Nissan is investigating cyberattack and potential data breach
Japanese car maker Nissan is investigating a cyberattack that targeted its systems in Australia and New Zealand, which may have let hackers access personal information. Details of the attack have not been published but the company informed customers of its Nissan Oceania division of a potential data breach, warning them that there is a risk of scams in the upcoming days. Nissan Oceania is a regional division of the famous Japanese automaker that covers distribution, marketing, sales, and services in Australia and New Zealand.
Microsoft Hires New CISO in Major Security Shakeup
Microsoft security boss Charlie Bell has quietly executed a major shakeup of the software giant’s security hierarchy, removing the CISO and Deputy CISO and handing the reins to Igor Tsyganskiy, a recent hire who previously served as CTO and President at asset management giant Bridgewater Associates. Tsyganskiy, who joined Redmond just four months ago, will take over the CISO responsibilities from Bret Arsenault and help guide the company through a new ‘Secure Future Initiative’ that promises faster cloud patches, better management of identity signing keys and a commitment to ship software with a higher default security bar.
Belgian man charged with smuggling sanctioned military tech to Russia and China
A Belgian man has been arrested and charged for his role in a years-long smuggling scheme to export military-grade electronics from the US to Russia and China. Belgian law enforcement detained Hans Maria De Geetere, 61, and five others for questioning on December 5. The US Justice Department also unsealed two indictments charging De Geetere and others with illegally exporting millions of dollars worth of US electronics – used in missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare receivers, and military radar – to entities in China and Russia.
Facebook Messenger Rolls Out End-to-End Encryption by Default
Meta is rolling out end-to-end encryption for personal messages and calls on Messenger and Facebook, finally delivering on a pledge it committed to some time ago. Messenger encryption originally arrived in 2016 in the form of “secret conversations,” and plans to extend the platform’s cryptographic features have been floated ever since. According to Loredana Crisan, Head of Messenger, Meta is only now turning on end-to-end encryption for all messages and calls between two people after years spent “rebuilding Messenger features from the ground up.”
McDonald’s will use Google AI to make sure your fries are fresh, or something?
McDonald’s is partnering with Google to deploy generative AI beginning in 2024, when “thousands” of stores will get hardware and software upgrades. Along with updates to other systems including ordering kiosks and the company’s mobile app, McDonald’s will be able to use generative AI on massive amounts of data to optimize operations. At least one outcome will be — according to the company — “hotter, fresher food” for customers. Large orders of fries delivered hot, thanks to large language models? It’s not completely clear what that means, but we can read between the lines: expect more AI-driven automation at a drive-through near you in the coming years.
