Book Review – Cybersecurity is Everybody’s Business by Scott N. Schober

November 17, 2019 JulieG2 Comments

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This book can be found here on Goodreads and here on Amazon

This e-book was provided for review by the author Scott N. Shober via BookTasters.

This book covers the following topics – Non-Fiction / Cybersecurity / Hacking / Cyber-crime / Cyber-awareness / Cyber-safety

As the title of the book suggests, Cybersecurity really is everybody’s business. Being aware of cyber-crime is something that I’ve become more and more interested in over the years as a digital citizen, and it’s something that everyone needs to be exposed to in a relatable way.

Onto the review:

Is this book written for the right audience – would this book make sense to someone that knows nothing about tech or cyber-crime?

Scott’s book is an ideal place to start if you’re curious about cybersecurity for small businesses. If you’ve already made yourself familiar with Scott’s previous book, Hacked Again, this book is a solid next step in advancement and understanding of the world of cybercrime and how it can impact you as an individual and your business.

If you’re a novice when it comes to cybersecurity as a topic, you’re probably better off reading Scott’s previous book first, which is about Scott’s personal experience of being hacked called “Hacked Again.” You can view a sample and purchase that book here on Amazon.

For any small business owner with a basic understanding of what cyber-crime is, this book should be next to your bed and on your reading table. Scott is extremely good at taking a step back from the complexity of cyber-crime and hacking and applying an expert’s opinion in such a way that makes it extremely easy to digest. While the world of hackers can be a scary place, Scott tackles this fear, breaking it apart bit by bit by discussing real-world scenarios and offering valuable advice on how to best avoid these situations.

One of the most important things I’ve found as someone acutely aware of how easy it is for hackers to commit such crimes is that there isn’t enough information out there for the little person. There is very little information available for people who don’t own businesses or have large bank accounts with thousands of clients. What I like about this book is that Scott knows that there is a considerable lack of understanding that exists among the general public, and he is actively trying to share what he knows to combat and bridge that gap.

Scott’s message is that you don’t have to be technically savvy to understand how critical cybersecurity is. If you don’t think you have something a hacker may want, think again. If you have money or data to exploit, you’re a target, and that’s pretty much everyone.

How is the language used in this book – is it simple enough to understand?

There are certain parts of this book, such as the reference notes, and real-world examples of cyber breaches and attacks that maybe just a little too technical for the average reader. These details are more suited for someone who may have a technical background and understanding of significant data breaches such as the Mirai Botnet DDoS attack in chapter 15. Unless you’re interested in the in’s and out’s of how a DDoS attack is carried out and why, you won’t need to understand what a DDoS is. But Scott is adept at recognizing that some people may zone out as soon as the words “data breach” are mentioned, and that’s important because it means he understands his audience and caters to that very well. By separating the reference notes at the end of each chapter, you can easily skip the more technical details if it’s not your thing.

What can be gained from reading this book – does it educate the reader?

Cybersecurity is Everybody’s Business is easily one of the most educational books out there about the real-world implications of cyber-crime. Awareness is key to opening the door and that’s really all that Scott is trying to do, to make people, everyday people, more aware of the threats they face. We are beyond becoming digital citizens, we are digital citizens. We live our lives online. If you think of how much time you spend connected to the internet every day, you will begin to understand that all of that time online has to amount to something – and that something is data. Data is a very valuable commodity. If you’re buying goods online, that means you’ve given up your credit card details (your data), your name, your address and that’s really all that’s needed for a hacker to impact your life in the worst possible way. Identity theft is real and it can happen to anyone. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Scott does a great job of chipping away at that “iceberg” until it’s bite-sized and much easier to navigate. For small business owners, this book is a must-have. And if you’re interested in the topic of cyber-crime and more importantly, cyber-crime prevention, protection and safety, this book is definitely for you.

Movies in Theatres – A Discussion about Doctor Sleep

November 16, 2019 JulieG2 Comments

Doctor Sleep (2019)

R | 2h 31min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror | 8 November 2019 (USA)

Director:

Mike Flanagan

Writers:

Stephen King (based on the novel by), Mike Flanagan (screenplay)

Stars:

Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran | See full cast & crew »

MILD SPOILERS

Who knew that Danny, the little kid from The Shining had some sort of super power?

I certainly didn’t and I’ve seen The Shining multiple times. So fast-forward a good 20 odd years and our boy Danny has grown into a maladjusted human being who only likes two things in life; alcohol and running from his “demons” who just happen to be real. No, really and it’s not just Danny who sees them which I’ll get to in a bit.

You might be thinking, what could possibly be connecting this film to The Shining other than Danny? And that’s a fair question. Well, without spoiling it, there are more distinct tie-ins further on in the film to The Shining which I’m sure some fans will enjoy. I wasn’t very moved myself. Kubrick’s The Shining was a lot more psychologically scary, disorientating and a little disturbing which is why I enjoyed it. While Mike Flanagan did an alright job of integrating some of the “what the hell just happened” mood into Doctor Sleep, it really didn’t grip me half as much as similar scenes in The Shining did.

The fantastical aspect of the film is very much fantastical with lovely shots of the night sky, floating people and birds-eye views of the pretty city lights. But there was something that didn’t fit with the villains of this little story. Rebecca Ferguson as the villain Rose, The Hat, was cool and ethereal-like – I definitely see the likeness to Stevie Nicks in her character. She was everything you’d expect a generally good villain to be; a little creepy, a little aggressive all the while hiding a very dangerous secret under her cool but very big hat. The link between our hipster looking villain and her gang and Danny is explained which is essentially why this film is a sequel to The Shining, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it is.

Danny accidentally stumbles upon this very special friend named Abra who is linked to him through The Shining (the super hero power mentioned earlier). That is what Danny calls it so we’ll call it that too. The Shining then becomes this “thing” but I think I liked it more when it was obscure and unexplained.

To classify this film as a “horror” is a pretty big stretch, even with the nasty bad guys who reminded me more of the vampire family in Twilight. And you can take that any way you like.

The Hermit and The King by Paulo Coelho

November 14, 2019November 14, 2019 JulieGLeave a comment

I have updates coming and I’ve been busy behind the scenes reviewing my first book and writing another review for Doctor Sleep but for now, I’d like to blog this post by one of my favourite authors, Paulo Coelho called The Hermit and The King, It’s only 30 seconds of reading but how inspiring is this?

An old hermit was once invited to visit the court of the most powerful king of those times.

“I envy such a saintly man, who is content with so little,” said the ruler.

“I envy Your Majesty, who is content with even less that I,” responded the hermit.

“How can you say such a thing, if this entire country belongs to me?” – said the offended king.

“For precisely that reason. I have the music of the celestial spheres, I have the rivers and mountains of the whole world, I have the moon and the sun, because I have God in my soul. Your Majesty, on the other hand, has only this kingdom.”

Trailer Discussion – The King, Vita and Virginia

November 6, 2019 JulieG1 Comment

The King (2019)

You know what’s great? Having a pretty face. You know what’s even better? Having a pretty face and the ability to act most people twice your age under the table. I’m speaking of course, about Timothée Chalamet who plays the reluctant Prince who would become King Henry “Hal” V of England. Having seen both Beautiful Boy and Call Me By Your Name, I was transformed from a film junkie who knew nothing about the hottest act in Hollywood to a firm supporter of Timothée’s work. Needless to say, I was eagerly awaiting The King’s arrival on Netflix. My review of this film will be up very soon! I’m going to sit through my second viewing first because it was that good!

Vita and Virginia (2018)

How this movie went completely under the radar for me is just weird and I only found out about it by looking up the British Film Festival movies showing at my local cinema. That aside, it hasn’t had great ratings which is one of the reasons why I want to watch this. The film follows the controversial relationship between Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West. I’ve never read any of Virginia Woolf’s work but the book “Orlando” is said to be written all about her relationship with Vita. Tough times for two women in love in the 20s, I’m keen to see where the film goes in the story-telling.

TV Series discussion – Jane Austen’s “Sanditon”

October 30, 2019 JulieGLeave a comment

I’ve just finished watching Sanditon which we practically binge-watched because it was so good. But the characters and the story really got me thinking about the essence of love itself and how we, as humans, can be so easily swayed and consumed by it. And this led me to my next question, which is, does love have a standard? Is there even a limit to how much or how little we can care about someone until it becomes “love”.

I’ll take a stab at the question and say that the answer is probably no. Love can take so many forms. There is also a very dark side to love that many of us might consider being anything but love. It seems unquantifiable. Which is why I started to think about how the many facets of love are explored in a tv show based on Jane Austen’s unfinished manuscript, which has now become a TV series called Sanditon.

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One of the most exciting aspects of this show is how every character in it is touched by “love” on some level and whether we agree or disagree with what transpires, it’s still very much a story about love. I actually found the main characters a lot less interesting than some of the others such as Esther Denham and her stepbrother, Edward. You can look at their relationship and squirm at the thought of how “love” can ultimately become a person’s obsession until it breaks them completely. It’s still a facet of love, no matter how dark it becomes.

I actually found some of the plot a little more than cliched. Two people who come from opposing sides of society meet, despise each other for a time until the tension between them becomes so apparent, even a blind person could see it. This is the least realistic aspect of Jane Austen’s story. There is just too much Pride and Prejudice in there to win me over. And that’s the beauty of it, really. While the show may be carried on the shoulders of the two leads played by Rose Williams and Theo James, their relationship is actually the least impactful. That is, until the very end. To say that the situation between our two leads is left somewhat undecided would be an understatement but it’s this kind of plot twist coming out of nowhere that really made this show worth the while.

And the most delicious thing of all is I found this show on Tumblr purely by accident and now I am a devoted fan. While there hasn’t been any confirmed details on a second season, I wouldn’t be surprised if the creators decided that the future of Charlotte and her wayward love, Sidney cannot remain untold.

Trailer Discussion – Marriage Story and Sinner Season 3

October 19, 2019November 6, 2019 JulieGLeave a comment

I’m a huge Adam Driver fan, and I also think Scarlett Johansson is underrated as an actress. I’m not referring to her blockbuster work in the Marvel universe, but the smaller, indy films she’s done that she hardly ever gets credit for. If you’re interested in seeing Scarlett at her best, consider checking out Under The Skin (2013). I think this film, among others, truly shows Scarlett’s talent. Adam and Scarlett together in this film makes it worth seeing, but the trailer does a great job of giving just that little bit more to hook you in. I simply can’t wait for this film.

The Sinner is a TV series that I’ve been hooked on since day one. If this season intrigues you, you should really check out the first season. Another actress who has gone mostly unnoticed by Hollywood for her acting talent, Jessica Biel, is amazing in the first season. While I’d like to tell you all about it, I think you should check out the trailer for the first season and then consider taking on The Sinner for the duration. Bill Pullman is also an actor that has had a lot of hits and misses in his career, but he’s definitely lucking out with The Sinner. He was phenomenal in the second season as the detective who has his own dark secret, trying to prove that a child could commit murder. Another series I’ve been thankful to watch and I’m patiently awaiting the new season.

Netflix – A discussion about El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 JulieG2 Comments

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)

TV-MA | 2h 2min | Action, Drama | 11 October 2019 (USA)

2:06 | Trailer

8 VIDEOS | 96 IMAGES

A sequel, of sorts, to Breaking Bad following Jesse Pinkman after the events captured in the finale of Breaking Bad. Jesse is now on the run, as a massive police manhunt for him is in operation.