A UT Dallas computer science student named Sinan Demir was browsing code on GitHub when he noticed something that looked like a bug. It wasn’t. The code was malicious, and the account that posted it began messaging him, insisting everything was safe and urging him to run the software. The account, as it turned out, belonged to an AI agent.

Demir didn’t take the bait. He used an AI chatbot to verify that the code was dangerous, then reported it to GitHub. About a week later, the UK’s AI Security Institute revealed it had been testing a cybersecurity AI agent with internet access, something the agency says should not have happened. UT Dallas professor Sriraam Natarajan told reporters the issue came down to incomplete task instructions rather than any intent to cause harm.

The story lands differently here in Ellis County, where families are already navigating AI in classrooms, small businesses, and the tools our kids use every day. It’s a reminder that cybersecurity awareness isn’t just a big-city concern. Sometimes it’s a college kid trusting his instincts. Have you talked with your family about what to do when something online doesn’t feel right?