Thoughts From My Inbox
November 25th, 2020

Something About…

Normally I’ll save the sports until the end, but these two happened to be at the top of the inbox this week. Here’s a link to an article on ESPN.com about a professional baseball pitcher and his camera.  At first it sounded like a rather interesting piece, being able to see behind the scenes shots of baseball during COVID. But then I clicked through, and initially, wasn’t overly impressed.  But it got better, to the point that it warranted inclusion herein.  And as I finished the piece, it led me to another one which is an analysis of foul balls and how infrequently they’re actually caught by fans in the stands.  (My dad caught one for me when I was eight, and I’ve grabbed a few off the floor, but never made the one handed snag that all baseball fans dream about.)

I actually saw this article before it ended up in my inbox.  And when it ended up in my inbox, I figured it was worth sharing.  In short, don’t let moose lick your car. In Jasper National Park (see image above), that’s actually an issue.  (And if you ever get a chance to drive the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper, Alberta, I would highly recommend it.  We did it in the winter while on a ski trip two years ago, but I’m sure it would be just as impressive in the summer.  If you’re unsure, just do a Google image search. It’s absolutely stunning.)

You’ve probably heard or seen the old gift card scam, where somebody you know, whether your boss, a co-worker, or your mother (yes, my mother asked me about buying gift cards for a family friend, recently) asks you to buy them gift cards.  You walk down the street, buy $1,000 worth of gift cards, and then send your boss (or your mother) the codes because they don’t have time for you to give them the actual cards.  Please don’t be a victim on that one!  Anyhow, here’s an example of another type of gift card scam that was perpetrated due to poor VPN security, lack of two factor authentication, and poor Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) security.  Three things that should ALWAYS be used and reviewed.

Always wanted an IoT (Internet of Things) doorbell?  I’d wager that at least one of my readers either has one on their Christmas list, or is planning to buy one for some lucky recipient.  We all know that IoT devices (nanny cams, smart tvs, doorbells, refrigerators, cars) are notorious for being hacked, and this is just another example.  A recent report highlights multiple digital doorbells which are opening up user

That’s all for this week.  I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that you have plenty of leftovers for turkey sandwiches and football on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

Best Regards,
Jim