
Nearly half of all internet traffic is now bots, study reveals
Nearly half of all internet traffic came from bots last year, according to new research. Figures from cyber security firm Imperva revealed a significant increase in automated and malicious web activity in 2022, with the proportion of human traffic falling to its lowest level in eight years. The company noted that so-called “bad bots” were at their highest level since it started tracking the trend in 2013. Bot activity is expected to increase even further this year, the researchers claimed, due to the arrival of generative AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard. “Bots have evolved rapidly since 2013, but with the advent of generative artificial intelligence, the technology will evolve at an even greater, more concerning pace over the next 10 years,” said Karl Triebes, a senior vice president at Imperva. “Cyber criminals will increase their focus on attacking API endpoints and application business logic with sophisticated automation. As a result, the business disruption and financial impact associated with bad bots will become even more significant in the coming years.” Bad bot activity can include anything from spam that clogs up email inboxes, to advanced systems that carry out brute force attacks to hack into people’s emails or online accounts. Some bots even mimic human behaviour in order to avoid being detected by security software. Another worrying trend noted in the report was the rise of bots used in warfare, with a 145 per cent spike in automated attacks targeting Ukrainian web applications in early 2022. These were likely designed to disrupt the country’s critical infrastructure, ranging from energy and telecom, to transport and financial sectors. “Every organisation, regardless of size or industry, should be concerned about the rising volume of bad bots across the internet,” said Triebes. “Year-over-year, the proportion of bot traffic is growing and the disruptions caused by malicious automation results in tangible business risks – from brand reputation issues to reduced online sales and security risks for web applications, mobile apps, and APIs.” Read More Why tech bosses are doomsday prepping ChatGPT is finally connected to the web 75% of Irish data watchdog’s GDPR decisions since 2018 overruled – report Nasa’s AI gives ‘30 minutes of advance warning’ before solar superstorms strike Earth
1970-01-01 08:00

Florida teacher says she is under investigation after showing 5th grade class Disney movie with gay character
A fifth-grade teacher said she is being investigated by the Florida Department of Education after she showed her students "Strange World," a 2022 animated Disney movie featuring a character who is biracial and gay.
1970-01-01 08:00

Scientist breaks world record for longest time living underwater
A scientist has broken the world record for living underwater after spending 74 days living in a habitat 30 feet (9 metres) below a Florida lagoon. Former naval officer Dr Joseph Dituri is the first person to live that long that far underwater without depressurisation, with plans to remain in Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo until 9 June as part of a 100 day mission dubbed Project Neptune 100. The mission combines educational outreach with medical and ocean research, with scientists keen to see what impact sustained exposure to such pressure will have on the human body. One hypothesis is that the increased pressure – roughly 1.6-times that of the surface pressure – will lead to improvements in health, while also potentially having an impact on key indicators related to disease and longevity. “We know for sure that when you’re exposed to about half the pressure that I am right now, you double the number of circulating stem cells,” Dr Dituri told The Independent via video chat in April. “I will have longer telomeres – potentially reversing ageing – and I will also gain bone density and muscle when I’m down here.” Scientists also estimate he may lose around an inch in height during the mission due to the pressure exerted on his body – in the same way that astronauts grow around 3 per cent taller after spending time in the weightlessness of space. Dr Dituri’s 74th day residing in the underwater lodge was similar to previous days spent there since he submerged on 1 March. The university professor, who also goes by the moniker “Dr. Deep Sea,” ate a protein-heavy meal of eggs and salmon prepared using a microwave, exercised with resistance bands, did his daily pushups and took an hour-long nap. Unlike a submarine, the lodge does not use technology to adjust for the increased underwater pressure. The previous record of 73 days, two hours and 34 minutes was set by two Tennessee professors – Bruce Cantrell and Jessica Fain – at the same location in 2014. “The record is a small bump and I really appreciate it. I’m honoured to have it, but we still have more science to do,” Dr Dituri said. “The idea here is to populate the world’s oceans, to take care of them by living in them and really treating them well.” While he says he loves living under the ocean, there is one thing he really misses. “The thing that I miss the most about being on the surface is literally the Sun,” he said. “The sun has been a major factor in my life – I usually go to the gym at five and then I come back out and watch the sunrise.” During his time underwater, Dr Dituri also claims to have discovered a brand new species. “We found a single-cell ciliate, a single-celled organism that we believe is a brand new species to science,” Dr Dituri said. “People have dived in this area thousands and thousands of times – it’s been here, we just didn’t look.” Additional reporting from agencies Read More Woman talks to past self in ‘trippy’ conversation after feeding childhood journals to AI Nearly half of all internet traffic is now bots, study reveals ChatGPT is finally connected to the web 75% of Irish data watchdog’s GDPR decisions since 2018 overruled – report
1970-01-01 08:00

Oakland teachers, school district reach tentative agreement to end strike
More than a week after educators first hit the picket line, the Oakland Education Association, which represents public school teachers in Oakland, California, announced Monday morning it has reached a tentative agreement with the Oakland Unified School District, ending the strike and sending some 35,000 students back to class.
1970-01-01 08:00

Africa’s Biggest Mobile Firm Plans New $320 Million Fiber Cable
MTN Group Ltd., Africa’s biggest mobile-phone operator, plans to build a $320 million inland fiber cable to connect
1970-01-01 08:00

World’s Biggest Plant for Ethanol Jet Fuel Expected to Open in 2025
Honeywell International Inc. and Summit Agricultural Group are partnering to build the world’s largest plant making ethanol-based aviation
1970-01-01 08:00

The man behind ChatGPT is about to have his moment on Capitol Hill
For a few months in 2017, there were rumors that Sam Altman was planning to run for governor of California. Instead, he kept his day job as one of Silicon Valley's most influential investors and entrepreneurs.
1970-01-01 08:00

DeSantis signs bill to defund DEI programs at Florida public colleges
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed legislation to defund diversity, equity and inclusion programs at all state universities, which he called a "distraction from the core mission."
1970-01-01 08:00

SpaceX hires former NASA human spaceflight chief for Starship role
By Joey Roulette WASHINGTON Elon Musk's SpaceX has tapped NASA's former human spaceflight boss Kathy Lueders to help
1970-01-01 08:00

DeSantis defunds diversity programs at Florida public colleges
By Rich McKay Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday banning tax dollars from being used
1970-01-01 08:00

DeSantis curtails diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Florida state colleges
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that blocks public colleges from using federal or state funding on diversity programs, addressing a concern of conservatives ahead of the Republican governor’s expected presidential candidacy
1970-01-01 08:00

Adobe Photoshop Review
Photoshop started the digital image manipulation revolution more than 30 years ago, and Adobe's groundbreaking
1970-01-01 08:00