Your quick weekend update and reminder.

☝️ TWA

Consumer threats, online scams may surge during the holiday season

🤷‍♀️ What now?: Be vigilant. Don’t let them think you’re gullible.

Tools: You are the most effective defense against any cyber and technology attackers.

Meanwhile … Malicious extensions in Chrome Web store steal user credentials

📰 Headline Highlights

• 21K Nissan customers' data stolen in Red Hat raid

• Update on AFLAC data breach

• Ransomware Attack on Romanian Waters Authority – 1,000+ IT Systems Compromised

• Cyberattack knocks offline France's postal, banking services

In other news, South Korea to require facial recognition for new mobile numbers

• Time to switch to eSIM? South Korea will now make consumers scan their faces to buy a SIM card and cut down on scams

GOOD READ: US Must Go on Offense in Cyberspace, Report Warns

You may observe that Headline Highlights is notably concise this week. This is likely attributed to the nature of the news during this Christmas week. This is also an opportune moment to provide a glimpse into the new year. But nothing has slowed down. Our warning for this edition is the most dire yet. More and more people are falling prey to pig butchering.

Stay vigilant.

Inside Hexagon

We are looking forward to the new year as we solidify our plans to launch new programs for the general public as well as scaling the operations of Hexagon Center. We hope you’ll volunteer or join us in this great endeavor.

HOUSEKEEPING

Glossary/Legend:

• Pig butchering - a predatory online scam where fraudsters spend weeks or months building a fake romantic or friendly relationship to "fatten up" a victim’s trust before "slaughtering" them for their life savings.

• Liar's dividend - a phenomenon where the proliferation of fake content, such as AI-generated deepfakes, makes it easier for people to dismiss genuine information as false. This allows individuals, especially public figures, to escape scrutiny by claiming that real incriminating evidence, like a video of them, is a fake. The "dividend" is the benefit this gives to the liar, as the public's mistrust of all content undermines the value of truthful, verifiable information.

• Holistic security - a comprehensive strategy that integrates various protection layers—physical, digital, psycho-social, and organizational—to safeguard individuals, communities, or systems, recognizing that true security involves overall well-being, not just isolated technical defenses.

• Personal Identifier - A unique word or phrase shared exclusively with an individual or a group, serving as a means of identification and affirmation within the established relationship. It is recommended that 2 or more Personal Identifiers be established per person.

• Malware (short for malicious software) - refers to any intrusive software developed by cybercriminals (often called hackers) to steal data and damage or destroy computers and computer systems.

• Ransomware - A type of malware that locks or encrypts a victim's files and demands a ransom payment to unlock and decrypt them. Ransomware can infect a variety of devices, including computers, smartphones, printers, and more.

Spread cybersecurity culture

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_{Hexagon Center is formed as a nonprofit corporation in California for public benefit,
and is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.}

_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. Hexagon Center is not responsible for any cyber or scam attacks by our readers. HX Weekly tips are advice are not official positions of Hexagon Center nor is Hexagon Center responsible for its content.}

Content of this newsletter is not an official representation of Hexagon Center.

_{SEE MORE DISCLAIMER HERE}