DeepSeek, a new China-backed AI platform, faces a cyberattack disrupting new user registrations. Learn about its rapid growth, challenges, and the importance of cybersecurity.
DeepSeek, a rising star in the world of artificial intelligence, has confirmed it is facing a large-scale cyberattack that has disrupted its services. The company released a statement on its website, informing users:
“Due to large-scale malicious attacks on DeepSeek’s services, registration may be busy. Please wait and try again. Registered users can log in normally. Thank you for your understanding and support.“
What is DeepSeek?
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, has quickly gained prominence as an AI assistant designed to rival established names like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The platform has been lauded for its intuitive features and user-friendly design, which have captured the attention of millions worldwide.
In just days, it climbed to the top spot in the free application section of Apple’s App Store in the United States, overtaking ChatGPT. This rapid surge in popularity has placed DeepSeek squarely in the spotlight, making it a tempting target for cybercriminals.
The Attack and Its Impact
The large-scale attack has primarily impacted new user registrations, leaving prospective users unable to join the platform. Current users, however, can still log in and use the service without interruption. Despite the disruption, DeepSeek remains optimistic, thanking users for their patience and support as they work to resolve the situation.
Cybersecurity Expert’s Perspective
Commenting on the incident, Jake Moore, Global Cyber Security Advisor at ESET, highlighted the risks associated with DeepSeek’s rapid rise: “DeepSeek has certainly been in the limelight in recent days, which can act as a huge honeypot for cybercriminals. This is typical for any new platform which contentiously dominates the media for multiple reasons and can attract multiple groups of threat actors looking for any potential vulnerability to exploit.“
“Irrespective of who is behind DeepSeek and its values, such attacks act as a reminder to bolster existing defences and to expect the unexpected; especially when attention grows quickly,” Jake told Hackread.com.
Growing Pains of Rapid Success
The cyberattack shows the challenges faced by platforms experiencing rapid growth. As new platforms gain popularity, they often become targets for threat actors seeking to exploit vulnerabilities. This incident is a wake-up call for DeepSeek, highlighting the importance of strong cybersecurity measures, especially as its user base grows so rapidly.
This story is developing. Stay Tuned!
