The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reported that a team of young women from across the UK were awarded the title of cybersecurity champions in the 2023/24 CyberFirst Girls Competition, run by GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre. It’s great news for the future workforce, but not all headlines about women in cyber were worth celebrating this week. Cybercrimes against women in India increased in 2022, according to the annual Crime in India Report 2022.
Additionally, Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology, Brendon Dowling, participated in a panel discussion this week on cyber preparedness. Dowling said, “Although technology has provided the opportunity for women to take control of their lives, unfortunately, technology has provided new means for abuse, discrimination, and harassment against women and girls.” The week rounded out with news that AI apps and websites using technology, "to make photos of fully clothed women appear naked."
Perhaps that’s why it was so alarming when The New York Times published its recent piece featuring "Who's Who Behind the Dawn of the Modern Artificial Intelligence Movement." Sam Altman and Elon Musk were among the several individuals recognized as key figures; however, the story caused quite a stir on social media because it did not include any women among the ranks of AI influencers. Women aren’t just victims of technology and those who use it to abuse, troll, and track. Women are also innovators and creators who are paving the way for not only more inclusive technology and safer tooling but the right public policies to set the standards of excellence that need to be met as these tools evolve.
To learn more about the risks inherent in surveillance tools such as spyware and stalkerware and how to find the balance between surveillance and safety, explore our Library.
Dec. 8: The Hacker News reported, “Ransomware attacks have become a significant and pervasive threat in the ever-evolving realm of cybersecurity.”
Dec. 7: According to Security Week, “The US cybersecurity agency calls attention to a Russian APT targeting academia, defense, governmental organizations, NGOs and think-tanks.”
Dec. 7: A Russian disinformation campaign is reportedly using American actors in propaganda videos to spread allegations about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seeking treatment for drug addiction.
Dec. 6: “Google just announced Gemini, its most powerful suite of AI models yet, and the company has already been accused of lying about its performance,” The Verge reported.
Dec. 6: Despite the growing number of threats and security incidents, budget constraints could cause a reduction in force across security teams.
Dec. 6: Bleeping Computer reported, “Japanese car maker Nissan is investigating a cyberattack that targeted its systems in Australia and New Zealand, which may have let hackers access personal information.”
Dec. 5: The Office of Management and Budget has issued a new directive to federal agencies, calling for them to take inventory of all Internet of Things devices by the end of fiscal year 2024.
Dec. 5: “Although US federal agencies have made progress in preparing for and responding to cyber threats, too many have failed to meet the deadline to implement incident response capabilities required by law, according to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO),” Infosecurity Magazine reported.
Dec. 4: According to Dark Reading, “A US aerospace company was recently subjected to a nearly yearlong commercial cyberespionage campaign, carried out by a seemingly new threat actor researchers have named "AeroBlade."”