The Daily Valet. - 9/8/21, Wednesday

✔️ A New, Troubling Trend

September 08, 2021

Wednesday, September 8th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

I miss the smell of Blockbuster stores. I just do.

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

The Surge in Ransomware

What’s driving the attacks and what can be done about it?

Howard University in Washington, D.C., canceled classes on Tuesday after it said its computer network was hit with a ransomware attack. In-person teaching will resume today, but online and hybrid classes will remain suspended and the campus will largely stay closed until cybersecurity experts can determine how best to get the system up and running.

As America still grapples with COVID, digital experts are combating a “pandemic of a different variety,” as the former head of U.S. cybersecurity Chris Krebs warned in May. During the past seven months, ransomware attacks have crippled companies and entire cities, with hackers taking advantage of lax security measures for an easy payday.

The Biden administration has made stopping these extremely disruptive attacks a national-security priority, but many experts still think that the worst may be ahead of us.

Who exactly is carrying out these attacks? According to Intelligencer, ransomware gangs work in jurisdictions where American law enforcement can’t reach them. The names of the groups are what you might expect from professional online criminals in the former Soviet Republic: REvil, Evil Corp and DarkSide.

According to the Washington Post, the increase in ransomware attacks is actually driven by the rise of cryptocurrency. The blockchain technology has made ransoms far easier to pay and tougher to track. And all the remote working has made it tougher for IT staffs to correct problems caused by the attacks.

A successful ransomware attack requires (1) access to compromised computers, (2) malware to remotely encrypt the victim’s data and (3) a means to receive and launder ransom payments. Which is why the Wall Street Journal is advocating for the Justice Department to focus its resources on proactive rather than reactive investigations—especially because the people who commit these attacks usually aren’t central to the ransomware ecosystem. They’re like low-level drug-dealers: unskilled, unsophisticated and easily replaceable.

↦ Dig Deeper: Should ransomware payments be made illegal? Proponents say it would lead to fewer attacks.

A COVID-19 Status Report

The mu variant, a new game plan and encouraging vaxx numbers

A coronavirus variant known as “mu” was designated by the World Health Organization as a “variant of interest” last week and will be monitored by the global health body as cases continue to emerge across parts of the world.

On Tuesday, it was reported that the variant has been detected in 49 states here in the U.S. as well as in 42 other countries. The news comes as the U.S. exceeded 40 million COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The White House said that President Biden on Thursday will present a six-pronged strategy intended to fight the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus Delta variant and increase U.S. COVID-19 vaccinations.

On the upside, new CDC data on Tuesday showed that 75% of adults in the U.S. have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. So let's appreciate that three in four adults have done the right thing.

↦ Meanwhile: Flu season is coming fast and could be miserable, studies warn.

A Free Britney?

Britney Spears’ father files to end court conservatorship

Britney Spears' fight to end her court-ordered conservatorship took an unexpected turn on Tuesday when her father and the conservator of her estate, Jamie Spears, filed a petition to end the arrangement.

“As Mr. Spears has said again and again, all he wants is what is best for his daughter,” the document says. “If Ms. Spears wants to terminate the conservatorship and believes that she can handle her own life, Mr. Spears believes that she should get that chance.” According to The Hollywood Reporter, the judge overseeing the case will need to approve the move.

The filing marked a turnaround for the guardianship—which was imposed 13 years ago amid concerns over the signer's mental health. Last month, her father said he would eventually step aside from his role overseeing Britney's finances once there could be “an orderly transition to a new conservator,” but argued that he should not be immediately removed.

Britney's new lawyer called the filing “vindication” and “our investigation into financial mismanagement and other issues will continue.”

↦ FYI: During a hearing in July, Britney Spears said that she wanted to press charges against her father for “conservatorship abuse” and called the arrangement “f---ing cruelty.”

A VHS Tape Renaissance

Ready to rewind to the ’80s and ’90s?

Last year, vinyl records outsold CDs for the first time since the '80s, proving that audiophiles still have an affinity for the retro format. But can the same be said for movie buffs?

According to the Wall Street Journal, it's possible; “Free Blockbuster” stands are popping up across the country to help film fans swap old VHS tapes.

To try to re-create a bit of the video-store experience, Brian Morrison started Free Blockbuster in 2019. The group turns former newspaper boxes into free little libraries of movies. VHS die-hards hope the effort encourages the exchange of home entertainment with strangers in their neighborhood.

It's certainly a charming idea. And there's something to be said for sharing films in the isolated age of streaming. But my question is: who still has a working VCR? Apparently, the last VCR maker stopped production back in 2016.

↦ FYI: Are sealed VHS tapes the next high-dollar collectible? Experts seem to think they could take off like other sealed nostalgic items.

In Other News

↦ One in Four Bronco Buyers Opted for a Manual Transmission

↦ 7.0-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Mexico Near Acapulco

↦ Hulu’s Monthly Prices Increase by $1 As Disney Pushes Its Streaming Bundle .

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

A new, sustainable Aeron chair

Saying the unsayable

Roy Kent, role model

Do You Need a Bar Cart?

Probably not. But should you get one? Yes.

There are plenty of items you need when furnishing a home. You need a bed, and a sofa to relax on; a table on which to eat and maybe a desk where you can work. A bar cart or cabinet is not on the list of essentials when it comes to outfitting your home. Does anyone need one? Well, no. Not really.

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't want one—nor does it mean you shouldn't get one. Because these pieces are what will take your place to the next level. And they're not without their function. A good bar cabinet keeps all your bottles and glasses and other imbibing accoutrement in order.

Plus, it automatically turns you into a gentlemanly host. You're instantly prepared the next time you have friends over at the last minute. Why toss them a beer from your fridge when you can suavely gesture at your bar and say “what will you have?”

Just make sure you find one that suits your decor. We've pulled a dozen of the best option s in a range of price points and styles. Once you find the one that fits, embrace that civilized feeling it offers and treat yourself to a few good bottles to celebrate.

↦ Get It: The best bar cabinets and carts to buy right now.

Discounted Hair Care Necessities

↦ Everyone needs a solid shampoo, and it's hard to go wrong with Kiehl's. The coconut and amino acid based formula ($32 / $24) is especially good if you're into a low shampooing hair care routine—the product will keep your hair clean and soft between washes, no matter your hair type.