Tag Archive for: Guards

Oops! Meta Security Guards Hacked Facebook Users


Facebook parent Meta has disciplined or fired at least 25 workers for allegedly hacking into user accounts. Some of the workers were contract security guards, we’re told.

Wait … disciplined or fired? How were they not all fired? And prosecuted? And how come security guards have access to Facebook’s internal account-recovery tools?

All these questions and more will be asked in today’s SB Blogwatch. Please tell me it’s the weekend tomorrow.

Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment. Not to mention: Hello there.

‘Oops’ not Even the Half of It

What’s the craic? Kirsten Grind, Robert McMillan, Salvador Rodriguez and Jim Oberman tag team to report—“Employees, Security Guards Fired for Hijacking User Accounts”:

Workers accepted thousands of dollars in bribes
Meta … has fired or disciplined more than two dozen employees and contractors over the last year whom it accused of improperly taking over user accounts, in some cases allegedly for bribes. … Some of those fired were contractors who worked as security guards [who] were given access to the Facebook parent’s internal mechanism for employees to help users having trouble with their accounts … known internally as “Oops.”

Oops, an acronym for Online Operations, is supposed to be fairly limited to special cases, like friends, family, business partners and public figures, but its usage has climbed. … In 2020, the channel serviced about 50,270 tasks, up from 22,000 three years earlier.

In some cases workers accepted thousands of dollars in bribes from outside hackers to access user accounts. … Because so many people depend on social media for their businesses, or to manage critically important aspects of their lives, gaining illicit control of an account can be lucrative.

And Aaron Mok runs amok—“Meta reportedly accused dozens of workers”:

Some of the fired workers denied the accusations
As part of an internal investigation, Meta executives reportedly found that some employees were abusing Oops by working with third parties to gain unauthorized access to accounts in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars. … Meta fired dozens of…

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Partha Chatterjee: Parthar’s home security guards mobile ED, a total of 13 places searched! Speculation is rampant


#Kolkata: Shocking twist in SSC corruption case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the house of former education minister Partha Chatterjee. The central agency launched a morning search operation at Partha Chatterjee’s house in Naktala. Not only that, the ED came and took the mobile phones of all the policemen who were guarding Partha Chatterjee’s house. Central forces have also been deployed outside the house.

Kolkata police team is standing outside. The front of the house has been barricaded. Central forces have barricaded outside to avoid any untoward incident. Meanwhile, it is reported that the ED has also raided the house of Minister of State for Education Paresh Adhikari. ED also launched an investigation operation at the house of Paresh Adhikari in Mekhligonj on Friday morning. A delegation of about 5 people went to Paresh Adhikari’s house. At the same time, it is reported that the ED team has also reached the house of Chandan Mandal in Baghdad. Central forces are also with ED in Mekhliganj and Baghdad. It is reported that the ED’s search operation is going on in several places of the state on Friday.

Also Read: Suddenly ED raids Partha Chatterjee’s house, central forces surround house

According to sources, the ED is conducting searches at a total of 13 places. In the ED SSC case, the state is conducting searches at 13 places including the houses of Partha Chatterjee, Bagda Ranjan, Paresh Adhikari.

Also Read: Draupadi Murmur’s Victory Celebration, Bengal BJP District President’s Surprising Elation

According to the information obtained by the ED after interrogating the petitioners, jobs were given to low marks and failed candidates in exchange of money. A section of the Education Department and those who have taken the lead in providing these jobs at the district level have benefited financially. According to sources, Partha Chattopadhyay is being interrogated as to whether he was aware of these financial transactions as the then minister of the department and whether any of his close officials were involved in these financial transactions.

Besides, the information obtained by CBI regarding financial transactions by interrogating some of those accused…

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As Violent CTA Attacks Continue, Unarmed Security Guards, Martial Artists to Patrol Red Line Trains – NBC Chicago


In hopes of combating a string of violent attacks on CTA trains and platforms over the past several months, teams of unarmed security guards and people trained in martial arts will ride the Red Line for an eight-hour shift Friday to be on the lookout for crime.

The effort however is not led by the city of Chicago, or Chicago Police. Instead, community activist Tio Hardiman is leading the charge.

“We want to be proactive and preemptive. We don’t want things to get bad before we do something, things are already getting bad,” Hardiman said. “Put yourself in the the shoes of some working-class person, getting up to go to work and someone gets up in your face on the train.”

Hardiman says he has called on Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago Police Department to collaborate with volunteer patrols and work with him to identify train lines and problem time periods to continue the eight-hour shifts on an ongoing basis.

Who Will Patrol the CTA Friday, And on Which Trains?

Hardiman’s plan is to have 10 unarmed, volunteer security guards specifically for Red Line trains — 5 on northbound trains to Howard, and 5 on southbound trains to 95th Street.

Hardiman says the volunteers will wear a specific logo to be identifiable, and will ride the Red Line for an eight-hour shift beginning at 11 a.m. Friday.

Who are the Unarmed Volunteers?

Hardiman said his volunteers won’t have weapons, but most are veterans and have martial arts skills.

They also have been trained to act as “violence interrupters” to deescalate situations, and also will be able to direct those with substance abuse problems or people who are homeless to community resources.

Andre “Tank” Hart, a former Marine whose 300 Elite Protection security firm will provide officers for Friday’s patrols, said his officers will not be armed but many are military veterans and champions in martial arts such as jiujitsu and judo.

Volunteers from God’s Gorillas, a South Side nonprofit organization, also will ride along.

Has CTA Increased Their Own Security?

Crime says it has increased on trains and platforms during the pandemic, and earlier this month CTA said it has added more…

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Real-Life Robot Takes Over Security Guards at Theme Parks, Orlando’s Next


Could you imagine robots taking over Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando Resort? Well, it seems that robocops patrolling theme parks is not something that is too far off. Six Flags Texas has begun to use a new robot security technology that involves a real-life robot patrolling the Park. Six Flags Magic Mountain is set to bring the robot to their Park next in California, but the company who created the bot is eyeing Disney and Universal next.

Six Flags Magic Mountain
Credit: Six Flags Magic Mountain

When Guests visit theme parks, they often expect to see characters that they can meet and greet! When at Disney, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Tiana, Belle, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto, and many more. At Six Flags, Guests flock to Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Toon gang. Now, however, there is a new pal in town.

mickey mouse in front of cinderella castle
Credit: Disney

Related: Looking to Avoid Extra Security Screening at Disney World? Do This!

Fortune reported that “A robotic security guard named ROAMEO (Rugged Observation Assistance Mobile Electronic Officer) makes its debut at Six Flags Over Texas this week in Arlington. Another will begin patrolling Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Calif., next week.” With Six Flags Magic Mountian implementing their Flash Pass, a pay per ride system much like Disney Genie+.

The publication continued to outline the massive robot:

The 6.5-foot, 750-pound autonomous officer looks more like the illegitimate offspring of Wall-E and Baymax than Robocop. It’s equipped with cameras, a touch screen, speakers, and a two-way communication system. And listed among its abilities is recognizing when people are in restricted areas and determining when they’re not wearing face masks.

It can also provide information on ride wait times and tell people how to get to certain attractions. It will not, however, directly respond to infractions.

Robot security
Credit: RAD

Related: Disney Guests Forced to Wait In INSANE Security Line, Stretches Into Parking Lot

Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD), the company behind ROAMEO will have 100 robots patrolling theme parks by the end of the year, and are reportedly set to enter the Orlando theme park sphere this year as well. It was not noted which of the three parks…

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