April 2022 - cypherpunks - lists.cpunks.org

Fwd: The metaverse rises
by Gunnar Larson 07 Apr '22

07 Apr '22

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: McKinsey Quarterly <publishing(a)email.mckinsey.com> Date: Wed, Apr 6, 2022 at 3:40 PM Subject: The metaverse rises To: <g(a)xny.io> Defining the metaverse ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [image: McKinsey & Company] <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> *Share this email* [image: LinkedIn] <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> [image: Twitter] <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> [image: Facebook] <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> Share this email on *LinkedIn* [image: >] <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> [image: LinkedIn] <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> Share this email on *Twitter* [image: >] <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> [image: Twitter] <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> Share this email on *Facebook* [image: >] <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> [image: Facebook] <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> <http://email.mckinsey.com/homefeed?__hScId__=v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5…> [image: A drawing of Lareina Yee] <https://email.mckinsey.com/our-people/lareina-yee?__hScId__=v70000018000641…> *NEXT BIG THING?Signals of the metaverse* *Lareina Yee* *Internet searches for the term “metaverse”* rose 7,200% in 2021. Those aren’t media mentions. That’s individual curiosity, a clear signal of how much people want to understand the term. The metaverse* is* a confusing term, because at this point it isn’t just one thing. For now, the metaverse is a combination of elements <https://email.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights…> with the potential to create a vast virtual environment where new kinds of interactions and new kinds of B2C *and* B2B commerce are possible. This integrated physical and virtual experience will have three core characteristics: immersive, interactive environments that use technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality to give a sense of presence and mimic the realism of the real world; a modifiable but persistent state where you can build, create, and interact similar to the way you interact in the physical world; and a digital identity that is as valuable and unique as your physical identity. People sometimes confuse the metaverse with the technologies that enable it. For instance, the metaverse is not virtual reality <https://email.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunicatio…>. Virtual reality is just a part of the metaverse tech stack, which has a lot of existing technologies and some that are incipient. For instance, 5G is essentia <https://email.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunicatio…> l for the metaverse. Great connectivity, particularly low latency, is your ticket to board the flight in, as it were. But you also need payments technology, cloud and edge infrastructure, 3-D developer tools, creator tools, security and identity platforms, virtual worlds and content, and even better devices and peripherals. One big issue is that there’s no portability. What passes for the metaverse today is actually a set of microverses—you can’t move your avatar, social graph, virtual assets, and data seamlessly from, say, Fortnite to Roblox. That’s no good for the over 200 million monthly active users who spend an average of 2.5 hours per day on the services. That will have to change. Those gaming platforms are giving people—especially young people—new expectations for how they can interact online. They assume that they’ll be able to connect, create, and buy and sell in similar worlds. We’ll need a better trust architecture (which may be decentralized and very different from current models) if they’re going to do all that seamlessly across multiple platforms. For now, I’d say we have just the glimmer of the metaverse. Given that, companies are asking tough questions: Is this all hype and a distraction? Should I pilot an experiment to learn about it? Is this an investable thesis that I should take seriously now? Is it such a serious pivot that I should worry about my core business? And if I can’t answer those questions with confidence, what should I do now? For almost everyone, learning about the potential of the metaverse <https://email.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights…> is a no-brainer. One great way to do so is to follow venture-capital (VC) funding. For example, Goldman Sachs estimated that there was $10 billion in venture funding for gaming and virtual worlds in 2021, more than twice the previous year. Seeing where the VC money goes can give companies a helpful perspective on what the metaverse might look like as it scales into something bigger. *200 million* monthly users spend an average of 2.5 hours a day on Fortnite and Roblox Experimentation can also be a great way to learn. To date, the experiments we have seen fall into three categories: brand integrations to extend existing experiences such as buying a virtual asset or NFT; ephemeral experiences such as the Gucci Garden; and persistent metaverse experiences such as we see in gaming. In the past few months alone, we have seen brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Forever 21, Ralph Lauren, Nike, NASCAR, and Warner Brothers launch metaverse plays. Experiments can be a way to open the window to the art of the possible—we may not fully know where they lead us, but we’ll certainly learn a lot in the process. For experiments in the metaverse <https://email.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights…> to work, companies may need to embrace open-ended investments, even small ones. In many cases, the people pushing for metaverse experimentation, who often come out of IT, haven’t tied the effort to a business case. Leaders may have to give them some leeway by expanding their tolerance for small failures. But the experimentation crowd must make more of an effort to think through the potential business value. In addition, a lot of these technologies require expertise that most companies have in short supply. At this moment of sharp talent shortages, companies may not have the mix of engineering, software, analytics, and IT talent required to execute some of these ideas. Partnering with platform providers like Roblox or Decentraland can alleviate some, but not all, of this problem. There are many obstacles and much uncertainty. It may well take a decade or more to fully build out the potential of the metaverse. There’s no hard-coded road map. For example, while today’s hype is about consumer use cases, enterprise or B2B cases may be the ones to scale first. Just like in the early days of the internet, it was not clear where it would go and how long it would take to develop, but we knew it was an exciting direction of innovation. This feels like that kind of moment. Once again, technology is driving innovation <https://email.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights…> into something that’s just around the corner, that could transform our experience in some unforeseen way. It reminds me that the potential of technology is infinite. That’s so humbling, and so inspiring. *ABOUT THE AUTHOR* *Lareina Yee* <https://email.mckinsey.com/our-people/lareina-yee?__hScId__=v70000018000641…> is a senior partner in the Bay Area office. *MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR* <https://email.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-per…> *Confronting the early-career gender gap* <https://email.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-per…> To achieve workforce parity, businesses should apply the same practices they are using against the glass ceiling. More → <https://email.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-per…> [image: A photo of green ballons] <https://email.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/ten-th…> *Ten things to know about gender equality* <https://email.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/ten-th…> Since 2015, progress has been marginal, and now COVID-19 has hit women hard. We offer ten facts about gender equality that everyone should know. More → <https://email.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/ten-th…> *IN TWO WEEKS* Shelley Stewart on diversity commitments In the aftermath of George Floyd, companies made enormous efforts to diversity. Here’s how they can deepen those commitments. [image: McKinsey & Company] <http://email.mckinsey.com/homefeed?__hScId__=v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5…> *Follow our thinking* [image: LinkedIn] <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> [image: Facebook] <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> [image: Facebook] <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> This email contains information about McKinsey’s research, insights, services, or events. By opening our emails or clicking on links, you agree to our use of cookies and web tracking technology. For more information on how we use and protect your information, please review our privacy policy <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> . You received this email because you subscribed to our *McKinsey Quarterly* alert list. *Manage subscriptions* <https://email.mckinsey.com/T/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> | *Unsubscribe* <https://email.mckinsey.com/U/v7000001800064136a9a9d0df4bbe5c898/4beaeb2f3a3…> Copyright © 2022 | McKinsey & Company, 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007 -- *Gunnar Larson - xNY.io <http://www.xNY.io> | Bank.org <http://Bank.org>* MSc <https://www.unic.ac.cy/blockchain/msc-digital-currency/?utm_source=Google&u…> - Digital Currency MBA <https://www.unic.ac.cy/business-administration-entrepreneurship-and-innovat…> - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip) G(a)xNY.io +1-646-454-9107 New York, New York 10001

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Russia's FSB malign activity: factsheet
by zeynepaydogan 06 Apr '22

06 Apr '22

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/russias-fsb-malign-cyber-activit… Cyber operations and the Russian intelligence services Russia is one of the world’s most prolific cyber actors and dedicate significant resource into conducting cyber operations around the globe. The UK government has publicly attributed malign cyber activity to parts of three Russian Intelligence services: the FSB, SVR and GRU, with each having their own remits. A table of the parts of the Russian Intelligence Services that the UK Government has publicly attributed is below. RIS cyber organogram The FSB cyber programme The FSB (Federal Security Service; Russian: (Федеральная служба безопасности (ФСБ)) is Russia’s state security agency and the successor to the KGB. Since its formation in (1995 the FSB has conducted electronic surveillance of equipment. FSB Centre 16 FSB Centre 16 (16-й Центр) is responsible for cyber operations including the intercepting, decrypting and processing of electronic messages, and the technical penetration of foreign targets. Its full title is the Centre for Radio-Electronic Intelligence by Means of Communication (TsRRSS; Russian: Центр радиоэлектронной разведки на средствах связи (ЦPPCC)) and is also known as “Military Unit 71330” (V/Ch 71330) (Bойсковая часть B/Ч 71330). When the KGB was disbanded in 1991, the 16th Directorate of the KGB became FAPSI (Russian: ՓАПϹИ) or Federal Agency of Government Communications and Information (FAGCI) (Russian :Փедеральное Агентство Правительственной Ϲвязи и Информации), a Russian government agency, which was responsible for signals intelligence (SIGINT) and security of governmental communications. In 2003, FAPSI was dissolved, and the 3rd Main Department of FAPSI (responsible for SIGINT) was transferred to the FSB forming the basis for FSB Centre 16. The emblem of FSB Centre 16 hints at its activities in cyberspace: a satellite dish (signifying SIGINT activity) and a key, broken by lightning, (signifying the breaking of an encryption key) are both present. Cyber operations conducted by FSB Centre 16 FSB Centre 16 has been observed conducting cyber operations since at least 2010. They conducted significant campaigns against the energy sector in 2014 and the aviation sector in 2020. Cyber operations against worldwide critical national infrastructure Centre 16 of the FSB have targeted/gained unauthorised access systems in countries around the world that are necessary for a country to function and upon which daily life depends. Known as Critical National Infrastructure or CNI, Centre 16 has targeted systems essential for energy, healthcare, finance, education and local/national governments. This has been a concerted campaign over many years and in a wide range of countries across Europe, the Americas and Asia. NCSC and cyber security companies have warned network defenders on multiple occasions of the risks posed by this pattern of activity. While there has been speculation of FSB involvement, the UK government is confirming this activity was carried out by FSB Centre 16 and providing further details of specific examples of this activity to increase awareness and transparency around the threat. Table 2: Cyber operations against CNI Date Activity Description of targets Further information June to July 2013 Compromised software package, turning the software into a Trojan, a legitimate appearing programme that contains malware European manufacturer of programmable logic controller devices Symantec report:https://community.broadcom.com/symantecenterprise/communities/commun… April 2014 Compromised software European developer of wind turbines, bio gas and other energy infrastructure Symantec report:https://community.broadcom.com/symantecenterprise/communities/commun… April 2017 Conducted malicious cyber activity UK companies associated with the energy sector October 2017 Gained unauthorised access to and compromised multiple networks through malicious cyber activity including spear phishing European and North American energy sector Symantec report: Dragonfly: Western energy sector targeted by sophisticated attack grouphttps://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligen…. Symantec indicate that the actors may have “access to operational systems” March 2018 Conducted spear phishing, captured user credentials, gained unauthorised access to CNI and exfiltrated data US energy, nuclear, commercial facilities, water, aviation and critical manufacturing sectors US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure security agency advisoryhttps://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/alerts/aa22-074a. [The advisory states that the activity detailed was performed by Russia government actors and points to the Symantec report detailed above (October 2017) that details malicious activity performed by the group called “Dragonfly”] April 2018 Compromising UK organisations with focus on engineering and industrial control companies. Attackers may be able to access contact lists of hacked companies and establish long term access to networks UK engineering and industrial control companies NCSC advisory:https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/hostile-state-actors-compromising-uk-organisations-focus-engineering-and-industrial-control February 2020 to August 2020 Sustained and substantial scanning and probing of networks American aviation sector This reconnaissance could be used to gain access at a later date September 2020 onwards Targeted and exfiltrated data American aviation sector and other key US targets CISA alert AA20-296A Cyber operations against dissidents, political opponents and the Russian public The UK government has identified FSB Centre 16 actors using cyber operations to monitor or attempt to gain unauthorised access to the computer systems of dissidents, political opponents and the Russian public. Table 3: Cyber operations conducted by FSB Centre 16 against dissidents, prominent Kremlin critics and the Russian public Date Activity Further information September 2017 Gained unauthorised access to the email address of an associate of Aleksey Navalny Aleksey Navalny is a prominent critic of Putin and a strong advocate for democracy in Russia. In August 2020 Navalny was poisoned in Russia. Following treatment in Germany he returned to Russia and was arrested on arrival October 2019 to January 2020 Posing as the Russian Federal Tax Service, conducted spear phishing against multiple Russian nationals Many of the targets are critics of the current administration February 2020 Attempted to Spear-phish the press secretary of Mikhail Khodorkovskiy 1: Mikhail Khodorkovskiy is a prominent critic of the Russian administration and currently resides in the UK. 2: Mikhail Khodorkovskiy has said he believes himself to be at serious risk from harm at the hands of the Russian state. He currently resides in the UK. The press secretary would be expected to have access to Mikhail Khodorkovskiy’s diary and travel plans May 2020 Monitored the website “dossier.center”, a website set up by Mikhail Khodorkovskiy to expose corruption within the Russian government. This activity occurred shortly after the website released information about the FSB This activity likely represents intelligence gathering against groups connected to Mikhail Khodorkovskiy .

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[ot][spam][person] snippets
by Undiscussed Horrific Abuse, One Victim of Many 06 Apr '22

06 Apr '22

add remotes for and fetch forks of a github repository, 2022-04: export ORIGIN_USER=github-user ORIGIN_REPO=github-repo curl -v https://github.com/"$ORIGIN_USER"/"$ORIGIN_REPO"/network/members | sed -ne 's!.*class="" href="/$[^/]\{1,\}$/$[^/]\{1,\}$">.*!\1 \2!p' | while read forkuser forkrepo; do git remote add "$forkuser" https://github.com/"$forkuser"/"$forkrepo"; git fetch "$forkuser"; done can then likely review all history in parallel with git log --all

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[ePUB Book] The full Data Scientist Interview Handbook
by bookpdf＠keemail.me 06 Apr '22

06 Apr '22

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[ePUB Book] Machine Learning for Beginners
by bookpdf＠keemail.me 06 Apr '22

06 Apr '22

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A new read on Jewish life
by professor rat 06 Apr '22

06 Apr '22

https://www.tabletmag.com Some interesting reading here now and then - which is a lot more than you can say about every other e-zine out there.

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[ot][notes][spam][personal] hobbyist transformer model algorithms
by Undiscussed Horrific Abuse, One Victim of Many 06 Apr '22

06 Apr '22

things i've found without education: Training a Model to Make Choices - you can backpropagate loss around a decision, by -> weighting different outcomes with the likelihood of choosing them, and summing them <- then the loss can propagate to the impact of the weight on the final sum you can even do it in random minibatches with small samples from the outcome space. guessing that rl ppo does something analogous this briefly worked for me a little to automatically tune prompts might need some further review or rephrasing (and/or education) to refine and reduce inhibiton around

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Establishment channeling cypherpunks
by professor rat 06 Apr '22

06 Apr '22

Listen to Bankster, Jamie Dimon and SEC's Gary Gensler this week and its like Hettinga and Mongo - cryptoanarchist technology is sound and its like the first net bubble all over again! Welcome to the revolution.

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Fwd: NYC City Wallet Tweeted: The total contribution to the New York City...
by Gunnar Larson 06 Apr '22

06 Apr '22

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PBC
by Gunnar Larson 06 Apr '22

06 Apr '22

Today, we became the most valuable PBC on the planet. I am so proud of the United States of America. We will take care of the rest. You know what I mean ...

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