COVID-19 Related Rapid Deployment of Tech Raises New Security Risks

In this episode of the Futurum Tech Podcast, I’m joined by my colleague and fellow analyst, Olivier Blanchard, in a discussion about the COVID-19 related rapid deployment of tech that we are experiencing as a result of the coronavirus outbreak and the new security risks posed as a result. Our goal is to highlight some of those security risks, offer suggestions on how to mitigate those risks, and also explore some other goings on in the world of cybersecurity along the way, largely driven as well by the COVID-19 pandemic we are slogging through the world over.

Main Dive

At a time when many, or perhaps most, of us are stuck at home, Zoom, Slack, Google, Microsoft Teams and other and other online collaboration tools have become our collective lifelines. While that’s great — and it’s wonderful that kids can learn online using collaboration tools, we can work online using these tools, and we can host family gatherings and happy hours using these platforms, there’s an inherent security risk that you can be sure hackers are paying attention to, and exploiting whenever possible.

THIS WEEK’s FAST FIVE

• Tech Tools are Assisting With Tracking the Mapping and Spreading of COVID-19.
• Zoombombing attacks are disrupting classes, interviews, meetings, and even social gatherings.
• China-based threat group launches widespread malicious campaign.
• Department of Homeland Security warns terrorists may exploit COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Justice League to the rescue.

This Week’s Tech Bites Winner: Ecommerce: Blessing For Consumers, Curse for Amazon Workers. While the technology that powers ecommerce giant Amazon is, for most of us, a beautiful thing, Amazon workers might feel slightly less enthusiastic. Warehouse workers and other Amazon employees (and likely drivers as well), question whether Amazon is doing enough to keep them safe. While they are likely happy to have jobs as the jobless claims are at nearly 3.3 million, economic security and personal health and safety, and that of their families, is understandably on the minds of these front-line workers. It is great for consumers to be able to sit safely at home and shop online, but that privilege comes at great cost to a whole lot of people who are reportedly both scared and frustrated.

And not to pin all this on Amazon, we also discuss the fact that front line workers in grocery stores, Costco, Walmart, Target, along with millions of healthcare workers are equally as concerned about their safety as they make their way to work every day. Companies need to do everything they can to step up their efforts and keep these superheroes of a different kind healthy and well.

Our Crystal Ball:  In the Crystal Ball section of our podcast we always circle back to the main dive and try to make some kind of prediction. We are sorry to say that this week’s Crystal Ball prediction as it relates to the rapid deployment of tech and security concerns that presents is not a rosy one. We are pretty confident that things are going to get a lot worse on the cybersecurity front before they get better.

INFORMATION: This Futurum Podcast features Shelly Kramer (@ShellylKramer) and Olivier Blanchard (@OABlanchard). If you haven’t already, please subscribe to our show on iTunes or SoundCloud. For inquiries or more information on the show, email the team at [email protected] or follow @FuturumPodcast on Twitter. To learn more about Futurum Research please visit www.futurumresearch.com.

DISCLOSURE: Futurum Research is a research and analysis provider, not an investment advisor. The Futurum Tech Podcast (and all related written notes and materials) is a newsletter/podcast intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Futurum Research does not provide personalized investment advice and no investment advice is offered or implied by this podcast.