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Lessons from 'Star Trek: Picard' – a cybersecurity expert explains how a sci-fi series illuminates today's threats

Retrieved on:

Friday, May 12, 2023

Society’s understanding of technology and cybersecurity often is based on simple stereotypes and sensational portrayals in the entertainment media.

Key Points:

Society’s understanding of technology and cybersecurity often is based on simple stereotypes and sensational portrayals in the entertainment media.
Or think of counterintelligence specialists repositioning a satellite from the back of a surveillance van via a phone call.
And that’s important, because whether it’s a large company, government or your personal information, we all share many of the same cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.

The nature of the threat

Starfleet is the military wing of the United Federation of Planets, of which Earth is a member.
In Season 3, the final season, Picard’s ultimate enemy, the Borg, returns to try conquering humanity again.
The Borg is a cybernetic collective of half-human, half-machine “drones” led by a cyborg queen.
Equally important, “Star Trek: Picard” presents the very real and insidious nature of the insider threat faced by today’s organizations.

Humans remain the weakest link

The ultimate safeguard.” With these words, humanity’s military defenders activated a feature that linked every Starfleet vessel together under one unified automated command system.
In essence, Starfleet created a Borg-like defense system that the Borg itself used to attack the federation.
But even then, technology alone can’t protect humans from ourselves – after all, it’s people who develop, design, select, administer and use technology, which means human flaws are present in these systems, too.

Resiliency is not futile

To counter the Borg’s final assault on Earth, Picard’s crew borrows its old starship, Enterprise-D, from a fleet museum.
Offline from the others.” From a cybersecurity perspective, ensuring the availability of information resources is one of the industry’s guiding principles.
Here, the Enterprise-D represents defenders in response to a cyber incident using assets that are outside of an adversary’s reach.

Prepare for the unknown

The “Star Trek” universe explores the unknown in both the universe and contemporary society.
Often, such solutions are derived from characters’ interests in music, painting, archaeology, history, sports and other nontechnical areas of study, recreation or expertise.
Season 3, in particular, offers viewers both entertainment and education – indeed, the best of both worlds.

Judaism's rituals to honor new mothers are ever-rooted, ever-changing – from medieval embroidery and prayer to new traditions today

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Wednesday, May 10, 2023

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Yet the value placed on motherhood is clear – not only in Jewish texts, but also in Jewish traditions.

Key Points:

Yet the value placed on motherhood is clear – not only in Jewish texts, but also in Jewish traditions.
Yet they have not always given new mothers an opportunity to celebrate on their own terms or share their own feelings.
As a scholar of Judaism and gender, though, I have seen how this is changing, as Jewish women reinvent meaningful traditions or develop new ones.

Medieval mothers

According to historian Elisheva Baumgarten, medieval Jewish women in northern and eastern Europe observed a monthlong period of lying-in after the birth, where they were cared for at home by friends.
Describing the emergence of a modern Jewish crafting movement, Eichler-Levine also notes that “in recent years, the wimpel has made a comeback,” created by mothers and grandmothers to honor the birth of children regardless of their sex.

Behind the mehitza

After we brought her home from the hospital, my husband and I attended Shabbat services at the Orthodox synagogue he had grown up in.
As I looked on from behind the mehitza, the screen that separates men’s and women’s areas in Orthodox congregations, he was honored by being called up to the Torah during the service, and our daughter’s name was announced to the community.
I, on the other hand, was encouraged to privately “bentsch gommel”: recite the prayer for having survived an illness or a perilous journey.

Tradition for the 21st century

These included moments that had long gone unremarked in Jewish public life, including the onset of menstruation, pregnancy, birth, miscarriage, infertility, abortion and menopause.
Our family ritual shared many features with those being developed by other Jewish parents around the world.
It enabled a new shared experience, and it took place outside the synagogue, in the less regulated space of a private home.
I come to the mikveh to remind myself that I am always loved, always held, always growing, always whole.

Why do young children sometimes steal? And what should parents do about it?

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

When children steal, naturally parents can be very concerned. They might wonder if they’ve taught their child correctly, whether it’s just a phase or whether they’re going to have a young offender on their hands. But before parents panic, they need to consider why their child may have taken something that doesn’t belong to them. First, it’s important to consider the age of the child. When do kids learn stealing is wrong?If they see something that interests them, they are likely to reach out and just take it.

Key Points:

When children steal, naturally parents can be very concerned. They might wonder if they’ve taught their child correctly, whether it’s just a phase or whether they’re going to have a young offender on their hands. But before parents panic, they need to consider why their child may have taken something that doesn’t belong to them. First, it’s important to consider the age of the child.

When do kids learn stealing is wrong?

If they see something that interests them, they are likely to reach out and just take it.
Child experts believe a sense of their own property begins at about two years old, but fully understanding ownership rights of other people develops at three to five years old.

If they know it’s wrong, why do they do it?

Some young children with low impulse control might steal for immediate gratification – especially items perceived as low value.
They might think it’s only a few lollies, or a biscuit or two, no one will notice.
Others may have difficulty imagining anyone would be cross or disappointed if they took another person’s belongings.

My child has stolen something. What should I do?

Shouting or punishing children harshly can make them more likely to steal again in the future.
Talk to the child.
Sometimes parents may decide not to return goods for fear of the consequences, but your child should not be able to keep the goods.
This could include returning the stolen item, apologising to the person they stole from, and completing chores or community service to make amends.
If your child’s behaviour continues or escalates, it may be necessary to seek professional help from a psychologist who specialises in working with children.

'I’m always delivering food while hungry': how undocumented migrants find work as substitute couriers in the UK

Retrieved on:

Thursday, May 4, 2023

This was where many food couriers waited for orders to “drop” into their mobile phones.

Key Points:

This was where many food couriers waited for orders to “drop” into their mobile phones.
The 42-year-old husband and father of one was a recently arrived migrant but not qualified to work in the UK.
Luca spoke little English, rented a room with three other people, and earned some money by informally renting food delivery accounts from other couriers as a “substitute” rider.
Our research into food couriers in one English city highlights the daily challenges facing undocumented migrant workers in this sector.
During 2021 and 2022, we got to know seven undocumented migrants who worked as food delivery riders by renting accounts from other riders.

‘A choice between eating or getting documents’

He had arrived with a tourist visa nearly a year earlier, helped by an “agency” back in his home country.
It’s a choice between eating or getting the [legal] documents.
It’s a choice between eating or getting the [legal] documents.
On average, our undocumented interviewees earned between £900 and £1,500 a month, after deducting their account and gear rental costs.
The way I see it is, on weekdays I work to pay off my debts from back home, plus the bike and account rental.

‘Easy to cut through the red tape’

Riders who deliver for online food platforms are self-employed, with flexibility a key selling-point for these “gig economy” jobs.
This includes the ability to ask a substitute to deliver on the rider’s behalf if he or she is unavailable.
I know that some [account holders] run real businesses here by renting multiple accounts, gear, the lot … This means that the demand [for accounts] is there … but it also tells you how easy it is to cut through the red tape.
The online food platforms all have strict regulations regarding who is allowed to work as a delivery courier.
When approached for comment about the issues raised in this article, both companies stressed that this policy is strictly enforced at all times.
Any courier that fails to meet these criteria will have their access to the app removed.

Living ‘in constant anxiety’

Read more:
'It’s like you’re a criminal, but I am not a criminal.'
First-hand accounts of the trauma of being stuck in the UK asylum system
But this option is not available to undocumented riders.
Accidents can make them “visible”, jeopardising both their immediate ability to work and any future prospect of securing legitimate right-to-work status.
We also saw numerous social media posts and chat rooms in which documented food couriers threatened to expose undocumented couriers.
A spokesperson for Deliveroo stressed that all forms of harassment or discriminatory behaviour are completely unacceptable, and that specific harassment claims are immediately investigated.

Informal work across the UK

But studies show there has been a recent increase in informal work and employment practices in many UK sectors.
We know from our wider research that undocumented workers are a growing presence in a number of UK sectors.
In contrast, online food platform companies such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats abide by all UK laws and regulations.
We believe stronger oversight on the part of the UK authorities is needed, if informal working in the food delivery sector is not to grow further and put more vulnerable people at risk.

To hear about new Insights articles, join the hundreds of thousands of people who value The Conversation’s evidence-based news. Subscribe to our newsletter. Pedro Mendonça receives funding from the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Ian Clark receives funding from The Art's and Humanities Research Council/Modern Slavery Policy and Evidence Centre, the Home Office Modern Slavery fund and the National Crime Agency.

Kenya banned plastic bags 6 years ago, but they are still in use - what went wrong

Retrieved on:

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Kenya banned the use of plastic carrier bags in 2017, prompted by environmental and health costs.

Key Points:

Kenya banned the use of plastic carrier bags in 2017, prompted by environmental and health costs.
At the time, more than 100 million single-use plastic bags were handed out every year, making them the most commonly used carrier bags for shopping.

Why were plastic carrier bags banned and what are the penalties?

Plastic bags clogged water drains and proliferated mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, and the burning of plastic bags has been associated with the release of chemicals with carcinogenic effects.
A study sanctioned by the National Environment Management Agency in 2018 found that 50% of livestock slaughtered in Nairobi’s abattoirs had ingested plastic bags.
Initially, the ban was greeted with cynicism because the government had tried before to ban plastic bags.
No proper structures of monitoring were put in place to track the environmental benefits of banning plastic carrier bags for an accurate before-and-after picture.

What is the level of compliance?

But traders could still access plastic bag carriers six years after the ban.
As recently as April 2023, the Nairobi county government warned about the continued use of banned bags by traders in the capital.
My study in 2019 found that small traders in Nairobi’s informal settlement of Kibera continued to use banned bags.

What must Kenya do to make the policy a success?

Plastic bottles used for carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices, dilutable drinks and water are another problem.
Plastic waste management in Kenya is largely informal – it’s collected by hand, sorted and packed for sale to recyclers.
To bolster these efforts, Kenya is also moving towards imposing extended producer responsibility for the waste.

What about bringing the public on board?

A 2021 Kenyan study found that the ownership of reusable bags tripled to 12 bags per household on average since the ban.
Just as important is environmental education, which is a pathway to attitude change and a sense of responsibility.
Environmental education should be integrated in all levels of the education system to raise people’s sensitivity to sustainability concerns.

Beware red flags and fakes: how to buy authentic First Nations designs that benefit creators and communities

Retrieved on:

Monday, May 1, 2023

Australia’s Productivity Commission estimates about $250 million of Indigenous-style art and consumer products are sold annually.

Key Points:

Australia’s Productivity Commission estimates about $250 million of Indigenous-style art and consumer products are sold annually.
To support First Nations artists and communities, here’s what you need to know, and need to ask, before buying.

Home is where the art is

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art is more than aesthetically pleasing shapes and colours.
It is a cultural expression, a means of passing information from one generation to the next, of telling stories.
Dot painting, for example, is specific to the desert interior of Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia.

What’s the story?

Artists have two main ways to sell their art.
For original art, it’s through a gallery, which takes a hefty commission.

If there’s no information on who created an artwork and where they’re from, it is most likely fake. In short: buy from sellers with transparent policies. On their website and in person they should provide clear information on all off the above. Reluctance to share this information is a red flag.

Look for community connections

Private businesses can be highly ethical and reinvest in their community, but there is greater assurance of this happening with collectively owned businesses established specifically for the benefit of local artists, to employ local people and fund community projects.
Founded in 1985, the company uses its surpluses to fund community projects such as a health program and a dog program, which cares for the local dog population.

They may have arrangements to sell artwork through commercial galleries nearer population hotspots.
In the wider market for First Nations designs and products, look for evidence of Indigenous ownership, commitment to compensate artists, and other evidence of community engagement.
But because this is focused on government and commercial procurement, it has few listings for arts, craft, and design business.

What about product certification?

The problem, according to the Productivity Commission, is that certification schemes need high producer take-up and high consumer recognition to succeed.
The commission has recommended an alternative approach, mandatory labelling of inauthentic products, through amending the Australian Consumer Law.
So far, however, the federal government has given no indication of if and when it will act on these recommendations.

Why the Turner prize shortlist is a cultural barometer of our political times

Retrieved on:

Friday, April 28, 2023

The 2023 Turner prize shortlist has been announced featuring British artists Jesse Darling, Rory Pilgrim, Ghislaine Leung and Barbara Walker.

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The 2023 Turner prize shortlist has been announced featuring British artists Jesse Darling, Rory Pilgrim, Ghislaine Leung and Barbara Walker.
With a whirlwind 40-year socio-political history this lens can be applied to the prize.

From Thatcher’s 1980s to Channel 4’s 1990s

Things changed in 1991 with Channel 4 as a hip new sponsor and a ban on artists over 50.
The prize would raise interest in a newly youthful, increasingly fashionable area of UK culture.
The 1990s prizes are remembered for Young British Art.
The televised celebrity-strewn Channel 4 under 50s version of the Turner prize was part of this – feeding the feel-good 1990s vibes, fuelled by PR and underwritten by a debt-driven boom.

2000’s third way

Some of the tax income from a seemingly buoyant economy was spent on the arts, which were newly redefined as consumer services and required to prove value and efficiency using metrics.
Titled State Britain, it was created when Tony Blair passed a law to make it illegal to protest within a mile of Parliament.
Positioned across the perimeter of the one mile from Parliament no-protest-zone, it probed a line between art and politics.

2008’s financial crash and a new outlook

Shortlisted Turner prize art from that time didn’t say much about austerity or that moment, instead looking a lot like the art of the early 2000s.
Anti-austerity movements found a home alongside trade unions in a Labour Party reimagined under the radically social democratic leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.
Lubaina Himid, aged 62, was named winner in 2017, after the Turner prize age cap was dropped.
By implication, the work conveys something about the failure of institutions to provide either basic support or transformative change.
Hope is found instead in a politics of community and care, vulnerability and interconnection, which offers occasional glimpses of better worlds.

Kids and screen time -- an expert offers advice for parents and teachers

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Tuesday, April 25, 2023

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This has led parents, guardians, teachers and researchers to wonder whether screens are good or bad for children.

Key Points:

This has led parents, guardians, teachers and researchers to wonder whether screens are good or bad for children.
The World Health Organization recommends that school-going children (five-17 years) limit their recreational screen time.
Read more: Why screen time for babies, children and adolescents needs to be limited
Thirdly, establish boundaries around screen time.
As much as possible, involve children and adolescents in conversations about why a healthy balance of screen time will benefit them.

South Africa votes in 2024: could a coalition between major parties ANC and EFF run the country?

Retrieved on:

Monday, April 24, 2023

This would mark a dramatic change from the current situation in which coalition governments have only been formed at local level.

Key Points:

This would mark a dramatic change from the current situation in which coalition governments have only been formed at local level.
The ANC lost its majorities in metropolitan councils in Gauteng and Nelson Mandela Bay.
One option that’s been talked about with increasing intensity is a coalition between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
(In the past, the ANC was also involved in provincial coalitions in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape .

The EFF

The EFF describes itself as a Marxist-Leninist party influenced by the thoughts of Frantz Fanon.
Towards the end of the term close to 2021, the EFF withdrew its cooperation from the DA coalition.
A similar tendency has recently emerged in KwaZulu-Natal province where the EFF and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) shared power in about 25 local governments, in some instances already since the 2016 elections.
Recently the EFF announced that they will withdraw from these coalition governments, and pair with the ANC to form new governments.

The EFF’s coalition strategy

The EFF’s strategy has been unpredictable most of the time.
The ANC would do the same in Johannesburg, and the DA control all the positions in Tshwane.

The latest ANC-EFF approach

What does the latest ANC-EFF approach tell us?
It is widely speculated that it is primarily confined to Gauteng, the country’s economic hub, and that the ANC’s provincial leaders, including Premier Panyaza Lesufi favour such an approach.
In the Gauteng provincial election in 2019, the ANC received a slim majority of only 50.12%.

A national coalition government

National government is primarily responsible for national policies.
The question is whether the ANC and EFF will be able to find each other in policy terms.
Take for example land ownership which is a policy priority for the EFF.

The challenge of power-sharing

So far, the EFF and ANC have avoided it in the case of top positions.
In Johannesburg and Tshwane, more recently, they have not nominated their own members for the positions of mayor and speaker but gave them to very small parties.
They have not yet been in a situation of sharing power to the satisfaction of both sides.

Twitter drops 'government-funded' label for media organisations – here's what it should use instead

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Friday, April 21, 2023

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After objections from a number of major media organisations, Twitter appears to have dropped its media account labels.

Key Points:

After objections from a number of major media organisations, Twitter appears to have dropped its media account labels.
The labels drove at least two media organisations from the platform, and enraged followers of many others.
We’re adjusting the label to be ‘publicly-funded’, which I think is perhaps not too objectionable,” Musk told the BBC in an interview.
There is already a term that exists to describe these organisations: public service media.
Remits and laws set out the responsibilities of public service media organisations and hold them accountable to independent regulatory bodies (Ofcom in the UK).

The danger of mislabelling

The danger of Twitter’s mislabelling of public service media as government-funded or state-affiliated is that it blurs the boundaries between media services that are owned and run by the state, and those that are independent from state control.
In my team at the University of Huddersfield’s research with UK audiences, we found significant variety in people’s understanding of public service media.
Labelling independent public service media organisations as government-funded could confirm misguided assumptions that government funding = government control.

Public service, government influence?

This would fundamentally undermine that key tenet of public service media being owned by and serving the whole nation.
It does matter how the media is funded, and government influence over media funding (whether state controlled or public service) can undermine independence and trust.
Greater independence from government control over funding for public service media would.