This Week's [in]Security - Issue 185 | insecurity | Control Gap

Welcome to This Week’s [in]Security. New breaches: Broadvoice. s3M cards. Books. IoTcams. Proctoring. New Ransomware. Twitter. Backdoors. Cybersecurity Labelling. Validating Leaked Emails. NPM. BleedingTooth. Sonic Wall. Multiple Microsoft. SAP. Flash. Magento. Foxit. Kids Smartwatches. Fearware. Nation States. InfoSec Economics. Polarization. Election Security and Disinformation. AI. Doom? Things that go boom. Health, Safety & Environment. superconductivity. Covid-19: Spread, Curves, Spikes, Waves, & reinfections. Disinformation. More of the Good, Bad, and Ugly. And more.

PCI Compliance and Payments

News and announcements relating to Payment Security, PCI, Card Brands, Payments, Payment Malware and Fraud.

• Square Releases an API to Allow Its Terminal to Ease Acceptance of Contactless Payments https://www.digitaltransactions.net/square-releases-an-api-to-allow-its-terminal-to-ease-acceptance-of-contactless-payments/
• 'Black Box' and Physical Attacks Against ATMs Surge https://www.databreachtoday.com/black-box-physical-attacks-against-atms-surge-a-15191

Breaches / Ransomware / Leaks

Covering breaches, leaks, data exposures, ransomware (as potential breach), and their fallout.

• New breaches:

  • Broadvoice database of more than 350 million customer records exposed online https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/350-million-customer-records-exposed-online/
  • Breach at Dickey’s BBQ Smokes 3M Cards https://krebsonsecurity.com/tag/dickeys-barbeque-breach/, https://krebsonsecurity.com/2020/10/breach-at-dickeys-bbq-smokes-3m-cards/ and https://www.zdnet.com/article/card-details-for-3-million-dickeys-customers-posted-on-carding-forum
  • Barnes & Noble Hack: A Reading List for Phishers and Crooks https://threatpost.com/barnes-noble-hack-phishers-crooks/160148/
  • Home security cams hacked in Singapore, and stolen footage sold on adult websites https://www.databreaches.net/home-security-cams-hacked-in-singapore-and-stolen-footage-sold-on-adult-websites/
  • Western University students alerted about security breach at exam monitor Proctortrack https://www.databreaches.net/ca-western-students-alerted-about-security-breach-at-exam-monitor-proctortrack/

• New Ransomware:

  • Ubisoft, Crytek data posted on ransomware gang's site https://www.zdnet.com/article/ubisoft-crytek-data-posted-on-ransomware-gangs-site/
  • Commission Kings’ Brands Suffer Cyber-Attack Outage https://www.databreaches.net/commission-kings-brands-suffer-cyber-attack-outage/
  • Law Firm Seyfarth Shaw Hit by Damaging Ransomware Attack https://www.securityweek.com/law-firm-seyfarth-discloses-ransomware-attack

• Follow-ups and fall-out:

  • Online proctor service ProctorTrack disables service after hack https://www.databreaches.net/online-proctor-service-proctortrack-disables-service-after-hack/
  • Norway blames Russia for cyber-attack on parliament https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54518106
  • Tyler Technologies finally paid the ransom to receive the decryption key https://www.databreaches.net/tyler-technologies-finally-paid-the-ransom-to-receive-the-decryption-key/
  • 620 applicants file joint case against IT firm which exposed voter data https://www.databreaches.net/620-applicants-file-joint-case-against-it-firm-which-exposed-voter-data/
  • Twitter hackers trick employees by posing as IT workers, NY probe finds https://www.databreaches.net/twitter-hackers-trick-employees-by-posing-as-it-workers-ny-probe-finds/
  • Twitter Hack: 24 Hours From Phishing Employees to Hijacking Accounts https://www.securityweek.com/twitter-hack-24-hours-phishing-employees-hijacking-accounts
  • Twitter hackers trick employees by posing as IT workers, NY probe finds
  • Twitter Data-Breach Case Won’t Be Resolved Before Year’s End, Ireland’s Regulator Says https://www.databreaches.net/twitter-data-breach-case-wont-be-resolved-before-years-end-irelands-regulator-says/
  • British Airways fined £20m for Magecart hack that exposed 400k folks' credit card details to crooks https://www.theregister.com/2020/10/16/british_airways_ico_fine_20m/
  • Morgan Stanley Fined $60 Million for Data Protection Mishaps https://www.databreachtoday.com/morgan-stanley-fined-60-million-for-data-protection-mishaps-a-15158

Privacy

Articles about privacy related news, risks, and trends.

• Over 150 million websites among a billion tested include sensitive (and tracked) content https://scienmag.com/over-150-million-websites-among-a-billion-tested-include-sensitive-and-tracked-content/
• How smart devices are exploited for domestic abuse https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-54554408
• Here's How Many Americans Still Secretly Use Their Ex's Password https://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-many-americans-still-secretly-use-their-exs-passwords/
• Instagram to crack down on 'hidden' advertising after UK investigation https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/16/tech/instagram-influencers-new-rules/index.html
• EPIC Opposes DHS's Plans to Broadly Expand Biometric Collection https://epic.org/2020/10/epic-opposes-dhss-plans-to-bro.html
• San Francisco Supervisors Must Rein In SFPD’s Abuse of Surveillance Cameras https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/10/san-francisco-supervisors-must-reign-sfpds-abuse-surveillance-cameras
• Police get access to people told to self-isolate by NHS test and trace https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/17/police-get-access-to-people-told-of-self-isolate-by-nhs-test-and-trace
• Augmented Reality Must Have Augmented Privacy https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/10/augmented-reality-must-have-augmented-privacy

Laws & Regulations / Standards

News about laws, regulations, and standards affecting security, privacy, technology, and public interest.

• Five Eyes nations plus Japan, India call for Big Tech to bake backdoors into everything https://www.theregister.com/2020/10/11/international_statementon_end_to_end_encryption_and_public_safety/_Singapore Launches IoT Cybersecurity Labelling https://www.databreachtoday.com/singapore-launches-iot-cybersecurity-labelling-a-15187
• Navalny Novichok poisoning: EU sanctions hit top Russians https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54552480

• Canada:

  • The Guilbeault Internet Plan: Leave it to the CRTC and Copyright Board of Canada to Get Money from Web Giants https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2020/10/the-guilbeault-internet-plan-leave-it-to-the-crtc-and-copyright-board-of-canada-to-get-money-from-web-giants/
  • How Can Linking to an Article be Immoral When the Media Source Itself Does the Posting? https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2020/10/how-can-linking-to-an-article-be-immoral-when-the-media-source-itself-does-the-posting/
  • Privacy Law Reform Is Coming – Are You Ready? https://www.datex.ca/blog/canadian-privacy-law-reform-is-coming-are-you-ready

• US:

  • Google Responds to Warrants for “About” Searches - Schneier on Security https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2020/10/google-responds-to-warrants-for-about-searches.html
  • Oracle and Google’s Supreme Court showdown was a battle of metaphors https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/9/21506172/oracle-google-java-supreme-court-hearings-oral-arguments-metaphors-qwerty
  • New York Calls for Federal Regulation of Social Media https://www.databreachtoday.com/new-york-calls-for-federal-regulation-social-media-a-15177
  • EPIC Publishes Analysis of California's Proposition 24 https://epic.org/2020/10/epic-publishes-analysis-of-cal.html

Defense / Techniques / Solutions

Covering developments and opportunities that may help improve security.

• Yes, we can validate leaked emails https://blog.erratasec.com/2020/10/yes-we-can-validate-leaked-emails.html
• Security Planner Joins Consumer Reports Digital Lab https://citizenlab.ca/2020/10/security-planner-joins-consumer-reports-digital-lab/
• Announcing the Zero Trust Deployment Center https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2020/10/15/announcing-the-zero-trust-deployment-center/
• CISA and MS-ISAC Release Joint Guide on Ransomware https://www.databreaches.net/cisa-and-ms-isac-release-joint-guide-on-ransomware/
• State Financial Regulators Issue Ransomware Mitigation Tool https://www.databreaches.net/state-financial-regulators-issue-ransomware-mitigation-tool/
• Confronting Misinformation https://www.scientificamerican.com/report/confronting-misinformation/
• Zoom to roll out end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) calls https://www.zdnet.com/article/zoom-to-roll-out-end-to-end-encrypted-e2ee-calls
• Microsoft thumbs its nose at Apple with new “app fairness” policy https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/10/microsoft-thumbs-its-nose-at-apple-with-new-app-fairness-policy/

Bugs / Design Flaws / Vulnerabilities / Research

Articles about newly discovered vulnerabilities and research.

• Three npm packages found opening shells on Linux, Windows systems https://www.zdnet.com/article/three-npm-packages-found-opening-shells-on-linux-windows-systems
• Google Warns of Zero-Click Bluetooth Flaws in Linux-based Devices https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/10/google-and-intel-warn-of-high-severity-bluetooth-security-bug-in-linux/ and https://thehackernews.com/2020/10/linux-Bluetooth-hacking.html
• CVE-2020-5135 - Buffer Overflow in SonicWall VPNs - Patch Now, nearly 1M vulnerable https://isc.sans.edu/diary/rss/26692 and https://www.zdnet.com/article/800000-sonicwall-vpns-vulnerable-to-new-remote-code-execution-bug

• Multiple Microsoft:

  • Microsoft Patch Tuesday, October 2020 Edition https://krebsonsecurity.com/2020/10/microsoft-patch-tuesday-october-2020-edition/
  • Microsoft releases emergency security updates for Windows and Visual Studio https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-releases-emergency-security-updates-for-windows-and-visual-studio/
  • Microsoft Office 2010 and 2016 for Mac are no longer supported https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-office-2010-and-2016-for-mac-are-no-longer-supported/
  • US Cyber Command Urges Users to Patch New 'Ping of Death' Windows Flaw https://www.securityweek.com/us-cyber-command-urges-users-patch-new-ping-death-windows-flaw
  • Reaction: Windows XP Source Code Leaked… So What? https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/20/j/windows-xp-source-code-leaked-so-what.html
• SAP Patches Critical Vulnerability in CA Introscope Enterprise Manager https://www.securityweek.com/sap-patches-critical-vulnerability-ca-introscope-enterprise-manager
• Adobe Patches Critical Code Execution Vulnerability in Flash Player https://www.securityweek.com/adobe-patches-critical-code-execution-vulnerability-flash-player
• Adobe patches Magento bugs that lead to code execution, customer list tampering https://www.zdnet.com/article/adobe-patches-magento-bugs-that-lead-to-code-execution-customer-list-tampering and https://threatpost.com/critical-magento-holes-online-shops-code-execution/160181/
• Foxit Patches Code Execution Vulnerabilities in PDF Software https://www.securityweek.com/foxit-patches-code-execution-vulnerabilities-pdf-software
• Undocumented backdoor that covertly takes snapshots found in kids’ smartwatchhttps://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/10/a-watch-designed-exclusively-for-kids-has-an-undocumented-spying-backdoor/

Hacking / Malware / Cybercrime / Exploitation

News covering active trends, alerts, events.

• Trends, Alerts, and Events:

  • The rise of fearware and how to fight back https://www.theregister.com/2020/10/14/fearware_how_to_fight_back/
  • More BEC Criminal Gangs Are Based in US https://www.databreachtoday.com/more-bec-criminal-gangs-are-based-in-us-a-15174
  • Ransomware: Once you've been hit your business is never the same again https://www.zdnet.com/article/ransomware-once-youve-been-hit-your-business-is-never-the-same-again/
  • Ransomware Attackers Buy Network Access in Cyberattack Shortcut https://threatpost.com/ransomware-network-access-cyberattack/159998/
  • Phishers Capitalize on Headlines with Breakneck Speed https://threatpost.com/phishers-capitalize-headlines-speed/160249/
  • FIN11: Widespread Email Campaigns as Precursor for Ransomware and Data Theft https://www.databreaches.net/fin11-widespread-email-campaigns-as-precursor-for-ransomware-and-data-theft/ and https://www.databreachtoday.com/another-threat-group-joins-ransomware-extortion-racket-a-15183
  • AKO’s back — as “Ranzy Locker” https://www.databreaches.net/akos-back-as-ranzy-locker/

• Nation State Actors:

  • Fancy Bear imposters are on a hacking extortion spree https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/10/fancy-bear-imposters-are-on-a-hacking-extortion-spree/
  • Google says Chinese hackers who targeted Biden campaign are faking McAfee software https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/17/21520799/google-chinese-hackers-biden-campaign-mcafee-malware
  • Silent Librarian Goes Back to School with Global Research-Stealing Effort https://threatpost.com/silent-librarian-school-research-stealing/160099/
• Malware gangs love open source offensive hacking tools https://www.zdnet.com/article/malware-gangs-love-open-source-offensive-hacking-tools
• Thousands of infected IoT devices used in for-profit anonymity service https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/10/thousands-of-infected-iot-devices-used-in-for-profit-anonymity-service/
• Hackers Hit 2,000 Robinhood Accounts https://www.pymnts.com/news/security-and-risk/2020/report-hackers-hit-2000-robinhood-accounts/

• How fraudsters dupe the art world https://www.theverge.com/21518307/art-fraud-john-bingham-desk

  • Authorities Bust 20 In Alleged International Malware Scam Ring https://www.pymnts.com/news/security-and-risk/2020/authorities-bust-20-alleged-international-malware-scam-ring/
  • Brit webcam criminal snared in FBI LuminosityLink creepware sting spared prison https://www.theregister.com/2020/10/14/swindon_webcam_perv_john_wood/
  • Police Raided German Spyware Company FinFisher Offices https://thehackernews.com/2020/10/finfisher-spyware-raid.html

Other Security / Risk

Articles covering other types of risks.

• 2020 Workshop on Economics of Information Security https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2020/10/2020-workshop-on-economics-of-information-security.html
• Why Social Media Makes Us More Polarized and How to Fix It https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-social-media-makes-us-more-polarized-and-how-to-fix-it/

• Election Security and Disinformation:

  • Political campaign emails contain dark patterns to manipulate donors, voters https://www.zdnet.com/article/political-campaign-emails-contain-dark-patterns-to-manipulate-donors-voters
  • An Election Without Chaos Will Be a Miracle https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/10/five-hours-training-and-285-guard-democracy/616719/
  • Federal judge denies injunction, so 7 states won’t be forced to accept internet ballot return https://freedom-to-tinker.com/2020/10/13/federal-judge-denies-injunction-so-7-states-wont-be-forced-to-accept-internet-ballot-return/
  • Foreign election interference: A global response https://scienmag.com/foreign-election-interference-a-global-response/
  • Fearing Cyber Attacks, Microsoft Takes Down a Risk to the Election https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/12/us/politics/election-hacking-microsoft.html
  • When a Journalist Becomes a Disinformation Agent https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-a-journalist-becomes-a-disinformation-agent/
  • Disinformation on Ballot Boxes and More Are Circulating on Social Media https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/14/technology/four-election-related-falsehoods.html
  • What to expect when you're electing: How election officials can counter disinformation https://blog.talosintelligence.com/2020/10/what-to-expect-when-youre-electing-how.html
  • Twitter softens policy on hacking after row over blocked New York Post story https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/oct/16/twitter-reverses-policy-on-hacking-after-backlash-over-block-on-new-york-post-story
  • Twitter’s ‘Hacked Materials’ Rule Tries to Thread an Impossible Needle https://www.wired.com/story/twitter-hacked-materials-rule-change-impossible-needle

• AI:

  • How Speech-Recognition Software Discriminates against Minority Voices https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-speech-recognition-software-discriminates-against-minority-voices/
  • Bot posing as human fooled people on Reddit for an entire week https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/artificial-intelligence-bot-reddit-ai-openai-gpt-3-b990856.html
  • Deep neural networks show promise for predicting future self-harm based on clinical notes https://scienmag.com/deep-neural-networks-show-promise-for-predicting-future-self-harm-based-on-clinical-notes/
  • Paleontologists See Stars as Software Bleeps Scientific Terms https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/18/science/paleontology-banned-words-convey.html
• Microsoft just force restarted my Windows 10 PC to install more unwanted apps https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/17/21520315/microsoft-install-office-pwa-web-app-without-permission-update-word-powerpoint-excel_Here’s Doom running on a Samsung fridge thanks to xCloud https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/13/21514030/microsoft-xcloud-samsung-smart-fridge-doom-enternal-xbox-games-android
• Twitter’s massive outage may be over, company says ‘no evidence’ of hack https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/15/21518367/twitter-down-outage-tweets and https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/16/twitter-outage-social-media-platform-goes-down-across-the-world
• Computer Scientists Break the 'Traveling Salesperson' Optimization Problem Record https://www.quantamagazine.org/computer-scientists-break-traveling-salesperson-record-20201008/
• Edmonton ‘Intersections will fail’ in peak hours when Metro LRT Line reaches five-minute frequency https://globalnews.ca/news/7385766/edmonton-metro-lrt-line-five-minute-frequency-issues/
• British spies are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic because empty streets make it harder to tail suspects https://www.businessinsider.com/british-spies-struggling-to-tail-suspects-during-covid-19-pandemic-2020-10

• Things that go boom:

  • Polish divers tackle massive unexploded British WW2 "Tallboy" Earthquake bomb in Baltic https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54514118 and it blew up (video) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54522203
  • The current state of space debris https://phys.org/news/2020-10-current-state-space-debris.html
  • Two High-Speed Pieces of Space Junk Just Narrowly Missed a Major Collision https://www.sciencealert.com/two-high-speed-slabs-of-space-junk-just-narrowly-missed-a-major-collision
  • (This isn’t major news but it could be a pretty fireball or a few broken windows somewhere) Neil deGrasse Tyson warns asteroid could hit Earth day before election https://nypost.com/2020/10/18/neil-degrasse-tyson-warns-asteroid-could-hit-earth-day-before-election/

• Health, Safety & Environment:

  • Predicting influenza epidemics https://scienmag.com/predicting-influenza-epidemics/
  • University of Lethbridge researchers working on ‘promising’ treatment for Alzheimer’s https://globalnews.ca/news/7400283/university-of-lethbridge-researchers-treatment-alzheimers/
  • Machine learning uncovers potential new TB drugs https://scienmag.com/machine-learning-uncovers-potential-new-tb-drugs/
  • A groundbreaking new British drug offers hope to opioid addicts https://www.businessinsider.com/groundbreaking-new-drug-that-could-help-tackle-the-opioid-epidemic-2020-10
  • Rapid research in a deadly epidemic pays off https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/17/21520540/antivirus-ebola-covid-treatment-development-outbreak
  • A teenager in Houston was shot and killed while carrying a toy that looked like an AR-15 https://www.businessinsider.com/teenager-reportedly-shot-and-killed-while-holding-toy-ar-15-2020-10
  • GAO Warns Of Aviation Cybersecurity Risks In Report https://www.pymnts.com/news/risk-management/2020/gao-warns-of-aviation-cybersecurity-risks-in-report/
  • 'Person in jetpack' spotted flying again near LA airport https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-54552380
  • Those Cool Precarious Balance Rocks And EarthQuake Predictions https://www.sciencealert.com/precariously-balanced-rocks-are-teaching-scientists-more-about-earthquake-risk
  • We can finally admit that plastic recycling has been a sham all along https://nationalpost.com/opinion/raymond-j-de-souza-we-can-finally-admit-that-plastic-recycling-has-been-a-sham-all-along
  • A controllable membrane to pull carbon dioxide out of exhaust streams https://scienmag.com/a-controllable-membrane-to-pull-carbon-dioxide-out-of-exhaust-streams/
  • Etching a Simple Pattern on Solar Panels Boosts Light Absorption by 125%, Study Shows https://www.sciencealert.com/checkerboard-design-for-solar-panels-boosts-light-absorption-by-125-study-shows
  • Do Ripples on the Surface of the Sun tell us that a Flare is Coming? https://www.universetoday.com/148277/do-ripples-on-the-surface-of-the-sun-tell-us-that-a-flare-is-coming/
  • The Great Barrier Reef has lost half its corals https://scienmag.com/the-great-barrier-reef-has-lost-half-its-corals/
  • 800 Years Ago, Old Faithful Went Quiet. Soon, It Might Happen Again https://www.sciencealert.com/old-faithful-took-a-long-break-800-years-ago-and-drought-might-force-it-to-happen-again
• Google has a new humming feature for your phone. Here's how it works https://www.cnet.com/how-to/google-has-a-new-humming-feature-for-your-phone-heres-how-it-works/
• 3D metal printer at College of Dental Medicine expands possibilities for innovation https://scienmag.com/3d-metal-printer-at-college-of-dental-medicine-expands-possibilities-for-innovation/
• Google search is getting new AI tools to decipher your terrible spelling https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/15/21518034/google-search-ai-machine-learning-spelling-video-chapters-better-results
• IBM to split into two as it reinvents itself https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54473828
• Room-temperature superconductivity has been achieved for the first time https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/10/14/1010370/room-temperature-superconductivity/
• (Squirel?) The US Army is testing augmented reality goggles for dogs https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/9/21509181/us-army-augmented-reality-ar-goggles-dogs-military

• Other risks relating to COVID and the new normal:

  • How to Avoid COVID while Voting https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-avoid-covid-while-voting/
  • The mental health impact of pandemics for front line health care staff https://scienmag.com/the-mental-health-impact-of-pandemics-for-front-line-health-care-staff/
  • Bank of England asks banks if ready for negative interest rates https://www.mobilepaymentstoday.com/news/bank-of-england-questions-banks-readiness-for-negative-interest-rates/
  • NHS Covid-19 app users sent incorrect risk-level change alerts https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/17/nhs-covid-19-app-users-sent-incorrect-risk-level-change-alerts-england-wales
  • After an early pandemic shortage computers are shipping again https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/11/21511425/laptops-desktops-shipping-pandemic-apple-dell-lenovo-hp-acer
  • College Enrollments Declined Sharply This Fall https://www.pymnts.com/coronavirus/2020/college-enrollments-declined-sharply-this-fall/
  • Canadian universities could lose millions, possibly billions due to coronavirus https://globalnews.ca/news/7392195/coronavirus-universities-statistics-canada/
  • ‘Ghost town’ in the PATH as retailers in downtown Toronto indoor networks wait out COVID-19 https://globalnews.ca/news/7398293/path-system-toronto-ghost-town-coronavirus/
  • Ontarians unclear on how to access social support during COVID-19 pandemic https://globalnews.ca/news/7393817/ontario-social-support-covid-19-pandemic/
  • Coronavirus: US poverty rises as aid winds down https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54559008 https://scienmag.com/biggest-co2-drop-real-time-data-show-covid-19s-massive-impact-on-global-emissions/
  • Biggest CO2 drop: Real-time data show COVID-19’s massive impact on global emissions
  • (Please be the non-mint ones) Girl Guide cookies now available to buy online in Canada https://globalnews.ca/news/7394766/girl-guide-cookies-buy-online/

COVID-19 updates.

COVID related articles. We have been following coronavirus risks since https://controlgap.com/blog/this-weeks-insecurity-issue-147.

• The spread, curves, spikes, and waves - now reinfection:

  • Coronavirus death toll surpasses 30,000 in Iran https://globalnews.ca/news/7403203/coronavirus-iran-death-toll-2/
  • Is Sweden getting it right? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54561201
  • Canada has reported over 2,000 new coronavirus cases for nearly 2 weeks straight https://globalnews.ca/news/7397729/canada-coronavirus-cases-oct-14/
  • Ontario reports 807 new coronavirus cases Thanksgiving Monday, 746 Tuesday https://globalnews.ca/news/7393677/ontario-coronavirus-cases-october-12-and-13-covid19/
  • Outbreak at 2 Toronto hospitals https://toronto.citynews.ca/2020/10/18/covid-19-outbreaks-declared-at-2-toronto-hospitals/
  • Potential coronavirus exposure reported on 2 Air Canada flights from Toronto to Halifax https://globalnews.ca/news/7403479/coronavirus-exposure-air-canada-flights-halifax/
  • Woman dies after catching Covid-19 twice, the first reported reinfection death https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/13/europe/covid-19-dutch-woman-reinfection-death-intl/index.html
  • Man gets Covid twice and second hit 'more severe' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54512034
  • A 45-year-old COVID-19 patient in the UK now has permanent hearing loss https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-patient-permanent-hearing-loss-case-study-2020-10
  • COVID-19 frequently causes neurological injuries https://scienmag.com/covid-19-frequently-causes-neurological-injuries/
  • When Will The Pandemic End? If We Look at History, The Answer Is Not So Simple https://www.sciencealert.com/history-tells-us-the-future-of-the-coronavirus-pandemic-has-no-end-date
  • When senior citizens are the early adopters https://www.theverge.com/21509117/contact-tracing-apps-digital-senior-nursing-homes

• Guidance, Response and Recovery:

  • China is testing an entire city of 9 million for COVID-19 after it found 12 cases connected to a hospital there https://www.businessinsider.com/china-testing-qingdao-city-9-million-after-12-cases-hospital-2020-10
  • France to impose night-time curfew to battle second wave https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54535358
  • Covid cases increase rapidly in England https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54477618
  • How Straight Talk Helped Maine Control COVID https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-straight-talk-helped-one-state-control-covid/
  • Half of England to see tougher Covid restrictions https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54551596
  • New coronavirus shut downs, restrictions prompt backlash in U.K. https://globalnews.ca/news/7392699/coronavirus-uk-restrictions/
  • Inside the Atlantic Bubble, where life is close to normal https://www.halifaxtoday.ca/the-big-story/inside-the-atlantic-bubble-where-life-is-close-to-normal-2789950
  • Survey shows Atlantic Canadians oppose lifting the 14-day quarantine period for travellers https://globalnews.ca/news/7388762/atlantic-canadians-oppose-lifting-travel-quarantine/
  • Canadian airports, stadiums seek pandemic-resistant certification. But how is this done? https://globalnews.ca/news/7393620/canadian-airports-stadiums-coronavirus-pandemic-resistant/
  • Some Ontario restaurants banning out-of-town customers from indoor dining https://globalnews.ca/news/7404404/coronavirus-ontario-restaurants-out-of-town-customers/
  • What is a ‘superspreader event’ and are gyms still safe? https://globalnews.ca/news/7398491/coronavirus-superspreader-gym/
  • Ontario fitness industry awaits outcome of coronavirus protocols review https://globalnews.ca/news/7400838/ontario-gyms-fitness-covid19-protocols-review/

• Treatments, Testing, Triage, and Trials:

  • Fauci calls herd immunity concept for coronavirus ‘total nonsense’ https://globalnews.ca/news/7398495/fauci-herd-immunity-coronavirus-total-nonsense/
  • WHO head calls herd immunity approach 'immoral' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-54518286
  • Why So Many Americans Are Skeptical of a Coronavirus Vaccine https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-so-many-americans-are-skeptical-of-a-coronavirus-vaccine/
  • Popularity of COVID-19 conspiracies and links to vaccine ‘hesitancy’ revealed by international study https://scienmag.com/popularity-of-covid-19-conspiracies-and-links-to-vaccine-hesitancy-revealed-by-international-study/
  • Pfizer plans to submit its COVID-19 vaccine for FDA authorization in late November — if human trials show it works https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-vaccine-pfizer-fda-authorization-november-2020-10
  • The WHO says healthy young people may not receive a COVID-19 vaccine until 2022 https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-vaccine-2022-world-health-organization-young-people-who-2020-10
  • Two COVID-19 Trials Were Just Paused Within 24 Hours Over Safety Concerns https://www.sciencealert.com/two-covid-19-trials-have-been-paused-within-24-hours-over-safety-concerns
  • Remdesivir doesn’t help COVID-19 patients recover https://globalnews.ca/news/7401358/coronavirus-who-remdesivir-study/
  • Novel antiviral strategy for treatment of COVID-19 with existing drugs https://scienmag.com/novel-antiviral-strategy-for-treatment-of-covid-19/
  • Could an existing vaccine make COVID-19 less deadly? Mexico City study provides support https://scienmag.com/could-an-existing-vaccine-make-covid-19-less-deadly-mexico-city-study-provides-support/
  • Viral ‘molecular scissor’ is next COVID-19 drug target https://scienmag.com/viral-molecular-scissor-is-next-covid-19-drug-target/
  • London, Ont., researchers develop faster, cheaper method to test possible COVID-19 drug treatments https://globalnews.ca/news/7399689/london-ont-researchers-method-covid-19-drug-treatments/
  • The dogs trained to sniff out Covid-19 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-54511703
  • Why bats are not to blame, say scientists https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54246473

• Things we learned:

  • Trump's COVID-19 treatment would have cost an estimated $650,000 out of pocket https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-covid-19-treatment-cost-coronavirus-hospital-020-10
  • Engineer Says Where You Sit in a Room Can Influence Your Risk of Catching COVID-19 https://www.sciencealert.com/where-you-sit-in-a-classroom-might-influence-your-risk-of-contracting-covid-19
  • COVID-19 Reinfection Cases Raise Concern About Sustained Immunity to The Virus https://www.sciencealert.com/new-case-of-coronavirus-reinfection-raises-concerns-about-vaccination-viability
  • Blood type O may mean lower risk of COVID-19 infection and severe illness, new studies suggest https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/blood-type-o-may-mean-lower-risk-of-covid-19-infection-and-severe-illness-new-studies-suggest-1.5144876
  • Remnants of ancient parasites could be shaping our response to coronavirus https://scienmag.com/remnants-of-ancient-parasites-could-be-shaping-our-response-to-coronavirus/
  • What is the ‘Swiss cheese model’ and how can it apply to coronavirus? (hint:Defense in Depth) https://globalnews.ca/news/7393839/coronavirus-swiss-cheese-model/

• Disinformation:

  • COVID Misinformation Is Killing People https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-misinformation-is-killing-people1/
  • Eight Persistent COVID-19 Myths and Why People Believe Them https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/eight-persistent-covid-19-myths-and-why-people-believe-them/
  • Another ‘Unfounded’ Study on Origins of Virus Spreads Online https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/technology/another-unfounded-study-on-origins-of-virus-spreads-online.html
  • Facebook announces ban on anti-vaccination ads https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/13/21514535/facebook-anti-vaxx-ad-ban-moderation-covid-19-vaccine
  • YouTube will remove videos with COVID-19 vaccine misinformation https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/14/21515796/youtube-covid-vaccine-misniformation-policy

• Masks, anti-maskers, distancing, compliance, and repercussions:

  • Patient charged after spitting on 2 nurses at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay https://globalnews.ca/news/7388611/ross-hospital-lindsay-patient-spitting-assault-charges/
  • Coronavirus: B.C. man fined for hosting weekend party with 60 people, live band https://globalnews.ca/news/7394913/b-c-man-fined-house-party/
  • B.C. man fined $1,000 at border crossing, says he never left Canada https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-man-fined-1-000-at-border-crossing-says-he-never-left-canada-1.5145524
  • Toronto man arriving in Moncton to host anti-mask event arrested at airport https://globalnews.ca/news/7391705/anti-mask-arrested-moncton/
  • Warby Parker Created a Spray to Prevent Your Glasses From Fogging Up When You Wear a Face Mask https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/633651/warby-parker-anti-fog-spray-glasses

Off-Topic / Science & Tech / Lighter Side

A variety of scientific, technical, historical, and more light-hearted news.

• Canadian YouTubers engineer hyper-realistic plasma lightsaber that can cut through steel https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-wednesday-edition-1.5762110/canadian-youtubers-engineer-hyper-realistic-plasma-lightsaber-that-can-cut-through-steel-1.5762115
• New jets promise to revive supersonic travel https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54416696
• Adult Wolves Get Attached to Their Humans Just Like Dogs Do https://www.sciencealert.com/adult-wolves-miss-their-humans-when-they-re-gone-just-like-dogs
• Dinosaur skeleton found by 12-year-old near Drumheller, Alta., hailed as 'significant discovery' https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/dinosaur-bones-drumheller-nathan-hrushkin-hadrosaur-1.5764218
• Creating Hallucinations Without Any Drugs Is Actually Surprisingly Easy https://www.sciencealert.com/why-creating-hallucinations-without-any-drugs-is-surprisingly-easy
• Astronauts smash record to reach ISS in just three hours https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/space-record-time-rocket-iss-nasa-space-station-b1038272.html
• NASA Finally Made a Toilet for Women https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/10/space-toilet-nasa-women/616686/
• Canada joins U.S.-led Artemis Accords to send human explorers back to moon and beyond https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/artemis-accords-1.5761456
• The Moon May Have Shielded Early Earth From The Sun, Protecting Our Atmosphere https://www.sciencealert.com/the-moon-may-have-shielded-early-earth-from-a-wild-baby-sun
• InSight’s ‘Mole’ is Now Completely buried! https://www.universetoday.com/148379/insights-mole-is-now-completely-buried/
• Astronomers Report They’ve Detected the Amino Acid Glycine in the Atmosphere of Venus https://www.universetoday.com/148345/astronomers-report-theyve-detected-the-amino-acid-glycine-in-the-atmosphere-of-venus/
• Impatient? A Spacecraft Could Get to Titan in Only 2 Years Using a Direct Fusion Drive https://www.universetoday.com/148393/impatient-a-spacecraft-could-get-to-titan-in-only-2-years-using-a-direct-fusion-drive/
• Betelgeuse Is Neither as Far Nor as Large as We Thought, And It's a Total Bummer https://www.sciencealert.com/we-were-wrong-about-betelgeuse-s-size-and-now-its-imminent-death-is-super-unlikely
• Astronomers Watch a Star Get Spaghettified by a Black Hole https://www.universetoday.com/148307/astronomers-watch-a-star-get-spaghettified-by-a-black-hole/
• What Would We Experience If Earth Spontaneously Turned Into A Black Hole? https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2020/10/15/what-would-we-experience-if-earth-spontaneously-turned-into-a-black-hole/
• How to see what’s on the other side of a wormhole without actually traveling through it https://www.universetoday.com/148278/how-to-see-whats-on-the-other-side-of-a-wormhole-without-actually-traveling-through-it/