Cybersecurity

Musk ends in-house ‘Dojo’ AI chip programme, shifts focus to external partners

Tesla has reportedly shut down its Dojo supercomputer project following multiple high-profile departures, including that of project head Peter Bannon. CEO Elon Musk ended the AI chip programme, reassigning the remaining staff to other data centre projects.

Dojo aimed to process vehicle data for autonomous driving and reduce Tesla’s reliance on Nvidia and AMD. The project faced delays, with leaders such as Jim Keller, Ganesh Venkataramanan, and Bannon departing before its closure.

About 20 former Dojo employees have joined DensityAI, a stealth startup founded by ex-Tesla staff, which is expected to work on AI chips for robots and data centres. Tesla will now rely more on Nvidia, AMD, and Samsung.

Samsung recently secured a $16.5 billion deal to supply AI chips for Tesla’s self-driving cars, robots, and data centres. Musk said Samsung’s Texas factory will produce Tesla’s AI6 chips, with AI5 chips to be made in 2026.

Musk suggested that combining AI5 and AI6 chips could form a ‘Dojo 3’ system, while Dojo 2 would not launch. The shutdown comes as Tesla restructures, with executive exits, job cuts, and renewed focus on AI integration across Musk’s companies.

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James Cameron warns AI could spark a real-life Terminator apocalypse

James Cameron, the director behind the iconic Terminator franchise, has warned that the real-world use of AI could lead to a catastrophic scenario similar to the series’ apocalyptic Judgement Day.

While Cameron is writing the script for Terminator 7, he has expressed concern that mixing AI with weapons systems, including nuclear defence, poses grave risks.

He explained that the rapid pace of decision-making in such systems might require superintelligent AI to respond quickly. Yet, human error has already brought the world close to disaster in the past.

Cameron also highlighted three major existential threats humanity faces: climate change, nuclear weapons, and superintelligence. He suggested that AI might ultimately offer a solution rather than just a danger, reflecting a nuanced view beyond simple dystopian fears.

His evolving perspective mirrors the Terminator franchise itself, which has long balanced the destructive potential of AI with more hopeful portrayals of technology as a possible saviour.

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AI-generated video misleads as tsunami footage in Japan

An 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula at the end of July triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, including Japan. Despite widespread alerts and precautionary evacuations, the most significant wave recorded in Japan was only 1.3 metres high.

A video showing large waves approaching a Japanese coastline, which went viral with over 39 million views on platforms like Facebook and TikTok, was found to be AI-generated and not genuine footage.

The clip, appearing as if filmed from a plane, was initially posted online months earlier by a YouTube channel specialising in synthetic visuals.

Analysis of the video revealed inconsistencies, including unnatural water movements and a stationary plane, confirming it was fabricated. Additionally, numerous Facebook pages shared the video and linked it to commercial sites, spreading misinformation.

Official reports from Japanese broadcasters confirmed that the actual tsunami waves were much smaller, and no catastrophic damage occurred.

The incident highlights ongoing challenges in combating AI-generated disinformation related to natural disasters, as similar misleading content continues to circulate online during crisis events.

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France telecom exposes millions of customer records

A cyber‑attack on Bouygues Telecom has compromised the personal data of 6.4 million customers. The firm disclosed that a third party accessed personal and contractual information related to certain subscriptions.

Attackers gained access on 4 August and were blocked swiftly after detection, increasing the monitoring of the systems. Exposed data includes contact details, contractual and civil status information, business records for professional clients, and IBANs for affected users.

The cybersecurity breach did not include credit card numbers or passwords. Bouygues sent impacted customers notifications via email or text and advised vigilance against scam calls and messages.

The French data protection authority, the CNIL, has been informed, and a formal complaint has been filed. The company warned that perpetrators face up to five years in prison and a fine of €150,000 under French law.

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German court limits police use of spyware

Germany’s top court has ruled that police can only deploy spyware to monitor devices in cases involving serious crimes, narrowing the scope of surveillance powers introduced in 2017. The decision means spyware can no longer be used for investigating offences with a maximum sentence of three years or less, which judges said fall under ‘basic criminality.’

The case was brought by the digital rights group Digitalcourage, which challenged rules that allowed police to use spyware to intercept encrypted chats and messages. Plaintiffs argued that the measures were too broad and risked exposing the communications of people not under investigation. The court agreed, stating that such surveillance represents a ‘very severe’ intrusion into privacy.

Judges highlighted that spyware not only circumvents security systems but also enables access to vast amounts of sensitive data, including all types of digital communications. They warned that the scale and covert nature of this surveillance go far beyond traditional monitoring methods, threatening both the confidentiality and integrity of personal IT systems.

By restricting the use of spyware to investigations of serious crimes, the ruling places tighter limits on state surveillance in Germany, reinforcing constitutional protections for privacy and digital rights.

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Healthcare cybersecurity failures put patient safety at risk, Modat warns

Over 1.2 million internet-connected healthcare devices and systems that expose patient data have been identified in research by Modat. The United States, South Africa, and Australia topped the list, with vulnerable systems including MRI scanners, CT machines, and hospital management platforms.

Using its Modat Magnify platform, the company identified misconfigurations, weak passwords, and unpatched software as common risks. Some devices had no authentication, while others used factory-default passwords such as ‘admin’ or ‘123456’. Sensitive MRI, dental X-ray, and blood test records were accessed.

Modat worked with Health-ISAC and Dutch CERT Z-CERT for responsible disclosure, alerting organisations to secure exposed systems. CEO Soufian El Yadmani said devices should never be open to the internet without safeguards, warning that remote access must be secure.

The research stressed that healthcare cybersecurity is a patient safety issue. Outdated or unprotected devices could enable fraud, extortion, or network breaches. Regular security checks, asset inventories, and monitoring were recommended to reduce risks.

Founded in 2024, Modat uses its Device DNA dataset to catalogue internet-connected devices globally. It aims to help healthcare and other sectors close the gap between rising cyber threats and effective resilience.

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EU member states clash over the future of encrypted private messaging

The ongoing controversy around the EU’s proposed mandatory scanning of private messages has escalated with the European Parliament intensifying pressure on the Council to reach a formal agreement.

A leaked memo reveals that the Parliament threatens to block the extension of the current voluntary scanning rules unless mandatory chat control is agreed upon.

Denmark, leading the EU Council Presidency, has pushed a more stringent version of the so-called Chat Control law that could become binding as soon as 14 October 2025.

While the Parliament argues the law is essential for protecting children online, many legal experts and rights groups warn the proposal still violates fundamental human rights, particularly the right to privacy and secure communication.

The Council’s Legal Service has repeatedly noted that the draft infringes on these rights since it mandates scanning all private communications, undermining end-to-end encryption that most messaging apps rely on.

Some governments, including Germany and Belgium, remain hesitant or opposed, citing these serious concerns.

Supporters like Italy, Spain, and Hungary have openly backed Denmark’s proposal, signalling a shift in political will towards stricter measures. France’s position has also become more favourable, though internal debate continues.

Opponents warn that weakening encryption could open the door to cyber attacks and foreign interference, while proponents emphasise the urgent need to prevent abuse and close loopholes in existing law.

The next Council meeting in September will be critical in shaping the final form of the regulation.

The dispute highlights the persistent tension between digital privacy and security, reflecting broader European challenges in regulating encrypted communications.

As the October deadline approaches, the EU faces a defining moment in balancing child protection with protecting the confidentiality of citizens’ communications.

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Microsoft Copilot launches GPT-5 Smart Mode for users

Microsoft has upgraded all its Copilot tools with OpenAI’s latest GPT-5 model, now available through a new Smart Mode.

The update brings enhanced speed and better performance across Microsoft 365 Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, GitHub Copilot, and the Windows AI chatbot pre-installed on PCs.

Users can try the Smart Mode via the Copilot website, which can be selected from a model selector below the text input. Notably, a Microsoft account is not required to use this new mode.

The Smart Mode rollout is gradual, and while not yet visible in the Windows Copilot app for everyone, early users have reported that GPT-5 delivers faster and more accurate responses compared to earlier models.

Unlike the free ChatGPT tier that limits queries and switches automatically to older versions after usage caps, Copilot offers fewer restrictions, allowing more extensive use.

Microsoft’s AI Red Team tested GPT-5 thoroughly before release, highlighting its strong safety profile and improved reasoning capabilities.

Microsoft 365 Copilot benefits from GPT-5’s advanced abilities to answer complex questions, maintain coherence over long conversations, assist with email replies, and analyse documents effectively.

GitHub Copilot has also been enhanced with GPT-5, significantly improving reasoning, code quality, and overall user experience. The upgrade positions Microsoft’s AI tools to support developers and professionals across multiple platforms better.

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ShinyHunters breach Google’s Salesforce database

Google has confirmed a data breach during its investigation into the ShinyHunters group, revealing the tech giant was also affected. The attackers accessed a Salesforce database used for storing small business customer information.

The breach exposed business names and contact details during a short window before access was revoked. Google stated no highly sensitive or personal data was compromised.

ShinyHunters used phishing and vishing tactics to trick users into authorising malicious Salesforce apps disguised as legitimate tools. The technique mirrors previous high-profile breaches involving firms like Santander and Ticketmaster.

Google warned the group may escalate operations by launching a data leak site. Organisations are urged to tighten their cybersecurity measures and access controls, train staff and apply multi-factor authentication across all accounts.

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TikTok Shop faces surge in crypto phishing scams

Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting TikTok Shop users through a phishing and malware campaign known as ‘ClickTok‘. The scheme uses fake Meta ads and AI-generated TikTok videos imitating influencers to lure victims to fraudulent domains resembling real sites.

These domains are used to steal credentials and distribute trojanised applications. More than 10,000 fake sites have been identified, luring shoppers with heavily discounted products and urgency tactics such as countdown timers.

Victims are prompted to make payments in Tether, allowing scammers to exploit the irreversible nature of cryptocurrency transactions. The fraudulent storefronts are designed to appear convincing, encouraging rash purchases.

TikTok Shop affiliate members are also being targeted with advance fee scams. Criminals pose as TikTok affiliates on WhatsApp and Telegram, convincing victims to deposit funds into bogus wallets in exchange for fake commission payments.

The report warns that the younger demographic on TikTok, particularly those aged 18 to 34, may be more vulnerable to such schemes. The trend shows scams shifting from Facebook and X to new e-commerce platforms.

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