SOCIAL
FBI Announces Arrests Over Recent Twitter Hack
After Twitter yesterday provided an updated overview of how its recent high-profile, Bitcoin-scam hack occurred, in which various celebrity accounts were taken over by the hackers, the FBI has today announced that a man in Florida has been arrested over the incident, while two others have been charged with assisting the crime.
As reported by The Verge:
“Early this morning, the FBI, IRS, US Secret Service, and Florida law enforcement placed a 17-year-old in Tampa, Florida, under arrest, accusing him of being the “mastermind” behind the biggest security and privacy breach in Twitter’s history […] Two more individuals were formally charged by the US Department of Justice, including 22-year-old Nima Fazeli in Orlando and 19-year-old Mason Sheppard in the UK. They go by the hacker aliases “Rolex” and “Chaewon” respectively.”
The details emerging largely align with those provided by two hackers who spoke to The New York Times about the incident earlier this month – NYT said that the hackers they interviewed, who both claimed to have participated in the Twitter profile heist, were following the lead of a key player named ‘Kirk’. One of the hackers they spoke to was based in the US, the other in the UK. All three are reportedly in their late teens or early 20s.
According to reports, Fazeli and Sheppard connected with ‘Kirk’ via a Discord discussion, with the following chat log listed in the case file.
Officials made the connection to Sheppard and Fazeli because they used personally identifying documents to establish the crypto accounts where the money was being transferred to. It’s not clear, at this stage, that the person arrested in Tampa is indeed ‘Kirk’, but that seems to be the implication.
The Florida teen was arrested in his own apartment, and is now being held in custody, and facing over 30 felony counts. Fazeli could receive up to 5 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for the hack, while Sheppard is reportedly facing a potential 20-year jail stint.
As reported by Twitter yesterday, the hackers used ‘phone spear phishing’, among various other tactics, to obtain the information they required in order to facilitate access to Twitter’s admin dashboard.
Phone spear phishing – or ‘vishing‘ as some have called it – involves convincing the person you’re speaking to that you’re an administrator or an official who requires your details. Over time, through an escalating process of data gathering, the hacker (or hackers) were able to use this, and other methods, to eventually get the key info they needed to gain access to virtually any Twitter account. Twitter says that it’s now reviewing all processes to better protect against such vulnerability in future.
The arrests are obviously a significant step, and they may also enable Twitter to share more details on the incident, as Twitter noted that it was unable to share specifics due to the ongoing investigation.
We’ll likely have to wait till the case is finalized before we hear more, but the incident highlights not only the importance of security at the world’s largest social networks, but also the risks hackers are taking by engaging in such crimes.
As noted by Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren:
“This is not a game, these are serious crimes with serious consequences, and if you think you can rip people off online and get away with it, you’ll be in for a rude awakening.”
There’ll be more to come on this case.
SOCIAL
Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?
In a recent announcement, Snapchat revealed a groundbreaking update that challenges its traditional design ethos. The platform is experimenting with an option that allows users to defy the 24-hour auto-delete rule, a feature synonymous with Snapchat’s ephemeral messaging model.
The proposed change aims to introduce a “Never delete” option in messaging retention settings, aligning Snapchat more closely with conventional messaging apps. While this move may blur Snapchat’s distinctive selling point, Snap appears convinced of its necessity.
According to Snap, the decision stems from user feedback and a commitment to innovation based on user needs. The company aims to provide greater flexibility and control over conversations, catering to the preferences of its community.
Currently undergoing trials in select markets, the new feature empowers users to adjust retention settings on a conversation-by-conversation basis. Flexibility remains paramount, with participants able to modify settings within chats and receive in-chat notifications to ensure transparency.
Snapchat underscores that the default auto-delete feature will persist, reinforcing its design philosophy centered on ephemerality. However, with the app gaining traction as a primary messaging platform, the option offers users a means to preserve longer chat histories.
The update marks a pivotal moment for Snapchat, renowned for its disappearing message premise, especially popular among younger demographics. Retaining this focus has been pivotal to Snapchat’s identity, but the shift suggests a broader strategy aimed at diversifying its user base.
This strategy may appeal particularly to older demographics, potentially extending Snapchat’s relevance as users age. By emulating features of conventional messaging platforms, Snapchat seeks to enhance its appeal and broaden its reach.
Yet, the introduction of message retention poses questions about Snapchat’s uniqueness. While addressing user demands, the risk of diluting Snapchat’s distinctiveness looms large.
As Snapchat ventures into uncharted territory, the outcome of this experiment remains uncertain. Will message retention propel Snapchat to new heights, or will it compromise the platform’s uniqueness?
Only time will tell.
SOCIAL
Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach
While it is tempting to try to appeal to a broad audience, the founder of alcohol-free coaching service Just the Tonic, Sandra Parker, believes the best thing you can do for your business is focus on your niche. Here’s how she did just that.
When running a business, reaching out to as many clients as possible can be tempting. But it also risks making your marketing “too generic,” warns Sandra Parker, the founder of Just The Tonic Coaching.
“From the very start of my business, I knew exactly who I could help and who I couldn’t,” Parker told My Biggest Lessons.
Parker struggled with alcohol dependence as a young professional. Today, her business targets high-achieving individuals who face challenges similar to those she had early in her career.
“I understand their frustrations, I understand their fears, and I understand their coping mechanisms and the stories they’re telling themselves,” Parker said. “Because of that, I’m able to market very effectively, to speak in a language that they understand, and am able to reach them.”Â
“I believe that it’s really important that you know exactly who your customer or your client is, and you target them, and you resist the temptation to make your marketing too generic to try and reach everyone,” she explained.
“If you speak specifically to your target clients, you will reach them, and I believe that’s the way that you’re going to be more successful.
Watch the video for more of Sandra Parker’s biggest lessons.
SOCIAL
Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement
Instagram’s testing out some new options to help spice up your live-streams in the app, with some live broadcasters now able to select a game that they can play with viewers in-stream.
As you can see in these example screens, posted by Ahmed Ghanem, some creators now have the option to play either “This or That”, a question and answer prompt that you can share with your viewers, or “Trivia”, to generate more engagement within your IG live-streams.
That could be a simple way to spark more conversation and interaction, which could then lead into further engagement opportunities from your live audience.
Meta’s been exploring more ways to make live-streaming a bigger consideration for IG creators, with a view to live-streams potentially catching on with more users.
That includes the gradual expansion of its “Stars” live-stream donation program, giving more creators in more regions a means to accept donations from live-stream viewers, while back in December, Instagram also added some new options to make it easier to go live using third-party tools via desktop PCs.
Live streaming has been a major shift in China, where shopping live-streams, in particular, have led to massive opportunities for streaming platforms. They haven’t caught on in the same way in Western regions, but as TikTok and YouTube look to push live-stream adoption, there is still a chance that they will become a much bigger element in future.
Which is why IG is also trying to stay in touch, and add more ways for its creators to engage via streams. Live-stream games is another element within this, which could make this a better community-building, and potentially sales-driving option.
We’ve asked Instagram for more information on this test, and we’ll update this post if/when we hear back.
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