(Uploaded 8/25/20) TikTok is a very popular app with over 1 Billion downloads, which translates to almost 1/7th of World Population. This app is very popular among youngsters here in the USA, just as it has taken the world by storm. TikTok like all other “free” social media platforms, treats its users as their product, their personal data as its currency, and their Business Model is predicated on trading one’s personal information to use these “free” services. The app’s privacy policy says TikTok “may share your information with a parent, subsidiary, or other affiliate of our corporate group” while
Category: US National Security
B737 Max Tragic unfortunate Crashes – Statistical Anomaly – Boeing will weather this crisis – My 2 cents
Published March 20,2019 We are very sad about the two B737 Max crashes, that occurred within a short time of each other, and our prayers for the victims and their families. It is understood that authorities in multiple jurisdictions are investigating and final result are awaited – this is only my opinion based on information available and my personal experience! I think these unfortunate crashes may be attribute to 3 areas (1) Automation and (2) Crew experience (3) Software Issue(s). (1) Automation: Issue with Software based systems – if a sensor provides a wrong input, the software will provide contradictory
Computer Security, Cybersecurity, Geopolitics, Tech Leadership, US Federal Government Oversight, US National Security, World Affairs
Race to 5G Implementation: Our National Security Considerations need to be paramount
Published Dec 24, 2018 Based on what we see and read in the media, “5G” stands for fifth generation of internet connectivity. This next-generation technology promises unprecedented speeds and coverage with more stability than existing telecommunication networks. This 5G network is expected to facilitate revolutionary technologies such as “autonomous vehicles” and “smart electricity grids” and provide a quantum leap in capabilities with connected (IoT) devices just as 4G enabled us to have applications like Uber. Among various benefits being reported is the promise of 5G to support building of “smart cities” with an advanced network that connects an array
Huawei’s CFO Arrest during the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires last week – Part of Chinese Leadership Internal Power Struggle?
Published December 7, 2018 We have been seeing news that Huawei Technologies Co. CFO Meng Wanzhou was detained in Canada enroute to Mexico, for possible extradition to USA. It is reported that the Trump Administration was aware of the potential impact on trade talks with China but intent on showing resolve over Chinese companies accused of violating U.S. law. Meng’s arrest is part of an ongoing investigation by U.S. prosecutors into whether Huawei violated banking laws as it sought to evade sanctions against Iran by routing a series of transactions through HSBC Holdings Plc, according to reports in Bloomberg.
Confrontation with North Korea – Deja Vu?
Published Aug 12, 2017: This week we had another, by all accounts, successful ICBM Test by North Korea aka DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea), which makes it two in a row. This coupled with separate successful Nuclear Tests in earlier years, has “upped the ante” in in the Korean Peninsula and now has the potential to cross some dangerous “red lines”. It can now be surmised that North Korea is probably working on “miniaturizing” the nuclear warheads to mount them on the cone of the ICBM to perform “integrated tests” of the entire ICBM system in coming months. If / when DPRK