FACEBOOK- Hackers Exploit Facebook Bug

Yesterday, Facebook reported a breach to their web service through a feature called “View As.” The feature allows users to view their profiles as they appear to other people. The bug in this feature allowed hackers access to “access tokens.” The tokens act as digital keys allowing users to log into their accounts without needing to re-enter their password.

Actions that Facebook says it took yesterday were:

·         It removed the “View As” feature until it can remove the bug allowing access to hackers.

·         It reset the access tokens of 50 million accounts that the company knew were affected by the breach.

·         It also reset the access tokens of another 40 million accounts that may have been affected.

Another potential vulnerability because of this hack is the ability to log into other web sites or apps using your Facebook identity. Facebook says that it has not seen any evidence so far that the hackers were exploiting this vulnerability. As a precaution, it did invalidate the access for third-party app for the 90 million affected or potentially affected accounts.

Facebook says that there is no need to reset your Facebook password. The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) does recommend resetting your Facebook account password. ITRC also recommends that you change the passwords to any apps that you have connected to Facebook and that you revoke permission for Facebook to connect to those apps.

For more information, check out these links,

Krebs on Security:

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/09/facebook-security-bug-affects-90m-users/

Identity Theft Resource Center:

https://www.idtheftcenter.org/new-facebook-security-breach-compromises-50m-users-accounts/

EVERETT- Initiatives to Discourage Gang Activity

Gang activity has become of particular concern over the last few years especially with the reports of incidents of gunfire in parts of the city of Everett. While there has been an 81% decrease in drive by shootings this year, shooting incidents remain a major concern.

The City of Everett and the Everett Police Department have been trying to grapple with this problem.  Recently, the Everett Police Department announced a three-pronged plan to intervene and prevent gang involvement:

·         First, they will develop a resource guide that can be distributed to citizens that will provide a comprehensive list of intervention and prevention services.

·         Second, implementation of a Positive Intervention Outreach Team (PIVOT). This will be a multi-disciplinary review team who will identity individual youths, and their families, who are at a high risk of youth and gang violence. The team will develop an individualized action plan to offer to the individual to stay out of gangs.

·         Third, develop and enact a Pathways for Adolescent Youth (PAY) program. PAY will provide community role models and positive reinforcement for youth who are at high risk of youth and gang violence. Support will be for youth and their entire family. PAY will provide positive mentorship and enrollment in the Strengthening Families Program.

The plan takes a multi-disciplinary approach to try to positively modify the behavior of at-risk youth who are susceptible to gang activity. The plan recognizes that no one discipline will be successful in preventing gang activity and that several government and community-based organizations will have to work together to be successful to help reduce gang activity one kid at a time.

Everett Police Department:

https://everettwa.gov/1899/Youth-Engagement

https://everettwa.gov/faq.aspx?qid=617

Strengthening Families Program:

https://www.strengtheningfamiliesprogram.org/

The Herald:

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/questions-linger-following-gunfire-near-mariner-high-school/

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/unease-as-shootings-in-everett-lynnwood-area-appear-unrelated/