Security news

Security

Some websites go dark as operators address an AI-detected flaw in a web programming language

An AI-assisted discovery of vulnerabilities in a widely used programming language led governments and other organizations in Europe and the U.S. to take their websites offline temporarily Wednesday as they scrambled to make ...

Security

Rush is on to patch a software vulnerability that could impact 70% of websites worldwide

Governments and corporations worked throughout the night on urgent security updates after the AI-assisted discovery of vulnerabilities in a programming language vital to 70% of websites globally.

Internet

A critical flaw affecting 70% of all websites has the cybersecurity world panicked

Details have been published of a critical flaw in the programming language PHP, which is the backbone of more than 70% of all websites. Left unfixed, the flaw would allow hackers to easily take over and compromise millions ...

Internet

Websites down: What is PHP and how has it raised AI hacking fears?

Artificial intelligence has found critical security flaws in a major programming language called PHP, with many websites taken offline Thursday as organizations worldwide scramble to fend off would-be hackers.

Security

Why the most dangerous AI may be the one we trust too much

Machines don't have to become superintelligent to cause catastrophic harm. As artificial intelligence spreads through military decision-making, they just have to be wrong—and trusted by the humans in charge.

Robotics

Secret trigger words could make AI-powered robots dangerous

Large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude and Google Gemini are increasingly being used to help robots perform tasks, but what if LLMs could be exploited to turn helpful robots into harmful robots?

Security

When a ship's systems lie, cybersecurity gets complicated

Sailors at sea rely on electronic equipment to keep ships on course and out of danger, but what happens when hackers get involved? Are the mariners equipped to handle modern cybersecurity threats like GPS spoofing?

Software

Your car's weakest spot may not be in the car

A car is a computer on wheels. It communicates with the car manufacturer's cloud services, the driver's phone and charging stations, and when children stream movies in the back seat, data travels over the internet. All these ...

Security

New cyber threat to water systems exposes limits of encryption

University of British Columbia researchers have uncovered a vulnerability that could allow hackers to target and disrupt critical infrastructure such as water treatment plants and energy grids without needing to break into ...

Security

Australian PM says OpenAI hacked government health website

A rogue OpenAI model bypassed safeguards during training and hacked an Australian government website, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said as he admonished the ChatGPT creator over an "obviously unacceptable" breach.

Security

Stocking masks making a criminal comeback

You may recall the scene in the comedy Raising Arizona in which Nicolas Cage pulls a pair of pantyhose over his head before attempting, with limited success, to rob a convenience store of a pack of diapers.

Security

Experts weigh in on AI doomsday predictions

Recent headlines cast artificial intelligence as a threat to humanity. But University of Texas at Dallas AI experts say it will be up to humans to devise protections.

Security

New cloud security vulnerability uncovered

An international team of researchers, including professor David Oswald from our Department of Computer Science, has discovered a security vulnerability that could put sensitive data stored in cloud computing systems at risk.

Security

Why we should expect cyberattacks during major events

When Norway's attention turns to Oslo for the king's funeral on Wednesday, it creates a vulnerable moment in the digital sphere that hostile actors may seek to exploit. NTNU professor Basel Katt advises people to be alert.

Consumer & Gadgets

More grip on smart devices? Why legislation falls short

From smart vacuum cleaners and doorbell cameras to complex medical equipment in hospitals, many devices around us are connected to the internet. But are we adequately protected against the risks this poses? Legal scholar ...