Tech Today: Security Flaws, AI Ethics, and Ambitious Space Projects
Security Vulnerabilities Resurface
Researchers have discovered that Microsoft Secure Boot protections have been circumventable for roughly a decade due to old shim loaders that were never properly revoked, allowing potential attackers to bypass the security feature.
Read more: Microsoft's Secure Boot has been broken for a decade and no one noticed until now
AI Coding Assistant Exposed User Data
Researchers discovered that SpaceXAI's Grok Build AI coding assistant was transmitting users' complete code repositories to Google Cloud, including files explicitly excluded from processing and deleted secrets, before the company disabled the feature.
Read more: SpaceXAI's Grok programming tool was uploading its users' entire codebase to cloud storage
Social Platforms Under Scrutiny for Deepfake Content
A study reveals that YouTube and X are serving as promotional channels for "nudify" applications that create nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfakes, with some services costing as little as $1 per image.
Read more: YouTube and X Have Become 'Gateways' to Nudify Apps
Google DeepMind CEO Calls for Global AI Oversight
Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, is advocating for a global AI watchdog with authority to evaluate and potentially halt dangerous frontier AI models before release, with the US leading the initiative due to its economic and technical standing.
Read more: Google's Demis Hassabis says it's time for a global AI watchdog — led by the US
US Approves Controversial Mirror Satellite
The FCC has authorized Reflect Orbital to launch the Eärendil-1 mirror satellite, designed to reflect sunlight and illuminate Earth at night, drawing criticism from astronomers who warn the project poses an existential threat to optical astronomy.
New York Enacts First Data Center Moratorium
Governor Kathy Hochul has signed an executive order placing a one-year moratorium on new environmental permits for hyperscale data centers exceeding 50 megawatts, making New York the first state to restrict data center development amid concerns over energy prices and environmental impact.
Read more: New York becomes the first state to enact a data center moratorium