David DeSanto, GitLab: AI’s impact on software development in 2024

David DeSanto, Chief Product Officer at GitLab, foresees a paradigm shift in the realm of software development in 2024—with AI taking centre stage.

GitLab's 2023 Global DevSecOps Report serves as the foundation for these predictions, offering a glimpse into the future landscape of organisations' software development toolchains.

AI bias: A hurdle on the path to progress

In the short term, the accelerated integration of AI tools may present a formidable challenge: an...

7 December 2023 | Approaches

PHP 8.0 reaches EOL leaving some websites vulnerable

PHP 8.0 reached its end of life (EOL) on 26 November 2023 and will no longer receive any updates or patches.

PHP 8.0 was released on 26 November 2020 and brought many new features and improvements such as named arguments, attributes, constructor property promotion, match expression, nullsafe operator, JIT, and more.

The EOL of PHP 8.0 means that any websites still using it will be exposed to potential security risks and compatibility issues if they do not upgrade to a...

27 November 2023 | Developer

Checkmarx uncovers persistent Python package threat

Checkmarx has uncovered a threat actor that has been quietly infiltrating the open-source ecosystem for nearly six months, planting malicious Python packages with a focus on deception and financial gain.

The malicious actor employed a systematic approach, disguising their packages with names closely resembling popular legitimate Python packages. These decoy packages, camouflaged to blend in, successfully garnered thousands of downloads. The malicious payload, embedded within the...

16 November 2023 | Developer

AI coding assistants: A double-edged sword for DevOps in 2024

A growing reliance on AI-powered coding assistants is reshaping how DevOps teams operate, for better or worse.

According to Forrester's 2024 cybersecurity, risk, and privacy predictions, AI coding assistants are becoming integral to boosting productivity. However, a cautionary note accompanies this technological shift, as Forrester warns of potential pitfalls that could lead to cybersecurity breaches.

Forrester predicts that the combination of inconsistent compliance and...

10 November 2023 | API

Wallarm highlights disturbing trends in API security threats

Wallarm has released its Q3 2023 API ThreatStats report which sheds light on the escalating threats targeting APIs and revealing vulnerabilities that have impacted industry giants such as Netflix, VMware, and SAP.

The report's revamped ‘Top 10 API Security Threats’ compilation outlines 239 vulnerabilities discovered during the quarter, with injections taking the lead.

Injections involve inserting malicious data or code into APIs, leading to unauthorised access and...

8 November 2023 | API

Android finally checks sideloaded apps for malware before installs

In response to growing cyber threats, Google has introduced an update to bolster Android security. This enhancement focuses on strengthening malware detection before app installations, ensuring a safer Android ecosystem.

With this update, Google Play Protect now conducts real-time scans at the code-level during the app installation process:

By providing users with immediate feedback about the safety of the apps they are installing, Google empowers its users to make...

19 October 2023 | Android

Sauce Labs exposes some developers’ risky habits

A survey by Sauce Labs of 500 US-based developers has put the spotlight on some concerning practices.

One alarming discovery was the tendency of developers to push code to production without adequate testing. 67 percent of respondents admitted to this practice, jeopardising software quality, user experience, and system stability.

Additionally, 68 percent confessed to merging their own pull requests without review—raising concerns about potential security...

3 October 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

GitHub opens Copilot Chat to all developers

GitHub has announced that Copilot Chat is now available to all developers, ushering in a new era of AI-powered software development.

Copilot Chat was launched for ‘Business’ users in July. The AI assistant is capable of assisting developers in their preferred natural language and promises to reduce repetitive tasks.

Developers can use the assistant to explore new languages or frameworks, troubleshoot bugs, and/or seek answers to coding questions, all while remaining...

21 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

Sonatype reveals DevOps and SecOps leaders’ views on generative AI

While the tech community remains divided on the potential of generative AI tools, there's a consensus that their impact on the industry is comparable to the adoption of cloud technology.

Software engineers are harnessing generative AI to explore libraries, create new code, and enhance their development process, while application security professionals employ it for code analysis and security testing.

A recent survey conducted by Sonatype in the US sheds light on how...

12 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

Salt launches STEP program to enhance API security for enterprises

Salt Security has launched an initiative to help enterprises significantly reduce risk across their API ecosystem.

The STEP (Salt Technical Ecosystem Partner) program encompasses the integration of AI-driven API security insights into existing workflows and tools within organisations. This integration empowers joint customers to bolster their security posture using the Salt Security API Protection Platform.

Salt has introduced STEP’s inaugural partners, focusing on API...

23 August 2023 | API