Cyberattack Strikes Large Newspapers
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The first known attack on newspaper printing has hit major newspapers in the U.S. The computer malware attack affected networks used by Tribune Publishing, which previously owned the Los Angeles Times and The San Diego Union-Tribune. The two papers have continued to use some of the Tribune’s systems. The virus, first discovered on their servers on Friday, hindered the effectiveness of printing and distribution, even causing the Union-Tribune to fail to distribute a Saturday morning paper to its subscribers. Distribution of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal were also affected by delays in Southern California. The L.A. Times states that the attack “appears to have originated from outside the United States.” However, a spokesperson for Tribune Publishing said this has not yet been confirmed. There is no indication that personal information such as customer credit card information or personally identifiable information has been compromised.
Amazon to Add Whole Foods Stores
Reports indicate that Amazon plans to expand Whole Foods stores in order to increase the number of customers in the range of their two-hour delivery service, Prime Now. This expansion would bring more Whole Foods locations to numerous suburbs and regions of Western North America including locations in Idaho, southern Utah, and Wyoming where there are no current Whole Foods stores. The e-commerce giant hopes to provide its Prime Now service to almost all of their 475 Whole Foods locations across the United States. Currently, Prime Now includes a two-hour delivery service option to subscribers in 60+ cities, along with online grocery pickup in quick periods, sometimes as little as 30 minutes, in 30 cities. This addition is movement in the right direction from Whole Foods, who experienced layoffs and a decrease in growth before Amazon purchased the supermarket chain for $13.5B in 2017.
Drone Surveys NYE Celebration in NYC
NYPD used a camera-equipped drone for surveillance over the annual New Year’s Eve Celebration in Times Square. This is the first time in history that the force has used this type of technology for safety purposes. Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill states that police “must always be willing to leverage the benefits of new and always-improving technology.” Its use, in combination with 7K police officers, 200 blocker trucks of sand, and bomb dogs, was controlled remotely by trained police officers to watch over the crowds. Although the force received no threats to the event, the police indicate these measures are standard protocol for events containing this sizable number of people. For further safety, the drone was tethered to a building to avoid anyone getting hurt.
