The problem is not just that misinformation exists on social media, but that it is more popular than factual content. Laura Edelson, a Ph.D. candidate at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, confirmed this problem in an appearance on the CBS program Sunday Morning. “Facebook is a user-interaction maximizing machine… that’s what Facebook is built...
Author: Lois Anne DeLong (Lois Anne DeLong)
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NYU Researcher Addresses Congress on Disinformation
On September 28, 2021, Laura Edelson, co-leader of the Cybersecurity for Democracy project at NYU’s Center for Cybersecurity testified before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Edelson, who is also a Ph.D. candidate in computer science at NYU Tandon, was part of a panel providing input on “The Disinformation Black...
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CCS researchers find Github CoPilot generates vulnerable code 40% of the time
A recent study by cybersecurity researchers at NYU Tandon finds that a significant amount of the code generated by Github CoPilot programming assistant is, at best, buggy, and at worst, potentially vulnerable to attack. The researchers drew their conclusion after creating 89 potential scenarios and having CoPilot output 1,692 programs. When these programs were reviewed,...
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Facebook Disables Ad Observatory; Academicians and Journalists Fire Back
Since September 15 of 2020, the Ad Observatory has been an effective resource for journalists and academicians seeking information about the placement and targeting of ads on social media. In doing so, the project increased transparency about what messages are being used, who is funding each ad, and how much is being spent to disseminate...
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Cappos: To end ransomware attacks, stop paying ransom
Ransomware attacks are on the rise and a primary reason why is that such attacks are profitable. Therefore, to stop the crime, make sure it doesn’t pay. In a July 9 article in Yahoo Finance, NYU associate professor Justin Cappos notes that, “if no one had ever paid ransom for ransomware…then it would have faded...
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DM webinar looks at threats to supply chain security
Recent cyber attacks, such as SolarWinds, highlight the vulnerability of industrial supply chains. Given the high visibility of these attacks, it’s not surprising that a four-part webinar series on cybersecurity challenges in 3D manufacturing would include a look at how to deal with this issue. The July 1 event featured Dr. Satish Bukkapatnam of Texas...
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To close the cybersecurity talent gap, open new entry paths
How will we find the workforce needed to fill the currently more than 3 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally? Dr. Nasir Memon suggests the key is to open the profession to a wider cross-section of individuals. At a June 10 SecureWorld event on meeting the increasing demand for trained cybersecurity professionals, the co-founder of NYU’s...
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Cappos talks cyber protection for cars and companies in NYU “Braniacs” Segment
Justin Cappos, an NYU associate professor of computer science and engineering, was featured in a segment of NYUs Braniacs. Cappos highlighted two of his secure projects: Uptane, which protects the computing units in car, and in-toto that secures software supply chains for companies. You can watch the brief segments here. The Cappos interview begins at...
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Hack3D Summer Challenge kicks off CSAW Season
While the annual CSAW competition is still several months away, a new competition called the Hack 3D Summer Challenge, served as a calling card for the main event. The summer session, which focused on growing security concerns in the field of additive manufacturing, invited student to “test the security limits in additive manufacturing and to...
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Cybersecurity strategy for vehicles marks a pair of firsts
Onboard computing units in cars are a desirable target for hackers. Defensive strategies are out there, but many automotive manufacturers and suppliers are not equipped to choose between them. To make the differences between available options clearer, the Uptane project recently announced the availability of two new educational resources. On June 12, Uptane, a secure...