In 2016, Alex Ross wrote a book published by Simon & Schuster, NY called The Industries of the Future. The chapters include here comes the robots; genetic code code-ification of money, markets and trust; big data; and weaponization of code. All the above are coming into normal life – although robots are more in the factory than in the house. Genetic code and predicting life is getting closer eventually the insurance world will adopt it. The code-ification of money includes using cellphones as ATMs and bit coin; the emergence of AI and the use of big data is commonplace. However, unfortunately the weaponization of code means every company and maybe every person will need cyber security features as a given or at least a need to pay for it.

In an article by Surbhi Misra and David Shepardson of Reuters, the Chinese-linked Salt Typhoon targeted AT&T and Verizon but limited to a small number of individuals of foreign intelligence interest. Those individuals were connected to President Trump and what he and people around him were texting and audio recordings about China and China’s interests.

In a Department of Justice investigation gaining hold of someone’s text messages is an important part of the case to be made against someone. The department goes through a judge and shows intent and has permission to if people are breaking the law.

The cybercrime is involved without permission, gaining information to leverage against in this case politicians and those around them.

In response to the last attack, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency urged senior government and political figures to move mobile communications to end-to-end encrypted apps.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, we want and love open communications then the other side happens and the world slowly closes. If the companies you invest in are not using encrypted apps, one has to ask why not? what processes do they use to fight cyber crime?

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.