Embracing Digital This Week


Cybersecurity


New MacStealer macOS Malware Steals iCloud Keychain Data and Passwords. A new information-stealing malware has set its sights on Apple's macOS operating system to siphon sensitive information from compromised devices. MacStealer is the latest example of a threat that uses Telegram as a command-and-control (C2) platform to exfiltrate data.


Microsoft Issues Patch for aCropalypse Privacy Flaw in Windows Screenshot Tools. Microsoft released an out-of-band update to address a privacy-defeating flaw in its screenshot editing tool for Windows 10 and 11. The issue, dubbed aCropalypse, could enable malicious actors to recover edited portions of screenshots, potentially revealing sensitive information that may have been cropped out.


OpenAI Reveals Redis Bug Behind ChatGPT User Data Exposure Incident. OpenAI disclosed that a bug in the Redis open-source library was responsible for exposing other users' personal information and chat titles in the upstart's ChatGPT service earlier this week. The glitch, which came to light on March 20, 2023, enabled certain users to view brief descriptions of other users' conversations from the chat history sidebar, prompting the company.


Artificial Intelligence


This is BIG: Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and other tech leaders call for a pause in the ‘out of control’ AI race. 1,100+ notable signatories just signed an open letter asking “all AI labs to pause for at least 6 months immediately”. The letter, which was also signed by the CEO of OpenAI, said the pause should apply to AI systems “more powerful than GPT-4.” It also said independent experts should use the proposed pause to jointly develop and implement a set of shared protocols for AI tools that are safe “beyond a reasonable doubt.”


https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/28/1100-notable-signatories-just-signed-an-open-letter-asking-all-ai-labs-to-immediately-pause-for-at-least-6-months/


Cerebras Systems Releases Seven New GPT Models Trained on CS-2 Wafer-Scale Systems. First time a company has used non-GPU-based AI systems to train LLMs up to 13 billion parameters and is sharing the models, weights, and training recipe via the industry standard Apache 2.0 license. A series of seven GPT models with 111M to 13B parameters. Typically a multi-month undertaking, this work was completed in a few weeks. All seven Cerebras-GPT models are immediately available on Hugging Face and Cerebras Model Zoo on GitHub.


https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/cerebras-systems-releases-seven-new-gpt-models-trained-on-cs-2-wafer-scale-systems-2023-03-28


Google Bard with Wordle – it could have gone better. After correcting the bot and reminding it only to guess five-letter words, it apologized and returned with SLANTS, then carried on with different variations of the word SLANT ☹


https://www.techradar.com/news/i-tried-to-use-google-bard-to-help-me-with-wordle-but-it-didnt-go-well


Intelligent Edge


BT has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to test 5G edge computing in Manchester using AWS Wavelength. The trial will investigate how edge computing can enhance the performance of BT's 5G network in three key areas: augmented reality, immersive gaming and industrial automation. The aim is to improve customer experience by providing faster and more reliable services. The trial is part of a larger collaboration between the two companies to explore edge computing's potential in the UK.


https://www.edgecomputing-news.com/2023/03/29/bt-uses-aws-wavelength-for-5g-edge-trial-in-manchester/


Comcast has announced expanded partnerships aimed at improving connectivity in smart buildings and environments. The partnerships include agreements with advanced metering infrastructure provider Sensus and BuildingIQ, an artificial intelligence-based energy management solutions provider. The goal is to provide smarter energy management, better water management, and improved building automation. These partnerships are part of Comcast's efforts to improve connectivity for commercial customers through its network of Wi-Fi hotspots, sensors, and other IoT devices.


https://www.edgeir.com/comcast-focuses-connectivity-on-smarter-buildings-environments-with-expanded-partnerships-20230331

What is Embracing Digital This Week?

We are in the throws of the digital revolution. During this time, it can be challenging to sift through all of the hype and find what works, what is still viable two years from now, and what contributes to your organization. Many IT organizations need help with confusing messages and conflicting technologies. We help organizations sort through the chatter and embrace digital transformation. The world of digital transformation is constantly changing, and you need to know what is viable today. Listen to the podcast weekly for the latest news in cybersecurity, advanced communications, data management, artificial intelligence, edge, and cloud computing.

In cybersecurity news.

New mix stealer Mac OS malware

steals iCloud keychain data and passwords.

A new information stealing malware has set
its sights on Apple's

Mac OS operating system to siphon
sensitive information from compromised.

Vice's Mac Stealer
is the latest example of a threat

that uses Telegram as a command control
platform to exfiltrate data.

Microsoft issues a patch for Acropolis

privacy flaw in its Windows
screenshot tools.

Microsoft
released an Out-Of-Band update to address

a privacy defeating flaw in its screenshot
editing tools for Windows ten and 11.

The issue, dubbed
Acropolis could enable malicious actors

to recover edited portions of screenshots
potentially revealing

sensitive information
that may have been cropped out.

Openai reveals a Redis

bug behind US chat GPT user data exposure

incident Open air disclosed
the bug in the reddest open source

library was responsible for exposing
other users personal information

and chat titles in the Upstarts
chat service earlier this week.

The glitch, which came to light on March
20th, 2023,

enabled certain users
to view brief descriptions

of other users conversations
from the chat history sidebar

in Artificial Intelligence News.

This is a big one.

Elon Musk, Bill Gates
and other tech leaders

have cause for a pause
of the out of control air race.

1100 notable signatures
just signed an open letter

asking for all air labs to pause
for at least six months immediately.

The letter,
which is also signed by the CEO of Open

Air, said the pause should apply
to all A.I.

systems more powerful
than GPT four Very convenient.

It also said independent
experts should use the proposed pause

to jointly develop and implement
a set of shared protocols for AI tools

that are safe beyond a reasonable doubt.

Sarah Bus Systems
released seven new GPT models

trained on ac2 wafer scale system.

This is the first time
a company has used a non GPU

AI system to train limbs up
to 13 billion parameters and is sharing

the model's weights and training
recipe via the industry standard.

Apache 2.0 License.

A series of seven GPT models with a 111

million to 13 billion parameters,

typically a multi-month undertaking.

This work was completed in a few weeks.

All seven Sarah
Best GPT models are immediately available

on hugging face
and the service model zoo on GitHub.

Google Bard with word of
it could have gone better

after correcting the bot and reminding it
only to guess five letter words.

He'd apologized
and return the word slants.

That's six letters that carried on to
a different variation of the word slant.

We still have some work to do there, guys

in Intelligent Edge News.

British Telecom has partnered
with IWC to test 5G

edge computing in Manchester,
using IWC wavelength.

The trial will investigate
how edge computing can enhance

the performance of BT's
5G network in three areas.

Augmented reality Immersive
Gaming and Industrial Automation.

The aim is to improve customer experience
by providing faster

and more reliable services.

The trial was part of a larger
collaboration between the two companies

to explore Edge Computing's
potential in the UK.

Comcast has announced
an expanded partnership

aimed at improving connectivity
in smart buildings and environments.

The partnerships include agreements
with advanced metering, infrastructure

provider Sensus and building IQ,

an artificial intelligence
based energy management solution provider.

The goal is to provide
smarter energy management,

better water management
and improved building automation.

These partnerships
are part of Comcast efforts

to improve connectivity
for commercial customers

through its network of Wi-Fi
hotspots, sensors and other Iot devices.