Honouring UN Peacekeepers: Safeguarding Peace in a Changing World
Introduction
Today, on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, we honour the brave individuals who risk their lives to uphold peace in the world’s most fragile and conflict-ridden regions. These peacekeepers are symbols of hope, diplomacy, and resilience. But as the world changes, so do the arenas of conflict. In today’s interconnected age, peace and safety are no longer confined to physical spaces—they extend to the digital realm. As we commemorate their service, we must also reflect on the new frontlines of peacekeeping: the internet, where misinformation, cyberattacks, and digital hate threaten stability every day.
The Legacy of UN Peacekeepers
Since 1948, UN Peacekeepers have served in over 70 missions, protecting civilians, facilitating political processes, and rebuilding societies. From conflict zones in Africa to the Balkans, they’ve worked in the toughest terrains to keep the peace. Their role is built on neutrality, integrity, and international cooperation. But as hybrid warfare becomes more prominent and digital threats increasingly influence real-world violence, the peacekeeping mandate must evolve. Traditional missions are now accompanied by the need to understand and respond to digital disruptions that can escalate local tensions or undermine democratic institutions.
The Digital Battlefield
In recent years, we’ve seen how misinformation, deepfakes, online radicalisation, and coordinated cyberattacks can destabilise peace processes. Disinformation campaigns can polarise communities, hinder humanitarian efforts, and provoke violence. Peacekeepers now face the added challenge of navigating conflict zones where digital tools are weaponised. The line between physical and virtual conflict is blurring. Cybersecurity has gone beyond being just a technical issue and is now a peace and security issue as well. From securing communication systems to monitoring digital hate speech that could incite violence, peacekeeping must now include digital vigilance and strategic digital diplomacy.
Building a Culture of Peace Online
Safeguarding peace today also means protecting people from harm in the digital space. Governments, tech companies, civil society, and international organisations must come together to build digital resilience. This includes investing in digital literacy, combating online misinformation, and protecting human rights in cyberspace. Peacekeepers may not wear blue helmets online, but their spirit lives on in every effort to make the internet a safer, kinder, and more truthful place. The role of youth, educators, and responsible digital citizens has never been more crucial. A culture of peace must be cultivated both offline and online.
Conclusion: A Renewed Pledge for Peace
On this UN Peacekeepers’ Day, let us not only honour those who have served and sacrificed but also renew our commitment to peace in all its dimensions. The world’s conflicts are evolving, and so must our response. As we support peacekeepers on the ground, let’s also become peacebuilders in the digital world, amplifying truth, rejecting hate, and building safer, inclusive communities online. Peace today is not just about silencing guns but also silencing disinformation. The call for peace is louder than ever. Let’s answer it, both offline and online.
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Introduction
According to a new McAfee survey, 88% of American customers believe that cybercriminals will utilize artificial intelligence to "create compelling online scams" over the festive period. In the meanwhile, 31% believe it will be more difficult to determine whether messages from merchants or delivery services are genuine, while 57% believe phishing emails and texts will be more credible. The study, which was conducted in September 2023 in the United States, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan, yielded 7,100 responses. Some people may decide to cut back on their online shopping as a result of their worries about AI; among those surveyed, 19% stated they would do so this year.
In 2024, McAfee predicts a rise in AI-driven scams on social media, with cybercriminals using advanced tools to create convincing fake content, exploiting celebrity and influencer identities. Deepfake technology may worsen cyberbullying, enabling the creation of realistic fake content. Charity fraud is expected to rise, leveraging AI to set up fake charity sites. AI's use by cybercriminals will accelerate the development of advanced malware, phishing, and voice/visual cloning scams targeting mobile devices. The 2024 Olympic Games are seen as a breeding ground for scams, with cybercriminals targeting fans for tickets, travel, and exclusive content.
AI Scams' Increase on Social Media
Cybercriminals plan to use strong artificial intelligence capabilities to control social media by 2024. These applications become networking goldmines because they make it possible to create realistic images, videos, and audio. Anticipate the exploitation of influencers and popular identities by cybercriminals.
AI-powered Deepfakes and the Rise in Cyberbullying
The negative turn that cyberbullying might take in 2024 with the use of counterfeit technology is one trend to be concerned about. This cutting-edge technique is freely accessible to youngsters, who can use it to produce eerily convincing synthetic content that compromises victims' privacy, identities, and wellness.
In addition to sharing false information, cyberbullies have the ability to alter public photographs and re-share edited, detailed versions, which exacerbates the suffering done to children and their families. The study issues a warning, stating that deepfake technology would probably cause online harassment to take a negative turn. With this sophisticated tool, young adults may now generate frighteningly accurate synthetic content in addition to using it for fun. The increasing severity of these deceptive pictures and phrases can cause serious, long-lasting harm to children and their families, impairing their identity, privacy, and overall happiness.
Evolvement of GenAI Fraud in 2023
We simply cannot get enough of these persistent frauds and fake emails. People in general are now rather adept at [recognizing] those that are used extensively. But if they become more precise, such as by utilizing AI-generated audio to seem like a loved one's distress call or information that is highly personal to the person, users should be much more cautious about them. The rise in popularity of generative AIs brings with it a new wrinkle, as hackers can utilize these systems to refine their attacks:
- Writing communications more skillfully in order to deceive consumers into sending sensitive information, clicking on a link, or uploading a file.
- Recreate emails and business websites as realistically as possible to prevent arousing concern in the minds of the perpetrators.
- People's faces and voices can be cloned, and deepfakes of sounds or images can be created that are undetectable to the target audience. a problem that has the potential to greatly influence schemes like CEO fraud.
- Because generative AIs can now hold conversations, and respond to victims efficiently.
- Conduct psychological manipulation initiatives more quickly, with less money spent, and with greater complexity and difficulty in detecting them. AI generative already in use in the market can write texts, clone voices, or generate images and program websites.
AI Hastens the Development of Malware and Scams
Even while artificial intelligence (AI) has many uses, cybercriminals are becoming more and more dangerous with it. Artificial intelligence facilitates the rapid creation of sophisticated malware, illicit web pages, and plausible phishing and smishing emails. As these risks become more accessible, mobile devices will be attacked more frequently, with a particular emphasis on audio and visual impersonation schemes.
Olympic Games: A Haven for Scammers
The 2024 Olympic Games are seen as a breeding ground for scams, with cybercriminals targeting fans for tickets, travel, and exclusive content. Cybercriminals are skilled at profiting from big occasions, and the buzz that will surround the 2024 Olympic Games around the world will make it an ideal time for scams. Con artists will take advantage of customers' excitement by focusing on followers who are ready to purchase tickets, arrange travel, obtain special content, and take part in giveaways. During this prominent event, vigilance is essential to avoid an invasion of one's personal records and financial data.
Development of McAfee’s own bot to assist users in screening potential scammers and authenticators for messages they receive
Precisely such kind of technology is under the process of development by McAfee. It's critical to emphasize that solving the issue is a continuous process. AI is being manipulated by bad actors and thus, one of the tricksters can pull off is to exploit the fact that consumers fall for various ruses as parameters to train advanced algorithms. Thus, the con artists may make use of the gadgets, test them on big user bases, and improve with time.
Conclusion
According to the McAfee report, 88% of American customers are consistently concerned about AI-driven internet frauds that target them around the holidays. Social networking poses a growing threat to users' privacy. By 2024, hackers hope to take advantage of AI skills and use deepfake technology to exacerbate harassment. By mimicking voices and faces for intricate schemes, generative AI advances complex fraud. The surge in charitable fraud affects both social and financial aspects, and the 2024 Olympic Games could serve as a haven for scammers. The creation of McAfee's screening bot highlights the ongoing struggle against developing AI threats and highlights the need for continuous modification and increased user comprehension in order to combat increasingly complex cyber deception.
References
- https://www.fonearena.com/blog/412579/deepfake-surge-ai-scams-2024.html
- https://cxotoday.com/press-release/mcafee-reveals-2024-cybersecurity-predictions-advancement-of-ai-shapes-the-future-of-online-scams/#:~:text=McAfee%20Corp.%2C%20a%20global%20leader,and%20increasingly%20sophisticated%20cyber%20scams.
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets-news/deep-fakes-ai-scams-and-other-tools-cybercriminals-could-use-to-steal-your-money-and-personal-details-in-2024/articleshow/106126288.cms
- https://digiday.com/media-buying/mcafees-cto-on-ai-and-the-cat-and-mouse-game-with-holiday-scams/
Overview:
It is worth stating that millions of Windows users around the world are facing the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) problem that makes systems shutdown or restart. This has been attributed to a CrowdStrike update that was released recently and has impacted many organizations, financial institutions, and government agencies across the globe. Indian airlines have also reported disruptions on X (formerly Twitter), informing passengers about the issue.
Understanding Blue Screen of Death:
Blue Screen errors, also known as black screen errors or STOP code errors, can occur due to critical issues forcing Windows to shut down or restart. You may encounter messages like "Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer." These errors can be caused by hardware or software problems.
Impact on Industries
Some of the large U. S. airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines had to issue ground stops because of communication problems. Also, several airports on Friday suffered a massive technical issue in check-in kiosks for IndiGo, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, and Air India Express.
The Widespread Issue
The issue seems widespread and is causing disruption across the board as Windows PCs are deployed at workplaces and other public entities like airlines, banks, and even media companies. It has been pointed out that Windows PCs use a special cybersecurity solution from a company called CrowdStrike that seems to be the culprit for this outage, affecting most Windows PC users out there.
Microsoft's Response
The issue was acknowledged by Microsoft and the mitigations are underway. The company in its verified X handle Microsoft 365 status has shared a series information on the latest outage and they are looking into the matter. The issue is under investigation.
In one of the posts from Microsoft Azure, it is mentioned that they have become aware of an issue affecting Virtual Machines (VMs) running Windows Client and Windows Server with the CrowdStrike Falcon agent installed. These VMs may encounter a bug check (BSOD) and become stuck in a restarting state. Their analysis indicates that this issue started approximately at 19:00 UTC on July 18th. They have provided recommendations as follows:
Restore from Backup: In case customers have available backups prior to 19:00 UTC on July 18th, they should recover VM data from the backups. If the customer is using Azure Backup, they can get exact steps on how to restore VM data in the Azure portal. here.
Offline OS Disk Repair: Alternatively, customers can attempt offline repair of the OS disk by attaching an unmanaged disk to the affected VM. Encrypted disks may require additional steps to unlock before repair. Once attached, delete the following file:
Windows/System/System32/Drivers/CrowdStrike/C00000291*.sys
After deletion, reattach the disk to the original VM.
Microsoft Azure is actively investigating additional mitigation options for affected customers. We will provide updates as we gather more information.
Resolving Blue Screen Errors in Windows
Windows 11 & Windows 10:
Blue Screen errors can stem from both hardware and software issues. If new hardware was added before the error, try removing it and restarting your PC. If restarting is difficult, start your PC in Safe Mode.
To Start in Safe Mode:
From Settings:
Open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
Under "Advanced startup," select Restart now.
After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
After your PC restarts, you'll see a list of options. Select 4 or press F4 to start in Safe Mode. If you need to use the internet, select 5 or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.
From the Sign-in Screen:
Restart your PC. When you get to the sign-in screen, hold the Shift key down while you select Power > Restart.
After your PC restarts, follow the steps above.
From a Black or Blank Screen:
Press the power button to turn off your device, then turn it back on. Repeat this two more times.
After the third time, your device will start in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
From the Choose an option screen, follow the steps to enter Safe Mode.
Additional Help:
Windows Update: Ensure your system has the latest patches.
Blue Screen Troubleshooter: In Windows, open Get Help, type Troubleshoot BSOD error, and follow the guided walkthrough.
Online Troubleshooting: Visit Microsoft's support page and follow the recommendations under "Recommended Help."
If none of those steps help to resolve your Blue Screen error, please try the Blue Screen Troubleshooter in the Get Help app:
- In Windows, open Get Help.
- In the Get Help app, type Troubleshoot BSOD error.
- Follow the guided walkthrough in the Get Help app.
[Note: If you're not on a Windows device, you can run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter on your browser by going to Contact Microsoft Support and typing Troubleshoot BSOD error. Then follow the guided walkthrough under "Recommended Help."]
For detailed steps and further assistance, please refer to the Microsoft support portal or contact their support team.
CrowdStrike’s Response:
In the statement given by CrowdStrike, they have clearly mentioned it is not any cyberattack and their resources are working to fix the issue on Windows. Further, they have identified the deployment issue and fixed the same. Crowdstrike mentions about their problematic versions as follows:
- “Channel file "C-00000291*.sys" with timestamp of 0527 UTC or later is the reverted (good) version.
- Channel file "C-00000291*.sys" with timestamp of 0409 UTC is the problematic version.
Note: It is normal for multiple "C-00000291*.sys files to be present in the CrowdStrike directory - as long as one of the files in the folder has a timestamp of 0527 UTC or later, that will be the active content.”
The CrowdStrike will be providing latest updates on the same and advises their customers and organizations to contact their officials officially to get latest updates and accurate information. It is encouraged to refer to customer’s support portal for further help.
Stay safe and ensure regular backups to mitigate the impact of such issues.
References:
https://status.cloud.microsoft/
https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/statement-on-falcon-content-update-for-windows-hosts/
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Executive Summary:
A widely used news on social media is that a 3D model of Chanakya, supposedly made by Magadha DS University matches with MS Dhoni. However, fact-checking reveals that it is a 3D model of MS Dhoni not Chanakya. This MS Dhoni-3D model was created by artist Ankur Khatri and Magadha DS University does not appear to exist in the World. Khatri uploaded the model on ArtStation, calling it an MS Dhoni similarity study.
Claims:
The image being shared is claimed to be a 3D rendering of the ancient philosopher Chanakya created by Magadha DS University. However, people are noticing a striking similarity to the Indian cricketer MS Dhoni in the image.
Fact Check:
After receiving the post, we ran a reverse image search on the image. We landed on a Portfolio of a freelance character model named Ankur Khatri. We found the viral image over there and he gave a headline to the work as “MS Dhoni likeness study”. We also found some other character models in his portfolio.
Subsequently, we searched for the mentioned University which was named as Magadha DS University. But found no University with the same name, instead the name is Magadh University and it is located in Bodhgaya, Bihar. We searched the internet for any model, made by Magadh University but found nothing. The next step was to conduct an analysis on the Freelance Character artist profile, where we found that he has a dedicated Instagram channel where he posted a detailed video of his creative process that resulted in the MS Dhoni character model.
We concluded that the viral image is not a reconstruction of Indian philosopher Chanakya but a reconstruction of Cricketer MS Dhoni created by an artist named Ankur Khatri, not any University named Magadha DS.
Conclusion:
The viral claim that the 3D model is a recreation of the ancient philosopher Chanakya by a university called Magadha DS University is False and Misleading. In reality, the model is a digital artwork of former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni, created by artist Ankur Khatri. There is no evidence of a Magadha DS University existence. There is a university named Magadh University in Bodh Gaya, Bihar despite its similar name, we found no evidence in the model's creation. Therefore, the claim is debunked, and the image is confirmed to be a depiction of MS Dhoni, not Chanakya.
