The KnowledgeFlow Newsletter – 6th Ed.
Hand-picked headlines from KnowledgeFlow’s dedicated cybersafety curators.
Claudiu’s Top Story
TORRENT FREAK: “The NFT Bay” Claims to Share Multi-Terabyte Archive of ‘Pirated’ NFTs
NFTs have become popular over the past year, with people paying up to millions of dollars to “own” these digital items. NFTs are stored as entries on a blockchain, and prove that the buyer is the legitimate owner of this digital item. Recently, however, a vast trove of NFTs has been uploaded to a website called The NFT Bay. This collection of NFTs is approximately 15 terabytes of data, and puts into question the true value of NFTs.
Ransomware
CNN NEWS: US Government Issues Thanksgiving Ransomware Warning
US officials are warning American businesses and organizations to be cautious of potential ransomware threats this Thanksgiving season. While there is no one specific threat, but ransomware attacks commonly happen on weekends and holidays, when organizations are short-staffed and potentially off-guard. CISA suggests identifying key IT security employees who can be on call in the event of a ransomware attack.
Smart Home Devices
THE WASHINGTON POST: Big Tech is Pushing Smart Home Devices as the Latest Work-From-Home Tools
The move to work-from-home activity has caused many to use their smart home devices (Amazon Echo or Google Nest, for example) as part of their work life; some workers ask their Google Assistant or Alexa to book meetings, fetch company information, or remind them about events. While this may add convenience to many workers’ lives, the question then becomes: at what expense to security and privacy does convenience come?
Phone Security
CNET: Face ID Isn’t Enough. Change These Settings Now to Better Secure Your iPhone.
Apple’s Face ID or Touch ID is a good step toward better iPhone security, but it’s not the only measure you should put in place. If you do not have the right settings enabled, some activities can still be performed while your phone is locked: notifications can be seen and messages can be sent through Siri, for example.
Education
FORBES: Cybersecurity is a Business Essential: How Are You Approaching It?
Being a victim of a cyberattack is a challenge for an individual, but even more so for an organization or business. The effects of a successful cyberattack can be crippling if not prepared for properly. Dealing with the proper mindset, the right investments, and training your people are all part of approaching cybersecurity to avoid disaster.
Technology
USA TODAY: How to Protect Your Privacy While Shopping on Amazon During the Holidays
Amazon has become an increasingly popular choice for shopping during the holiday season. However, before you begin your online shopping expedition, it’s worth checking out Amazon’s privacy settings to make sure that you are being as safe as possible while buying online. This guide has detailed instructions on how to stop Amazon from tracking your browsing, making your lists private, and more.
