The operation relied on many internet services, including Telegram, Twitter, YouTube and others

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Nothing beats a dog’s nose for detecting explosives. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough dogs:

Last month, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a nearly 100-page report about working dogs and the need for federal agencies to better safeguard their health and wellness. The GOA says that as of February the US federal government had approximately 5,100 working dogs, including detection dogs, across three federal agencies. Another 420 dogs “served the federal government in 24 contractor-managed programs within eight departments and two independent agencies,” the GAO report says.

The report also underscores the demands placed on detection dogs and the potential for overwork if there aren’t enough dogs available. “Working dogs might need the strength to suddenly run fast, or to leap over a tall barrier, as well as the physical stamina to stand or walk all day,” the report says. “They might need to search over rubble or in difficult environmental conditions, such as extreme heat or cold, often wearing heavy body armor. They also might spend the day detecting specific scents among thousands of others, requiring intense mental concentration. Each function requires dogs to undergo specialized training.”

A decade and a half ago I was optimistic about bomb-sniffing bees and wasps, but nothing seems to have come of that.

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Threat actors obtained admin access in two hours and then deployed ransomware in under 12 hours

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When it comes to hitting the ground running on cybersecurity, the Biden administration has engaged in an extensive set of initiatives that far outstrip those of the Trump administration – and even those of the Obama administration, which established the previous highwater mark for cybersecurity actions. In mid-October, the White House issued a fact sheet about the Biden-Harris administration’s “relentless focus” on improving the nation’s cybersecurity to tout its impressive sprint.

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The UK has finalized its first independent data adequacy decision since leaving the European Union (EU) which will allow UK organisations to securely transfer personal data to the Republic of Korea without restrictions by the end of the year. The UK government stated that the new legislation, first agreed upon in principle in July, will allow businesses in both countries to share data more easily, enhancing opportunities for cooperation and growth. The decision comes following a full assessment of the Republic of Korea’s personal data legislation, with the UK government concluding that the nation has strong privacy laws in place that will protect data transfers while upholding the rights and protections of UK citizens.

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