Skip to main content

LastPass breach: an historic – and likely ignored – cybersecurity lesson

Written by Carmi Levy on . Posted in Blog, StringN. No Comments on LastPass breach: an historic – and likely ignored – cybersecurity lesson

THE PASSWORD MANAGEMENT PROMISE Password management has always been a struggle between convenience and security, with end-users often using the same password across multiple systems and using passwords – such as names of pets or significant others – containing clues easily obtained from social media. Some will even use the same passwords for years at a stretch, which can extend vulnerability long after their authentication information has been compromised in a breach. Password management solutions like LastPass, 1Password, and Dashlane promise to address the...

Continue reading

Cybersecurity staffing alert – Gartner sounds the alarm about stress and retention

Written by Carmi Levy on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Cybersecurity staffing alert – Gartner sounds the alarm about stress and retention

IT’S A PEOPLE PROBLEM We tend to think of cybersecurity events, like incursions, breaches, and ransomware attacks, as largely caused by failures in technology. But Gartner’s figures paint a different picture where over-stressed cybersecurity leaders are increasingly thinking of quitting. The numbers also highlight how under-resourced employees are bypassing organizational protections and exposing stakeholders to unacceptable risk. The report suggests that by 2025, almost half of all cybersecurity leaders will have moved on from their current jobs – and 25% of them will exit the...

Continue reading

Apple’s new device fingerprinting rules send clear privacy message to developers

Written by Carmi Levy on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Apple’s new device fingerprinting rules send clear privacy message to developers

NOT A ONE-TIME CHANGE Apple is no stranger to the privacy game, as this move is only the latest in a series of policy updates designed to strengthen data access and usage policies across its platforms and devices. The most significant of these changes was the introduction of App Tracking Transparency in iOS 14.5 in 2021. That update required apps to request end-user permission to track activity across other apps and websites. Opting in allowed developers to use Apple’s IDFA identifier to share activity with third party data brokers and marketing agencies. Opting...

Continue reading

Developers take notes as Twitter rebrands as X – and kills the bird for good

Written by Carmi Levy on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Developers take notes as Twitter rebrands as X – and kills the bird for good

THE POWER OF A BRAND Rebranding could very well be the most strategic decision an organization ever makes. Brand equity, after all, represents the sum total of how customers, end-users, and other stakeholders feel about the organization – and why they choose to interact with it in the first place. It can’t be bought, it must be earned and strengthened over time. Executed well, a rebranding can build on that foundation. It can keep the brand fresh and competitive – even relevant – amid the relentless pace of changing consumer trends, and of course shifting competitive pressures. A...

Continue reading

Threads privacy policies reveal need for better development best practices

Written by Carmi Levy on . Posted in Blog, StringN. No Comments on Threads privacy policies reveal need for better development best practices

HUNGRY, HUNGRY HIPPO Now that the first few heady weeks of Threads’ existence are giving way to the cold, harsh reality of long-term use, we’re beginning to get a better look at what lies underneath. And what we’re seeing – at least from the perspective of end-user privacy – merits additional discussion, because Threads collects significantly more data than competing apps in the microblogging space. While apps like Twitter, Mastodon, Hive Social, and Bluesky all have their own privacy policies, all of them are far less aggressive in their data...

Continue reading

Cybersecurity budgets fail to keep pace with intensifying threat landscape

Written by Carmi Levy on . Posted in Blog, StringN. No Comments on Cybersecurity budgets fail to keep pace with intensifying threat landscape

INFRASTRUCTURE INCREASINGLY UNDER THREAT The Suncor attack reflects the accelerating vulnerability of organizations in the infrastructure space – see Colonial Pipeline and JBS Foods for earlier examples of high-profile ransomware events that resulted in widespread consumer impact. It also comes on the heels of a warning from the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) that the oil and gas sector is increasingly being targeted by opportunistic cybercriminals. Barely two months ago, the Globe & Mail newspaper reported on pro-Russian claims...

Continue reading

Is Meta Threads a Twitter killer? The answer may surprise you.

Written by Carmi Levy on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Is Meta Threads a Twitter killer? The answer may surprise you.

REWRITING THE LANDSCAPE Meta bills Threads as a new app “for sharing tech updates and joining public conversations.” At first glance, it looks a lot like a mashup of Twitter and Instagram. The visual language is all Instagram, while the functions are reminiscent of early-days Twitter – before the bots, the trolls, and the Elon Musk-imposed daily usage limits. None of this is a surprise given how Meta itself describes Threads: “Instagram is where billions of people around the world connect over photos and videos. Our vision with Threads is to take what Instagram...

Continue reading

Seize control as tech sector layoffs reshape talent management roadmaps

Written by Carmi Levy on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Seize control as tech sector layoffs reshape talent management roadmaps

A POST-PANDEMIC RIGHTSIZING As we shared last year, none of this comes as a surprise. Much of the current layoff trend is less dire than it might seem. Rather than clouds gathering on the horizon, it is more akin to a structural realignment as the economy slowly emerges from the pandemic. As COVID first took hold in March 2020, many tech companies found themselves slammed by spiking demand for services from suddenly homebound customers. Amazon, for example, had to hire hundreds of thousands of new people to handle deliveries, and to staff their warehouses to manage the crush...

Continue reading

Meta to end news in Canada after Online News Act becomes law

Written by Carmi Levy on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Meta to end news in Canada after Online News Act becomes law

AN HISTORIC SHIFT – AND ITS CONSEQUENCES It’s no secret that traditional media outlets have struggled in recent years as tech firms – largely web and social media giants like Google and Meta – have taken over the advertising market. Consumer habits have moved online, and revenues that once flowed exclusively to traditional newspapers, magazines, TV and radio stations have shifted to digital platforms. Along the way, tech platforms have been indexing, linking to, and cross-posting news content, then selling ads against the resulting traffic. Media platforms pay to create the...

Continue reading

Artificial Intelligence glossary: the top 15 definitions you need to know

Written by Carmi Levy on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Artificial Intelligence glossary: the top 15 definitions you need to know

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DEFINITION Algorithm “An algorithm is a procedure used for solving a problem or performing a computation. Algorithms act as an exact list of instructions that conduct specified actions step by step in either hardware- or software-based routines.” Source: TechTarget Artificial Intelligence (AI) “At its simplest form, artificial intelligence is a field, which combines computer science and robust datasets, to enable problem-solving. It also encompasses sub-fields of machine learning and deep learning, which are frequently mentioned in conjunction...

Continue reading