The use of deepfakes to impersonate high-level officials in the U.S. presents a growing security challenge. Deepfakes also disrupt corporate boardrooms and family living rooms. Advances in artificial intelligence mean it's easier and cheaper than ever before to create lifelike audio and video. These deepfakes can be used for gaining access to sensitive systems, for committing corporate espionage and for stealing national security secrets. But the size and scope of the problem are also prompting research into the best ways to counter it. Tech companies say new programs will help governments, businesses and everyday people detect deepfakes and ensure the people they see on the screen are who they say they are.
Car dealerships across North America are still wrestling with disruptions that started last week. CDK Global, a company that provides software for thousands of auto dealers in the U.S. and Canada, was hit by back-to-back cyberattacks on Wednesday. That led to an outage that continues to impact operations. Prospective car buyers have faced delays at dealerships or seen vehicle orders written up by hand. There’s no immediate end in sight, but CDK says it expects the restoration process to take several days to complete. On Monday, Group 1 Automotive Inc., a $4 billion automotive retailer, said that it continued to use “alternative processes” to sell cars to its customers.