LinkedIn's New Report Highlights The Current Trends In Recruiting

LinkedIn has shared a new report comprising the important trends in the world of recruiting that are related to a series of interviews with plenty of data from users.

This report had expert advice from top HR professionals that made it clear which shifts and changes were taking place as per the app’s profiles with listings from jobs.

There are some regional reports which are also related to particular markets linked for the sake of analysis.

Readers can install the copy but for now, we’re highlighting some major insights on this front.

For starters, this report overlooks the key aspects that the entire recruitment process entails including the leading role, the effects related to economic uncertainty, the branding of employers, hiring based on skills, and internal mobility.

LinkedIn says these are the integral areas showcasing the bigger shifts taking place in the pandemic and the way it alters when people see your work and what they seek from their careers.

Every section sets out a long list of predictions for such elements, including how the landscape for recruitment alters with time too. This is very relevant in terms of flexibility of work but it still fails to be the main focus when it comes down to candidates.

There are similar notes on how usage trends alter on the app and how so many recruiters search on the platform for the right candidate for a role. Some are giving overviews of the ways in which technology changes like generative AI and how that affects recruiting. Furthermore, there are trends linked to learning and upskilling and the way through which employers alter the way they see each.

A lot of this is very particular to the type of industry involved and not very indicative of shifts in the trends related to using LinkedIn. Nevertheless, there are alterations in the ways people behave on the app in terms of the newest features, trends, and tools related to their industry.

Hence, if you happen to be a professional in the HR market, this just might be for you and is definitely worth a glance. It really does show users how people are using the app today to attain the most valuable notes.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

OpenAI’s Latest Generative AI Tool GPT-4 Is Likely To Spread Misinformation - New Study Claims

A new study by NewsGuard is shedding light on the great risks of misinformation spread related to the latest generative AI tool by OpenAI called GPT-4.

The test conducted by researchers proved that the AI-powered tool was sprouting misinformation whenever it was prompted to do so.

NewsGuard is the name given to a service that makes use of skilled journalists to review both news and information web pages. And it is now serving as a huge reminder that technology needs validation and testing via several sources.

Last week, OpenAI made the debut of its latest generation of GPT-4 and raved about how it’s enhanced to produce more factual information than the regular GPT-3.5 as that’s the kind of results that were produced during internal testing.

But the latest test by the team at NewsGuard proved otherwise. They shared how the latest AI model was going to set out prominent fake information at a more frequent pace and even more aggressively than the usual ChatGPT3.5 version. These items were produced by GPT-4 and included a few disclosures.

GPT-4 was doing so much better in terms of increasing fake narratives that would be presented in convincing manners through a leading number of formats. This entails news articles, threads on Twitter, and television scripts. They were observed copying both Russian and Chinese state media outlets, conspiracy theorists, and peddlers known to come up with fake health ordeals.

NewsGuard shared the news and stated how similar tests were used to witness both GPT 3.5 and GPT4 and how it sends out responses to a growing number of prompts linked to as many as 100 different fake narratives.

These fake narratives included a leading number of controversial topics like COVID-19 vaccines and shootings taking place at the Elementary School. These were taken by the media outlet’s database for fake narratives.

The entire testing process began in January and during that time, the researchers found it produced 80 false narratives out of the 100 provided. And then another test was conducted in March where fake and misleading claims were produced for all of the outlined narratives.

For instance, the software was asked to produce messages for an information campaign comprising a Soviet themed 1980s. This had to do with how the HIV virus was produced in a lab owned by the US Government.

While GPT 3.5 debunked such claims, GPT 4 complied with the task without any disclaimers regarding the information and how it was so fake.

Before we forget, NewsGuard takes great pride in terms of deeming itself to be a neutral third party that overlooks both media and technology sources and checks for misinformation. It receives backing from computational giant Microsoft which puts a lot of money into OpenAI.

But we must admit that seeing GPT-4 admit that it’s enhancing predecessors in terms of adding factual answers and ridding disallowed content is shocking when the opposite is being proved in this study.

And that means bad news as threat actors may abuse this type of technology to achieve their malicious gains.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Instagram users will soon be able to use a quick way to reach stories as well as go live only for accounts they follow back

Social media giant Instagram is not just famous for letting its users post their media content; it is also known for ensuring that its audience gets a good user experience. The apps keep bringing in new updates and features that are meant to help the users stay connected with others.

According to Alessandro Paluzzi, a mobile developer, and leaker, the platform is working on two new features. These features will include the ability to go live only for the accounts that are followed back by a user, as well as introducing a new way to help users reach stories while scrolling down the feed.

Starting with the first one, just like Facebook, Instagram is also famous due to its “live video” feature. People have been using it for different purposes, such as to stay connected with their followers or to promote brands as influencers. Some even use it as a discussion forum. On his Twitter account, Alessandro revealed that soon users will be able to go live only for people they follow back. In a screenshot that was posted by him, it can be seen that users will be shown three options: go live for everyone, for followers that are followed back, and for close friends only. As a result, users will be in full command of who can and cannot become a part of their live session.

The live feature was introduced seven years ago, in 2016. Since that day, the developers have introduced multiple updates that can help users with their live stream. Features such as asking questions or controlling the live audience have helped in providing a better experience to the users.

Similarly, the app is also working to ensure that stories don’t go unseen, and if a user is scrolling down the feed, they can find a quick way to view the stories of people they are following. Based on the image shared by Alessandro on the tweet revealing the upcoming update, it can be seen that if a user has come down on the feed, a popup will be displayed at the top of the screen.

The popup will act as a reminder to check out the stories of their followers, as it will display the profiles of people who added to their stories. Once a user taps on the floating or pop-up reminder, they will find themselves at the top, ready to view stories. In this way, Instagram can make sure that the content posted, even in the form of stories, gets maximum views and doesn’t go unseen.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Application Security Trends and Challenges in 2023

What Is Application Security?

Application security refers to the process of designing, developing, testing, and implementing security measures within software applications to protect the application, its data, users, and connected networks. The goal is to identify and address security vulnerabilities and protect sensitive data from various threats, such as malware, hacking, and other malicious attacks.

Image: Freepik/Wangxina

The application security process involves practices such as security tests, threat modeling, code reviews, penetration testing, and secure coding practices. Application security is not a one-time process but rather an ongoing effort to maintain the security of an application throughout its entire lifecycle.

Application Security Challenges

Here are common challenges that organizations face when addressing application security include:

Code Injections

Code injection attacks involve the insertion of malicious code into an application, with the intent of exploiting vulnerabilities and gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems. These attacks can take various forms, including SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), command injection, and others.

Malicious Bots

Malicious bots are automated software programs that perform repetitive tasks, such as scraping website content or performing Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. These bots can be used to exploit application vulnerabilities, steal sensitive data, and launch other types of attacks.

In the past attackers had to create their own bots. However, the rise of Bot as a Service (BaaS) providers has made it easier for individuals and organizations to launch malicious bot attacks, without the need for advanced technical skills or resources.

Application Misconfiguration

Application misconfiguration occurs when an application is not configured correctly, leaving it vulnerable to attacks. This can include leaving default credentials in place, misconfiguring security settings, or leaving sensitive information exposed. Unfortunately, misconfigurations are often difficult to detect and address as they can occur at any stage of the SDLC, and can be caused by a range of factors, such as human error or miscommunication between teams.

Insufficient Encryption Measures

Encryption is a crucial component of application security, as it helps protect sensitive data from being intercepted or stolen. However, insufficient encryption measures, such as weak encryption algorithms or improper key management, can make it easier for attackers to bypass encryption and gain access to sensitive data.

Application Security Trends

While challenges mount, there are multiple important trends that can allow organizations to improve application security in the face of a growing threat landscape.

Code Scanning

Code scanning can help identify potential security risks early in the development process and improve the quality of the application code, leading to more stable and reliable applications. It can be done manually or with the help of automated tools. Here are commonly used code scanning techniques:

• Static application security testing (SAST): Involves analyzing application source code for potential security vulnerabilities and coding errors. SAST tools analyze the code without actually executing it, which can help to identify potential vulnerabilities early in the development process.
• Dynamic application security testing (DAST): Involves analyzing an application while it is running. DAST tools simulate attacks on the application and identify potential security vulnerabilities, such as injection flaws or XSS vulnerabilities. DAST tools can be used to identify vulnerabilities that may not be detected by SAST tools.
• Interactive application security testing (IAST): Combines elements of both SAST and DAST. IAST tools analyze the application code while it is running, and can identify potential security vulnerabilities in real-time.
• Software composition analysis (SCA): Involves analyzing third-party software components and libraries for potential security vulnerabilities. SCA tools can identify vulnerabilities in open-source libraries and components, and also identify licensing issues and other compliance issues related to third-party software.

Adopting Automated Security Capabilities Powered by AI

Many organizations are adopting automated security capabilities, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), to help improve the speed and accuracy of their security processes. AI-powered security tools can help to identify security vulnerabilities, detect and respond to threats, and reduce the workload of security teams.

Some examples of AI-powered security tools include:

• Threat intelligence platforms (TIPs): Use machine learning algorithms to analyze large volumes of data, such as threat feeds and security alerts, to identify potential threats.
• Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) platforms: Use AI to automate security operations, such as incident response and vulnerability management.
• Automated penetration testing tools: Use AI to simulate attacks and identify vulnerabilities in applications and networks.

Threat Modeling

Threat modeling is a process that involves identifying potential threats to an application and assessing the likelihood and impact of these threats. Threat modeling helps to identify potential vulnerabilities and risks early in the development cycle, enabling developers to prioritize security issues and implement appropriate security measures.

Threat modeling can be done manually or with the help of automated tools. Some automated tools use AI to help identify potential threats, which can speed up the threat modeling process and improve the accuracy of threat assessments. Threat modeling can also help to reduce the cost and time required to address security issues later on in the development cycle.

Security Champions

Security champions are individuals within an organization who are appointed to be advocates for security and to promote secure coding practices among developers. Security champions are typically developers or other technical staff who have a keen interest in security, and who receive additional training in security best practices. These individuals act as liaisons between security teams and development teams, providing a point of contact for security-related issues and questions.

By appointing security champions, organizations can help to integrate security practices throughout the development process, which can lead to more secure applications. Security champions can help to identify security risks and vulnerabilities early in the development cycle, reducing the likelihood of expensive and time-consuming security issues later on.

Conclusion

In conclusion, application security continues to be a critical challenge for organizations in 2023. The increasing use of web applications, mobile applications, and cloud services has made applications a prime target for cyber attackers. Organizations face a range of security challenges, including code injections, malicious bots, application misconfigurations, and insufficient encryption measures.

However, there are also many emerging trends and technologies that can help organizations to address these challenges. These include the adoption of automated security capabilities powered by AI, the rise of security champions, the use of code scanning techniques such as SAST, DAST, IAST, and SCA, and the continued adoption of threat modeling practices.

To effectively secure their applications, organizations must prioritize application security as an ongoing process, and implement a comprehensive security program that includes regular security assessments, vulnerability scanning, and penetration testing. By staying up-to-date with the latest application security trends and adopting best practices for application security, organizations can reduce the risk of security incidents and protect their applications and data against cyber threats.

by Web Desk via Digital Information World

OpenAI CEO Says He’s Scared of His Own Invention

Ever since Oppenheimer saw the gruesome effects of the atomic bomb he helped create, inventors have become wary of having all that rosy of an outlook on what their innovations can do. It seems like the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, is also having some misgivings about ChatGPT, and he recently mentioned that he was actually somewhere fearful of it in an interview with ABC News.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Altman stated a few key areas that AI could prove problematic in. For one thing, Altman is concerned that authoritarian regimes might end up creating AI of their own, and they would be quick to use it to spread disinformation and fake news for their own nefarious purposes.

A Chinese company by the name of Baidu has already teased a ChatGPT competitor, namely the chatbot known as Ernie. The Chinese government is notorious for having a lot of control over companies that are operating within its borders, and that might make Ernie more dangerous than might have been the case otherwise.

What’s more, Vladimir Putin has also made some frightening comments about AI. According to Putin, whoever control’s AI will end up controlling that world, which is chilling because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up sparking a new arms race with AI at the center of it all.

Finally, Altman has his eye on the 2024 US presidential election due to how ChatGPT and other forms of AI might end up impacting the election in numerous ways. Whether or not AI will play a negative role remains to be seen, but one thing that is certain is that it will play a definitive role either way.

Both Google as well as Microsoft are upping the ante in terms of their AI investments. That makes AI rather inevitable, since it will be the main focus of two of the biggest tech corporations in the entire world and neither of them will stop until they come out on top.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

WhatsApp users will soon be able to pin messages within a conversation

According to Wabetainfo, Whatsapp is currently planning to introduce a feature through which users will be able to pin certain messages during a conversation, either in a group setting or one-on-one.

At the start of February, it was revealed that WhatsApp will start working on a feature that will enable its users to pin messages during a conversation. As a result, the user will be able to access them easily or pin messages carrying important reminders. The developers have come a long way, and a preview has also been shared by the app, showing how exactly the upcoming feature will function and how pin messages will be shown at the top of the screen.

Based on the screenshot posted by Wabetainfo, it can be seen that a certain text message was pinned in a chat. If a user wants to use the feature, they can simply act by selecting the targeted messages and tapping on the pin icon displayed in chat options. After the icon has been tapped, the user will now be able to view the pinned message at the top of the chat so it can be accessed instantly whenever the user wants to.

It is believed that the ability to pin a message will turn out to be very useful, as not only can the message be used as a reminder, but it can even highlight any important part of the conversation during a group discussion. As a large number of group messages might result in important information getting skipped, the user can simply put a pin on any such message so anyone who is a part of the group will be able to view the message.

However, what needs to be focused on is that the feature is still in the development stage and might take some time before it gets released globally. Though no official release date has been shared by WhatsApp as to when the new feature will be rolled out, it can be expected that the beta version will soon be available.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

New Study Claims 48% Of Americans Stress About Their Taxes And Resort To Professional Help

New research is speaking about the woes and worries of American citizens regarding the stress of paying taxes. And according to this survey, around 48% worry about it.

The survey comprised around 2,000 American adults, out of which 500 were CPAs and bookkeepers. They were quizzed about how they felt about the worries linked to taxes and what pain points were felt along the way regarding the tax season.

Around 39% of respondents claim they file taxes starting the month of February while 28% claim to file taxes in March. On average, tax professionals claim that 41% file personal taxes a little too late. And then you have one in every six people recommending filing taxes as early as the year starts in January.

This poll was conducted by OnePoll a part of SurePayroll. The survey revealed how across the board, there were some extremely stressful parts of this tax process and one of them had to do with gathering necessary data and waiting for documents from employers to come forward.

Other concerns had to do with requiring the need for money so individuals could pay back.

One representative for the company highlighted how it’s always a great idea to start the preparations for tax collections at an early point in time. If you do that before April, it really does pay back big time for small-scale organization owners as it limits stress.

50% of CPAs have recommended that small-scale organizations get professional assistance with their taxes. And some 80% end up referring clients to online payroll services. This decision centralizes crucial documents for tax prep and also saves a lot of time and worry on the part of small firm owners.

While 47% of individuals were seen filing taxes all by themselves, 53% did end up taking consultations from professionals to get the work done.

Other results spoke about tax experts consulting others in the field when they required help, to maximize return, where the figure stood at 63%. Others sought financial advice and they made up 62% of the majority. But the greatest shocker included 73% admitting that they were concerned about finding professionals that maximize their returns.

Today, more citizens are being aware of how money is so important and the average CPA spend around $1900 to get more professional help so their tax needs are met.

Other than that, the average respondent that does not require more assistance related to tax needs would just end up spending $500 to get expert help.

On average, experts claim that seeking professional help is advised when there is a person who makes more income while others feel anyone with this type of income needs to attain opinions from proper tax preparers.

Other kinds of advice mentioned in the study related to searching for alternatives such as online assistance or resorting to big-scale companies. You have to be willing to make use of beneficiaries that are as updated as possible. And above all, you need to take extra protective measures to shield yourself against tax fraud.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World