A new trend: Your DNA for free participation in a contest?

A new trend: Your DNA for free participation in a contest?

What was meant to happen happened: more than ever, YOU are the product. The era of cookies and web traffic analysis thanks to Google Analytics has passed. New heights have been reached with a contest organised by Momondo, a travel search website. This enterprise, based in Denmark, has launched a contest that could permit you to travel to every country connected to your genetic heritage.

“Huh? How would they know where I come from?”, you ask? Nothing can be easier: they send you a genetic test kit to collect a sample of your DNA for testing. They then communicate to you the list of countries connected to your genetic heritage!

Moving videos, but…

The campaign is nonetheless well designed. The videos are moving, even inspiring, and they invite inclusion. After all, we are citizens of the world! However, we should ask ourselves how genetic heritage and the results of testing can be used by this third party. Moreover, do we know how this information is safeguarded?

Thankfully, the terms of use of the contest (warning – it is very difficult to read) states that Momondo shall not have direct access to your DNA. Rather, the enterprise mandates an American medical laboratory called Ancestry International DNA, LLC, which has its own terms of use and informs its users that DNA samples and test results could travel the United States and Ireland. Though we would have liked to learn more about the cybersecurity measures implemented to protect your data, these elements do not seem clearly defined by the terms of use of either enterprise.

Why be concerned by this?

DNA-ADN

In this particular case, there may be nothing to be worried about. All this data might be adequately handled and perhaps no data will be leaked. But do we really want to provide a third party with this information in return for a single chance of winning a contest? What would happen if, one day, you share your genetic heritage in another contest and a data leak occurs? Who knows what a malicious government, business or individual might do with such information?

In technology, we use the term “vulnerability” to name a weakness that malicious hackers have found in software. They quickly exploit this vulnerability and software providers must create a patch to repair the weakness and distribute it to clients. Does our genetic heritage contain vulnerabilities that could be exploited by someone else? How could we protect ourselves from these vulnerabilities? In technology, we can update systems, deny access and change passwords: it is not so simple with DNA!

So, do you wish to participate in this contest?

 

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A brand new series infiltrates the world of cyber hackers

The HACKERS series, hosted by Matthieu Dugal, infiltrates the world of cyber hackers

The French language CBC news station, Radio-Canada, recently announced that this fall’s line-up on ICI EXPLORA will include a new show hosted by Matthieu Dugal called HACKERS, a documentary series about cyber experts who work in the shadows. This is a great opportunity to learn as much about those who know as much about you!

Created by Les Productions Kinesis and Magasin Général, this series presents five 30-minute episodes that explore cyber hacking in all its forms: from criminal online harassment to cyberterrorism to identify theft and cyberbullying. Motivated by different reasons, these great digital experts also sometimes put their talents to use for the common good. Through interviews and stunning re-enactments, Matthieu Dugal demonstrates to what extent not only citizens, but also enterprises and governments are vulnerable on the Internet.

To learn more

If you wish to hear Matthieu Dugal speak about this show, you will find below an interesting interview from the show Le retour de Gilles Parent on radio station 93.3 FM: interview on the HACKERS series.

Canada: many firms have had to pay ransom to malicious hackers, but there are solutions

Canada: many firms have had to pay ransom to malicious hackers, but there are solutions

The La Presse newspaper reports the conclusions of a study conducted in Canada and three other countries: 44 of 125 surveyed Canadian businesses had been victimised by some form of online extortion over the twelve preceding months.

According to the study, 75% of Canadian businesses which were victimised by ransomware had to pay between $1,000 and $50,000 to malicious hackers. Nearly 10% among these experienced untimely disruption to operations before resolving their problem!

Raising the awareness of your employees is an effective way to avoid paying ransom

Increasing the awareness of your staff to online danger effectively diminishes the risk of being extorted ransom. Though some technologies may help (antivirus, antimalware, antispam, etc.), malicious hackers often find the means to bypass such solutions. Therefore, your employees must all be vigilant and abide by good security practices communicated by your enterprise.

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