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How Technology Changed Business (And What That Means for the Future of the Industry)

What comes to mind when you think of the word “business?” Many people will think of stereotypical corporate activities, like signing documents, sitting in cubicles, or swimming in a sea of never-ending black and blue suits. While all three of these things still permeate throughout the business world, all three are also becoming less popular. Think about it: Physically signing documents is a rarity; many businesses use e-signatures today. Cubicles are being phased out in favor of remote work. And instead of fancy suits, we’re seeing our coworkers in more casual clothes (if we even see them in the office at all).

Business is changing. Of course, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, every industry changes with time. But business is different. In order to survive, businesses have to evolve constantly and embrace new technologies that give them an edge over the competition. If they don’t, they’ll be left in the dust by smarter, more modern companies. Because of this, businesses have often been the first to widely adopt and implement innovative technology. But they aren’t just using technology to complement their existing practices; tech is now the backbone of every facet of business. Ultimately, the industry’s willingness to try new technology has helped usher in the digital era that we live in today. Technology hasn’t just helped business; it has evolved business from the ground up.

How Tech Changed Communications

It’s easy to forget, but just a few decades ago, business communication was radically different than it is today. Before the Internet, businesses relied on physical papers and snail mail to communicate. Internally, businesses needed a dedicated mail worker who transferred documents from one employee to another. For team-wide updates, papers had to be posted on a bulletin board to be seen. For external communications, businesses could use telephones to communicate, but if they needed to send a document, they had to rely on mail services. While, individually, none of these tasks are particularly burdensome, that lost time lost adds up. Mail could take a few hours to organize, international shipping could last weeks, and office telephones only worked when employees were at their desks. Before the Internet, businesses tried their best to maximize efficiency, but without modern technology, communications could be painfully slow.

Needless to say, communications at top businesses aren’t like this anymore. The turning point for businesses was the invention of email. All of a sudden, employees could communicate with each other immediately, and even attach documents digitally. As soon as email adoption became widespread in business, the business tech floodgates opened. Today, business software like Slack and Microsoft Teams allows coworkers to communicate instantaneously.

However, this tech isn’t without drawbacks. Because of how easy it is to communicate with coworkers, many employees feel like they can’t escape the office. After all, today’s smartphones can easily handle emails and video calls, ensuring that the office will always be able to contact us, no matter where we are. To that point, many businesses even require workers to respond to emails on weekends and vacations. Ultimately, business communication has become so fast and simple that many workers have trouble escaping the constant connection of their workplace.

How Tech Helps Reach Customers

One of the most difficult aspects of running a business is consistently finding new customers. Regulars are great, but in order for a business to truly thrive, it needs a plan to find and convert leads into customers. Before the Internet, this process was relatively simple. Word-of-mouth, networking, and the occasional newspaper ad were the only ways businesses could seek out new customers. Of these three, word-of-mouth was the most important, as businesses lived and died based on their reputation. Before modern technology, reaching new customers wasn’t all that costly. After all, positive word-of-mouth is just about the one thing a business can’t buy.

Today, word-of-mouth is still one of the most important parts of finding new customers, especially for small businesses. The difference, however, is that there are now dozens of ways for businesses to generate that word-of-mouth. Today, the most popular way is utilizing Facebook advertisements. A full 66% of all small business owners in the United States used Facebook to advertise their business[1]. Ultimately, very few businesses can thrive without the help of the modern Internet. Think about it: If your business has no website, no social media presence, and isn’t listed on Yelp or Google Maps, your business might as well not exist. While finding new customers is much more complex today, the multitude of ways to find new leads helps level the playing field between businesses. Now, your business doesn’t need a century-long reputation in order to succeed; it just needs high-quality digital marketing.

The Rise of Data Analysis

Many business owners may not even be aware of this, but every business uses data analysis to some degree. Simply put, data analysis is the inspection of data about a business and its customers, and making inferences based on that data. One common example is when a coffee shop increases its staffing during the morning rush. The owner knew from previous data that mornings were busier, and then decided to increase staffing to alleviate the rush. For businesses, the simple formula is to collect data, identify patterns in that data, then make predictions based on those patterns[2]. Even before modern technology, businesses regularly used data analysis to increase productivity and minimize downtime.

So, what’s different about data analysis today? Well, we’re usually not the ones doing it anymore. These days, most high-level data analysis is being done by computers. This makes sense, as computers are able to identify patterns in data much more accurately and quickly than humans. Additionally, data analysis isn’t just used for simple things like managing employee scheduling or choosing what items to stock. For the most successful businesses, data analysis is used in every area of business. From customer acquisition and targeted campaigns to new item development and supply chain management, data analysis helps businesses maximize their efficiency[3]. 

So, What’s Next?

After looking at all the ways technology has evolved business practices, one thing is for sure: Businesses are not done changing. Simply put, if there’s a way for businesses to increase their revenue, it will be utilized. And the fact is, businesses are becoming more and more reliant on computers and technology than ever before. Things like employee scheduling and data analysis, previously done by workers, are now done by computers. And, frankly, this trend is unlikely to reverse any time soon. Now, this doesn’t mean computers will be the ones running businesses in a few years. But let’s face it: They are already making many of the big decisions at businesses across the world. 

Ultimately, technology makes businesses more efficient. Unfortunately, as businesses rely more on technology, this also means they rely less on workers. Positions including warehouse jobs, customer service, and banking services are slowly being overtaken by technology[4]. It’s a sad reality, but businesses can simply be more successful with unpaid bots, rather than salaried employees. Again, technology is unlikely to replace human workers en masse any time soon. But as technology becomes more and more advanced, the most successful businesses will rely on tech more than ever before.

About AXEL

Technology is useful in every facet of business, but particularly in the area of cybersecurity. Cybercrime poses a threat to businesses big and small, highlighting the need for affordable cybersecurity solutions. That’s why we created AXEL Go. AXEL Go uses military-grade encryption, blockchain technology, and decentralized servers to ensure it’s the most secure file transfer software on the market. Whether you need to transfer large files or send files online, AXEL Go is the best cloud storage solution. If you’re ready to try the most secure file-sharing app for PC and mobile devices, download AXEL Go for free here.

[1] “Leading Social Media Networks Used by Small Businesses to Advertise in the United States in 2021.” Statista, November 18, 2021. https://www.statista.com/statistics/208971/effective-social-media-marketing-tools-for-small-us-businesses/

[2] “Why Data Analytics Is Critical for Small Businesses.” AirSlate, August 17, 2021. https://blog.airslate.com/why-data-analytics-is-critical-for-small-businesses/

[3] Mills, Terence. “Council Post: Five Benefits of Big Data Analytics and How Companies Can Get Started.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, December 10, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/11/06/five-benefits-of-big-data-analytics-and-how-companies-can-get-started/?sh=48b2320117e4
[4] “Council Post: Tech Experts Predict 13 Jobs That Will Be Automated by 2030.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, December 10, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/03/01/tech-experts-predict-13-jobs-that-will-be-automated-by-2030/?sh=3fc53ffb22bf

Small Business Tech Trends of 2022

When you think of small businesses, you may think of classic mom-and-pop, Main Street stores with just a few employees, and even fewer expenditures. Even TV and movies love to paint small businesses as old-fashioned shops with carefree owners who spend their time lounging and chatting up regulars. While this rosy picture may be accurate for a few small business owners, for the vast majority, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Small businesses and their owners face unique, difficult challenges that have no clear solution. This was especially clear when the COVID-19 pandemic began to rage in early 2020. While big businesses had the technological infrastructure to weather the storm, many small businesses simply couldn’t survive, through no fault of their own. For the businesses whose doors didn’t shutter in the early months of the pandemic, they soon found that innovation was the only way they could survive. From Zoom meetings to online ordering, COVID-19 forced small businesses to evolve. And even as the pandemic reaches its two-year anniversary, these involuntary changes aren’t leaving any time soon. As the country (and the world) continue to live with the pandemic, more small businesses are beginning to utilize these new technology trends to survive in this new normal.

Automation and Artificial Intelligence

When it comes to saving time, there is no better tool for small businesses than automation. Automation can complete many of the small, minute tasks that add up. Things like welcome emails, communications with leads, and inventory management can all be automized, allowing more time for business owners to focus on profit-driven tasks. Best of all, there are useful automation software for nearly every facet of business. Spending a lot of time setting up meetings? Try out Calendly, a useful tool that minimizes the time-consuming back-and-forth of arranging appointments. Want to set your social media posts weeks in advance? Try Hootsuite or Sprout, two programs that can post to your company’s social pages automatically. More and more small businesses are utilizing tools like these to cut down time spent on tasks that don’t affect the bottom line.

This increased adoption of tech shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, small businesses that extensively utilize digital tools earn twice as much revenue per employee than businesses that don’t[1]. It’s simple: When businesses let technology handle small, everyday tasks, they become more successful. However, this doesn’t mean that once a business automizes some things, it’ll magically increase profits. Small businesses have to constantly be on the lookout for programs that give them an advantage over their big-business competitors. One of these programs is quickly growing in popularity, and could even be considered an evolution of automation: Artificial Intelligence (AI).

One of the most popular AI programs for small businesses is chatbots. With these bots, businesses can communicate with web visitors and determine if they need help automatically. More uses include creating marketing content and streamlining inventory management[2]. Although similar to automation, AI goes one step further: It can analyze data and make logical decisions for your specific situation. From resume scanners to employee schedulers, Artificial Intelligence is becoming more useful (and more affordable) for small businesses that seek to prioritize their efficiency.

Digital Advertising is Changing

For the past decade, there has been a single, dominant platform in the social media advertising business: Facebook. It has long been known that advertisements are the lifeblood of the world’s most popular social media site. In fact, Facebook makes a whopping 98% of its revenue from ads[3]. Because of its unending data collection, Facebook can target ads at the micro-level, allowing them to charge advertisers even more. However, extensive data collection and ad-supported social media aren’t exclusive to Facebook anymore. While the company is still making a gaudy amount of money from ads, cracks are beginning to show.

One thing is certain: Facebook is getting older. Now, if your business’s target demographic is 45+, you won’t have much of a problem. But if your business is targeting the coveted 18 to 34 demographic, you may need a more complex marketing strategy. That’s because young people simply don’t use Facebook as much as they used to. In 2016, 60% of teens used Facebook at least once a month. In 2021, that number dropped to 27%[4]. Apps like Snapchat, Instagram, especially TikTok are simply more popular with young people, creating the need for multi-front digital marketing strategies.

Software Integration

The great thing about tech is that there are a virtually infinite number of programs that can help increase efficiency and revenue at small businesses. The bad thing is that, sometimes, too many programs can cause diminishing returns. After all, if you’re uploading data to a dozen different software programs every day, are you really saving time? Additionally, if you’re uploading the same data, over and over again, there’s a higher likelihood of data errors as well. That’s why small business owners have begun to embrace software integration. With integration, not only does software help you complete tasks, but it also communicates with your other software programs. Uploading information from a new lead? With software integration, you can simply add the information once, and it’ll be available on all your integrated programs. Employees need to communicate in order to get work done efficiently. Why can’t software do it too?

While the dream of completely seamless integrated software isn’t quite here yet, there are a number of programs tailored for small businesses that are incredibly convenient. Software like Quickbooks and Xero integrate accounting, expenses, and even employee scheduling. With these tools, small business owners are realizing just how much time, money, and effort they can save by utilizing software integration. 

Cybersecurity Risks

By now, you’ve almost certainly heard the risks of having poor cybersecurity infrastructure. Without protection, small businesses put themselves, their data, and their customers at risk every day. Thankfully, more and more small businesses have realized this risk, and have taken steps to minimize their chances of a catastrophic data breach. In fact, over half of small and medium-sized businesses now have a cybersecurity plan in place[5]. And as cybersecurity programs continue to become more available and affordable, this number is certain to rise in the coming years. While cybersecurity risks are, of course, ever-present, the rising popularity of cybersecurity solutions among small businesses is incredibly promising. Cybercrime risks are unlikely to completely disappear any time soon, but if more and more businesses begin to prioritize cybersecurity, nefarious cybercriminals will have to work harder to wreak their havoc.

Unfortunately, reality isn’t that rosy, at least not yet. While some small businesses have finally taken action to protect their cybersecurity, for many businesses, there’s still work to do. Only 9% of small businesses have cyber liability insurance. Therefore, it’s no surprise that 83% of small and medium-sized businesses are not prepared for the financial consequences of a cyberattack[5]. Ultimately, many small businesses have not reached true cybersecurity protection. While it’s great to see more small businesses finally begin to take cybercrime seriously, there’s still a long way to go. And while companies that have invested in cybersecurity can do business with peace of mind, those that haven’t will be at risk every single day.

About AXEL

No matter what industry your business is in, cybercrime poses a very real threat. At AXEL, we want to help you keep yourself (and your customers) safe from the threats of ransomware and data breaches. That’s why we created AXEL Go. AXEL Go uses military-grade encryption, blockchain technology, and decentralized servers to ensure it’s the most secure file transfer software on the market. Whether you need to transfer large files or send files online, AXEL Go is the best cloud storage solution. If you’re ready to try the most secure file-sharing app for PC and mobile devices, download AXEL Go for free here.

[1] “Small Business Technology Trends: Deloitte Us.” Deloitte United States, May 20, 2020. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/technology-media-and-telecommunications/articles/connected-small-businesses.html

[2] Rist, Oliver. “Small Businesses Are Using AI-Sometimes.” PCMAG. PCMag, December 7, 2021. https://www.pcmag.com/news/small-businesses-are-using-ai-sometimes

[3] “Facebook Ad Revenue 2009-2020.” Statista, February 18, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/271258/facebooks-advertising-revenue-worldwide/

[4] Leonhardt, Megan. “Teens Have Been Losing Interest in Facebook for Years.” Fortune. Fortune, October 26, 2021. https://fortune.com/2021/10/25/facebook-teens-usage-harm-studies/

[5] “10 Small Business Cyber Security Statistics That You Should Know – and How to Improve Them.” Cybersecurity Magazine, May 20, 2021. https://cybersecurity-magazine.com/10-small-business-cyber-security-statistics-that-you-should-know-and-how-to-improve-them/

After the Cyberattack: What Happens to your Data Following a Breach?

In 2022, cybercrime seems like everyday news. And in a way, it literally is. Simply search “data breach,” and you’ll find a wealth of businesses across the country dealing with the fallout of cybercrime. Businesses large and small fall victim to these attacks every day, putting more and more people’s personal information in jeopardy. And for consumers, your information leaking isn’t something you have to worry about for a few weeks, then move on. Because of the unique way personal data is stolen and sold, victims of data breaches have to keep an eye on their social media and bank accounts for years. 

On the business side, you’ve likely heard the horror stories of businesses losing millions of Social Security Numbers, or even having confidential documents leaked. From retail stores like Target to digital forums like Facebook, businesses from every industry have fallen victim to cybercrime. Unfortunately, this digital devilry has only become more prevalent. 2021 was the worst year on record for businesses and consumers, with nearly 6 billion accounts breached by cybercriminals[1]. There’s a decent chance even some of your personal information has been leaked without your knowledge. But if nearly 6 billion accounts across the Internet have been compromised, well, where is that information?

Where Does Your Personal Data Go?

When a data breach is reported, the most reported statistic is the number of accounts affected. Data breaches can have anywhere from a few victims, all the way up to 3 billion. When news of a breach breaks, reporters like saying that consumer data has been “leaked” or “published.” However, a more accurate term to describe a breach is that consumer data has been “auctioned off.” This is because the perpetrators of cyberattacks rarely use the data that they just stole. Rather, they simply sell your information to a multitude of low-level digital scammers, who try to make their money through simple phishing scams and the like, rather than complex cyberattacks.

Of course, stolen data can’t be sold on traditional commerce websites. And any public website that tried to sell the data would be taken down quickly for distributing a stolen good. After all, you can’t really Google “stolen data near me” and find what cybercriminals looking for. So, once all that data is stolen, where does it go on sale? On a section of the Internet few know about, and even fewer have visited: the Dark Web. 

The Dark Web is a “layer” of the Internet that can only be accessed through special software. Estimated to be almost 500 times larger than the standard web, the Dark Web is a hub for cybercriminals and their illegal activities[2]. After a data breach, the hackers will typically post about their haul on a Dark Web forum and offer the data to other users for a specific price. Depending on the price and quality of the stolen data, there could be anywhere from a few to hundreds of buyers. Even just hours after a data breach, your personal information could be in the hands of dozens of scammers all across the globe.

How Valuable is My Personal Data?

Not all data breaches are created equal, and not all information is equal either. Think about it: If you were a cybercriminal, would you want three million Twitter usernames and passwords, or one million credit card numbers? Considering Twitter logins are worth just USD $35, and credit card numbers are worth up to $240, most would choose the credit card numbers[3]. Some pieces of information are simply more valuable than others, and cybercriminals know this. That’s why, when a data breach occurs, measuring the impact solely on the number of affected accounts is inaccurate. A leaked Facebook password could cause headaches, but besides a few spam posts, it probably won’t affect your life too much. A leaked passport number, however, could lead to something as serious as identity theft.

This showcases how stolen data itself isn’t particularly valuable, and is only valuable if you know what to do with it. After all, if you hand a random passerby your Social Security Number, it’s unlikely they’ll know how to steal your identity. Unfortunately, these Dark Web cybercriminals have all the knowledge they need to cause chaos in victims’ lives. Even information as simple as phone numbers and corresponding names can be a cash cow for scammers. The disparity in value between pieces of information highlights just how wide-ranging the damage from a data breach can be. So next time there’s a major data breach in the news, don’t just look at the number of accounts affected to judge the severity. Look at what was stolen to truly determine how damaging a cyberattack is.

What About Stolen Documents?

Of course, personal information isn’t the only data that is put at risk during a cyberattack. If cybercriminals target a business, law firm, or government agency, confidential documents could be leaked as well, especially in ransomware attacks. The problem, however, is that this confidential information simply isn’t valuable to cybercriminals. Therefore, when these documents are stolen, cybercriminals often demand a ransom and threaten to publish the confidential information unless it’s paid. For businesses that suffer this type of attack, they typically only have two choices: Pay the ransom, or face a public relations (or even legal) nightmare. 

However, not all cyberattacks are typical. Some cybercriminals couldn’t care less about the money, and only seek to embarrass specific businesses. In one case, a Swiss hacker published confidential data from dozens of companies and government agencies as a protest against mass surveillance[4]. For these companies and agencies, once the hacker gets the data, it’s gone, regardless of the ability to pay a ransom. This highlights how no two cyberattacks are exactly the same. Although most hackers are in it for the money, some simply seek to make a statement, regardless of the financial consequences. That’s why, when it comes to cybersecurity, it’s important to be prepared for anything and everything.

Protect Yourself from Cybercrime

Ultimately, the best way to protect yourself from cybercrime is to prepare. Thankfully, there are simple, inexpensive ways to greatly minimize the risk of a cyberattack on you or your employer. First, encryption is everything when it comes to cybersecurity. Encryption is like splitting your files into thousands of different puzzle pieces, so even if hackers got into your network, your documents are completely illegible to the attackers. Next, updating your security software is the easiest way to mitigate risk. Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for security holes, and those holes are much more prevalent in older versions of software. Keeping your software up-to-date could be the difference between safety, and one of the worst cyberattacks in history. Just ask Equifax.

Finally, one of the best ways to consistently prevent cyberattacks is to encourage a culture of security. This means educating all employees on the risks of cybercrime and how to minimize those risks. From teaching employees how to spot phishing emails to creating an incident response plan, simply prioritizing cybersecurity before a breach is one of the best ways to prevent cybercrime. Prioritizing cybersecurity doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming, but it’s the key to protecting your most valuable documents and data.

About AXEL

If you and your business are ready to prioritize cybersecurity, AXEL Go is the solution for you. AXEL Go uses military-grade encryption, blockchain technology, and decentralized servers to ensure it’s the most secure file transfer software on the market. Whether you need to transfer large files or send files online, AXEL Go is the best cloud storage solution. At AXEL, we believe that privacy is a human right and that your information deserves the best protection. To try the most secure file-sharing app for PC and mobile devices, get two free weeks of AXEL Go here.

[1] Mello, John P. “Data Breaches Affected Nearly 6 Billion Accounts in 2021.” TechNewsWorld, January 18, 2022. https://www.technewsworld.com/story/data-breaches-affected-nearly-6-billion-accounts-in-2021-87392.html

[2] “After the Data Breach – What Happens to Your Data?” BlackFog, May 6, 2021. https://www.blackfog.com/after-the-data-breach-what-happens-to-your-data/

[3] Sen, Ravi. “Here’s How Much Your Personal Information Is Worth to Cybercriminals – and What They Do with It.” PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, May 14, 2021. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/heres-how-much-your-personal-information-is-worth-to-cybercriminals-and-what-they-do-with-it

[4] “U.S. Charges Swiss ‘Hacktivist’ for Data Theft and Leaks.” NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, March 19, 2021. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/us-charges-swiss-hacktivist-data-theft-leaks-rcna448

Has School Surveillance Gone Too Far?

When it comes to education, pen and paper simply aren’t enough these days. Even just twenty years ago, the most technology students would see in a classroom was the occasional TV cart for educational films. However, in today’s schools, classroom technology is far more than the occasional classroom movie. These days, it’s a necessity. 

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic forced classes online, education technology was revolutionizing the way students learn. From software programs like Schoology to the prevalence of SMART Boards, education technology is used in a variety of ways with one overarching goal: To help students learn and retain information better. To help achieve this goal, many schools have begun to distribute laptops and tablets to students. After all, many projects must be completed and turned in online, and issuing school laptops can ensure all students have equal access to their assignments. While this free distribution of education technology is a noble act, particularly for students who can’t afford premium technology on their own, the technology comes with a massive caveat.

In nearly all cases, school-issued technology is installed with monitoring software. While monitoring software is necessary in some capacities, like ensuring students aren’t playing games on their laptops during class, many software programs are concerningly complex. As education becomes more and more digitized, it’s fair to ask: How much should schools know about their students?

The State of Surveillance

Monitoring students during school isn’t anything new. After all, schools act as students’ guardians during the school day, so it makes sense to observe, monitor, and occasionally report students for illicit or unsafe activities. However, with the rise of technology in schools, students began to spend much of their time online. Naturally, a school’s desire to observe, monitor, and report extends to the digital world as well. Today, a wealth of software programs including Bark, Gnosis IQ, Gaggle, and Lightspeed are installed on student devices to monitor their online interactions[1]. 

And this monitoring isn’t limited to school either. Even outside of the classroom, these software programs utilize artificial intelligence and human moderators to monitor students’ private chats, documents, and emails[1]. If a student searches for something related to, say, self-harm, the software can send an alert to the school district, allowing teachers to message students within minutes. While this strategy can help prevent self-harm, family abuse, and other dangerous situations, it’s clear that student privacy is sacrificed in exchange for this goal.

With the sheer amount of surveillance that students face, few would argue that student privacy isn’t violated. The question, however, is if this sacrifice of privacy is worth it. Proponents of school surveillance argue that it helps schools keep tabs on students, so if a particular child is in danger, the school can take action. In fact, one of Gaggle’s main selling points is its claim that the software saves hundreds of lives per year[2]. While this statement may be exaggerated, the software certainly helps identify students in need quickly.

On the other hand, those against tracking argue that surveillance invades privacy and deters free speech. After all, if you know a live human is watching every email or message you send, you may be more careful about what you type. Ultimately, this tracking software expands the classroom walls to home life, making children feel like they’re being watched all day, every day. Although school surveillance works in some cases, it also has several unintended consequences.

The Harms of School Monitoring

First, the psychological harm to students from endless surveillance can not be understated. In fact, a study found that 53% of students don’t share their true thoughts online because of surveillance, and 77% say they’re more careful about what they search online[3]. After all, students aren’t dumb; they know when they’re being tracked, and would rather censor their own behaviors than potentially deal with their messages or searches being flagged. The study states:

Systematic monitoring of online activity can reveal sensitive information about students’ personal lives, such as their sexual orientation, or cause a chilling effect on their free expression, political organizing, or discussion of sensitive issues such as mental health[3].

Because of the surveillance, students are scared to have conversations about tough topics. This causes students to avoid talking about them at all to avoid potential punishment from schools.

In addition to the psychological effects, surveillance software disproportionately harms minority students as well. Artificial intelligence programs are more likely to flag language spoken by Black students[4]. This is because of the lack of minority voices during the training of the AI, and the lack of diversity in the AI field in general[5]. This issue is exasperated by the fact that Black and Hispanic students use school devices at a higher rate than white students. Additionally, surveillance AI targets LGBTQ students as well, by flagging innocent words like “gay” and “lesbian[5].” Ultimately, it’s clear that student monitoring software does not judge every student equally.

Finally, vulnerabilities found in these software programs increase the risk of data breaches and other privacy incidents. In 2020, ProctorU, a software that monitors students during tests, was breached by cybercriminals, resulting in the leak of over 440,000 students’ emails, passwords, addresses, and phone numbers[6]. More concerningly, in 2021, researchers found vulnerabilities in Netop, another student monitoring software. In this case, they found a bug that could allow hackers to install malware, or even gain access to students’ webcams[7]. At the end of the day, software like this is just another way for cybercriminals to make a quick buck while wreaking digital havoc.

Can Safety and Privacy Coexist?

Here’s the thing: Keeping tabs on students isn’t a bad thing. In fact, that’s practically the entire purpose of a school. But as education becomes more digitized, there ought to be a balance between keeping students safe and respecting their privacy. Of course, some tracking is reasonable. Kids shouldn’t be playing games during instruction, and tracking software allows schools to see who isn’t paying attention. But monitoring students at home? At that point, students feel watched all day, thus less likely to type their true feelings. And making students feel like they have to constantly hide their true beliefs and feelings isn’t a recipe for success. Safety and privacy can coexist, but right now, there are too many severe consequences associated with student monitoring software to make the sacrifice of privacy worth it.

About AXEL

No matter if you work in education, law, or business, cybercrime poses a threat to your industry. Thankfully, AXEL makes it easy to protect yourself from the threat of ransomware and data breaches. At AXEL, we believe that privacy is a human right and that your information deserves the best protection. That’s why we created AXEL Go. AXEL Go uses military-grade encryption, blockchain technology, and decentralized servers to ensure it’s the most secure file transfer software on the market. Whether you need to transfer large files or send files online, AXEL Go is the best cloud storage solution. If you’re ready to try the most secure file-sharing app for PC and mobile devices, get two free weeks of AXEL Go here.

[1] Crispin, Jessa. “American Schools Gave Kids Laptops during the Pandemic. Then They Spied on Them | Jessa Crispin.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, October 11, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/oct/11/us-students-digital-surveillance-schools

[2] Haskins, Caroline. “Revealed: How One Company Surveils Everything Kids Do and Say in School.” BuzzFeed News. BuzzFeed News, November 3, 2019. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/carolinehaskins1/gaggle-school-surveillance-technology-education

[3] Hankerson, DeVan, Cody Venzke, Elizabeth Laird, Hugh Grant-Chapman, and Dhanaraj Thakur. “Online and Observed.” CDT.org. Center for Democracy and Technology, September 2021. https://cdt.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Online-and-Observed-Student-Privacy-Implications-of-School-Issued-Devices-and-Student-Activity-Monitoring-Software.pdf

[4] Chung, Anna. “How Automated Tools Discriminate against Black Language.” MIT Center for Civic Media, January 24, 2019. https://civic.mit.edu/2019/01/24/how-automated-tools-discriminate-against-black-language/

[5] Kshetri, Nir. “School Surveillance of Students via Laptops May Do More Harm than Good.” The 74 Million, January 19, 2022. https://www.the74million.org/article/school-surveillance-of-students-via-laptops-may-do-more-harm-than-good/

[6] Abrams, Lawrence. “ProctorU Confirms Data Breach after Database Leaked Online.” BleepingComputer. BleepingComputer, August 9, 2020. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/proctoru-confirms-data-breach-after-database-leaked-online/

[7] McCracken, Harry. “Popular Student Monitoring Software Could Have Exposed Thousands to Hacks.” Fast Company. Fast Company, October 15, 2021. https://www.fastcompany.com/90686770/netop-student-monitoring-software-hack

The World’s Top Hacking Groups – Part 2

In Part 1 of AXEL’s feature on the world’s top hacking groups, we featured some of the leading cultivators of chaos in the world. From state-sponsored groups like Bureau 121 to leaderless hacktivist organizations like Anonymous, no two hacking groups are the same. Each organization has different personnel, goals, and methods of achieving those goals, with some more successful than others. In a way, these criminal syndicates are extremely similar to traditional businesses: If you’re financially successful, your group will flourish. If you struggle to make steady income, you’ll lose employees and, eventually, your entire company.

However, just as it is in the business world, there are some hacking groups that are seemingly too big to fail. Typically, these groups are state-sponsored, and receive oodles of cash for security purposes. While these state-sponsored groups may rarely grab headlines, these are the syndicates that truly hold the most power. After all, an independent hacker group can be taken down with a thorough investigation. A hacker group supported by a powerful nation is extremely unlikely to ever face investigations or oversight from other nations.

These four groups represent some of the most powerful hacking organizations in the world:

Cozy Bear

Cozy Bear is yet another Russian state-sponsored hacking group that focuses on attacking Western governments and media [1]. This group, however, seemingly has an intense focus on the United States. In 2014, the group hacked the State Department and the White House’s email systems, and in 2020, breached the Commerce and Treasury departments [2]. As part of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, Cozy Bear, along with sibling hacking group Fancy Bear, hacked into the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in 2016. Oddly enough, Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear were unaware of each other’s activities, and both independently hacked the political committee [3].

Although Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear both breached the DNC’s servers in 2016, Cozy Bear’s latest actions show that these hacks aren’t done for partisan purposes. In July 2021, the group breached the servers of the Republican National Committee (RNC) [4]. Ultimately this highlights Russia’s main strategy regarding cyberwarfare. The goal isn’t to make sure a certain candidate wins; it’s to undermine faith in the electoral process, thus lowering confidence in the nation itself. While Russia may have a preferred candidate every four years, it’s cybersecurity actions show a clear, nonpartisan strategy to simply embarrass the United States and decrease faith in its political processes. And Cozy Bear is just one of many groups Russia uses to further this goal.

REvil

One of the newest hacking groups in the world is also one of the most notorious. REvil is a private Russian group that makes millions from its ransomware attacks on businesses. The group initially gained attention in May 2020, when it hacked an entertainment-focused law firm and stole a number of files from the firm. REvil threatened then-President Donald Trump to release compromising documents unless the group received a massive USD $42 million ransom [5]. However, cybersecurity researchers quickly believed that this was a bluff, and no compromising documents were ever released by REvil [6].

Unfortunately, REvil’s initial failure did not deter the group. In 2021, the group was responsible for two massive cyberattacks. First, in May 2021, REvil breached JBS Foods, the world’s largest beef producer. This attack forced the company to shut down some of its food processing plants, threatening a potential beef shortage. However, just one day after the initial attack, JBS paid a USD $11 million ransom to REvil to decrypt its servers [7]. While the quick payment ensured there would be no major shortages, it showed how desperate businesses can be if hit with a devastating ransomware attack. Just a month later, REvil attacked Kaseya, a networks, systems, and IT software company. This attack shut down Kaseya’s main software, ultimately affecting up to 1,500 businesses worldwide. The impacts of this attack were felt worldwide, with a Swedish grocery store chain closed because of inoperable cash registers, and New Zealand schools being taken offline [8].

Thankfully, in October 2021, REvil itself was forced offline by a multi-country operation led by the United States [9]. While this doesn’t mean REvil will never pop up again, the crackdown on ransomware shows that even the most notorious private hacking groups can be stopped.

Chinese Cyber Operations

While not much is known about China’s cyber operations, we do know that their attacks have been effective. In 2010, China was the culprit behind Operation Aurora, an advanced, highly-sophisticated attack on dozens of American companies, including Google and Adobe [10]. In the attack, China stole intellectual property, along with access to the Gmail accounts of two high-profile human rights activists.

Following this complex cyberattack, China was accused of executing one of the worst cyberattacks of all time: The Equifax data breach. In February 2020, the United States charged four members of China’s People’s Liberation Army with the 2017 hack that leaked personal information of over 150 million Americans [11]. While the United States has no way of extraditing the four soldiers for trial, this claim highlighted the sheer power of state cyber operations groups. The Equifax hack had a profound effect on everyday Americans, and caused concern that extremely effective and damaging cyberattacks could become commonplace in the future.

In the present, China’s cyber operations have expanded. This escalation is fueled by the desire for more intelligence, particularly from the United States amid rising tensions between the two global superpowers [12]. In fact, Western governments have accused China of hacking into Microsoft’s Exchange company server. This hack affected about 250,000 organizations worldwide, allowing Chinese hackers to pilfer through company emails for intelligence. While this hack was not nearly as impactful as the Equifax breach, it highlights China’s renewed focus on gathering massive amounts of intelligence on the United States and other Western nations.

NSA Tailored Access Operations

While many of the world’s top hacking groups operate far from North America, the world’s most powerful group is undoubtedly within American borders. The National Security Administration’s (NSA) Tailored Access Operations group gathers intelligence from foreign targets by hacking into devices, stealing data, and monitoring communications. Additionally, the group develops software that can destroy a foreign target’s computer and networks [13]. The group is responsible for developing malware that targeted Iran’s nuclear program, along with regularly breaching Chinese computer networks for gathering intelligence.

The United States’ targeted surveillance capabilities should come as no surprise. After all, the NSA is well-known for its mass surveillance techniques. Tailored Access Operations is relatively similar to other state cyber operations groups: It uses targeted surveillance to gather intelligence, and uses sophisticated malware to attack its targets. Of course, because it’s the NSA, there is the possibility that the group has even more publicly unknown high-tech resources for cyberattacks. While Tailored Access Operations works in the shadows, the strength of the NSA, and the United States in general, make this group the most powerful hackers in the world.

About AXEL

Some of these powerful hacking groups will, unfortunately, continue to wreak havoc in 2022. That’s why data security and user privacy remain as important as ever. At AXEL we believe that privacy is a human right, and that your information deserves the best protection. That’s why we created AXEL Go. AXEL Go uses 256-bit encryption, blockchain technology and decentralized servers to ensure it’s the best file transfer software on the market. Whether you need cloud video storage or cloud file management, AXEL Go is the secure file hosting solution. If you’re ready to try the best file sharing app for PC and mobile devices, try two free weeks of AXEL Go here.

[1] Meyer, Josh. “Cozy Bear Explained: What You Need to Know about the Russian Hacks.” NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, September 15, 2016. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hacking-in-america/cozy-bear-explained-what-you-need-know-about-russian-hacks-n648541

[2] Nakashima, Ellen, and Craig Timberg. “Russian Government Hackers Are behind a Broad Espionage Campaign That Has Compromised U.S. Agencies, Including Treasury and Commerce.” The Washington Post. WP Company, December 14, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/russian-government-spies-are-behind-a-broad-hacking-campaign-that-has-breached-us-agencies-and-a-top-cyber-firm/2020/12/13/d5a53b88-3d7d-11eb-9453-fc36ba051781_story.html 

[3] “Bear on Bear.” The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, September 22, 2016. https://www.economist.com/united-states/2016/09/22/bear-on-bear

[4] Turton, William, and Jennifer Jacobs. “Russia ‘Cozy Bear’ Breached GOP as Ransomware Attack Hit.” Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, July 6, 2021. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-06/russian-state-hackers-breached-republican-national-committee

[5] Collier, Kevin, and Diana Dasrath. “Criminal Group That Hacked Law Firm Threatens to Release Trump Documents.” NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, May 16, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/criminal-group-hacked-law-firm-threatens-release-trump-documents-n1208366

[6] Vanian, Jonathan. “Everything to Know about Revil, the Group behind Several Devastating Ransomware Attacks.” Fortune. Fortune, July 8, 2021. https://fortune.com/2021/07/07/what-is-revil-ransomware-attack-kaseya/

[7] Abrams, Lawrence. “JBS Paid $11 Million to REvil Ransomware, $22.5m First Demanded.” BleepingComputer. BleepingComputer, June 10, 2021. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/jbs-paid-11-million-to-revil-ransomware-225m-first-demanded/

[8] Satter, Raphael. “Up to 1,500 Businesses Affected by Ransomware Attack, U.S. Firm’s CEO Says.” Reuters. Thomson Reuters, July 6, 2021. https://www.reuters.com/technology/hackers-demand-70-million-liberate-data-held-by-companies-hit-mass-cyberattack-2021-07-05/

[9] Bing, Christopher, and Joseph Menn. “Exclusive Governments Turn Tables on Ransomware Gang Revil by Pushing It Offline.” Reuters. Thomson Reuters, October 21, 2021. https://www.reuters.com/technology/exclusive-governments-turn-tables-ransomware-gang-revil-by-pushing-it-offline-2021-10-21/

[10] Zetter, Kim. “Google Hack Attack Was Ultra Sophisticated, New Details Show.” Wired. Conde Nast, January 15, 2010. https://www.wired.com/2010/01/operation-aurora/

[11] Perez, Evan, and Zachary Cohen. “US Charges 4 Members of Chinese Military with Equifax Hack.” CNN. Cable News Network, February 11, 2020. https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/10/politics/equifax-chinese-military-justice-department/index.html

[12] Sabbagh, Dan. “Experts Say China’s Low-Level Cyberwar Is Becoming Severe Threat.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, September 23, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/23/experts-china-low-level-cyber-war-severe-threat

[13] Peterson, Andrea. “The NSA Has Its Own Team of Elite Hackers.” The Washington Post. WP Company, August 29, 2013. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2013/08/29/the-nsa-has-its-own-team-of-elite-hackers/

The World’s Top Hacking Groups – Part 1

Click here to read Part 2 of AXEL’s blog on the world’s top hacking groups

Ever since the invention of computers, there have been hackers. However, in the early history of computers, “hackers” weren’t seen as shadowy, havoc-wreaking figures, but simply as enthusiasts. These early hackers tinkered with computers, and ended up creating some of the earliest computer programs. But as computers rapidly gained popularity in the 1980s, cybersecurity cracks were starting to show, and skilled individuals took advantage. In 1989, Joseph Popp created the first ransomware device: A floppy disk sent to world health professionals disguised as medical research. When inserted, the disk locked the user’s computer, and demanded the victim mail $189 to a PO Box in Panama [1]. 

While this early example of hacking is easy-to-understand, modern hacking and ransomware is far more complicated, not just from a technological standpoint, but from an organizational standpoint as well. Gone are the days of individual, hoodie-clad loners furiously typing on their computers in the dark. Today, the people who carry out the world’s worst hacks are part of hacking groups. After all, hackers are smart, and realize that they can do more damage working together, rather than alone. Most of the world’s worst hacks have occurred at the hands of a few hacking organizations, committed to causing chaos around the globe.

These groups have the money and manpower to cause digital devastation on a global scale:

Bureau 121 & Lazarus

North Korea has long been a mysterious, yet aggressive nation, and its state-sponsored hacking group is no exception. Although not much is known about Bureau 121, cybersecurity experts have tied the group to the North Korean government. However, because of the country’s poor infrastructure, experts believe that Bureau 121 plans and executes its operations in Shenyang, China, a city just 100 miles from the North Korean border [2]. The organization mostly targets South Korean businesses, unsurprisingly. One of its biggest attacks was a ransomware attack on South Korea’s Hydro & Nuclear Power Company, resulting in a massive data breach.

While North Korean hackers mostly focus on their South Korean neighbors, it gained worldwide notoriety when Lazarus Group, an affiliate of Bureau 121, attacked Sony Pictures. First, the group leaked thousands of emails between Sony Pictures executives, and leaked unannounced, upcoming films from the studio. More concerningly, the group threatened to commit acts of terrorism at movie theaters unless Sony’s film “The Interview,” a comedy whose plot includes the assassination of Kim Jong-Un, North Korea’s leader, was pulled from theaters [3]. The United States quickly tied the hack to North Korea, but because of the countries’ icy relationship, no arrests have been made.

Syrian Electronic Army

The Syrian Electronic Army (SEA) was formed during the Arab Spring, a series of anti-government protests and uprisings in the Middle East in the early 2010s. It was created to protect controversial Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from Syrian dissidents during the widespread protests [4]. Interestingly, cybersecurity experts are unsure if the group is sponsored by the Syrian government, or is simply a group of pro-Assad hackers [5]. In either case, the SEA is a vehemently pro-Assad organization that has two goals: Punish media organizations that are critical of Assad, and spread Syria’s state-sponsored narrative [4].

One of the SEA’s most famous hacks occurred in 2013, when the group hacked into the Associated Press’ Twitter account and falsely reported that then-President Obama was injured in an explosion at the White House [6]. This single Tweet caused stocks to plummet, highlighting just how much damage can be caused from hackers thousands of miles away. In addition to this notable AP hack, the SEA has hacked Western media organizations, including Facebook, Microsoft, and The New York Times.

Fancy Bear

Although this group may have a cuddly name, its actions are anything but soft. Cybersecurity experts widely believe Fancy Bear to be a Russian-sponsored hacking group responsible for a variety of hacks to advance Russian interests [7]. The group has committed attacks on Germany’s Parliament, French President Emmanuel Macron, and a variety of other Western governments [8]. The group typically uses well-disguised phishing emails to gain access to restricted information.

Fancy Bear used this strategy to pull off its most daring, consequential hack: an attack that leaked thousands of Democratic National Committee (DNC) emails in 2016 [9]. The cyberattack resulted in the public reveal of thousands of DNC emails, many of which were seen as controversial or simply embarrassing. While many countries spy on others during elections, this was one of the first times a foreign country was able to successfully meddle in a United States election. Although it’s impossible to determine if the 2016 Presidential election would have been different if Fancy Bear didn’t commit the attack, this hack showed how valuable, and devastating, cyberattacks can be before elections.

Anonymous

Perhaps the most famous hacking organization in the world, Anonymous is unlike any other group. Anonymous is decentralized, with no leader or physical hub. While this may sound like a disadvantage, this organization ensures that the group can continue its activities even if members drop out or are apprehended. Anonymous is a “hacktivist” group, and does not have specific goals or enemies. However, Anonymous certainly has a broad aspiration to promote freedom of speech and diminish government control [10].

Anonymous gained notoriety during its 2008 cyberattacks on the Church of Scientology, when the group managed to shut down the Church’s website. Following this attack, the organization gained popularity around the world, expanding the group’s hacking capabilities (and potential targets). The group targeted Tunisia’s government during the Arab Spring protests, Visa and MasterCard for declining to do business with WikiLeaks, and Bank of America for its shady mortgage practices [11].

Since 2008, Anonymous has continued to attack governments and organizations that break the group’s core beliefs. However, the long-term impact of these attacks are often negligible. Anonymous’s main strategy is a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. While DDoS attacks are successful in shutting down websites and gaining notoriety, once the website is back up, there are few long-term effects of Anonymous’s involvement. So although Anonymous is one of the most notorious hacking collectives in the world, more organized groups are able to cause greater long-term effects with their cyberattacks.

About AXEL

Hacking groups aren’t going away any time soon. That’s why data security and user privacy remain as important as ever. At AXEL we believe that privacy is a human right, and that your information deserves the best protection. That’s why we created AXEL Go. AXEL Go uses 256-bit encryption, blockchain technology and decentralized servers to ensure it’s the best file transfer software on the market. Whether you need cloud video storage or cloud file management, AXEL Go is the secure file hosting solution. If you’re ready to try the best file sharing app for PC and mobile devices, try two free weeks of AXEL Go here.

[1] Kelly, Samantha Murphy. “The Bizarre Story of the Inventor of Ransomware.” CNN. Cable News Network, May 16, 2021. https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/16/tech/ransomware-joseph-popp/index.html

[2] Lee, Dave. “Bureau 121: How Good Are Kim Jong-Un’s Elite Hackers?” BBC News. BBC, May 29, 2015. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32925503

[3] VanDerWerff, Emily, and Timothy Lee. “The 2014 Sony Hacks, Explained.” Vox. Vox, January 20, 2015. https://www.vox.com/2015/1/20/18089084/sony-hack-north-korea

[4] Harding, Luke, and Charles Arthur. “Syrian Electronic Army: Assad’s Cyber Warriors.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, April 30, 2013. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/apr/29/hacking-guardian-syria-background

[5] Perlroth, Nicole. “Hunting for Syrian Hackers’ Chain of Command.” The New York Times. The New York Times, May 17, 2013. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/technology/financial-times-site-is-hacked.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[6] Moore, Heidi, and Dan Roberts. “AP Twitter Hack Causes Panic on Wall Street and Sends Dow Plunging.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, April 23, 2013. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/apr/23/ap-tweet-hack-wall-street-freefall

[7] O’Flaherty, Kate. “Midterm Election Hacking — Who Is Fancy Bear?” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, August 23, 2018. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateoflahertyuk/2018/08/23/midterm-election-hacking-who-is-fancy-bear/?sh=5bccc7aa2325

[8] Hern, Alex. “Macron Hackers Linked to Russian-Affiliated Group behind US Attack.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, May 8, 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/08/macron-hackers-linked-to-russian-affiliated-group-behind-us-attack

[9] Frenkel, Sheera. “Meet Fancy Bear, the Russian Group Hacking the US Election.” BuzzFeed News. BuzzFeed News, October 15, 2016. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/sheerafrenkel/meet-fancy-bear-the-russian-group-hacking-the-us-election

[10] Sands, Geneva. “What to Know About the Worldwide Hacker Group ‘Anonymous.’” ABC News. ABC News Network, March 19, 2016. https://abcnews.go.com/US/worldwide-hacker-group-anonymous/story?id=37761302

[11] “The 10 Craziest Hacks Done by Anonymous.” Complex. Complex, May 31, 2020. https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2011/08/the-10-craziest-anonymous-hacks/