TOP OF THE DAY
‘Team Human’ vs. AI: MIT expert issues warning on artificial general intelligence risks
(Camille Tuutti – NextGov – 27 November 2024) Artificial intelligence could cure diseases, prevent accidents and transform industries — but at what cost? As tech giants race to create AI that rivals or eclipses human intelligence, one expert warns this path could leave humanity behind. Speaking on Nov. 12 at Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, MIT professor and Future of Life Institute President Max Tegmark presented a stark choice: Use AI responsibly to solve real-world problems, or risk creating a technology we can’t control. The future of humanity, Tegmark suggested, may hinge on this decision. – https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2024/11/team-human-vs-ai-mit-expert-issues-warning-artificial-general-intelligence-risks/401331/?oref=ng-home-top-story
New EU Commission to Unveil Healthcare Cybersecurity Plan in First 100 Days
(Kevin Poireault – Infosecurity Magazine – 27 November 2024) Ensuring the European healthcare sector is well-equipped to respond to cyber-attacks will be a top priority for the newly elected European Commission. The Commission will start working to achieve this objective during Ursula von der Leyen’s first 100 days, said Christiane Kirketerp de Viron, Acting Director for Digital Security, Trust, and Cybersecurity at the EU Commission’s DG Connect, during the Financial Times Cyber Resilience Summit Europe, in London on November 27. De Viron said that while the first Von der Leyen Commission was focused on establishing cyber regulation standards with the updated Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2), the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), and the AI Act, the new Commission’s efforts should be on implementation. – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/eu-commission-healthcare-cyber-plan/
AI for everyone? A roadmap to substantive equality in AI ecosystems
(Benjamin Prud’Homme, Paola Ricaurte Quijano – OSCE.AI – 27 November 2024) In the whirlwind of artificial intelligence’s development and deployment, one fact has made itself clear: AI systems tend to mirror the world we live in, magnifying existing societal inequalities and deepening the historical marginalisation of certain groups. You may have heard the aphorism that AI is only as good as the data on which it’s trained — and of course, that data is usually drawn from real life, from the flawed but ever-progressing world we inhabit. The same is true for AI’s design, development, and governance, where gaps and harms of historic proportions persist. If not approached with a deliberate focus on equality, every phase of AI systems’ life cycle could exacerbate existing disparities within and between countries. Although many would recognise that everyone should benefit from AI development, action toward greater equality in AI ecosystems is one of the areas of AI governance that receives the least investment. There is a glaring need to establish a strong global framework to enable policymakers to achieve gender equality and diversity in AI. – https://oecd.ai/en/wonk/roadmap-equality-ai-ecosystems
India’s Quantum Computing Advancements in 2024: Ecosystem Growth and Key Initiatives
(Cierra Choucair – Quantum Insider – 27 November 2024) India is actively building a quantum ecosystem powered by government support, academic research, and private-sector collaboration. This ecosystem encourages strategic alliances between government, industry, and academia, supporting advancements in fields ranging from quantum communication and cryptography to sensing and materials science. India’s progress is also amplified by over 100 research universities, numerous corporate initiatives, and specialized T-Hubs that drive innovation in specific areas of quantum technology. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/11/27/indias-quantum-computing-advancements-in-2024-ecosystem-growth-and-key-initiatives/
Why Cybersecurity is Critical in IoT Development Services for a Safer Connected World
(Azhan Clark – Infosecurity Magazine – 27 November 2024) The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized industries by enabling smart, interconnected devices that can gather, analyze, and share data seamlessly. However, as IoT devices proliferate across sectors, they bring with them significant cybersecurity challenges. For businesses looking to leverage IoT, it’s essential to choose IoT development services that prioritize robust cybersecurity measures. In this article, we’ll explore the critical role of cybersecurity in IoT development, the unique challenges IoT poses, and best practices for creating secure IoT solutions. – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/blogs/why-cybersecurity-critical-iot-dev/
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Opens Sellafield Cyber Center
(Phil Muncaster – Infosecurity Magazine – 27 November 2024) A British government body tasked with cleaning up nuclear sites has opened a new cybersecurity hub designed to enhance knowledge sharing across the nuclear supply chain. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) opened the Group Cyberspace Collaboration Centre (GCCC) this week in Cumbria, close to Sellafield – which contains the world’s largest stockpile of plutonium. – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/nuclear-decommissioning-authority/
GOVERNANCE AND LEGISLATION
Lawmakers want to enhance HHS cyber engagement with health care orgs
(Edward Graham – NextGov – 27 November 2024) The growing number of cyberattacks targeting the U.S. health care sector in recent years has pushed a bipartisan group of senators to propose legislation that seeks to bolster institutions’ security practices and enhance engagement with federal agencies. The measure — introduced on Nov. 22 by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and co-sponsored by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Mark Warner, D-Va. — would direct the Department of Health and Human Services and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency “to coordinate to improve cybersecurity in the health care and public health sectors.” – https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2024/11/lawmakers-want-enhance-hhs-cyber-engagement-health-care-orgs/401350/?oref=ng-homepage-river
India’s new cyber rules for telecoms come with big privacy risks, experts say
(Daryna Antoniuk – The Record – 27 November 2024) India’s telecommunications regulator has rolled out rules designed to protect the country’s critical infrastructure networks from cyberthreats, but experts warn that the new guidelines have inadequate safeguards for users’ fundamental privacy rights. The regulations, published last week by India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), require telecom entities to report cybersecurity incidents within six hours, share user traffic data with cybersecurity authorities and adopt a cybersecurity policy that includes risk management approaches, training, network testing and risk assessment. Introduced under the landmark Telecom Act, which passed in 2023, the measures represent a significant regulatory step for the industry. Although the final rules incorporate some changes prompted by public consultations, experts say they still need more guardrails for government access to data. – https://therecord.media/india-telecom-act-cyber-regulations-privacy-concerns
Senate Advances Bill to Boost Quantum Computing Research
(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 27 November 2024) The Senate advanced the DOE Quantum Leadership Act of 2024, proposing $2.5 billion over five years to boost U.S. quantum research and development. The bipartisan bill focuses on quantum networking, domestic manufacturing, and public-private partnerships to accelerate quantum innovation. With global competition intensifying, the legislation aims to secure America’s leadership in quantum technology critical for national security and economic growth. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/11/27/senate-advances-bill-to-boost-quantum-computing-research/
SECURITY
Operation Serengeti Disrupts $193m African Cybercrime Networks
(Phil Muncaster – Infosecurity Magazine – 27 November 2024) Interpol has revealed details of its latest pan-African operation, which it said led to the arrest of 1006 cybercrime suspects and dismantling of 134,089 pieces of malicious infrastructure. Running from September 2 to October 31, Operation Serengeti involved authorities across 19 African nations. It targeted cybercrime networks responsible for an estimated $193m in financial losses and 35,000 global victims. Private sector partners assisted Interpol with on-site support in the form of intelligence sharing and help with patching vulnerabilities and other cyber-resilience efforts for critical infrastructure. The operation focused on ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion and online scams. – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/operation-serengeti-193m-african/
The Growing Problem of Digital Arrest Scams in Bharat
(Anurag Sharma – Vivekananda International Foundation – 26 November 2024) Getting a WhatsApp warning call of your “imminent arrest” might sound absurd, but this digital scare tactic is alarming for many, and scammers are making money using your panic. According to the recent government data available, between January and April 2024, Bharatiyas lost around ₹120.3 crore due to ‘digital arrest’ fraud. The scam is real and serious, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted in his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat on 27 October. In his radio address, he has advised citizens to “Stop, Think, and Act” before reacting to suspicious calls, emphasising the importance of knowing one’s rights and verifying any threatening communication allegedly from law enforcement. The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, recorded 7.4 lakh (0.74 million) complaints of digital arrest scams between January and April, compared to 15 lakh (1.5 million) such complaints registered in 2023. The portal also highlighted that citizens lost approximately ₹2,140 crore (about USD 5 million) to these scams within the first 10 months (January-October 2024) of this year. The report revealed that scammers impersonated officials from top Indian agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Police, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to trick people into transferring money to their overseas accounts. The article informs readers about the ‘digital arrest’ scam, highlights some recent cases in Bharat, and concludes with an understanding of government-led countermeasures to combat this digital menace. – https://www.vifindia.org/article/2024/november/26/The-Growing-Problem-of-Digital-Arrest-Scams-in-Bharat
DEFENSE, INTELLIGENCE, AND WAR
US drone maker Shield AI moves into Indian defense market, joint venture with JSW Group
(Colin Clark – Breaking Defense – 27 November 2024) The Indian defense market, not known for its historic openness to foreign investment, has gotten an injection of very fresh US defense technology from the AI and drone company, Shield AI. The pan-industrial Indian company, JSW Group, has formed a joint venture with the US firm and JSW plans to invest roughly $90 million in the next two years to build a plant, secure the intellectual property and train workers. The goal is to build V-BAT, Shield’s vertical takeoff and landing drone, in India, as well as provide its support and maintenance. – https://breakingdefense.com/2024/11/us-drone-maker-shield-ai-moves-into-indian-defense-market-joint-venture-with-jsw-group/
New tech, including drones carrying blood, help injured Israeli soldiers survive
(Seth J. Frantzman – Breaking Defense – 27 November 2024) The Israel Defense Forces estimate they have saved 380 lives of soldiers in the last 14 months of war due to new technology and procedures used to evacuate casualties to hospitals and to treat them on the field, including using drones to ferry blood for infusion into combat zones. At a tour of the IDF’s Medical Corps and Technological and Logistics Directorate on Monday, an IDF official showed data that reveals the military has managed to reduce by half the number of soldiers who die from their injuries. In the 2006 Lebanon war, the IDF found that this rate was 14.1 percent. That number dropped to 9.2 percent during the 2014 war, and now is 6.9 percent for the Gaza front and 7.1 percent for the Lebanon fronts. – https://breakingdefense.com/2024/11/new-tech-including-drones-carrying-blood-help-injured-israeli-soldiers-survive/
FRONTIERS
Why is it so Hard For Quantum Computers to Just Sit There And Do Nothing? Researchers Work to Find Out
(Matt Swayne – 27 November 2024) Researchers from Trinity College Dublin conducted a study that developed a universal protocol to measure information leakage in idle qubits, addressing a core challenge in quantum computing known as the “protection-operation dilemma.”. Experiments on IBM’s Falcon processors revealed small but measurable information loss during idling, with rare “bad qubits” exhibiting significant leakage. The protocol offers a scalable tool to evaluate hardware performance, paving the way for error mitigation strategies and testing on next-generation quantum systems. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/11/27/why-is-it-so-hard-for-quantum-computers-to-just-sit-there-and-do-nothing-researchers-work-to-find-out/
Report Reveals Growing Interest, Investments in Quantum Security Market
(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 27 November 2024) The Quantum Insider’s latest report projects the quantum security market will grow from ~$0.7 billion today to ~$10 billion by 2030, driven by over 50% CAGR, with core segments including Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), the Quantum Internet and Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs). PQC is advancing with NIST finalizing quantum-resistant cryptographic standards, while QKD and QRNGs provide specialized solutions for secure key exchanges and generating truly random numbers, addressing vulnerabilities posed by quantum computing. Initiatives like the Center for Quantum Networks (CQN) and Q-SEnSE are bridging research and real-world applications, working toward fault-tolerant quantum repeaters and ultraprecise sensing technologies critical for secure quantum communication. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/11/27/report-reveals-growing-interest-investments-in-quantum-security-market/