Infosec Decoded Season 6 #1: Imitation of Care

With sambowne@infosec.exchange and Doug Spindler

Recorded Fri, Jan 2, 2026

AI

A Dangerous Imitation of Care
The real costs of using generative AI as a therapist
Ribbit ribbit! Artificial Intelligence programs used by Heber City police claim officer turned into a frog
An artificial intelligence that writes police reports had some explaining to do earlier this month after it claimed a Heber City officer had shape-shifted into a frog.
"The body cam software and the AI report writing software picked up on the movie that was playing in the background, which happened to be 'The Princess and the Frog,'" Sgt. Keel told FOX 13 News. “That’s when we learned the importance of correcting these AI-generated reports.”

Politics

Once again, Grindr’s servers reportedly couldn’t handle the load at another big MAGA event

Lauren Boebert claims Trump’s veto of safe drinking water bill is retaliation

Condom tax and cheaper childcare: China's plan to boost birth rates

Goodbye, plastic bags. Hello, lower insulin copays. See new California laws for 2026
Streaming companies will be banned from playing commercials louder than the shows and movies
SB 942, known as the California Artificial Intelligence Transparency Act, would require large generative AI providers to provide a free AI-detection tool to users so they can check whether content is altered by AI.
Eligible high school seniors will be automatically given admission to Cal State University schools without having to submit applications.
Businesses that operate in California will be required to notify customers of a data breach within 30 days in the new year.
SB 627 restricts law enforcement officers, both local and federal, from wearing masks or facial coverings in public while performing their duties.
South San Francisco Police Utilize Drone to Defuse Violent Brawl, Arrest Made for Possession of Illegally Modified Firearm
Before ground units could arrive, the department's Drone as First Responder (DFR) was launched and managed to reach the scene quickly. The drone captured live footage, spotting the large group as they engaged in the fight and continued to track multiple subjects who were attempting to flee. The DFR pilot provided critical, real-time information to the officers en route, enabling them to make informed tactical decisions—this included the specifics of a vehicle into which several individuals were seen getting in.
Finland seizes ship suspected of damaging subsea cable in Baltic Sea

Bankruptcies jump 28% in states with legal online sports betting

Ransomware responders plead guilty to using ALPHV in attacks on US organizations
Two cybersecurity professionals pleaded guilty last week to charges related to several ransomware attacks they launched on behalf of the now-defunct ALPHV/BlackCat cybercrime group. Goldberg, a 40-year-old from Georgia, worked for incident response firm Sygnia, and 36-year-old Martin, a Texan, was a ransomware negotiator for DigitalMint.

Infosec

Treasury removes sanctions for three executives tied to spyware maker Intellexa
The Treasury Department on Tuesday took three people closely affiliated with the holding company behind Predator spyware off of a sanctions list, reversing their designation in 2024 by the Biden administration.
An early end to the holidays: 'Heartbleed of MongoDB' is now under active exploit
A high-severity MongoDB Server vulnerability, for which proofs of concept emerged over Christmas week, is now under active exploitation, according to the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.