The cybersecurity world has been buzzing with activity this year, and it shows no signs of slowing down. In recent news, hackers have discovered a way to “jailbreak” digital license plates, allowing them to change the plate number to anything they want. This could lead to toll and ticket evasion, or even impersonation of enemies. While the company that makes these plates has made it clear that this is illegal and a violation of terms of service, it’s likely that those who want to hide their car’s credentials for nefarious purposes won’t be deterred.
Meanwhile, employees at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are worried about the future. With the incoming Trump administration, there are concerns that key programs that keep Americans safe from cyberattacks and other threats could be scrapped, or that the agency itself could be dismantled.
In other news, Interpol is calling for a rebrand of the term “pig butchering,” which refers to financial scams that involve stealing cryptocurrency from victims. The term, which was likely created by the scammers themselves, could further shame victims or discourage them from reporting the crime.
In the world of drug dealing, it seems that doing crimes in public is becoming more popular. Authorities in Europe are seeing an increase in drug dealers using open web platforms like Instagram, X, and Snapchat to advertise their goods.
In other security and privacy news, the US Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily banned drone flights over critical infrastructure and utility sites in New Jersey and New York at the request of federal security partners. This comes after reports of mysterious drone sightings in the two states, although the government has not found evidence of malicious or unexplained aircraft.
