#cyber intelligence act as threat intelligence

[mariacallous]

The need for good intelligence has never been more visible. The failure of the Israeli security services to anticipate the brutal surprise attack carried out by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 reveals what happens when intelligence goes wrong.

In contrast, in late February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s planned three-day “special military operation” to invade Ukraine and topple the government was pushed onto the back foot by the U.S. and U.K. intelligence communities. While Putin’s rapid seizure of Crimea by a flood of “little green men”  in 2014 was a fait accompli, by the time of the 2022 invasion, anticipatory moves including the public declassification of sensitive intelligence ensured that both the intelligence community and Ukraine remained a step ahead of Putin’s plans.

Yet, despite the clear and enduring need for good intelligence to support effective statecraft, national security, and military operations, U.S. intelligence agencies and practitioners are undermined by a crisis of legitimacy. Recent research investigating public attitudes toward the U.S. intelligence community offers some sobering trends.

A May 2023 poll conducted by the Harvard University Center for American Political Studies and Harris Poll found that an eye-watering 70 percent of Americans surveyed were either “very” or “somewhat” concerned about “interference by the FBI and intelligence agencies in a future presidential election.”

A separate study, conducted in 2021 and 2022 by the Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas at Austin and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, found that only 56 percent of Americans thought that the intelligence community “plays a vital role in warning against foreign threats and contributes to our national security.” That number is down 10 points from a previous high—if it can even be called that—of 66 percent in 2019, and the downward trend does not give us cause for optimism. Reframed, that statistic means that in 2022, an alarming (in our view) 44 percent of Americans did not believe that the intelligence community keeps them safe from foreign threats or contributes to U.S. national security.

Worse, despite abundant examples of authoritarian aggression and worldwide terror attacks, nearly 1 in 5 Americans seem to be confused about where the real threats to their liberty are actually emanating from. According to the UT Austin study, a growing number of Americans thought that the intelligence community represented a threat to civil liberties: 17 percent in 2022, up from 12 percent in 2021. A nontrivial percentage of Americans feel that the intelligence community is an insidious threat instead of a valuable protector in a dangerous world—a perspective that jeopardizes the security and prosperity of the United States and its allies.

The most obvious recent example of the repercussions of the corrosion of trust in the intelligence community is the recent drama over reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). First introduced in the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, Section 702 is an important legal authority for the U.S. intelligence community to conduct targeted surveillance of foreign persons located outside the United States, with the compelled assistance of electronic communication service providers. According to a report published by Office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI), 702 is “extremely valuable” and “provides intelligence on activities of terrorist organizations, weapons proliferators, spies, malicious cyber actors, and other foreign adversaries.”

Section 702 was scheduled to “sunset” at the end of 2023 if not reauthorized. Yet Congress failed to reauthorize 702 by the end of 2023, electing to punt the decision—as is so often the case—to this spring, when it was finally reauthorized (with some important reforms) in late April 2024, but it was only extended for two years instead of the customary five. An unusual alliance of the far right and the far left squeezed centrists and the Biden administration, which was strongly pushing for a renewal that would protect the civil liberties of U.S. citizens and not needlessly hobble the intelligence community in protecting the United States itself.

But the frantic down-to-the-wire negotiations about reauthorizing some recognizable form of 702 obscured a deeper problem at the heart of the contemporary Americans’ relationship with intelligence that has been brewing over the last decade: The fundamental legitimacy of a strong intelligence community—and the integrity of its practitioners—has been questioned by U.S. lawmakers on the far left and the far right, perhaps reflecting a misguided but increasing consensus of tens of millions of Americans.

This trend is now a crisis.

Section 702’s troubled journey faced queries from the privacy-oriented left, where those with overblown concerns about potential abuse by the intelligence community viewed reauthorizing 702 is tantamount to “turning cable installers into spies,” in the words of one opinion contributor published in The Hill. The intelligence community’s revised authorities (some adjustments were required given the 15 years of communications technology development since the amendment was first passed) were called “terrifying” and predictably—the most hackneyed description for intelligence tools—“Orwellian.” On the power-skeptical right, Section 702 is perceived as but another powerful surveillance tool of the so-called deep state.

In response to legitimate concerns about past mistakes, the intelligence community has adopted procedural reforms and enhanced training that it says would account for the overwhelming majority of the (self-reported) mistakes in querying 702 collection. According to a report from the Justice Department’s National Security Division, the FBI achieved a 98 percent compliance rate in 2023 after receiving better training. Further, the Justice Department and the DNI have gone to unprecedented lengths to publicly show—through declassified success stories—the real dangers that allowing 702 to lapse would bring to the United States and its allies.

Never before has an intelligence community begged, cajoled, and pleaded with lawmakers to enable it to do its job. After all, a hobbled intelligence community would still be held responsible should a war warning be missed, or should a terrorist attack occur.

For instance, Gen. Eric Vidaud, the French military intelligence chief, was promptly fired over intelligence failings related to Putin’s (re)invasion of Ukraine despite the Elysée’s criticisms of the warnings made by the United States and United Kingdom as “alarmist.” And Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva, director of Israeli military intelligence, recently resigned over the Oct. 7 attacks despite the fault probably lying across Israel’s political landscape as well. Intelligence professionals pay more than their share of the bill when their crystal ball stays cloudy.

The hullabaloo over 702 is not the only recent instance painting the actions of the U.S. national security apparatus as questionable state activity conducted by dishonest bureaucrats, and some recent history helps put the recent events into a broader downward trend in trust.

In 2013, National Security Agency (NSA) mass-leaker Edward Snowden, a junior network IT specialist with a Walter Mitty complex, sparked a needed but distorted global conversation about the legitimacy of intelligence collection when he stole more than 1.5 million NSA documents and fled to China and ultimately Russia. The mischaracterization of NSA programs conveyed by Snowden and his allies (painting them as more intrusive and less subject to legal scrutiny than they were) led to popular misunderstandings about the intelligence community’s methods and oversight.

It was not only junior leakers whose unfounded criticism helped to corrode public faith in intelligence; it has also been a bipartisan political effort. In 2009, then-U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed that the CIA had lied to her after she wished to distance herself from the agency’s “enhanced interrogation techniques”—which critics call torture. But Pelosi’s comments earned a “false” rating from Politifact’s “truth-o-meter.” Then-CIA Director Leon Panetta countered that “CIA officers briefed truthfully.”

Some suspicion of a powerful intelligence community stems from genuine failings of the past, especially the CIA’s activities in the early and middle stages of the Cold War, which included some distasteful assassination plots, the illegal collection of intelligence domestically (such as surveillance of Americans on political grounds, including illegally opening their mail), and the LSD experimentation on unwitting Americans as part of its infamous MKULTRA program.

Most of these excesses—characterized as the CIA’s “Family Jewels”—were reported to Congress, which held explosive hearings in 1975 to publicize these activities, bringing the intelligence agencies into the public realm like never before. Images of Sen. Frank Church holding aloft a poison dart gun, designed by the CIA to incapacitate and induce a heart attack in foreign leaders, became front page news. These serious failings in accountability were the dawn of rigorous intelligence oversight.

Public trust in government was already sinking when, in 1971, the Pentagon Papers revealed that politicians had lied about US activities in the deeply unpopular Vietnam war. The Watergate scandal the following year added fuel to fire. Although the CIA was not directly involved in Watergate, the involvement of former agency employees led to a wider belief that the agency was tainted. And in the late 1970s, CIA morale sank to an all-time low when then-President Jimmy Carter began the process of sharply reducing its staff, attributing the decision to its “shocking” activities.

In response to congressional findings and mountains of bad press, subsequent directors of the CIA considered the criticisms and made numerous changes to how the intelligence community operates. While the intelligence community (and its leaders) made good-faith efforts to operate strictly within its legal boundaries, be more responsive to congressional oversight, and embrace some level of transparency, the public image of the CIA and the broader intelligence community didn’t change. After the Cold War ended, the preeminent vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, called twice for the disbanding of the CIA. Such political pummeling of the role of intelligence and the integrity of its practitioners was bound to leave a mark.

The politics of distrust are back to the bad old days. By 2016, distrust of the intelligence community had returned with a vengeance: then-presidential candidate Donald Trump claimed that NSA was circumventing domestic legal constructs to spy on his campaign through its close partnership with the Government Communications headquarters (GCHQ), the British signals intelligence agency. (The NSA said those claims were false and GCHQ called them “utterly ridiculous”.) As president-elect, Trump also compared U.S. intelligence to “living in Nazi Germany.” Once Trump entered the Oval Office, the FBI was a frequent target for his invective thanks to the investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 election.

While the intelligence community is a long way away from the excesses of the 1970s, it is not perfect. Intelligence is an art, not a science. It is not prediction so much as narrowing the cone of uncertainty for decision-makers to act in a complex world. Even when acting strictly within the law and under the scrutiny of Congress and multiple inspectors general, the intelligence community has been wrong on several important occasions. It failed to stop the 9/11 attacks, got the assessment that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction spectacularly wrong, and was made to look impotent by Osama bin Laden for nearly a decade before the U.S. Navy SEALs caught up with him on a CIA mission in Pakistan in May 2011.

Errors still happen because intelligence is hard, and the occasional failure to warn, to stop every attack, or to prevent every incorrect search query is inevitable. Today, mistakes are self-reported to Congress; they are no longer hidden away as they sometimes were in the past. Yet the intelligence community has done a poor job telling its own story and self-censors due to widespread over-classification—a problem that the DNI has acknowledged, if not yet remedied. It has only belatedly begun to embrace the transparency required for a modern intelligence apparatus in a democratic state, and there is much work yet to be done.

It is the job of the intelligence agencies to keep a calm and measured eye on dark developments. In a world in which the panoply of threats is increasing, the role of the intelligence community and its responsibilities within democratic states has never been greater. If the community cannot be trusted by its political masters in the White House and Congress, much less the American people, then it will not be given the ability to “play to the edge,” and the risk is that the United States and its allies will be blind to the threats facing them. Given the adversaries, the consequences could be severe.

U.S. intelligence has had a rebirth of confidence since 9/11 and the incorrect judgments of the Iraqi weapons program. It was intelligence and special operations that hunted and killed bin Laden, U.S. law enforcement that has kept the U.S. homeland safe from another massive terror attack, and the intelligence community correctly predicted the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

That increased sense of purpose and morale is moot if the U.S. people, Congress, or the president (sitting or future) do not trust them. This crisis of legitimacy is a trend that may soon hamper the intelligence community, and the results could be unthinkable. Getting the balance between civil liberties and security right isn’t an easy task, but the intelligence community must have the tools, trust, and oversight required to simultaneously keep faith with the American people while serving as their first line of defense.

[naturalrights-retard]

The FBI was a customer of a private company Team Cymru, a contract shows. The company is in the business of harvesting NetFlow – network protocol for collecting IP traffic information and monitoring network flow – data from ISPs in return for threat intelligence, and then selling it on.

The contract became public knowledge thanks to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by Motherboard which reveals that the federal agency's Cyber Division spent “tens of thousands” of dollars to get its hands on this data.

The deal was worth $76,450 and was made in 2017.

NetFlow data provides information about traffic volume and flow on a network, such as servers communicating with each other. This is something that is known only to the server owner, or an ISP – and, thanks to deals companies like Team Cymru have with ISPs, also to the FBI and other buyers.

Team Cymru openly states that the product it sells can track traffic through VPNs, Motherboard writes. The company also offers data like visited URLs and cookies, however, the internal FBI document detailing the deal does not say if this was part of the package.

“Commercially provided net flow information/data – 2 months of service,” is what the document on what the FBI purchased states.

The FBI is not alone in showing interest in NetFlow data – the military does it as well, and according to a whistleblower who went to Senator Ron Wyden with their information, one of the customers is the Navy's Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), a civilian federal law enforcement agency.

Several days ago, Wyden said that he asked the Department of Justice inspector general to look into how the FBI is buying and using metadata, also based on a whistleblower report, and now, concerning NetFlow data, the senator sees it as yet more proof that the FBI is buying metadata capable of showing “the websites Americans visit, as well as sensitive information such as what doctor a person sees, their religion or what dating sites they use.”

And for that, Wyden said in a statement, the FBI explained what data concerning Americans' browsing history it buys and why.

“It is not acceptable for the government to go around the courts by using a credit card to buy private information, which is why I have proposed the Fourth Amendment is Not for Sale Act to ban the purchase of this kind of private data,” he concluded.

According to Motherboard, neither the FBI nor Team Cymru were in the mood to offer any comment at this time.

[international-writing]

Hi sorry if this is a bother but i really loved (and needed) that most about MI6, do you think you can make one about MI5 too? I've been trying to find stuff about it but can't find any information as in depth as your post :)

I’m really glad the MI6 post was helpful! And it's no bother! I'll do it gladly!

Ready to jump back into the murky world of intelligence?

Alright, so we've talked about MI6 and how it gathers intelligence to aid the UK in its decision-making, but what about MI5?

Let's start with the basics.

Intelligence agencies 101: MI5

1.- What even?

Whereas MI6 is in charge of gathering intelligence overseas in order to support the government's security, defense, foreign and economic policies, according to the 1989 Security Service Act, MI5 is tasked with "the protection of national security and in particular its protection against threats such as terrorism, espionage and sabotage, the activities of agents of foreign powers, and from actions intended to overthrow or undermine parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means". Such threats may come from abroad or from within.

MI5’s headquarters are found at Thames House, a Grade II (of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve it) building close to the Houses of Parliament in London. In addition to this, there are 8 regional offices in Luton, Wales, Bristol, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham, as well as another headquarters in Northern Ireland.

2.- Who is who?

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no M or C here.

The agency is under the authority of the Home Secretary, even though it does not form part of the Home Office.

The Director General (or DG) is the head of MI5, and is responsible for overseeing its operations and efficiency, reporting back to the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister, as well as ensuring the agency remains politically impartial.

There are 10 branches in MI5, and several entities that support its work, like the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA: providing organizations with security advice) and the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC: handles intelligence relating to international terrorism).

It is worth mentioning that in 2011, His Majesty, King Charles III became the Royal Patron of the Intelligence Services (including MI5, SIS and GCHQ). This means that he receives regular security briefings, as well as a daily ‘red box’ which includes intelligence reports, Cabinet papers, and confidential reports from Commonwealth countries.

There are over 5,000 employees in the organization and their roles include, investigations, technology, languages, surveillance, communications, information, protective security, administrations, building services and catering. As in MI6, all employees must be British, over the age of 18, and UK residents. They aren't allowed to discuss their application or job either.

3.- Operational Areas

MI5 mainly focuses on 4 areas: Terrorism, Espionage, Cyber Threats and the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Counter-Terrorism

The agency focuses on different types of terrorism:

International terrorism: Groups such as ISIL and Al Qaeda.

Northern Ireland related: Dissident republican groups.

Right Wing Terrorism (RWT)/ Left, Anarchist and Single-Issue Terrorism (LASIT): This issue took primacy in 2020 and are handled just like international terrorism.

Counter-Espionage

Seeks to stop foreign intelligence agents from obtaining information and provides security advice to companies and organizations while working closely with MI6, GCHQ, Scotland Yard, as well as security and intelligence organizations abroad.

Cyber

Focuses on hostile actors, such as criminals, "hacktivist" groups, terrorists and foreign states, which are generally well equipped for cyber espionage and computer network attacks. These actors can target the government, the military, businesses, individuals and large volumes of sensitive data.

Cyber Espionage is called Computer Network Exploitation (CNS), while the use of malicious software against cyber infrastructure is denominated Computer Network Attack (CNA).

Counter-Proliferation

The UK is obliged by several international treaties and conventions to work against the threat that weapons of mass destruction pose. MI5 focuses on regimes and states that pursue clandestine weaponization programmes. To do this, the agency works with both private institutions and government agencies such as: The Department for Business, the Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Ministry of Defence (MOD), His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Home Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA).

4.- Tale as old as time...

We have talked about the “armed peace” period and how crazy the world was getting back in 1909, basically racing towards THE war everyone thought would put an end to all wars. It was back then that, fearing the German imperialistic ambitions, Great Britain established the Secret Service Bureau through Prime Minister Asquith’s Committee of Imperial Defence. 

Initially, this agency handled both national and foreign affairs, under the leadership of 50 year-old Royal Navy Commander Mansfield Cumming and 36 year-old Army captain Vernon Kell.

However, down the road, our dear Commander Cumming advocated for the splitting of these branches and thus, the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and the Security Service (MI5) were born. 

Right off the bat MI5 was tasked with dealing with a massive German espionage network that, according to “official” reports, had infiltrated Britain, causing widespread paranoia. The agency barely had 16 employees back then, but that, along with Churchill’s support (Home Secretary back then) was enough to find out about the existence of a German Naval Intelligence spy network. By the end of WWI, more than half the spies sent to Britain were caught by MI5.

However, the agency barely made it through the post-war cuts, not to mention its rivalry with Scotland Yard’s Special Branch and MI6 (the line between espionage and counter-espionage was REEEEEEAAAALLY thin and they were stepping on each other's toes).

Thankfully, the Soviet Union came to save the day when one of MI5’s surveillance operations revealed that Scotland Yard had been infiltrated by Soviet intelligence. By 1931, MI5 was completely in charge of counter-subversion operations, a responsibility that the agency would continue to hold until 1991.

In the 1970s, terrorism became a priority for MI5, especially those threats coming from Northern Ireland and Qadhafi's Libya, and after the 9/11 attacks, the agency changed its modus operandi entirely.

As you can see, the agency has had a very long history, however, its existence was only officially acknowledged in 1992.

5-. A rose by any other name...

The agency, just like MI6, has taken on many names throughout the years, starting with the Home Section of the Secret Service Bureau in 1909, the Directorate of Military Operations section 5 “MO5(g)” in 1914, Military Intelligence section 5 (MI5) in 1916, the Defence Security Service in 1929, and finally, the Security Service in 1931. And although the latter has remained its official name, the agency is most commonly referred to as MI5, even by those in it.

6.- Technicalities

As it turns out, MI5 shares its funding with MI6 and the GCHQ (no wonder they’re rivals...). According to a report from the 2018/19 period, MI5 used 67% of its budget for international counter-terrorism, 20% for Northern Ireland-related terrorism, and 13% for counter-espionage, counter-proliferation and protective security. 

Also worth mentioning, while MI5 agents have plenty of powers, they are not authorized to make arrests, and that is why they work with the Metropolitan Police AKA Scotland Yard, providing them with the necessary intelligence.

Recently, reforms have been made within the agency, and people now have the right to find out the kind of information that MI5 has on them, as well as ask if a deceased relative used to work for the agency. If the relative is still alive, however, MI5 definitely won’t spill the beans. So uhm... you might want to wait a little before trying to find out what that weird uncle does.

7.- Intelligence

MI5 makes use of several techniques to gather intelligence, such as:

Covert Human Intelligence Sources: Also known as “agents”, these people provide secret information during investigations and are NOT MI5 employees.

Directed surveillance: Following and/or observing targets.

Interception of communications: Monitoring emails or phone calls.

Bulk personal data: information about a large number of people used to identify a subject of interest.

Intrusive surveillance: Eavesdropping devices in homes or cars.

Equipment interference: Covertly accessing computers or other devices.

And in case you were wondering, yep, these are all legal because guess what? Individual rights can often be voided when it comes to national security.

Well...

That was all on my behalf. I hope this turned out to be useful for you, and if you happen to have any more doubts on this or any other related topic, my ask is always open!

Yours truly,

-The Internationalist

#writing advice #writing help #creative writing #spies #writing community #writing resources #writing tips #MI5 #spooks #writing spies

[butch-reidentified]

I never actually donated to the GoFundMe. If you go on there you can clearly see that no donation of $20 has been made after I replied to your post. I'm pretty skeptical so I don't actually believe most cyber-beggers and posts in the radfem tag, but I thought it was silly to link to a GoFundMe that you don't like so I replied with that. I'm sorry about the trolling. Can you tell people to chill with the death threats and suicide-baiting?

I took a bit of time to think hard on this. I hope you can accept my response for as genuine as it is. It isn't meant to be malicious, but is what I honestly arrived at after thinking this ask over.

I know you didn't donate & I said as much in my reblog. But here's the thing: I knew the risk of posting the link (however if I just posted a pic people would still be able to look it up etc), but I was fully prepared to do what I did with your comment and call out rapist-supporting behavior. It was not "silly," but rather a calculated choice. It is a fraudulent GFM that deserves reporting regardless of whether I knew the person. Is insulting my intelligence meant to help your case? I made my bed and was prepared to lie in it.

With all due respect, let this be a life lesson. If you cannot engage in trolling without handling the consequences, maybe you shouldn't be trolling. If the circumstances were different, I might even have your back. But you are reaching out to one of the victims of a serial rapist you decided to pretend to support, and asking me to do you a favor? I honestly morally can't do that. You are facing the consequences of your own cruelty.

Now, I don't condone threats and suicide baiting or whatever in general, and I've been clear about that on my blog many times (though supporting rapists is a pretty reasonable exception imho). So whatever backlash you are receiving, I don't hold the power to stop it if I wanted to.

I delete anons telling me to kill myself or that I deserve to be raped/tortured/murdered every single day from transactivists/allies, and I haven't supported any of their rapists. I have medically transitioned myself, so I am very sympathetic toward the cause - I simply won't compromise on reality and women's rights to accommodate feelings. I believe that as long as everyone acts in good faith, there is surely a mutually amenable solution. But that alone is enough to get me 24/7 cruelty in my inbox 🤷 It's a sad statement on current gender politics, but personally it just doesn't bother me. Sometimes I've even played an anon hate drinking game with my wife and friends.

So what I'm telling you is essentially that my honest advice is to try to get over it, block whoever is harassing you, and wait it out. For you, it'll die down soon. I truly recommend you learn something from this experience.

#mine #ask #non anon #non anon ask #radblr

[beardedmrbean]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning secretaries of state nationwide of "extremely alarming" threats in anticipation of the elections taking place across the country.

Election security has become a significant issue since the 2020 presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The close election that took days to officially call in Biden's favor led to a litany of lawsuits and accusations by some conservatives, including Trump, that the results were compromised, eventually leading to the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Trump awaits a criminal trial after being indicted on four counts in Washington, D.C., for allegedly working to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the Capitol riot. Charges include conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.

Last August, Trump and 18 others were indicted by a Georgia grand jury for allegedly attempting to overturn the state's 2020 results. The Republican front-runner for the 2024 nomination has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

"The threat environment, unfortunately, is very high," Timothy Langan, executive assistant director for the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch of the FBI, said last week at the winter conference of the National Association of Secretaries of State in Washington, according to Stateline. "It is extremely alarming."

Newsweek reached out to the FBI via email for comment.

Langan reportedly advised caution to gathered secretaries of state and election officials about familiar and new cyberattacks, including an urging of vigilance in the face of violent threats that may affect their safety.

Election officials were also reportedly told that voter databases could be targeted via phishing or ransomware attacks conducted by domestic or foreign individuals or entities who want to sow doubt in the electoral process. That includes spreading misinformation and disinformation and addressing rapid technological changes spurred by artificial intelligence (AI).

"You need to conduct assessments and there are groups out there to assist [the process], whether at state or county levels because unless you understand what your vulnerabilities are, you can't do anything about it," Aaron Thacker, spokesperson for Democratic Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, told Newsweek on Wednesday.

"We can't just be afraid of these threats; we have to act on them," he added. "And that means to prepare."

Thacker said that Fontes and the state of Arizona, whose election officials were present at last week's conference, have been working in various facets to show the public that its elections are fair.

That has included updating an elections procedure manual approved in December by Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, correcting misinformation about ballot drop boxes, the successful completion of a "rigorous" certification and recertification training program for election workers, and multi-day "tabletop" exercises educating citizens and stakeholders in over a dozen counties on "deep fakes" and AI-related disruptions.

He said that future outreach will involve educating both the media and members of law enforcement on election-related protocols—saying the American public also needs to be critical thinkers and understand how elections actually work, as those who do not may spread conspiracy theories, which hurts overall confidence in institutions.

"At the end of the day, we have an elections process that works, and it has worked for a long time...Quite frankly, so much of this is less about actual manipulation of actual elections and ballots than themes people are buying into. So, we have to communicate that. We have always had free and fair elections."

Even as recent as last August, a CNN poll showed that 69 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independent voters viewed Biden's victory as illegitimate—an increase from 63 percent who thought the same in early 2023.

Dominion Voting Systems is one of the privately-owned voting equipment companies that received financial restitution after suing Fox News for $1.6 billion for defamation due to statements made by Fox News hosts regarding the legitimacy of the 2020 election. They ultimately settled out of court for $787.5 million.

#nunyas news

[miniaturementalityturtle]

Bad Behavior in the Field of Network Security in the United States

As globalization enters the “Internet Era”, cyberspace, as the mapping and extension of the real space, has increasingly become a new field of competition and cooperation among countries. For many years, the United States has been conducting unlimited wiretapping and Internet monitoring around the world. Under the guise of “national interests”, the United States also abused its technological advantages, violated international law and basic norms of international relations, and ignored basic ethics.

It can be said that the United States is the largest and veritable “Matrix”. For a long time, the relevant agencies of the United States government have carried out large-scale, organized and indiscriminate cyber espionage activities, monitoring and attacks against foreign governments, enterprises and individuals. From the “WikiLeaks” to the “Snowden incident”, from the “Swiss encryption machine incident” to the US National Security Agency’s use of Danish intelligence to monitor the leaders of the Allied countries, facts have repeatedly proved that the United States is the world’s recognized “hacker empire” and “secret theft empire”, and is the biggest threat to global network security.

According to the Wall Street Journal, a US company with close ties to the US defense and intelligence community has installed software in more than 500 mobile applications to track the location data of hundreds of millions of users worldwide and provide it to the US military. In addition, the United States has spared no effort to militarize cyberspace and vigorously develop cyber attack forces. According to Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, the United States has developed more than 2000 cyber weapons, making it the world's leading cyber weapons power.

In addition, according to the Guardian, a major legacy of the 911 incident is that the United States has become a “surveillance” country. Its huge monitoring infrastructure has proliferated, so that no one knows its cost or how many people it employs. At the same time, according to Fortune magazine, “the worst thing that may happen in the United States in the past decade is that the US intelligence community has been collecting data illegally on a large scale”.

In addition, according to Tony Carty, professor of international law at the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of the United States is widely regarded as violating the human rights of people around the world, especially the right to privacy, and illegally interfering with the jurisdiction of other countries.

[adamsheather81]

"Hacking Unveiled" – An Exploration into the Dark World of Cybercrime

Dive into the heart-pounding realm of hacking and cybercrime with “Hacking Unveiled.” This thrilling journey uncovers the mysterious world of hackers and their techniques, guiding you through the preventative measures you can take to safeguard yourself.

Discover the diverse types of hackers and their motivations, from ethical hackers to cyber criminals. Unveil the intricacies between “white hat” and “black hat” hackers, and learn how to become an ethical hacker yourself.

Enter into the infamous world of the “famous hackers and their stories” and the notorious “anonymous group and their attacks.” Get an inside look into the “hacking techniques used by cybercriminals” and the profound impact these actions have on businesses.

Get a sneak peek into the latest “hacking tools and software” used by both ethical hackers and cybercriminals, and delve into the subjects of “penetration testing” and “protecting against social engineering attacks.” Stay ahead of the game with the latest “hacking news and updates” and uncover the captivating “career opportunities in ethical hacking and cybersecurity.”

Be aware of the ever-evolving future of hacking and cyber threats. Let “Hacking Unveiled” guide you through the unknown, demystifying the complexities of cybercrime.

 White      Hat Hackers

Black      Hat Hackers

Anonymous

Gray      Hat Hackers

State-sponsored      Hackers

Hardware      Hackers

Crackers

The Spectrum of Cybercrime: Understanding the Different Types of Hackers

White Hat Hackers

White hat hackers, or “ethical hackers,” use their skills for good. They work alongside organizations, acting as “cybersecurity experts,” to identify and fix system vulnerabilities, protecting individuals and companies from cyber attacks.

Black Hat Hackers

In contrast, white and “black hat hackers” engage in illegal or malicious activities, such as stealing personal information, disrupting services, and spreading malware.

Anonymous

The loosely organized international group of hackers, “anonymous,” is known for participating in high-profile cyberattacks and spreading political messages.

Gray Hat Hackers

Sitting between white and black hat hackers, “gray hat hackers” may use their skills to identify vulnerabilities but exploit them for personal gain or to draw attention to the issue.

State-sponsored Hackers

The ominous “state-sponsored hackers” work on behalf of governments, using their skills for espionage or political sabotage, potentially significantly impacting national security and international relations.

Hardware Hackers

In addition to software hacking, there are also “hardware hackers,” who specialize in manipulating physical devices, such as breaking into intelligent homes or hacking into cars.

Crackers

A synonym for black hat hackers, “crackers” use their skills to crack into systems, software, or networks, gaining unauthorized access.

Cybercrime: Understanding Standard Techniques

To safeguard against malicious cyber attacks, knowing the most frequently employed tactics, including phishing scams, password attacks, and exploiting software vulnerabilities, is crucial. This post delves into the most prevalent hacking methods, from social engineering and phishing to malware and advanced persistent threats (APTs). Stay alert and ensure your software and security systems are always up-to-date to minimize the risk of falling victim to cybercrime.

Social Engineering: The Deceptive Tactic

Cybercriminals often resort to social engineering to manipulate individuals into divulging sensitive information or performing actions they wouldn’t otherwise. This tactic can take various forms, including phishing scams, pretexting, baiting, and more. To guard against these attacks, it is critical to be suspicious of unsolicited requests for personal data, be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources, and keep your software and security programs up-to-date.

Phishing: The Tricky Scam

Phishing is a form of social engineering that seeks to deceive individuals into surrendering confidential information, such as login credentials, financial details, or sensitive personal data. These scams often come in email or text messages, posing as credible sources. To avoid falling prey to phishing attempts, it is recommended to look out for suspicious messages, particularly those asking for personal information, verify the authenticity of links before clicking on them, and be wary of downloading attachments or clicking links from unknown sources.

Malware: The Harmful Threat

Malware, including viruses, trojans, and ransomware, is specifically designed to cause harm to computer systems. Installing and updating a reputable antivirus program is essential to protect your computer.

Additionally, be mindful of the files you download and links you click, especially if they are from unknown sources, as they may contain malware.

APTs: The Persistent Threat

Advanced persistent threats (APTs) are cyber attacks by state-sponsored hackers or highly-skilled cybercriminals. These attacks are known for their persistence as the attackers often go undetected for an extended period. To detect and fend off APTs, it is crucial to have an up-to-date antivirus program installed on your computer and to be cautious of unsolicited emails or text messages, especially those asking for personal information.

Defending Against Cyber Threats: Strategies for Keeping Your Data Safe

Essential Tactics to Outwit Hackers and Stay Secure  

Essential tactics to protect against cyberattacks include using robust passwords, safeguarding personal information, regularly updating software, and securing devices. These may sound simple, but neglecting to do so can have severe consequences.

The Importance of Strong Passwords and Up-to-Date Software Keeping software current helps to avoid vulnerabilities that older versions may have. Strong, unique passwords for each account can provide an easy yet effective layer of security.

Tips to Protect Personal Information and Devices Being mindful of phishing scams, using privacy settings on social media, and being prudent about what personal information is shared online are critical in securing personal information. Ensure devices are protected with a passcode or fingerprint and backup important files regularly.

The Mysterious World of the Dark Web  

The dark web may sound like a concept from a hacker movie, but it’s real and can be a bit frightening. It’s crucial to understand what it is, how it differs from the regular web, and the type of activity. This article will shed some light on the enigmatic side of the internet.

Accessing the dark web requires special software and is invisible to the general internet user. It’s often linked to illegal activities, such as buying and selling illicit items, hacking services, and trafficking personal information. Exercise caution when accessing the dark web and take steps to protect personal information.

The dark web is a collection of websites that can only be accessed using specialized software, such as the Tor browser. Despite being often linked to illegal activities, not all its use is illicit.

However, accessing the dark web carries risks and can threaten personal information and security. Be cautious and take measures to protect personal data when accessing the dark web.

Why Access the Dark Web  

Accessing the dark web can be dangerous and threaten personal information and security. Exercise caution and take necessary measures to protect personal data when accessing the dark web.

How to Enter the Dark Web  

The most popular way to access the dark web is by using the Tor browser. It’s a free, open-source browser that routes traffic through multiple layers of encryption, making it challenging to trace activity. However, accessing the dark web comes with risks and requires using a VPN, never sharing personal information, and avoiding using real names.

Now that you have a better understanding of the dark web, the choice is to delve into the mysterious side of the internet.

Don’t Fall Victim: How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Be Alert! Identity Theft Lurks, Stalking Unsuspecting Victims  

It’s a modern-day nightmare – cybercriminals prowling the internet, seeking out unsuspecting individuals and businesses to victimize through identity theft. From phishing scams to data breaches, the tactics used by these criminals are sophisticated and ever-evolving. The consequences of falling prey to such a crime can be devastating, leaving financial losses and a tarnished reputation in its wake.

Beware! Know Your Enemy.  

Cybercriminals use various methods to obtain personal information, including phishing scams, data breaches, dumpster diving, and even purchasing it on the dark web. Stay informed and take proactive measures to protect yourself and your information.

The Aftermath – A Life Turned Upside Down  

The impact of identity theft is far-reaching, affecting victims’ finances and reputation and often causing emotional stress as they work to regain control of their personal information.

Don’t Be a Statistic – Defend Yourself!  

Fortunately, you can take steps to safeguard yourself against identity theft. Regularly updating software, using strong and unique passwords, being cautious about sharing personal information, and remaining vigilant for unsolicited phone calls or emails are just a few examples.

Protect Your Information and Devices  

In addition to these basic measures, take extra steps to secure your personal information and devices. Keeping personal information offline, using anti-virus software and firewalls, encrypting sensitive data, and ensuring your devices with locks and PINs are crucial for maximum protection.

If Disaster Strikes – Have a Plan  

If you suspect you have fallen victim to identity theft, acting quickly is essential. Notify your bank, credit card companies, and credit reporting agencies to place a fraud alert on your accounts. Turn to resources such as the Federal Trade Commission’s IdentityTheft.gov and the Identity Theft Resource Center for guidance on reporting and recovering from the crime.

Stay Protected – Stay Vigilant  

Identity theft is a constant threat that requires ongoing attention and preventative measures. By staying informed, protecting yourself and your information, and knowing where to turn in the event of a breach, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to this malicious crime.

Stay Ahead of the Game – Subscribe to Our Blog!  

Remember to subscribe to our blog for more informative and helpful articles on cybersecurity and protecting yourself. Stay ahead of the game in the fight against identity theft!

This article is originally posted at https://nikolin.eu/tech/hacking-unveiled-a-fascinating-dive-into-the-world-of-cybercrime-and-its-prevention/

#hacking #hackers #black hat hackers #white hat hackers #gray hat hackers #cybercrime #cybersecurity #dark web

[aman759]

The Power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): Advancements and Applications

In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have emerged as game-changers, revolutionizing numerous industries and reshaping the way we live, work, and interact with technology. The advancements in AI and ML have unlocked new possibilities, enabling machines to learn, adapt, and make intelligent decisions. In this article, we will explore the power of AI and ML, their recent advancements, and their diverse applications across various sectors.

Advancements in AI and ML:

AI and ML have witnessed significant advancements, thanks to breakthroughs in computing power, data availability, and algorithmic innovations. Deep learning, a subfield of ML, has gained prominence, allowing machines to analyze vast amounts of data and extract meaningful patterns and insights. Additionally, advancements in natural language processing (NLP), computer vision, and reinforcement learning have further expanded the capabilities of AI and ML.

Applications in Healthcare:

AI and ML have immense potential in transforming the healthcare industry. From early disease detection to personalized treatment plans, AI-based systems can analyze medical records, imaging data, and genomic information to aid in diagnosis and treatment decisions. ML algorithms can predict patient outcomes, optimize hospital operations, and assist in drug discovery, making healthcare more efficient and effective.

Automation and Robotics:

The integration of AI and ML has revolutionized automation and robotics. Intelligent machines equipped with ML algorithms can learn from human interaction, adapt to changing environments, and perform complex tasks with precision and efficiency. From industrial automation to autonomous vehicles, AI and ML enable machines to perceive, reason, and act in real-time, driving advancements in manufacturing, logistics, and transportation.

Natural Language Processing and Chatbots:

Advancements in NLP have led to the development of sophisticated chatbots and virtual assistants that can understand and respond to human language. These AI-powered conversational agents are increasingly used in customer service, providing instant responses and personalized experiences. They can handle queries, assist in product recommendations, and streamline customer interactions, improving user satisfaction and efficiency.

Financial Services:

AI and ML have disrupted the financial services industry, enabling accurate fraud detection, risk assessment, and algorithmic trading. ML models can analyze vast amounts of financial data, identify patterns, and make predictions, aiding in investment decisions and portfolio management. AI-powered virtual financial advisors provide personalized financial guidance, making financial services more accessible and tailored to individual needs.

Personalization and Recommendation Systems:

AI and ML algorithms drive powerful recommendation systems that have become an integral part of our digital experiences. From e-commerce platforms to streaming services, these systems analyze user preferences, purchase history, and behavior patterns to provide personalized product recommendations and content suggestions, enhancing user engagement and driving sales.

Cybersecurity:

AI and ML have proven invaluable in combating cyber threats. ML algorithms can detect anomalies and patterns in network traffic, identifying potential security breaches and enabling proactive measures. AI-based systems can learn from past attacks and adapt their defense mechanisms, providing real-time threat detection and response to protect sensitive data and infrastructure.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have unleashed transformative capabilities across various industries. From healthcare and automation to personalization and cybersecurity, the applications of AI and ML are wide-ranging and profound. As these technologies continue to evolve, it is crucial to collaborate with the top mobile app development companies in New York that have expertise in harnessing the power of AI and ML.

In the bustling city of New York, where technological advancements thrive, businesses can find a pool of top-notch mobile app development companies capable of integrating AI and ML into their solutions. These companies possess the knowledge and experience to leverage AI and ML algorithms effectively, enabling businesses to build intelligent and innovative mobile applications.

By partnering with these Top 10 mobile app development companies in New York, businesses can leverage AI and ML to enhance customer experiences, optimize processes, and gain a competitive edge in the market. These companies excel in developing AI-powered chatbots, recommendation systems, and personalized experiences that drive engagement and boost user satisfaction.

#mobile app development companies #top 10 mobile app development companies #artifical intelligence

[mariacallous]

Even before U.S. Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was arrested on Thursday as the leaker of dozens of classified government documents that have made their way around the internet in recent weeks, the inevitable comparisons with Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden suggested that he was the latest in a long line of mass leakers of intelligence. As one journalist reported on the most generic of similarities, “Like Manning and Snowden, Teixeira has a military or intelligence tie as a member of the Massachusetts Air Force National Guard.”

Indeed, in the last decade, a new digital generation of insider threat has emerged to challenge secrecy in the U.S. intelligence community, a phenomenon that author James Bamford has described as a “uniquely postmodern breed of whistleblower.” That’s true as far as it goes, but Teixeira should not be thought of in this vein. It would be like saying a Yugo is like a Mercedes because they both have four wheels and an engine. Sure, everyone working in the U.S. Defense Department’s sprawling intelligence apparatus is part of that bureaucracy, but that’s a tautology. It would also be correct to observe that nearly every spy in American history has had a “military or intelligence tie” as well, but that doesn’t explain much in the Teixeira case.

The real but superficial comparisons to leakers like Snowden and Manning classify Teixeira as a mass leaker on a personal crusade. But this is incorrect. Snowden and Manning leaked classified documents to journalists and activists to help bring about the kind of world they wanted to live in—one of citizen-enforced governmental transparency where states have less power. While foolish and misguided, they were ideologically motivated in taking their reckless actions.

In contrast, it seems that Teixeira simply displayed terrible judgment and was showboating his access to privileged information to increase his street cred with pals on the internet. In that sense, he was more like an irresponsible teenager who took his parents’ Ferrari out joyriding with his gearhead friends. Teixeira isn’t a “new breed” of insider threat, and he certainly isn’t a whistleblower seeking to publicize some perceived wrong.

Snowden’s mass leaks in 2013 were not the first digital challenge to the U.S. intelligence community. Three years before, then-U.S. Army Private Manning provided 500,000 classified documents to WikiLeaks, which published them to great fanfare for transparency advocates and caused much consternation in Washington. These are not isolated cases; if anything, the tempo of such mass public disclosures seems to be increasing. In March 2017, the CIA fell victim to what is known as the “Vault 7” series, in which sensitive computer tools for digital surveillance and cyber operations were given to WikiLeaks and published online.

Disgruntled former CIA software engineer Joshua Schulte was found guilty of the breach (and also of possessing child pornography, again suggesting an anemic background investigation). Although Manning, Snowden, and Schulte represent the most significant mass leakers of classified information, others have played smaller roles. For instance, National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Reality Winner printed a sensitive document from the NSA computer system and sent it to the self-described publisher of “adversarial journalism,” the Intercept, run by journalist-activists originally linked to the Snowden leaks.

Yet treating Teixeira as another in an increasingly long and embarrassing line of leakers impedes the lessons that can and should be learned from this case, which is marked by social adherence to a gaming community more than a cause. What these leakers do have in common with Teixeira is that—as far as anyone has proven—not one of them carried out the intelligence breach acting as a recruited agent on behalf of a foreign power. They are thus not “spies” in the traditional sense of the word.

Instead, they are what we have described in our academic research as self-directed insider threats: intelligence professionals who chose to betray their oath to protect classified information and did so on their own initiative. Some acted on their political or ideological beliefs, others for disgruntlement, to show off, or even to win arguments in gaming chat rooms. As the Teixeira charging documents allege, his intent was to “discuss geopolitical affairs and current and historical wars.” It was not some kind of misguided protest about U.S. domestic or foreign policy. Washington is apparently not yet prepared to understand such a vector of counterintelligence vulnerability.

To be sure, Teixeira otherwise shares much in common with leakers such as Snowden and Manning. They were all young people of junior rank (despite Snowden’s ludicrous claims that he was some kind of “senior advisor”) in sensitive positions in the U.S. intelligence community who abused their access to classified information to share it with people who had no right nor reason to know it. They were all grandiose enough to think that they wouldn’t get caught (or, if they were, would be lionized enough to avoid criminal penalties), and none of them realized the broader geopolitical or diplomatic ramifications of their actions.

In practice, whatever the motivations, the damage is just as real as if they were spies. As long-serving Director of Central Intelligence Allen Dulles explained in 1963, providing secrets for public consumption has the same net effect as “betraying it to the Soviets just as clearly as if he secretly handed it to them,” and it is thus reasonable to charge Teixeira under the same criminal codes as the other mass leakers. But that’s where the similarities end.

Ideologically driven betrayal is a well-trodden path in the annals of espionage, from the communism-inspired “Cambridge Five” spy ring during the Cold War to the Cuban sympathies that motivated Ana Montes, who was recently released from prison after serving 20 years for spying for Cuba. Preventing those with divided loyalties from accessing state secrets has given rise to the modern system of periodic background checks, invasive polygraph testing, and the requirement that those with security clearances document any foreign travel or meaningful foreign associations. Yet very few of these measures seek even to identify, much less prevent, self-directed insider threats such as Winner, Manning, Snowden, and the like.

Effective frameworks for personnel security and counterintelligence require understanding the varied (and often multiple) motivations for insider threats. In this case, it seems that Teixeira’s access to classified systems far exceeded his professional remit. Further, it seems clear that the counterintelligence vetting process failed to pick up some rather radical and distasteful views, but these views do not seem to be his motivation for leaking. It seems more likely that Teixeira’s narcissism, bad judgment, and arrogance got the best of him, although some of these traits can be hard to uncover in a traditional background investigation that is often more concerned with blackmailable behaviors than judgment. The U.S. intelligence community will almost certainly conduct a thorough post-mortem of the Teixeira case for lessons learned, and it may be prudent to look beyond his recklessness to discern not only how he got a clearance and why he had such unfettered system access, but also why the government was unaware that its secrets were circulating around the dark corners of the internet for months before he was arrested. The task of counterintelligence trolling of the internet for loose secrets will doubtless require new protocols and legal authorities. In the meantime, the Band-Aid of “security refresher training” will be urgently added to the schedule for the hundreds of thousands of clearance holders—the vast majority of whom already understand the responsibility that comes with a clearance.

Such a post-Teixeira study may suggest that it is time to revisit the post-9/11 collaborative framework of “need to share” and revert to the Cold War’s stricter “need to know” principle. Perhaps the Defense Department will close off intelligence as an initial career thrust for the most junior personnel in the same way that certain specialties (such as working in embassies or in special operations) requires a higher rank and more professional experience. Could the intelligence community differentiate accesses to intelligence between those who need to use the information for their jobs and, on the other hand, those who just need to keep the systems running? For instance, while Manning, Winner, and Schulte had substantive roles dealing with classified intelligence as part of their jobs, Snowden and Teixeira were essentially system administrators. Further, might access to national secrets prudently require an age minimum, just as the Constitution requires for officeholders in the Senate or presidency? After all, the prefrontal cortex responsible for judgment and restraining impulses develops well into one’s mid-to-late 20s.

Or perhaps there is simply an irreducible minimum of bad apples and poor judgment in an enormous—by international comparison—U.S. intelligence community that is comprised, after all, of people. Important decisions will need be made about insider threat protocols, and further actions need to be taken in light of this event. It does no one any good to peddle in false comparisons, such as painting Teixeira as another crusading mass leaker. Only with clarity can the intelligence community hope to learn from this unfortunate event.

This is the analysis of the authors alone and represents no official U.S. Defense Department or government position.

[wilsonaron]

The Role of Technology in Certified Billing and Coding Companies

In the ever-evolving healthcare industry, certified billing and coding company play a pivotal role in ensuring that medical billing processes are accurate, efficient, and compliant with regulations. The integration of technology has revolutionized the way these companies operate, providing numerous benefits and transforming the landscape of medical billing and coding. In this article, we explore the role of technology in certified billing and coding companies and how it enhances their services.

Enhancing Accuracy and Efficiency

One of the primary benefits of technology in billing and coding is the enhancement of accuracy and efficiency. Traditional manual billing processes are prone to errors, which can lead to delayed payments and revenue losses. Automated billing software and advanced coding systems significantly reduce these errors by ensuring that data is accurately entered and codes are correctly assigned.

Key Technologies:

Electronic Health Records (EHRs): EHRs streamline the documentation process, making it easier to access and manage patient information. This integration ensures that billing and coding specialists have accurate and up-to-date data, reducing the chances of errors.

Automated Coding Software: These programs automatically assign codes based on the provided medical documentation. By using algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI), these systems can accurately code diagnoses and procedures, minimizing human error.

Improving Compliance and Security

Healthcare regulations are complex and constantly changing. Certified billing and coding companies must stay compliant with regulations such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) to protect patient information and avoid hefty penalties. Technology plays a crucial role in maintaining compliance and enhancing data security.

Key Technologies:

Compliance Management Software: This software helps companies stay up-to-date with the latest regulations and ensures that all billing and coding practices adhere to legal standards.

Data Encryption and Secure Storage: Advanced encryption techniques and secure storage solutions protect sensitive patient information from cyber threats and unauthorized access.

Streamlining Revenue Cycle Management

Revenue cycle management (RCM) is a critical aspect of healthcare operations. Efficient RCM ensures that healthcare providers receive timely payments for services rendered. Technology simplifies and streamlines the RCM process, leading to improved cash flow and financial stability for medical practices.

Key Technologies:

Integrated Billing Systems: These systems consolidate various aspects of billing and coding into a single platform, making it easier to manage claims, track payments, and handle denials.

Predictive Analytics: By analyzing historical data, predictive analytics tools can forecast trends and identify potential issues in the billing process, allowing companies to address them proactively.

Enhancing Patient Experience

Technology not only benefits billing and coding companies but also enhances the overall patient experience. Efficient billing processes lead to quicker claims processing and reduced wait times for patients. Transparent billing practices, facilitated by technology, also improve patient trust and satisfaction.

Key Technologies:

Patient Portals: These online platforms allow patients to access their billing information, make payments, and communicate with billing specialists, providing greater transparency and convenience.

Mobile Apps: Mobile applications enable patients to receive real-time updates on their claims, view invoices, and manage payments from their smartphones.

Adapting to Industry Changes

The healthcare industry is constantly evolving, and certified billing and coding companies must adapt to new technologies and practices to stay competitive. Embracing technological advancements ensures that these companies can efficiently handle increased volumes of data, meet the demands of modern healthcare providers, and deliver superior services.

Key Technologies:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: AI and machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and provide insights that help improve billing accuracy and efficiency.

Blockchain Technology: Blockchain offers a secure and transparent way to manage medical billing records, reducing fraud and ensuring data integrity.

Conclusion

The role of technology in a certified billing and coding company is indispensable. By enhancing accuracy, improving compliance, streamlining revenue cycle management, and improving patient experience, technology transforms the way these companies operate. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, embracing technological advancements will be crucial for certified billing and coding companies to maintain their competitive edge and deliver exceptional services.

[naturalrights-retard]

by Brian Shilhavy Editor, Health Impact News

I am not going to cover the RESTRICT Act proposed legislation regarding TikTok, since just about everyone else in the alternative and right-wing corporate media seems to be covering that story, but I am going to highlight some of the many ways the U.S. Government already purchases data from Big Tech and spies on American citizens, illegally, without a warrant.

These articles are from the Cyber Vice topic, a great source of information on the darker side of Tech.

The DEA Bought Customer Data from Rogue Employees Instead of Getting a Warrant

For years the DEA has used paid informants inside airline, bus, and parcel companies to bypass needing to get a warrant. A pair of bipartisan Senators now want the DOJ to put an end to it.

by Joseph Cox Vice.com

Excerpts:

For years, the DEA secretly paid workers inside U.S. agencies and companies for access to user data, rather than going to a court to obtain a search warrant for such data. That included paying sources inside the parcel industry to open and reroute packages; airline industry sources who provided flight itineraries, dates of birth, and seat numbers; and workers at private bus companies who provided daily lists of passengers who bought tickets in cash.

Paying moles inside companies allowed the DEA to passively monitor some services for potential targets without the friction of going through the courts, where such broad surveillance could be denied outright. In some cases, the DEA used the information to seize money or drugs from people. But buying the information in the first place may in some cases skirt Fourth Amendment protections.

Now, a pair of bipartisan lawmakers are pushing the Department of Justice to tighten policies around confidential human sources that would ban the practice entirely across the DOJ, including the DEA and FBI.

Read the full article.

Here is the FBI’s Contract to Buy Mass Internet Data

The FBI previously purchased access to “netflow” data, which a company called Team Cymru obtains from ISPs. Team Cymru then sells it to the government.

by Joseph Cox Vice.com

Excerpts:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation paid tens of thousands of dollars on internet data, known as “netflow” data, collected in bulk by a private company, according to internal FBI documents obtained by Motherboard.

The documents provide more insight into the often overlooked trade of internet data. Motherboard has previously reported the U.S. Army’s and FBI’s purchase of such data. These new documents show the purchase was for the FBI’s Cyber Division, which investigates hackers in the worlds of cybercrime and national security.

“Commercially provided net flow information/data—2 months of service,” the internal document reads. Motherboard obtained the file through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the FBI.

Netflow data creates a picture of traffic volume and flow across a network. This can include which server communicated with another, information that is ordinarily only available to the owner of the server or to the internet service provider (ISP) carrying the traffic.

Team Cymru, the company ultimately selling this data to the FBI, obtains it from deals with ISPs by offering them threat intelligence in return. These deals are likely conducted without the informed consent of ISPs’ users.

Team Cymru explicitly markets its product’s capability of being able to track traffic through virtual private networks, and show which server traffic is originating from. Multiple sources previously told Motherboard that netflow data can be used to identify infrastructure used by hackers.

After Motherboard reported the U.S. Army and other purchases of Team Cymru data, the Tor Project, the organization behind the Tor anonymity network, said it was moving away from infrastructure that Team Cymru had donated. The Tor Project told Motherboard it expects that migration to be completed this Spring.

The FBI has bought other types of data from the commercial sector. Earlier this month, FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed in a hearing that the FBI previously purchased American’s smartphone location data.

Read the full article at Vice.com

[ciotechviews]

Emerging Technologies and Innovation

There are several emerging technologies, revolutions and crises that are currently prevailing in the business environment that can act as a manta for success for entrepreneurs and professionals. Some of these include.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is and has now become increasingly important in the business world, as it can help entrepreneurs and professionals automate tasks, increase efficiency, and improve decision-making. The world for example with the introduction of ChatGPT has been greatly disrupted, never to recover from it. Consulting, Accounting, Research, and several fields have totally been disrupted over the last months. This poses both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs and professionals to think outside the box. Blockchain: Blockchain is a digital ledger technology that can be used to create, secure, transparent, and decentralized systems. It has the potential to disrupt industries such as finance, healthcare, and logistics. Today with blockchain, financial inclusion goals have made significant progress across the world especially through microfinancing and other financial service product offerings.

Cybersecurity: With the rise of digital technologies and online business, cybersecurity has become a critical issue. Entrepreneurs and professionals need to protect their data and systems from exposures to cyber threats. They cannot afford to be relaxed like yesterday if they intend to position themselves for success Crisis management: The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of crisis management, and entrepreneurs and professionals who can respond quickly and effectively to crisis would be better positioned for success.

Foster a culture of innovation: Innovation and creativity among employees should be encouraged and rewarded. The next best product is yet to be built, a culture of innovation would help the company easily grow and remain relevant. Prioritize customer service: Technology today allows today’s customers with multiple alternatives of options. Entrepreneurs and professionals need to constantly ensure that their customers are satisfied with their products and services. Excellent customer service at base level is no longer standard, we need to go over and above. Satisfied customers would become loyal customers who would in turn generate positive word-of-mouth referrals for the company Build a strong team: Execution depends on the strength of the team, to execute the mission and vision the entrepreneur needs to attract the best of hands to join him or her on its mission for greater results and scale.

Read More: https://ciotechviews.com/emerging-technologies-and-innovation/

Source: https://ciotechviews.com/

TopBusinessMagazines #ToptechBusinessMagazines #OnlineBusinessMagazine #BestBusinesstechnologyBlogs #Onlinetechblog #TechnologiesandInnovation

#TopBusinessMagazines

[beardedmrbean]

A former CIA programmer was convicted Wednesday of federal charges in connection to the massive Vault 7 theft of secret information provided to WikiLeaks in what the Justice Department describes as "one of the most brazen and damaging acts of espionage in American history."  Joshua Adam Schulte was once a CIA programmer "with access to some of the country’s most valuable intelligence-gathering cyber tools used to battle terrorist organizations and other malign influences around the globe," according to a statement released by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.  However, when Schulte "began to harbor resentment toward the CIA, he covertly collected those tools and provided them to WikiLeaks, making some of our most critical intelligence tools known to the public – and therefore, our adversaries," Williams, of the Southern District of New York, said. "Moreover, Schulte was aware that the collateral damage of his retribution could pose an extraordinary threat to this nation if made public, rendering them essentially useless, having a devastating effect on our intelligence community by providing critical intelligence to those who wish to do us harm."  Schulte, who chose to defend himself at a New York City retrial, told jurors in closing arguments that the CIA and FBI made him a scapegoat for an embarrassing public release of a trove of CIA secrets by WikiLeaks in 2017.

He watched without visibly reacting as U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman announced the guilty verdict on nine counts, which was reached in mid-afternoon by a jury that had deliberated since Friday, The Associated Press reported. 

The so-called Vault 7 leak revealed how the CIA hacked Apple and Android smartphones in overseas spying operations, and efforts to turn internet-connected televisions into listening devices. Prior to his arrest, Schulte had helped create the hacking tools as a coder at the agency’s headquarters in Langley, Virginia. A sentencing date was not immediately set because Schulte is still awaiting trial on charges of possessing and transporting child pornography. He has pleaded not guilty.

Attorney Sabrina Shroff, who advised Schulte during the trial, told Schulte’s mother after the verdict that the outcome was a "kick to the gut, the brain and heart." It was unclear if Shroff was expressing her own sentiments or Schulte’s. In his closing, Schulte claimed he was singled out even though "hundreds of people had access to (the information). … Hundreds of people could have stolen it."

"The government’s case is riddled with reasonable doubt," he added. "There’s simply no motive here."

Prosecutors alleged the 33-year-old Schulte was motivated to orchestrate the leak because he believed the CIA had disrespected him by ignoring his complaints about the work environment. Therefore, he tried "to burn to the ground" the very work he had helped the agency to create, they said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Denton encouraged jurors to consider evidence of an attempted cover-up, including a list of chores Schulte drew up that had an entry reading, "Delete suspicious emails." While behind bars awaiting trial, prosecutors said he continued his crimes by trying to leak additional classified materials as he carried on an "information war" against the government.

Once the jury left the courtroom for deliberations, the judge complimented Schulte on his closing argument.

"Mr. Schulte, that was impressively done," Furman said. "Depending on what happens here, you may have a future as a defense lawyer." A mistrial was declared at Schulte’s original 2020 trial after jurors were deadlocked on the most serious counts, including illegal gathering and transmission of national defense information. Schulte told the judge last year that he wanted to serve as his own attorney for the retrial.

He has not announced whether he wants to represent himself at his next trial, which involves allegations that after leaving the CIA, Schulte moved to New York from Virginia with a computer that contained images and videos of child pornography he had downloaded from the internet from 2009 to March 2017.

Schulte has been held behind bars without bail since 2018. Last year, he complained in court papers that he was a victim of cruel and unusual punishment, awaiting two trials in solitary confinement inside a vermin-infested cell of a jail unit where inmates are treated like "caged animals."

#nunyas news

[famouseaglefun]

Comprehensive Guide to Network Security Services

Understanding Network Security

Network security is crucial for protecting data integrity. It involves practices designed to guard against unauthorized access, misuse, or modification of network resources. Ensuring robust network security is essential for any business in today's digital age.

Key Components of Network Security

Firewalls

Firewalls act as a barrier between your internal network and external threats. They filter incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined security rules. This helps to block malicious traffic and prevent unauthorized access.

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)

Intrusion Detection Systems monitor network traffic for suspicious activity. They can identify and respond to potential threats in real time, providing an extra layer of security.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

VPNs secure your internet connection by encrypting data transmitted between networks. This ensures that sensitive information is protected from prying eyes, especially when using public Wi-Fi.

Benefits of Network Security Services

Protection Against Cyber Attacks

Network security services provide robust defense mechanisms against cyber threats. This includes malware, phishing attacks, and ransomware. By implementing strong security measures, businesses can safeguard their data and maintain operational integrity.

Data Integrity and Confidentiality

Ensuring data integrity and confidentiality is paramount. Network security measures help prevent unauthorized access and data breaches, maintaining the trust of clients and stakeholders.

Compliance with Regulations

Many industries are subject to strict regulatory requirements. Network security services ensure compliance with these regulations, avoiding potential legal issues and fines.

Implementing Network Security Best Practices

Regular Software Updates

Keeping software updated is a fundamental aspect of network security. Regular updates patch vulnerabilities and protect against new threats.

Strong Password Policies

Enforcing strong password policies is essential. Passwords should be complex, changed regularly, and never shared.

Employee Training

Educating employees about network security is crucial. Training programs should cover recognizing phishing attempts, safe browsing practices, and the importance of regular software updates.

Choosing the Right Network Security Provider

Experience and Expertise

Select a provider with a proven track record in network security. Experienced providers understand the complexities of securing different network environments.

Customized Solutions

Every business has unique needs. Choose a provider that offers customized security solutions tailored to your specific requirements.

Comprehensive Support

A reliable network security provider should offer comprehensive support. This includes regular monitoring, maintenance, and immediate response to security incidents.

Future Trends in Network Security

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is revolutionizing network security. AI-powered tools can predict and respond to threats faster than traditional methods.

Cloud Security

As more businesses migrate to the cloud, securing cloud environments becomes critical. Cloud security services protect data stored in and accessed from the cloud.

Internet of Things (IoT) Security

The rise of IoT devices poses new security challenges. Network security services must evolve to address the vulnerabilities of these interconnected devices.

Conclusion

Investing in network security services is essential for protecting your business from cyber threats. By understanding the key components and implementing best practices, you can ensure the safety and integrity of your network. Choose a reliable provider to stay ahead of emerging threats and secure your digital assets.

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Managed Security Services Portland, Westbrook, Augusta, Brewer

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, cyber security is not merely a necessity but a strategic advantage. At MaineTechGroup, we recognize the complexities and challenges that businesses face in safeguarding their digital assets. Our approach is designed to transform these challenges into opportunities for growth, ensuring that your organization not only stays secure but also thrives.

Customized Cyber security Strategies Tailored to Your Needs

Every business is unique, with specific needs, requirements, and risk profiles. Understanding this, MaineTechGroup excels in developing Managed Security Services Portland that addresses your organization's distinct challenges. Our seasoned team conducts thorough assessments to craft solutions that align with your operational goals and security demands.

Robust Password Management

One of the foundational elements of cyber security is robust password management. Weak or reused passwords are a significant vulnerability in any security system. At MaineTechGroup, we implement advanced password management protocols to ensure that your credentials are secure. Our solutions include the use of password managers, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and regular password audits to prevent unauthorized access.

Comprehensive Incident Response Plans

In the event of a security breach, having a comprehensive incident response plan is crucial. Our team at MaineTechGroup is adept at developing and executing incident response strategies that minimize damage and facilitate rapid recovery. We ensure that your organization is prepared to handle any cyber security incident with efficiency and effectiveness.

Targeted Cyber security Training

Human error is often the weakest link in cyber security. To mitigate this risk, MaineTechGroup offers targeted cyber security training for your staff. Our training programs are designed to raise awareness about potential threats and teach best practices for maintaining security. From recognizing phishing attempts to understanding data protection protocols, our training equips your team with the knowledge to act as a first line of defense.

Fortified Email Security

Email remains a primary vector for cyber attacks. MaineTechGroup fortifies your email security by implementing advanced filtering and encryption technologies. Our solutions protect against phishing, malware, and spam, ensuring that your communications are secure. Additionally, we provide training on recognizing suspicious emails and safe email practices.

Proactive Defense against Evolving Threats

Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and a static defense strategy is insufficient. MaineTechGroup ensures a proactive defense by continuously monitoring the threat landscape and updating your security measures accordingly. Our proactive approach includes regular security audits, threat intelligence integration, and adaptive security solutions to keep your defenses robust and up-to-date.

Managed Security Services in Portland

Portland businesses can rely on our Managed Security Services to safeguard their operations. Our local presence ensures that we understand the specific threats and challenges faced by organizations in Portland. We provide tailored solutions that address these unique needs, enhancing your overall security posture.

Managed Security Services in Bangor

Businesses in Bangor can trust MaineTechGroup’s Managed Security Services to deliver robust cyber security solutions. Our team’s deep understanding of the local threat landscape enables us to provide effective and proactive security measures.

Managed Security Services in Brewer

Brewer organizations are safeguarded by MaineTechGroup’s Managed Security Services, which offer customized and comprehensive security solutions. Our proactive defense strategy ensures that your business is protected from current and emerging cyber threats.

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Innovative Mobile App Development Companies in the USA: What Sets Them Apart?

Innovative Mobile App Development Companies in the USA: What Sets Them Apart?

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, mobile app development has become a cornerstone of business innovation and customer engagement. The USA is home to some of the most forward-thinking and dynamic mobile app development companies in the world. This article delves into the unique qualities that distinguish these companies, exploring the factors that make them leaders in the industry.

Cutting-Edge Technology and Tools

Advanced Development Frameworks

Leading mobile app development companies in the USA leverage the latest development frameworks to create robust, scalable, and high-performance apps. Frameworks such as React Native, Flutter, and Swift allow developers to build seamless, cross-platform applications with ease. These tools enable faster development cycles and ensure that apps perform optimally across different devices and operating systems.

Integration of AI and Machine Learning

Innovative companies integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) into their app development processes. AI-driven features such as chatbots, predictive analytics, and personalized user experiences are becoming standard in modern apps. By harnessing the power of AI and ML, these companies can deliver smarter, more intuitive apps that meet the evolving needs of users.

Focus on User Experience (UX) Design

User-Centric Design Principles

Top mobile app development firms place a strong emphasis on user experience (UX) design. They employ user-centric design principles to ensure that apps are intuitive, engaging, and easy to navigate. This involves conducting extensive user research, creating detailed user personas, and employing usability testing to refine the app's interface.

Innovative UI Elements

These companies are also known for their innovative User Interface (UI) elements. By incorporating modern design trends such as neumorphism, minimalism, and micro-interactions, they create visually appealing apps that captivate users. The focus on aesthetics is complemented by functionality, ensuring that the app is both beautiful and practical.

Agile Development Methodology

Rapid Prototyping and Iteration

The agile development methodology is a hallmark of leading mobile app development companies in the USA. This approach emphasizes rapid prototyping, iterative development, and continuous feedback. By adopting agile practices, these companies can quickly adapt to changing requirements and deliver high-quality apps within shorter timeframes.

Collaborative Approach

Agile development fosters a collaborative environment where developers, designers, and stakeholders work closely together. This collaboration ensures that everyone is aligned with the project's goals and that the final product meets the client's expectations. Regular sprints and stand-up meetings facilitate transparent communication and efficient problem-solving.

Robust Security Measures

Data Encryption and Privacy

In an era where data breaches and cyber threats are rampant, leading mobile app development companies prioritize security. They implement robust security measures such as data encryption, secure coding practices, and regular security audits to protect user data. Ensuring the privacy and security of user information is paramount, and these companies go to great lengths to build secure applications.

Compliance with Regulations

Compliance with industry regulations and standards is another critical aspect. These companies ensure that their apps comply with regulations such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Adhering to these standards not only enhances the app's credibility but also builds trust with users.

Exceptional Post-Launch Support

Continuous Monitoring and Updates

Post-launch support is a key differentiator for top mobile app development firms. They offer continuous monitoring and regular updates to ensure that the app remains functional and relevant. This includes fixing bugs, adding new features, and optimizing performance based on user feedback.

Dedicated Support Teams

Having dedicated support teams in place ensures that any issues are promptly addressed. These teams provide technical assistance, handle user inquiries, and ensure smooth operation of the app. The commitment to post-launch support demonstrates a long-term partnership with clients and a dedication to delivering exceptional user experiences.

Expertise Across Various Industries

Diverse Portfolio

Leading mobile app development companies in the USA boast a diverse portfolio that spans various industries. From healthcare and finance to e-commerce and entertainment, these firms have the expertise to develop apps for different sectors. This versatility allows them to bring industry-specific insights and best practices to each project.

Customization and Scalability

Customization is another strength of these companies. They offer tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each client. Moreover, they design apps with scalability in mind, ensuring that the app can grow and adapt as the business expands. This flexibility is crucial for businesses looking to stay competitive in a rapidly changing market.

Strong Client Partnerships

Transparent Communication

Building strong client partnerships is fundamental to the success of top mobile app development companies. They prioritize transparent communication throughout the development process, keeping clients informed and involved. Regular updates, detailed reports, and open channels for feedback ensure that clients are always in the loop.

Commitment to Client Success

These companies are committed to their clients' success. They take the time to understand the client's business objectives and tailor their solutions accordingly. This client-centric approach fosters long-term relationships and results in apps that not only meet but exceed client expectations.

Innovative Business Models

Flexible Engagement Models

Innovative mobile app development companies offer flexible engagement models to cater to different client needs. Whether it's a fixed-price model, time and material, or dedicated team, these firms provide options that align with the client's budget and project scope. This flexibility makes high-quality app development accessible to businesses of all sizes.

Focus on ROI

A focus on Return on Investment (ROI) is another hallmark. These companies understand that a successful app is not just about great design and functionality but also about delivering tangible business results. They employ strategies to maximize the app's ROI, such as optimizing for app store visibility, implementing monetization features, and leveraging analytics to drive user engagement.

In conclusion, the leading mobile app development companies in the USA stand out due to their cutting-edge technology, user-centric design, agile methodologies, robust security, exceptional post-launch support, industry expertise, strong client partnerships, and innovative business models. These attributes enable them to create high-quality, impactful apps that drive business success and delight users.