Flying Penguins

On April 1, 2008, the BBC published an article and video claiming that their camera crew had discovered a group of flying penguins on King George Island. According to the article, the penguins took flight upon sensing rough changes in weather conditions, and migrated thousands of miles to the Amazonian rainforest for the winter. The problem? Penguins can’t fly.

Spaghetti Plant

Well, it seems the BBC has been at it for at least half a century! On April 1, 1957, they released a fake broadcast showing farmers harvesting spaghetti in Switzerland. Spaghetti was not a popular delicacy in the UK at the time, so many viewers were excited about the “spaghetti bush” and were eager to begin growing their own.

Washing of the Lions

Ever wonder about the April Fools’ pranks of 17th century Britain? Well, wonder no more. On April 1, 1698, citizens of London were invited to witness the annual “washing of the lions” in the moat outside of the Tower of London. Of course, there was no washing of any lions, but large crowds flocked to take part in the event, and the prank was even repeated year after year for two centuries.

John Stamos Documentary

Here’s a more recent trick, and one with multiple layers. Last year on April Fools’ Day, Netflix released a fake trailer for a documentary all about the life of Full House actor John Stamos. A video in which Stamos angrily ranted at Netflix after finding out that they’d used him for an April Fools’ prank was then “leaked.” As it turned out, Stamos was in on the prank from the beginning.

The Taco Liberty Bell

Would you visit the Taco Liberty Bell? On April 1, 1996, Taco Bell released a number of statements in major newspapers telling readers that they had purchased the Liberty Bell in order to reduce America’s national debt. They asserted that they would be renaming the structure the “Taco Liberty Bell.” There were so many strong reactions that Taco Bell released another statement around midday letting audiences know that the whole story was a joke.

So, there are some of our favorite April Fools’ pranks of all time. Who knows what’s in store for this year? Remember to be on the lookout today!

Is There Hard Evidence to Support a Shortage?

You might have already heard that the industry is suffering from a lack of qualified professionals. Unfortunately, there’s truth to this, and it’s looking pretty grim from even a global standpoint. Job listings are a reflection of demand in the industry, and when it comes to cybersecurity, over two hundred thousand jobs remain unfilled. To bolster the implication, Intel Security, McAfee, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) confirmed the shortage in their most recent report, and it’s projected to remain bleak at least in the near future.

Read More: The Internet of Things is at Risk of Hacking

Which Skills Does the Industry Seek?

The greatest need of the industry at the moment is pretty obvious: the ability to detect hacks and then handle them. Secure software development is an in-demand skill that’s hard to come by. Part of the problem is simply a lack of education and training opportunities. Technology and hackers are outpacing the skilled professionals necessary to stop them. The solution is a relatively simple one: companies that appreciate the crucial necessity invest more in their cybersecurity personnel. The issue is mainly a lack of investment and sponsorship to increase qualified individuals.

A Call to Action

The best way to fight security threats is by providing the proper education programs and training personnel needed to meet the challenge. In the meantime, there are also options for automated security. At least in this way, companies can more efficiently and effectively identify threats as they arise. Security is not the place to be stingy. The consequences for having an insecure server are life-threatening to any business and the relationships they hope to maintain with their clients and the public at large.

Talented cybersecurity individuals who are not granted opportunities to advance their skill or who are not adequately compensated will leave those companies. It’s time for governments and businesses to realize the dire role cybersecurity professionals play in keeping our world virtually safe from hacks, and to provide them with the incentives and resources they need to do their jobs.

Benefits to Online Voting

There are many reasons online voting is appealing. Considering the number of smartphone and Internet users, online voting could dramatically increase voter turnout. It would offer a convenient way for citizens to vote in an election; one that wouldn’t require them to take time off of work, wait in obscenely long lines, cast absentee ballots, or even figure out how to get to their polling place. It would be a more convenient option for elderly or disabled voters. It could also increase voter turnout among younger voters.

Read More: How Social Media Picks the New President

But that’s all in theory. What seems likelier with online voting is that we’d still have to go to a public place (although, not one determined by our address) to cast our vote online. If that were the case, it likely wouldn’t increase voter turnout, because for many citizens, voting would still be a hassle. If online public voting were combined with an election day holiday, that would be likely to increase turnout.

In addition, online voting could provide near-instant election results. This would be a major benefit, considering that the US is still counting ballots from the 2016 presidential election. This could, potentially, make election night less stressful for citizens.

Online Voting Challenges

However, with the lack of cybersecurity awareness in the US, combined with a national fear of cyber attacks and malware, it would be difficult to implement a nationwide online voting system that citizens would find trustworthy. There would probably be greater fear, too, of hackers, countries, or public officials tampering with election results.

Security is a big concern, after all, and the main reason that the US isn’t seriously pursuing an online voting system. There are a lot of different ways that a hacker could interfere with a private Internet server, including through apps on your phone or other smart devices connected to your Internet.

Another concern is identity: voting is supposed to be anonymous. But, on a private Internet server, it is very unlikely that a vote would remain anonymous. If Facebook and Google can find out everything about you by tracking your online habits, then how could an online voting system remain secure and anonymous? Those are exactly the concerns for the select few Americans who can vote online.