Episode #122: Australian Infrastructure Suffers Data Breach; Generative AI is Biggest CyberThreat; Ad Agency Exploits Data Dominance; Amazon's Google Ad Dives into Microsoft Scam

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Australian Critical Infrastructure Suffers Data Breach

🇦🇺 Edwin Kwan, Sydney, Australia ↗

AUDA might have suffered a data breach. The hackers claim to have access to 15 gigabytes of data, which includes powers of attorney and legal documents, passport information, personal data, medical records, loan repayment information, death certificates, and customer bank account details.

Mandiant: Generative AI is Biggest CyberThreat

🇺🇸 Katy Craig, San Diego, California ↗

Mandiant found that threat actors are eyeing AI and they're not just twiddling their thumbs. Social engineering cases might have seen the lowest AI usage, but when it comes to spreading disinformation using AI generated imagery and video, the game changes.

Goliath Ad Agency Exploits Data Dominance in Bid to Undermine California Privacy Bill

🇺🇸 Hillary Coover, Washington, DC ↗

The Interpublic Group, IPG, one of the world's largest advertising firms, is orchestrating a campaign to counter a California bill known as SB-362 or the Delete Act. Emails obtained by Politico reveal that IPG is actively coordinating efforts against the bill.

Amazon's Google Ad Dives into Microsoft Scam

🇺🇸 Ian Garrett, Arlington, Virginia ↗

A recent attack impersonates Amazon and Microsoft, while leveraging Google ads to scam unsuspecting users. Today's sneaky tactic and elaborate scheme acts as a legitimate looking Amazon ad in Google search results that takes an unexpected twist by leading unsuspecting users into a Microsoft support scam.

This Day, August 22, in Tech History

🇺🇸 Marcel Brown, St. Louis, Missouri ↗

August 22nd, 1987. The Legend of Zelda is released for the NES in North America. Considered one of the most influential games of all time, it was the forerunner of the role-playing video game genre and spawned one of the most successful series in video game history.