Tag: artificial intelligence

Chat GPT down | AI Cyberattack

It Had to Happen – Open AI Cyberattack Leaves ChatGPT Down

OpenAI, the company that developed ChatGPT, has announced that it may have fallen prey to a DDOS attack in early November.

The company, which clocked over 100 million users recently, announced the potential attack and its intention to investigate how it was carried out.

Cybersecurity experts have long warned that ChatGPT may become the target of a cyberattack or hacking takeover attempt, and the recent incident shows that even one of the internet’s most well-known and popular sites can still fall prey to the ill intent of cybercriminals.

Ask ChatGPT: how did the hackers do it?

Almost all of us have experimented with ChatGPT by now, and whether the results were amazing, encouraging, or downright hilarious there’s no doubt that the technology has changed the way we work in 2023.

When we asked the bot how it got hacked, we got a long version of “I don’t know” – but cybersecurity experts at OpenAI think they’ve identified the cause of the recent outage.

Surprisingly, given ChatGPT’s sophistication, the method used to carry out the suspected cyberattack was relatively simple.

  • A DDoS, or distributed denial of service, attack is one of the most rudimentary but effective forms of cybercrime. Put simply, it’s a malicious attempt to disrupt normal traffic on a site.
  • DDoS attacks work by setting up a huge number of pings trying to access the website’s resources simultaneously.

It’s easy to imagine what would happen if a website that usually receives 1 000 visitors a day suddenly received 1 million visitors. Loading time would grind to a halt, and eventually the site may go offline entirely. This is exactly what happened to ChatGPT’s website earlier this month.

Some netizens initially expressed doubt as to whether the attack was really a DDoS or just a huge surge in the number of users in the wake of GPT 4 Turbo, OpenAI’s latest version of the hugely popular chatbot. However, cybersecurity experts believe that the sheer number of pings was far too high to have occurred naturally.

Cyberattack marks OpenAI’s most challenging month yet

November’s cyberattack incident is the latest in a string of controversies faced by ChatGPT.

The AI chat bot has been criticised for producing output that is factually incorrect and engaging in problematic – or even disturbing – conversations with its users as well as hallucinating.

The company’s recent boardroom coup in which CEO Sam Altman was forced to leave, subsequently joining Microsoft in a senior position, was the crowning event in an extremely trying month for the company.

How to avoid DDoS attacks against your business

Cybercriminals are always thinking of new ways to cause inconvenience for honest business people. To avoid a DDoS attack, it’s essential to ensure that the attack surfaces (number of resources on your website) are limited.

Using cached data may also help keep your site safe from DDoS attacks and help it recover faster if an attack occurs.

To increase your business’s overall cybersecurity, choose from our range of secure cloud storage packages today.

ChatGPT, the revolutionary AI Bot | AI Technology

Is ChatGPT the newest cybersecurity threat?   

The hot topic at almost any workplace meeting or social gathering since its release in November 2022 has been ChatGPT, the revolutionary AI bot that can, it seems, write almost anything.

For those not yet familiar with this new technology, ChatGPT is fundamentally a chatbot that uses AI to answer questions or prompts by way of text. The functionality of this revolutionary AI includes capabilities such as search and code generation to create something as simple as a meal plan with a shopping list, or as complex as writing code for new technology.

As industries around the world deliberate on just how AI is going to influence the way they work in the years to come, cybersecurity experts are ringing alarm bells over the risks that this type of technology might soon pose.

From cybercriminals using ChatGPT to write malware code to a new generation of scam emails that sound totally legitimate, the risk horizon around artificial intelligence is escalating. Here are some things for business owners to look out for as the machines march nearer.

Bots can write now – and some of them are writing very bad things

Like school teachers and college professors around the world who have been astonished by ChatGPT’s ability to write essays that seem legitimate on the surface, cybersecurity managers are waking up to the conceivable risks that AI could also write dangerous scripts and code used to create viruses, malware, and ransomware.

  • Open AI, ChatGPT’s parent company, has tried to reassure the public that the product will not create dangerous or harmful text or computer code, but hackers could trick it into doing just that by varying the input that they use and the questions they ask it.
  • One of the risks associated with ChatGPT’s ability to write text is that fraudulent emails, including phishing scams, could be produced by the bot using almost perfect English grammar.
  • Errors in punctuation and grammar used to be noticeable tell-tale signs of fraudulent emails (especially with those written by non-native English speakers), but with advanced language AI this detection method has gone out the window.

It’s important to note that while ChatGPT itself is not malicious, it has the potential to be used in a sinister manner to create malicious code.

The sheer volume of output that an AI text bot can produce is astounding, and hackers can now rely on automated text generators to create thousands of words in a short period of time, potentially flooding the Internet with fake emails that are almost impossible to filter.

Can cybersecurity software stop AI in its tracks?

Cybersecurity providers will need to develop superior detection tools that can tell if an email has been written by AI or not, and Google has already announced that it will penalise machine generated websites.

Until these applications are reliable and available to the public, the risk of falling victim to ransomware and email scams may increase exponentially – and that calls for a top-level cybersecurity setup in every business.

Stay ahead of the bots with secure cloud storage

At a time when potentially dangerous communications and computer code are flooding the internet, and as cybersecurity experts explore the possibilities of using this revolutionary technology to overcome malicious threats, what can you do to feel secure?

To begin with, start to familiarise yourself and your employees with ChatGPT and use its threat detection capabilities to your own advantage. For example, if you suspect an email to be spam or phishing, ask the chatbot “is this email safe or a scam”. The chatbot has the ability to detect and classify unusual communication patterns and would likely advise you not to respond if it detects malicious language.

You can also stay one step ahead of the hackers and their AI sidekicks by browsing our range of affordable online cloud backup packages for businesses and households today. Ensure peace of mind for yourself and your business. No matter what happens to you data – if it’s backed up online, it’s never lost.

The future of work | AI

Here’s How AI Will Change the Future of Work

AI has already changed the way we shop, collaborate with colleagues, and even line up a Friday night date – and that’s just the beginning. With virtual meetings, hybrid work arrangements, and the Metaverse redefining the way we do business, AI is set to play a huge role in our professional lives and the future of work from now on. Let’s take a look at some of the changes to expect this year and beyond.

put on those VR glasses, it’s meeting time!

With remote teams collaborating on every continent, AI tools are making those sometimes awkward zoom calls more real and more human.

  • Companies have been experimenting with VR and AR interfaces that will make you forget that you’re not in the same room as your team – and 3D presentations are just the tip of the tech iceberg.
  • This technology can be extended to sales and customer service, allowing team members to reach out to clients remotely and present products, services, and ideas in an immersive virtual showroom or conference venue.

need that order filled? say goodbye to waiting times

Instantaneous customer service and order fulfilment may sound like a dream, but thanks to smart coding, machine learning, and cloud connectivity, entire businesses are being run and monitored in real time to eliminate long waiting periods.

  • Robots that respond immediately to orders and requests from customers are being rolled out in countries around the world, with the entire process taking place in the cloud.
  • For every business looking to grow and stay competitive today, that means having a strong data management system with secure cloud storage and backup.

cloud storage is the future of work and business security

With AI and cloud-based processes becoming universal, now is the time to ensure that your business is ready to operate in the cloud with full security. Our range of cloud storage solutions will help you keep your data safe and encrypted – no matter how much information your business produces today and in the future.

To learn more about our cloud storage offering, contact the Soteria team today.

AI vs. a pandemic – giving credit where credit is due

The time has come to both acknowledge and offer up a round of applause to the technological advancements the world has made. Right now, we owe a big thank-you to technology for aiding frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19.

If you think about the world, way back in 1918, when the Spanish Flu wiped out 50-million people, it’s obvious just how far we have come. Back then, humanity didn’t have access to the technological discoveries and innovations that we do today. And it was much harder for the population to keep up to date and informed, unlike now.

Today, we have Artificial Intelligence, robots, drones, television and radio news, social media, and the internet! We are surely in a far better position to beat a virus than the world was in 1918!

How Technology has been helping COVID-19 Frontline Workers

While we can’t ignore the fact that humans are intricately involved in the fight against COVID-19 and deserve a great deal of praise for it, we also can’t overlook the role that technology is playing in this fight. Without the advancements in AI and other technology, frontline workers would undoubtedly have had a much harder time.

PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) such as masks and gloves is one thing; mobile phones are alos being used to make protection a great deal easier. Most people have a phone these days, and the track and trace functionality of the mobile device and the various apps that can be installed on them, means that countries can use software to flatten the curve.

Enter the Limelight: AI (Artificial Intelligence)

AI is proving to have a significant impact in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19, in the spotlight, centre stage and shining bright. AI technology is being used to aid the numerous research fields as well as in the process of developing drugs, vaccines, testing kits, and analysing data collected.

AI is also effectively handling contact tracing and risk assessment to ensure that the spread of the virus is minimised. While AI is not curing the disease, it is helping to slow its spread…something that just a few years ago would have been impossible.

The time taken to scan, and research data has been considerably reduced thanks to AI technology is able to do. There is a mass of data from all the various health departments around the world on diseases and viruses that are similar to COVID-19. AI is able to analyse and process this data, freeing up the time of essential health care workers that need to be focusing on patients.

AI Handles Virus Testing & Scanning

AI is doing more than just scanning and analysing data. It is also acting as a viable weapon in the war against this pandemic. As they say, knowledge is power, and knowing who is infected is the type of knowledge required to beat this virus. AI is also able to handle testing for the virus and has had a major positive impact in helping with this in countries such as Brazil, India, and China.

One example of this is the Baidu AI-powered testing station that has been set up in a railway station in Beijing. The system works by scanning individuals with infrared. In just one minute, the system can scan the body temperature of more than 200 people! Because so many masses of people can be scanned on a daily basis, frontline worker’s lives can be better protected.

Another example of AI in action in the war against COVID-19 is the DarwinAI neural network that’s been set up. This is an open-source network which means that it can be freely accessed across the globe. This specialised software is able to scan a patient’s X-rays and determine if the patient has the virus or not. This is particularly useful if testing kits for the virus run out or are hard to come by.

Robots in the COVID-19 Fight

It’s not just computers sifting through data and making sense of X-rays that are helping frontline workers – robots are also being used to their full potential. In order to minimise contact between frontline workers and COVID-19 patients, the Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan is up-staffed with robots. These robots pick up a lot of slack in a busy hospital such as serve meals to patients, disinfect areas of the facility, dispense masks and sanitizers and respond to patient alerts. This leaves frontline workers free to focus on more pressing tasks.

Drones in COVID-19 Fight

Healthcare workers are not the only frontline workers in the fight against Covid-19. Police forces are also on the frontline, enforcing restrictions and ensuring that individuals are practising social distancing and wearing their masks out in public. Drones have proven to be especially helpful in easing the burden and lessening the risk of policemen and policewomen. In Italy, France, China, Spain, Israel, and the UAE, drones are being used to track humans and help maintain a sense of order.

Last Word

As COVID-19 continues to wage war on the world, frontline workers are turning to AI and other technology to minimise risk and ease the burden.

So, let’s hear it for technology. Let’s give a great round of applause for our technological advancements over the years – where would we be without it?!

Blame it on AI | Who or What is an ML Forensic or Ethics Investigator?

When AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) hit the market and became all-encompassing, there was widespread interest from the consumer and business markets. Everyone wanted to get their hands on the latest AI and ML tech and for good reason. Unfortunately, that excitement and trust in the technology has quelled greatly as data breaches and the misuse of data have become synonymous with both of these technologies.

While fear and mistrust have caused a lull in the adoption of AI and ML tech, it is not the end of the road for either of these technologies. In fact, industry experts predict that within the next five years, the global cyber market will see two new positions enter the job market that will once again boost the deployment of AI tech, especially in the corporate world:

  • Ethics investigators
  • Machine learning forensic investigators

The new job listings will come with various supporting roles such as AI behaviour forensic investigators and customer trust specialists.

Trust Lost Through AI Bias

The supposition that AI is an unbiased entity that sees no colour, race, gender or location, is far from the truth. Users have found that AI tech is able to display bias behaviour based on these very things, and it is, in fact, a problem that stems from the training of these AI models.

Deep learning issues can also make interactions present in predictions that end up hard to understand. Of course, using these forms of AI can cause a company to lose customers and suffer corporate and brand reputation tarnishing.

And this is the very reason why job roles such as Machine Learning Forensic Investigators and Ethics Investigators see being developed.

The Role of ML Forensic Investigators and Ethics Investigators

Before a company can implement AI tech, they need to be sure that it contains no undesired bias. Unfortunately, this is hard to do, and the legal implications, if it isn’t done correctly, are considerable.

The role of the ML Forensic and Ethics Investigator is to ensure that all bias no longer exists within the system. Large corporations such as NASA, Google, and even Facebook already have such individuals on their payroll.

These specialists are involved in the development phase. Once the system is deemed “ready to deploy” they also spend a considerable amount of time testing and monitoring the system to ensure that they haven’t missed any bias along the way.

While these two positions will see hundreds of new employees enter the job market within the next five years, it must be noted that various free open source programs already offer systems that help detect and remove unwanted bias from AI tech.

Conclusion

With more and more businesses deploying AI tech to handle specific functions within their businesses and customer services departments, there’s always the risk of AI not behaving as expected. The industry fully expects to see the ML Forensic Investigator and Ethics Investigator role becoming a necessity in the field.

Future Trends & Themes Emerging from the RSA Conference 2019

Cybersecurity experts flocked to the RSA Conference 2019,  hosted in Singapore from 16th to 18th of July. Several resources have described this years’ conference as “a success with thought-provoking and useful topics”, and the attendees all seem to agree.

Strong Themes at RSA Conference 2019

At past cybersecurity conferences, it seems that participants mainly focused on punting new products and their exceptional specifications. In 2019, however, other themes came to light. The main themes were unwavering in their focus on:

  • Innovation in the industry,
  • The increase in the use of AI (artificial intelligence) and the tech that supports it,
  • The involvement of youth in the fight against cybersecurity threats,
  • The possibility of collaboration between security agencies, academia, researchers, and governments.

Informative Content Designed to Support the Themes of the Conference

Content presented to industry experts was informative and valuable to numerous fields. The material covered included:

  • Privacy
  • Security
  • Cyber risk leadership
  • The roll-out of global threat detection systems
  • Security forensics
  • Methods of industrial system cyber threat countering

Information and experience sharing was also a significant theme at the conference, with several speciality topics including:

  • eFraud
  • Law enforcement
  • Strategy
  • Architecture and data security
  • Cloud security
  • Mobile security
  • IoT security

With 100 sessions and a myriad of well-respected keynote speakers in the industry, there was undoubtedly much to see and do for the cyber experts in attendance.

Future Trends and Highlights

While a great deal of attention was given to security threats facing the industry at present, for many cyber experts, future security trends were a highlight.

Security, privacy, legislature and foreign affairs were just some of the topics discussed in-depth. The focus of these topics veered away from the technical side of things, focusing instead on how these elements will impact on the future of cybersecurity and the industry.

The RSA Conference addressed issues such as the state-sponsored attack which hasn’t seen much progress since 2015. As cyber-warfare remains a real threat, it seems that the stumbling block is in the implementation of an actionable agreement that dictates acceptable behaviour among different countries and states in cyber space.

A responsive Security Operation Centre was set up for the duration of the conference. The centre observed the behaviour of attendees on the network traffic without interfering. The purpose of the centre was to determine just how security conscious attendees were, and the results were astounding. Over the course of the week, the op centre detected numerous unencrypted emails containing confidential information and malware submissions.

Future Threat Trends

When it comes to future threats and warnings evaluated and reviewed during the course of the conference, the reminders and memory refreshers were welcomed. Keynote speakers paid particular attention to the following trending and future threats:

  • The ability of hackers to bypass two-factor or multi-factor authentication methods.
  • The trend of cybercriminals attacking systems without security patches.
  • The attack of third parties and supply chains using sophisticated phishing techniques.
  • The ability of attackers to scale-up their attacks and how to detect replicated attacks.
  • The trend of cybercriminals attacking with the intention of causing damage and losses.

Conclusion

The take away of topics from the RSA conference was vast, but it is clear that cybersecurity took top spot and looks set to keep that position into the foreseeable future.

Embracing AI in e-commerce – Solution or revolution?

For some, AI (artificial intelligence) is exciting, but for others it’s downright scary. What people fear most about AI is that machines and programs can take over previously “human” tasks and the more they interact with humans, the more they learn and seemingly smarter they get.

For those who understand AI, using it for e-commerce is a solution and not just a scary unstoppable revolution in technology. And we will tell you why.

Running an online business in the 21st century has almost become the norm. With an e-commerce website, businesses can run 24-hours a day, trade internationally, offer automated sales, and have access to valuable customer behaviour insights. Embracing AI with a fully automated website is the most cost-effective and lucrative way to run a business – if it’s done right.

AI’s role in e-commerce websites/businesses

AI can play as big or as small a role in your business as you want it to, but there are a few main areas in which AI is beneficial. These include:

  • Stock control

We live in an era of instant gratification, and the thing with an online business is that customers want answers ‘now’, and they also want to know that the product they are ordering is readily available in stock. AI plays an essential role in inventory control, keeping a clear record of stock levels as well as gathering data that can be used to predict future market trends.

  • Automation

Have a lot to do, but simply can’t afford to hire staff members to help out? AI has great e-commerce automation features that can save busy entrepreneurs a few hours a day. All those little tasks that distract you from the core aspects of your business can be handled by artificial intelligence. And, in many instances, it’s done so well that customers don’t even realise that they aren’t dealing with a human! One great example of this is the AI virtual assistant which can answer emails, host online chats, schedule meetings, and even organise your calendar.

  • Effective retargeting

While consumers are in the research phase of the buying process, the chances are that they will visit your website, spend some time on specific product/service pages and then move on without a purchase. They may come back, but then again, they may get distracted by another supplier and never return.

Artificial intelligence can be used to gather consumer behaviour data from these visits and create a custom retargeting strategy. This could be in the form of social media adverts featuring the very products that they were looking at or providing helpful content on their topic of interest. It’s a great way to refresh the consumer’s memory and have them clicking on the “buy now” button on your targeted ads.

  • Boost efficiency and profits while saving time

Many of the tasks of an online business owner take time, planning, and money. From sales to blog posts, social media posts, data capture and more. You can use an AI system to strategically plan these processes and then gather data to provide useful insights at every step of the campaign or process. In this way, AI will boost your efficiency, save you a lot of time, and ensure that you are making the most money possible at all times.

Join the revolution – sign up for an AI e-commerce solution!

Yes, AI forms part of the world technology revolution, but that’s not all that it is. It is also a solution for the e-commerce industry. If you want to do more in less time and boost profits and customer excellence all at the same time, AI is the e-commerce solution for you!

In much the same way, Soteria online offers an automated solution to all your backup worries. Get in touch today to find out how we can help you protect all your precious data that you collect from your AI automated enterprise.

Do You Have a Fear of Automation?

Whether you’re a business owner, self-employed or part of the employee workforce, automation is not something to be scared of! If anything, automation of the future is being designed to streamline and help the workforce, not put you out of work.

Despite the fact that a recent multinational study revealed that 210 million jobs across 32 countries could be at risk, these numbers fail to show the real picture of the future of work.

Unpacking automation fears

There are several reasons why now is not the time to panic when it comes to industry automation. In fact, what businesses really should be doing is taking action – setting up their companies for a shifting landscape of work in a way that will ultimately protect valuable employees and business practices.

While several studies have been carried out on job safety with regards to automation, one such study shows that only 5% of jobs could be at risk of full automation in the near future. While many occupations may also be partially affected by automation, this could swing in favour of many employees on a global scale.

So what can be done to prepare and protect your business and your employees from future automation? Experts recommend these three critical steps:

1. Seek out adaptable employees

The working world is forever changing and adapting, and so should your criteria for selecting employees for your business. Now is the time to look further than education and past experience when choosing a prospective candidate. While these are still key considerations, employers must also look for ‘’soft skills’’ such as adaptability, cognitive and social intelligence, personality and an ability to work well under pressure. These key factors will indicate whether they will be able to thrive on your team and in a changing environment.

2. Learn to work with automation, not against it

Integrating automation into your business does not mean going from human-based function to 100% machine-based work. The cross-over will most likely be a little slower than that! However, there will need to be a mindset shift from managers and team members alike where automation is viewed as supplementation of work and not a replacement. Business will need to arm employees with the training and tools to successfully harness automation in the workplace and use it as a beneficial tool and not a hindrance.

3. Update employee training

This goes without saying as the successful integration of automation takes place throughout your business. A large part of marrying both human and machine-based work is providing the necessary skills and training to your employees in order to develop their technical, diagnostic and interpersonal skills. Addressing this skills gap early on will help to set your business up for future success when it comes to automation.

In reality, automation is not something to fear, shy away from or avoid as a business owner or employee. Embracing new technology and trends is set to be the way forward if you intend to keep your business afloat for years to come!

IoT scores big question mark as World Cup Soccer enthusiasts argue the point of VAR

If you were following the 2018 Soccer World Cup, you would in all likelihood have noticed that sometimes, referees can miss injustices on the field. And while techies all over the world are saying that technology can be used to reduce these oversights, other sports enthusiasts claim that bringing technology into it will destroy the ‘beautiful game’s’ charm. Continue reading IoT scores big question mark as World Cup Soccer enthusiasts argue the point of VAR

Leveraging disruptive technology to better our world

Who says disruptive technologies have to be used individually? What about pairing them up to enjoy a plethora of benefits?

There are 3 technologies that can be leveraged to make the world a better place for all. These three technologies are:

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Virtual Reality (VR)
  • Internet of Things (IoT)

How can these technologies be leveraged?

Well, if you think of how IoT works, it makes things a little simpler to understand. The technology is designed on an “if this, then that” model. AI requires data in order to function and that’s exactly what IoT generates. VR can sweeten the deal by providing immersive visuals of the data which creates an enhanced experience for the user. Put all of this together and you have a system that provides exceptional benefits!

IoT, VR and AI Preps Cyclists for the Tour de France

A great and on topic example of how IoT, VR and AI can be used together for the greater good can be seen in the preparation of cyclists for this year’s Tour de France. While each technology individually could provide a degree of benefits to cyclists, when used together, the result is phenomenal.

Prior to the race, cameras are used to film the route. VR is then used to expose cyclists to the route and allow them to race it, virtually of course. Together, AI, VR, and IoT allows the cyclists to prepare themselves for racing in different weather conditions and GPS data collected provides information on the bike. When you think about it, it’s all quite impressive!

It’s not just the TdeF cyclists who benefit from dispruptive technology

These 3 disruptive technologies can be leveraged in many industries to assist with design, maintenance and logistics, and all 3 of the technologies are used in our homes. Think how smart home systems can control everything from the temperature of the home to the entertainment presented in each room and the amount of light you let in.

Industries that really want to leverage the benefits of latest tech will find that using these 3 technologies together will present the best possible outcomes.

Of course, there’s the safety and security of data to consider during the process and we strongly recommend that if you plan to use technology to boost your business success and home comforts, that you do so responsibly and take security seriously.