Both the CEO and the AI analysts are issuing warnings that cybersecurity vulnerabilities not only have the potential to expose a large amount of personal data but may also allow criminals to cause chaos on the internet.
On Wednesday, OpenAI stated that its agent helped to identify a serious cybersecurity vulnerability. Two “critical” flaws were found in the infrastructure of PHP, an open-source programming language that is used by approximately 70% of websites.
The following are some views from industry insiders on the current greatest cybersecurity threats.
Jason Clinton, Anthropic Deputy Chief Information Security Officer
Deputy Security Officer Jason Clinton warned that a "vulnerability tsunami" is on the way, stating that critical infrastructure has not yet kept up.
Clinton posted on X on Wednesday, stating that "critical infrastructure needs to be patched" before core network vulnerabilities are exploited. On Thursday, he issued another warning to businesses.
"The situation has been very bad over the past 4 days, but it will get even worse before it starts to improve," he wrote.
"Security responsible person, never let a crisis go to waste: please seek help from the board of directors now. Not for AI, but for the essential work. (We need to hold on for about another 18 months.)" he added.
Andrew Curran, AI analysts
Well-known analyst Andrew Curran also expressed his views on various cybersecurity threats during the period from Wednesday to Thursday.
"Regarding potential attacks on energy, food, and water infrastructure, this threat is quite real. There are people currently probing the infrastructure and testing its boundaries, which is a tangible threat. Even a little preparation would be helpful in such a situation," Curran wrote in response to a cybersecurity alert from the United States National Security Agency (NSA) on Wednesday regarding the threat actors.
On Thursday, Curran also mentioned the incident of Quest Diagnostics being hacked. He said that this company provides services to “about half” of the hospitals and doctors in the United States.
Matt Shumer, AI Investors
In February this year, Matt Shumer, the former CEO of Hyperwrite, published an article that went viral on his own website, titled "Something Big Is Happening". In it, he warned that the massive impact brought about by AI could potentially overthrow the world order.
Shumer on Thursday published another article on their own website and on LinkedIn. This time, the article was titled " The Internet Is Under Attack . Here's How to Protect Yourself and Your Family ."
"At this very moment, as you read these words, a large number of AI intelligents are likely attempting to invade the websites you are using. Not just one, but many," writes Shumer. "We are in one of the greatest moments of cybersecurity in many years."
The following are the possible scenarios mentioned by Shumer:
Your information has been leaked; scammers know your name, birthday, address, and bank details. The calls and texts they send out sound very authentic. You used the same password for a website you’ve accessed for many years, which has led to your account being taken over. Services such as apps you rely on, pharmacy websites, or store websites could be paralyzed for several days. It’s important to note that these situations are already happening, but the worst-case scenarios that people fear have not yet occurred. I hope they never do. However, it’s best to be cautious, especially since such incidents are likely to continue to happen.
Shumer also lists four self-protection methods, including updating all software, and during the period when the company and website are undergoing security updates, it is advisable to avoid visiting unfamiliar websites as much as possible.
He also advised people to be particularly cautious about any verification codes and links they receive in order to protect their bank accounts. People should also "close doors that are not in use", unplug the power from smart devices, and delete unused applications.
"Every connected device represents another entry point," writes Shumer.
Marc Benioff, Salesforce Chief Executive Officer
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff agreed with Anthropic's Jason Clinton viewpoint in his post on Thursday.
“Jason is 100% correct. Red alert activated,” Benioff wrote, attaching a red alert emoji.
