AProudLefty
The remora of JPP
“The grant in question refers to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program known as “Active Social Engineering Defense (ASED).” This program was part of DARPA’s broader initiative to enhance cybersecurity, specifically focusing on countering social engineering attacks, which include tactics like phishing and other forms of manipulation through deceptive communication.
Here are some key details based on available information:
•Program Name: Active Social Engineering Defense (ASED)
•Purpose: The ASED program aimed to develop technologies that could automatically identify, disrupt, and investigate social engineering attacks, particularly focusing on “spear-phishing” and other forms of social deception used in cyberattacks. The goal was to create systems that could detect and mitigate threats by exploiting the methods used by attackers in real-time.
•Funding and Contract: The contract related to ASED was awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory and funded by DARPA. Thomson Reuters Special Services (TRSS) was one of the recipients of this funding, having been involved in providing software and information services to assist in identifying and preventing fraud, among other tasks. The contract was described on government spending websites as being for “Active Social Engineering Defense (ASED), Large Scale Social Deception (LSD).”
•Timeline: The ASED program was active between 2018 and 2022, culminating in the development and testing of various technologies designed to counter social engineering threats.
•Public Perception and Controversy: Recent discussions, especially on platforms like X, have highlighted this grant due to the involvement of a company like Thomson Reuters, traditionally known for its role in news and information services, in a cybersecurity project. The controversy seems to stem from misunderstandings or misrepresentations of the purpose of the grant, with some questioning why a news agency would be involved in “social engineering” projects. However, the focus was on cybersecurity, particularly in defending against social engineering attacks.
•Outcomes: The program has concluded, with DARPA noting on its website that the project aimed to develop core technologies to combat these cyber threats. The specifics of the outcomes or the exact technologies developed might not be fully public due to the nature of defense research, but the intent was to enhance national cybersecurity.
This grant has been in the spotlight due to its association with social engineering, which can be misunderstood as manipulating social dynamics rather than protecting against malicious cyber activities that leverage human psychology. The discourse around this grant reflects broader concerns about transparency, the roles of private companies in defense research, and the implications of such projects.”
@Grok
Here are some key details based on available information:
•Program Name: Active Social Engineering Defense (ASED)
•Purpose: The ASED program aimed to develop technologies that could automatically identify, disrupt, and investigate social engineering attacks, particularly focusing on “spear-phishing” and other forms of social deception used in cyberattacks. The goal was to create systems that could detect and mitigate threats by exploiting the methods used by attackers in real-time.
•Funding and Contract: The contract related to ASED was awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory and funded by DARPA. Thomson Reuters Special Services (TRSS) was one of the recipients of this funding, having been involved in providing software and information services to assist in identifying and preventing fraud, among other tasks. The contract was described on government spending websites as being for “Active Social Engineering Defense (ASED), Large Scale Social Deception (LSD).”
•Timeline: The ASED program was active between 2018 and 2022, culminating in the development and testing of various technologies designed to counter social engineering threats.
•Public Perception and Controversy: Recent discussions, especially on platforms like X, have highlighted this grant due to the involvement of a company like Thomson Reuters, traditionally known for its role in news and information services, in a cybersecurity project. The controversy seems to stem from misunderstandings or misrepresentations of the purpose of the grant, with some questioning why a news agency would be involved in “social engineering” projects. However, the focus was on cybersecurity, particularly in defending against social engineering attacks.
•Outcomes: The program has concluded, with DARPA noting on its website that the project aimed to develop core technologies to combat these cyber threats. The specifics of the outcomes or the exact technologies developed might not be fully public due to the nature of defense research, but the intent was to enhance national cybersecurity.
This grant has been in the spotlight due to its association with social engineering, which can be misunderstood as manipulating social dynamics rather than protecting against malicious cyber activities that leverage human psychology. The discourse around this grant reflects broader concerns about transparency, the roles of private companies in defense research, and the implications of such projects.”
@Grok
