AI advancements give hackers new ways to launch cyberattacks
UC expert offers insight on cyber criminal activity
Advancements in technology such as artificial intelligence give cyber criminals more ways to exploit data.
The Dayton Daily News turned to the University of Cincinnati’s Richard Harknett, PhD, for context on the recent influx of cyberattacks. Harknett is co-director of the Ohio Cyber Range Institute, chair of the Center for Cyber Strategy and Policy and director of UC’s School of Public and International Affairs.
Harknett told the Dayton Daily News that cybercriminals are increasingly cunning. He explained that while the FBI and law enforcement are becoming more proactive in disrupting these operations before an attack, offenders are rarely caught.
“Ransomware gangs are becoming more sophisticated in their operations — how they exploit, negotiate and collect ransom. The number of such gangs has nearly tripled in the past two years,” Harknett said. “Since most are overseas, you cannot rely on the threat of arresting them.”
And in the digital age, anyone is at risk of having their data compromised.
“If you hold personal data (online) or have an internet IP address, you are a target,” Harknett said.
Read the Dayton Daily News story.
Featured image at top: Illustration of a password lock over a laptop. Photo/iStock.
Related Stories
CCM welcomes new film and media scoring faculty member J.R. Paredes
May 20, 2026
UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras has announced the appointment of J.R. Paredes as CCM's new Assistant Professor of Film and Media Scoring. His faculty appointment officially begins on Aug. 15, 2026. Paredes is a composer, music producer and audio post-production specialist whose work spans film, television and commercial music. His credits include original scores for feature films and series distributed on platforms such as Apple TV+ and Prime Video, as well as extensive work in sound design and mixing for film and media.
6 ways starting a GLP-1 medication could affect your emotions
May 20, 2026
When patients first start taking a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medication, they probably expect to feel full. But they might not anticipate how it can influence their emotions. The medications act on the stomach and the brain, said Malti Vij, MD, a University of Cincinnati adjunct associate professor in the College of Medicine's Department of Internal Medicine and a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.
UC researchers recruit older adults for extreme heat health study
May 20, 2026
The University of Cincinnati’s Center for Collaboration on Climate & Community for Health (C4H) is recruiting older adults to participate in a study tracking their health during periods of extreme summer heat.