The blowback from last Friday’s Rogers Outage has been epic. There’s been the first of many lawsuits, the CRTC is demanding answers, the feds wants all three major telcos to help each other, and most importantly the Canadian public is mad. And I mean MAD.
Rogers is clearly feeling the heat. And that is why I am guessing that this Tweet just appeared on Twitter:
We have been listening to our customers from across the country who have told us how significant the impacts of the outage were for them. pic.twitter.com/GqApnbe7YA
So, does this earn back my trust? No. Let’s start with doing some math shall we? Using Rogers Q1 numbers we can figure out what this is costing Rogers:
Rogers saw average revenue per user of $57.27 per month in Q1 2022.
Assuming 30 days in the month, that’s a $1.90 a day.
A five day credit is $9.55.
Rogers had roughly 10 million wireless customers at the time. So this is costing them $95,500,000 CDN.
Here’s the rub: Rogers pulled in $2.14 billion in revenue For that quarter. This to be frank is a rounding error for Rogers as this is in the single digit percentages of their Q1 revenue. Thus while this is an improved credit, it’s still a joke. I say that because it’s pretty clear that Rogers either doesn’t understand or doesn’t care that individuals lost money, businesses lost money, and people couldn’t phone 9-1-1 in emergency situations like this person. So while Rogers is saying that they are listening and want to earn back Canadian’s trust, this doesn’t come close to cutting it. Here’s what will. Rogers need to answer these questions:
In detail, what caused the outage on Friday Rogers?
What specific steps is Rogers taking to address the shortcomings that caused this outage?
When will the steps above be completed by Rogers?
Why should Canadians trust Rogers ever again?
Yes, some of those answers are coming. But it would be wise of Rogers to answer those questions now, and bundle that with a credit that recognizes that their outage caused significant damage. Because they need to do more than give the Canadian public lip service because of that.
Twitter pretty much telegraphed this the other day. And now it’s on. Twitter is suing Elon Musk over the absolute mess that he made when he tried to take over Twitter:
“Having mounted a public spectacle to put Twitter in play, and having proposed and then signed a seller-friendly merger agreement, Musk apparently believes that he— unlike every other party subject to Delaware contract law — is free to change his mind, trash the company, disrupt its operations, destroy stockholder value, and-2-walk away,” the lawsuit said.
“Twitter brings this action to enjoin Musk from further breaches, to compel Musk to fulfill his legal obligations, and to compel consummation of the merger upon satisfaction of the few outstanding conditions,” the filing continues.
Musk I think may be in trouble. He was hoping to walk away from this without paying a dime. But if Twitter wins, he’ll have to buy the company. And his past history of not really thinking through what he says on Twitter and in public is likely going to play a factor here. Now Twitter isn’t risk free here as they likely will have to expose a lot about the company that will hurt. But I would rather be Twitter than Musk as I’m thinking that it is likely that he’s going to get a smack down. But I am a computer nerd, not a lawyer. I’ll let the lawyers argue this one.
Posted in Commentary with tags Sygnia on July 12, 2022 by itnerd
The Incident Response team at cybersecurity company Sygnia tracked a newer data extortion group called “Luna Moth’, which has been breaching companies’ info via fake subscription renewal phishing emails and threatening victims to make files publicly available unless they pay a ransom.
“Based on Sygnia’s report, Luna Moth actors are not using the most sophisticated phishing techniques available today – they reach out to victims through Gmail accounts, and use mass email campaigns rather than a targeted spear phishing approach. Aside from that, they do not even format their emails to mimic the brands they are impersonating. In spite of this, they have successfully compromised numerous organizations with ransomware in recent months.
Ultimately, this story reveals the need for increased cyber training and awareness of social engineering techniques, from email-based phishing attacks to malicious advertising (malvertising) and redirects. This year, both the cost and frequency of ransomware attacks are higher than ever – if organizations are not prepared to avoid basic phishing techniques, they will not be prepared to defend their users or revenue against more advanced cyber adversaries.”
Dr. Darren Williams, CEO and Founder, BlackFog adds this comment:
“False subscription emails are the latest phishing trend and a great way to lure people into installing payloads for ransomware onto devices. We are seeing specific focus on sectors with the weakest security and investments such as Education, Government and Manufacturing with a 33%, 25% and 24% increase in attacks during June (https://www.blackfog.com/the-state-of-ransomware-in-2022/).”
This highlights the fact that training and other means to stop phishing need to be done at companies to ensure that users don’t open up a Pandora’s box of problems via clicking on an email.
Posted in Commentary with tags TikTok on July 12, 2022 by itnerd
TikTok is in hot water again.
TikTok has postponed their privacy policy update amidst warnings from the Italian data protection authority that TikTok would be violating GDPR. TikTok was looking to issue a privacy policy update that would have allowed the platform to serve targeted ads based on users’ activity on the platform, without expressed permission. The Garante per la Protezione dei Data Personali yesterday warned that ‘the personal data stored in users’ devices may not be used to profile those users and send personalized ads without their explicit consent”.
“It’s encouraging to see one more example of a European country successfully enforcing privacy policies under GDPR. As an app that is continually accused of collecting cross-site advertising data from underaged users, TikTok has been a matter of concern to legislators around the world – moreover its ties to a foreign government have also made it an issue of national security for many countries.
But TikTok is also the most downloaded app in the world in 2022, and less popular apps with similar practices will continue to bypass the scrutiny of European regulators for the foreseeable future. Today, most organizations with websites and mobile apps are in violation of GDPR, whether by collecting user data without proper disclosure, or by sharing it with unmonitored third parties.”
I for one am overjoyed with this as TikTok needs to learn that it simply can’t do whatever it wants and it needs to be far more transparent if it wishes to be around for the long term.
Posted in Commentary with tags Rogers on July 12, 2022 by itnerd
Earlier today I posted this story where I made an argument that Rogers needed to come clean in public about what happened with their catastrophic outage on Friday. Well, that hasn’t happened. But the CRTC has ordered Rogers to explain this outage:
Today, the CRTC ordered Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Rogers) to respond to detailed questions and provide a comprehensive explanation regarding the national service outage millions of Canadians experienced on Friday July 8, 2022.
This widespread network outage not only disrupted Canadians and Canadian businesses across the country, it prevented access to services such as 9-1-1 and emergency/public alerting, as well as other critical infrastructure services.
The CRTC is requesting a detailed account from Rogers as to “why” and “how” this happened, as well as what measures Rogers is putting in place to prevent future outages.
We take the safety, security, and wellness of Canadians very seriously and we are responsible for ensuring that Canadians have access at all times to a reliable and efficient communications system.
And Rogers has until July 22nd to respond. Though it isn’t clear to me what if anything the CRTC does to hold Rogers accountable for taking down most of Canada on Friday. But I guess that we will find out in 10 days time.
Posted in Commentary with tags Telus on July 12, 2022 by itnerd
TELUS Health, together with the National Institute on Ageing (NIA), released the findingsfrom a new survey that sheds light on how older Canadians can be better supported to age well, safely and independently. The 2022 survey of Canadian healthcare practitioners (HCPs) demonstrates the need to prioritize conversations surrounding innovative solutions to enable ageing-in-place: 95 per cent of HCPs surveyed discussed emergency situations with patients at least once in a month; however only 11 per cent of those discussions included the use of Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) technology, which is known to provide added safety and support.
The survey of 125 Canadian healthcare professionals, conducted by MD Analytics between December 2021 and January 2022, discovered that 89 per cent of general practitioners and nurses are unlikely to discuss PERS unprompted. In many cases, HCPs are unaware of the rapidly evolving technological solutions that can help better enable their patients to age-in-place, and which to recommend. Proactive discussions during in-person or virtual appointments, whether directly with a patient and/or their caregiver, are key for ensuring ageing adults have the support they need to live in greater safety and independently for as long as possible.
This year’s survey findings also reaffirm previous research findings from TELUS Health and the NIA — 99 per cent of Canadian older adults plan to stay as active as they can to maintain their optimal health and independence, but the lack of discussions about available innovative support signals further education is needed. TELUS Health continues to empower HCPs and other medical professionals to support their ageing patients with knowledge and resources about the latest innovations, such as PERS like LivingWell Companion and TELUS Health Companion on Apple Watch.
The NIA leads cross-disciplinary research to better understand issues and develop insights that can meaningfully contribute to shaping innovative policies, practices and products to address challenges and opportunities for Canada’s ageing population. It is dedicated to enhancing successful ageing across the life course, considering a broad range of perspectives, including those of financial, physical, psychological, and social wellness.
Together, TELUS Health and the NIA are proud to collaborate to empower Canadians and HCPs alike with the knowledge and tools to enable Canadians to live safely, independently, and longer in their own homes if they so choose, as they age.
I have added an infographic that supplies some key information:
Melanin Gamers, a community that promotes diversity and inclusion in the video game industry while providing a safe space for all gamers, announced the launch of The Watch, a digital community watch designed to eliminate racism in the gaming community.
Melanin Gamers and The Watch are calling on major video game developers, like Activision Blizzard, the developer of the video game phenomenon, Call of Duty (CoD), to create real accountability in-game for players by improving the reporting mechanism for the racist and toxic behaviour that has gone unchecked for far too long. Melanin Gamers welcomes a meeting with Activision Blizzard to discuss the longstanding racism prevalent in games like CoD and discuss how to make a much-needed change.
As spotlighted in a powerful 41-second video, The Watch is a rallying cry for all gamers everywhere to stand in solidarity, be an ally, and join the movement to end racism in gaming.
By showcasing snippets of the discriminatory lived experiences that gamers endure while gaming, Melanin Gamers and The Watch aim to raise awareness of the racism that takes place in multiplayer online games to create a tide for lasting change.
Along with the streamers they’ve partnered with on Twitch, The Watch is asking viewers on the live streaming platform to use the built-in clip function to capture videos of racist language that they hear in the background of a stream and send it to The Watch on Twitter @HelpKeepWatch. The campaign hopes to show game developers like Activision Blizzard just how widespread racism is in Call of Duty and encourage them to take real action to address the problem for good.
Melanin Gamers has a checklist for game developers, like Activision Blizzard, to work towards anti-racism in-game, including:
Have Activision Blizzard meet with Melanin Gamers to discuss the rampant racism in CoD and discuss solutions for real change.
Restore faith in the reporting system by providing transparent updates for each user report.
Enforce appropriate punishments for racist in-game abuse.
Engage with the BIPOC gamer community regularly to identify emerging issues and work together towards effective solutions.
Increase accountability for game developers and create an obligation to share tangible goals, targets, and a roadmap to combat in-game racism.
Unfortunately, racism is only one type of injustice seen in gaming. The Watch is mindful of the intersectionality and various forms of toxic discrimination and abuse that all types of players endure, from sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, and more, and is committed to providing a safe gaming experience for all players.
Posted in Commentary with tags Cisco on July 12, 2022 by itnerd
Cisco AppDynamics, a leading provider of Observability and Application Performance Monitoring technology, has published findings from Agents of Transformation 2022, the fourth annual report that analyzes the skills and attributes of elite global technologists.
In the wake of the pandemic, it reveals the emergence of a new class of technology experts stepping up to meet critical challenges that are blurring the lines between business strategy and IT operations. The report also cites the demand to make all products and services digitally available in the Experience Economy amid heightened security threats, increasing complexity, and the accelerated shift to hybrid work and the cloud.
According to the Cisco AppDynamics report, 74% believe that their experiences in recent years—particularly during the pandemic—have accelerated their careers, and 88% now consider themselves to be business leaders. However, just 10% of technology experts have reached the elite status of ‘Agents of Transformation’. These individuals represent top-flight leaders who are reimagining and delivering high-value applications and services that create the always-on, secure, and exceptional user experiences now demanded by end users and customers.
Respondents cite a fundamental change in the role of technologists, including the skills and resources required to operate effectively and proficiently. At the same time, they say they now contend with soaring complexity and volumes of data from across the technology stack and must integrate a massively expanding set of cloud-native services with existing on-premises systems and tools.
88% believe that what it means to be a technologist has changed
84% say the skills and qualities that define an Agent of Transformation have evolved
66% indicate that it is now more difficult to be an Agent of Transformation
One in four say their organization remains stuck in reactive, “fire-fighting mode”
Digital transformation means almost every company and organization interacts with consumers via web and mobile applications, and the transition to hybrid work means more interaction with SaaS tools and web interfaces. While consumers can pivot fast to another brand’s app or service, companies that cannot instantly improve digital experiences risk having loyal customers walk away.
While acknowledging the far-reaching consequences of this change, respondents in the Cisco AppDynamics report note that they need help navigating the technical and operational ambiguities of digital transformation. Specifically, they are looking for unified visibility into their IT environments to better manage and optimize application availability and performance. This requires focusing investments on application security, observability over cloud-native applications and infrastructure, and linking IT performance to business decision making.
77% believe it will be important to invest in application security over the next 12 months to meet customer and employee needs
71% think their organization will need to invest in observing cloud-native applications and infrastructure
84% say that the need to maintain the performance of business applications is now more important than ever
85% state that full stack observability is core to sustainable transformation and innovation in their organization
Posted in Commentary with tags Hex on July 12, 2022 by itnerd
HEX, the award-winning fashion accessory brand, introduces the all-new Ranger Sling XL, expanding its range of discreet, street-ready DSLR / camera bags for which the brand is known.
To develop the Sling XL, HEX worked hand-in-hand with photographers and reflected customer feedback, crafting an entirely new design from the ground up. The new Sling XL is extremely versatile within the Ranger lineup – larger than a traditional sling yet smaller than a backpack – and can fit a 13-inch laptop, multiple bodies, lenses, a drone and more, and can even be custom-configured to fit a change of clothes for weekend trips.
Beautiful inside and out, the Ranger Sling XL features a generous organizer on the outside with the brand’s signature faux-fur lined phone pocket. The back is padded air-mesh for breathability and there are cinch straps on the bottom for a tripod or jacket. Inside features EVA padded dividers that can be configured to fit every photographer’s needs.
All of these features are wrapped up in a water-resistant, ballistic nylon Sling – complete with a hideaway rainfly for even more weather protection.
The Ranger Sling XL is proof of HEX’s ability to bridge the gap between fashion and tech-driven functionality, drawing on decades of experience in art and culture and channeling that to equip the next generation of creators.
HEX Ranger Sling XL Specifications:
Padded compartment for up to 13-inch laptop
Water-resistant, ballistic nylon shell
Hideaway rainfly for additional weather protection
Generous exterior organizer with HEX’s signature faux-fur lined phone pocket
Air mesh back for breathability
Bottom cinch straps for tripod or jacket
Interior features EVA-padded dividers
Dimensions: 14.5” x 11” x 5”
Weight: 2.2 lbs
Capacity: 15L
Available in Black, Camo, Glacier Camo and Blackout Camo colorways
Posted in Commentary with tags Rogers on July 12, 2022 by itnerd
This post was sparked by a Twitter conversation with @TheDanLevy who on a regular basis challenges me to think a bit more broadly. We were talking about the Rogers outage and everything surrounding it. And during this Twitter conversation, it made me think about this statement that I made about Rogers over the weekend:
So how about it Rogers? Will you come clean about what happened on Friday in detail? Will you provide a detailed action plan to remedy this with timetables? Canadians deserve complete and fulsome answers from you as this was a far reaching and catastrophic event that suggests that no Canadian should ever trust you or your services again unless you give Canadians a significant reason or reasons to trust you going forward.
After thinking about this, I concluded that there is zero chance that Rogers is ever going do any of that. I don’t believe that they’re that kind of company who would be that transparent. And they are going to hope that Canadians forget about this and turn the page when they do move on. Thus what needs to happen is that Parliament needs to step in and pull Rogers in front of them to answer questions in public. Including:
In detail, what caused the outage on Friday?
What specific steps is Rogers taking to address the shortcomings that caused this outage?
When will the steps above be completed by Rogers?
Why should Canadians trust Rogers ever again?
There’s precedence for this sort of thing. Toyota back in 2010 was “encouraged” to appear in front of a Parliamentary committee to answer questions about a number of safety issues and recalls, Including a stuck accelerator issue that was widely reported on because of four deaths in the US due to the issue. In fact, here’s the speakers notes from the Toyota side of the fence when they appeared before said committee. Thus there’s zero reason why Rogers couldn’t be “encouraged” to appear before a committee to answer questions about Friday’s outage. After all, this outage left millions without the ability to communicate, or call 9-1-1, or use their debit cards. And it cost individuals and businesses money. To me that’s as important as the safety of cars.
Now of course Parliament is in their summer recess. But that should not stop this from happening. All it takes is political will. And given that Canadians are pretty ticked off about Friday’s outage, I think the will to put Rogers under a microscope is there. The politicians just have to listen. Now there was a meeting yesterday with federal science, innovation and industry minister François-Philippe Champagne where telco execs from Bell, TELUS and Rogers were were sent away with some homework. And I would qualify that meeting as a first step in making Canada’s telco space better and more robust, there needs to me more done than that. Hearings would the right course of action in this case.
To create that political will, I would be emailing your MP with François-Philippe Champagne on carbon copy. Here’s a lookup tool that will allow you to find your MP and their email address. Please be kind as nothing will be gained by not minding your P’s and Q’s. And what Canadians have to gain is a robust and reliable telecom environment that can be relied upon by Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
BREAKING: Rogers Is Now Offering A Five Day Credit For Their Catastrophic Outage…. And It’s Still A Joke
Posted in Commentary on July 12, 2022 by itnerdThe blowback from last Friday’s Rogers Outage has been epic. There’s been the first of many lawsuits, the CRTC is demanding answers, the feds wants all three major telcos to help each other, and most importantly the Canadian public is mad. And I mean MAD.
Rogers is clearly feeling the heat. And that is why I am guessing that this Tweet just appeared on Twitter:
So, does this earn back my trust? No. Let’s start with doing some math shall we? Using Rogers Q1 numbers we can figure out what this is costing Rogers:
Here’s the rub: Rogers pulled in $2.14 billion in revenue For that quarter. This to be frank is a rounding error for Rogers as this is in the single digit percentages of their Q1 revenue. Thus while this is an improved credit, it’s still a joke. I say that because it’s pretty clear that Rogers either doesn’t understand or doesn’t care that individuals lost money, businesses lost money, and people couldn’t phone 9-1-1 in emergency situations like this person. So while Rogers is saying that they are listening and want to earn back Canadian’s trust, this doesn’t come close to cutting it. Here’s what will. Rogers need to answer these questions:
Yes, some of those answers are coming. But it would be wise of Rogers to answer those questions now, and bundle that with a credit that recognizes that their outage caused significant damage. Because they need to do more than give the Canadian public lip service because of that.
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