Source: Hannah Peters / Getty
With the 2020 Olympics on an adjusted broadcast schedule and a 13-hour gap along with being held halfway across the globe, hackers have found a new way to get people’s attention.
The black hole of click bait can be enticing for some people wanting an update on Team USA during the Summer Games, but it can also be costly, according to Fortalice Solutions CEO Theresa Payton.
“People used to watch the Olympics on traditional news networks on the TV,” said Payton. “Now, they’re watching on their computers, phones and tablets and it’s not as obvious to see that someone is offering you a free way to watch the Olympics. They’re there trying to get your personal information, if you do that.”
She referenced ads on various sites linked to trackers with captions like, “You’ll never believe what THIS athlete did in Tokyo.” It’s the same as targeted spam, says Payton. “Be aware of emails or text messages asking you to click on a link. Don’t do it.”
The average number of people streaming the Olympics has increased from five years ago, creating a situation with people being more vulnerable to potential cyber attacks. Payton’s best advice is know where your content is originating from and never click on any third-party links controlled by an unknown host site.
From Tokyo to back here in the states, a new mobile network has launched with the advertising slogan of being “America’s Only Conservative Cell Phone Company offering reliable, nationwide 4G LTE cell phone service.”
Patriot Mobile, owned by Chris Wilson, strives to protect customers’ conversations under the First Amendment. The company claims to have an “uncensored” app store with unlimited access to apps not provided by other tech companies. However, critics have said that what the phone company offers is similar to a low-budget Chinese mobile option and isn’t technically advanced to U.S. standards.
“To say this is going to be a privacy and security first phone, they don’t have a long track-record,” Payton said. “I have a lot more questions than I have answers. So, I would say to people give it a little bit of time and see.”
And finally, from a developing project to a technology remake with one of the best feel good stories of the Summer.
If you’re a fan of the Star Wars franchise, you might have noticed a slight CGI inaccuracy with Luke Skywalker in the latest release of ‘The Mandalorian’.
Well, a YouTuber by the name of Shamook not only readjusted the scene from the Disney Plus smash hit, but was recently hired by Lucasfilm after racking up more than 2 million views. A process done by deepfake technology used to improve a product, rather than misinforming people on a wide scale. Another example of how harmful technology can be good in the right hands.
Listen to the entire interview with Theresa Payton on WBT’s Bo Thompson Morning Show.
