Week InReview
Friday | Sep 4, 2020
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Add this to your Covid-19 prevention toolbox...
Strong ventilation
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Researchers say strong ventilation indoors should accompany other measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Driving the thinking is mounting evidence that the new coronavirus is transmitted through the air among people with prolonged exposure to the pathogen, even when close contact is avoided.
Health scientists and mechanical engineers have started issuing recommendations to schools and businesses that wish to reopen for how often indoor air needs to be replaced, as well as guidelines for the fans, filters and other equipment needed to meet the goals.
Some businesses have begun taking such steps, but in aging schools nationwide, strengthening ventilation may be difficult.
— The Wall Street Journal
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The U.S. federal budget deficit will soar to a record $3.3 trillion this fiscal year, swelling government debt to a size bigger than the economy in the wake of massive spending to cushion Americans from the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Congressional Budget Office’s latest tally. (Bloomberg Economics | Sep 2)
The U.S. Labor Department's Employee Benefits Security Administration rolled out proposals this summer impacting all players in the retirement space. That includes regulations on fiduciary responsibilities, pooled employer retirement plans, benefits plans with environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) focused funds, lifetime retirement income disclosures, and electronic disclosure requirements — a lot of action for a small agency. The agency on Monday released another proposed rule limiting fiduciaries’ abilities to vote proxies or exercise other shareholder rights impacting a retirement plan. (Bloomberg Law | Sep 1)
The New York Stock Exchange’s plan to let companies raise capital through direct listings is on pause after an influential group of institutional investors took an unusual regulatory step in a last-ditch effort to block it. The Council of Institutional Investors, which was behind the maneuver, raised concern that the NYSE’s plan would let companies circumvent protections built into the initial public offering process, ultimately harming investors. (The Wall Street Journal | Sep 1)
Government bond prices around the world dropped after Jay Powell confirmed last week that the Federal Reserve was prepared to tolerate higher inflation as it steers the economy through the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. But many investors say that talking about inflation is one thing, and actually generating swifter price rises is another entirely. (Financial Times | Aug 31)
Federal Reserve Vice Chair Richard Clarida left open the possibility of employing Treasury yield caps at some point in the future, though he indicated it’s not likely now and reiterated the central bank’s rejection of negative interest rates. (Bloomberg Economics | Aug 31)
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4 types of malware you need to know
Ransomware, Trojans, and Spyware... oh my! And last, but not least, Worms.
Think twice before you download a Word doc – it could be hiding malware
There’s a gigantic storm of malware on the web that’s been brewing for some time now. Once it gets a hold of your email account, it will bombard you with deceptive messages that include malicious attachments. Open one and your system becomes part of its army of zombie computers that work to continue the spread. See also Emotet malware's new 'Red Dawn' attachment is just as dangerous (Bleeping Computer)
CISA: Uncovering and remediating malicious activity
A joint advisory – the result of a collaborative research effort by the cybersecurity authorities of five nations: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States – highlights technical approaches to uncovering malicious activity and includes mitigation steps according to best practices, and was designed to enhance incident response while serving as a playbook for incident investigation.
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MORE CYBER SECURITY NEWS HERE: |
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We're all socially awkward now
Research on prisoners, hermits, soldiers, astronauts, polar explorers, and others who have spent extended periods in isolation indicates social skills are like muscles that atrophy from lack of use. People separated from society – by circumstance or by choice – report feeling more socially anxious, impulsive, awkward, and intolerant when they return to normal life.
4 major long-term psychological effects of continued remote work
Although scientific research has historically highlighted the benefits of remote working, that was before the pandemic. The research assumed that working from home was a choice. But what happens when there is no choice and people who never worked from home are forced to do so?
Deepfake detection tool unveiled by Microsoft
The Video Authenticator, in an effort to fight disinformation, scores videos on the likelihood they have been artificially created. Microsoft trained the tool using data related to 1,000 deepfake videos as well as a trove of Facebook facial images. The FBI has warned that deepfakes might become indistinguishable from reality, posing a threat to national security.
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PLEASE JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA |
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