Translation: Insiders helped the process along. The employees were targeted by the hackers who requested password resets. Whether done intentionally or through lack of training, the hackers found the weak link in employees. The vulnerability of companies, tech and otherwise, is at the front lines. Do leaders ever think about what can happen when front-line employees do not do their jobs, engage in a security breach, or make exceptions to policies without disclosure?
Twitter has been warned three times previously by the FTC about its vulnerability with employees resetting passwords. Perhaps some security questions would help — the kind of questions that those of us who own the account cannot remember. “What as the name of your third-grade teacher?” Some of us cannot even remember the name of our third-grade school. Some of us cannot even remember if we passed the third grade. Some of us are not sure if all of our children finished third grade. Yet, we are sent packing when we request a reset. And seemingly charming and persuasive hackers are able to work the front-line employees. Twitter is not sure if perhaps some of the employees were in on the great hack.
The Barometer always gets the warning, “Calls are recorded for monitoring and training purposes.” They must be making that up. Or they are not listening to the hackers or my calls. I get shown the exit. The hackers sail through. I cannot get into my own accounts. The hackers got into those of Joe Biden and Elon Musk. Given the name of Mr. Musk’s child, it is stunning that he did not have a better password. Manipulation of employees is not a good thing. In fact, it is a dangerous thing. this time, only tweets were at stake. Financial companies should heed the lessons.
