The hottest Security Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

Staying Safe in a World Full of AI Integrated Devices

Rod’s Blog • 19 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Privacy Security Well-being
  1. AI can pose risks to privacy through data collection without consent; protect your privacy with strong passwords and limit AI features' access.
  2. AI can threaten security through sophisticated attacks like deepfakes; protect your security with regular updates, antivirus software, and verifying content sources.
  3. AI can impact well-being by increasing stress and reducing social skills; protect your well-being by setting boundaries, balancing online and offline activities, and maintaining social connections.

TechLetters #160 Resurrection of dead dictators using generative AI, for political gain; AI cyber operations; Last warning about quantum cryptography; Privacy Sandbox coming to iOS/iPhones

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 19 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy
  1. AI can resurrect dead politicians, prompting the need for laws against misleading content.
  2. iOS introduces Stolen Device Protection and warns about AI's impact on cyber operations.
  3. Caution advised on quantum cryptography and factors influencing ransom payments.

Actual Security vs. Security Theatre

Confronting the Future • 19 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Blockchain Security Finance Regulation Cryptocurrency
  1. Using public blockchains can provide better detection of illicit finance compared to traditional financial systems.
  2. Focusing on actual security measures is more effective than engaging in security theater.
  3. Regulators, banks, and crypto communities need to work together to enhance financial security and combat illicit activities.

Using OpenAPI Overlays to Differentiate Consumer Personas

The API Changelog • 4 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🕹 Technology APIs Documentation Security Development Tools
  1. API documentation can be tailored for different users to protect sensitive operations. This is important because revealing too much information can become a security risk.
  2. Using multiple OpenAPI documents can be challenging to maintain, as changes need to be updated in each separate document.
  3. OpenAPI Overlays help manage different user needs without complicating maintenance. They allow adding or changing API operations based on user types easily.
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AI governance frames

The Good blog • 39 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Policy Innovation Security Economy Military
  1. AI governance can be viewed through different frames like product safety, innovation policy, and national security risk.
  2. Different approaches to AI governance include preventing competitive dynamics, addressing great power conflict, and improving consumer welfare.
  3. AI governance also encompasses considerations related to military technology, economic growth benefits, and political economy.

Proof of Work: the choice between centralizing over time or insecure.

Senatus’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🔮 Crypto Mining Security Market cap Economics Decentralization
  1. Every Proof of Work coin must choose between specialized hashing, leading to centralization over time, or generalized hashing, resulting in a constantly insecure chain.
  2. Specialized hashing algorithms for Proof of Work require specific hardware, electricity, space, maintenance, and capital, leading to centralization over time.
  3. Generalized hashing algorithms allow more participation but can make the chain insecure due to the vast latent hashrate available for potential attacks.

Tokenization, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Vault

Money in Transit • 19 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Security Payments Data Management Startups Tokenization
  1. Tokenization is a powerful way to reduce costs and secure card payments by isolating parts of payment applications for PCI compliance.
  2. Tokens are non-exploitable and require a vault to store the actual data, providing security in case of a breach.
  3. Using Tokenization as a Service providers can strengthen a startup's position by avoiding vendor lock-in and enhancing pricing power.

One solution to swatting hoaxes is sending fewer cops

School Shooting Data Analysis and Reports • 19 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
📰 News Security Law enforcement Cost Analysis Emergency Response
  1. Sending fewer cops to swatting hoaxes can help break the cycle and discourage future incidents.
  2. Scaling back police responses to hoaxes saves time, money, and reduces risk of accidents or damages.
  3. It's challenging to stop swatting hoaxes due to the difficulty in tracing and blocking internet-based calls, but police can still adapt their response strategies.

Did OpenAI create the best weapon detection software available with ChatGPT-4o?

School Shooting Data Analysis and Reports • 4 HN points • 04 Jun 24
🕹 Technology AI Security Data science Software Development
  1. AI weapon detection software struggles to differentiate between weapons and weapon-shaped objects like umbrellas or sticks, leading to issues in accuracy and efficiency.
  2. OpenAI's ChatGPT-4o offers more advanced weapon detection capabilities from image analysis compared to current market options, recognizing context better.
  3. ChatGPT-4o was successful in identifying guns and gun-like objects in various scenarios, showcasing a high level of performance in image classification and context understanding.

The Ways Microsoft Security Copilot Can Enhance Security Operations with Microsoft Defender

Rod’s Blog • 19 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Security AI Integration Reports
  1. Microsoft Security Copilot is an AI-powered security solution that assists security professionals in various scenarios like incident response, threat hunting, intelligence gathering, and posture management.
  2. Security Copilot helps analysts triage alerts, hunt for threats, and generate reports using natural language queries and AI, seamlessly integrating with Microsoft Security products like Microsoft Defender.
  3. The solution leverages plugins and OpenAI architecture to provide wider threat visibility, context, and extended functionalities for security operations.

Must Learn AI Security Compendium 17: Cognitive Security

Rod’s Blog • 19 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
🕹 Technology AI Security Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence
  1. Cognitive security uses AI and machine learning to improve digital systems' security by automating threat detection and response.
  2. Benefits of cognitive security include faster threat detection, improved decision-making for security professionals, and cost reduction for security operations.
  3. Challenges of cognitive security include new risks, ethical and legal issues, and the need for investments and expertise; organizations should have a clear vision, a trustworthy culture, and embrace innovation to address these challenges.

What is “Prompt Injection”, And Why Does It Fool Chatbots?

Am I Stronger Yet? • 31 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Security Chatbots Vulnerabilities
  1. Chatbots powered by large language models can be tricked into following malicious instructions.
  2. Prompt injection is a vulnerability where an attacker can sneak instructions into data fed to a chatbot.
  3. A key issue with large language models is the inability to distinguish instructions from data, making them susceptible to harmful prompts.

Why Pocket is Rolling with Rollkit

Olshansky's Newsletter • 45 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Blockchain Framework Decentralization Security Networking
  1. Pocket Network is implementing the Shannon Upgrade as a micro-rollup using Rollkit and Celestia.
  2. Pocket Network provides developers with reliable, performant, and cost-effective RPC access to the open internet.
  3. The decision to pivot to Rollkit allows Pocket to focus on core utility, delegate security to Data Availability layers, and scale the number of relays the network can handle.

Using Microsoft Purview for Data Classification and Labeling to Secure Generative AI

Rod’s Blog • 19 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🕹 Technology AI Data Governance Security Generative AI
  1. Data classification and labeling can enhance data quality by ensuring authenticity, reliability, and relevance, and help remove unnecessary or erroneous data for Generative AI systems.
  2. Data classification and labeling can safeguard data privacy and confidentiality, prevent unauthorized access, and aid in compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR and CCPA.
  3. Using Microsoft Purview for data classification and labeling can efficiently manage data access, apply sensitivity labels, and provide insights to improve data security and reliability for Generative AI.

Vlad's Wagner

Diane Francis • 139 implied HN points • 18 Nov 21
🌍 World Politics Conflict Diplomacy Energy Migration Security
  1. Russia is using its energy supply as a weapon against Europe. This means they might cut off energy to pressure other countries.
  2. Illegal migration is part of Russia's strategy at the Polish-Belarusian border. This could create more tensions in the region.
  3. The Wagner Group, a private military organization, is expanding its influence by working with countries like Mali. This raises concerns about their activities in Europe and beyond.

Freakonomics Radio: School shootings are a causal chain of failures

School Shooting Data Analysis and Reports • 19 implied HN points • 09 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Security Education Podcasts School Shootings
  1. School shootings are a result of a chain of failures, where each failure contributes to the tragic outcome.
  2. Preventing school shootings involves breaking the chain of failures - intervening in warning signs and providing support to individuals in distress.
  3. There are fundamental problems in school security protocol, including the lack of a unified national plan and evidence-based strategies. Kindness and early intervention can be more effective in preventing violence.

Cloud Access Management Explained

Sarah's Newsletter • 79 implied HN points • 15 Mar 22
🕹 Technology Cloud Computing Networking Security
  1. Understanding networking components like VPCs, subnets, and security groups is crucial for cloud access management.
  2. AWS offers granular configuration but has a steep learning curve, while GCP has an easier start but controlling connections can be difficult.
  3. IAM roles are like shoes for people and dictate actions, while security groups are like hats granting network access to services.

Must Learn AI Security Epilogue: Securing AI is a Three-Pronged Approach

Rod’s Blog • 19 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🕹 Technology AI Security Code Data Access
  1. Securing AI involves three main aspects: secure code, secure data, and secure access. It is crucial to ensure that AI systems are free of errors, vulnerabilities, and malicious components.
  2. Developers and users should follow practices like code review, testing, data encryption, and authentication to mitigate threats such as code injections, data poisoning, unauthorized access, and denial of service.
  3. The shared responsibility model defines security tasks handled by AI providers and users. It is important to understand the responsibility distribution between the provider and the user based on the type of AI deployment, such as SaaS, PaaS, or IaaS.

American Policies Only Make Haiti Worse

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 19 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Haiti United States Intervention Elections Security
  1. American intervention in Haiti has not improved the country, leading to a cycle of political instabilities and social issues.
  2. US involvement in Latin American countries often contributes to making them more dangerous, impacting the local population negatively.
  3. The situation in Haiti, particularly with figures like Jimmy Cherizier, is complex and requires careful examination beyond surface-level portrayals.

Fostering Trust: Why NIST and the NSA Must Prioritise Transparency in Post-Quantum Cryptography.

Deep-Tech Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Cryptography Transparency Collaboration Security Innovation
  1. Post-Quantum Cryptography is crucial in securing digital communications against potential threats from quantum computers
  2. Enhancing transparency in standardization processes, inclusive collaboration, independent audits, and regular updates can build trust in cryptographic standards
  3. Collaboration between intelligence agencies and the private sector is vital for protecting critical infrastructure, fostering innovation, and addressing borderless cyber threats

#85

The Nibble • 2 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Software Security Web Development Cryptocurrency
  1. OpenAI bought the chat.com domain for a lot of money and redirected it to chatgpt.com. This shows that even the best tech companies have challenges with domain setup.
  2. Okta had a security issue where long usernames could bypass some authentication checks. Caching problems are tricky and can have serious consequences.
  3. Google Maps improved navigation in India by focusing on landmarks instead of street names. This change makes it easier for users in India to get directions.

Microsoft Sentinel SOC 101: How to Detect and Mitigate Zero-day Exploits with Microsoft Sentinel

Rod’s Blog • 19 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Security Cloud Computing Threat Detection Data Analysis Automation
  1. Zero-day exploits are dangerous because they exploit unknown software vulnerabilities and can have severe consequences like data breaches and system disruptions.
  2. To protect against zero-day exploits, organizations can monitor reported vulnerabilities, install next-generation antivirus solutions, perform rigorous patch management, segment networks with firewalls, and deploy advanced endpoint protection solutions.
  3. Microsoft Sentinel, a cloud-native SIEM solution, can help organizations protect against zero-day exploits by collecting data at cloud scale, detecting threats with analytics and intelligence, and investigating and responding with automation and orchestration.

TechLetters #116 - cyberwar in Ukraine; TikTok gets a hit in Europe; 2-year-old backdoor activated in cyberwar in Ukraine; #GDPR reform imminent; Privacy Sandbox field-tested; geopolitical censorship

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 19 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy Other
  1. Analysis of cyberwar in Ukraine with details of satellite internet provider KA-SAT compromise
  2. EU institutions prohibit TikTok use by employees for cybersecurity reasons
  3. European Commission proposes GDPR reform for more coherent enforcement rules

He Just Can't Win: After Enduring Chinese Balloon Criticism, Republican Calls Biden 'Trigger-happy'

The Washington Current • 19 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Defense Intelligence Military Security
  1. Republicans criticize Biden for not acting on Chinese spy balloon, then call him 'trigger-happy' for taking down other objects.
  2. US shot down multiple unidentified flying objects after the Chinese balloon incident, raising security concerns.
  3. Increased vigilance post-balloon incident leads to heightened detection of aerial objects in the US and Canada.

Customers Revolt After Arlo Announces Premature End of Life for Cameras - Week in Repair

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 24 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Security Internet of Things Legislation Repair
  1. Companies facing backlash for prematurely ending support for products is becoming a common trend in the tech industry, leaving consumers frustrated and stranded.
  2. There is a growing movement advocating for the 'right to repair' which includes legislation efforts in various states and countries to empower consumers to fix their own devices.
  3. The trend of internet-connected devices reaching 'end of life' stages, with limited support and updates, highlights the potential waste and security risks associated with smart products.

Trusted #003 - The Promise and The Peril of Agentic AI

Trusted • 19 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Automation Ethics Security Future outlook
  1. The emergence of agentic AI is on the horizon, with potential benefits and risks to consider.
  2. Current use cases of narrow agentic AI include high-frequency trading, fraud detection, and defense systems.
  3. As agentic AI advances, there is a need to prepare for potential negative outcomes like loss of human control and unforeseen incidents.

TechLetters #136 Reviewing for security and privacy. ChatGPT for cybercrime. Privacy Sandbox, AI, sending e-mails a problem in 2023.

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 19 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy Other
  1. Sending military emails requires caution to avoid leaking personal data.
  2. ChatGPT is used for illegal activities like phishing, with no ethical restrictions.
  3. The launch of the Privacy Sandbox by Google/Chrome aims to improve privacy in ad infrastructure.

TechLetters #127 - Russian citizen sentenced for participation in IT Army of Ukraine. Google to identify A used in election disinformation. China bans US-made chips (Micron). Cookies out in 2024.

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 19 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy
  1. Russian citizen sentenced to 3 years for participating in IT Army of Ukraine
  2. Google aims to identify and block election disinformation campaigns using AI
  3. China bans the use of US-made Micron chips citing security risks

Ansible Tips and Tricks

Certo Modo • 19 implied HN points • 03 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Security Automation Performance optimization
  1. Organize your Ansible files by following a recommended directory structure. This helps keep things structured and manageable as your project grows.
  2. Avoid putting secrets like credentials directly into variable files. Use Ansible Vault to encrypt sensitive information, maintaining security.
  3. Utilize tools like Ansible-Lint for verifying playbook syntax, and the --check option in ansible-playbook for 'dry-runs' to catch errors before affecting production.

Horse Therapy for War Trauma; Chinese Military Shakeup; Russian Cybercriminals in Turkey; China's "Combat Talent"

Natto Thoughts • 19 implied HN points • 22 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Military Cybercrime Security Corruption
  1. Horse therapy, like equine-assisted services, can provide respite and restoration for war-traumatized individuals, helping them project calm authority, boost self-esteem, and find moments of happiness.
  2. The disappearance of China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu raises questions about political and military implications under President Xi Jinping, potentially affecting US-China military communication.
  3. Russian cybercriminals and their Turkish counterparts are collaborating in Turkey, engaging in online scams and fraud that challenge the dominance of traditional cybercrime groups.

TechLetters #124 - Generative-AI for ads approaching. Dwell time goes down.

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 19 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Security Cybersecurity Disinformation AI Cryptography
  1. Google plans to use generative AI for dynamic ads, raising concerns about transparency and data protection.
  2. New cryptographic standards are compared to a jigsaw puzzle, emphasizing the complexity and precision required.
  3. The EU is establishing a 'cyber solidarity' reserve to address cybersecurity threats, with a focus on supporting countries like Ukraine.