CYBERSECURITY17 Iranians Charged in Major Cybercrime Case in New York

By Bethany Blankley, The Center Square

Seventeen Iranian men have been charged in a cybercrime case being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The accused are members of the Mabna Institute, an Iranian-based company known for hacking U.S. higher education institutions and private sector companies on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

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AVIATION SECURITYResearchers Use a Physical Device to Take Over Electronics in a Boeing 737

By Ioana Patringenaru

Computer science researchers developed and tested a device that, if plugged into a hardwired communications channel connecting two key flight computers, can take over communications between these computers.

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POWER-GRID PROTECTIONFighting AI with AI to keep the lights on

By Magdalena Krajewski

A process key to protecting our nation’s electrical grid is getting smarter and faster. have been working on a system that uses generative AI and large language models to both detect and locate cyber-physical threats to the electrical grid.

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INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTIONHow Hackers Attack Municipal Water Systems – and Why the Utilities Are So Vulnerable

By William Akoto

There are about 152,000 public drinking water systems in the United States. Many utilities operate with small staffs, so remote connections allow an employee to monitor a distant pump or tank, receive an alarm after hours or let a vendor diagnose equipment without traveling to every site. Remote control reduces site-management cost, but increases vulnerability to hacking.

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DEEPFAKESReliably Detecting and Clearly Explaining Deepfake Images

Artificial intelligence can now generate images that are virtually indistinguishable from real ones. Researchers have developed RealorRender, a tool that not only specifically detects such deepfakes but also explains why an image is classified as real or AI-generated. The new hybrid approach significantly improves detection accuracy, while explainable AI processes ensure transparent results.

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AISpy Agencies Say AI Can Help Combat AI Cyber Risks. But Don’t Forget the Basics

By Toby Murray

Defenders should assume their adversaries already have access to AI on par with that used for cyber defense. Only by investing in strong foundations can they hope to escape the cat-and-mouse AI cyber arms race.

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CYBERSECURITYOld Dominion University Launches First Ph.D. in Cybersecurity in Virginia

By Kelsey Kendall

For years, professionals seeking a doctorate in cybersecurity had few options beyond computer science or engineering. Old Dominion University is opening a new path. The Ph.D. program will highlight the interdisciplinary nature of the rapidly evolving field of cybersecurity, with artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. 

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