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A cybercrook who has been setting up websites that mimic the self-destructing message service privnote.com accidentally exposed the breadth of their operations recently when they threatened to sue a software company. The disclosure revealed a profitable network of phishing sites that behave and look like the real Privnote, except that any messages containing cryptocurrency addresses […]
In today’s world, libraries stand as iconic institutions, appreciated for nurturing intellectual growth, raising passion for reading, preserving literature, and fostering cultural exploration. Yet, in their evolution, libraries are embracing a dynamic role that extends beyond books and into the field of sports. As representative institutions of culture, these community hubs are uniquely positioned to […]
In today’s world, libraries stand as iconic institutions, appreciated for nurturing intellectual growth, raising passion for reading, preserving literature, and fostering cultural exploration. Yet, in their evolution, libraries are embracing a dynamic role that extends beyond books and into the field of sports. As representative institutions of culture, these community hubs are uniquely positioned to […]
Roughly nine years ago, KrebsOnSecurity profiled a Pakistan-based cybercrime group called “The Manipulaters,” a sprawling web hosting network of phishing and spam delivery platforms. In January 2024, The Manipulaters pleaded with this author to unpublish previous stories about their work, claiming the group had turned over a new leaf and gone legitimate. But new research […]
Thread hijacking attacks. They happen when someone you know has their email account compromised, and you are suddenly dropped into an existing conversation between the sender and someone else. These missives draw on the recipient’s natural curiosity about being copied on a private discussion, which is modified to include a malicious link or attachment. Here’s […]
I recently had the pleasure of speaking at the online conference, AI and Libraries: Applications, Implications, and Possibilities. It was a quick talk, but mine was initially titled, A Framework for AI Literacy in Libraries. In the middle of the talk I changed the title to the more accurate, Competencies for Generative AI in Libraries […]
Several Apple customers recently reported being targeted in elaborate phishing attacks that involve what appears to be a bug in Apple’s password reset feature. In this scenario, a target’s Apple devices are forced to display dozens of system-level prompts that prevent the devices from being used until the recipient responds “Allow” or “Don’t Allow” to […]
The nonprofit organization that supports the Firefox web browser said today it is winding down its new partnership with Onerep, an identity protection service recently bundled with Firefox that offers to remove users from hundreds of people-search sites. The move comes just days after a report by KrebsOnSecurity forced Onerep’s CEO to admit that he […]
In this week’s Princh Library Blog post, the Public Library Accessibility Resource Center (PLARC) project team discusses their history, why accessible libraries are important, and how you can start assessing your library’s accessibility. Enjoy! “I went to where the audiobooks were and looked for some titles to borrow. I was using my hand-held magnifier and […]
It’s not unusual for the data brokers behind people-search websites to use pseudonyms in their day-to-day lives (you would, too). Some of these personal data purveyors even try to reinvent their online identities in a bid to hide their conflicts of interest. But it’s not every day you run across a US-focused people-search network based […]
The data privacy company Onerep.com bills itself as a Virginia-based service for helping people remove their personal information from almost 200 people-search websites. However, an investigation into the history of onerep.com finds this company is operating out of Belarus and Cyprus, and that its founder has launched dozens of people-search services over the years. Onerep’s […]
Have you moved recently and looking to make friends in your new community? Or perhaps, are you looking to expand your network with like-minded people? Then you should consider joining a literary circle in your community! In this week’s Princh Library Blog post, guest writer Jaydon Tanner gives his tips on how and why you […]
I recently put in a FOIP request to the Alberta Executive Council and got a pretty quick response that no records exist (EC000-2024-G-10 closure letter). I asked for clarification, and received, “Based on your very specific request for a list, a thorough search was undertaken to locate the records, and it was discovered that no […]
Apple and Microsoft recently released software updates to fix dozens of security holes in their operating systems. Microsoft today patched at least 60 vulnerabilities in its Windows OS. Meanwhile, Apple’s new macOS Sonoma addresses at least 68 security weaknesses, and its latest update for iOS fixes two zero-day flaws. Last week, Apple pushed out an […]
Borrowing from the playbook of ransomware purveyors, the darknet narcotics bazaar Incognito Market has begun extorting all of its vendors and buyers, threatening to publish cryptocurrency transaction and chat records of users who refuse to pay a fee ranging from $100 to $20,000. The bold mass extortion attempt comes just days after Incognito Market administrators […]
If you live in the United States, the data broker Radaris likely knows a great deal about you, and they are happy to sell what they know to anyone. But how much do we know about Radaris? Publicly available data indicates that in addition to running a dizzying array of people-search websites, the co-founders of […]
In this week’s Princh Library Blog post, guest writer Sam L. Bowman expands on what digital accessibility means for libraries, and suggest potential avenues for making your library more accessible. Enjoy! Equal access to literary resources, open thought, and learning is foundational to libraries. It’s what makes them vital to society and local communities. Resources […]
There are indications that U.S. healthcare giant Change Healthcare has made a $22 million extortion payment to the infamous BlackCat ransomware group (a.k.a. “ALPHV“) as the company struggles to bring services back online amid a cyberattack that has disrupted prescription drug services nationwide for weeks. However, the cybercriminal who claims to have given BlackCat access […]
Illustration: Drew Bardana What is artificial intelligence (AI)? What do library workers think of it? How are they using it? And what ethical concerns or issues of privacy have developed as AI becomes increasingly commonplace? According to a May 2023 survey of academic librarians by Leo S. Lo, professor and dean of the College of […]
Last October, President Joe Biden released an executive order detailing guidelines for various aspects of artificial intelligence (AI), with the aim of driving inquiry, regulations, and policy around current and emerging tools. A hot topic in many industries, generative artificial intelligence (generative AI) has increasingly occupied our cultural consciousness since the large language model ChatGPT debuted […]
