Tag Archive for: ramps

Australia Ramps Up Cyber Defence, Aiming to Shield Against Modern Warfare Threats

/in


As the world watches the evolution of warfare in the 21st century, a significant shift is taking place down under. In November 2023, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel alongside defence industry officials congregated in Canberra, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s defence history. This gathering, known as the ADF’s Cyber Skills Challenge, is not just another event; it’s a testament to Australia’s commitment to fortifying its cyber-defence capabilities in an era where digital battlegrounds are as consequential as physical ones.

Strengthening the Cyber Frontline

The urgency to bolster cyber-defence mechanisms has never been more critical, especially in light of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has showcased the extensive use of cyberwarfare. The Australian Department of Defence (DoD), spurred by the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) released in April 2023, is on a mission to overhaul its cyber and information operations. The DSR’s recommendations are clear: to address non-geographic security threats effectively, integrating defence mechanisms for command, control, communications, and computer (C4) networks is imperative. Moreover, centralizing cyber domain capability development and management alongside building a skilled cyber workforce are steps the DoD cannot afford to overlook.

The Path to Cyber Resilience

The ADF’s Cyber Skills Challenge is just the tip of the iceberg in Australia’s comprehensive strategy to navigate the treacherous waters of modern hybrid warfare. With a sizable investment in the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), earmarking $3.4 billion over the next decade, and the initiation of the AUKUS Innovation Challenge focusing on electronic warfare, the momentum is building. These initiatives are complemented by advancements in artificial intelligence, autonomy, and undersea warfare capabilities, underscoring the multifaceted approach Australia is taking to bolster its cyber capabilities and integration with other warfighting domains.

Leadership and Coordination at the Helm

At the heart of this transformative journey is Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness, who…

Source…

Facebook says in-house ‘error’ caused outage; GM ramps up its electrification strategy |

/in


Facebook: internal error led to outage

LONDON — The outage that knocked Facebook and its other platforms offline for hours this week was caused by an error during routine maintenance, the company said.

Santosh Janardhan, vice president of infrastructure, said in an Oct. 5 blog post that Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp going dark was “caused not by malicious activity, but an error of our own making.”

The problem occurred as engineers were carrying out day to day work on Facebook’s global backbone network; the computers, routers and software in its data centers around the world along with the fiber-optic cables connecting them.

“During one of these routine maintenance jobs, a command was issued with the intention to assess the availability of global backbone capacity, which unintentionally took down all the connections in our backbone network, effectively disconnecting Facebook data centers globally,” Janardhan said.

GM spells out its EV sales ambitions

WARREN, Mich. — General Motors plans to cash in as the world switches from combustion engines to battery power, promising to double its annual revenue by 2030 with an array of new electric vehicles, profitable gas-powered cars and trucks, and services such as an electronic driving system that can handle most tasks on the road.

In announcements Oct. 6 ahead of a two-day investor event in Detroit, the company also pledged to unseat Tesla and become the electric vehicle market share leader in U.S., although no time frame was given.

The company also teased upcoming new electric vehicles including a Chevrolet small SUV that will cost around $30,000, as well as electric trucks from Chevrolet and GMC, crossover SUVs from Buick, and luxury vehicles from Cadillac.

The automaker plans to have more than half of its North American and China factories be capable of making electric vehicles by 2030.

GM took in $122.5 billion in revenue in 2020, a year that was depressed by the coronavirus pandemic. Doubling it would be close to $250 billion.

GM, GE to build rare earth supply chain

NEW YORK — General Motors and General Electric are looking at developing a supply chain of rare earth materials that help make electric…

Source…

DigiCOOP delivers cybersecurity lessons as it ramps up shift to digital transactions in rural areas 

/in


TEAMS OF DigiCOOP, the digital platform of the biggest financial cooperative in Mindanao, has started teaching members about cybersecurity alongside the push to shift more transactions online.   

Ana Cuisia, chairman of Taxion Cooperative that provides the DigiCOOP platform to the First Community Credit Cooperative, Inc. (FICCO), said they have found out that scammers have been on the prey for people in rural areas.  

“The team soon realized that transitioning non-digital platform users to the digital space needs to go beyond merely acclimatizing them to the functionalities of an app or a browser-based platform. On the ground, we have heard horror stories about cooperative store owners who unknowingly (or knowingly but with no malicious intent) shared their computer passwords or their own user credentials with outside parties,” she said in a statement.   

The 67-year old FICCO, which has over 400,000 members mostly in Mindanao, launched the DigiCOOP for members in July. It is targeting to have at least 75% or 300,000 of members switch to digital services by the end of the year.  

Ms. Cuisia said they have been conducting orientation and trainings to cooperatives in the countryside, which now include a session on cyber security.  

“Technology and education are the great equalizers of opportunities,” she said.  

DigiCOOP, which can be used through a mobile application or an internet browser, can be used by FICCO members for financial services such as bills payment, loan availment, money transfer, and online purchase.  

Alongside the digital shift, FICCO is also launching 10 digiCOOP Business Centers in Mindanao this year to expand membership. 

Ms. Cuisia said in an email interview that the physical stores will complement the digital platform in terms of attracting more clients who may or may not be able to go online.   

“DigiCOOP would like to cater to the most underserved which may not have access to smartphones or internet connection, and that’s why we have made the services offline too, through the digiCOOP business centers,” she said. — MSJ   

Source…

Russia ramps up cyber warfare as it loses economic footing in Ukraine | TheHill – The Hill

/in

Russia ramps up cyber warfare as it loses economic footing in Ukraine | TheHill  The Hill

Look for Russia to increase its cyber efforts to influence foreign policy and disrupt electoral politics.

“cyber warfare news” – read more