Today’s tech news roundup:
- AI: Bumble will leverage AI
- Big Tech: Google returns to Wayback
- Cybersecurity: hackers must hack
AI for dating? Bumble thinks it could work
Many people find writing their bios a challenge. It’s even more stressful when your romantic options could depend on it. Bumble CEO Lidiane Jones said, “People are very anxious when they’re creating profiles. We’re going to make it as easy as possible.” That’s why the dating app is exploring AI-powered tools to help them write their profile bios and start conversations. The company is also planning a photo curation tool to suggest the best selfie options from a user’s camera roll.
Why it matters: In July, rival Tinder launched an AI-powered photo-selection feature. Bumble has a third of Tinder’s paid users (9.6 million vs. 2.8 million), so it has to do something to increase its market share. Apps like Grammarly, Jasper, and Copy.ai have proven that Artificial intelligence can improve everyday writing without losing the personality of an individual. But he also has the power to make everything sound the same, which could backfire on him.
Further reading: TechRadar; TechCrunch; Mashable
Google replaces cached results with links to the Internet Archive
In February, Google quietly began removing the ability to view cached search results pages. Before we even had a chance to notice its absence, Google partnered with The Internet Archive to display web pages from its collection of billions of stored web pages. The Internet Archive has been storing web pages since 1996 with the goal of archiving and preserving digital content online.
Why it matters: This change is more advantageous than the option to view Google’s cached version of the page, because Google has only kept the most recent version. Internet Archive takes multiple snapshots over the lifetime of a webpage so that users can view the history of changes over time. For example, Yahoo Home Page has changed considerably over the past 30 years.
Further reading: The Verge; Engadget; 9 to 5 Google; Internet Archive blog post
Hacker group targets developers with fake recruitment tests
It is not uncommon for companies to ask job seekers to take a test to demonstrate that they have the skills needed for the job. Unfortunately, this has allowed members of Lazarus Hacker Group to trick developers into downloading malware. Victims believe they are conducting a technical interview with a leading financial institution. In reality, they are communicating with members of the North Korean hacking group. Once there, the unsuspecting interviewee downloads modified versions of Python libraries that launch command-and-control attacks on the developer’s system.
Why it matters: IT professionals may believe they are above social engineeringBut no one is safe. Social engineering also works best when defenses are down. Job searching is a stressful task, especially during a prolonged search. The hacking group contacted their targets via LinkedIn, so the attackers would know how long their targets had been unemployed. They also create a sense of urgency by adding time limits to tests, which can prevent an otherwise cautious user from running proper security scans. Stay vigilant!
Further reading: Beeping computer; SC Magazine; Hacker News
