cryptography - Tech News from Simmons Systems

Tech News from Simmons Systems

cryptography

A collection of 15 posts

Encrypted Prompt Injection Trick Makes Grok Leak User Data

A researcher at security firm Adversa discovers a simple technique, dubbed Cryptographic Context Injection, that bypasses Grok's safety guardrails and forces the chatbot to steal user chats and other personal information. Instead of writing malicious instructions in plaintext, an attacker encrypts them and hosts the ciphertext on a

AI Model Mythos Uncovers Crypto Flaw That Ends HAWK's Bid as US Standard

HAWK, a digital signature scheme designed to resist attacks from quantum computers, is no longer under consideration as a US cryptographic standard after Anthropic's Mythos AI security model uncovers a flaw in its mathematical foundations. HAWK survives two prior rounds of evaluation by NIST and enters a third

quantum computing

White House Accelerates Quantum-Safe Encryption Deadline to 2030

The White House issues a new executive order that drastically accelerates the deadline for government agencies and organizations to transition to quantum-resistant encryption systems. The order, titled "Securing the Nation against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks," requires high-value assets and high-impact systems to adopt post-quantum cryptographic key establishment by December

SandboxAQ Raises $500 Million to Tackle Quantum Security Threats

Alphabet spinoff SandboxAQ secures $500 million to build commercial products that combine artificial intelligence and quantum computing. The startup focuses heavily on helping enterprises and governments upgrade cryptographic defenses against future quantum attacks.

google deepmind

DeepMind AI Discovers Faster Sorting and Cryptography Algorithms

Google DeepMind's new AI system, AlphaDev, discovers faster methods for sorting data and generating cryptographic hashes, with the new code already integrated into standard C++ libraries.

Apple's New Child Safety Features Create Encryption Backdoor

Apple introduces new iCloud and iMessage features to scan for child exploitation material, effectively building a backdoor into its encrypted systems. The move marks a shocking reversal for the company's longstanding privacy leadership.

Apple Faces Backlash Over New Child Safety Scanning Features

Apple announces three new child safety initiatives, but features scanning iCloud Photos and Messages draw intense scrutiny from privacy advocates. Critics argue the technology creates a dangerous slippery slope for user privacy.

Apple's Client-Side Photo Scanning Algorithm Reverse-Engineered

Security researchers successfully reverse-engineer Apple's NeuralHash algorithm, discovering it already exists in iOS 14.3 and exposing critical vulnerabilities that allow for hash collisions.

Experts Warn Apple's CSAM Scanning System Lacks Crucial Accountability

Security researchers argue that Apple's newly announced iCloud photo scanning system lacks necessary accountability mechanisms to verify its safety. They warn that without cryptographic transparency, the privacy claims surrounding the CSAM detection tool remain unproven.

Zoom Unveils Four-Phase End-to-End Encryption Plan for Enhanced Security

Zoom publishes a draft design for end-to-end encryption on GitHub, aiming to protect users from outsiders and insiders through a structured four-phase approach.

contact tracing

French Security Researchers Warn of Surveillance Risks in Contact Tracing Apps

Hundreds of French cryptography experts urge parliament to mandate privacy safeguards before approving the StopCovid contact-tracing app. The letter highlights significant surveillance vulnerabilities in both centralized and decentralized tracking protocols.

Apple and Google Strengthen Privacy in Joint Virus Exposure Tech

Apple and Google update their joint coronavirus contact tracing system with stronger privacy protections and new developer flexibility. The companies now call the technology "exposure notification" to better clarify its specific role.

Microsoft Patches Critical Windows Crypto Flaw Flagged by the NSA

Microsoft's January 2020 Patch Tuesday addresses 49 vulnerabilities, headlined by a critical Windows CryptoAPI flaw disclosed by the NSA. Experts urge immediate patching due to the unprecedented nature of the government's public warning.

Bitcoin Prices Plummet Amid Fears Over Google's Quantum Computing Advance

Bitcoin drops below $7,500 as investors react to Google's quantum computing milestone and Mark Zuckerberg's shaky Libra testimony. The crash shatters hopes that $8,000 would serve as a price floor for the struggling digital currency.

self-sovereign identity

Decentralized Self-Sovereign Identity Promises to End Traditional Documents

Self-sovereign identity aims to put control of personal documents like passports and driver's licenses directly into the hands of individuals through decentralized technology. This system replaces physical paperwork with cryptographic attestations stored on a shared global network.