My post on 7/5/20 took up the topic of better passwords and mentioned a free password generator called xkpasswd.

I received a follow-up from one reader, Adam Roger, who said that xkpasswd did a good job overall, but he had found another tool to be a better alternative and it’s free as well. It’s called Password Meter by Safety Detectives.
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The user types in a word or words and then clicks on a button and the software will change the starting input into a much stronger password (rated from 1 to 100.) For example, the word "benediction" (score of 12) can be transformed into “b=nedicT10n” (score of 91) – still easy to remember but hard to decypher.
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Thanks, Adam, for the feedback.

There are a lot of encrypted USB flash drives out there. You plug them in, and either there's an on-screen popup that asks for your passcode, or some sort of physical keypad that is used to gain access.

But what about transferring the unlocking mechanism to a mobile device – such as a smartphone or your Apple Watch?

This is precisely what the iStorage datAshur BT hardware-encrypted USB flash drive does.

Visually, the iStorage datAshur BT looks like any other USB flash drive. It has a tough epoxy-like exterior that gives the drive a water- and dust-resistant rating of IP57 (protected against damage from dust ingress, and water resistant to 1 meter).

The datAshur BT comes in capacities from 16GB to 128GB.

Data on the datAshur BT is fully encrypted using AES-XTS 256-bit hardware encryption, which is FIPS 140-2 Level 3 compliant design and technology. Brute force is defended against by a built-in data wipe if there are too many wrong attempts made.

Everything is protected by a 7-15-character password or a biometric unlock such as Face ID/Facial recognition, Touch ID/Fingerprint, or IRIS scanning from a smartphone or tablet. The drive communicates using Bluetooth to any smartphone/tablet (iOS/Android) or Apple Watch. The Bluetooth channel is secured by a FIPS validated encryption layer and is only used for connection purposes. There is also support for 2FA using SMS.

The drive itself is completely host independent, so it will work with Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome, and so on, VDIs such as Citrix and VMWare, and also with embedded systems such as medical devices, TVs, drones, printers, scanners, or pretty much anything with a USB port.
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Prices for the iStorage datAshur BT range from $103 to $181, depending on the capacity.

Microsoft has disrupted a massive hacking operation that it said could have indirectly affected election infrastructure if allowed to continue. 

Last Monday, the company said it took down the servers behind Trickbot, a massive malware network that criminals were using to launch other cyberattacks, including a strain of highly potent ransomware. 

Microsoft said it obtained a federal court order to disable the IP addresses associated with Trickbot's servers and worked with telecom providers worldwide to stamp out the network. According to The Washington Post, the action coincides with an offensive by US Cyber Command to disrupt the cybercriminals, at least temporarily.

Microsoft acknowledged that the attackers are likely to adapt and seek to revive their operations eventually. Microsoft said the company's efforts reflect a "new legal approach" that may help authorities fight the network going forward.

Trickbot allowed hackers to sell what Microsoft said was a service to other hackers – offering them the capability to inject vulnerable computers, routers, and other devices with other malware. 

That includes ransomware, which Microsoft and US officials have warned could pose a risk to websites that display election information or third-party software vendors that provide services to election officials.

"Adversaries can use ransomware to infect a computer system used to maintain voter rolls or report on election-night results, seizing those systems at a prescribed hour optimized to sow chaos and distrust," Microsoft VP of security Tom Burt wrote in a blog post.

Ransomware seizes control of target computers and freezes them until victims pay up – though experts urge those affected by ransomware not to encourage hackers by complying with their demands. The Treasury Department has warned that paying ransoms could violate US sanctions policy.

He added: "We have now cut off key infrastructure so those operating Trickbot will no longer be able to initiate new infections or activate ransomware already dropped into computer systems."

A separate technical report by Microsoft said Trickbot had been used to spread the Ryuk ransomware. Security experts say Ryuk has been attacking 20 organizations per week.

But Trickbot has also been used to spread false and malicious emails containing malware that tried to lure victims in with messaging surrounding Black Lives Matter and Covid-19, Microsoft said.

Microsoft said Trickbot had infected more than 1 million computing devices globally since 2016 and that its operators have acted on behalf of both governments and criminal organizations, but their exact identity remains ambiguous.

Taking down Trickbot follows a series of attacks that became highly publicized in recent weeks: One targeting Tyler Technologies, a software vendor used by numerous local governments, and Universal Health Services, one of the nation's largest hospital companies. A statement on Tyler Technologies' website has said the company does not directly make election software. The software it produces that is used by election officials to display voting information is separate from its internal systems affected by the attack.
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Ransomware could pose a risk to the election process if systems designed to support voting are brought down, according to Check Point threat analyst Lotem Finkelstein. Still, so far, experts regard it as "mainly a hypothetical threat right now."

Companies are tracking what you do online. You know this. But it can be a challenge to see the extent because the methods are hidden on purpose. At least 87% of the world’s most-popular Web domains engage in some form of digital tracking without you ever signing in, according to investigative journalism nonprofit the Markup.

To investigate the pervasiveness of online tracking, The Markup researchers spent 18 months building a one-of-a-kind free public tool that can be used to inspect websites for potential privacy violations in real time. Blacklight reveals the trackers loading on any site—including methods created to thwart privacy-protection tools or watch your every scroll and click.

In one study, scanning more than 80,000 of the most popular websites using the Blacklight software, found more than 5,000 were “fingerprinting” users, identifying them even if they block third-party cookies.

The study also found more than 12,000 websites loaded scripts that watch and record all user interactions on a page – including scrolls and mouse movements. It’s called “session recording,” and the study found a higher prevalence of it than researchers had documented before.

74% of sites loaded Google tracking technology, and 33% loaded Facebook trackers. It’s staggering to see the reach of those two Silicon Valley giants – it’s easy to forget they track you even when you’re not using their websites or apps.

Try it out here. Just enter a URL, and you’ll see a real-time count of the ad trackers, third-party cookies, cookie evaders, and keystroke recorders on any given site.

What you find might surprise you. Pet food-maker Purina notched almost every possible kind of tracking Blacklight detects, which Purina can use to learn about the demographics and interests of people, their brand loyalty and even to understand how they use their website. It had 16 ad trackers, 34 third-party cookies, fingerprinting, and monitoring of keystrokes and mouse clicks.

Joe Biden’s website as of Thursday used fewer third-party cookies, 7, than President Trump’s website, 38, according to Blacklight.
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Microsoft had 50 third-party cookies. Apple had zero – in fact, it uses no tracking tech at all, according to Blacklight.

Ever since the pandemic began, many knowledge workers have continued their employment responsibilities from their homes. But now, with many employers extending the remote-work timeframe well into 2021, it may be time to consider working from a residence that’s in a far more pleasant location.

If you are a remote worker tired of sitting all day at your principal residence or working in grey cubicles at a remote office, here’s a group of exotic locations that offer you not only a stunning change of scenery but also dependable internet speeds and infrastructure necessary for remote work. From pristine beaches to tropical rainforests and paradise islands, there’s something in this list that is sure to make you want to book your ticket now and even consider these locations for a leased or purchased second home.

Galapagos Islands. West of continental Ecuador lies the isles made famous by Darwin’s studies of the natural world that would result in the Theory of Evolution. A natural paradise filled with stunning vistas, pristine beaches, and some of the most exotic wildlife in the world, the Galapagos Islands are a real paradise on earth. 

Galapagos has a population of only 25,000 people, setting the standard for the word remote. Nevertheless, they offer a reliable infrastructure for remote workers, with most hotels offering free Wi-Fi and most housing areas, including a good connection as well. While Galapagos is by far not the cheapest option on the list, you can expect prices similar or slightly less expensive than living in the continental USA.

Costa Rica. Costa Rica, the country with the most amazing biodiversity on the entire planet, has long been espoused as a real paradise for ex-pats. Not only does the Central American country offer dense tropical rainforests, volcanoes, and tropical climate, but also some of the best beaches in the world – featuring crystal clear water and pristine sand.

Santa Teresa is one of such beaches and is one of the most visited by tourists for many a reason. Not only does Santa Teresa have some of the best surf you will find in the world, but it also features a large town and tightknit community that offers plenty of yoga retreats, delicious food, thriving nightlife, and fantastic weather you could expect.

You will come for the surf and natural beauty, but you will stay for the people – a collection of ex-pats from around the world and locals that live the “Pura Vida” (Pure Life) lifestyle and always boast a smile on their face.

Morocco. Located not be too far off the coast of its northern neighbors in Spain, Morocco might as well be a galaxy apart. This diverse land containing four different mountain ranges, deserts, and Mediterranean beaches has been the setting for many iconic movies throughout the years, including Lawrence of Arabia, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Gladiator, and even Star Wars.

But what truly makes Morocco so special, and attracts millions of tourists each year, is its perfectly preserved culture and traditional architecture. The market town-turned-city of Marrakesh has been a crossroads for culture and trade for close to ten centuries. Featuring gorgeous oriental architecture and thousands of captivating smells and colors, the streets through the bazar hold plenty of secrets within them – from delicious honey drizzled pastries to sensual belly dancers.

A very low cost of living country, Morocco has been evolving technologically at a breakneck pace in the last few years and has plenty of co-working spaces available for digital nomads, as well as surprisingly fast internet connections for rental homes.

Bali, Indonesia. Another location famous for its beaches and surf, the Island of Bali, is often touted as a real heaven on earth. Boasting mind-blowing beaches, volcanoes, mountains, coral reefs, and overall nature, Bali can easily compete with any location on this list and come out ahead on most aspects.

In Ubud, the cultural center of the island and home of the ex-pat community, you will find the spiritual hippies and yogi types. In contrast, in the southern Bukit Peninsula, you will find the perfect location to surf in legendary breaks like Padang Padang, Dreamland, and Uluwatu.

What few people know about Bali, however, is that it has been building a burgeoning startup ecosystem with all kinds of entrepreneurs, initiatives, tech talent, and startups springing up all over the island. To satisfy this demand, Bali has seen a large number of co-working spaces pop up across the island, each one providing more than adequate commodities for digital nomads, who are not only attracted to the island’s legendary beauty but also its low cost of living and housing.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Touted as one of the best cities for remote workers around the world, Ho Chi Minh City is a colorful, vibrant, and creative metropolis in the south of Vietnam that has plenty to offer for digital nomads, tourists, and ex-pats alike.

A highly developed city bursting with cafés that offer fantastic coffee and an even better internet connection, the former Saigon is filled with culture, commerce, art, and plenty of beautiful natural and human-made sites to behold.
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Visit the Ben Thanh Market and its iconic clock tower to buy all sorts of goods ranging from clothes to electronics to groceries for excellent prices, provided you are willing to haggle a little. The food is absolutely delicious and incredibly cheap, with Vietnam having one of the lowest costs of living in this entire list.
For those who prefer to work in office environments, Ho Chi Minh City has plenty to offer, including the fantastic Dreamplex co-working space, which features the fastest and most reliable internet in the city, as well as excellent ergonomic chairs.