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Google Backs Creation Of Cybersecurity Clinics With $20 Million Donation

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2 years ago

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cybersecurity

WASHINGTON cybersecurity — The U.S. Free medical clinics and legal aid clinics, where college students and instructors help their communities while simultaneously learning more about their professions, are becoming more common. Google intends to expand its list of cybersecurity clinics.

On Thursday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai pledged $20 million in donations to support and expand the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics, which aims to introduce thousands of students to potential careers in cybersecurity while also defending small government offices, rural hospitals, and nonprofits from hacking.

According to Pichai, the new program addresses the increasing number of cyberattacks – up 38% globally in 2022 – and the shortage of qualified personnel to stop them.

“Just as technology can create new threats, it can also help us fight them,” Pichai said at Google’s Washington headquarters when announcing the commitment. “Security was critical to my early work at Google, including when we built our Chrome browser.” Today, it’s at the heart of everything we do, and the present AI tipping point is assisting us in taking our efforts to the next level.”

Last month, Google introduced the Google Cybersecurity Certificate program to help people prepare for entry-level cybersecurity careers. It also collaborated with New York institutions on a research program to create learning and job possibilities in the cybersecurity field.

“Making sure we protect and safeguard both the consumer services and the enterprise services we provide is foundational to the company, which is why we treat it as such,” Pichai said in an interview with The Associated Press following the news. “We’ve been building security from the ground up for a long time, and we’re constantly training to innovate and stay ahead.”

cybersecurity

Google CEO Sundar Pichai pledged $20 million in donations to support and expand the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle welcomed Google’s news. California Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte said combating cyber threats is critical to the country’s economic competitiveness and national security. He also predicted that China would generate twice as many doctoral students in computer science as the United States this year.

“We need to incentivize students to pursue careers in fields like cybersecurity in order to reverse that trend,” he said. “We must all embrace the idea of becoming lifelong learners.”

Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas stated that Google’s effort helps to democratize cybersecurity by providing additional job possibilities and protection to those who do not live in Silicon Valley.

“Small businesses can literally lose hundreds of thousands of dollars every year,” Castro explained. “I’m grateful to Google for expanding on their commitment to support the growth of a workforce required to do everything from secure critical infrastructure in local communities to strengthen our national security.”

cybersecurity

Google CEO Sundar Pichai pledged $20 million in donations to support and expand the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics.

According to Pichai, over 650,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs are required, and a diverse workforce is required to handle the issue. “We’ve seen this before when we’ve gone to communities and opened data centers in rural communities,” he explained. “It produces a spark. It motivates more people… These are momentous occasions.”

The program appealed to Justin Steele, head of Google.org, the company’s charitable arm, because it seeks projects that can generate change on numerous levels.

“It’s a challenge,” remarked Steele. “But there’s a huge opportunity here.”

Steele predicts that students will assist small organizations without technology departments with threat assessments and defense installation during the cybersecurity clinics.

“Those students get hands-on experience, and they get to increase their marketability for all of these open jobs in cybersecurity,” Steele explained. “We get to diversify the field of cybersecurity by training these students, and we get to protect critical U.S. infrastructure.”

According to Ann Cleaveland, executive director of the University of California, Berkeley’s Centre for Long-Term Cybersecurity, the clinics can help organizations “get over a sense of nihilism” about dealing with hackers. While many organizations believe they can do nothing to resist state-sponsored hackers or ransomware assaults, clinics can provide low-level remedies that can combat a wide range of dangers.

cybersecurity

Google CEO Sundar Pichai pledged $20 million in donations to support and expand the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics.

“Students can really help organisations overcome 80 to 90% of the problems and give them a much more resilient stance,” Cleaveland said, adding that the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics intends to open clinics in every state by 2030.

Mark Lupo, the coordinator of the University of Georgia’s CyberArch clinic, said demand for the clinic’s services is increasing as more and more data is compromised. “We have continued as a society to bring more sensitive information online, so that vulnerability has only increased,” he said. “The malicious actors understand that sensitive data can be monetized, which was not even a thought a few years ago.” They’ll gravitate towards it now that there’s money there.”

According to Cleaveland, co-chair of the consortium’s executive committee, this makes cybersecurity and “all hands on deck” an issue. She stated that Google.org’s funding would assist the consortium in establishing new clinics and providing mentors to the students who will staff them.

“Funding is critical, particularly for smaller universities and colleges, as well as some minority-serving institutions,” she noted. “And I think it will be transformative just in terms of making other institutions of higher education aware of the opportunity to have a cybersecurity clinic.”

Kevin Harris, program head of Stillman College’s Department of Computational and Information Sciences, said he is preparing to seek a Google.org grant to expand the cybersecurity clinic at his school, the consortium’s first member at a historically Black college or university.

“We’re still pushing to make the pitch more inclusive,” Harris explained. “With an unfilled demand of 700,000+ jobs, why shouldn’t everyone be able to take advantage of those opportunities regardless of where they are?”

SOURCE – (AP)

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Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics. Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

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Sonic the Hedgehog Dominates Christmas Wish Lists

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1 day ago

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2024-12-21

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Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog Merchandise are hot Christmas Items

Sonic the Hedgehog is dominating Christmas wish lists this year. The lovable blue hedgehog is back in the spotlight, from sonic the hedgehog toys and games to sonic the hedgehog coloring pages and movie hype.

Sonic-themed holiday merchandise is on fire, from quirky sweaters to action figures flying off shelves. Sonic the Hedgehog Christmas outfits for kids are selling out fast, making them a go-to gift option for festive fun.

Retailers have been quick to recognize Sonic’s holiday appeal. Special promotions and exclusive items, like the Sonic holiday t-shirts, are everywhere.

Everyone’s stocking up on Sonic merchandise, from big-box stores to boutique retailers.

Online shopping platforms are seeing a surge in searches for Sonic items. Whether it’s Sonic Christmas-themed tops or Sonic the Hedgehog coloring pages, Sonic the Hedgehog toys or Sonic and the Hedgehog 3, the demand is skyrocketing.

Retailers who tap into this trend are sure to see strong holiday sales.

Sonic has been around since the early 90s, but his popularity never wanes. With the release of Sonic 3, fans are more excited than ever.

sonic the hedgehog 4

Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures is preparing “Sonic the Hedgehog 4,” with the newest addition in the family-friendly genre set for a spring 2027 release.

The announcement comes as “Sonic 3” opens in theatres on Friday, estimated to gross $55 million to $60 million from 3,800 North American locations.

The sequel is shaping up to be a good holiday season blockbuster for Paramount, which explains the desire in future “Sonic” adventures. On the international front, the film will be released on Christmas Day in 52 markets.

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave “Sonic 3” an outstanding 87% fresh score.

The first two films grossed a total of $725.2 million at the global box office and generated over $180 million in global consumer expenditure through home entertainment rentals and digital purchases.

They also inspired a spinoff Paramount+ series, “Knuckles,” which premiered earlier this year.

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Amazon Strike Called By Teamsters Union 10,000 Walkout

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2 days ago

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2024-12-20

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Amazon Strike Called By Teamsters Union
Teamsters members were demonstrating at "hundreds" of other Amazon locations.

An Amazon strike has hit facilities in the United States in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the corporation for a labour agreement during a peak shopping season.

The Teamsters union told the Associated Press that Amazon delivery drivers at seven facilities in the United States walked off the job on Thursday after the firm failed to discuss a labour contract.

According to the union, Amazon employees in Teamsters union jackets were protesting at “hundreds” of additional Amazon facilities, which the union billed as the “largest strike” in US history involving the company.

The corporation, which employs over 800,000 people in its US delivery network, stated that its services will be unaffected.

It was unclear how many people, including members of Germany’s United Services Union, participated in Thursday’s demonstration. The Teamsters union reported that thousands of Amazon employees were implicated in the United States.

Amazon Strike at 10 Locations

Overall, the group claims to represent “nearly 10,000” Amazon strikers, having signed up thousands of people at roughly ten locations across the country, many of whom have joined in recent months.

The organization has claimed recognition from Amazon going on strike, claiming the firm illegally neglected its obligation to bargain collectively over salary and working conditions.

The Teamsters is a long-standing US union with nearly one million members. It is well-known for securing lucrative contracts for its members at companies like delivery behemoth UPS.

Most of the Teamsters’ Amazon campaigns have concerned drivers working for third-party delivery companies that partner with the tech behemoth.

Amazon denies that it is liable as an employer in those circumstances, which is a point of legal contention. In at least one case, labour officials have taken a preliminary stance in favour of the union.

Stalled Contract Negotiations

Amazon employees at a major warehouse on Staten Island in New York have also chosen to join the Teamsters. Their warehouse is the only Amazon facility in the United States where labour officials have formally recognized a union win.

However, the Amazon strike is because contract negotiations have not progressed since the 2022 vote. It was not one of the areas scheduled to go on strike on Thursday.

Amazon, one of the largest employers in the United States, has long received criticism for its working conditions and has been the target of activists seeking to gain traction among its employees.

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Business

Amazon Encounters Numerous Strikes As Unions Aim At The Holiday Shopping Surge.

Published

3 days ago

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2024-12-19

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Amazon

(VOR News) – Thousands of Amazon employees at various sites across the country were scheduled to go on strike on Thursday in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the retail behemoth to acknowledge its unionised workers in the United States.

The walkout is expected to concentrate on seven Amazon locations across the country during the holiday purchasing surge and may be the most significant union action against Amazon in the nation’s history.

The business announced on Thursday morning that there had been no effect on operations. It also stated that it is “continuing to concentrate on fulfilling customers’ holiday orders.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters maintains that it represents more than 10,000 Amazon employees and contractors in aviation centres, warehouses, and delivery centres.

Amazon has refused to acknowledge the union for many years.

The retail giant, which employs approximately 1.5 million individuals, excludes contractors and part-timers. A strike has been initiated by delivery couriers and warehouse employees at seven distinct locations in order to exert pressure on the company to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that would encompass modifications to compensation, amenities, and working conditions.

Picketing was intended for New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Skokie, Illinois.

Also, the Teamsters assert that they are establishing picket lines at “hundreds” of additional warehouses and delivery centres by encouraging non-unionized workers to picket under U.S. labour law, which protects workers’ ability to take collective action to further their interests.

“Amazon workers are exercising their power,” Randy Korgan stated to NPR.

“They now realise there is a pathway to take on a corporate giant like this – and that they hold the power.” Amazon responds by accusing the Teamsters of fabricating information regarding the strikes, asserting that the participants are “entirely” outsiders rather than employees or subcontractors of the corporation.

Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that “the reality is that they were unable to secure sufficient support from our employees and partners and have invited external parties to harass and intimidate our team.” For more than a year, the Teamsters have been intentionally misleading the public by claiming to represent “thousands of employees and drivers.” They do not.

The Teamsters did not provide a specific duration for the strike; however, they informed NPR that it would extend beyond one day. Workers would receive $1,000 per week in strike money, as per the union.

Teamsters President Sean O’Brien issued a statement in which he stated, “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can attribute it to Amazon’s insatiable greed.” We established a firm deadline for Amazon to attend the meeting and treat our members equitably. They disregarded it.

The Teamsters granted until December 15 to convene with its unionised employees and develop a collective bargaining agreement.

Amazon has opposed all unionisation efforts in court, asserting that unions were not advantageous to its employees and emphasising the compensation and benefits that the organisation currently provides.

Amazon has been accused of discriminatory labour practices on numerous occasions, including the termination of labour organisers. Furthermore, it has disputed its official status as a contract employer.

Teamsters organize Amazon delivery couriers and other employees.

In June, Amazon established its first unionised warehouse in Staten Island, New York, two years after making history by voting to join the fledgling Amazon Labour Union, which is also affiliated with the Teamsters.

The union is one of the most influential in the United States and Canada, with 1.3 million members. On Thursday, the German United Services Union declared that Amazon employees in Germany would participate in a strike in conjunction with their American counterparts.

In the past, Amazon has experienced demonstrations in Germany and Spain that were related to the holiday season in order to advocate for improved wages and working conditions.

“The holiday season has arrived.” Delivery is anticipated. Patricia Campos-Medina, the executive director of Cornell University’s Worker Institute, asserts that “this is the moment in which workers have control over the supply chain.”

The Teamsters have reported that Amazon’s profits have increased both during and after the pandemic. The corporation is currently valued at over $2.3 trillion, with net income of $15 billion in the most recent quarter alone. It is the second-largest private employer in the United States, following Walmart.

SOURCE: NPR

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