COVID-19: Cybercriminals Using New Sextortion Tactics Amid Pandemic COVID-19: Cybercriminals Using New Sextortion Tactics Amid Pandemic
Covid-19: Cybercriminals Using New Sextortion Tactics Amid Pandemic The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has provided cybercriminals the opportunity to get creative with their “sextortion” tactics as they exploit the pandemic, according to reports. In the past, criminals have targeted their victims by claiming they have embarrassing, salacious video proof, typically from a webcam, of a person watching sexual content. The scammers then seek to extort immediate payment in bitcoin or gift cards, threatening that otherwise, the alleged content will be disseminated on the Internet. However, according to new information released by the cybersecurity analysi…
COVID-19: Facebook, Google Extend Working From Home To End Of Year COVID-19: Facebook, Google Extend Working From Home To End Of Year
Covid-19: Facebook, Google Extend Working From Home To End Of Year Employees at two of the world’s largest tech companies will largely continue working remotely from home due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Google and Facebook announced that while some offices may slowly reopen, most employees’ work from home policies will be extended through the end of the year. Essential employees for the tech giants may return to the office as soon as July, with additional safety measures in place, but other employees who can work from home have been granted additional flexibility to stay there. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said last month that becau…
COVID-19: Former Google CEO To Reimagine How New York Operates COVID-19: Former Google CEO To Reimagine How New York Operates
Covid-19: Former Google CEO To Reimagine How New York Operates Gov. Andrew Cuomo has tabbed former Google CEO Eric Schmidt to help lead the charge in reimagining the “new normal” in New York as it begins to come out the other side of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Schmidt will be tasked with heading a 15-member blue-ribbon commission that will “Reimagine New York.” “We need a true visionary, and that’s Eric Schmidt,” Cuomo said. “He might be the best in the world. He saw a future no one else envisioned and developed a way to get there. So I’m asking him to work with us to bring that visionary aspect to our government and our society. “Th…
COVID-19: Google's NY State Online Unemployment Application System Now Online COVID-19: Google's NY State Online Unemployment Application System Now Online
Covid-19: Google's NY State Online Unemployment Application System Now Online Google and other companies have given a helping hand to New Yorkers who found themselves unemployed due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. A handful of tech companies, highlighted by Google, teamed up to help the New York State Department of Labor’s online unemployment application page, which has been overwhelmed since the outbreak of COVID-19. The Department of Labor has seen an unprecedented spike in unemployment insurance applications during the pandemic, which has caused the online and telephone system to crash, prompting officials to enter a “Tech Surge” with Google Clo…
New Yorkers Doing Less Social Distancing Than Those In Italy, Spain, Google Data Shows New Yorkers Doing Less Social Distancing Than Those In Italy, Spain, Google Data Shows
New Yorkers Doing Less Social Distancing Than Those In Italy, Spain, Google Data Shows New tracking data compiled by experts at Google revealed New Yorkers are doing less social distancing than other countries hit hard by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) such as Italy. The company said Friday, April 3, the charts "provide insights into what has changed in response to policies aimed at combating COVID-19." The release of the data comes just a day after the government and medical officials said they could tell people were not following requests to stay at home and social distancing by the increase in the number of cases. The data chart movement trends over time by geography, …
COVID-19: YouTube Limits Video Quality To Ease Internet Traffic COVID-19: YouTube Limits Video Quality To Ease Internet Traffic
Covid-19: YouTube Limits Video Quality To Ease Internet Traffic With millions of people around the world confined to their homes due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, YouTube announced it will be adjusting its default video quality to ensure that there is sufficient bandwidth for all users. YouTube videos will automatically stream in standard definition for at least a month, as health officials work to curtail the spread of COVID-19, which has infected nearly 60,000 people in America alone. Other streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ have taken similar steps overseas, though it is unclear if they will take effect stateside. “We continue to w…
Westchester Man Arrested For Allegedly Possessing Child Porn, DA Says Westchester Man Arrested For Allegedly Possessing Child Porn, DA Says
Westchester Man Arrested For Allegedly Possessing Child Porn, DA Says A Northern Westchester man is facing charges for allegedly possessing and promoting child pornography, the District Attorney’s Office announced. Cortlandt Manor resident Christopher Lynch, 33, was arrested and charged with promoting child pornography through his computer, Westchester County DA Anthony Scarpino, Jr., announced, following a lengthy investigation. 
According to Scarpino, “child pornography investigations often start with a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which is sent to the New York State Internet Crimes Against Children, manned by the…
Alexa's Listening: Amazon Now Collects More Private Data Than Any Other Company, Report Says Alexa's Listening: Amazon Now Collects More Private Data Than Any Other Company, Report Says
Alexa's Listening: Amazon Now Collects More Private Data Than Any Other Company, Report Says As convenience and accessibility become increasingly prioritized among electronics developers, many are wondering just how much privacy consumers are willing to sacrifice in order to fully reap the benefits of new technology. This is particularly the case with Amazon and its Alexa technology. Experts are coming forward and raising valid concerns about how much personal and private data the company is actually collecting on a day-to-day basis. In fact, NBC News’ Tom Costello says that the e-commerce giant “collects more personalized, private data than any other company on the planet, rivalin…
YouTube Bans Videos Of Dangerous Pranks, Stunts YouTube Bans Videos Of Dangerous Pranks, Stunts
YouTube Bans Videos Of Dangerous Pranks, Stunts Google-owned video hosting website YouTube is cracking down on users who upload videos involving dangerous stunts or pranks. While not all stunts and pranks are dangerous, those that are will no longer be permitted for YouTube hosting, as per the site’s updated community guidelines. Now, users who upload videos involving this type of content have two months before YouTube will issue a “strike” against the offending account. Of course, content that violated these new guidelines will be removed even before the grace period ends. From eating tide pods to playing with fire or putting someone i…
Google Plans To Add 12K NYC Jobs, Nears Deal For New Manhattan Office Google Plans To Add 12K NYC Jobs, Nears Deal For New Manhattan Office
Google Plans To Add 12K NYC Jobs, Nears Deal For New Manhattan Office Google is close to a deal for a large office building in Manhattan's West Village as part of moves that would increase its number of New York City-based workers by 12,000, according to the Wall Street Journal. Google also plans to expand its $2 billion Chelsea Market office building, increasing Google's total number of jobs in the city to 20,000. Google now has 7,000 workers in Manhattan The 1.3 million-square-foot West Village building would house 8,500 employees and the planned Chelsea Market expansion of 300,000 square feet, along with 250,000 square feet of office space at Pier 57, woul…
Trader Joe's, With Westchester Stores, Ranks No. 2 For Best Places To Work Trader Joe's, With Westchester Stores, Ranks No. 2 For Best Places To Work
Trader Joe's, With Westchester Stores, Ranks No. 2 For Best Places To Work For those out there hating their job, "Forbes" Magzine has come out with their Top 100 employers to work for and the No. 2 best place to work happens to have several locations right in the area. Traders Joe's with its easy, breezy setting and apparently, bosses, came in second on the magazine's list that included an exhaustive survey nationally of employees including the likes of Google (#3), Costco (#5) and the main surprise, Michelin (which came in 33 last year) as the number one employer. The store, with locations in Hartsdale, Scarsdale, Larchmont in Westchester also has store…
Northern Westchester Teen To Star On CBS Show 'Blue Bloods' Northern Westchester Teen To Star On CBS Show 'Blue Bloods'
Northern Westchester Teen To Star On CBS Show 'Blue Bloods' A 17-year-old from Northern Westchester will guest star on an episode of CBS-TV's "Blue Bloods." Igby Rigney of Ossining, a freshman at Pace University, will star as Evan Scott on the Risk Management episode airing Friday, April 13 at 10 p.m. The teen has also appeared on TV shows and commercials including Popeye’s Chicken, Google, Huntington Learning Centers and two other dramas: "Billions" (Showtime), and "Orange is the New Black" (Netflix).  Live performances in Westchester include "Our Town" with the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival and "G…