security – Scriptingthewhy.com

DD Came Stopped to Party

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people dancing a nightclub. — Which one of you spiked my drink!? I can taste my heartrate!
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This might send you back to those feel-good party nights so prepare to reminisce and say…” No, I don’t recall that happening.” Have you ever been to a nightclub, found someone to party with, and decided that you would like to spend most of your time with them?

You both are having a really good time, the music is pumping, the people around you are jamming, and something to you smells funny but that’s okay because the pills you took five minutes ago bestowed upon you the ability to see and taste sound.

You have to take a quick break and hit the restroom, only to come back and find your chosen dance partner is oddly being blocked by a crowd of people and no matter how much you try, you just can’t seem to get within reach of them. Have you never had this happen?

Okay, so apparently Z-Daddy is the only one who has had weird times in nightclubs huh? While you are lucky enough to say you haven’t experienced this event, this often happens with computers and companies you favor. What is this go-go nonsense I’m yammering on about? This will all make sense in a moment.

large group of people walking on road. — She’s leaving with you, but she was programming with me bro. Oh wait, that’s not right.
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Clubbing in Denial

What is this weird phenomenon taking place in this nightclub which often happens to a computer or network? To put it in simple terms, you’re symbolically being hit with a “denial-of-service” or DoS.

This is a form of cyber-attack where the attacker seeks to make either your machine or a network resource unavailable for intended users. Distributed Denial of Service or DDoS occurs when a mass of machines operates together to focus an attack on one target to disrupt the normal traffic of the targeted IP address.

Picture if you can, five lanes of traffic trying to fit down a one-way street. This leads to the target’s device being overwhelmed and denying legitimate users access to the desired website. In fact, one of the largest attacks on record was at GitHub, a popular online code management platform that is used by a lot of developers. They were hit with a large volume of traffic that led to the disruption of their site. Click here to find out more details. What are some other things that can suffer from an attack like this I can hear you ask.

Aside from personal computers, cell phones, public cloud services, and IoT (Internet of Things) devices that aren’t tightly secured are not off the menu, they can all suffer a DDoS attack. Depending on how bad the attack is can play into how long it takes for your site to become available.

In some cases, could be as little as 24hrs and in others can be from days to a week given how quick the response time is. Variety is the spice of life and by choosing which device to overload, you can find plenty of it.

young woman sat at computer screen in shock. — I can’t get to access my Grub Hub account…that means I have to cook tonight.
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Dirty, Dirty, Dirty Tactics

Who and why would someone turn to use such a tactic? Trying to hinder or take out the rival competition is one reason. If customers can’t get to your competitors’ sites but find access to yours. Then it makes the choice that much easier for them to buy from you.

This is pretty much a “Two birds with one stone” situation because not only are you carrying out a hit on your competition, but you are also passively strong-arming your potential customers into buying from you.

That’s operating like a boss. Another reason someone might perform a DDoS is Hacktivism, meaning they don’t agree with something political and promote an agenda of their own by hacking. In the days before the pop-ups of “How-to”, you had to be skilled to perform such an attack but now, like with malware, you can simply go to the dark side and pick something up extra saucy if you have enough coin.

Again, your presence on the dark web is not illegal but the activity you choose to engage in begs the question. Remember to always stay legal kids.

young gentleman rushing to woman in red over coat. — Bob: Karen, I thought you were leaving him for me.
Tim: she’s with me buddy. Your access just got denied.
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Last Minute Halts

So why is knowing about a DDoS important? DDoS can and have affected many if not all industries. This ranges from being able to place bets on gambling sites to trying to clear out your cart on an e-commerce site.

Everyone with a storefront on the internet has at one point or another suffered the simulated feeling of being an employee having to work retail on Black Friday. DDoS attacks have been around for quite some time, the earliest attack was back in the late 90s and they have been evolving ever since.

man in red polo looking shocked. — We’ve all made this face at one point or another while on the toliet.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio, please support by following @pexel.com

Made it this far and found this to be entertaining? Then a big thanks to you and please show your support by cracking a like, scripting a comment, or plug-in to follow.

Would like to give sincere thanks to current followers and subscribers, your support and actions mean a lot and has a play in the creation of each script.

Do you feel like I may have missed something about DDoS? Script a comment below.

Security, Tech

Discover Why Crypto Could Save You Money Today

Key Takeaways

Cryptocurrency leverages cryptography: Secure transactions are enabled through complex mathematical algorithms that encrypt and decrypt data.
Blockchain technology:
- A decentralized, immutable ledger shared across a network of computers.
- Records transactions as “blocks” in a chronological chain.
Key cryptographic concepts:
- Public-key cryptography: Utilizes public and private key pairs for secure communication.
- Hashing: Creates unique digital fingerprints for transactions, ensuring data integrity.
Security Risks:
- Cryptographic weaknesses: Exploitable vulnerabilities in the algorithms or their implementation.
- Smart contract vulnerabilities: Bugs in self-executing contracts can be exploited.
- Phishing and social engineering: Attacks targeting users to steal private keys.
Potential of Cryptocurrencies:
- Decentralized Finance (DeFi): Disintermediating financial services.
- Faster and cheaper transactions: Enabling efficient global transactions.
- Increased financial inclusion: Providing access to financial services for the unbanked.
Challenges:
- Volatility: Significant price fluctuations.
- Regulation: Evolving regulatory landscape.
- Scalability: Limitations in processing high transaction volumes.

AI-generated image. “I BOUGHT THIS COIN LIKE YOU SAID, AND NOW IT’S WORTH NOTHING! YOU SAID I WAS GOING TO MAKE MILLIONS!”

Diving Deep into Crypto: A Techie’s Perspective

Come one, come all. Welcome back, come have a seat. Or have a stand if you’re reading this in an elevator. I don’t know what my tech interest readers are doing at the time of reading this. Welcome to another exciting topic that has taken the internet and my new feed by storm.

This something that every “finance professional bro” is talking about on popular platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TicTok. These are all popular platforms to obtain solid, insightful, life-changing information. That was sarcasm. YouTube, you might get solid information, and that’s a strong might. However, the others are pretty much taking life advice from children.

Social soap-box aside, moving right along. Today’s topic is Cryptocurrency. What is it? It’s a buzzword that’s been dominating headlines for years, but what exactly is it, and how does it work from a technical standpoint?

At its core, cryptocurrency is a form of digital currency that leverages cryptography – the art of secure communication – to enable secure transactions. Cryptography uses complex mathematical algorithms to encrypt and decrypt data, meaning only authorized parties can access and utilize it. This is crucial for crypto, as it ensures:

Security: Your funds are protected from unauthorized access.
Transparency: Every transaction is recorded on a public, immutable ledger called a blockchain.

AI-generated image. “I’m just checking for missing parts. There’s no way I’m going use this as a bot to inflate prices.”

How does it work under the hood?

Imagine a digital ledger – a giant spreadsheet – shared across a vast network of computers. This is the blockchain. Each transaction is recorded as a “block” on this ledger, creating a chronological chain of events. In layman terms; it’s a giant notebook that everyone can see and write in. Whenever buying or selling something, it’s documented in the notebook. Each new note is a new page to the notebook.

Cryptography plays a starring role:
Public-key cryptography: Each user has a unique pair of keys: a public key (shared with others) and a private key (kept secret).
Hashing: Transactions are hashed, creating unique digital fingerprints that are difficult to alter.

This system ensures:

Decentralization: No single entity controls the network.
Immutability: Once a transaction is recorded, it cannot be altered.

The Techie’s Take on Security Risks

While cryptography is the backbone of crypto’s security, it’s not without its vulnerabilities:

Cryptographic weaknesses: Flaws in the algorithms or their implementation can be exploited by hackers.
Smart contract vulnerabilities: These self-executing contracts, while powerful, can contain bugs that can be exploited to drain funds.
Phishing and social engineering: Hackers often target users with phishing emails or scams to trick them into revealing their private keys.

The Future of Finance: A Crypto-Powered Vision

The future of finance with crypto is brimming with potential…that is until the government gets involved but until we have:

Decentralized Finance (DeFi): Imagine a world where financial services like lending and borrowing operate without intermediaries. DeFi platforms leverage blockchain technology to enable this.
Faster and cheaper transactions: Crypto offers the potential for near-instantaneous and low-cost transactions across borders.
Increased financial inclusion: Crypto can provide access to financial services for the unbanked and underbanked populations globally.

However, challenges remain:

Volatility: The price of cryptocurrencies can fluctuate wildly.
Regulation: The regulatory landscape for crypto is still evolving.
Scalability: Many blockchain networks face limitations in processing a high volume of transactions.

AI-generated image. “Not all crypto is made equal, the same goes for the risk.”

In Conclusion

Cryptocurrency is a rapidly evolving technology with the potential to revolutionize the financial landscape. While challenges and risks exist, the underlying technology of cryptography and blockchain holds immense promise for the future. And with all of that being said, crypto can be a hit or miss. Some people get into crypto and win big but that margin is a small few. All in all, do your own research and be careful with your money, and who you follow for crypto advice. The pursuit of money blinds reality, and that’s dangerous.

Disclaimer: This script is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice.

Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile investments and may result in significant losses.

Disclaimer: The use of cryptography in cryptocurrencies does not guarantee absolute security.

Disclaimer: It is crucial to conduct thorough research and due diligence before investing in any cryptocurrency.

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Security, Tech

Experience the James Wood method

Consider following on social media!

Quick note: if you’re viewing this via email, come to the site for better viewing. Enjoy!

Someone walking on a beach — What trying to find a job that needs my skillset in 2022 looks like.
Photo by Pixabay, please show support by following @pexels.com

Let’s say you’re on a beach, you’re taking a lovely stroll by yourself, watching the sun setting on the horizon as you walk by. The birds are flying high in the air, weaving up and down, some gliding to the ground and landing ahead of you.

You enjoy the smell of fresh ocean air with every step you take. As you’re walking taking in all that’s ahead, you notice some funny activity behind you like someone is following. You say to yourself, “Nah, this is a public beach, so it could be people just walking up to the water line.”

You turn around wide-eyed to find someone has been following you and not only has that person been pursuing you, but others have been trailing you as well. You see, while you’ve been taking this lovely soul-searching, deep thought-provoking stroll, those majestic footprints you have been leaving behind have turned into what are called “breadcrumbs” for anyone to track you.

If you didn’t know, the internet has always seen you with the ability to leave your mark in the digital sand. However, a perk to real sand is water washes your record in time. With digital, not so much.

creepy guy in mask wearing black robe in the woods — Thank you for shopping at Walmart, don’t forget to fill out our survey.
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Digital Horror Ahead

What is this madness that lets people track you like you’re in a horror movie? They’re called digital footprints, or digital shadows as some would call them. Digital footprints are traceable activities, actions, or pretty much anything you do on the internet.

This could range from visiting websites (any sites, not just the ones with scantily clothed individuals you’re thinking about, ya freak…again, I am judging you) sending personal or professional emails, or even searching for your favorite Christmas dinner recipe that Nana posted so many years back.

And trust me, Gen-Z is finding out all about these footprints. There are several types of digital footprint which are passive, active, personally identifiable, anonymous, user input, and sensor data. In a nutshell, they range from “oh I didn’t know I was going to be redirected” to, “hey, my phone auto-suggested something I like”.

Having access to a lot of things is great but also being followed unknowingly and it being legal kinda sucks. I mean, where is the consent…I know I glossed over the privacy policy, but it was too long, and I wanted to see what the “baddies” on Instagram were all about.

man with cold stare — Helping shoppers around every corner.
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Every Step You Take

So…this is about to get uncomfortable. Who tracks you like the sweet slow jam from the 80s? Well, one of them is ironically named the Police and just so happens to be one group that would turn to use digital footprints.

Police or law enforcement would use footprints to track cybercriminals and possibly keep track of online behavior. Do you remember that “Here, have a seat” guy? Digital footprints aid in situations like that. Do you like cookies? You do, that’s great!

Advertisers and people seeking your business like them too, cookies are used to customize ads for targeting you. Like, in my situation, you purchase one electric bike and now all you see in the ad space of every site you go to are electric bikes. It’s very haunting.

But while there are some creepy effects, digital footprint does have its benefits, ranging from detecting and preventing fraud, making shopping a breeze because, well everything is tailored to your interests, and even just the simple act of being able to recall a previously visited site.

Despite the fact you may click “no” in your preferences or settings when visiting a site, they still track you anyway. It’s like going to a store and one of the employees on the floor ask, “Do you need help finding anything?” and you reply with a “No, thank you, just browsing.” Followed by an awkward moment of silence and a brief stare.

You turn to walk, and they start following you anyway. Like good god, I just said no, go away.

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woman with gen z cake — Fun fact: if you bring a cake to your job interview…your chances of getting the job are still the same.
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Safe Space Results 404

Do you recall when I mentioned that Gen-Z is finding out about the horrors of digital footprints? No, then go back up and read this like a decent human being. If yes, then here goes the “oh no” moment, potential employers incorporate this in their decision to hire you.

This means every time you upload or like a twerk video, try to viral a cringe TikTok, post about how great America is compared to other countries on Facebook, or even tell your previous employer to go screw themselves on LinkedIn (sidenote; never air out your previous employer on social media), all of this runs the risk of you not landing that sought after position or promotion you’re seeking to claim.

However, there are ways to keep your footprint as small as possible, most of which are going to require you to do some work and by some, meaning a lot. This pretty much parallels fixing your credit score, your options are contacting data collectors, and telling them to forget your information (some of which may not play ball). Make your social media private.

If you wanted to take an easier route, you can sign up for third-party services that will handle things for you (keep in mind this is not a one-time buy, so as long as you’re on the internet and care about the effect of your online interactions, you’ll have to pay).

You can hide your browsing habits by using a good virtual private network or VPN, but like I always tell people, “Using a VPN is the same as using a condom, you can still get pregnant.”

You should panic a little bit if you worry about trying to land that dream job.
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Digital History Unclear

Now you’re probably paranoid about your browser history and everything you’ve ever said on the internet. Should you be though? This is the year 2022 and we are in the age of “acceptance” and “fairness”.

Honestly, what you said years back when you were young should not come back to haunt you. Social media should be a place where you can connect with like-minded people and share ideas.

However, it seems like the internet is the best place for someone to pick up dirt and fling it at you. The internet has always been the wild wild west but for employers to add a digital footprint to your background check is madness because one or a few posts don’t display the whole picture.

Just hope one day people learn how to differentiate the before and after when making a judgment call.

Me chances of getting a job is ruined, me should’ve stay off the hub blood. I’m ruined.
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Made it this far and found this to be entertaining? Then a big thanks to you and please show your support by cracking a like, sharing this with whomever, scripting a comment, or plug-in to follow.

Would like to give sincere thanks to current followers and subscribers, your support and actions mean a lot and has a play in the creation of each script.

Think someone has been watching your online habits?

Script a comment about how safe you think your digital footprint are.