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Jun 22, 2024 • 5 min read

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Amtrak Data Breach
Apple Open Sources ML Models

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Amtrak Data Breach:

Amtrak has reported a data breach affecting users of its Guest Rewards program. According to a notice filed with the state of Massachusetts, an unknown third party accessed users' account information from May 15-18 using compromised usernames and passwords from previous breaches. Amtrak clarified that its systems were not directly hacked. The accessed data included names, contact information, Guest Rewards account numbers, dates of birth, partial credit card numbers and expiration dates, gift card information, and details about transactions and trips.
In some instances, hackers changed emails and passwords to lock out legitimate users. Amtrak responded by restoring the original email addresses and resetting the affected passwords. While Amtrak did not specify the number of affected accounts, it urged users to change their passwords and enable multifactor authentication (MFA) to enhance security. Stuart Wells, CTO of Jumio, noted that travel loyalty programs are a lucrative target for cybercriminals, who can sell the stolen points on the Dark Web or convert them into tickets.
This is not Amtrak's first data breach involving Guest Rewards accounts. In 2020, the company disclosed a similar breach where some personal information was viewed, but the threat actor was quickly removed from the system. Wells emphasized the importance of businesses adopting advanced verification technologies to protect user data. He suggested that biometric verification methods could prevent unauthorized access, as they require more than just credentials, thereby offering a robust solution to combat fraud.

Apple Open Sources ML Models:

Apple has made a notable move by contributing 20 new Core Machine Learning (ML) models to the open-source AI repository Hugging Face. Open sourcing software means making the source code of a software project publicly available so that anyone can view, use, modify, and distribute it. By open sourcing their AI models, Apple is allowing developers and researchers worldwide to access, study, and build upon their work.
In April 2024, Apple initially shared four Open Source Efficient LLMs (OpenELMs) on Hugging Face, a platform known for hosting, training, and collaboratively improving AI models. This latest update, which includes 20 new Core ML models and a series of datasets, significantly expands Apple's contributions on the platform. Clement Delangue, co-founder and CEO of Hugging Face, emphasized that these new models focus on text and image processing tasks such as image classification and depth segmentation.
Apple's decision to open source these models reflects a strategic shift towards embracing the collaborative nature of the AI community. It demonstrates their willingness to share advancements and leverage the collective expertise of global developers to push the boundaries of what AI can achieve. By contributing to open-source projects, Apple not only enhances its own AI capabilities but also strengthens the entire AI ecosystem.
The release of these models allows developers to easily incorporate advanced AI into their projects. They can "copy and paste" the code, modify it to fit their needs, and deploy it in various applications, from improving image recognition in apps to developing new natural language processing tools. This accessibility accelerates the pace of AI development and helps create more robust and diverse AI applications across different industries.

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