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- You know that ad you just clicked on? Don’t stop but …
You know that ad you just clicked on? Don’t stop but …
Yes, you can keep clicking on them but you might have to think twice before and after you click - not unlike the past but this time, you might want to factor in artificial intelligence in your thinking.
Daniel Masterson, Ai Courtrie Buson & Bard Gee
August 16, 2024
for the week August 11th, 2024, 33nd edition
☝️ TOP STORY
 | This article shows and explains to you the fake ads you may see on Google. Watch out for everything from an innocuous and banal looking ad to the tech support scam with AI in mind. |
Remember. It’s ok to click on ads. We just need to think smart before AND after we click them.
📰 Headline Highlights 📰
Iran steps into US election 2024 with cyber-enabled influence operations
ADT disclosed a data breach that impacted more than 30,000 customers
Microsoft Warns of Unpatched Office Vulnerability Leading to Data Exposure
Local gov’ts in Texas, Florida hit with ransomware as cyber leaders question best path forward
National Public Data Breach: 2.7bn Records Leaked on Dark Web
3AM ransomware stole data of 464,000 Kootenai Health patients
Routers from China-based TP-Link a national security threat, US lawmakers claim
🤷♀️ What now?
Malvertising, disinformation and mal-information
In this worldwide election year, it creates the perfect environment within enduser and consumers for threat actors to attack as emotions run high.
How fitting it is that you are the perfect ingredient to help cyber predators successfully attack you simply because it is just an another elevation year. Don’t let your biases and partisanships walk you into the traps of those nefarious threat actors. Turn on your brights and be sure that you don’t fall for any disinformation, mail-information and malvertising. |  |
🔥 Hot Tip: Shed your emotions. Shine on the facts. Shake off the fakes.
The Google story ads story was actually the very last story we collected before sending this edition in. We thought it should be the Top Story because it is super malicious and can potentially affect everyone. We thought we’d take this preemptive approach before it spreads out to the general public and throws everyone off kilter.
We are creating ads! As you can see in the newsletter, we are creating ads. We are hoping for them to eventually go with our social media posts and beyond. We have many fun new projects coming up and hope that you will give us your inputs.
HOUSEKEEPING
Your weekly dose of HX not only strengthens your knowledge on cybersecurity but also your personal security. Each week is tied to the last so as to form a rounded security wall in your personal lives.
Glossary/Legend:
Cyber Attackers and Cyber Predators - these terms refer to people who use any kind of technology, including cell phones, to prey on us.
Phishing - a common type of cyber attack that targets individuals through email, text messages, phone calls, and other forms of communication.
Malvertising, or malicious advertising - a cybercrime that uses online ads to spread malware and redirect users to malicious sites. Malvertising can be difficult to detect by users and publishers because the infected ads are often served through legitimate advertising networks.
Mal-information - is a controversial term for information which is based on fact, but removed from its original context in order to mislead, harm, or manipulate.
Hacker - a person who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data.
Ransomware - a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.
Patches - software and operating system (OS) updates that address security vulnerabilities within a program or product.
Artificial intelligence (AI) - a branch of computer science that uses algorithms, data, and computational power to create machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
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Even though we aim to provide you the most current and critical information to keep you safe, threat actors work 24/7 and this newsletter publishes only once a week. Even though we are available via a hotline, it is crucial that you stay up to date via other sources as well to be informed on how you may be at risk.
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DISCLAIMER
Cybersecurity is an ever-changing field, and threats may evolve. While Hexagon Center strives to provide accurate and timely information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. Users are responsible for implementing their security measures and staying informed about the latest cybersecurity developments.
Content of this newsletter is not officially of Hexagon Center.
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