Cybersecurity

Between the 2020 presidential election and the 2022 midterms, more than half of the top election officials in Nevada’s 17 counties left their jobs. A common reason? Experiencing multiple threats of violence.

There is no guarantee that the next election will be any less contentious (the odds are certainly against it), but a new law just signed by Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo provides protection for these officials that was not there before. Now, those who harass, intimidate or use force on election workers performing their duties could face up to four years in prison.

Could ordering a pizza threaten your family's safety?

That’s the title of the latest installment of “Gavel Talks,” a podcast for judges produced by the American Bar Association. Host Richard Ginkowski interviewed our CEO, Ron Zayas, about how all of your private information gets collected, shared, and sold, and what you can do about it.

A recent article in The Guardian revealed that the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) sent Google, Twitter and Meta up to 500 administrative subpoenas demanding their user’s sensitive personal information.

While these tech giants are not required by law to provide the information requested, many often do, often on a case-by-case basis.

Remember when email became a new way to communicate? It was great – until spammers started using the system to fill our ‘in’ boxes with junk.

And now that texting has become the preferred online communication method, they are ruining that as well.

Spam texts are annoying – and can be dangerous as most are phishing to harvest your personal data, get you to fall for a scam, or shove malware into your phone. 

Thankfully, there are some easy and common sense steps you can take to reduce them.

California State Senator Josh Becker introduced legislation this month that would put further restrictions on how data brokers can collect and maintain information.

While California has already set the standard for online privacy, Becker’s bill (SB 362) would impose additional requirements on the companies and sites most responsible for selling and sharing state residents' private data.

In the beginning, there was the smartphone. And it was good. Then there was the smart TV – all those streaming services and Internet access just a remote click away. What could be better?

But now we’re in the midst of a “smart” revolution, with that label attached to everything from audio speakers to refrigerators to heating and cooling systems. What could go wrong?

How many times have we heard it – the more information you provide online, the easier it is for a company to serve you. Of course, that data is valuable to companies and websites for many other reasons as well – and what they do with that data can expose your home address and other private content to marketers, and to other entities that won’t care very much about protecting it.

Have you heard about juice jackers?

No, they’re not evildoers who will steal your Electric Berry Lemonade at Jamba Juice before you can enjoy its refreshing goodness. These are lowlifes that set up portable charging stations in public places, and then steal data from any cell phone connected to them.

We believe every judge must have confidence in their personal security, and the safety of their families, as they work to deliver equal justice under the law. But new threats have emerged over the past decade that must be acknowledged, and addressed.

Ron Zayas, CEO of 360Civic and its IronWall360 privacy protection service, has written an article on this vital issue that has been published in the current edition of Court Review magazine.

Never underestimate the determination of terrible people to exploit technology to do terrible things.

One day you may get a phone call from a relative or a close friend, saying they’re in trouble and need you to send money immediately. You recognize the voice, so your immediate impulse is to help them. But that call may be from someone you don’t know, trying to take you for everything he can.