NEWS
Clubhouse “Leak” Might Be a Simple Data Scrape
A data leak of Clubhouse member information has been reported. The information consists of publicly available data and does not consist of sensitive information like passwords. The so-called leak may actually be just a scrape of publicly available information.
Data Leak
A data leak is generally described as a breach that exposes private, confidential and sensitive information. The data leak typically happens because of a security lapse that compromises hidden information.
According to reports about the so-called data leak, all of the information that was obtained is not sensitive and is publicly available.
Report of Clubhouse “Data Leak”
A report in Cybernews.com states that there has been a data leak at Clubhouse, a popular social media app that is available to Apple users only.
According to the Cybernews report:
“…it looks like now it’s Clubhouse’s turn. The upstart platform seems to have experienced the same fate, with an SQL database containing 1.3 million Clubhouse user records leaked for free on a popular hacker forum.”
Was Confidential Information Leaked?
The so-called data leak does not seem to feature any confidential information. All of the information appears to be publicly available data that does not require a hack to obtain.
This is the list of the kind of (publicly available) data that Cybernews reported was leaked:
- “User ID
- Name
- Photo URL
- Username
- Twitter handle
- Instagram handle
- Number of followers
- Number of people followed by the user
- Account creation date
- Invited by user profile name”
Possibly Not a Data Leak
Security researcher and technology blogger Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) questioned whether this was a leak at all. She suggested that it resembles a simple automated download of public information.
Jane Manchun Wong is a technology blogger and security analyst who frequently posts breaking news related to the technology industry and has been profiled on top media sites like CNN, CNET and The Next Web. She’s been awarded four times by the Facebook Bug Bounty program for discovering vulnerabilities.
Jane tweeted that the Clubhouse leak appears to be a data scrape of publicly available information.
A scrape is when a software is able to download public information from a website, like member information or even just the content. It’s like an automated browser that downloads public information.
In this case the scraper was able to download public user information one by one. What made this scraping possible was apparently Clubhouse creates and stores user information in numerical order.
Every time a user creates an account they’re assigned a user number that corresponds to them. The next person to register is assigned a number that is one digit higher. Someone who wants to download user information can easily guess what the member numbers are and use a software called a scraper to download the public information.
Because the member numbers are in numerical order the scraper can simply look up each account number one by one and download the public member information.
This is how Jane describes it in a tweet:
“Not seeing any private info in this “leaked data” of Clubhouse
The user IDs are numerical. So it just seems like someone scraped the data by hitting Clubhouse’s private API, iterating from user ID 1 to beyond”
Jane remarked on how this lacked the technical sophistication of actual hacks:
“Honestly this “hack” is not very impressive at all. Like wow, you looped the API from 1 to 2 to 3 for the otherwise publicly available data. Wow, very technically challenging”
Jane added quotes to the phrases “leaked data” and “hack” presumably to call into question the validity of calling this a “leak” and a “hack.”
A data leak consists of private and sensitive data, not public data that is available to anyone.
She followed up with this tweet:
“Data of 1 Clubhouse profile, including name, social media handles, profile picture, followers/following count, and more, apparently posted on Twitter
The source of this leak told me this is done by opening Clubhouse app, viewing the profile of the victim, and taking a screenshot”
Twitter members who were following Jane’s discussion tweeted satirical responses indicating how underwhelmed they were by the so-called “hack” of publicly available content:
OMG it works here too 😆🥴 pic.twitter.com/invBPAXWc8
— Herman Couwenbergh (@Hermaniak) April 11, 2021
OH NOOOOOOOO
— linusbeardstan69420 (@linusbeardstan) April 11, 2021
GASP
— karraaayyyy (@smallkittylove) April 11, 2021
Others questioned how it’s a big deal to download public information:
is it really illegal then? finding access to a private API and calling it so easily is on Clubhouse
— Journey To A Million Net Worth (@JourneytoMilly) April 11, 2021
using my skills to hack some public data into my computer
— 🌦 (@zemnmez) April 11, 2021
Why This May Not be a Data Leak of Clubhouse
None of the information is private or sensitive. All of the information is publicly available. The method used to obtain the information appears to not have been due to a security lapse. According to security researcher Jane Manchun Wong this appears to be a relatively unsophisticated download of publicly available information.
Citations
Jane Manchun Wong Explains Clubhouse “Leak” on Twitter
Clubhouse Data Leak: 1.3 Million User Records Leaked Online for Free
NEWS
OpenAI Introduces Fine-Tuning for GPT-4 and Enabling Customized AI Models
OpenAI has today announced the release of fine-tuning capabilities for its flagship GPT-4 large language model, marking a significant milestone in the AI landscape. This new functionality empowers developers to create tailored versions of GPT-4 to suit specialized use cases, enhancing the model’s utility across various industries.
Fine-tuning has long been a desired feature for developers who require more control over AI behavior, and with this update, OpenAI delivers on that demand. The ability to fine-tune GPT-4 allows businesses and developers to refine the model’s responses to better align with specific requirements, whether for customer service, content generation, technical support, or other unique applications.
Why Fine-Tuning Matters
GPT-4 is a very flexible model that can handle many different tasks. However, some businesses and developers need more specialized AI that matches their specific language, style, and needs. Fine-tuning helps with this by letting them adjust GPT-4 using custom data. For example, companies can train a fine-tuned model to keep a consistent brand tone or focus on industry-specific language.
Fine-tuning also offers improvements in areas like response accuracy and context comprehension. For use cases where nuanced understanding or specialized knowledge is crucial, this can be a game-changer. Models can be taught to better grasp intricate details, improving their effectiveness in sectors such as legal analysis, medical advice, or technical writing.
Key Features of GPT-4 Fine-Tuning
The fine-tuning process leverages OpenAI’s established tools, but now it is optimized for GPT-4’s advanced architecture. Notable features include:
- Enhanced Customization: Developers can precisely influence the model’s behavior and knowledge base.
- Consistency in Output: Fine-tuned models can be made to maintain consistent formatting, tone, or responses, essential for professional applications.
- Higher Efficiency: Compared to training models from scratch, fine-tuning GPT-4 allows organizations to deploy sophisticated AI with reduced time and computational cost.
Additionally, OpenAI has emphasized ease of use with this feature. The fine-tuning workflow is designed to be accessible even to teams with limited AI experience, reducing barriers to customization. For more advanced users, OpenAI provides granular control options to achieve highly specialized outputs.
Implications for the Future
The launch of fine-tuning capabilities for GPT-4 signals a broader shift toward more user-centric AI development. As businesses increasingly adopt AI, the demand for models that can cater to specific business needs, without compromising on performance, will continue to grow. OpenAI’s move positions GPT-4 as a flexible and adaptable tool that can be refined to deliver optimal value in any given scenario.
By offering fine-tuning, OpenAI not only enhances GPT-4’s appeal but also reinforces the model’s role as a leading AI solution across diverse sectors. From startups seeking to automate niche tasks to large enterprises looking to scale intelligent systems, GPT-4’s fine-tuning capability provides a powerful resource for driving innovation.
OpenAI announced that fine-tuning GPT-4o will cost $25 for every million tokens used during training. After the model is set up, it will cost $3.75 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens. To help developers get started, OpenAI is offering 1 million free training tokens per day for GPT-4o and 2 million free tokens per day for GPT-4o mini until September 23. This makes it easier for developers to try out the fine-tuning service.
As AI continues to evolve, OpenAI’s focus on customization and adaptability with GPT-4 represents a critical step in making advanced AI accessible, scalable, and more aligned with real-world applications. This new capability is expected to accelerate the adoption of AI across industries, creating a new wave of AI-driven solutions tailored to specific challenges and opportunities.
This Week in Search News: Simple and Easy-to-Read Update
Here’s what happened in the world of Google and search engines this week:
1. Google’s June 2024 Spam Update
Google finished rolling out its June 2024 spam update over a period of seven days. This update aims to reduce spammy content in search results.
2. Changes to Google Search Interface
Google has removed the continuous scroll feature for search results. Instead, it’s back to the old system of pages.
3. New Features and Tests
- Link Cards: Google is testing link cards at the top of AI-generated overviews.
- Health Overviews: There are more AI-generated health overviews showing up in search results.
- Local Panels: Google is testing AI overviews in local information panels.
4. Search Rankings and Quality
- Improving Rankings: Google said it can improve its search ranking system but will only do so on a large scale.
- Measuring Quality: Google’s Elizabeth Tucker shared how they measure search quality.
5. Advice for Content Creators
- Brand Names in Reviews: Google advises not to avoid mentioning brand names in review content.
- Fixing 404 Pages: Google explained when it’s important to fix 404 error pages.
6. New Search Features in Google Chrome
Google Chrome for mobile devices has added several new search features to enhance user experience.
7. New Tests and Features in Google Search
- Credit Card Widget: Google is testing a new widget for credit card information in search results.
- Sliding Search Results: When making a new search query, the results might slide to the right.
8. Bing’s New Feature
Bing is now using AI to write “People Also Ask” questions in search results.
9. Local Search Ranking Factors
Menu items and popular times might be factors that influence local search rankings on Google.
10. Google Ads Updates
- Query Matching and Brand Controls: Google Ads updated its query matching and brand controls, and advertisers are happy with these changes.
- Lead Credits: Google will automate lead credits for Local Service Ads. Google says this is a good change, but some advertisers are worried.
- tROAS Insights Box: Google Ads is testing a new insights box for tROAS (Target Return on Ad Spend) in Performance Max and Standard Shopping campaigns.
- WordPress Tag Code: There is a new conversion code for Google Ads on WordPress sites.
These updates highlight how Google and other search engines are continuously evolving to improve user experience and provide better advertising tools.
Facebook Faces Yet Another Outage: Platform Encounters Technical Issues Again
Uppdated: It seems that today’s issues with Facebook haven’t affected as many users as the last time. A smaller group of people appears to be impacted this time around, which is a relief compared to the larger incident before. Nevertheless, it’s still frustrating for those affected, and hopefully, the issues will be resolved soon by the Facebook team.
Facebook had another problem today (March 20, 2024). According to Downdetector, a website that shows when other websites are not working, many people had trouble using Facebook.
This isn’t the first time Facebook has had issues. Just a little while ago, there was another problem that stopped people from using the site. Today, when people tried to use Facebook, it didn’t work like it should. People couldn’t see their friends’ posts, and sometimes the website wouldn’t even load.
Downdetector, which watches out for problems on websites, showed that lots of people were having trouble with Facebook. People from all over the world said they couldn’t use the site, and they were not happy about it.
When websites like Facebook have problems, it affects a lot of people. It’s not just about not being able to see posts or chat with friends. It can also impact businesses that use Facebook to reach customers.
Since Facebook owns Messenger and Instagram, the problems with Facebook also meant that people had trouble using these apps. It made the situation even more frustrating for many users, who rely on these apps to stay connected with others.
During this recent problem, one thing is obvious: the internet is always changing, and even big websites like Facebook can have problems. While people wait for Facebook to fix the issue, it shows us how easily things online can go wrong. It’s a good reminder that we should have backup plans for staying connected online, just in case something like this happens again.
