Riyadh Hosts Black Hat...World's Fastest-Growing Cybersecurity Event

Riyadh Hosts Black Hat...World's Fastest-Growing Cybersecurity Event
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Riyadh Hosts Black Hat...World's Fastest-Growing Cybersecurity Event

Riyadh Hosts Black Hat...World's Fastest-Growing Cybersecurity Event

The Black Hat 23 cybersecurity event is set to launch for the second consecutive year at Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center on November 14.

The three-day event, organized by the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones in collaboration with Tahaluf, bears the captivating theme "Infosec on the Edge" and will feature the participation of distinguished experts, speakers, security researchers, and investors.

The second Riyadh-hosted Black Hat encompasses a wide range of significant stages, including the Executive Summit, where chief information security officers (CISOs) and executives come together to exchange insight and experiences while discussing the future of the cybersecurity sector.

The Business Hall serves as the largest gathering of prominent local and global cybersecurity companies, allowing them to showcase their products and services. The CISO Club is a consortium tailored for sector leaders, providing them exclusive access to valuable resources and activities associated with the Black Hat event, SPA reported.

The event features Arsenal, a dedicated space where developers participate in workshops focused on exploring open-source programming and encryption tools, pushing the boundaries of cybersecurity possibilities. The Deep Dive Stage delves into unexplored opportunities in the field.

The Black Hat Campus for Students connects entry-level individuals with educational and employment entities. There are technical workshops that cover the latest research and studies in information security. The event offers intensive training sessions on defensive security techniques, hack testing methods, mobile app security, and several other related topics.

The CyberSeed Competition at Black Hat presents four startup awards, which include the Innovative Ideator category for pre-revenue startups with promising ideas, Shining Seedling for early-stage revenue-generating startups, Established Excellence for experienced startups, and Saudi Superstar for recognizing cybersecurity talent in Saudi Arabia.

The event will feature a lineup of cybersecurity experts hailing from prominent international companies including Uber, Snap Inc., Apple, Zoom, Google, Coinbase, Boom, Airbus, Bae Systems, SocialProof Security, and a wide spectrum of other companies.

This year's Activity Zone offers a chance to win substantial awards exceeding SAR 1,000,000 across various challenges and competitions. These include Capture the Flag with more than 1,000 participants, Bug Bounty Cup, Lockpick Village, Chip Off Village, Drone Zone, and Smart City Simulation and Smart Contract Hacking.

Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones CEO Mutaib Al-Qani emphasized the significance of the event. “Black Hat offers a valuable opportunity for investors, startups, and anyone interested in engaging with influential leaders in the cybersecurity sector,” he said. “This year, we aim to offer a unique edition by providing platforms and sessions that delve into the future of cybersecurity, along with a range of novel and diverse events.”

The second Riyadh-hosted Black Hat anticipates over 40,000 experts, 350 exhibitors, 300 speakers, 50 startups, and more than 150 briefings, making it as an unmissable event in the cybersecurity realm.



OpenAI Finds More Chinese Groups Using ChatGPT for Malicious Purposes

FILE PHOTO: OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken February 8, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken February 8, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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OpenAI Finds More Chinese Groups Using ChatGPT for Malicious Purposes

FILE PHOTO: OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken February 8, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken February 8, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

OpenAI is seeing an increasing number of Chinese groups using its artificial intelligence technology for covert operations, which the ChatGPT maker described in a report released Thursday.

While the scope and tactics employed by these groups have expanded, the operations detected were generally small in scale and targeted limited audiences, the San Francisco-based startup said, according to Reuters.

Since ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late 2022, there have been concerns about the potential consequences of generative AI technology, which can quickly and easily produce human-like text, imagery and audio.

OpenAI regularly releases reports on malicious activity it detects on its platform, such as creating and debugging malware, or generating fake content for websites and social media platforms.

In one example, OpenAI banned ChatGPT accounts that generated social media posts on political and geopolitical topics relevant to China, including criticism of a Taiwan-centric video game, false accusations against a Pakistani activist, and content related to the closure of USAID.

Some content also criticized US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, generating X posts, such as "Tariffs make imported goods outrageously expensive, yet the government splurges on overseas aid. Who's supposed to keep eating?".

In another example, China-linked threat actors used AI to support various phases of their cyber operations, including open-source research, script modification, troubleshooting system configurations, and development of tools for password brute forcing and social media automation.

A third example OpenAI found was a China-origin influence operation that generated polarized social media content supporting both sides of divisive topics within US political discourse, including text and AI-generated profile images.

China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on OpenAI's findings.

OpenAI has cemented its position as one of the world's most valuable private companies after announcing a $40 billion funding round valuing the company at $300 billion.