DeepSeek: DeepSeek hit with large-scale cyberattack, says it's limiting registrations

DeepSeek’s R1 AI Model Disrupts Industry Amid Cyberattack and Soaring Demand

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has rapidly emerged as a major player in the generative AI race, drawing global attention after the release of its R1 reasoning model a low-cost, open-source alternative to OpenAI’s o1. Founded in April 2023 from a hedge fund’s AI research unit, DeepSeek has positioned itself as a challenger to industry leaders like OpenAI and Google, with ambitions to achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI).

The R1 model, launched last week, has been praised for its performance and cost efficiency, reportedly trained for just $5.6 million a fraction of the expense behind rival models. Its open-source availability has fueled adoption, propelling DeepSeek’s AI Assistant app to the top of Apple’s U.S. App Store, briefly dethroning ChatGPT as the most-downloaded free app.

However, the surge in popularity has come with security challenges. On Monday, DeepSeek announced temporary registration limits due to "large-scale malicious attacks" on its services, though existing users remain unaffected. The incident underscores the growing cyber risks facing high-profile AI platforms as they gain traction.

DeepSeek’s rapid rise has also sparked debate about the sustainability of AI funding, with analysts questioning whether the industry’s billion-dollar valuations and aggressive spending are justified. Despite its lower development costs, the startup’s success signals a shift in the AI landscape, particularly as Chinese firms advance despite U.S. restrictions on high-end chip access.

The company’s trajectory highlights the intensifying competition in AI, where cost efficiency and open-source innovation are reshaping the market.

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/27/deepseek-hit-with-large-scale-cyberattack-says-its-limiting-registrations.html

DeepSeek AI cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/deepseek-ai

"id": "DEE1774745353",
"linkid": "deepseek-ai",
"type": "Cyber Attack",
"date": "1/2025",
"severity": "60",
"impact": "2",
"explanation": "Attack limited on finance or reputation"

{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': 'New users attempting to '
                                              'register',
                        'industry': 'Artificial Intelligence',
                        'location': 'China',
                        'name': 'DeepSeek',
                        'type': 'AI Startup'}],
 'customer_advisories': 'Existing users remain unaffected; new registrations '
                        'temporarily limited.',
 'date_detected': '2024-10-21',
 'date_publicly_disclosed': '2024-10-21',
 'description': 'DeepSeek announced temporary registration limits due to '
                'large-scale malicious attacks on its services following the '
                'release of its R1 reasoning model, which gained significant '
                'popularity and adoption.',
 'impact': {'operational_impact': 'Temporary registration limits imposed',
            'systems_affected': 'DeepSeek AI services (registration system)'},
 'investigation_status': 'Ongoing',
 'references': [{'date_accessed': '2024-10-21',
                 'source': 'DeepSeek Announcement'}],
 'response': {'communication_strategy': 'Public announcement of temporary '
                                        'registration limits',
              'containment_measures': 'Temporary registration limits'},
 'title': 'DeepSeek R1 AI Model Service Disruption Due to Large-Scale '
          'Malicious Attacks',
 'type': 'Cyberattack'}