Category: Social Media

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CyberOps Social Media

Don’t! Don’t trust!

Don’t trust everything you see!

Don’t trust everything you hear!

Don’t trust everything you read!

One of the things that cybersecurity taught me is to have zero trust and to be suspicious of any information I see, read, or hear.

Your common sense, education, feelings and perception of normality it will be greatly impacted by the mass-media and social media avalanche of so called, information.

“Breaking news” (or just “breaking” … because are so urgent that writing another word, “news”, takes way too much time and energy), are coming almost in real time.

Publish it first, check it later. Or never.

News “from (credible or confidential) sources“, but impossible to be verified, will manipulate you in the direction desired by the owner’s news or the distributor.

The news is not anymore neutral but heavily connected to who is paying the monthly check. Or the big bonus.

Journalism, as in the ethical code(s) originally planned, is “rara avis”.

I will not keep you a lecture about journalism, as it is not my field of specialty.

But I would like very briefly, to reiterate few advises for a safer and better online #cyberlife :

https://www.enisa.europa.eu/news/enisa-news/ecsm-2020

  • ThinkB4YouClick: Stop, Think, Act (is one of the very first advice you’ll get in a scuba diving class, in stress management).
  • Use a search engine and do basic research about the info you are just about to “like” and “share”. There are deeper and more complex tools to identify the original sources and to spot the dark side of that information, I’ll be back on this topic in a separate article.
  • Fake news, Misinformation, Disinformation, Deep Fake, with the aim of the advanced & powerful computer & dedicated software, and with the booming of the  #ArtificialIntelligence (aka #AI) support (or… leadership), will produce audio & visual content almost impossible to be classified. This plague will affect directly or indirectly, almost everything and everybody. A fine-tunned “news” (written, audio or video) can crash companies or stock markets, can divert politically elections, can turn the World upside down…
  • Everybody can be everything, any scammer can be a CEO.
  • Any crook can be a “public speaker”, any mobster can show off as a prolific businessman. Be suspicious with “overnight” booming businesses… Search who is behind that “successful story”! Search who is involved (politically, economically, “sentimentally/sexually”) in the background. Don’t trust everything you see posted on their “business” website!
  • Don’t get easily impressed by the high numbers of “likes”, “followers” or “comments” on certain websites, pages, groups or profiles. It is SO easy to buy your “celebrity”. I am not posting links to such “services” as I am not intending to promote such scammers!

And remember, a fake news or misinformation remains an information with no value.

No matter that there is partial reality or truth in that information, the diversion of it with the clear intention of manipulation, is canceling any value of it.

And to give you a harsh example: you have a bottle of water. But somebody is peeing in your water bottle. Just a bit. A very little. Is your water still potable? You will still drink from that bottle of contaminated water?†

I guess, no!

Same with the information. Don’t accept contaminated news, do your best and filter it before accepting it.

If you are not sure how to verify a certain information, drop me an email, or get in directly in touch with me, I will be more than happy to give you some tips to help you in your future #cyberinvestigations. Confidentiality is by default!

… and to end up with a smaile…

Stay #cybersafe!

Cyber-Cerber.com is part of OmnisMares.com

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Social Media

Your CV – Your Life!

CV – Curriculum Vitae… or Resume… no, I will not go into this topic. You can find some good guidance in this Harvard Resume/CV guide.

Also, I will not go into the design concept, which format is better or preferred… as there is none. Every recruiter has their own view and opinion, therefore, whatever you’ll choose, you’ll not be good enough for all. Just kidding.

But what I will like to highlight now is your privacy. Your cyber-privacy!

We are all hunting for better jobs. Some of us are getting the dream job thru a direct recommendation, others by direct hunting, others thru a recruitment agency.

The recruitment agency has the privilege of working on our behalf, hunting and matching the best job as per our CV/resume. They deal with the bureaucratic details in the background, the interviews, etc.

And we are happy. And they are happy. So far, so good.

One of the duties of every accredited agency, at least in the EU, is to properly manipulate and store the data. Including our data. Our CV/resume. As per the GDPR. They have certain procedures and protocols, including cybersecurity and cyberprivacy.

And this is good, this is what we want. To have our data, our personal information, in safe hands!

But recently, over the past months, I started to see a lot of individual recruiters, advertising jobs and collecting CVs into, most of the time, Gmail accounts.

Nothing wrong with or against individuals offering jobs to others, don’t take me wrong. Not going into the professional recruitment process (background check, profile match, certifications and skills verified, etc)… if is properly done or is just passing the paper from one hand to another…

My main concern is how our CVs, or personal data, are manipulated, stored, and protected by the @gmail.com user. Is the device “malware” free? Is the user cyber-clean, cyber-aware, and with good internet and computer habits? Is the data stored in a cyber-protected and encrypted environment? For how long the data is stored? What happens with that data after the “recruitment” process is finished? Is deleted? When? How? Do you get any feedback on the status of your CV/resume after the recruitment process is done?

You may say… is just a CV. No bank details, no PIN. Nothing to lose. Right?

Let’s review… In your CV, you have a name, a picture, DOB, location/address, email, telephone number, in-depth details of your previous jobs, medicals & references details… And the list can go on. And what can happen? Well… sit tight and brace for impact…

Impersonating, fake profiles, spare phishing, or even whaling, and cyberbullying, online harassment are just a few of the real dangers behind personal data (CV) in the wrong hands.

Just do a quick test… type “CV” in any search engine? What you’ll get? Tons of data, private data. Add a name… and there you go. And you don’t want to be on that visible list. Not to mention the dark web and deep web!

Don’t post your CV online. Don’t give your CV to anyone who is just posting a job offer… Is that job offer even for real? Sometimes, we see “recruiters” of large (yes, large) yachts with Yahoo, Gmail, or other free accounts. If for a yacht of 30-40mtrs that is self-managing, this might be OK, for a large yacht with solid logistic support… it does not sound professional.

A few pieces of advice before sending your data:

  • Do a bit of basic research (searching engines, social media, etc) before jumping with “CV sent. Thank you Sir/Madam”…
  • Ask your recipient for an email confirmation and application status (forwarded, accepted, rejected, denied, etc). I know…most of the recruiters are demanding professionalism but they deeply lack basic polite feedback so… even fewer expectations from a @Gmail “recruiter”!
  • Ask for written confirmation of CV/resume/data deletion after the recruitment process is completed

Personal and professional data must be carried out in the most private and professional way. Treat the subject seriously and good luck in your job hunting!

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Social Media

Tip & Tips on SuperYachts

As per Merriam-Webster online dictionary, “TIP” is, among many other meanings, “to give a gratuity to”.

Cambridge Dictionary define it as “to give someone who has provided you with a service an extra amount of money to thank them“.

In plain words, tip is when you give some extra money, besides the official charge for that service, because you liked that service. You liked her smile, you liked his skills and professionalism showed above average, you like the way how she presented you the menu or the tips in how to spend your time in the area etc.

In my opinion, if the tip is compulsory…. there is lost the meaning of “above average service”! The guest or client will pay anyway so… what for to give some extra mile in providing the service. On the other side, if you’ll get the tip only if you are really good in the job you do, then we are talking about competition and performance.

Giving a tip is encountered almost everywhere. In some places, is a norm, almost compulsory. In other places… is seen as bit unusual.

In the superyachts, as well as in the cruise ships, industry tip is a big, big attraction for the old crew and greenies alike. Apart from the monthly wage, tip is sometimes mentioned by the Crewing Agency during the employment procedure. But be aware of what you sign as it may state very clear some words, as “Owner or Master discretionary” for example.

Tips might be is mentioned also during various training courses (especially for greenies), as a stimulus in paying the fees & joining the classes. Please… be aware of trainers which are promoting “onboard tips guarantee” during their classes. Is not such guarantee, it is a pure BS! Stay aware of those so-called experienced “trainers”.

So, let’s clarify the myth of “tips on superyachts”.

First of all, there are 3 categories of yachts (in the meaning of operational status): private yachts, chartered yachts, and mixed private-charter yachts.

A private yacht is a vessel owned by a person (or family). Crew is getting their monthly wages. Sometimes, under solely discretion of the Owner, a tip may be given.

A charter yacht – is a vessel managed by a company, who is chartering it to another party (a person, a group, a company) for a certain period of time and under certain terms and conditions. The crew is payed monthly (on-charter or off-charter), but during the on-charter time, an extra money is received. In few words, an equivalent of XX percentage of the chartering fee is representing the tips for crew. Which is spread among the crew but in various amounts for each crew, based of the internal procedures established by the Master and Management.

And there is the mixed, private-charter yacht, which is somehow similar with the charter yachts. With monthly wages and variable tips.

And here is coming the interesting, sometimes unclear or even unfair part of tips distribution onboard:

  • everybody is getting a tip, even when you are in vacation (as equal part with your rotational team). Everybody is happy, everybody is working hard 365 days a year/30days a month/7days a week/24 hrs a day.
  • you might get tip only while onboard. When in vacation… you are skipped. Which is a bit unpleasant (and definitely, unfair), especially when you work very hard to get the vessel ready for the charter but your vacation is due just before the charter to start.
  • you might work onboard during the charter but… the tips is purely discretionary and you (and others) is out of the list. Simply because your job is somehow in the background (engine, galley, laundry) and you are not seen by the Guests. Yes… unfair and very demotivating!

Few advices for crew, experienced or greenies:

  • the fact that you get a tip does not make you better, more cunning or superior to any other crew on the Planet! You are just lucky to be have that job. Do it good, be professional. Be humbled! That’s all.
  • never ever show off with your tip… Is yours, you worked hard for it, good. Keep it in your pocket. Shows a huge luck of education and respect towards the others to flutter your money!
  • tips or no tips, you are a professional. Don’t step over your crew-mates or credit yourself a job just to be in the front of the Guests or Owner… Remember, respect last longer than money!

Be safe, be always professional & keep smiling!

Costa

www.Cyber-Cerber.com | www.YachtDiver.eu

Categories
Social Media

Facebook – Review posts you’re tagged in

Did you noticed that when you self-tagged in a post and later on you want to have that post on your wall, you don’t find it in you’re “activities”?

No problemo, there is a work-around solution!

For some reasons, Facebook does not shows always your self-tagged post in you’re “activity” therefore you cannot add it on your wall. What you have to do is:

  • make you’re post and tag yourself with @myname
  • check Activity log
  • Review posts you’re tagged in
  • Verify in either “Friends” or “Others” – most probably, you’re post where you just self-tagged, is not visible there so you cannot “Add to Profile”
  • To correct the problem:
    • return to your original post,
    • open “edit”,
    • delete YOU’RE (self)tagged @myname,
    • save the post,
    • open again you’re same post
    • and edit it by adding again you’re @myname
    • and save it again – “update post”.
  • Redo the steps described above “Edit Profile” – “Activity Log” – “Review posts you’re tagged in” and there you are. “Add to Profile” and you are done!

Hope you enjoyed the tip, stay safe and have fun!

by CyberCerber