Often, it was not just one killing, but two or three. In extreme cases, a dozen fatal shootings or more fell within those circles.

"There are a lot more guns on the street and when people get angry and frustrated, instead of getting into a fistfight, they get into a gun fight," said Dr. Regan Williams, an emergency room director at a Memphis children's hospital who has seen a spike in young shooting victims.

Though the level of violence has fallen since the worst days of the pandemic, Americans are still shooting and killing one another more frequently than they did in the years before the coronavirus arrived. The long-term impact of the surge in violence is being felt in many corners of the nation, and researchers will undoubtedly study it for years to come.

"We're taking a few steps back from the cliff," said Dr. Garen J. Wintemute, an emergency room doctor who directs a violence prevention research program at the University of California, Davis. "But there are some ominous developments. What happens in a society that is increasingly violent, increasingly mistrustful, increasingly polarized, increasingly indulgent in hate rhetoric?"  nytimes.com


Nashville Wages War on ORC
MNPD South Precinct cracking down on organized retail crime
In the South Precinct, with more and more people moving into the area, the opening of a new mall caught the attention of many, including criminals. Within the first month of opening its doors, reports of theft came pouring into Metro Police. However, as quickly as they came, Metro Police worked harder to cut down the crime.

"The difference with Tanger is the amount of technology they invested in that location is astounding, I mean it's helped us exponentially, not just License Plate readers, cameras in positions that we've helped them put cameras in that helps us identify people," Commander Lovell said.

Authorities said thieves are targeting the area between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., using the crowds as a tool to get away, but more often than not, it's the same people every time. Commander Lovell explained they have three detectives assigned to work the Tanger area.

One of the biggest tools Metro police are using is their relationship with the outlet, owners, and with each other. Commander Lovell explained, that because the same groups continue to target shopping centers, they know how to combat the crime.

"You will be arrested, you're going to be identified, especially with all the information we share amongst each other," Commander Lovell said.  wkrn.com


What California's Workplace Violence Law Means for Employers
Podcast: Prevention Planning for Workplace Violence

Matt Doherty, managing director of workplace management with Sikich, discusses what California bill 533 could mean for all employers in terms of providing a detailed workplace violence prevention plan for their companies.

California Senate Bill No. 553 was signed last September and mandates that nearly all California employers need to adopt a workplace violence prevention plan by July 1, 2024.

In this "Talking EHS" podcast, part of the "Great Question" podcast series, we talk to Matt Doherty, managing director of workplace management with consulting firm, about what California bill 533 could mean for all employers in terms of providing a detailed workplace violence prevention plan.

Many companies might think they already have such a plan in place, but as Doherty explains, full 553 compliance involves a written plan, active employee involvement, hazard identification and correction. He'll also share his experiences consulting with companies on workplace violence, drawing upon his extensive background with includes serving as a Secret Service Special Agent in Charge of the National Threat Assessment Center. ehstoday.com


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Retailers Vulnerable to Social Engineering Attacks
Help Safeguard Retailers Against Social Engineering Attacks

Navigating the Complex Landscape of Evolving Threats and Cybersecurity Resilience

Over the last decade, social engineering cyberthreats have surged among retailers just as the sector's reliance on customer data, financial transactions and e-commerce platforms has intensified.

Social engineering, in which malicious actors exploit human vulnerabilities to obtain personal or financial information, can pose serious risks to retailers. As a result, chief information security officers and retail C-suite executives are often working to navigate a constantly evolving threat landscape, investing in robust cybersecurity measures, employee training and proactive defense strategies to help reduce risks.

New Cybersecurity Risks: A Click Away

In 2022, a multinational retail shipping giant fell victim to a massive SMS phishing attack, shining a spotlight on the pressing need for heightened vigilance and more robust cybersecurity strategies. Customers of the shipping service received deceptive text messages requesting payment before their packages could be delivered. An internal investigation revealed that cybercriminals had exploited the company's package look-up tools to access customer shipping information. Since then, multiple other retail shippers have also suffered SMS phishing attacks.

Phishing scams, which involve fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information by posing as a trustworthy entity, have been rapidly evolving and proliferating. David Naumann, a strategic marketing leader for Verizon, emphasized the vulnerability created by consumers' trust in retail brands.

Impersonating Employees or Businesses

Attackers also use phishing emails to trick a company's employees into disclosing login credentials, which can give them access to systems that hold personal identifiable and account information. Once data is accessed and exfiltrated, the organization's employees and customers can be exposed to the risk of identity theft and fraud. Exploited PII can also create potential compliance issues, compounding woes for those hit with this type of social engineering attack.

Nick McMillon, a security solutions expert for Verizon, emphasized the threat posed by such attacks, including the planting of ransomware as a means of data harvesting.

To help defend against social engineering attacks, McMillon advocates for a multipronged approach that includes employee training, customer education, threat detection and trust enforcement. He emphasizes the importance of access control and encryption as vital components of a comprehensive defense strategy against social engineering, helping to improve the safeguarding of networks, applications, devices and identities. govinfosecurity.com


How the Surge of Young Online Shoppers Will Impact Industry Cybersecurity
Pushing the boundaries of tech and knowledge: how to inform heavily digitalised Generation Alpha about retail and cyber security
The latest adult cohort, referred to as Generation Z (a.k.a. Gen Z), dominated 2023 by entering the workforce, brand awareness and becoming concrete consumers, emerging from their early to mid-20's.

It is time we explored Generation Alpha, taking technology in their stride, and how this will impact the industry landscape in terms of cyber security safety, training, and identity (BTW, Generation Beta is just around the corner in 2025, a fully-fledged generation born into the world of AI, machine learning, and social media).

Paving the way for cyber security education

Starting early is key to setting up Gen Alpha for the future of retail and cyber security.

Overall, 57% of Gen Alpha spend more than three hours per day on digital devices, increasing their exposure to influencer content and marketing, and 49% trust influencers in the same regard as family and friends.

Digital training will be paramount and allow early adoption of cyber security protections through brand campaigns such as 'how to stay safe when shopping', including educational video tutorials mimicking what is currently being shown on social media, and businesses putting their own spin on it with cyber security.

Influencer training on the dos and don'ts when shopping online, teaching the basics of cyber security to high-profile social media creators, offering guidance to their large followings which will be favoured towards Gen Alpha and Gen Z.

This is also a good opportunity to bridge the gap between cyber security professionals and influencer culture, who already share commonalities in terms of understanding and using technology to enhance job functions.  retailtechinnovationhub.com


'Embracing Privacy by Design'
Core security measures to strengthen privacy and data protection programs
As privacy laws evolve globally, organizations face increasing complexity in adapting their data protection strategies to stay compliant. In this Help Net Security interview, Kabir Barday, CEO at OneTrust, emphasizes that embracing privacy by design enables organizations to navigate compliance challenges.

As privacy laws evolve globally, adapting data protection strategies to stay compliant becomes increasingly complex. How can organizations navigate this complexity, especially when faced with conflicting legal requirements from different jurisdictions?

There are now 18 comprehensive state privacy laws enacted across the United States, as well as a proposed federal law. The regulatory landscape is incredibly dynamic and shows no sign of stopping, with 4,500 critical regulatory updates across the globe annually, or roughly 12 per day. Many companies today respond to new regulations as they go into effect, but this ad-hoc, reactive approach is inefficient and makes it difficult to keep up with a multitude of laws and differing requirements.

A more sustainable, effective, and proactive approach to data privacy compliance is privacy by design. This is achieved by embedding privacy protection into the very fabric of technology, products, and services. With the goal being more than just compliance, privacy by design prioritizes and respects user privacy throughout the entire development and implementation process. Embracing this approach enables organizations to stay ahead of evolving data privacy regulations and navigate new and changing regulations far more efficiently. helpnetsecurity.com


The critical role of IT staffing in strengthening cybersecurity
Many organizations lack adequate IT staffing to combat cyber threats. A comprehensive approach to cybersecurity requires more than technical solutions. It involves the right staff with the unique expertise necessary to recognize and prevent potential threats.

This makes IT and cyber security staffing a critical component of defense against security breaches and cyber attacks - especially when a challenge demands immediate attention. helpnetsecurity.com


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