Wednesday, January 31, 2018

More to enliven the debate in my Computer Security class.
A couple more versions of the story. Lots of butt covering going on?
Hawaii false alarm: Officials quit over missile alert
… Administrator Vern Miyagi and executive officer Toby Clairmont stepped down on Tuesday after reports detailing the agency's failures were released.
The individual who sent the alert has also been fired, officials confirmed.
… The report said the mix-up happened after a midnight supervisor at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency decided to conduct a spontaneous drill during a shift transition. The incoming day supervisor was then said to be unaware the 08:05 drill would involve any incoming day officers, who were then not told about the exercise.
The drill message, which was called in pretending to be from US Pacific Command, began and ended with the words: "Exercise! Exercise! Exercise!". But the warning also said "This is not a drill", in a script that the FCC say was different from established procedure.
According to the federal report, the employee was one of three who received the call but did not hear the exercise warning. Believing it was real, they said they sent out the genuine alert out using the agency's software.
… A state report also released on Tuesday said the employee had a record of "poor performance" on the job.
Reports say he had been a source of concern for colleagues for 10 years, having confused emergency drills with real life incidents on at least two occasions.


(Related)




An article for my Data Management students.
Chief data officer’s guide to an AI strategy
CIO – Develop a data-driven culture but be mindful of regulatory and ethical considerations: “Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to be a priority for more than 30 percent of CIOs by 2020, according to Gartner. While AI promises game changing capabilities, this is only going to happen if your organisation applies it effectively. If you’re a chief data officer (CDO) trying to realise the full potential of AI, now’s the time to broaden your strategy, assess the impact on both business models and customer experiences, and prepare for other strategic challenges. Much of the current wave of attention is the result of gains in advanced analytics and machine learning. This current shift is partially attributable to the emergence of inexpensive, massive and readily available computing power, as well as the mountains of data available to train machines, form patterns and produce insights. Although top of mind, many organisations are just beginning their AI journey — gathering knowledge and developing strategies for applying it. If you’re like many data and analytics leaders, the need to define an AI strategy and identify uses is a real challenge…”




Data Management procedures must cover disposal! (No doubt someone would have looked in the cabinet, but it was locked.)
What’s possibly worse than leaving files with personally identifiable information in filing cabinets that you’re selling as surplus?
How about leaving top secret and classified documents on the workings of five governments?




How not to be anti-social media?
Michael Posner on the ethical challenges facing social networks and businesses
Ethics professor Michael Posner says there is an obligation for social networking sites like Facebook to do more to prevent the dissemination of political disinformation.
Posner says that when companies actively address ethical issues it not only benefits their brand image, but also makes them more efficient, more productive, and makes more people want to work for their company. [??? Bob]




Interesting, but not ‘real world?’ Amazon is offering a ‘prisoner’s dilemma.” If only one city offers them a huge tax break (other incentives being nearly equal) guess who wins? Seems short sighted to me.
Amazon HQ2 finalists should refuse tax breaks, say nearly 100 economists, professors
… The petition states that while the signees support Amazon’s decision to build a second headquarters, “incentives do not alter business location decisions as much as is often claimed and are less important than more fundamental location factors. Worse, they divert funds that could be put to better use underwriting public services such as schools, housing programs, job training, and transportation, which are more effective ways to spur economic development.”
… In its original RFP for HQ2, Amazon said that “incentives offered by the state/province and local communities to offset initial capital outlay and ongoing operational costs will be significant factors in the decision-making process” — so it’s unlikely that cities will collectively agree to take incentives off the table.




For my student vets…
After A False Start, The VA’s Vet ID System Finally Works
As of Jan. 29, Veterans can once again again submit online applications online, and this time — the applications actually go through.
All veterans with an honorable or general discharge can request the new ID cards. Keep in mind, they don’t replace VA medical cards or defense retiree cards, nor are they official government-issued forms of identification — so you can’t use it to board a plane, or by booze. But, they are handy for when you’re in a checkout line and spot a “10% off for veterans” discount sign.


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