So we hear about how cryptocurrency will be the savior of the future economy. It could be. However, hackers must know it as well. Because they hacked cryptocurrency…again.
So this time, Zaif is the victim. Zaif is a Japanese digital exchange company. They are part of the family of Tech Bureau Corp. Well, earlier this week, hackers stole over $60 million worth of Bitcoin from them. The hackers did the job on Friday September 14. But it wasn’t until the 17th when they found server problems. Then they discovered the cyber crime and reported it, to the media as well as the authorities. Also, they hacked two other of their cryptocurrencies.
Somehow, the hackers broke into their ‘online wallet’. Before they could steal anything else, they shut the system down. We don’t know when they’ll put it back up, in fact, it may be up again now. There’s a reason why I say they hacked cryptocurrency…again. Because last year, another company in Tokyo lost a whopping $547 million worth of cyrptocurrency. They believe this was a cyber theft. The name of this company is Coincheck. You may have heard of them. In fact, they hit Manacoin as well. They also lost millions on cryptocurrency.
So why are hackers hitting Japan so often and for so much? Because Japan is a leader in the cryptocurrency market game. It’s been that way since 2012. In fact, they pride themselves on IT support digital licences to regulate these markets and protect consumers from incidents like this. But even with these extra layers of protection, they still get hacked. Yes, I, along with many in computer repair believe this will be a powerful tool in future world economics. But it’s obvious they have a long, long way to go. This currency is a good way to go and hackers know it. What can be done to keep Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies safe?
So by now, we all have seen the footage of Hurricane Florence’s devastation. The damage is especially bad in the Carolina’s. But IT support companies are stepping up to the plate. Google donates to Hurricane Florence Victims.
For some users, they will see a banner on top of their Gmail account. Also, you may see a donation link on the bottom of your Google home page. This isn’t their first time. Because last year, in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, they matched donations. They raised tens of millions of dollars on their pages from generous, kind-hearted people like you. Then they matched that. These donations went on to help a lot of people last year. And I am confident it will do so this year.
But that’s not all. Google is partnering with other non-profits, like Network for God and American Red Cross. They choose these because they have a great track record everywhere, especially in the region. Google isn’t the only IT support company helping out. Amazon is sending trucks full of food and trucks to flood zones. For almost a week now, Comcast offers Wi-Fi hotspots to customers in the hardest hit area, while Apple donated a million dollars. Airbnb put up victims for free. This is true for evacuees and those whose homes were either harmed or destroyed.
I know mega tech companies get a bad rep. And in some cases, it’s rightfully so. But not in this case. I applaud these companies for helping out people in time of need. Not only that, but there are other Silicon Valley individuals that are helping out. They’re too many to name, it’s the right thing to do. There are many ways you can help and many ways the tech industry is helping out. Google donates to hurricane Florence victims. So what are you doing?
So everyone knows about Elon Musk and his Space X program. It’s one of the more controversial things going on in IT support today. But now, they stepped it up. Space X plans to take civilian to the moon.
Yusaku Maezawa, a billionaire from Japan, will be the first civilian man to go in space. Also, he’ll riding in the Space X’s Big Falcon Rocket. He could fly as early as 2023. This would be a tremendous feat, if Musk and Maezawa can pull it off. Because only 24 people have even been to the moon since 1972. And no non-NASA person has ever been to the moon.
As you can imagine, Zaezawa is very excited. In fact, he says going to the moon is his lifelong dream. However, this isn’t going to be a cheap flight. This project will cost $5 billion…with a B! They won’t share how much Maezawa and Musk will share. They’re still building the BFR (Big Falcon Rocket). They hope to complete building it sometime in 2020. But here is what is interesting. They say this BFR can hold at least 100 people. Maezawa says he wants to take seven or eight different artist with him. So if they go with him, then how much are they going to put up?
This is how Space X plans to take civilian to the moon. But? you know, I know, and everyone in computer repair know it won’t stop at this. Because Musk says he wants to build colonies on the moon and on Mars. He fears that great evils are overtaking this world, like climate change, nuclear war and AI/robot technology. From what I’m seeing on the news, and with my own two eyes, he might be right. I give Maezawa tons of credit for his bravery and willingness to be the first. Somebody has to. Would you fly to the moon as a civilian?
So there is an IT support billionaire whose name is Liu Qiangdong. He also goes by the name Richard Liu. In fact, some call him China’s Jeff Bezos, for his rich status in China’s e-commerce community. But now, in Minnesota, someone accused Liu of rape. Also, the accusation was enough that they arrested a tech billionaire guru.
However, despite the arrest, Minneapolis police say very little about this. In fact, they didn’t even file charges against him. A Chinese media source asked the police about the pending case. One officer said their goal is to provide services for the accuser while protecting Mr. Liu’s privacy. They soon let Liu go. In fact, on Monday he was on a flight back to China. By Tuesday, he was at his desk JD.com.
Liu founded and made his fortune through JD.com, his e-commerce website. They say it’s Alibaba’s biggest Chinese rival. I say they’re both rivals to America’s Amazon and Ebay, but before I get all into a patriotic rant, let’s go back to this case. JD.com immediately came to their founder’s defense. They said he was falsely accused and even police found no evidence. Liu’s lawyer is confident Minnesota won’t charge him. But why was Liu in Minneapolis to start with? Because he’s pursuing a doctorate of business at University of Minnesota.
So why am I talking about a Chinese IT service billionaire on a Boston computer service shop blog? They don’t call Liu the Jeff Bezos of e-commerce for nothing. Forbes magazine ranks his net worth at $10 billion. Also, JD.com is very popular on the Nasdaq stock exchange. But after they arrested a tech billionaire for rape, stock prices went down almost 6%. This brought their stocks to a 19-month low. But now that this seems to be over, for now, maybe stocks will go up. However, will this be the end of this or could this drag on?
So I’m telling you something you already know. This country is very divided politically. In fact, it’s the worst I’ve seen in my lifetime. Silicon Valley and IT service aren’t immune. Facebook isn’t immune. This is the Facebook face off.
So here is what’s happening. Conservative Facebook employees formally complain about the intolerance, even sometimes bullying, of liberal Facebook employees. Also, these complaints reached the New York Times. Over 100 joined this complaint. But you can bet there will be more. Furthermore, this group has a name. They call themselves ‘FB’ers for Political Diversity’. This group just started last week. There’s more to this Facebook face off.
Facebook engineer Brian Amergie started this movement. He calls Facebook a ‘political monoculture’. He then talks about how Facebook promotes free thinking. But in the office, mobs often attack people who don’t think like them. Others must agree. Because more people are speaking out. Also, this isn’t the first time Facebook got in trouble about this. Because in 2016, they had to form a group ‘Facebook Avon’. It’s where conservative Facebook employees could talk about their ideas without fear of cursing, trolling, or censorship. But they shut down that group in December 2016. Keep in mind that was just one month after that crazy election.
The magazine Business Insider tried to contact both Facebook and Amergie about this. But this isn’t unique. Silicon Valley is known for being a die hard liberal Democrat territory. In fact, of all the billionaires there, I think only one openly supported Trump. And being a supporter of his is dangerous in that part of the country. Look, I’m not here to take sides. Nor am I here to endorse anybody. But I do want to encourage understanding. I also want to encourage civility. There’s too much hatred going on. That includes both sides. So if this is what it takes to bring peace to the IT support world, then good. Can’t we all just get along?
Gaming is huge in the IT service and support community. In fact, we in our computer service shop play video games, whether by console or social media. Furthermore, they have video game contest all over the country. But yesterday, senseless tragedy hit.
So this weekend, gamers from all the country went to Jacksonville, FL. The game they played was EA Sports’ Madden NFL 19. It took place at gaming bar GLHF Gaming Bar at downtown mall Jacksonville Landing. The goal of the gamers was to win so they could advance to Las Vegas and play for big money. However, almost as soon as the tournament started, shots started firing.
According to gamers and fans, at first they thought it was balloons popping or firecrackers. Then they realized it was actual gunfire. The tournament ended abruptly. People then ran for their lives, even pushing and trampling each other to get to safety. One person huddled in the bathroom for 10 minutes, then ran to safety. One gamer sprained his ankle while trying to escape. Another got shot in the thumb. At first, he complained, but when he realized the carnage around him, he said he’s lucky to be alive. That carnage included two deaths and eleven injuries of innocent people.
The shooting suspect is also a gamer. In fact, EA Sports records show he was a Madden championship winner in 2017. The suspect is 24-year-old David Katz, who came to Jacksonville from Baltimore. Before he could be brought to justice, Katz ended his own life by shooting himself. It’s a tragic thing when people can’t even go to something as innocent as a gaming event without fear or shootings and terror. I myself visited Jacksonville Landing several times, even spent a New Years Eve there. So this one hits a little close to home. Our thoughts and prayers go to the victims and families of this video game contest that turned into yet another mass shooting tragedy. When is it ever going to end?
