InfoHive – Data Security

What’s happening? Supports of prohibiting ransom payments to hackers say that by prohibiting the payment of ransomware we will see a decline in ransomware.

Why is this important? For those playing along at their offices, we know that Oklahoma passed a bill , HB 1759 (OK | 2021 )this year to make ransomeware specifically a crime. 3 states, PA, NY and NC are considering making payments to ransomware attacks illegal. A bill died in Texas to this effect.

How will this be important? Bans will be part of a multi prong approach including: incentives, mutual aid where the governments identify experts that can help businesses, and building business resiliency.

Government Technology | States Consider Legislation to Ban Ransomware Payments

WSJ | Should Ransomware Payments Be Made Illegal?

What’s happening? Software companies that make license plate reading software has a new home as the companies are approaching neighborhoods.

Why is this important? local governments and states are not adopting the software, so the new message is license plate readers is a tool for neighborhood watch.

How will this be important? There is no empirical data that license plate readers reduce crime and the operation of the readers has little oversight in the hands of a neighborhood. A San Antonio neighborhood raised concerns of stalking fellow neighbors.

Electronic Frontier Foundation | Things to Know Before Your Neighborhood Installs an Automated License Plate Reader

What’s happening? A new report from cybersecurity firm, Strikeforce, says that there is a rise in using compromised credentials to gain access as opposed to malware and ransomware.

Why is this important? Multilayer credential checks along with repetitive credential checks are the way around this type of attack. The attacks are also faster at gaining access to other systems within a network at an average time of 1 hour and 32 minutes.

How will this be important? As hackers are faster and quicker, entities have to react more quickly to secure their systems and users.

Route Fifty | Report: Hackers Shift from Malware to Less Detectable Credential Hijacking

Crowdstrike No Where to Hide 2021

What’s happening? El Salvador is moving to adopt a cryptocurrency. It has acquired 200 bitcoins with a value total of $10 million.

Why is this important? More countries are moving toward adopting a form of cryptocurrency. El Salvador will accept bitcoin for goods, services and for taxes.

How will this be important? The El Salvador government’s bitcoin wallet Chivo, comes pre-loaded with $30 worth of the currency for users who register with a Salvadoran national ID number.

@businessweek

FoxBusiness | Bitcoin in El Salvador sparks crypto currency debate

What’s happening? Detroit is using a marketing campaign for the Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program focused on a hotline number, radio ads, tv ads all targeted by the distinct neighborhoods. Flyers are distributed to churches.

Why is this important? The digital divide isn’t only urban-rural, but also within urban areas.

How will this be important? If the marketing is successful in Detroit, it could inform other cities.

Route Fifty | Behind Detroit’s Homegrown Campaign to Close the Digital Divide

What’s happening? The new buzz word for state election security is “cyber navigators.

Why is this important? Cyber navigators are said to break down complicated cuber security for elections into tangible achievable pieces for election administrators

How will this be important? 7 States have passed cyber navigator programs: Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio

Stateline via Governing | Facing Foreign Election Foes, States Hire ‘Cyber Navigators’

What is happening? Republican leadership in Ohio is proposing data rights for Ohioans with the ability to have personal data deleted and request that it not be sold.

Why is this important? OH led the nation in offering liability protection for companies that maintained reasonable dat security measures. That was 2017. Today, elected officials want protections for Ohioans.

How will this be important? It is being touted as giving businesses and consumers confidence in their data in Ohio.

Springfield News Sun via Governing | Ohio to Create Data Rights as Breaches Set to Break Records

What is happening? Operators of U.S. bitcoin ATMs formed a coalition to strengthen compliance standards to prevent cryptocurrency crimes.

Why is this important? To legitimize cryptocurrency the crypto ATM companies need to ensure against crime and anonymous transactions

How will this be important? The coalition intends to grow its stakeholders to include cash-based cryptocurrency money service businesses, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, non-governmental, and law enforcement agencies

Business Insider | Bitcoin ATM operators are forming a coalition to prevent crypto-linked crimes

What’s happening? Newark Airport is testing facial recognition software to assist with boarding

Why is this important? The goal of this pilot program is to make airports more effcieint

How will this be important? Commercialism the use of facial recognition, moving away from recent debates of the use of the software by governmental entities and law enforcement

Staten Island Advance | Newark, N.J., Airport Tests Facial Recognition for Boarding

What is happening? Kansas is testing a drone program out that would allow it to move medical supplies and lab tests

Why is this important? It is a partnership between German drone manufacturer Wingcopter & Denver-based air medical service provider Air Methods

How will this be important? Can prove to be a safe and efficient way to transfer medical goods minimizing human interactions

Hutchinson News via Government Technology | Kan. Hospital Tests Medical Supply Drone Flight Paths