Tech Talk: Beware of the malware!

Savvy cyber criminals continue to leverage consumers’ ongoing fascination with celebrity news.

By ARIEL SHAPIRA
Cyber hackers [illustrative] (photo credit: REUTERS)
Cyber hackers [illustrative]
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The cyber arm of Intel Security, the global technology giant, recently released this year’s search results of the celebrities who generate the highest number of malware sites. A search for US comedian “Amy Schumer Torrent” results in a 33% chance of connecting to a malicious website.
The research reveals which celebrities generate the most dangerous search results that could expose fans to viruses and malware while they look for the latest information on today’s pop culture icons.
Amy Schumer is considered to be one of the most popular female comedians and she is also known for her work as a writer, actress and producer.
Now Schumer can add “first female comedian to take the No.1 spot on the McAfee Most Dangerous Celebrities™ study” to her list of achievements. Justin Bieber came in hot on her heels at No. 2, followed by the host of Today and The Voice, Carson Daly (No. 3). Schumer is also accompanied by comedian peers in the top 10 with Chris Hardwick (No. 7) and Daniel Tosh (No. 8). Former rapper turned Hollywood A-lister Will Smith is joined by chart-topping musicians such as Rihanna (No. 5), Miley Cyrus (No. 6), Selena Gomez (No. 9) and Kesha (No. 10), rounding out the top 10 list.
Savvy cyber criminals continue to leverage consumers’ ongoing fascination with celebrity news – such as award and TV shows as well as movie premieres, album releases, celebrity breakups and more – to entice unsuspecting fans to visit sites loaded with malware that can steal passwords and personal information. The study conducted by Intel Security highlights the various ways hackers can take advantage of consumer interest in pop culture news. It also gives information about risky online behavior and how consumers can best protect themselves from potential threats.
“Amy Schumer topping the list highlights the trend of more people looking to ‘cut the cord’ and move away from cable TV,” explained Gary Davis, an analyst at Intel in the field of consumer protection Security.
“Consumers are now, more than ever, streaming videos, TV shows and movies online. As file sharing and torrent use continues to grow in popularity, it’s no surprise that TV and movies are a target for cyber criminals seeking to create malicious files.”
Information taken from: https://newsroom.intel.com
Fending off cyber attack
Cytegic, which is headed by Carmi Gillon, is currently being used by governments and large organizations around the world to optimize daily security operations, improve readiness to fend off cyber attacks, and implement strategic and proactive solutions. Cytegic’s co-founder Shay Zandani says that the company’s sales are growing exponentially and that the cyber risk management market is about to explode.
Cytegic has patented its risk management cyber technology in the US, and is currently waiting for patents for additional products. This patent (No. 9,426,169 B2), officially titled “System and Method for Cyber Attacks Analysis and Decision Support,” covers the overall architecture and set of processes that powers Cytegic’s Cybersecurity Management Solution. Cytegic is currently being used by banks, insurance companies, media, telecommunications and commercial organizations to streamline daily security operations.
“We provide Chief Information Security Officers with a method for monitoring and managing cybersecurity risks that is designed for today’s reality. Cytegic’s controls run directly on the CEO’s computer dashboard so that the company’s top managers are not left out of the data loop,” says Zandani.
“These are not reports from a month ago, like external risk assessments from another company that are irrelevant once you get them,” Zandani says. “The cyber world is too dynamic for that; it’s changing all the time.”
Dr. Elon Kaplan, president of the company, says: “Practically speaking, the depth and scope of this first patent covers that method, while our three other pending patents cover specific sub-components of our solution.”
In a recent interview, Zandani remarked: “The challenge we’re solving is prioritizing. We’re allocating resources and suggesting solutions to relevant attack methods.”
These patents cover the underlying processes that enable Cytegic’s solution to continuously monitor an organization’s set of security controls, correlate the state of those controls against external threat intelligence, assess the organization’s security posture and – with great precision and a high degree of automation – adjust it as needed. It also covers the manner in which Cytegic calculates and presents cyber risk metrics.
Information taken from:
Memontage, your digital memorial platform
Memontage, an Israeli start up introduces a new outlook to online memorials.
The platform enables families to upload all sorts of memories of a late loved one into one dynamic address and share them with others. This new memorial platform is based on the five senses: One can upload a recipe that brings up old flavors, share a link to a movie that brings up sights and sounds and take a photo of an old perfume bottle to bring back the fragrance of the beloved.
“Grief has many faces. Some people immediately grasp the loss, if there is ever a way to really grasp it. Others deal with it in different ways, some repress. It changes with time but it is always there,” says Tovit Neizer, co-founder and CEO of Memontage.
“This is where our platform steps in. It serves both as a therapeutic tool, like writing memories in a journal, for those who recently lost someone dear, as well as a way to keep one’s legacy alive for future generations.”
Neizer came up with the idea while describing her late mother to her four-year-old daughter. The young one never had a chance to meet her grandmother. “When my mom passed away on her 50th birthday it was a complete shock and only years later it hit me again upon becoming a mother myself. I looked for ways to convey memories of my mother to my daughter Naomi,” says Neizer.
“So we sat together with an old photo album, but it was too static and so many moments weren’t captured. I feel that nowadays, with all the dynamic technology around us, there’s a need for a suitable platform to keep your late dear ones present in your life.” She admits that her own experience was truly helpful, both in her own process of grief as well as in sharing her legacy with family members.
Using the platform, one can upload any kind of memory of a loved one who passed away: a photo that always makes you laugh, a link to a song they sang off key or a recipe of a cake that smells like home. The result is a dynamic memory montage (‘Memontage’) where people can upload more and more memories, share them with family and friends and celebrate the life of the deceased. In addition, people can find comfort in others who created a Memontage and connect with them or visit their memories and stories for inspiration.
“While working on this platform I realized there isn’t really a need of physical memorabilia. I don’t need a passport to travel back in time to the precious moments we shared,” says Neizer. “We store endless stories in our heads that need to be written down. What if we’ll forget them? Who would teach our kids the wonderful lessons we learned from our parents? What about the TV shows that made them laugh? What about all their recipes? There are so many things we can tell and share without having a single photo.
“As opposed to a photo album that has a beginning and an end, you can add more memories to the Memontage as you find them,” says Neizer. To this, she adds a new role that should be taken up, in her view, during the first days of grieving.
“Think of all the visitors who come to pay their condolences with the bereaved during the first few days after the loss. If one friend of the family would be assigned as the memory archiver... you would have a wonderful and priceless digital memorial.”
Using Memontage makes it seamless, Neizer explains.
“The meaningful moments are hidden in the daily rituals and quotes and in that apple cake your grandmother used to bake,” she concludes.
The platform was launched a day before the 15th anniversary of 9/11, with albums prepared by victims’ families. Elaine Leinung was excited to try out the new platform. She lost her son Paul J. Battaglia in the terrorist attacks. Paul was 22 years old when he was killed. He worked on the 100th floor of the north tower, with an office view he loved.
She went through old boxes of Paul’s stuff, full of his stories, experiences and anecdotes. Since the platform enables her to add different kinds of memories which represent different senses, she was able to capture many aspects of her son’s life and personality. And many were humorous.
One such moment was a radio show he created called “Does Paul’s mother really love him?” He would call her up, saying he had the flu.
Leinung recalls: “I would answer ‘did you listen to me when I said you need to get a flu shot?’ without knowing I was ON-AIR. He would then invite another listener to decide if I really loved him.”
Gathering all the memories together – organizing the photos, links and telling Paul’s story in digital format – is her tribute to Paul on the 15th Anniversary of the attacks.
“I’d like to think if Paul were here, he’d enjoy it.”
Memontage is run by Tovit Neizer, co-founder and CEO, and Noa Zehavi Raz, co-founder and COO. Neizer is a content expert and an entrepreneur with vast business experience.
Zehavi Raz is a social media and marketing master with years of experience in small businesses, NGOs and enterprises.
If you run a young startup, have developed an interesting app or have a question, please feel free to contact info@social-wisdom.com Translated by Hannah Hochner.


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