Tag Archive for: Qualcomm

A Flaw in Millions of Apple, AMD, and Qualcomm GPUs Could Expose AI Data


As more companies ramp up development of artificial intelligence systems, they are increasingly turning to graphics processing unit (GPU) chips for the computing power they need to run large language models (LLMs) and to crunch data quickly at massive scale. Between video game processing and AI, demand for GPUs has never been higher, and chipmakers are rushing to bolster supply. In new findings released today, though, researchers are highlighting a vulnerability in multiple brands and models of mainstream GPUs—including Apple, Qualcomm, and AMD chips—that could allow an attacker to steal large quantities of data from a GPU’s memory.

The silicon industry has spent years refining the security of central processing units, or CPUs, so they don’t leak data in memory even when they are built to optimize for speed. However, since GPUs were designed for raw graphics processing power, they haven’t been architected to the same degree with data privacy as a priority. As generative AI and other machine learning applications expand the uses of these chips, though, researchers from New York–based security firm Trail of Bits say that vulnerabilities in GPUs are an increasingly urgent concern.

“There is a broader security concern about these GPUs not being as secure as they should be and leaking a significant amount of data,” Heidy Khlaaf, Trail of Bits’ engineering director for AI and machine learning assurance, tells WIRED. “We’re looking at anywhere from 5 megabytes to 180 megabytes. In the CPU world, even a bit is too much to reveal.”

To exploit the vulnerability, which the researchers call LeftoverLocals, attackers would need to already have established some amount of operating system access on a target’s device. Modern computers and servers are specifically designed to silo data so multiple users can share the same processing resources without being able to access each others’ data. But a LeftoverLocals attack breaks down these walls. Exploiting the vulnerability would allow a hacker to exfiltrate data they shouldn’t be able to access from the local memory of vulnerable GPUs, exposing whatever data happens to be there for the taking, which could include queries…

Source…

T-MOBILE THE RE CARRIER: ending autopay discount and putting you at risk!



Qualcomm dives into handheld gaming, powering new device in partnership with Razer


What new bells and whistles might be coming to top-tier Android smartphones next year?

Qualcomm, whose mobile processors power some 2 billion handsets worldwide, gave a few hints this week at its annual Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii.

The San Diego company introduced technologies that deliver faster 5G and Wi-Fi, crisper photos, always-on cameras and CD-quality “lossless” Bluetooth audio, among other things.

It also added a few surprises, including a standalone mobile gaming device and a revamped branding campaign that seeks to make the Snapdragon name as well-known as “Intel Inside.”

Here are a few things to know about this week’s event.

Gonzo gaming

There are 2.5 billion mobile gamers worldwide, and they spend a lot of money on their preferred entertainment. Qualcomm estimates the amount at $90 billion to $120 billion a year.

The company has long touted its sharp graphics and fast processing for gamers on smartphones. Now it’s working with gaming hardware outfit Razer on a standalone, handheld gaming device. which includes a cooling fan for better performance.

Qualcomm isn’t making any devices. It’s simply providing a design template to enable electronics makers to more easily roll out gaming devices based on Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon G3x Gaming Platform.

“Let’s say you are connected to a 5G network, and you’re doing multi-player gaming,” said Alex Katouzian, senior vice president of mobile, compute and infrastructure at Qualcomm. “That is when immersive audio is very important. The fan is very important because now you can push the envelope of performance to a higher level. You can attach to a TV. Fast charging capability is on there as well.”

5G, cameras, AI and security

For smartphones, Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor can theoretically reach 10-gigabit per second download speeds — though that’s unlikely in real life because of network congestion and other things. Still, it’s faster than Qualcomm’s earlier generations of 5G processors.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 also delivers the fastest version of Wi-Fi, which reaches 3.7 gigabits per second.

Its artificial intelligence engines help power natural language processing, the scanning of documents…

Source…

Qualcomm beefs up phone security with Smart Protect platform