Hospital computers running outdated software. Prescription dispensers vulnerable to manipulation. AI-generated videos impersonating celebrities to sell fraudulent health products. Using the annual DEF CON hacking conference as a starting point, software engineer Ethan Rush explores the vulnerabilities in the technology we rely on every day—and how easily our trust can be exploited. A convincing fake video of Oprah promoting a dubious weight-loss remedy illustrates a growing problem: AI can now imitate familiar faces and voices well enough to make fraud look legitimate.

The problem goes beyond hackers and scammers. News outlets, academic journals, and social media platforms are increasingly difficult to rely on as filters for trustworthy information. Ethan explains why cybersecurity isn't something we can simply purchase, install, or consider finished. Technology will always have vulnerabilities, and people will always be susceptible to deception. The best defense is to keep asking questions, checking sources, and thinking critically about what we're being shown.

https://letsstartwiththetruth.substack.com/p/def-con-hospitals-and-fake-oprah