This Week's [in]Security - Issue 196

Welcome to This Week’s [in]Security. SolarWinds. Espionage vs Cyberwar. Year in Review Articles. Magecart. New breaches. New Ransomware. Ransomware evolution. Section 230, Patriot Act, False Arrests, Copy and Paste Laws. Know your enemy. Data Lifecycle Management. DNS evolution. TLS 1.3. Flash Sunset. Zyxel backdoors. File Surveillance. Google Docs. Trends. Streaming Swattings. Nation States. Arrests, etc. Ticketmaster. AI. Serverless. Car bombs. Thin Ice. Returns. Health, Safety & Environment. Covid-19: Spread, Curves, Spikes, Waves, & reinfections. New Variants. Impact. Vaccine Progress, More Vaccines, 1-shot Strategies. More of the Good, Bad, and Ugly - Politicians and Celebrities. And more.

Trending news

The SolarWinds Nation State Supply Chain Hack variously called Solar-Gate, Solorigate, (and yes even Breaking-Wind) dominates the headlines and has organizations scrambling to see just how bad it was. This is a major event and fast moving story with far reaching implications.

• Solar-gate week 3:

  • New Zero-Day, Malware Indicate Second Group May Have Targeted SolarWinds https://www.securityweek.com/new-zero-day-malware-indicate-second-group-may-have-targeted-solarwinds
  • SolarWinds hack may be much worse than originally feared https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/2/22210667/solarwinds-hack-worse-government-microsoft-cybersecurity
  • CISA updates SolarWinds guidance, tells US govt agencies to update right away https://www.zdnet.com/article/cisa-updates-solarwinds-guidance-tells-us-govt-agencies-to-update-right-away
  • Microsoft Says 'SolarWinds' Hackers Viewed Internal Code https://www.securityweek.com/microsoft-says-solarwinds-hackers-viewed-internal-code, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/31/technology/microsoft-russia-hack.html
  • Partial lists of organizations infected with Sunburst malware released online https://www.zdnet.com/article/partial-lists-of-organizations-infected-with-sunburst-malware-released-online/
  • Using Microsoft 365 Defender to protect against Solorigate https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2020/12/28/using-microsoft-365-defender-to-coordinate-protection-against-solorigate/

• Espionage vs Cyberwar:

  • Schneier on Russia’s SolarWinds Attack https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2020/12/russias-solarwinds-attack.html
  • Espionage vs Cyberwar: Everybody Spies in Cyberspace https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/12/everybody-spies-cyberspace-us-must-plan-accordingly/617522/

PCI Compliance and Payments

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

• Magecart Fresh Card Skimmer Attacks Multiple E-Commerce Platforms https://www.databreachtoday.com/fresh-card-skimmer-attacks-multiple-e-commerce-platforms-a-15673

Breaches / Ransomware / Leaks

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

• New Breaches:

  • T-Mobile says hackers accessed some customer call records in data breach https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/03/t-mobile-call-records-data-breach/
  • Italy’s Ho-Mobile database with 2.5m accounts allegedly stolen, sold https://www.databreaches.net/italys-ho-mobile-database-with-2-5m-accounts-allegedly-stolen-sold/
  • Conti describes how they attacked Leon Medical Centers; shows DataBreaches.net almost 2 million patient-related files https://www.databreaches.net/exclusive-conti-describes-how-they-attacked-leon-medical-centers-shows-databreaches-net-almost-2-million-patient-related-files/
  • Kawasaki: Cyber Incident May Have Resulted in Data Loss https://www.databreachtoday.com/kawasaki-cyber-incident-may-have-resulted-in-data-loss-a-15675
  • Apex Laboratory confirms ransomware attack; only recently discovered data theft https://www.databreaches.net/apex-laboratory-confirms-ransomware-attack-only-recently-discovered-data-theft/
  • Hezbollah-affiliated financial org hacked, information leaked https://www.databreaches.net/hezbollah-affiliated-financial-org-hacked-information-leaked/
  • Indian Airline IndiGo Says Some Data May be Compromised in Server Breach https://www.databreaches.net/indigo-says-some-data-may-be-compromised-in-server-breach/
  • Finland says hackers accessed MPs' emails accounts https://www.zdnet.com/article/finland-says-hackers-accessed-mps-emails-accounts
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Charity GetSchooled Breaches 900k Children’s Details https://www.databreaches.net/bill-melinda-gates-foundations-charity-getschooled-breaches-900k-childrens-details/

• New Ransomware and "Incidents":

  • Ransomware attack strikes Nygard IT systems on Dec. 12, receiver company assessing impact https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/peter-nygard-bail-ransomware-attack-1.5859131
  • Whirlpool Hit With Ransomware Attack https://www.databreachtoday.com/whirlpool-hit-ransomware-attack-a-15686
  • HU: Brendon notifies customers of ransomware attack https://www.databreaches.net/hu-brendon-notifies-customers-of-ransomware-attack/
  • WV: Prestera Center notifies patients of data security incident https://www.databreaches.net/wv-prestera-center-notifies-patients-of-data-security-incident/
  • Japanese Aerospace Firm Kawasaki Warns of Data Breach https://threatpost.com/japanese-aerospace-firm-kawasaki-warns-of-data-breach/162642/
  • Antwerp laboratory becomes latest victim of cyber-attack https://www.databreaches.net/antwerp-laboratory-becomes-latest-victim-of-cyber-attack/
  • FR: Grand Annecy hit by malware attack https://www.databreaches.net/fr-grand-annecy/

• Ransomware evolution:

  • Ransomware in 2020: A Banner Year for Extortion and What's Next in 2021 https://threatpost.com/ransomware-2020-extortion/162319/, and https://threatpost.com/ransomware-getting-ahead-inevitable-attack/162655/
  • Schneier on the Evolution of Ransomware https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2020/12/on-the-evolution-of-ransomware.html

• Follow-ups and fall-out:

  • Data Breach Litigation Without a Data Breach? Not So Fast Walmart Says… https://www.databreaches.net/data-breach-litigation-without-a-data-breach-not-so-fast-walmart-says/
  • NC: Charlotte’s Wyndham Capital involved in class-action lawsuit over data breaches https://www.databreaches.net/nc-charlottes-wyndham-capital-involved-in-class-action-lawsuit-over-data-breaches/
  • Threat actor is selling 368.8 million records from 26 data breaches https://securityaffairs.co/wordpress/112842/data-breach/data-breaches-records-sale.html
  • (Vancouver) TransLink warns staff personal and banking info may be compromised in data breach https://globalnews.ca/video/7550208/translink-warns-staff-personal-info-may-be-compromised-in-data-breach, https://globalnews.ca/news/7548761/translink-cyberattack-personal-info/

Privacy

Articles about privacy related news, risks, and trends.

• Interactive Map: The Top Surveillance Cities Worldwide https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-the-top-surveillance-cities-worldwide/
• Google’s Wing warns new drone laws ‘may have unintended consequences’ for privacy https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/1/22209558/google-wing-faa-drone-remote-id-broadcast-rule-privacy-security
• How Your Digital Trails Wind Up in the Police’s Hands https://www.wired.com/story/your-digital-trails-polices-hands
• Student Privacy and the Fight to Keep Spying Out of Schools: Year in Review 2020 https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/12/student-privacy-and-fight-keep-spying-out-schools-year-review-2020

Laws, Regulations, Standards, and Public Policy

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

• US:

  • The 1996 Law That Ruined the Internet https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/01/trump-fighting-section-230-wrong-reason/617497/
  • The future of Section 230 https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/section-230-biden-trump-internet-b1780303.html
  • PATRIOT ACT:Section 215 Expired: Year in Review 2020 https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/12/section-215-expired-year-review-2020
  • Competitive Compatibility: Year in Review 2020 https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/12/competitive-compatibility-year-review
  • Litigation Against Mass NSA Surveillance: Year in Review 2020 https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/12/litigation-against-mass-nsa-surveillance-year-review-2020
  • In 2020, Congress Threatened Our Speech and Security With the “EARN IT” Act https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/12/2020-congress-threatened-our-speech-and-security-earn-it-act
  • Flawed Facial Recognition Leads To Arrest and Jail for New Jersey Man https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/29/technology/facial-recognition-misidentify-jail.html, https://threatpost.com/lawsuit-claims-flawed-facial-recognition-led-to-mans-wrongful-arrest/162663/
  • We deserve The Muppet Great Gatsby https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2020/12/31/22205532/the-great-gatsby-public-domain-the-muppets-adaptation-disney

• World:

  • Obsolete software from 1990s features in Brexit deal text https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/dec/29/obsolete-software-from-1990s-features-in-brexit-deal-text
  • Israel, Cyberattacks and International Law https://www.lawfareblog.com/israel-cyberattacks-and-international-law
  • There’s a darker side to English businesses citing Magna Carta to defy lockdown https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/02/english-magna-carta-lockdown-covid-laws-online

Defense / Techniques / Solutions

Covering developments and opportunities that may help improve security.

• Know your enemy: 6 Questions Attackers Ask Before Choosing an Asset to Exploit https://threatpost.com/6-questions-attackers-ask-exploit/162651/
• What Is Data Lifecycle Management? A 2020 Guide for Your Business https://www.cloudwards.net/data-lifecycle-management/
• DNS, DoH, and ODoH, Oh My: Year-in-Review 2020 https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/12/dns-doh-and-odoh-oh-my-year-review-2020
• Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge get major Windows 10 antivirus update https://www.techradar.com/news/google-chrome-and-microsoft-edge-get-major-windows-10-antivirus-update
• TLS 1.3 is now supported by about 1 in every 5 HTTPS servers https://isc.sans.edu/diary/rss/26936
• Robocall Crackdown to Be Policed With U.S. Phone Company Help https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-30/robocall-crackdown-to-be-policed-with-u-s-phone-company-help
• Adobe Flash rides off into the sunset https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/31/22208190/adobe-flash-is-dead
• Can Lattice Signature be as Efficient as Lattice Encryption? https://eprint.iacr.org/2021/002
• Neural Aided Statistical Attack for Cryptanalysis https://eprint.iacr.org/2020/1620

Bugs / Design Flaws / Vulnerabilities / Research

Articles about newly discovered vulnerabilities and research.

• Backdoor account discovered in more than 100,000 Zyxel firewalls, VPN gateways https://www.zdnet.com/article/backdoor-account-discovered-in-more-than-100000-zyxel-firewalls-vpn-gateways/
• Want to know what's in a folder you don't have a permission to access? Try asking your AV solution... https://isc.sans.edu/diary/rss/26932
• A Google Docs Bug Could Have Allowed Hackers See Your Private Documents https://thehackernews.com/2020/12/a-google-docs-bug-could-have-allowed.html

Hacking / Malware / Cybercrime / Exploitation

News covering active trends, alerts, events.

• Trends, Alerts, and Events (other than SolarWinds):

  • FBI Warn Hackers are Using Hijacked Home Security Devices for 'Swatting' https://threatpost.com/fbi-warn-home-security-devices-swatting/162678/
  • New AutoHotkey-Based Malware Targets US, Canadian Banks https://www.databreachtoday.com/new-autohotkey-based-malware-targets-us-canadian-banks-a-15680

• Nation State Actors:

  • Hackers Amp Up COVID-19 IP Theft Attacks https://threatpost.com/hackers-amp-up-covid-19-ip-theft-attacks/162634/

• Crime:

  • Ticketmaster will pay $10 million for hacking rival ticket seller https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/30/22206955/ticketmaster-songkick-crowdsurge-hacking-deferred-prosecution-fine
  • FBI Counterterrorism Informant Spent a Decade Committing Fraud https://theintercept.com/2020/12/29/fbi-counterterrorism-informant-wire-fraud-scam/

Other Security / Risk

Articles covering other types of risks.

• UK internet use doubles in 2020 due to pandemic https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-55486157
• Happy 11th Birthday, KrebsOnSecurity! https://krebsonsecurity.com/2020/12/happy-11th-birthday-krebsonsecurity/
• New Year’s Resolutions That Will Actually Lead to Happiness https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/12/new-years-resolutions-will-make-you-happier/617439/
• How to Make Artificial Intelligence More Democratic https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-make-artificial-intelligence-more-democratic/
• AI Generated Headlines: The Epic History of the Earth https://aiweirdness.com/post/638857733189320704
• The Advantages and Risks of Serverless Computing https://www.imperva.com/blog/the-advantages-and-risks-of-serverless-computing/
• Nashville Bombing Spotlights Vulnerable Voice, Data Networks https://www.securityweek.com/nashville-bombing-spotlights-vulnerable-voice-data-networks
• Stay off the Rideau Canal, warns NCC https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ncc-skateway-1.5859643
• US Consumers Expect To Return $115 Billion In Unwanted Gifts https://www.pymnts.com/news/delivery/2021/us-consumers-expect-to-return-115-billion-in-unwanted-gifts/
• Indonesian fisher finds drone submarine on possible covert mission https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/31/indonesian-fisher-finds-drone-submarine-on-possible-covert-mission
• Ontario to lose out on $2 billion in new year’s celebrations, says survey https://globalnews.ca/news/7547079/ontario-lose-2-billion-new-years-eve/
• Opinion: Writer Can’t Stand These Words Anymore https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/12/more-i-write-more-i-hate-these-words/617500/

• Health, Safety & Environment:

  • A New Strain of Drug-Resistant Malaria Has Sprung Up in Africa https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-new-strain-of-drug-resistant-malaria-has-sprung-up-in-africa/
  • Scientists turned toxic pesticide into treatment against antibiotic-resistant bacteria https://scienmag.com/scientists-turned-toxic-pesticide-into-treatment-against-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria/
  • Whatever happened to… SARS? https://globalnews.ca/news/7524243/whatever-happened-to-sars/
  • ‘The big one’: WHO warns future pandemics could be worse than coronavirus https://globalnews.ca/news/7545830/coronavirus-pandemic-big-one-who/
  • Dormant Volcano in The Caribbean Just Came Back to Life, Causing Evacuation Warnings https://www.sciencealert.com/carribbean-people-warned-to-ready-for-evacuation-as-decades-dormant-volcano-springs-to-life, https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/caribbean-volcanoes-1.5857592
  • Iran says it will pay $150K to each family of Ukraine plane crash victims https://globalnews.ca/news/7547189/iran-plane-crash-victims-compensation/

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, waves, and reinfection:

  • Nearly 500,000 in Wuhan may have had virus https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-55481397
  • Russian Covid deaths three times the official toll https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55474028
  • U.S. heads toward 21 million COVID-19 cases and 352,000 deaths as vaccine program continues to lag all targets https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-heads-toward-21-million-covid-19-cases-and-352000-deaths-as-vaccine-program-continues-to-lag-all-targets-2021-01-04
  • Canada adds 151 more coronavirus deaths as cases close in on 600K https://globalnews.ca/news/7552886/coronavirus-canada-update-jan-3/
  • COVID-19 positivity rate hits all-time high in B.C. amid fewer tests https://globalnews.ca/news/7552867/covid-19-positivity-rate-hits-all-time-high-in-b-c-amid-fewer-tests/
  • Ontario logs more than 5,800 new COVID-19 infections over two days, sets new single-day record https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-logs-more-than-5-800-new-covid-19-infections-over-two-days-sets-new-single-day-record-1.5251217
  • Passengers on 22 domestic, 7 international flights involving Calgary warned of COVID-19 https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/covid-19-found-on-7-international-flights-bound-for-calgary-data-shows-1.5250210
  • Coronavirus: Big White community cluster grows another 15 cases, now at 111 https://globalnews.ca/news/7546744/coronavirus-big-white-cluster-grows/
  • Six employees at Toronto's St. Lawrence Market test positive for COVID-19 https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/six-employees-at-toronto-s-st-lawrence-market-test-positive-for-covid-19-1.5249255

• New Variants:

  • Study suggests how much faster new COVID-19 variant spreads https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/study-suggests-how-much-faster-new-covid-19-variant-spreads-1.5250893
  • New virus variant 'raises R number by up to 0.7' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55507012
  • COVID-19 variant may not be deadlier, but we shouldn’t dismiss it: experts https://globalnews.ca/news/7545385/coronavirus-variant-uk-transmission/
  • U.S. confirms 2nd case of coronavirus variant https://globalnews.ca/news/7548882/coronavirus-variant-us-california/
  • A quirk of COVID-19 tests can track the new coronavirus variant https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/30/22206522/coronavirus-test-variant-contagious-uk-gene

• Impact:

  • The Pandemic Metric to Trust Right Now https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/12/what-holidays-do-pandemic-data-reporting-west-south-hospitalizations/617533/
  • As U.S. hits 20 million coronavirus cases, lawmakers call for action on vaccine plan https://globalnews.ca/news/7551296/us-coronavirus-20-million-cases-vaccine/
  • The Latest: Texas hospitalizations hit yet another record https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-deaths-us-johns-hopkins-f98dd5d1659ff3a1d75413a980007473
  • Hospitals across UK 'must prepare for Covid surge', senior doctor warns https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55514363
  • 'It's not over': Experts fear new surge of COVID-19 infections after holidays https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/it-s-not-over-experts-fear-new-surge-of-covid-19-infections-after-holidays-1.5250380
  • America Has Not Fixed Its Deadliest Pandemic Errors https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/12/america-has-not-fixed-its-deadliest-pandemic-errors/617532/
  • “Those of Us Who Don’t Die Are Going to Quit”: A Crush of Patients, Dwindling Supplies and the Nurse Who Lost Hope http://feeds.propublica.org/link/9499/14188704/those-of-us-who-dont-die-are-going-to-quit-a-crush-of-patients-dwindling-supplies-and-the-nurse-who-lost-hope
  • COVID-19 pandemic nearly triples depression and anxiety in new moms https://globalnews.ca/news/7540465/covid-19-depression-anxiety-new-mothers-study/
  • 40% of Canadians struggling with mental health, addiction amid coronavirus pandemic: Ipsos https://globalnews.ca/news/7544244/coronavirus-addiction-mental-health-ipsos-poll/

• Guidance, Response and Recovery:

  • Where Year Two of the Pandemic Will Take Us https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/12/pandemic-year-two/617528/
  • Covid pandemic dampens New Year celebrations around the world https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-55496464
  • As coronavirus vaccine rolls out, majority of Canadians optimistic about 2021 https://globalnews.ca/news/7544249/coronavirus-vaccine-optimism-canadians-2021/
  • Fauci predicts U.S. will gain control of coronavirus pandemic by next autumn https://globalnews.ca/news/7548808/fauci-coronavirus-us-fall-2021/
  • Canadians must work to prevent third wave as coronavirus vaccines roll out https://globalnews.ca/news/7539475/coronavirus-third-wave-2021/
  • Model used to evaluate lockdowns was flawed https://scienmag.com/model-used-to-evaluate-lockdowns-was-flawed/
  • Ontario court suggests 'wisdom and efficacy' of lockdown rules questionable with big box stores open https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-court-suggests-wisdom-and-efficacy-of-lockdown-rules-questionable-with-big-box-stores-open-1.5248548
  • Government could change rules after outcry over aid for quarantining vacationers https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/government-could-change-rules-after-outcry-over-aid-for-quarantining-vacationers-1.5251416
  • Transportation Minister Marc Garneau Clarifies New COVID Travel Rules https://ca.travelpulse.com/news/features/transportation-minister-marc-garneau-clarifies-new-covid-travel-rules.html
  • Air travellers will soon have to test negative for COVID-19 before arrival in Canada https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/air-travellers-will-soon-have-to-test-negative-for-covid-19-before-arrival-in-canada-1.5248467

• Treatments, Testing, Triage, Trials, and things we Learned:

  • The Problem of 'Long Haul' COVID https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-problem-of-long-haul-covid/
  • A New Therapy to Prevent People With SARS-CoV-2 From Getting Sick Just Started Trials https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-are-trailing-a-new-covid-19-antibody-therapy-to-prevent-people-getting-sick

• Vaccines Progress, More Vaccines, One Shot Strategies:

  • Britain becomes 1st country to approve Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine https://globalnews.ca/news/7547017/britain-approves-astrazeneca-coronavirus-vaccine/
  • Canada still awaiting data from AstraZeneca as U.K. approves new coronavirus vaccine https://globalnews.ca/news/7547371/coronavirus-vaccine-astrazeneca-canada-uk-approval/
  • Pfizer's vaccine raises allergy concerns https://science.sciencemag.org/content/371/6524/10.full
  • How Scientists Know The Approved COVID-19 Vaccines Are Safe https://www.sciencealert.com/how-scientists-know-the-approved-covid-19-vaccines-are-safe
  • How we got from a new pandemic to a COVID-19 vaccine in 2020 https://globalnews.ca/news/7541186/coronavirus-new-pandemic-covid-19-vaccine-2020/
  • First long-term care home residents in Ontario receive Moderna COVID-19 vaccine https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/first-long-term-care-home-residents-in-ontario-receive-moderna-covid-19-vaccine-1.5249668
  • Ontario has now administered nearly 19,000 COVID-19 vaccine shots https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-has-now-administered-nearly-19-000-covid-19-vaccine-shots-1.5248261
  • COVID-19 vaccine tracker: How many people in Canada have received shots? https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-tracker-how-many-people-in-canada-have-received-shots-1.5247509
  • RBC Convention Centre preparing for COVID-19 vaccinations https://globalnews.ca/news/7552910/rbc-convention-centre-preparing-for-covid-19-vaccinations/
  • Quebec changes COVID-19 vaccine strategy, won’t hold back doses for booster shots https://globalnews.ca/news/7550672/quebec-changes-covid-19-vaccine-strategy-wont-hold-back-doses-for-booster-shots/
  • Manitoba will no longer hold back half of vaccine doses https://globalnews.ca/news/7547831/manitoba-hold-back-vaccine-doses/
  • Ontario to release order, timeframe for population groups to get COVID-19 vaccine https://globalnews.ca/news/7547714/ontario-to-release-timeframe-for-population-groups-to-get-covid-vaccines/
  • Ontario releases ethical framework for COVID-19 vaccine decisions https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-releases-ethical-framework-for-covid-19-vaccine-decisions-1.5248728
  • ‘Falling far behind’: Biden criticizes pace of U.S. coronavirus vaccine roll out https://globalnews.ca/news/7546240/biden-coronavirus-rollout-trump/
  • WHO approves Pfizer vaccine for emergency use https://globalnews.ca/news/7549449/who-pfizer-vaccine-emergency-use-approval/
  • India formally approves two Covid-19 vaccines for emergency use https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-vaccine-updates-01-03-21/index.html
  • Covaxin: Concern over 'rushed' approval for India Covid jab https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-55526123
  • India tests coronavirus vaccine delivery system with nationwide trial https://globalnews.ca/news/7551362/india-coronavirus-vaccine-delivery/
  • China gives conditional approval to coronavirus vaccine made by Sinopharm https://globalnews.ca/news/7548714/china-sinopharm-vaccine-approved/
  • The year ahead: What an initial three million vaccinations will mean for the pandemic in Canada https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/the-year-ahead-what-an-initial-three-million-vaccinations-will-mean-for-the-pandemic-in-canada
  • Opinion | It’s time to consider delaying the second dose of coronavirus vaccine https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/01/03/its-time-consider-delaying-second-dose-coronavirus-vaccine/
  • Britain to allow coronavirus vaccine mixing on rare occasions https://globalnews.ca/news/7551382/britain-coronavirus-vaccine-mixing/
  • Mixing coronavirus vaccines without necessary data ‘a huge gamble,’ experts say https://globalnews.ca/news/7551425/coronavirus-vaccine-mixing/
  • Could Moderna be authorized as a one-shot vaccine? https://globalnews.ca/news/7546507/coronavirus-vaccine-moderna-one-shot-hillier-ontario/
  • Why jumping the coronavirus vaccine queue is a problem https://globalnews.ca/news/7546225/coronavirus-vaccine-priority-private-sales/

• Behaviour - the good, the bad, and the ugly:

  • Growing list of Canadian politicians caught travelling abroad despite pandemic https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/growing-list-of-canadian-politicians-caught-travelling-abroad-despite-pandemic-1.5251039
  • The Canadian politicians who travelled during the holidays amid a coronavirus pandemic https://globalnews.ca/news/7551438/canadian-politicians-vacation-coronavirus/
  • Two Liberal MPs resign from government roles after traveling abroad amid coronavirus https://globalnews.ca/news/7552917/liberal-mps-travel-coronavirus-resign/
  • #ResignKenney trends on Twitter after at least 8 Alberta MLAs and staff travel over holidays https://globalnews.ca/news/7551875/kenney-ucp-travel-controversy-jan-2-2021/
  • Washington release Haskins after Covid-19 breach https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/american-football/55468577
  • Wisconsin pharmacist who ‘intentionally’ spoiled more than 500 vaccine doses is arrested https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/12/31/covid-vaccines-destroyed-wisconsin-hospital/

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

  • Why you have to wear a mask after getting your COVID-19 vaccine https://www.businessinsider.com/you-should-wear-mask-long-after-your-covid-19-vaccine-2020-12, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-when-the-pandemic-is-over-we-should-continue-wearing-masks/
  • Only 8 charges, 130 tickets issued so far to travellers who broke Canada's quarantine rules https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/only-8-charges-130-tickets-issued-so-far-to-travellers-who-broke-canada-s-quarantine-rules-1.5247796
  • Coronavirus: More Hamilton businesses charged for violating COVID-19 regulations https://globalnews.ca/news/7545411/coronavirus-hamilton-violating-covid-19-regulations/
  • Vancouver party host spends Christmas in jail after repeated fines for violating COVID-19 public health orders https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/party-host-christmas-vancouver-jail-1.5857537
  • ‘So reckless’: Vancouver restaurant blasted for 100-person NYE party flouting COVID rules https://globalnews.ca/news/7553028/vancouver-new-years-eve-party-identified/
  • Hundreds of people in the UK were busted for partying on New Year's Eve in warehouses, pubs, and on the streets https://www.businessinsider.com/uk-police-fined-hundreds-who-broke-rules-celebrate-new-year-2021-1
  • Police in France shut down illegal rave party defying coronavirus restrictions https://globalnews.ca/news/7551367/france-rave-party-coronavirus/
  • Victoria cabbie drops belligerent, mask-less passenger at police headquarters https://globalnews.ca/news/7551895/victoria-taxi-mask-fine-coronavirus/
  • Exclusive app allowed people to promote secret ‘Covid parties’ - until Apple shut it down https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/app-secret-covid-parties-apple-b1780288.html

Off-Topic / Science & Tech / Lighter Side

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

• Mysterious monolith appears seemingly overnight along Toronto's shoreline https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mysterious-monolith-appears-seemingly-overnight-along-toronto-s-shoreline-1.5249950
• Here's How Long You Actually Need to Break a Habit, According to Science https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-how-long-you-actually-need-to-break-a-habit-according-to-science
• A Dog's View of Optical Illusions https://www.the-scientist.com/features/a-dogs-view-of-optical-illusions-68278
• Octopus And Squid Evolution Is Officially Stranger Than We Could Have Ever Imagined https://www.sciencealert.com/octopus-and-squid-evolution-is-weirder-than-we-could-have-ever-imagined
• Boston Dynamics robots dance better than you in unsettling music video https://globalnews.ca/news/7547565/dancing-robots-do-you-love-me-video/
• In 1110, The Moon Vanished From The Sky. We May Finally Know Why https://www.sciencealert.com/in-1110-the-moon-vanished-from-the-sky-we-may-finally-know-why
• The 2020 Good Tech Awards https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/30/technology/2020-good-tech-awards.html
• These 10 Amazing Physics Stories Were Massive News in 2020 https://www.sciencealert.com/these-10-amazing-physics-stories-were-massive-news-in-2020
• Despite The Dumpster Fire of 2020, Here Are 11 Huge Achievements We Made in Science https://www.sciencealert.com/11-science-achievements-we-celebrated-in-2020-despite-the-pandemic
• Quantum Teleportation Was Just Achieved With 90% Accuracy Over a 44km Distance https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-achieve-sustained-high-fidelity-quantum-teleportation-over-44-km
• A Steampunk Engine to Solve Your Satellite Woes! https://www.universetoday.com/149426/a-steampunk-engine-to-solve-your-satellite-woes/
• Some of Hayabusa2’s Samples are as Big as a Centimeter https://www.universetoday.com/149470/some-of-hayabusa2s-samples-are-as-big-as-a-centimeter/
• Nasa launching missions to study the Sun in attempt to understand dangerous ‘space weather’ https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/space/nasa-sun-solar-weather-wind-b1780414.html
• Mysterious dwarf planet-sized asteroid is hidden in our solar system, study suggests https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/space/dwarf-planet-asteroid-solar-system-earth-b1780975.html
• Why is Earth still habitable after billions of years? In part, we're just lucky. https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/why-is-earth-still-habitable-after-billions-of-years-in-part-were-just-lucky
• Our Galaxy Has a Shocking Array of Really Weird Stars. Here's Your Ultimate Guide https://www.sciencealert.com/our-galaxy-has-a-shocking-array-of-really-strange-stars
• Ask Ethan: Does The Expanding Universe Break The Speed Of Light? https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2021/01/02/ask-ethan-does-the-expanding-universe-break-the-speed-of-light/
• Is dark matter made of teeny tiny black holes from another universe? Welllll… https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/is-dark-matter-made-of-teeny-tiny-black-holes-from-another-universe-welllll