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1/8/21

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Private Officer International Recognizes More Than 1,000 Security Officers for Their Service in 2020
Although 2020 was a difficult year for private security to navigate and there were many challenges to overcome with the pandemic and onslaught of assaults, many in the industry were shining stars and leaders in their profession. More than 1000 security officers, private police officers, and retail agents were recognized nationwide during 2020.

Private Officer International recognized more than 577 security officers for their frontline work, brave and heroic actions, lifesaving skills, and overall hard work while, going above and beyond the call of duty. Businesses, including hotels, hospitals, casinos, TSA and contract security providers, and other associations, also recognized another 373 frontline security personnel during the last year, and more than 167 award recipients made their local news! privateofficer.org

Farmacorp Selects Zebra Technologies and Reflexis Systems
to Modernize On-Site Store Audits
Reflexis Systems (now part of Zebra Technologies), the leading provider of intelligent workforce management and execution solutions for multi-site businesses in retail, food service, hospitality and banking, today announced Farmacorp has selected Reflexis Q-Walk to streamline on-site inspections and automatically prescribe corrective tasks. Farmacorp, one of Bolivia’s largest pharmacy chains, will deploy the store audit mobile solution in more than 100 stores in Bolivia. zebra.com

Newsday Names Zebra Technologies to Long Island Top Workplaces 2020

Appriss Retail and DiSa Digital Safety Partner on Product Serialization to Assist Retailers in Fighting Fraud & Abuse
Appriss Retail, an industry leader in retail performance improvement solutions, and DiSa Digital Safety (DiSa), an industry leader for digital security and authentication solutions, this week announced a strategic partnership to help retailers combat fraud and abuse in high-value merchandise. Through this partnership, the DiSa Single Scan Serialization (3S) Smart Barcode that uniquely identifies each item will be incorporated into Appriss Retail’s analytics engine for return authorization, Verify®. apprissretail.com

Protests & Violence

Why Security Failed in D.C.
How the U.S. Capitol Police were overrun in a ‘monumental’ security failure
While District police, major federal law enforcement agencies and neighboring police departments have agreements to assist each other in cases of emergencies, the Capitol Police did not make early requests for mutual aid with the D.C. National Guard or D.C. police on Wednesday, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe security preparations.

And unlike other major government events like inaugurations, there was no large-scale frozen security zone around the building, and Justice Department officials did not create a multiagency command center. Instead, both federal law enforcement agencies and National Guard troops kept a low profile, scarred by criticism of their involvement in the response to protests after the death of George Floyd last summer.

And there appeared to be minimal efforts to build a secure perimeter around the Capitol. It wasn’t until Thursday morning that fencing went up around the complex.

“The police should have defined a hard line and there should have been consequences for crossing it,” said Frank Larkin, former Senate sergeant at arms who has planned for many security threats to the Capitol. “The fight should have been outside. Not inside. To have that confrontation at the door, that was a losing formula.” washingtonpost.com

Top Capitol Security Officials Resign After Pressure From Lawmakers
A day after an insurrection that overtook the U.S. Capitol, the Capitol's three top security officials resigned from their posts amid building pressure from lawmakers and others over failures that allowed the dramatic breach. The House and Senate's top protocol officers and the U.S. Capitol Police chief are now all expected to be replaced following a series of resignations in the wake of the security failures. npr.org

5th Fatality Linked to DC Riot
Capitol Police Officer Dies From Injuries in Pro-Trump Rampage
A United States Capitol Police officer died on Thursday night from injuries sustained “while physically engaging” with pro-Trump rioters who descended on the U.S. Capitol the day before, the fifth fatality linked to the chaos that engulfed the nation’s capital on Wednesday, according to the authorities. The officer, Brian D. Sicknick, was only the fourth member of the force to be killed in the line of duty since its founding two centuries ago. nytimes.com

Pentagon placed limits on D.C. Guard ahead of protests due to narrow mission
The Pentagon placed tight limits on the D.C. National Guard ahead of pro-Trump protests this week, trying to ensure the use of military force remained constrained, as the Guard carried out a narrow, unarmed mission requested by the city’s mayor to help handle traffic ahead of planned protests. The D.C. Guard was told it would be allowed to deploy a quick-reaction force only as a measure of last resort, officials said. Then the mission abruptly changed — and the Pentagon is now facing criticism from governors and local officials who say it moved too slowly to send National Guard troops to respond, a charge that its leaders denied Thursday. washingtonpost.com

Companies Firing Employees
Some CEOs Fire Rioters, Call for Trump’s Removal From Office
A number of companies said they fired employees who participated in the riot at the Capitol after seeing employees in photos and videos posted to social media. In most states, employers have wide latitude to terminate employees, even for conduct outside the workplace.

Ron Shaich, former CEO of Panera Bread Co. and an investor in several other chains said executives have the right to fire workers believed to have engaged in illegal activities.

“There’s not unlimited freedom,” he said, adding that if one of his employees had illegally entered the U.S. Capitol, he would fire them. “I’m not going to tell you you shouldn’t go to a Trump demonstration and you shouldn’t be in our company if you vote for Trump, but that’s not the same,” he said. “We as a society have got to repudiate this. This is not OK.” wsj.com

Retail Stores in DC Cautious Following US Capitol Breach
Retailers in Washington, D.C., remain on edge a day after hundreds of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the United States Capitol in what became the legislative center’s most violent day in more than 200 years. As an armed standoff took place between rioters and police officers, stores including urban lifestyle retailer DTLR and family-owned business Comfort One Shoes, as well as big-box chain Target, shopping mall CityCenterDC and more, took precautions such as shutting down business earlier than usual and sending their workers home in an effort to protect employees and customers who could’ve been caught in the crossfire. footwearnews.com

Sensitive Security Information Possibly Stolen
Justice Dept. warns of national security fallout from Capitol Hill insurrection
The mob that rampaged inside the halls of Congress on Wednesday might have taken a lot more than Americans’ illusions of invulnerability. “National security equities” may have been among the records stolen from the Capitol on Wednesday when pro-Trump insurgents stormed the building and looted several congressional offices, the Justice Department said in a briefing Thursday.

Michael Sherwin, the acting U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., said it will likely take “several days to flesh out exactly what happened, what was stolen, what wasn't,” noting that “items, electronic items were stolen from senators’ offices, documents and materials were stolen, and we have to identify what was done to mitigate that [damage].”

The House Chief Administrative Office said in a memo to staff on Thursday evening that “at this time, there have been no indications that the House network was compromised,” noting that the office issued commands on Wednesday to lock computers and laptops and shut down wired network access amid the protests. Classified national security information, moreover, is supposed to be secured in Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities in the capitol, which were not breached during the attack, congressional aides said.

But questions remain about whether the attackers were able to remove any physical documents containing personal identifying information, legislative strategy or sensitive logistical details. The failures of the Capitol Police and the risk that lawmakers might again be targeted makes it all the more urgent that officials get fully apprised what sensitive information — about members’ schedules, for example, or inauguration plans — was stolen, lawmakers said. politico.com

FBI Offers $50,000 Reward Information Leading To D.C. Pipe Bomb Suspects

Pro-Trump rioters could face up to 20 years in prison

DC police release photos of suspects in US Capitol siege

Social media site Parler rife with talk of guns and violence before Capitol riot

More than 200 Businesses Rebuke Attacks and Call for a Peaceful Transfer of Power

In Other Protest/Violence News:

Gunshot incidents increased 48% year over year
ShotSpotter, Inc. a provider of policing solutions, reported a rise of 48% in gunshot incidents during 2020 compared with 2019, according to the company’s data that tracks gunfire in more than 100 U.S. cities that use its technology. The increase comes during a year that included a global pandemic, calls for social justice and heightened political divisions.

The 2020 ShotSpotter National Gunfire Trends report showing gunfire incidents per square mile per week, 2020 vs. 2019, is found here.

When broken down by region, the data reveals a 58% increase in gunfire in the Midwest – the region with the highest increase. In other regions, the South had the smallest increase in gunshot events with a 19% increase year over year, while the Northeast and West experienced similar surges of 40 and 42% respectively.

In line with the ShotSpotter data of increased 2020 gunfire rates, independent research group Gun Violence Archive reported a record number of homicides by gun violence this year with more than 19,000 U.S. deaths. securitymagazine.com

Portland suburb's police declare riot after protest following officer-involved shooting

Atlanta: Police arrest 23 at protest over Jacob Blake decision

FL lawmakers file governor’s anti-mob legislation, sans ‘Stand Your Ground’ provision

COVID Update

US: Over 22M Cases - 374K Dead - 13M Recovered
Worldwide: Over 89M Cases - 1.9M Dead - 63M Recovered

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 252
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 189
*Red indicates change in total deaths

Retailers Preparing to Save the Day
Right Now It's All About Speed & Safety

Op Ed: Dr. Fauci's "Close to 100% Normal" By Q4 - Prediction This Week
If Dr. Fauci's Q4 Prediction is Correct - Trade Shows May Not Return Until 2022.

Mind you this is just our opinion and is not backed by any news or information, other than putting all the pieces together from various sources, journalists, and study's all showing the continued level of fear of risk from both the associates and consumers around the U.S.

With the supply chain for local vaccine distribution basically broken and showing no signs of being corrected, this will indeed slow it's delivery down to a crawl and add to the time it takes to return to normal.

With a second key and concerning point Fauci made, being his definition of normal. Which raised more questions than it did assurances.

Fauci: "Maybe not a hundred percent normal, but enough to get people to eat in restaurants, to be able to go to the theater, to be able to watch a sports event, to feel very comfortable with the schools," he continued. "I believe if we do it right, we can do that this coming fall."

The key point there being "If we do it right." And that's a tall order given the local politics involved.

No Federal Blueprint - Hybrid Trade Shows - Retailers to the Rescue - Security/LP/AP/ & IT Security's Role - Security is Going to be Tested

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Biden To Release Gov't Stockpile Of 2nd Shots
Biden Plans to Release Nearly All Available Covid-19 Vaccine Doses
Administration would shift from current strategy of holding half of supply for booster shots as U.S struggles to ramp up program

President-elect Joe Biden will seek to release nearly all available coronavirus vaccine doses to accelerate distribution, his transition team said Friday, in a shift from the Trump administration’s policy of holding back stock for second doses.

The administration has been holding back about half of the vaccination doses for second shots. Of the more than 12 million doses of vaccines from Moderna Inc. and Pfizer Inc. with BioNTech SE that have been shipped, only 2.8 million had been administered as of Jan. 1, according to federal figures.

Mr. Ducklo said Mr. Biden, who will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, will release additional details about his vaccine distribution plans next week. wsj.com

More Than 4,000 Die From COVID Thursday - Deadliest Day Yet
Five deadliest days of Covid-19 pandemic's in last two weeks
The nation's total Covid-19 death toll has now climbed to more than 365,300, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. And another nearly 115,000 people could lose their lives over the next four weeks, according to projections from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

The pandemic is not yet showing any signs of slowing down. Rather, across the country, states are reporting increases in numbers. cnn.com

CDC: Open Colleges Saw 56% Increase - Remote Down 5.9% & 17.9%
New studies offer more insight on transmission
One team of researchers found that more than half of Covid-19 cases may have been transmitted by people not showing symptoms. It's a model -- not a real-life study -- but based on data from eight studies done in China, about 59% of all transmission came from people without symptoms, the researchers said.

"Across a range of plausible scenarios, at least 50% of transmission was estimated to have occurred from persons without symptoms," the team wrote in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Within three weeks of colleges or universities opening to in-person instruction, counties that were home to these institutions "experienced a 56% increase in incidence," CDC-led researchers wrote in the agency's weekly report. Incidence decreased by 5.9% in counties without large universities and by 17.9% in those with universities that held remote classes, they found. cnn.com

First Software Glitch - Here We Go
Real or Memorex & Local Politics

California's Vaccine Roll-Out Hits Software System Snag
California’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout is being at least partially slowed down by technical problems with a software program used by the state to coordinate vaccine distribution among a vast network of providers, according to local and state health officials.

“There are multitude of issues with this system,” said Wasserman, noting that it took his facility about a week and a half to receive its vaccine allotment. “We should have been able to pick it up the first day.... We really need to streamline the process so facilities aren’t running in circles to get approved to get their vaccines.

The online software system, called PrepMod, is a vaccine management tool designed to manage vaccine waitlists and inventory as well as send email proof of vaccinations to patients. It is unclear how widespread the problem is, but some providers, ranging from public clinics to nursing home operators, say the system is at times limiting access to the much-needed vaccines. latimes.com

UK Retailers Call for More Gov't Financial Support
COVID Impact Should Determine Business Rates

UK Retail: Footfall across UK Dropped 46.1% in 5 Week Holiday Period - Ending 1/2

COVID continues to hammer retailers across the Uk with High Streets and London itself (footfall down 58%) being hardest hit.

High streets were the worst performing location for retailers during the month, with footfall down 49.5 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to BRC-ShopperTrak.

Visitor numbers at shopping centres fell at the similar rate of 47.3 per cent, while footfall to retail parks slipped 17.3 per cent year on year. Across 2020, UK footfall was down 43.4 per cent as Covid-19 restrictions continued to hammer trading.

“The government must urgently reassure those businesses hardest hit by the pandemic that they will receive vital financial support in the form of an extension to the coronavirus business rates relief.”
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said. Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s boss Simon Roberts also backed calls for business rates reform on Thursday. “Covid needs to be the catalyst for change in the way business rates work,” he said. retailgazette.co.uk

Pfizer study suggests its vaccine works against coronavirus variant
New research suggests that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine can protect against a mutation found in two possibly more contagious variants of the coronavirus that erupted in Britain and South Africa.

The study is preliminary and has not yet been reviewed by experts, a key step for medical research. But “it was a very reassuring finding that at least this mutation, which was one of the ones people are most concerned about, does not seem to be a problem” for the vaccine, said Pfizer chief scientific officer Philip Dormitzer. latimes.com

Texas will start sending doses to large vaccination hubs

Calif: Triage officers’ would decide who gets care & who doesn’t if COVID-19 cripples L.A. County hospitals

Calif: As bodies pile up at hospital morgues & funeral homes, National Guard & refrigerated trucks arrive to help

Calif: Cal-OSHA Registers 66 COVID Workplace Fatalities in 10 Days, Dec. 15th to 24th

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea tests positive for COVID-19

A trip to the grocery store ended with unexpected Covid vaccine doses for D.C. couple

Recognize Your Local & Federal Partners Tomorrow
U.S. Attorney Recognizes Law Enforcement Officers During Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Tomorrow
U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez recognizes the service of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, which is being observed Saturday, January 9, 2021. On this date, communities across the country will show their appreciation and support for law enforcement agencies and their personnel in various ways.

“I ask that you join me in recognizing the tremendous service and sacrifices that our law enforcement officers have made this past year and make every day,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez

As part of this national day of recognition, citizens across the country are encouraged to share their expressions of gratitude and support for local law enforcement agencies, officers, and public safety personnel within their respective communities. Likewise, citizens and officers alike are encouraged to share their positive experiences and collaborations with each other. justice.gov

Malls Felt the Pain - #1 in Store Closings
Record 12,200 U.S. stores closed in 2020 as e-commerce,
pandemic changed retail forever
Ravaged by a pandemic that shuttered stores for weeks in the spring—driving more spending online—retailers big and small closed 12,200 stores in the U.S. last year, according to a compilation released on Wednesday by commercial real estate firm CoStar Group. In all, that amounted to 159 million square feet of retail space. In 2019, the tally was 10,000 stores.

The pain was concentrated among mall-based retailers, which had been struggling long before COVID-19 made its appearance. CoStar estimated that one-third of the store closings were by department stores, clothing chains, or other mall-oriented companies, which represent only about 8% of total retail revenue.

On Tuesday, S&P Global Market Intelligence said U.S. corporate bankruptcies reached a high last year of 603 companies, including 125 consumer goods and retail firms. That included J.C. Penney, J.Crew, and the parent companies of Ann Taylor and Men’s Wearhouse, among others, adding to the carnage. fortune.com

Large Grocers Doing Well
BCG: Sixty-seven percent of U.S. retail companies under ‘stress’
Research from BCG Turn, the transformation, turnaround, and restructuring unit of Boston Consulting Group, which revealed that economic distress is deeply entrenched and shows no sign of letting up as the pandemic maintains its grip.

Retail ranked as one of the most hard-hit industries, according to the report, with 67% of companies stressed and 18% distressed. It was followed by travel and tourism (61% stressed, 16% distressed) and automotive and mobility (52% stressed, 16% distressed). BCG noted there are winners even in the most distressed sectors. For example, while most of the retail sector has moved from "stable" to "stressed," but large groceries are doing well, with over 43% in stable territory. chainstoreage.com

Editor's Note: This could be the year retail bottoms out. With all the older outdated retailers falling by the way side or being bought up and merged and 2022 being the year retail gets it's fresh start. After all i think everyone has to admit we're almost there now. With the Malls being the last hold outs and on the bubble. It won't be long. It's merely holding on until Q1 2022. Hey just a thought. -Gus Downing

December Retail Jobs Report
Retail trade added 121,000 jobs in December, with nearly half of the growth occurring in the component of general merchandise stores that includes warehouse clubs and supercenters (+59,000). Job gains also occurred in nonstore retailers (+14,000), automobile dealers (+13,000), health and personal care stores (+10,000), and food and beverage stores (+8,000). Employment in retail trade is 411,000 lower than in February. bls.gov

Here's Where Virtual Meetings are Going in 2021
The future of corporate events is hybrid
Rapid-fire event cancellation notices and invites to (poorly produced) virtual events littered the inboxes of B2B audiences at the start of the pandemic. Luckily, there are plenty of learnings for organizers and sponsors to implement as the landscape continues to transform.

As corporate event planners head into 2021, the general consensus is that virtual will remain the status quo until a coronavirus vaccine is widely available, or the pandemic subsides by other means.

In a May 2020 survey of US marketing professionals, The 614 Group asked what types of events would likely occur post-pandemic. The answers consisted only of virtual possibilities, including live video feeds, digital community building, and virtual experiences with physical elements delivered to attendees pre-event. More innovative events that respondents were looking out for in 2021 included augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences to demo new products.

But the shift to hybrid will start in 2021. A Global DMC Partners survey of event planners worldwide in September compared strategies for 2020 with those for 2021. While virtual events were the main touchpoint for most respondents in 2020, only 30% said they would execute virtual-only in lieu of in-person events in 2021, versus 42% who said a hybrid approach, which included a face-to-face program with a virtual element, would be their strategy. emarketer.com

2020 retail imports may break record despite pandemic
Imports seen during 2020 appear to be headed toward a new record despite the coronavirus pandemic, and remain at high levels as 2021 begins, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“Nobody would have thought last spring that 2020 would be a record year for imports, but it was clearly an unpredictable year,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “Consumers and retailers once again proved their resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges. Thanks in part to government stimulus, retail sales saw strong growth during 2020 even with the pandemic, and import numbers show retailers expect the economic recovery will continue during 2021.” nrf.com

Christopher & Banks inches closer to the brink as it defaults on multiple obligations

LVMH shakes up Tiffany ranks as the ink dries on $15.8B deal

Prediction: With New Administration Decriminalization May Pick Up Speed

Mall of America is no longer delinquent on $1.4 billion mortgage

Flock of chickens ‘wreak havoc’ at New Jersey McDonald’s

Coresight Research
Weekly Store Tracker
1,428 2021 YTD Closures
1,823 2021 YTD Openings

Quarterly Results
The Buckle December comp's up 17.9%, net sales up 17.7%

Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

Director of Retail Asset Protection job posted for Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, MO
Responsible for the development and implementation of all Asset Protection functions within all retail stores, distribution centers and supply chain in the US and Canada. This includes driving company programs designed to reduce accidental losses to customers, associates and property; comply with applicable regulatory requirements; theft and fraud detection and shrink reduction. basspro.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com

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Greater Use of Online Platforms Double Whammy
The Hackers are watching - Deep Fakes Are Coming

Deepfake Technologies Set to Become Major Threat to Businesses
Deepfake video and audio technologies could become a major threat to businesses over the next two years, leading to substantial financial losses, according to a report by CyberCube entitled Social Engineering: Blurring reality and fake.

The cyber insurance analytics firm said that cyber-criminals have become increasingly adept at creating realistic audio and video fakes using AI and machine learning technology in recent years. Advancements in this field have accelerated further as a result of the shift to remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic, as organizations become more reliant on video and audio-based methods of communication.

These methods can put organizations at risk of severe financial losses. For instance, the report highlighted a case where cyber-criminals used AI-based software to impersonate a chief executive’s voice to demand the fraudulent transfer of $243,000.

The analysis also highlighted how traditional social engineering techniques have been ramped up since the start of COVID-19. This includes gathering information available online or from stolen physical records to create a fake identity for a particular target, a practice known as social profiling. Methods such as this have become easier for cyber-villains because of the greater use of online platforms in addition to the blurring of domestic and business IT systems during the pandemic. infosecurity-magazine.com

Ransom Demands Are Increasing - Q2 Up 32% Over Q1
Alarming Trend - Company's Paying 32% More in Just 1 Quarter

The 3 Most Common Types of BEC Attacks (And What You Can Do About Them)
On the FBI's website "Scams and Safety" page, business email compromise (BEC) is defined as "one of the most financially damaging online crimes" and it's noted that these attacks cost companies "hundreds of thousands of dollars," on average.

Further, a recent APWG report found that the average loss of a wire transfer BEC attack was $80,183 in the second quarter of 2020 — a 32% increase over the first quarter.

Company Financials in the Crosshairs

There are two general buckets that BEC attacks fall under: spear-phishing (containing malicious links and/or attachments) and, more commonly, social engineering attacks. The latter take the form of employee availability checks, requests for unspecific tasks, gift card requests, and solicitations for direct deposits, payments, and bank details. Because these emails contain no malicious links or attachments, they bypass traditional secure email gateway protections, which are not capable of blocking emails because of the text they contain.

CEO fraud: In this instance, attackers will pose as a company CEO or other company executive in an attempt to fool any level of employee — from intern to an accountant to human resources and everything in between — into executing unauthorized wire transfers or sending out confidential tax information.

Account compromise: As mentioned above, one of the biggest goals for cyberattacks is account takeover. This is one of the most devastating forms of BEC attacks and involves using phishing emails to hack an executive or employee account and then uses those qualifications to request invoice payments to vendors. Interestingly, this dovetails with reports that more than 56% of organizations report falling victim to a breach caused by their vendor.

False invoice scheme: The FBI lists false invoice schemes as one of the top five major types of BEC scams. These attacks commonly target someone who works in a business's financial department, such as an accountant. Savvy attackers will alter a legitimate invoice's bank account numbers but leave the rest of the invoice unchanged, making it difficult to detect that it's fraudulent. darkreading.com

FBI: FBI Warns of Advance Fee and BEC Schemes Related to Procurement of PPE and Other Supplies During COVID-19 Pandemic

FBI: FBI Anticipates Rise in Business Email Compromise Schemes Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

FBI: Cyber Criminals Conduct Business Email Compromise Through Exploitation of Cloud-Based Email Services, Costing U.S. Businesses More Than $2 Billion

FBI: Business Email Compromise: The $26 Billion Scam

FBI: Business Email Compromise: Gift Cards

Brand New Corporate Leaker - Did You Pay Your Ransom?
Looking for your data - Hope it isn't dumped online

New WikiLeaks successor DDoSecrets Dumping Data
Anti-Secrecy Activists Publish a Trove of Ransomware Victims' Data
Leak-focused group is mining a controversial new vein of secrets: the massive caches of data stolen by ransomware crews and dumped online when victims refuse to pay.

Today the transparency collective of data activists known as Distributed Denial of Secrets published a massive new set of data on its website, all collected from dark web sites where the information was originally leaked online by ransomware hackers. DDoSecrets has made available about 1 terabyte of that data, including more than 750,000 emails, photos, and documents from five companies. The group is also offering to privately share an additional 1.9 terabytes of data from more than a dozen other firms with selected journalists or academic researchers. In total, the giant data collection spans industries including pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, finance, software, retail, real estate, and oil and gas.

All of that data, along with terabytes more that DDoSecrets says it plans to offer in the coming weeks and months, is sourced from an increasingly common practice among cybercriminal ransomware operations. Beyond just encrypting victim machines and demanding a payment for the decryption keys, ransomware hackers now often steal vast collections of victim data and threaten to post it online unless their hacking targets pay. In many cases, the victims refuse that extortion, and the cybercriminals follow through on their threat. The result is dozens or even hundreds of terabytes of internal corporate data, spilled out onto dark web servers whose web addresses are passed around among hackers and security researchers.

DDoSecrets' cofounder Emma Best argues that the trail of dumped data that ransomware operations leave in their wake often contains information that deserves to be scrutinized and, in some cases, revealed to the public. "Ignoring valuable data that can inform the public about how industries operate isn't something we can afford to do."

In DDoSecrets' view, data containing evidence of corporate wrongdoing or intellectual property that could benefit the public should be available to researchers, journalists, and academics who can learn from it. Security experts say their practice is taking advantage of companies that have been targeted with a crime. wired.com

https://ddosecrets.com/wiki/Distributed_Denial_of_Secrets
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Ryuk gang estimated to have made more than $150M from ransomware attacks

Cybersecurity: This 'costly and destructive' malware is the biggest threat to your network
A spam campaign which targeted over 100,000 users a day over Christmas and New Year has seen Emotet secure its spot as the most prolific malware threat.

Analysis by cybersecurity company Check Point suggests that Emotet was used to target seven percent of organisations around the world during December.

"It's imperative that organizations are aware of the threat Emotet poses and that they have robust security systems in place to prevent a significant breach of their data. They should also provide comprehensive training for employees, so they are able to identify the types of malicious emails which spread Emotet," she added. zdnet.com

E-Commerce Platform Takes on Trump
Shopify Takes Trump Organization and Campaign Stores Offline

E-commerce platform removes sites affiliated with President Trump for violating policy against promoting violence

Online stores run by the Trump Organization and Trump campaign were taken offline on Thursday by Shopify Inc., an e-commerce software provider, in response to Wednesday’s riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Visitors to TrumpStore.com and shop.donaldjtrump.com, which sold official Trump branded apparel, “Make America Great Again” hats and other merchandise, were greeted with error messages on Thursday morning.

A Shopify spokeswoman said President Trump violated the company’s policy, which prohibits retailers on the platform from promoting or supporting organizations or people that promote violence. “As a result, we have terminated stores affiliated with President Trump,” the company said.

The sites were taken down Thursday morning after the company’s trust and safety team, which monitors the platform, decided Mr. Trump’s comments on Wednesday violated the policy, the spokeswoman said. wsj.com

$1 Trillion in Cybercrimes in 2020
How E-Commerce Retailers Can Help Protect Shoppers From Cybercrime

Although a great number of us enjoy the fruits of online shopping, millions still fall prey to cyberattacks each year. 2020 alone saw nearly $1 trillion in cybercrimes. Can you imagine how much more we'll lose if e-commerce keeps growing as it has due to the Covid-19 pandemic? MarTech Series reported that 66% of shoppers anticipated increasing their online shopping during the holiday season this year. And e-commerce sales growth is only expected to continue in the next few years.

But as customer demands and expectations increase, e-merchants are being tasked with revamping their services. The earlier motive for this seemed to be user experience, but now it's also about assuring your customers of their safety online. As everything around us gets digitized, the risks of being scammed or having your data stolen are increasing. So how can e-commerce retailers protect their consumers?

Take Steps For Safer Online Shopping
There is nothing as good as having freedom and knowing that you are protected. Since many shoppers are eagle-eyed about online sales and deals, let's create a secure shopping environment. Protecting your online shoppers, as well as other stakeholders, is a form of corporate governance and should never be overlooked.

Encourage Shoppers To Protect Themselves
Protecting shoppers isn't only the responsibility of retailers; shoppers need to take steps on their end, too. A survey by LastPass found that 66% of respondents reuse the same password over and over across accounts, despite 91% of them knowing that it's risky. Encourage shoppers to use strong, unique passwords as well as two-factor authentication. forbes.com

Wayfair raises its minimum wage to $15 an hour for US employees

Why Is Amazon Buying Converted 767 Freighters Instead Of Leasing?

San Luis Obispo, CA: Burglary of HempShak in costs store $50,000
When Hemp Shak owner Katy Hemler came to her San Luis Obispo store Monday morning, she knew something was wrong. "I looked in the door and I could tell things were already missing," she said Wednesday. "And when I walked in so much was gone." Hemler estimates $50,000 worth of merchandise was stolen from the store overnight. Part of downtown San Luis Obispo for 25 years, Hemp Shak sells eco-friendly clothing, locally made CBD (cannabidiol) products, local art, records, and jewelry. ksby.com

Bozeman, MT: Couple accused of string of thefts, arrested outside Target
A Butte couple is facing charges that stem from several thefts on Bozeman’s west side over the past few months. Cody Gray, 24, and Journey Mooney, 21, are each charged with theft and deceptive practices, both felonies. On Wednesday, Bozeman police received several reports of items stolen from parked cars. Cash, wallets, headphones, guns, and debit and credit cards were among the items that were stolen. Police said in charging documents that the suspects immediately spent more than $1,500 using the stolen credit cards at Target, Albertsons, She Brews, Red Box, Exxon and the Flying J. Police found Gray’s car in the Target parking lot. A detective parked in the spot next to his car and waited for Gray to return to it. Police approached Gray as he was coming out of the store. Gray tried running from them, but an officer tackled and arrested him. Police found Mooney inside Target with a shopping cart full of merchandise. She had other merchandise hidden on her person, court documents say. bozemandailychronicle.com

UK: London: Queen Elizabeth's staffer jailed for stealing royal items from Buckingham Palace and selling them on eBay
Adamo Canto, 37, worked as a kitchen assistant inside the palace and was sentenced in court on Monday after pleading guilty to three counts of theft between November 2019 and August 2020. The goods recovered are reportedly worth $136,000 and some of them were lsited on the eBay auction site for a small fraction of their actual worth. wionews.com

Mount Pleasant, IL: Suspect arrested for Tool theft; tied to Menard’s thefts in Kenosha, Vernon Hills, Morton Grove, Gurnee and Mount Prospect

Valparaiso, IN: Police release photo of woman suspected in $2,000 Ulta Beauty thefts

Greenwich, CT: Two arrested with 2 duffel bags filled with over $1,000

Butler County, PA: Man Steals Nearly $1K Worth Of Merchandise At Playthings Etc

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Shootings & Deaths

Galesburg, IL: Arrest made in fatal Gun Shop Burglary, One suspect shot and killed by Owner
A Peoria resident is jailed and a teenager was shot dead after a break-in led to gunfire at a Galesburg gun store. The owner of Galesburg Guns and Ammo fired four to five shots after police said several suspects broke into the business Wednesday night. The occupants of the getaway vehicle dropped off the wounded 17-year old at Galesburg's Cottage Hospital. He died from his injuries. Police said the investigation led them to Peoria where they found the vehicle, belonging to Jakobe Brown, 18, who's jailed in Knox County on burglary and felony murder charges. week.com

Loudoun County, VA: FOP Launches GoFundMe for Loudoun Deputy Injured in Walmart Shooting
The Dulles Fraternal Order of Police has launched a GoFundMe page to help the sheriff’s deputy injured in the weekend shooting at the Sterling Walmart with his long-term recovery. The GoFundMe raised more than $6,000 in the first hour. The GoFundMe page identifies the deputy as Camron Gentry, who graduated the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy and joined the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in 2017. Gentry was one of three people shot after, according to the Sheriff’s Office, Walmart loss prevention officers detained a man on suspicion of stealing items. While waiting for deputies to arrive and take him into custody, he began struggling with them, pulled a gun from his waistband, and shot two loss prevention officers and Gentry. loudounnow.com

Robberies, Incidents & Thefts

Daviess County, KY: Ross Dress for Less Shoplifting turns into high-speed chase, 2 arrested
An off-duty deputy caught a man and woman from Evansville allegedly shoplifting from an Owensboro business. The sheriff’s office says that detective saw the man running across the parking lot of Ross Dress for Less with a basket full of items late Wednesday night. The detective followed and saw items being tossed from the windows. Officials say an on-duty deputy joined in and clocked the car going 115 mph on I-165. They ended the chase for safety reasons, but the car stopped a few miles ahead. The sheriff’s office says the driver, 29-year-old Emily Weissman was arrested. Officials say 32-year-old Logan Brandewie ran from the passenger side but was later found. 14news.com

Wilmington, DE: Three Juveniles arrest in Shoplifting turned Robbery at Boscov’s

Mobile, AL: Police release images of car involved in Brinks truck heist; Guard stopped for coffee at Gas Station

Cargo Theft

Corpus Christi, TX: Man admits to hijacking $100,000 interstate freight shipment, following ICE investigation
A 22-year-old Houston man pleaded guilty to theft from an interstate cargo shipment Thursday in the Southern District of Texas. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Corpus Christi, Texas. Maksims Klopovs admitted he was to be paid for picking up a large load of electronics originally set for delivery to a college in Corpus Christi. HSI’s investigation revealed that on June 17, 2019, authorities suspected a shipment of approximately $100,000 worth of computers and other electronics bound for Del Mar College in Corpus Christi might be stolen. After the shipment left the warehouse in Illinois, someone had changed the delivery instructions using an online system. Rather than deliver it directly to Del Mar College, the shipping company was asked to hold the load at their Corpus Christi warehouse for pickup. ice.gov

● AT&T – Jackson County, FL – Burglary
● C-Store – Salisbury, NC – Robbery
● C-Store – Kershaw County, GA – Burglary
● CBD – San Luis Obispo, CA – Burglary
● Department – Wilmington, DE – Robbery
● Electronics – Panama City, FL – Burglary
● Gas Station – Detroit, MI – Burglary
● Grocery – Springfield, IL – Armed Robbery
● Hobby - Atascadero, CA – Burglary
● Home Depot – Beaver Falls, PA - Robbery
● Jewelry – Jersey City, NJ – Burglary
● Jewelry – Loveland, CO – Burglary
● Jewelry – Cherry Hill, NJ – Robbery
● Jewelry – San Diego, CA – Robbery
● Jewelry – Newburgh, NY – Robbery
● Jewelry – South Burlington, VT – Robbery
● Jewelry – Eau Claire, WI – Robbery
● Liquor – Alpharetta, GA – Burglary
● Liquor – Cresson, PA – Burglary
● Restaurant – Keene, NH – Burglary
● Restaurant – Orleans, VT – Armed Robbery
● Restaurant – Queens, NY – Armed Robbery
● Verizon – Jackson County, FL – Burglary
● 7-Eleven – Manassas, MD – Armed Robbery

Daily Totals:
• 12 robberies
• 12 burglaries
• 0 shootings
• 0 killed

Weekly Totals:
• 92 robberies
• 27 burglaries
• 3 shootings
• 1 killed

Click to enlarge map

In Case You Missed It:
Read the D&D Daily's Exclusive 2020
Holiday Week Retail Crime Report

Jason Zlotoff named Asset Protection Manager, NYC for Louis Vuitton
Jason formerly spent 10 years working for Abercrombie and Fitch, most recently serving in the role of Sr. District Manager of Asset Protection.

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