follows the Montreal-based agency announcing it was “actively investigating reports of a potential information security incident” after an apparent cybercriminal offered the stolen documents for sale on a hacking forum. – https://therecord.media/icao-un-confirms-recruitment-systems-data-breach
Ransomware Targeting Infrastructure Hits Telecom Namibia
(Robert Lemos – Dark Reading – 8 January 2025) The telecommunications provider for the African nation of Namibia suffered a significant ransomware attack late last year, becoming a visible symbol of the merging of two trends in the region: increasing attacks on critical infrastructure and the growing threat of ransomware. Last month, Telecom Namibia alerted customers that a successful attack by the ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) group Hunters International led to users’ information being leaked online. The company is working with law enforcement agencies and third-party incident responders to uncover additional details, CEO Stanley Shanapinda said in a Dec. 16 statement. – https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/ransomware-targeting-infrastructure-telecom-namibia
Casio warns employees, customers about data leak from October ransomware attack
(Jonathan Greig – The Record – 8 January 2025) Thousands of employees, customers and business partners of Japanese electronics manufacturer Casio had data stolen during a ransomware attack in October. In a notice on Wednesday, Casio provided a post-mortem on the attack, explaining that 6,456 employees, 1,931 business partners and 91 customers were impacted by the ransomware incident last fall. – https://therecord.media/casio-warns-employees-customers-ransomware-attack-october
Scammers Exploit Microsoft 365 to Target PayPal Users
(Alessandro Mascellino – Infosecurity Magazine – 8 January 2025) A new phishing technique exploiting PayPal’s money request feature has been identified, using a legitimate PayPal money request that may appear genuine to recipients. According to a new advisory by Fortinet, the scammer registered a free Microsoft 365 test domain and created a distribution list containing the targeted email addresses. A payment request was then initiated via PayPal, with the distribution list used as the recipient address. – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/scammers-exploit-microsoft365/
Fake Government Officials Use Remote Access Tools for Card Fraud
(Phil Muncaster – Infosecurity Magazine – 8 January 2025) Security researchers have uncovered a sophisticated, multi-stage fraud campaign designed to trick consumers into sharing their card details. Group-IB revealed that the fraudsters purchase on the dark web logins to government accounts originally obtained via infostealers. – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/fake-government-officials-rats/
Data of more than 8,500 customers breached on Green Bay Packers shopping website
(Jonathan Grey – The Record – 8 January 2025) The Green Bay Packers warned customers of the team’s online store that hackers inserted malicious code that allowed them to steal payment information. In breach notification letters sent out on Monday, the NFL team said it was notified on October 23 of an intrusion into the Green Bay Packers Pro Shop website. – https://therecord.media/green-bay-packers-online-store-data-breach
Education software firm’s hack exposes personal data for students, teachers nationwide
(Suzanne Smalley The Record – 8 January 2025) An education software company which stores data belonging to more than 60 million K-12 students and teachers on Tuesday said it had been hacked. PowerSchool offers cloud-based software to thousands of school districts which use its system to host platforms for attendance, finance, enrollment, staff management and more. It is also the parent company of Naviance, a platform which offers students customized college and career advice and harnesses reams of personal data on student performance, including GPA and test scores. – https://therecord.media/education-software-hack-exposes-student-teacher-data
Defense, Intelligence, and War
Ukrainian cyber market grows amid war but still lacks support and funding, report says
(Daryna Antoniuk – The Record – 8 January 2025) Ukraine’s cybersecurity market has grown rapidly in recent years, driven by rising threats, increased digitization and international assistance. However, new research shows that the sector remains heavily reliant on foreign aid and faces significant challenges, including insufficient investment, a lack of competitive advantage and weak regulations. The report by the Ukrainian consulting firm DataDriven tracked the value of the country’s cyber companies over the past eight years. Over that span the market increased fourfold, reaching an estimated value of $138 million last year. – https://therecord.media/ukraine-cybersecurity-market-study-datadriven
Frontiers
2025 Will See Huge Advances in Quantum Computing. So What is a Quantum Chip And How Does it Work?
(Muhammad Usman – Quantum Insider – 8 January 2025) In recent years, the field of quantum computing has been experiencing fast growth, with technological advances and large-scale investments regularly making the news. The United Nations has designated 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. The stakes are high – having quantum computers would mean access to tremendous data processing power compared to what we have today. They won’t replace your normal computer, but having this kind of awesome computing power will provide advances in medicine, chemistry, materials science and other fields. So it’s no surprise that quantum computing is rapidly becoming a global race, and private industry and governments around the world are rushing to build the world’s first full-scale quantum computer. To achieve this, first we need to have stable and scalable quantum processors, or chips. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/01/08/2025-will-see-huge-advances-in-quantum-computing-so-what-is-a-quantum-chip-and-how-does-it-work/
What Are AI Agents — How Autonomous Problem-Solving Could Open up New, Lucrative Markets
(Matt Swayne – AI Insider – 8 January 2025) Experts project that agentic AI are a central component of a future multi-trillion dollar market, but what exactly are AI agents? Agentic AI, defined by its ability to observe, reason, plan, and act autonomously, represents a leap from generative AI by integrating logic and real-world tool interactions. While poised to transform industries from customer support to travel assistance, AI agents face challenges in bias, security, and scalability, requiring careful development to realize their full potential. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/01/08/what-are-ai-agents-how-autonomous-problem-solving-could-open-up-new-lucrative-markets/
Absci and Invetx Announce Partnership to Transform Animal Health Using Generative AI
(James Dargan – AI Insider – 8 January 2025) Absci Corporation (NASDAQ: ABSI) and Invetx revealed a strategic collaboration to develop a Half-Life Extension (HLE) platform for animal health applications using Absci’s generative AI Drug Creation models. This partnership aims to enhance the therapeutic landscape for companion animals by leveraging advanced AI technology. – https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/01/08/absci-and-invetx-announce-partnership-to-transform-animal-health-using-generative-ai/
Jones Raises $15M Series B to Solve Insurance Verification with Vertical AI Agents for Real Estate and Construction
(James Dargan – AI Insider – 8 January 2025) Jones secured $15M in Series B funding, led by NewSpring Capital, to advance its AI-driven software for insurance verification, streamlining compliance and risk management across over 2.5 billion square feet of real estate and construction projects. The funding will support the release of AI-powered Agents to automate routine tasks, expand ERP integrations, and address rising insurance costs with solutions like Insurance Policy Verification to mitigate costly third-party claims. By combining machine learning with human expertise, Jones is redefining efficiency and scalability in an industry reliant on manual processes, solidifying its position as a leader in AI innovation for real estate and construction. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/01/08/id-quantique-joins-elmos-in-developing-the-worlds-smallest-qrng-solution/
ID Quantique Joins Elmos in Developing the World’s Smallest QRNG Solution
(Cierra Choucair – Quantum Insider – 8 January 2025) Elmos Semiconductor and ID Quantique have partnered to develop the world’s smallest monolithic quantum random number generator chip. The QRNG chip uses quantum in-chip photoemission to produce high-quality randomness, and support cryptographic security against cyberattacks, environmental variations, and physical threats. Early prototypes consist of a 2mm x 2mm chip with low power consumption, scalable key rates, and short start-up times, providing stand-alone IC solutions or IP licensing for broad applications in automotive, IoT, and communication industries. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/01/08/id-quantique-joins-elmos-in-developing-the-worlds-smallest-qrng-solution/
Cleveland Clinic Combines Quantum and AI for Responsible Antibiotic Prescription
(Cierra Choucair – Quantum Insider – 7 January 2025) Cleveland Clinic researchers, in collaboration with IBM’s Discovery Accelerator Program, are using Quantum System One to enhance machine learning algorithms for faster and more accurate antibiotic prescriptions, addressing a concerning gap in patient care. Machine learning algorithms trained on 4.7 million antibiotic susceptibility classifications demonstrated impressive accuracy, outperforming physicians in predicting effective treatments and providing real-time results. By integrating quantum computing, the project intends to refine these algorithms for improved speed and accuracy as well as for use with smaller datasets, making personalized medicine accessible to underserved populations and smaller clinics. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/01/07/cleveland-clinic-combines-quantum-and-ai-for-responsible-antibiotic-prescription/
Quantum Machines Reportedly Eyeing $100 Million in Next Funding Round
(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 7 January 2025) Israeli quantum computing startup Quantum Machines is reportedly raising $100 million, which could be the largest funding round in the country’s quantum technology sector, according to the Israeli tech press. Founded in 2018, Quantum Machines specializes in control technologies for quantum computers and has raised about $90 million to date from investors including Samsung Next and Battery Ventures. The company’s technologies are central to Israel’s national quantum computing center, opened in 2024, which supports research across hardware and software layers. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/01/07/quantum-machines-reportedly-eyeing-100-million-in-next-funding-round/
Jellyfish Protein Shines Bright in Quantum Sensor for Biomedical Applications
(Cierra Choucair – Quantum Insider – 7 January 2025) Magnetic fields play essential roles in biological and technological processes, and recent research from the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory highlights how quantum-enabled fluorescent proteins like EYFP could have potential applications in cell formation and early disease detection. The enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP), derived from jellyfish, possesses a metastable triplet state that is both stable and optically measurable, making it a strong candidate for quantum sensing. Researchers addressed key challenges, including the long lifetime of the metastable triplet state and integration into biological systems, by developing the optically activated delayed fluorescence (OADF) technique, which enables on-demand spin readouts and ensures EYFP’s functionality in living cells. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/01/07/jellyfish-protein-shines-bright-in-quantum-sensor-for-biomedical-applications/
Chicago’s South Side Quantum Hub Could Mirror Silicon Valley’s Rise, Says Project Leader
(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 7 January 2025) In an interview with Chicago, Preeti Chalsani discusses the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park and its potential to retain local STEM talent, involve the community and drive innovation akin to Silicon Valley’s early days. Illinois is investing $500 million in the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, aiming to establish Chicago as a global hub for quantum technology. The park, anchored by startup PsiQuantum, will focus on developing fault-tolerant quantum computers and fostering commercial applications like advanced sensors and secure communications. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/01/07/chicagos-south-side-quantum-hub-could-mirror-silicon-valleys-rise-says-project-leader/
Quantum Sensing Technology Reveals Sub-Atomic Signals
(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 7 January 2025) A Penn-led team of scientists have developed a quantum sensing method that detects signals from individual atoms, offering unprecedented precision in molecular analysis. The technique isolates single nuclei to reveal tiny differences in molecular structures, enabling advancements in fields like drug development and protein research. The discovery was made using nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamonds and combines decades-old theory with modern technology, opening new frontiers in quantum physics and spectroscopy. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/01/07/quantum-sensing-technology-reveals-sub-atomic-signals/