Mastodawn

Ç'thûłhů👾Rants! 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇨🇦Jul 19

You’ve heard of ransomware, deepfake scams, and business email compromise. But what about bread bag cybercrime awareness? 🥖

In Belgium, police have taken to printing cybersecurity tips on bakery bags. Yes, really. Forget TikTok or Instagram ads, this is crime prevention via a crusty sourdough.

The initiative targets people who aren't scrolling social media 24/7. The idea is simple: warn people about online fraud and digital scams using something they actually see every day - at low cost.

Graham Cluley Jul 18

I think it's a great idea. Lets face it, your nan isn't going to read a blog post about malicious QR codes, but she might read the side of a baguette bag while tucking into her lunch.

It's easy to forget that not everyone is immersed in the world of technology and cybercrime. Sometimes cybersecurity needs to go low-tech to reach high-risk users.

What ideas do YOU have for improving general awareness about cybersecurity? Go on, use your loaf and be imaginative. Let me know in the comments.

Graham Cluley Jul 18

Here's a Belgian media report about the initiative: https://www.nieuwsblad.be/regio/vlaams-brabant/halle-vilvoorde/pajottegem/politie-waarschuwt-voor-internetcriminaliteit-via-broodzakken-niet-iedereen-is-actief-op-sociale-media/77720193.html

WowSuchCyber Jul 19

@gcluley seems to be only a local initiative but it's a good idea! I hope the good press they got will push our authorities to do that nationally.

VessOnSecurity Jul 18

@gcluley Your nan has learned to ignore the ads printed on the shopping bags. What makes you think that she won't ignore this one too?

Petra van Cronenburg Jul 18

@gcluley Please stop this ugly narrative that elder women would be technically dumb or not using the internet. 🙄 This generation invented the internet! Yes, women, too (without them, there would have been no moon landing).

In my country, elder people perhaps don't hang out on Twitter but they use social media in form of messenger groups sharing information links: https://mastodon.online/@NatureMC/114875326951099347 - even men learn to use them. And it's often the young buying bread ...

Petra van Cronenburg (@NatureMC@mastodon.online)

@gcluley@mastodon.green French grannies would photograph it with their smartphone to send it to their Whatsapp groups. 😁

Mastodon

JuneSim63 Jul 18

@NatureMC @gcluley
I'm 72 and I've been using computers since 1978. It really annoys me when people assume older women are technologically inept.

Petra van Cronenburg Jul 18

@junesim63 Thank you! I'm in an embroidery club with women of 60, 70, 80 plus. The only one who doesn't use the internet or messengers, is 94.
But she isn't interested in bread bags either. 😉

@junesim63
Thank you for being here. It is so important to know you are out there - otherwise it might be so easy to believe the general idea "you are over 40 years old and not a man? Are you sure you know what the internet is?"

@NatureMC @gcluley

BowieChilde Jul 18

@NatureMC @gcluley Considering what Hedy Lamarr did with the groundwork that Tesla laid, I, for one, would never make such statements. Her code is what makes mobile phones and Bluetooth work.

Curious Magpie Jul 18

@gcluley your post is definitely a bit clueless - I don't know how you treat older women (and men) in your life - but I can't imagine you give us the respect and credit due, not just re: tech but in trying to dumb down everything to your imagination of the capabilities of your elders.

@gcluley Yeah but, crime tips on stolis never helped in Oz before

@gcluley This seems to depend on something low cost that everyone loves and buys.

In Ox, even a simple coffee is too much to the yooth to learn from, sadly.

@gcluley sorry, didn't read, distracted by gorgeous looking baguette

Very cool ! 😁👍

Sara Angeloni 🏳️‍🌈🇪🇺Jul 18

@gcluley Can I have the baguette? I'm suddenly feeling like it's a meal time. 🤤

Ivan Todorov Jul 18

@gcluley this is brilliant!

@gcluley Man it must be really nice having a government that cares about people

Maarten De Bal Jul 18

@gcluley I’m going to find me a baker who uses these bags when I’m home.

Éric Freyssinet Jul 18

@gcluley we had that in France a few years ago in the #Gendarmerie . It started in the Vosges department

https://actu.fr/grand-est/_88/en-lorraine-gendarmes-donnent-leurs-conseils-sur-baguettes-medicaments_22866345.html

En Lorraine, les gendarmes donnent leurs conseils... sur des baguettes et des médicaments

L'opération [R-Mess] est un dispositif unique en France. Dans les Vosges, les gendarmes écrivent des conseils de sécurité sur des emballages de baguettes de pain et de médicaments.

actu.fr

Paul Sutton Jul 18

Great idea

Petra van Cronenburg Jul 18

@gcluley French grannies would photograph it with their smartphone to send it to their Whatsapp groups. 😁