Latest news with #BrokenWindows
Zawya
17-03-2025
- Zawya
Broken Cyber Windows Theory (By Javvad Malik)
By Javvad Malik, Lead Security Awareness Advocate at KnowBe4 ( Have you ever walked down a street with broken windows, burnt out cars, graffiti and felt a bit uneasy? There's a reason for that, and it's not just about aesthetics. The Broken Windows Theory, introduced by social scientists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling in 1982, suggests that visible signs of crime and antisocial behavior encourage further crime and disorder. But what does this have to do with cybersecurity? More than you might think. The Cybersecurity Parallel: Neglected Digital Environments In many organizations, cybersecurity awareness feels like a losing battle. Employees ignore security policies, download unapproved software, and use weak passwords. It's as if our digital environments are full of "broken windows," signaling that it's a culture where no one really cares about security. Traditional approaches often focus on punitive measures or dry, technical training that fails to engage employees. It's like trying to reduce crime by simply increasing fines, without addressing the underlying issues that make an area feel unsafe or neglected. Applying the Broken Windows Theory to Cybersecurity Just as fixing broken windows and cleaning up graffiti can reduce crime by fostering a sense of order and care, we can apply similar principles to our digital environments: Create a Culture of Vigilance: Encourage employees to report potential security issues, no matter how small. This is like neighborhood watch programs for your network. Address Small Issues Quickly: Respond promptly to minor security infractions. This shows that security is taken seriously at all levels. Improve the "Look and Feel" of Security: Make security tools and processes user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. A clean, well-designed security interface is like a well-maintained storefront. Celebrate Security Wins: Publicly recognise employees who spot phishing attempts or follow good security practices. This is akin to community awards for neighborhood improvement. Practical Steps for Implementation Conduct a Digital Environment Audit Walk through your organization's digital spaces as an average user would. Where are the "broken windows"? Look for outdated software, clunky security processes, or confusing policies. Implement a "See Something, Say Something" Program Create an easy way for employees to report potential security issues. Make it as simple as sending a quick message or clicking a button. Redesign Security Communications Transform your security awareness materials. Replace dense text with infographics, short videos, or even memes. Make security information as engaging as a well-designed public space. Create Security Champions Identify and empower individuals across departments to be security advocates. These champions can help maintain a secure "neighborhood" in their area of the organization. Regular "Digital Community" Events Host regular cybersecurity events that feel more like community gatherings than lectures. Think cybersecurity fairs, hacking demos, or even escape rooms with a security twist. The Path to a Strong Security Culture By applying the principles of the Broken Windows Theory to cybersecurity, we can create digital environments where security feels natural and everyone plays a part. It's not just about preventing breaches; it's about fostering a community where secure behavior is the norm. As we move forward, let's reimagine our approach to cybersecurity awareness. Instead of building walls and enforcing rules, let's create digital neighborhoods where everyone takes pride in keeping things secure. Every fixed "window" in your digital environment is a step towards a more secure future. So, let's roll up our sleeves and start cleaning up our digital streets. The neighborhood—and your data—will thank you. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of KnowBe4.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Laken Riley Act will cost Marylanders $498 million, remove $457 million from tax revenue
Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest fugitives as part of Operation Cross Check in Dallas, Texas in 2019. (Photo courtesy Immigration and Customs Enforcement) The Moore-Miller Administration has announced its budget proposal for fiscal year 2025, which includes $5 million in additional funds to local law enforcement, totaling $127 million. With the $457 million allocated to Maryland State Police, the total law enforcement expenditure from Annapolis is $584 million. While the increase in police funding is welcome, it is not nearly enough to comply with the newly passed Laken Riley Act. Under this new federal law, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now required to detain any undocumented person who has been charged, arrested, convicted or admitted to committing acts constituting burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, assault of a law enforcement officer, or bodily harm. The most immediate effect of this legislation will be a surge in the number of individuals held in pretrial detention. Maryland is no stranger to this: Under the 1994 Crime Bill, the number of individuals held in pretrial detention skyrocketed across the state, especially in Baltimore. Holding individuals in local jails indefinitely without due process is a costly procedure that spreads thin law enforcement officers when efforts could be instead used on targeting felons. The federal government contracts local jails to hold ICE detainees under the 287(g) program, which in Maryland only includes Harford, Cecil and Frederick counties. The remaining counties will be responsible for financing the expected surge in arrests under Laken Riley. Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@ We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. While this figure has gone down in recent years, the Laken Riley Act overrides the right to due process for all offenses, resulting in the number of individuals held in pretrial detention rising. While ostensibly aimed to increase public safety, previously enacted legislation on policing that targeted misdemeanor offenders in order to reduce violent crimes has been largely ineffective. The New York City Broken Windows policy is one such project. Through enforcing this policy, NYC police officers frisked 2.3 million people but found weapons in just 1.5% of stops. This misuse of police funds will not only continue under the Laken Riley Act, but be exacerbated by the further removal of hundreds of thousands of undocumented people living in Maryland. The Laken Riley Act will sharply reverse the downward trend of pretrial detention in Maryland's urban and suburban counties. Furthermore, local and state law enforcement will be compelled to divert manpower toward the arrest and detention of undocumented immigrants merely accused of a misdemeanor offense. While not excusing illegal immigration or diminishing the the tragic case of Laken Riley, data from the Cato Institute demonstrates that undocumented immigrants are far less likely to commit homicide than American citizens. Furthermore, under the recently reinstated 'Remain in Mexico' policy, the amount of Department of Homeland Security encounters with convicted felons who had been deported back to Mexico skyrocketed, as DHS resources were diverted toward otherwise innocent immigrants seeking asylum. This precedent demonstrates that an austere crackdown on illegal immigration does not accomplish its stated goal. The Laken Riley Act includes zero funding provisions, leaving it to the states to pick up the slack. The increase in police spending from Annapolis in 2025 will not be enough to bridge the gap; implementation of the law is estimated to cost $83 billion over three years, which if applied to each state proportional to population, will cost Marylanders an additional $498 million, more than the entire law enforcement expenditure, with the whole efforts of local and state police now directed toward an immigration crackdown. The Department of Justice has ordered the prosecution of local and state law enforcement deemed to be an impediment to the execution of the Laken Riley Act, leaving Maryland's police little choice but to follow through with this immense commitment of resources. Nobody wants to have someone they love become the next Laken Riley. Unfortunately, the law named for her does not lower the likelihood of such tragedies; rather, it makes them more likely, all at an immense cost to the taxpayer that Marylanders cannot afford. Furthermore, the consequence of removing every undocumented immigrant from the state would be the loss of $476.3 million in state and local taxes. This is a further fiscal hazard not only to implementation of immigration law, but also to promoting the level of shared prosperity that gives Maryland the third-best public school system in the nation. This crackdown will expensively disrupt communities and quality of life across the state, with no evidence that it will make Marylanders and other Americans any safer.
