News of the Cyber World

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White House Surveillance Program Lets Law Enforcement Snoop on Trillions of American Phone Records

A Wired investigation has revealed a secret White House surveillance program that permits federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to access an extensive array of U.S. phone records. Known as Data Analytical Services (DAS), this program functions in partnership with telecom giant AT&T, offering a comprehensive analysis of American call records to law enforcement agencies at all levels of government. This deal not only involves direct phone contacts of criminal suspects but extends to their social networks as well, snooping on individuals who have not been suspected of any criminal activity at all.

For over a decade, DAS has been tracking more than a trillion domestic phone records annually. The program, previously referred to as Hemisphere, has evolved to use a technique called chain analysis. This method doesn’t limit itself to direct contacts of suspects; it also scrutinizes connections of those individuals, expanding its reach to a broader network of people, including innocent bystanders.

The program’s methodology significantly differs from traditional wiretapping, which requires a warrant based on probable cause. DAS instead relies on AT&T’s records, which include details like the names of callers and recipients, phone numbers, and the dates and times of calls. Interestingly, AT&T is not mandated by law to store these records for extended periods, yet it does so, highlighting a voluntary cooperation that benefits law enforcement.

The scale of DAS is enormous, encompassing records that crisscross the entire United States through AT&T’s infrastructure. Despite the vastness of its operation, the program has largely flown under the radar, with minimal public awareness until recently. This secrecy is compounded by the fact that the White House, exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, oversees the program, further reducing public visibility into its workings.

Iran-Backed Hackers Take Control of Pennsylvania Water Station

The Iranian group loaded the water station’s computer screens with messages saying “Down with Israel!” and “Every equipment ‘Made in Israel’ Is Cyber Av3ngers legal target.”

The station attacked by the Iranian hackers is part of the water pressure system for Raccoon and Potter Townships in Pennsylvania.

According to Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa board chairman Matthew Mottes, alarms were triggered as soon as the system was compromised, and the water quality of the two townships was never in serious danger.

Mottes said the water booster station uses equipment made by Unitronics, an automation company headquartered in Israel. The compromised system was disabled for safety as soon as the hack was detected.

Security Week said footage broadcast by a local news station suggests the target of the hack was a Unitronics Vision system, “a programmable logic controller (PLC) with an integrated human-machine interface (HMI).”

“Unitronics Vision products have been known to be affected by critical vulnerabilities that could expose devices to attacks,” Security Week said. “On the other hand, HMIs are often left exposed to the Internet and are accessible without authentication, making them an easy target even for low-skilled threat actors.”

Bill Gates Forecasts a 3 Day Workweek in the Age of AI

Business Insider reports that in a recent episode of the podcast What Now? With Trevor Noah, Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, delved into the potential of artificial intelligence. Gates emphasized that the evolution of AI could lead to a drastic reduction in the traditional work week, possibly limiting it to merely three days. His views reflect a growing recognition of AI’s capacity to reshape not just the workplace but also the very fabric of our daily lives.
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“If you zoom out, the purpose of life is not just to do jobs,” he remarked, suggesting a future where machines take on more tasks, allowing humans more leisure time and possibly redefining our societal values and goals.

This concept aligns with Gates’ broader perspective on technology’s role in society. Earlier this year, he underscored the vast potential of AI in enhancing productivity, healthcare, and education. He also spoke about AI-powered personal assistants, or “agents,” capable of assisting in virtually any life aspect. The vision Gates lays out is one where AI acts as a catalyst for a more efficient, health-focused, and educated society.

Gates has already given the public into his potential nightmare future where AI does all the thinking for people. In October, Gates unveiled AI “agents” that will pick movies, shows, and podcasts for their users.

However, Gates is aware of the challenges and disruptions that accompany technological shifts. He acknowledges that job displacement is a natural outcome of new technologies, citing the decrease in the number of farmers in recent generations as an example. Yet, he remains optimistic, stating, “If [changes] proceed at a reasonable pace and the government helps those who need to learn new things, then it’s all good.”

First of all, doesn't it all sound an awful lot like  HAL2000?
By the way, you might wanna know that Bill Gates owns lots of farm lands in the US and several African countries.