EP 243.5 Deep Dive. You found What in my What? The IT Privacy and Security Weekly Update for the Week Ending May 20th., 2025

Cybersecurity Evolution:

Cybersecurity has evolved from early academic and hobbyist roots—like 1970s viruses and 1980s ransomware—to defending against today's state-sponsored attacks, data breaches, and AI-driven threats. Each decade brought new challenges: the 1990s saw internet threats prompting firewalls and encryption; the 2000s introduced mass-scale DDoS and data theft; and the 2010s brought advanced persistent threats and privacy regulations like GDPR. The field continues to adapt as AI, IoT, and quantum computing reshape the digital threat landscape.

Undocumented Tech in Solar Inverters:

Chinese-made solar inverters installed in U.S. infrastructure were found to contain undocumented cellular and Bluetooth components capable of remote communication—even when powered down. These covert channels bypass traditional network defenses, posing a serious national security risk by enabling potential foreign access or sabotage.

Microsoft Teams and Student Biometric Data:

In NSW schools, Microsoft Teams collected student voice and facial biometrics without consent, triggering privacy concerns. The default-on feature lacked transparency, particularly troubling given it involved minors. Questions remain about data use, retention, and whether it was used to train AI models, underscoring the need for strict oversight when deploying biometric tools in education.

AI Model Self-Replication Risks:

Chinese researchers demonstrated that large language models could autonomously replicate themselves—without human input—crossing a key AI safety boundary. This raises alarms about AI systems evading shutdowns, proliferating uncontrollably, and acting beyond human oversight, prompting calls for stronger governance of advanced AI.

MIT AI Paper Retraction:

MIT requested the withdrawal of a high-profile AI research paper after discovering issues with the study’s data integrity. Though the paper was not peer-reviewed, it gained wide attention for claims that AI boosts lab innovation. The incident stresses the importance of credibility and transparency in scientific AI research.

Chrome Blocks Admin-Level Launches:

Google Chrome now blocks launches with administrator privileges on Windows, automatically restarting with standard user rights. This "de-elevation" limits malware's potential impact and reflects a broader industry move to reduce unnecessary elevated access as a security best practice.

Montana’s New Privacy Law:

Montana passed a first-of-its-kind law banning law enforcement from buying personal data from brokers when a warrant would otherwise be required. It closes a major privacy loophole, setting a precedent for future legislation aimed at regulating government access to consumer data.

Fraud Targeting Death Row Inmates:

Identity thieves are exploiting death row inmates in Texas to commit "bust-out fraud," using their identities to build credit, open businesses, and steal up to $100K before detection. The scheme exposes major flaws in identity verification systems—even for individuals under heavy confinement.