Security Now (Audio)

This week, Steve and Leo discuss the recent 'Salt Typhoon' hack of U.S. telecom providers by China, TPM 2.0 requirement for Windows 11, Microsoft's newly hacked Windows activation system, Apple patenting AI facial and body recognition, and much more. Steve also shares an intriguing conversation he had with the ChatGPT 4o AI system while working on an update to GRC's DNS Benchmark tool. All telecom providers have been hacked and may still not be safe to use. So now the government is recommending that we use our own encrypted communications. The plan to obsolete all non-TPM 2.0 PCs remains well underway. Microsoft must be feeling the heat, so they're taking time to not apologize. Whoops. Microsoft's product activation system has been fully hacked. All Windows and Office products may now be easily activated without any licensing. Here come the AI patents. Apple patents AI recognizing people by what they're wearing after earlier seeing their faces and noting what they're wearing. Zoom wasn't encrypting their early video conferencing. They're still trying to get out from under the mess their lies created for them. AWS introduces physical data terminal locations where users can go to perform massive data transfers to and from the cloud. The FTC has set its sights on data brokers. Let's hope something comes of it. GRC's email finally gets BIMI. (Can you see the Ruby-G logo?) Lot's a terrific listener feedback about authenticator policy, a new and free point-to-point link service, Tor's "Snowflake", linking PCs and Smartphones, and even recharging spent SodaStream canisters. Then we look at a recent conversation Steve had with "ChatGPT 4o with canvas" and the new plan that resulted Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-1004-Notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Sponsors: lookout.com canary.tools/twit - use code: TWIT bitwarden.com/twit

Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte discuss Microsoft's clarification about AI training data usage, a fascinating breakthrough in understanding autonomous vehicle vulnerabilities, and an urgent call for help from the Tor Network. The show culminates in an in-depth exploration of NASA's incredible Voyager 1 mission, which continues to communicate with Earth from nearly a light-day away despite increasing technical challenges. Microsoft clarifies they are NOT using customer data from Office apps to train AI models "Digital epileptic seizures" caused by flashing emergency vehicle lights can confuse automated driving systems, posing crash risks Tor Network issues urgent call for volunteers to run new WebTunnel bridges to circumvent censorship in Russia Zello asks its 140 million users to change passwords as a precautionary measure, hinting at a possible data breach FTC opens broad antitrust investigation into Microsoft's business practices across software, cloud, cybersecurity, and AI New Android scareware tactic simulates a seriously cracked and malfunctioning smartphone screen Steve argues it's likely safe to leave Wireguard VPN ports open, but he prefers not to out of an abundance of caution Research shows AI training on AI-generated content can lead to homogeneity and loss of diversity in outputs Australia passes world-first law banning children under 16 from social media, with hefty fines for non-compliant platforms NASA's Voyager 1 probe, nearly a light-day from Earth, resumes operations after a communications scare but faces mounting technical challenges as it nears the end of its life Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-1003-Notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Sponsors: Melissa.com/twit bigid.com/securitynow joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT bitwarden.com/twit

What's the new "nearest neighbor" attack and how do you defend against it? Let's Encrypt just turned 10. What changes has it wrought? Now the Coast Guard is worried about Chinese built ship-to-shore cranes. Pakistan becomes the first country to block Bluesky. There's a new way to get Git repos "swatted" and removed. Who's to blame for Palo Alto Networks' serious new 0-day vulnerabilities? If you have any of these six D-Link VPN routers, unplug them immediately! It turns out that VPN apps are against Shariah Law. Who knew? The Return of Windows Recall. What are we learning now? How many of today's systems remain vulnerable to last year's most popular exploits? We share and respond to a bunch of terrific feedback from our listeners. What are Microsoft's "Connected Experience" and why might you choose to disconnect from them? Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-1002-Notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Sponsors: e-e.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit threatlocker.com for Security Now flashpoint.io

How Microsoft lured the US Government into a far deeper and expensive dependency upon its cybersecurity solutions. Gmail to offer native throwaway email aliases like Apple and Mozilla. Russia to ban several additional hosting companies and give its big Internet disconnect switch another test. Russia uses a diabolical Windows flaw to attack Ukrainians. The value of old Security Now episodes. TrueCrypt's successor. Using Cloudflare's Tunnel service for remote network access. How to make a local server appear to be on a remote public IP. How to share an 'impossible to type' password with someone. How to find obscure previous references in the Security Now podcast. What are the parameters for the expected and widely anticipated next generation Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)? What do those in the industry and academia expect? And is OpenAI's Sam Altman completely nuts for predicting it next year? Is it just a stock ploy? Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-1001-Notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Sponsors: bigid.com/securitynow joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT 1password.com/securitynow canary.tools/twit - use code: TWIT