You’ve made it to Friday—it’s time to take a step back, prepare for a relaxing weekend, and read a few stories about the endless ways in which your personal information can be stolen.
OK, maybe it’s better to spin it like this: Here are some of the most interesting reads from this last week on cybersecurity, and the ways businesses are trying to secure our most sensitive data. However you want to look at it, enjoy some good reading and reporting.
If you’re feeling too bogged down by cybersecurity, there are a few highlights on what’s new (a lot) with Amazon, too.
The Biggest Digital Heist in History Isn’t Over Yet
—Bloomberg
Denis Katana may be the Danny Ocean of cyber heists. A detailed account of how a few people hacked hundreds of millions of dollars out of big banks around the globe.
Marketing Firm Exactis Leaked a Personal Info Database With 340 Million Records
—Wired
Sure, you’ve heard of Equifax, but what about Exactis? Well, it might have heard of you. Yet another big data breach.
BitSight Picks Up $60M to Fend Off Rivals in Cybersecurity Ratings
—Xconomy
Know you need a cybersecurity service, but just can’t decide who to hire? BitSight Technologies just got $60 million to help you figure it out.
Wi-Fi Security is Starting to Get its Biggest Upgrade in Over a Decade
—The Verge
The same security protocol for Wi-Fi devices has been in use since 2004. A new protocol is starting to be certified.
First Women-Led Cybersecurity Venture Capital Firm Launches
—Dark Reading
Chenxi Wang starts Rain Capital, which she says is the first women-led investment firm focused on cybersecurity.
City-Crippling Ransomware, Crypto Hijackings, and More: Our 2018 Mid-Year Cybersecurity Update
—MIT Technology Review
It’s always good to pay attention to what the smart kids are talking about.
Lockheed Martin Opening Cybersecurity Office for DoD in San Antonio
—Xconomy
San Antonio gets a bump in its effort to be a cybersecurity hub as Lockheed Martin opens a facility at Port San Antonio.
The Cybersecurity 202: Cellphone spying has lawmakers worried. But they don’t know how to stop it.
—The Washington Post
All mobile users are vulnerable to having their calls or texts intercepted, including the President.
Indeed: U.S. cybersecurity job postings grew 3.5% in past year
—VentureBeat
If there’s a half-glass-full point of view about society’s inability to protect our data, it’s that there are more and more jobs available for people to try to do it!
Every Android Device Since 2012 Impacted by RAMpage Vulnerability
—BleepingComputer
A hardware bug that can take control of you phone affects every Android phone released since 2012. Cool. Cool.
On a lighter note, how about a recap of some of the (huge amount of) Amazon news from the week?
Here’s how Amazon is able to poach so many execs from Microsoft
—CNBC
Amazon has hired away more executives from Microsoft than any other tech company. Do you think their contracts guarantee bathroom breaks?
Amazon Acquiring Online Pharmacy PillPack, Eyes Prescription Drug Market
—Xconomy
Amazon dealt the world another doozy, buying prescription drug distributor PillPack. Sorry, what did you say? “Anti”-what?
How Amazon Steers Shoppers to Its Own Products
—The New York Times
The Times examines Amazon’s ability to acquire businesses and sell private labels, and whether there may be any reprise from regulators—such as a potential monopolization case.
Orlando Pulls the Plug on Its Amazon Facial Recognition Program
—The New York Times
Its software was called Amazon Rekognition, OK? With a “k.” I don’t care if they’re saying they shut it down because of privacy concerns—the real reason has gotta be that they realized replacing a “c” with a “k” to make up a new word is always a bad choice. Right?
I Delivered Packages for Amazon and It Was a Nightmare
—The Atlantic
How can Amazon make more money? Get you and me to deliver our friends’ packages, duh.
And one more, on the unrelated topic of A.I. (which we covered last week), because it’s a great read. (Thanks to Angela Shah for finding this one.)
Unmasking A.I.’s Bias Problem
—Fortune
The headline says most of what you need to know. Microsoft’s racist, homophobic chatbot Tay can tell you the rest.
