Welcome to the Tech Mem Right Home for Wednesday, August 30th, 2023. I'm Brian McCullough today.

The FBI took down a huge botnet. Open AI is apparently ahead of schedule in terms of making a ton of revenue.

Why Samsung wants to apply AI to your refrigerator, why OnStar is doubling down on AI, and we

officially have the Dietz on the iPhone event scheduled for next month.

Here's what you missed today in the world of tech.

On the law enforcement beat on August 25th the FBI apparently led an effort to

dismantle the Cakebotnet I am assuming it's Cakebot, it's QA-K-B-O-T, which ransomware gangs used as an infection vector

for years. The FBI achieved this after infiltrating its network, quoting bleeping computer.

Cakebot, one of the largest and longest running botnets to date was taken down following

a multinational law enforcement operation spearheaded by the FBI and known as Operation Duck Hunt, the Botnet, also known as Kubot and Pink Slipbot, was linked by law enforcement to at least 40

ransomware attacks against companies, health care providers,

and government agencies worldwide causing hundreds of

millions of dollars in damage according to conservative estimates.

Over the past 18 months alone, losses have surpassed $58 million.

Throughout the years, Cakebot has consistently served

as an initial infection vector for various ransomware gangs and their

affiliates or operators including Conte, ProLock, Egrager, Reval, Ransom X

Mega Cortex and most recently Black Basta.

The victims range from financial institutions on the East Coast to critical infrastructure,

government contractors in the Midwest,

to a medical device manufacturer on the West Coast.

FBI Director Christopher Ray said,

...