Information Assured

I recently created a sci-fi detective story set on Saturn, using a mix of AI tools to bring the project to life. ChatGPT wrote the script and developed the ten key scenes that drive the story.   COGSTUDIO rendered visuals, including the journey from Earth, through Saturn's rings, to Titan's alien landscape. Suno.AI added a cinematic score, blending orchestral and electronic tones to match the mood. Finally, CapCut helped stitch it all together into a cohesive video.   The output feels experimental, even hallucinogenic, but this project wasn't about current quality. It was about exploring the potential of these tools in five years. As AI continues to evolve, projects like this hint at how storytelling might be transformed.   Here are the scenes: Below is a series of ten sequentially related text-to-video prompts for a science fiction detective story set on Saturn. Each scene builds on the last, forming a cohesive narrative arc. Scene 1: Arrival at Titan City...

A 20-year-old US Army soldier, Cameron John Wagenius, has been arrested in Texas following an indictment on two counts of unlawfully transferring confidential phone records. Wagenius is suspected of operating under the alias "Kiberphant0m" and is believed to have breached multiple telecommunications firms, including AT&T and Verizon, to steal sensitive customer data.  Wagenius allegedly collaborated with Connor Riley Moucka, who is accused of compromising various organizations' Snowflake-hosted environments to exfiltrate data and extort victims. Notably, on November 6, Kiberphant0m claimed to have obtained call logs for President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, threatening to leak the information unless contacted by AT&T.  This arrest marks the third individual apprehended in connection with the Snowflake data breaches, highlighting ongoing cybersecurity challenges and the need for robust data protection measures within telecommunications and ...

NVIDIA's ChatRTX allows users to personalize GPT-based AI chatbots by integrating their documents, notes, and images, offering tailored responses through retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and RTX acceleration. This cutting-edge application processes data locally on Windows RTX PCs, ensuring secure and efficient AI-driven interactions. ChatRTX supports a wide range of file formats, including txt, pdf, docx, and image files like jpg and png. Users can load entire folders into the app's library, allowing for seamless content retrieval. The AI can also handle voice commands through automatic speech recognition, creating a versatile and user-friendly experience. With robust system requirements such as RTX 30 or 40 Series GPUs and Windows 11, ChatRTX enhances productivity for users by offering image search, multilingual voice interaction, and rapid document analysis. Developers can leverage TensorRT-LLM RAG for custom AI solutions, with resources available via NVIDIA’s GitHub. NVI...

Over the past year and a half, U.S. water utilities have faced a surge of cyberattacks from cybercriminals, hacktivists, and nation-state actors. Notably, pro-Iranian hackers infiltrated a Pittsburgh-area water utility's programmable logic controller (PLC), defacing its touchscreen with anti-Israel messages and forcing a switch to manual operations. Additionally, a major water operator serving 500 North American communities disconnected its IT and OT networks after ransomware compromised backend systems and exposed customer data. The largest regulated U.S. water utility also experienced outages in customer-facing websites and telecommunications following an October cyberattack.  These incidents have prompted warnings and security guidelines from agencies like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the FBI. The attacks primarily targeted smaller utilities lacking robust security measures, though larger entities wer...

Throughout 2024, global law enforcement agencies conducted significant operations against cybercriminal activities. In February, Operation Cronos, led by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) and the FBI, dismantled the infrastructure of the prolific ransomware group LockBit, seizing tools and decryption keys and arresting affiliates.  In May, the U.S. Department of Justice took down the 911 S5 Botnet, a vast network of compromised computers facilitating various cybercrimes, and arrested its operator. Concurrently, Europol's Operation Endgame targeted malware droppers like IcedID and Trickbot, resulting in arrests and server takedowns across multiple countries.  In July, Interpol's Operation Jackal III erupted West African cybercrime groups, including Black Axe. This led to 300 arrests and the seizure of assets worth $3 million. These coordinated efforts underscore the increasing collaboration among international law enforcement to combat cyber threats effectively.  Infose...

Watching China's fantastic social, technical, military, scientific, and engineering advancements and changes has been a fun year.  China's technological landscape in 2024 showcased significant strides in quantum computing, spaceflight, humanoid robotics, and AI-generated content. The launch of the superconducting quantum computer "Origin Wukong" and the reusable satellite Shijian 19 highlighted China's advancements in space and computing. With the introduction of the Tiangong electric-driven robot, the country's progress in humanoid robotics marks a leap forward in embodied intelligence. Geopolitically, China’s United Front Work Department (UFWD) continues to shape global influence while increasing tensions with the U.S. over espionage claims and Taiwan. Meanwhile, China’s commercial space sector accelerated with successful rocket launches and commercial site developments, reinforcing the nation's position as a space contender. China and the U.S. remain co...