The horror in Australia is over!

https://www.zdnet.com/article/lion-gets-breweries-up-and-running-following-ransomware-attack/

Lion gets breweries up and running following ransomware attack

But the beverage giant cannot confirm that data won't eventually make its way out into the wild, despite not finding any evidence of it being removed.

Perspective. If it’s not war, it’s very similar. (What is the percentage in the US?)

https://www.zdnet.com/article/cyber-accounts-for-26-of-all-crimes-in-singapore/

Cyber accounts for 26% of all crimes in Singapore

Accounting for 26.8% of all crimes in the country, cybercrime remains on an upwards trajectory with 9,430 cases reported last year and e-commerce scams leading the way.

Forewarned is forearmed.

https://cyware.com/news/understanding-email-security-threats-and-bec-trends-during-the-pandemic-821cbb35/?web_view=true

Understanding Email Security Threats and BEC Trends During the Pandemic

… A report from Barracuda Networks revealed that, by the end of February alone, there was a 667% spike in email-based attacks themed around the disease.

… According to Mimecast’s ‘The State of Email Security 2020’, impersonation fraud increased by 30% in the first 100 days of COVID-19.

Double check your checklist against this checklist.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2020/06/26/core-cybersecurity-principles-for-new-companies-and-products/

Core cybersecurity principles for new companies and products

… The cyber essentials need to be tailored to an organization’s size, nature and type of product. The report details each, followed by practical steps for their implementation and guidance for investors on how to validate them.

Seems a bit wimpy to me.

New Zealand parliament passes Privacy Act 2020, a modernized privacy law

Privacy Commissioner John Edwards welcomed Parliament passing the Privacy Act 2020 with unanimous support.

The new Act replaces the 27-year-old Privacy Act 1993. Many of the changes are based on recommendations from the Law Commission’s comprehensive 2011 review of New Zealand’s privacy laws.

… Mandatory notification of harmful privacy breaches. If organisations or businesses have a privacy breach that poses a risk of serious harm, they are required to notify the Privacy Commissioner and affected parties.

… Introduction of compliance orders. Failure to follow a compliance notice could result a fine of up to $10,000. [Not 4% of revenue? Bob]

… The Act comes into effect on 1 December 2020.

To view a PDF of the file, click here.

Interesting, but I suspect this is far from complete. I would like to know more about the assumptions behind the data.

https://www.bespacific.com/demographic-report-on-protests-shows-how-much-info-our-phones-give-away/

Demographic report on protests shows how much info our phones give away

Buzzfeed: “On the weekend of May 29, thousands of people marched, sang, grieved, and chanted, demanding an end to police brutality and the defunding of police departments in the aftermath of the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. They marched en masse in cities like Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, empowered by their number and the assumed anonymity of the crowd. And they did so completely unaware that a tech company was using location data harvested from their cellphones to predict their race, age, and gender and where they lived. Just over two weeks later, that company, Mobilewalla, released a report titled “George Floyd Protester Demographics: Insights Across 4 Major US Cities.” In 60 pie charts, the document details what percentage of protesters the company believes were male or female, young adult (18–34); middle-aged 35º54, or older (55+); and “African-American,” “Caucasian/Others,” “Hispanic,” or “Asian-American.” “African American males made up the majority of protesters [How? 75% of the protesters are flagged as “Caucasian” Bob] in the four observed cities vs. females,” Mobilewalla claimed. “Men vs. women in Atlanta (61% vs. 39%), in Los Angeles (65% vs. 35%), in Minneapolis (54% vs. 46%) and in New York (59% vs. 41%).” The company analyzed data from 16,902 devices at protests — including exactly 8,152 devices in New York, 4,527 in Los Angeles, 2,357 in Minneapolis, and 1,866 in Atlanta. Sen. Elizabeth Warren told BuzzFeed News that Mobilewalla’s report was alarming, and an example of the consequences of the lack of regulation on data brokers in the US…”

Looks like the self-driving world is still active.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/26/amazon-buys-self-driving-technology-company-zoox.html

Amazon to buy self-driving technology company Zoox

Amazon has just taken its boldest step yet into self-driving vehicles, acquiring six-year-old start-up Zoox, the company announced Friday.

Amazon said the deal will help bring Zoox’s “vision of autonomous ride-hailing to reality.”

… Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but the Financial Times previously reported that Amazon would pay more than $1.2 billion to acquire Zoox. An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment.

… It’s not immediately clear what Amazon plans to do with Zoox’s technology, but it’s possible Amazon could integrate Zoox’s offerings into its logistics network to offer cheaper and faster delivery, as well as its cashierless grocery stores.

Perspective? The new normal does not need brick & mortar.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/26/microsoft-to-close-retail-stores.html

Microsoft is permanently closing its retail stores

Microsoft on Friday announced it will permanently close its Microsoft Store retail locations. It will instead focus on its online store at Microsoft.com, where customers can go for support, sales, training and more.