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Showing posts with label Elon Musk. Show all posts
USAID
Cyber Security Data Leak DOGE Elon Musk Threat Landscape USAID

Threat Analysts Warn of the 'Largest Data Breach' After Elon Musk's DOGE Controversy

 

The debate over Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency continues, with the world's richest man accused of snooping on some of America's most sensitive data. The DOGE has been tasked with reducing government spending by a paltry $2 trillion, which Musk himself admits might be unfeasible. 

However, the billionaire and his crew have lost no time to shed the fat, targeting everything from the National Space Council to USAID. Concerns have been raised regarding the DOGE's level of access, and some staff members have received death threats as a result of the debate.

"You can’t un-ring this bell,” the anonymous source told the local media outlet. Once these DOGE guys have access to these data systems, they can ostensibly do with it what they want." 

Four sources spoke to the local media outlet, but only Scott Cory would go on record. The former CIO for an HHS agency said: "The longer this goes on, the greater the risk of potential fatal compromise increases.” 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Treasury have all apparently been accessed by the DOGE. "I don't think the public quite understands the level of danger," a federal agency administrator continued. 

With its newfound authority, the DOGE might prevent payments to government agencies and redirect funds to organisations it chooses. There are concerns that possible access to Federal Aviation could be "dire," even if Musk hasn't altered the current system yet. 

There have also been criticism that he has brought in a young team of technical wizards, but one payment-systems expert remarked that this is actually a good thing: "If you were going to organise a heist of the US Treasury, why in the world would you bring a handful of college students?" He went on to suggest that you'd need numerous people with at least ten years of experience with COBOL. 

Despite not being paid, working 120 hours a week, and sleeping in the offices, DOGE employees have been flexing their muscles to make some significant savings. Looking at the broad picture, one source concluded: "I'd want to believe that this is all so enormous and convoluted that they won't be successful in whatever they're attempting to do. But I wouldn't bet that outcome against their egos.”
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privacy laws
Cyber Security Data Privacy data security Elon Musk Email OPM data breach privacy laws

Federal Employees Sue OPM Over Alleged Unauthorized Email Database

 

Two federal employees have filed a lawsuit against the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), alleging that a newly implemented email system is being used to compile a database of federal workers without proper authorization. The lawsuit raises concerns about potential misuse of employee information and suggests a possible connection to Elon Musk, though no concrete evidence has been provided. The controversy began when OPM sent emails to employees, claiming it was testing a new communication system. Recipients were asked to reply to confirm receipt, but the plaintiffs argue that this was more than a routine test—it was an attempt to secretly create a list of government workers for future personnel decisions, including potential job cuts.

Key Allegations and Concerns

The lawsuit names Amanda Scales, a former executive at Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, who now serves as OPM’s chief of staff. The plaintiffs suspect that her appointment may be linked to the email system’s implementation, though they have not provided definitive proof. They claim that an unauthorized email server was set up within OPM’s offices, making it appear as though messages were coming from official government sources when they were actually routed through a separate system.

An anonymous OPM employee’s post, cited in the lawsuit, alleges that the agency’s Chief Information Officer, Melvin Brown, was sidelined after refusing to implement the email list. The post further claims that a physical server was installed at OPM headquarters, enabling external entities to send messages that appeared to originate from within the agency. These allegations have raised serious concerns about transparency and data security within the federal government.

The lawsuit also argues that the email system violates the E-Government Act of 2002, which requires federal agencies to conduct strict privacy assessments before creating databases containing personal information. The plaintiffs contend that OPM bypassed these requirements, putting employees at risk of having their information used without consent.

Broader Implications and Employee Anxiety

Beyond the legal issues, the case reflects growing anxiety among federal employees about potential restructuring under the new administration. Reports suggest that significant workforce reductions may be on the horizon, and the lawsuit implies that the email system could play a role in streamlining mass layoffs. If the allegations are proven true, it could have major implications for how employee information is collected and used in the future.

As of now, OPM has not officially responded to the allegations, and there is no definitive proof linking the email system to Musk or any specific policy agenda. However, the case has sparked widespread discussions about transparency, data security, and the ethical use of employee information within the federal government. The lawsuit highlights the need for stricter oversight and accountability to ensure that federal employees’ privacy rights are protected.

The lawsuit against OPM underscores the growing tension between federal employees and government agencies over data privacy and transparency. While the allegations remain unproven, they raise important questions about the ethical use of employee information and the potential for misuse in decision-making processes. As the case unfolds, it could set a precedent for how federal agencies handle employee data and implement new systems in the future. For now, the controversy serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding privacy and ensuring accountability in government operations.

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telecoms
Cyber Security Elon Musk Internet Service Providers National Security regulatory measures Satellite Starlink telecoms

Concerns Over Starlink in India: Potential Risks to National Security


As Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, prepares to enter India’s broadband market, think tank Kutniti Foundation has raised significant concerns about its potential risks to India’s national security. A report cited by PTI claims Starlink’s close ties with U.S. intelligence and military agencies could make it a threat to India’s interests. The foundation described Starlink as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” alleging that its dual-use technology serves American governmental agendas. Unlike traditional telecom networks operating under Indian jurisdiction, Starlink’s global satellite system bypasses local control, granting operational authority to U.S.-based entities. 

Kutniti suggests this could allow for activities such as surveillance or other strategic operations without oversight from India. The report also highlights that Starlink’s key clients include U.S. intelligence and military organizations, positioning it within what the foundation calls the U.S. “intel-military-industrial complex.” India’s Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia recently addressed these concerns, stating that Starlink must meet all regulatory and security requirements before its services can be approved. He confirmed that the government will only consider granting a license once the platform fully complies with the country’s safety standards for satellite broadband.  

Kutniti’s report also examines the broader implications of Starlink’s operations, emphasizing how its ownership and infrastructure could support U.S. strategic objectives. The foundation referenced U.S. laws that prioritize national interests in partnerships with private enterprises, suggesting this could undermine the sovereignty of nations relying on Starlink’s technology. The think tank further criticized the role of Musk’s ventures in geopolitical scenarios, pointing to Starlink’s refusal to assist a Ukrainian military operation against Russia as an example of its influence. 

Additionally, Kutniti noted Musk’s association with Palantir Technologies, a firm known for intelligence collaborations, as evidence of the platform’s involvement in sensitive political matters. Highlighting incidents in countries like Brazil, Ukraine, and Iran, Kutniti argued that Starlink’s operations have, at times, bypassed local governance and democratic norms. The report warns that the satellite network could serve as a tool for U.S. geopolitical leverage, further cementing American dominance in space and global communications. 

India’s careful consideration of Starlink reflects a broader need to balance the benefits of cutting-edge technology with national security concerns. Kutniti’s findings underscore the risks of integrating foreign-controlled networks, especially those with potential geopolitical implications, in an increasingly complex global landscape.
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Twitter X
Data Breach Digital Platform Digital World Elon Musk global outrage Soical Media Twitter Twitter users Twitter X

Global Outage Strikes Social Media Giant X

The recent global outage of Social Media Platform X caused a stir in the online community during a time when digital media predominates. Users everywhere became frustrated and curious about the cause of this extraordinary disruption when they realized they couldn't use the platform on December 21, 2023.

Reports of the outage, which was first discovered by Downdetector, began to arrive from all over the world, affecting millions of customers. The impact of the outage has increased because Social Media Platform X, a significant player in the social media ecosystem, has grown to be an essential part of peoples' everyday lives.

One significant aspect of the outage was the diverse range of issues users faced. According to reports, users experienced difficulties in tweeting, accessing their timelines, and even logging into their accounts. The widespread nature of these problems hinted at a major technical glitch rather than localized issues.

TechCrunch reported that the outage lasted for several hours, leaving users in limbo and sparking speculation about the root cause. The incident raised questions about the platform's reliability and prompted discussions about the broader implications of such outages in an interconnected digital world.

Assuring users that their technical teams were actively working to repair the issue, the platform's official response was prompt in admitting the inconvenience. Both users and specialists were in the dark, though, as there were few details regarding the precise cause.

Experts weighed in on the outage, emphasizing the need for robust infrastructure and redundancy measures to prevent such widespread disruptions in the future. The incident served as a reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in our dependence on centralized digital platforms.

In the aftermath of the outage, Social Media Platform X released a formal apology, expressing regret for the inconvenience caused to users. The incident prompted discussions about the need for transparency from tech giants when addressing such disruptions and the importance of contingency plans to mitigate the impact on users.

Amidst the growing digitalization of our world, incidents such as the worldwide disruption of Social Media Platform X highlight the vulnerability of our interdependent networks. It's a wake-up call for users and tech businesses alike to put resilience and transparency first when faced with unanticipated obstacles in the digital space.
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Tim Cook
AI AI Threat Apple Artificial Intelligence ChatGPT Elon Musk Steve Wozniak Technology Tim Cook

Apple Co-founder Says AI Could Make Cyber Scams ‘Harder to Spot’


Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak recently cautioned that artificial intelligence (AI) could result in making cyber scams and misinformation more challenging to recognize. 

Speaking to BBC, he further notes that technology may as well be harnessed by “bad actors.” According to Mr. Wozniak, AI contents should well-labelled, and also highlighted the need for proper regulation in the industry. 

In March, Apple, along with Meta CEO Elon Musk signed a letter, urging a halt to the development of more potent AI models. 

Mr. Wozniak, also referred to as Woz in the tech community, is a seasoned veteran of Silicon Valley who co-founded Apple with Steve Jobs and created the company's first computer./ In an interview with BBC Technology Editor Zoe Kleinman, he discussed his fears as well as the advantages of artificial intelligence.

"AI is so intelligent it's open to the bad players, the ones that want to trick you about who they are," said Kleinman. 

AI refers to computer programs that can perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence. This includes systems that can identify objects in images and chatbots that can comprehend queries and provide responses that seem human.

While Mr. Wozniak ardently believes that AI will not be replaying humans, since it lacks emotions. However, he warns against bad actors, since AI is making them more realistic, one example being generative AI ChatGPT that can carve texts which sounds human and “intelligent.”

A Human Really has to Take the Responsibility 

Wozniak believes that any product of the artificial intelligence be held accountable for those who publish it. "A human really has to take the responsibility for what is generated by AI," he says. 

The large tech companies that "feel they can kind of get away with anything" should be held accountable by regulations, according to him.

Yet he expressed doubt that authorities would make the correct decisions, saying, "I think the forces that drive for money usually win out, which is sort of sad."

Technology cannot be Stopped 

Mr. Wozniak, a computer pioneer, believes that those developing artificial intelligence now might learn from the chances lost during the early stages of the internet. Although "we can't stop the technology," in his opinion, we can teach individuals to recognize fraud and other nefarious attempts to obtain personal information.

Last week, the current CEO of Apple, Tim Cook told investors that is crucial to be “deliberate and thoughtful,” is a way to approach AI. "We view AI as huge, and we'll continue weaving it in our products on a very thoughtful basis," he said.  

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Technology
Brain Computer Interface Brain-Like Chip Elon Musk Human Trial Neuralink robotics technology Technology

Musk’s Neuralink Seeks People for Human Trials: Brain-Implant Trials may Start Soon


Elon Musk’s startup, Neuralink, that will involve the cutting edge brain-computer interface (BCI) technology has now reached its next stage where they are now recruiting people for the technology’s first ‘human trial.’

The goal will be to link human brains to computers. The company is planning to test the technology on individuals with paralysis.

Apparently, a robot will be assigned the task of implanting a BCI to human brain, that will allow the subjects to take control of a computer cursor, or type using only their thoughts. 

However, rival companies have already achieved the feet by implanting BCI devices in human. 

Neuralink’s clinical trial has been approved by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May, achieving an important milestone, taking into consideration the struggle it had faced to gain approval for the same.

In regards to this, Neuralink stated at the time that the FDA approval represented "an important first step that will one day allow our technology to help many people."

While the final number of people recruited has not yet been confirmed, according to a report by new agency Reuters, the company had sought FDA’s approval to implant the devices in 10 people ( their former or current employees)./ Brain Signals/ The six year study will commence following a surgery, where a robot will implant 64 flexible threads, thinner than a human hair, on a region of the brain that managed "movement intention."

These enable Neuralink's experimental N1 implant, which runs on a remotely rechargeable battery, to record and transmit brain impulses to an app that decodes a person's intended movement.

Neuralink informs that people are eligible for the trial in case they have quadriplegia resulting from an injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – a disease in which the nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain degenerates.

Precision Neuroscience, developed by a Neuralink co-founder, also aims at assisting those who are paralyzed. And it claims that its implant, which resembles a very thin piece of tape and rests on the surface of the brain, may be inserted via a "cranial micro-slit" in a less complicated manner.

Meanwhile, existing technology is producing results. Implants have been used in two different studies conducted in the US, that aimed to track brain activity during speech attempts, which might later be decoded to aid with communication.

While Mr. Musk’s involvement has played a major role in the raised popularity of Neuralink, he still face rivals, some of whom have a history going back almost two decades. In 2004, Blackrock Neurotech, a company based in Utah, implanted the first of several BCIs.

According to Dr Adrien Rapeaux, a research associate in the Neural Interfaces Lab at Imperial College London, "Neuralink no doubt has an advantage in terms of implantation," taking into account that a majority of its operations will be assisted robotically. 

On contrary, Dr. Rapeaux, co-founder of a neural implant start-up Mintneuro, says that he is not sure how Neuralink’s attempt of converting brain signals into useful actions will do any better than the methods earlier used by Blackrock Neurotech for example. He also doubts if the technology will remain accurate and reliable over time, which is "a known issue in the field."

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Tesla Privacy
Camera Survellience Car Spy Elon Musk Privacy Tesla Tesla Privacy

‘Elon Musk’ Book Reveals: Musk Wanted to use Tesla Cameras to Surveille on Drivers


A recently published biography of Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson has revealed some interesting facts about Tesla, a popular revelation being the company’s approach to privacy and its rather controversial idea regarding an internal monitoring camera installed in their cars. 

It has been confirmed in the biography that Twitter’s CEO once suggested Tesla record video of drivers' on-wheel behaviour using the internal monitoring camera. His asserted goal was to use the footage as proof to shield Tesla from inquiries in the event of a crash. 

The book ‘Elon Musk’ stated that Elon Musk pushed for the usage of the internal monitoring camera to record footage of Tesla drivers at first without their awareness with the intention of using the footage as proof in investigations linked to the Autopilot ADAS. 

According to an excerpt from the book, Musk was convinced that one of the main reasons for accidents was bad drivers and not bad software. "At one meeting, he suggested using data collected from the car's cameras – one of which is inside the car and focused on the driver – to prove when there was driver error," the excerpt read.

However, several privacy concerns were raised, one of them being a woman citing legal assistance from the corporation and privacy concerns about the fact that Tesla could not link the selfie streams to specific vehicles, even if they were involved in accidents.

Apparently, Musk was not happy with the answer as according to Isaacson, the "concept of 'privacy teams' did not warm his heart[…]I am the decision-maker at this company, not the privacy team. I don't even know who they are. They are so private you never know who they are," Musk said during their meeting.

Musk then recommended that a pop-up could be used instead to tell people that if they used Full Self-Driving Beta, Tesla would collect data in the event of a crash. The woman nodded, noting that "as long as we are communicating it to customers, I think we're okay with that." The exchange is quite telling of the way Elon Musk runs his companies, and also of his stance on privacy.

The pop-ups are currently a feature in Tesla vehicles, where the company will use the data from internal cameras and notifications will be provided to the users with an option to either agree or disagree with Tesla in collecting their cabin camera data. It is important to note that Tesla has not yet used inside photos of cars to defend itself in court cases or government inquiries involving the Autopilot system.

Currently, Tesla is facing a class action lawsuit in terms of video privacy, following allegations that groups of Tesla employees privately share invasive videos and images, that were the recordings of customers’ car cameras between 2019 and 2022. Another lawsuit was filed in Illinois that focused particularly on the cabin camera.  

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Tesla
CEO CyberCrime Cybersecurity Data Breach Data Privacy Concerns Elon Musk Tesla

Tesla Data Breach: 75,000 Users Affected Due to Insider Wrongdoing

 


There has been an investigation into a data breach that affected the car manufacturer Tesla earlier this year, which has ended up being the result of "insider wrongdoing", a data breach notification filed by Tesla has revealed.  

A notice filed with Maine’s Attorney General’s Office on Friday shed more light on Tesla’s May data breach, revealing that there was a massive theft of employee records and the company blamed “insider wrongdoing.” 

The affected individuals were notified by Tesla in a letter dated August 18 that laid out details about the problem. There was a letter from the company saying that the information that was leaked included the names and contact information of both current and former employees. Even though social security numbers were revealed, the letter did not mention them. 

In a large data breach that affected employees of more than 75,000 companies, Tesla has claimed that insider wrongdoing was responsible for the breach. It was confirmed by President Elon Musk, the owner of the electric car maker Tesla, that in a data breach notice that was filed with Maine's attorney general, two former employees had leaked more than 75,000 individuals' personal information to a foreign media outlet after a thorough investigation had been conducted. 

There were over 23,000 files within the data archive, and the data contained sensitive data that belonged not only to current but also to former employees of Telsa. There was data about employees' phone numbers, personal email addresses, and salaries, as well as bank information for their customers and confidential information about Tesla's production. As well as social security numbers, it also included some of Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, who used social security numbers to operate the company.  

A further 2,400 complaints were also leaked from Tesla customers about their vehicles, which is part of the data revealed. On August 18, Tesla of America filed a data breach notice with the Maine Attorney General's office announcing a 75,735 employee data breach, which had been caused by a breach of security caused by “insider wrongdoing .” 

In its announcement, Tesla said that its investigation into the breach had revealed that two former Tesla employees tried to misappropriate the information by violating IT security policies and protecting the data as required by Tesla to gain entry to the report. Handelsplatt was allegedly the recipient of the data that had been shared by the former employees. 

Investigations and Lawsuits Following a Leak 


According to Tesla, two former employees are being sued for releasing the data and a court order has been issued that prevents them from using, accessing, or disseminating the data in the future. In its notice, Tesla said that it cooperated with law enforcement and external forensics experts to handle the investigation and would continue to take appropriate steps as needed in the future. 

A top German news organization, Handelsblatt, has confirmed that it received more than 100 GB of data from former Tesla employees over the last few weeks. This information was used as a basis for slamming Tesla for failing to adequately protect the personal information collected from customers, employees, and business partners, according to the news site. As reported by Handelsblatt newspaper, Musk's social security number was also included in the leak, which was made public by Bloomberg. 

A Tesla spokesperson confirmed that the data was shared with German newspaper Handelsblatt by two former employees. It says that it is "legally prohibited from inappropriately using the information" and says that it will not publish the information. 

There was a report in Handelsblatt in May that Tesla was affected by a "massive" data breach that revealed all sorts of information about Tesla employees, as well as complaints made by customers about their vehicles. 

There were approximately 23,000 files, including 100 gigabytes of confidential data, obtained by the publication dubbed the Tesla Files, which contained more than 23,000 internal Tesla documents. Among the personal information stolen were the details of Tesla employees, payment information from customers, production secrets, as well as complaints from customers about the features of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) car. 

Tesla's Data Privacy Concerns Continue to Mount 


In addition to the May incident, Tesla has had several privacy issues in the past. A letter sent in April by senators Edward J. Markey and Richard Blumenthal raised questions about Musk's handling of reports that employees had been sharing sensitive images captured by cameras in customers' vehicles between 2019 and 2022 and how the company handled them. Due to the content of the report, Tesla is now the subject of a class action lawsuit. 

Tesla workers were reported by Reuters in April to have shared sensitive images recorded by customer cars, but the details of this incident were kept under wraps. The reports stated that between 2019 and 2022, employees of the company shared images and videos that were captured by the cameras in their cars.
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