Latest WannaCry Theory: Currency Manipulation
The recent WannaCry outbreak
is still a mystery. We know what
(ransomware), and how (a Windows vulnerability on unsupported or unpatched
systems); but we don't know who or why. We're
not short of theories: Lazarus, North Korea, some other nation-state actor,
Chinese or Russian actors -- but none of these has gained general acceptance.
The basic problem is that elements of Wannacry just don't
make sense. The scale and rapidity of
its spread, although not unprecedented, points to expertise and resources. This together with some code similarities has
led to suggestions that
it was a nation-state attack emanating from North Korea.
But inefficiencies in
collecting the ransom is not likely from a group as experienced as Lazarus; and
the absence of any visible political motive throws doubt on
the idea that any nation-state actor was involved.
Thycotic's cyber security and digital forensics expert,
Joseph Carson, has an alternative theory: the motive behind Wannacry was
effectively insider trading following currency manipulation. Bitcoin was the
real target.
If he is right, it explains the efficiency of the attack
(the primary motive) and the inefficiency of the ransom collection (which was
neither part of nor important to the plan).
About time!
DNC advertises for new chief technology officer
The Democratic National Committee is searching for an
executive to lead its IT modernization, cybersecurity
and technology efforts.
Why not, everything else can.
… It turns out that
picking the wrong emoji might land you a date in court, at least if we take a
recent case in Israel as an example.
Now this is interesting!
US Supreme Court Protects Consumers' Right To Refill Ink
Cartridges In Precedent-Setting Lexmark vs Impression Case
Score one for the little guys. In a precedent-setting decision handed down
this morning, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a company’s patent rights are forfeited once they sell an item to a
consumer under the “first sale” doctrine. This idea was central to Impression Products,
Inc. v Lexmark Int’l, Inc.
and is a major blow to companies that sell their printers for (relatively) low
prices and then recoup any losses on the sale of expensive ink and toner
cartridges.
… "Extending
the patent rights beyond the first sale would clog the channels of commerce, with little benefit from
the extra control that the patentees retain," wrote Chief Justice John
Roberts. In his opinion, Chief Justice
Roberts contended that Lexmark’s heavy-handed approach to discouraging
cartridge remanufacturers only emboldened them to find new and innovative ways
to circumvent the company’s defenses.
“Many kept acquiring empty Return Program cartridges and
developed methods to counteract the effect of the microchips. With that technological obstacle out of the
way, there was little to prevent the remanufacturers from using the Return
Program cartridges in their resale business,” said Chief Justice Roberts. “After all,
Lexmark’s contractual single-use/no-resale agreements were with the initial
customers, not with downstream purchasers like the remanufacturers.”
Will this flourish in a Trump world?
CrowdJustice, the crowdfunding platform for public interest
litigation, raises $2M and heads to U.S.
CrowdJustice,
a startup that brings crowdfunding to “public interest” litigation, has
raised $2 million in seed funding for U.S. expansion.
… High profile
cases that have utilised the platform to date include the “People’s Challenge” to Brexit that won in the Supreme
Court, which said that Parliament had a say in triggering Article 50, and the
first federal case challenging the Trump immigration ban.
To coincide with today’s U.S. seed funding announcement, a new campaign
is launching on CrowdJustice. It’s
seeing Mike Hallatt (“Pirate Joe”) attempt to raise money to defend a lawsuit
being brought by corporate giant Trader Joe’s against Hallatt’s small Canadian
startup Pirate Joe’s.
You might as well start practicing. The Chatbots will soon be everywhere!
… The official Alexa Skill
Testing Tool, intended for people who are building skills that you can
use with the Echo, can be used by anyone. You don’t have to be a developer working on an
app. All you
need is an Amazon account.
After logging into the site using your Amazon credentials
and granting the site access to your account (and to your computer mic), you
can start asking all the questions you would of Alexa. Use Spacebar or click on the microphone button
and be sure to keep holding down until you’ve finished asking your question.
Something for my geeks to try. SE specializing in 3D printing, source code,
etc.
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