The Cyber Why: What We Read This Week...

... and why you should too! (12/2/2022)

I took a short break last week for the Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving is my opportunity to reflect on life and this year was no exception. This year I spent some time with family and friends and came to the realization that I love writing this newsletter.

Thank you for being a part of this journey and please make sure to tell your friends to subscribe. I am Thankful for each and everyone of you! Now on to this week’s stories!

Special Series Part 2: Billions Of Dollars Roll Into AI-Enhanced Cybersecurity (Crunchbase)
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the impact of AI on cyber security. The cyber security vendor community has been using the term AI without any real meat behind it for a decade or more. Like any other technology, there is a ramp time where capabilities and adoption grow until they become mainstream enough to provide actual value. It’s my crystal ball prognostication that in the next 1-3 years AI will be a mandatory feature for all cyber security tools. Feel free to shoot me down if you disagree… I’d love to hear the debate.

How One Man Lost $1 Million To A Crypto ‘Super Scam’ Called Pig Butchering (Forbes)
As I started to read this story I thought “Ok. It’s just another scam being run on those easily duped.” However, after I got further and further into the article it became apparent to me that this is a new approach at stealing money from unsuspecting people. It’s done with cunning, it’s technology backed, and doesn’t settle for just a little bit of money — They go for the entire bankroll! It’s a horrible sad story, but something that I think everyone can learn from. Scammers will never stop.

San Francisco Considers Allowing Use of Deadly Robots by Police (NY Times)
I’m not sure this counts as cyber security directly, but it is certainly “cyber” related and there is definitely “security” issues in the article. Robots for the application of police “force” is a very slippery slope. If Tesla can make self driving cars it won’t be long before someone makes self policing robots. This article plus the advancements in AI really gives me the chills. iRobot anyone?

The Police Department said robots would use deadly force only “in extreme circumstances.” Opponents said the policy could lead to more police violence.

Luck’s Role in Venture Capital (Crunchbase)
Is venture capital a game of luck or is it a game of skill? The debate is eerily similar to the debate around poker being a game of skill or luck. I’ve been a fan of poker since I took up the game in the late 1990s. It’s a game of wits matched against other players (not the house) where both skill and chance come into play. The debate on luck vs skill has had a profound effect on the legalization of poker in some states and will continue to be a debate in the legal arena moving forward. I’m of the opinion that in the near term, in any single hand (or investment), luck plays a significant factor. However, over time, across a large number of hands played (or investments made), skill becomes the dominant factor. What’s your opinion? Answer in the comments below.

Superpowers Of Second Time Founders (Avni Patel Thompson)
Technically I’ve never been a “founder”. I’ve come in and helped grow many companies ranging from two people and a dream up through series B startups. I like to think I’ve learned a lot along the ride, but I can’t and won’t ever claim to understand the stress that goes with founding your own company. Regardless of my specific experiences, this article resonated with me. There are many things that come with having done it before and the superpowers of a second time founder are based on just that.. experience.

The edge of belief. - Or: how far does your faith extend? Until either you're right or the world is (Avni Patel Thompson)
I am not one that tends to read much about faith or spiritualism. Maybe I should start. This article, as faith driven as it is, really struck a note with me. Founding a startup is a leap of faith. A situation where you never know you are doing the right things — until you do. It’s a bit “sappy” but well worth the read - it’s almost poetic!

What Do We Need In Our Investor Data Room? (Joe Procopio)
Have you ever heard the term “Data Room” before and wondered what it meant? What specifically do I need in the data room and for who? It all depends. Joe Procopio breaks down the what TO DO and what NOT TO DO with regards to data rooms.

New unicorns are plummeting. Here’s how volatile markets and shrinking valuations are shifting power from founders to investors (CBInsights)
The headline (other than being way too long!) is not new. Unicorns are dying left and right amidst a massive down turn in the macro economy. If you are a stats nerd like me, the data in this article is pretty epic. Lots of meat on where in the private investing world the downturn is impacting and why.

Today’s “Special Edition” news is all about the funnies. In today’s SEN, I step away from the deep topics and focus on the lolz. Everything from Zuckerbucks to router-trees are here for your holiday season enjoyment!

Router-Trees and the Holiday Season (CyberMarketing Society Slack)

The impact of the cloud and digital transformation can be seen in our Christmas holiday decorations! Decommission that data center, move everything to the cloud, and decorate your new router-tree. I wonder if this will have a positive impact on CSCO stock. If you really want to dive down a weird and glorious rabbit hole just follow this Google Link. There are lots of weird and wild Christmas trees out there!

Meta Still Worth $950 Billion Zuckerbucks in Mark Zuckerberg’s Personal Metaverse (Hard Drive)
Next up is some snark snark snark… check out how much Meta is worth in ZukerBUCKS! When in doubt you can always count on Hard Drive to give you a much needed laugh. The really crazy thing is that when you google “Zuckerbucks” you get a bunch of articles on how Zuckerberg and his foundation are buying elections. It just keeps getting more and more silly.

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No Joke I Appreciate You (The Cyber Why)
And finally this holiday season I want to say thank you for reading The Cyber Why. I hope you enjoy the weekly read as much as I do the weekly write! I hope you all have a great start to the holiday season.

Please remember to share The Cyber Why with your friends. It goes a long way to keeping me motivated to find and document the best content on the Internet.

Happy Holidays!

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