Buzz
This week, we explore the steps involved in going zero waste for 30 days, reveal how cybercriminals steal passwords, take a look at the locations of nuclear weapons around the world, and discuss the jobs that offer the best perks.
Welcome to Mytour’s Monday Brain Buffet, a curated collection of fascinating, educational, and stimulating podcasts, interviews, articles, and other media designed to teach you something new, inspire you, and help kick off your week in the best way possible.
How Cybercriminals Really Steal Your Passwords
Aside from social engineering, which is a highly effective way to gain access to credentials, most passwords aren’t taken using basic dictionary attacks or sophisticated cracking methods. In reality, it’s often much simpler than you might think, especially when databases aren’t properly salted or hashed.
This video from DNews reveals how cybercriminals manage to steal your passwords, especially when you use weak, common, or easily guessed ones. Once a hacker gains access to a password database, they search for hashed passwords that are already well-known and have been decrypted. For instance, passwords like 'password123' or 'passWord123!' already have recognized hashes, so if these are found in the database, the account is already compromised without needing brute force. The real solution is to salt and hash the databases, but the video provides more details. Watch it, and then immediately change your password to something secure and get a reliable password manager while you're at it. [via DNews (YouTube)]
Have You Ever Accepted a Job Just for the Perks?
If you’re fortunate enough to have a job that offers perks, they’re often simple things like free coffee in the breakroom or discounts with certain retailers. But this thread at Quora raises an intriguing question: Have you ever taken a job just for the perks?
Some jobs come with amazing perks - take Google, for example, which is renowned for its expansive campus complete with cafeterias, snack bars catering to all tastes, and gyms—all free for employees (and in some cases, their families). Or perhaps getting hired at a stadium just to watch your favorite team for free, or working at an arena to access concerts. Naturally, many perks are designed to keep you working, but they sure do make the workday much better. This answer in the thread gave me a good laugh:
When my husband was growing up in Italy, he loved bread so much that he would leave none for the rest of the family. In Italy, bread is bought fresh every morning for lunch and dinner that same day.
To solve the problem, my mother-in-law sent him to work as a delivery boy for the local bakery. That took care of everything!
Even now, there’s nothing he enjoys more than a few slices of salami on some fresh Italian ciabatta bread.
But the real question is: What about you? Have you ever taken a job just for the perks, even if those perks were small? [via Quora]
Could You Go Zero Waste for 30 Days?
Given that the average American produces about four pounds of trash per day, trying to produce zero for thirty days is a massive challenge. But Buzzfeed’s Auri Jackson gave it a shot, and along the way, she learned a lot. She figured out how to adapt, realized the consequences of not recycling, reusing, and repurposing more, and discovered just how privileged she was to even attempt the challenge. Most affordable foods come in packaging, while fresh produce is unwrapped but comes at a higher price point.
The full five-minute video of her challenge is not only fun and entertaining but also a real eye-opener. It challenges the idea that 'one person can’t make a difference,' a common mindset these days. After all, the only tool we truly have to create change is ourselves. [via Buzzfeed (YouTube), thanks Boing Boing!]
How Close Are You to a Nuclear Bomb?
So, just how close are you to a nuclear bomb? If you live in the southern hemisphere, you’re probably quite far from one. However, with 80% of the world's population residing in the northern hemisphere, there’s a good chance you’re relatively close to a nuclear weapon, especially if you’re reading this from the United States, Europe, or parts of Russia.
This video from Real Life Lore highlights where many countries, including the U.S., typically store their nuclear weapons and silos, and that’s just the public information. Many nations also house a significant number of their nuclear weapons on submarines and other launch platforms at sea, in undisclosed locations. The bottom line is that, depending on where you live, you’re either very close—especially in Europe or western Russia—or much farther away, like in the United States.
That said, the real question isn’t whether you live near a nuclear weapon now, but rather whether your city is on a nuclear target list. [via RealLifeLore (YouTube)]
A Live Eagle Cam from Southwest Florida
How about enjoying some gorgeous birds to kick off your week? This live feed of a bald eagle nest in southwest Florida is perfect for keeping open in a side window or as a picture-in-picture view. It's just relaxing enough to be a soothing background, yet still engaging enough to occasionally catch your attention. It’s super chill—and there’s a new baby eagle in the family too.
Watch the stream on YouTube above, or explore other eagle cams and find out more about the birds, their feeding schedules, and other fascinating details on the Eagle Cam homepage. Have an amazing week! [via EagleCam]
If you come across any thought-provoking stories, interesting podcasts, eye-opening videos, or anything else you think would be a great fit for Brain Buffet, feel free to share it with us! Email me, leave a comment below, or send it over any way you can.
Title illustration by Nick Criscuolo.
