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Exploring Virtual Identities: Systems, Behaviour, and Ethics

The Importance of Virtual Identities

As technology continues to advance, our lives are becoming increasingly intertwined with virtual spaces. From social media platforms to online gaming communities, virtual identities have become an integral part of our daily lives. In these virtual spaces, we have the opportunity to express ourselves, interact with others, and explore new identities. However, as we spend more time in these virtual spaces, it is important that we understand the systems, behaviours, and ethics related to virtual identities.

Defining Virtual Identities: The Basics

Virtual identities are the personas we create in online spaces. These can range from our usernames, avatars, and profiles to the interactions we have with others in these spaces. In essence, virtual identities are the representations of ourselves that we present to others online. These identities can be vastly different from our real-life identities, as they allow us to experiment with different aspects of our personalities and express ourselves in new ways.

The Role of Systems in Creating Virtual Identities

The systems that govern virtual spaces can greatly influence our virtual identities. For example, social media algorithms may prioritize certain types of content or interactions, leading us to present ourselves in a certain way to gain more attention. Additionally, online games may have specific character creation options that limit our ability to fully express ourselves. It is important to recognize these systems and understand how they shape our virtual identities.

Behaviour in Virtual Spaces: How It Affects Identity

Our behaviour in virtual spaces can greatly impact our virtual identities. The interactions we have with others online can shape how we present ourselves and the personas we create. Additionally, our behaviour may be influenced by the anonymity that virtual spaces provide. It is important that we consider how our behaviour in virtual spaces affects our virtual identities and how we want to be perceived by others.

The Ethics of Virtual Identities: A Critical Analysis

As with any aspect of technology, virtual identities raise ethical concerns. For example, the use of fake social media profiles to deceive or manipulate others is a growing concern. Additionally, the collection and use of personal data by companies can raise privacy concerns. It is important that we critically analyze the ethical implications of virtual identities and consider the impact they may have on ourselves and others.

The Effects of Virtual Identities on Real Life Identity

While virtual identities may seem separate from our real-life identities, they can have a significant impact on how we view ourselves and how others view us. The personas we create online may influence our self-esteem and confidence, and may also impact our professional and personal relationships. Understanding the relationship between virtual and real-life identities is crucial for navigating both online and offline spaces.

===Privacy Concerns and Virtual Identity

Privacy concerns are a major issue when it comes to virtual identities. The data we share online can be used by companies or individuals for malicious purposes, such as identity theft or cyberbullying. It is important that we understand how to protect our personal information online and take steps to minimize our digital footprint.

Identity Theft in Virtual Spaces: An Emerging Threat

Identity theft is a growing concern in virtual spaces. Hackers and scammers may attempt to steal personal information or use fake identities to access sensitive information. It is important to be vigilant and take steps to protect ourselves from these threats.

The Psychology of Virtual Identity Formation

Understanding the psychology behind virtual identity formation can help us better navigate these spaces. For example, research has shown that anonymity can lead to increased aggression and deception online. Additionally, social comparison theory suggests that we may present ourselves in a certain way to gain social acceptance or validation. Recognizing these psychological factors can help us better understand our own behaviour in virtual spaces.

Strategies for Protecting Virtual Identity

There are a number of strategies we can use to protect our virtual identities. These may include using strong passwords, limiting the amount of personal information we share online, and being aware of potential scams or phishing attempts. Additionally, it is important to regularly monitor our online presence and take steps to remove any potentially harmful content.

Addressing Ethical Issues in Virtual Identity

As virtual identities continue to play a larger role in our lives, it is important that we address ethical issues related to their use. This may include advocating for stronger privacy protections, promoting responsible online behaviour, and holding companies accountable for their data collection and use practices.

The Future of Virtual Identities

Virtual identities are here to stay, and as technology continues to evolve, they will only become more complex and integrated into our lives. By understanding the systems, behaviours, and ethics related to virtual identities, we can navigate these spaces more effectively and protect ourselves from potential harm. As we move forward, it will be important to continue discussing and addressing the ethical implications of virtual identities to ensure that they are used responsibly and ethically.

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Building Digital Integrity: The Role of Blockchain in Virtual Identity

Virtual Identity and Digital Integrity

In today’s digital age, virtual identity has become an integral part of our online existence. It is the representation of who we are in the digital world, and it plays a significant role in our interactions with the online community. However, the growing concern of identity theft and data breaches highlights the need for a secure and reliable system to manage virtual identity. Blockchain technology has emerged as a potential solution to these challenges, offering a secure and decentralized platform for identity management. In this article, we will explore the role of blockchain in virtual identity and its impact on digital integrity.

Understanding the Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology is a distributed ledger that provides a secure and transparent system for recording transactions. It is a decentralized system that operates on a peer-to-peer network, eliminating the need for a central authority to govern the transactions. Each block in the chain is linked to the previous block, creating an unalterable record of all the transactions. The security of the blockchain lies in its consensus mechanism, which ensures that all network participants agree on the validity of each transaction.

The Role of Blockchain in Identity Management

Blockchain technology offers a secure and decentralized platform for identity management, enabling individuals to have greater control over their personal data. Instead of relying on central authorities to manage identity, blockchain allows individuals to create and manage their own digital identities. This eliminates the need for third-party authentication, providing a more secure and efficient system for identity verification.

Safeguarding Personal Data with Blockchain

Blockchain technology provides a secure platform for storing and sharing personal data. The decentralization of the blockchain ensures that there is no single point of failure, making it difficult for hackers to breach the system. The use of encryption algorithms further enhances the security of the data, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access it.

The Benefits of Blockchain for Digital Integrity

Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we manage digital identities, offering several benefits for digital integrity. Firstly, it provides a secure and decentralized platform for identity management, eliminating the need for third-party authentication. Secondly, it ensures the security of personal data, safeguarding against data breaches and identity theft. Thirdly, it provides greater transparency and accountability, enabling individuals to have greater control over their data.

Blockchain and Biometric Authentication

Blockchain technology can also be used for biometric authentication, providing an additional layer of security for identity management. Biometric authentication uses unique biological characteristics such as fingerprints and facial recognition to verify identity. By combining biometric authentication with blockchain, we can create a more secure and efficient system for identity verification.

The Future of Digital Identity with Blockchain

The future of digital identity is closely linked to the development of blockchain technology. With the increasing use of blockchain in identity management, we can expect to see a more secure and efficient system for managing virtual identity. The use of biometric authentication and encryption algorithms will further enhance the security of the system, providing a reliable platform for managing personal data.

Overcoming the Challenges of Blockchain Implementation

The implementation of blockchain technology presents several challenges, including scalability, interoperability and regulatory issues. Scalability is a major challenge for blockchain, as the system needs to be able to handle a large number of transactions. Interoperability is also a challenge, as different blockchain networks may not be compatible with each other. Regulatory issues also need to be addressed, as the use of blockchain in identity management raises several legal and ethical concerns.

Regulatory Frameworks for Blockchain and Virtual Identity

Regulatory frameworks for blockchain and virtual identity are still in the early stages of development. However, several initiatives have been launched to address the legal and ethical issues surrounding blockchain technology. The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the US’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are two examples of regulatory frameworks that aim to promote the responsible use of blockchain in identity management.

Use Cases of Blockchain in Virtual Identity

Blockchain technology has several use cases in virtual identity, including digital identity management, biometric authentication, and secure data storage. The use of blockchain in virtual identity can also be extended to other applications, such as healthcare, finance, and e-commerce.

Conclusion: The Path Towards Digital Integrity

Blockchain technology has the potential to transform the way we manage virtual identity and promote digital integrity. By providing a secure and decentralized platform for identity management, blockchain can eliminate the need for third-party authentication, safeguard personal data, and enhance transparency and accountability. While there are still challenges to overcome, the future of digital identity looks promising with the use of blockchain technology.

References and Further Reading

  • Böhme, R., Christin, N., Edelman, B., & Moore, T. (2015). Bitcoin: Economics, technology, and governance. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 29(2), 213-238.
  • Nakamoto, S. (2008). Bitcoin: A peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Retrieved from https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf
  • Swan, M. (2015). Blockchain: Blueprint for a new economy. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media.
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How Blockchain Technology Can Drive Innovation-Based Sustainability

04 Feb’23 | By Amit Ghosh

How Blockchain Technology Can Drive Innovation-Based Sustainability

As the country pushes its sustainability agenda, the use of new technology deserves a closer look in order to make a difference in this cause

When we examine blockchain’s role in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies and markets around the world, we can see how technology is already changing ESG markets.

If more Indian companies adopt blockchain as part of their sustainability practises and policies, we will be one step closer to realising the ambitious goals that the country and the world have set for themselves

As the world moves towards a greener future, it is imperative for businesses to build and lead with sustainable practices. India, one of the most populous countries in the world, has a tremendous stake in the global responsibility towards building a more sustainable world. The responsibility is especially magnified given the country’s reputation as a major economic powerhouse that ranks among the world’s largest energy-consuming countries. 

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Will crypto make us live longer?


Imagine a world where patients and their families can directly fund scientists developing the next breakthrough drug or treatment that they need. A world in which drug development is a collaborative, open, and decentralized process. Such a future is not only possible, but the decentralized science movement is making it a reality.

Through blockchain, crypto, and NFTs of course. And that’s exactly what we are going to uncover on today’s CoinMarketCap episode:



 🔵 Coin Market Cap is the world's most-referenced price-tracking website for cryptoassets in the rapidly growing cryptocurrency space. Its mission is to make crypto accessible all around the world through data and content.


DeSci Foundation
"Open science,
fair peer-review,
efficient funding.

We support the development of a more verifiable, more open, and fairer ecosystem for science and scientists."
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Ground-Breaking Research Finds 11 Multidimensional Universe Inside the Human Brain

The human brain is capable of creating structures in up to 11 dimensions, according to scientists. According to a study published in Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, the Human brain can deal and create in up to 11 dimensions.

According to the Blue Brain Project, the dimensions are not interpreted in the traditional sense of a dimension, which most of us understand. Scientists found exciting new facts about the intricacy of the human brain as part of the Blue Brain Project.

Neuroscientist Henry Markram, director of Blue Brain Project and professor at the EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, said: “We found a world that we had never imagined. There are tens of millions of these objects, even in a speck of the brain, up through seven dimensions. In some networks, we even found structures with up to eleven dimensions.”

Traditional mathematical viewpoints were found to be inapplicable and unproductive once researchers studied the human brain.



The graphic tries to depict something that can’t be seen – a multi-dimensional cosmos of structures and places. A computerised replica of a section of the neocortex, the brain’s most evolved portion, may be found on the left. On the right, several forms of various sizes and geometries are used to illustrate constructions with dimensions ranging from one to seven and beyond. The central “black-hole” represents a collection of multi-dimensional voids or cavities. In a new paper published in Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, researchers from the Blue Brain Project claim that groupings of neurons coupled into such holes provide the necessary link between brain structure and function. Blue Brain Project is the source of this image.

“The mathematics usually applied to study networks cannot detect the high-dimensional structures and spaces that we now see clearly,” Markram revealed.

Instead, scientists opted to investigate algebraic topology. Algebraic topology is a branch of mathematics that studies topological spaces using techniques from abstract algebra. In applying this approach in their latest work, scientists from the Blue Brain Project were joined by mathematicians Kathryn Hess from EPFL and Ran Levi from Aberdeen University.

Professor Hess explained: “Algebraic topology is like a telescope and microscope at the same time. It can zoom into networks to find hidden structures – the trees in the forest – and see the empty spaces – the clearings – all at the same time.”

The researchers observed that brain structures are formed when a collection of neurons – cells in the brain that carry impulses – form a clique. Each neuron in the group is connected to every other neuron in the group in a unique way, resulting in the formation of a new entity. The ‘dimension’ of an item increases as the number of neurons in a clique increases.

The scientists used algebraic topography to model the architecture within a virtual brain they developed with the help of computers. They subsequently confirmed their findings by doing experiments on genuine brain tissue. The researchers discovered that by adding inputs to the virtual brain, cliques of increasingly HIGHER dimensions formed. In addition, investigators detected voids between the cliques.

Ran Levi from Aberdeen University said: “The appearance of high-dimensional cavities when the brain is processing information means that the neurons in the network react to stimuli in an extremely organized manner. It is as if the brain reacts to a stimulus by building then razing a tower of multi-dimensional blocks, starting with rods (1D), then planks (2D), then cubes (3D), and then more complex geometries with 4D, 5D, etc. The progression of activity through the brain resembles a multi-dimensional sandcastle that materializes out of the sand and then disintegrates.”

The new information on the human brain provides previously unseen insights into how the brain processes information. Scientists have said, however, that it is still unclear how the cliques and cavities arise in such a unique way.

The new research could someday help scientists solve one of neuroscience’s greatest mysteries: where does the brain ‘store’ memories.

Reference: Peer reviewed research

Zeeshan Ali

November 06, 2022

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Ransomware is already out of control. AI-powered ransomware could be ‘terrifying.’

Hiring AI experts to automate ransomware could be the next step for well-endowed ransomware groups that are seeking to scale up their attacks.
 

In the perpetual battle between cybercriminals and defenders, the latter have always had one largely unchallenged advantage: The use of AI and machine learning allows them to automate a lot of what they do, especially around detecting and responding to attacks. This leg-up hasn't been nearly enough to keep ransomware at bay, but it has still been far more than what cybercriminals have ever been able to muster in terms of AI and automation.

That’s because deploying AI-powered ransomware would require AI expertise. And the ransomware gangs don’t have it. At least not yet.

But given the wealth accumulated by a number of ransomware gangs in recent years, it may not be long before attackers do bring aboard AI experts of their own, prominent cybersecurity authority Mikko Hyppönen said.

Some of these groups have so much cash — or bitcoin, rather — that they could now potentially compete with legit security firms for talent in AI and machine learning, according to Hyppönen, the chief research officer at cybersecurity firm WithSecure.

Ransomware gang Conti pulled in $182 million in ransom payments during 2021, according to blockchain data platform Chainalysis. Leaks of Conti's chats suggest that the group may have invested some of its take in pricey "zero day" vulnerabilities and the hiring of penetration testers.

"We have already seen [ransomware groups] hire pen testers to break into networks to figure out how to deploy ransomware. The next step will be that they will start hiring ML and AI experts to automate their malware campaigns," Hyppönen told Protocol.

"It's not a far reach to see that they will have the capability to offer double or triple salaries to AI/ML experts in exchange for them to go to the dark side," he said. "I do think it's going to happen in the near future — if I would have to guess, in the next 12 to 24 months."

If this happens, Hyppönen said, "it would be one of the biggest challenges we're likely to face in the near future."

AI for scaling up ransomware

While doom-and-gloom cybersecurity predictions are abundant, with two decades of experience on matters of cybercrime, Hyppönen is not just any prognosticator. He has been with his current company, which until recently was known as F-Secure, since 1991 and has been researching — and vying with — cybercriminals since the early days of the concept.

In his view, the introduction of AI and machine learning to the attacker side would be a distinct change of the game. He's not alone in thinking so.

When it comes to ransomware, for instance, automating large portions of the process could mean an even greater acceleration in attacks, said Mark Driver, a research vice president at Gartner.

Currently, ransomware attacks are often very tailored to the individual target, making the attacks more difficult to scale, Driver said. Even still, the number of ransomware attacks doubled year-over-year in 2021, SonicWall has reported — and ransomware has been getting more successful as well. The percentage of affected organizations that agreed to pay a ransom shot up to 58% in 2021, from 34% the year before, Proofpoint has reported.

However, if attackers were able to automate ransomware using AI and machine learning, that would allow them to go after an even wider range of targets, according to Driver. That could include smaller organizations, or even individuals.

"It's not worth their effort if it takes them hours and hours to do it manually. But if they can automate it, absolutely," Driver said. Ultimately, “it's terrifying.”

The prediction that AI is coming to cybercrime in a big way is not brand new, but it still has yet to manifest, Hyppönen said. Most likely, that's because the ability to compete with deep-pocketed enterprise tech vendors to bring in the necessary talent has always been a constraint in the past.

The huge success of the ransomware gangs in 2021, predominantly Russia-affiliated groups, would appear to have changed that, according to Hyppönen. Chainalysis reports it tracked ransomware payments totaling $602 million in 2021, led by Conti's $182 million. The ransomware group that struck the Colonial Pipeline, DarkSide, earned $82 million last year, and three other groups brought in more than $30 million in that single year, according to Chainalysis.

Hyppönen estimated that less than a dozen ransomware groups might have the capacity to invest in hiring AI talent in the next few years, primarily gangs affiliated with Russia.

‘We would definitely not miss it’

If cybercrime groups hire AI talent with some of their windfall, Hyppönen believes the first thing they'll do is automate the most manually intensive parts of a ransomware campaign. TThe actual execution of a ransomware attack remains difficult, he said.

"How do you get it on 10,000 computers? How do you find a way inside corporate networks? How do you bypass the different safeguards? How do you keep changing the operation, dynamically, to actually make sure you're successful?" Hyppönen said. “All of that is manual."

Monitoring systems, changing the malware code, recompiling it and registering new domain names to avoid defenses — things it takes humans a long time to do — would all be fairly simple to do with automation. "All of this is done in an instant by machines,” Hyppönen said.

That means it should be very obvious when AI-powered automation comes to ransomware, according to Hyppönen.

"This would be such a big shift, such a big change," he said. "We would definitely not miss it."

But would the ransomware groups really decide to go to all this trouble? Allie Mellen, an analyst at Forrester, said she's not as sure. Given how successful ransomware groups are already, Mellen said it's unclear why they would bother to take this route.

"They're having no problem with the approaches that they're taking right now," she said. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Others see a higher likelihood of AI playing a role in attacks such as ransomware. Like defenders, ransomware gangs clearly have a penchant for evolving their techniques to try to stay ahead of the other side, said Ed Bowen, managing director for the AI Center of Excellence at Deloitte.

"I'm expecting it — I expect them to be using AI to improve their ability to get at this infrastructure," Bowen said. "I think that's inevitable."

Lower barrier to entry

While AI talent is in extremely short supply right now, that will start to change in coming years as a wave of people graduate from university and research programs in the field, Bowen noted.

The barriers to entry in the AI field are also going lower as tools become more accessible to users, Hyppönen said.

"Today, all security companies rely heavily on machine learning — so we know exactly how hard it is to hire experts in this field. Especially people who have expertise both in cybersecurity and in machine learning. So these are hard people to recruit," he told Protocol. "However, it's becoming easier to become an expert, especially if you don't need to be a world-class expert."

That dynamic could increase the pool of candidates for cybercrime organizations who are, simultaneously, richer and “more powerful than ever before," Hyppönen said.

Should this future come to pass, it will have massive implications for cyber defenders, in the event that a greater volume of attacks — and attacks against a broader range of targets — will be the result.

Among other things, this would likely mean that the security industry would itself be looking to compete harder than ever for AI talent, if only to try to stay ahead of automated ransomware and other AI-powered threats.

Between attackers and defenders, "you're always leapfrogging each other" on technical capabilities, Driver said. "It's a war of trying to get ahead of the other side."