Australia: Enormous 'Megafire' Forms After Multiple Blazes Merge

A pair of massive bushfires in southeastern Australia has merged into a "megafire" engulfing some 2,300 square miles - a single blaze more than three times as large as any known fire in California.

The merged fire, which straddles the country's most populous states of New South Wales and Victoria, measures nearly 1.5 million acres, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

It is just one of some 135 bushfires in Australia's southeast that have claimed the lives of at least 26 people, killed more than a billion animals and damaged or destroyed nearly 3,000 homes.

Since September, the unprecedented bushfires have swept through an area larger than Massachusetts and New Hampshire combined.

NASA has released an animation showing how smoke from the fires has reached the lower stratosphere and traveled as far away as Chile. npr.org

Bushfires likely to impact Australian retailers, analysts say
Australia's devastating bushfire season will likely have a tangible effect on the country's big and small retailers, with analysts forecasting mixed results from fires and continued smoke haze.

Both positive and negative flow-on effects are in store for major retailers such as Wesfarmers, Super Retail Group and Metcash, who all could witness a material change in their finances.

Citi analyst Bryan Raymond told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald the initial impact from the fires, such as ongoing smoke haze and store closures, would "definitely" cause some level of disruption at large listed retailers. However, the eventual rebuilding efforts and $2 billion recovery fund would provide a future benefit for those same retailers, Mr Raymond said, but noted the timing of that boost was uncertain.

Major supermarkets Woolworths and Coles would likely avoid serious ramifications, he said, noting their size and the strength of the grocery category as a measure of resilience. smh.com.au

Big-name retailers band together to donate profits to bushfire appeal
A group of high-profile retailers have joined forces to raise funds for the bushfire appeal, pledging to donate 100 percent of all profits made on Thursday's sales to the Red Cross.

More than 45 local and international merchants pledged on Wednesday to donate all profits from the following day's sales to bushfire victims in what they said was an effort to make a "real difference" as part of what they have dubbed as the "All In" initiative.

Participating brands include Afterpay, The Iconic, Stussy, Lacoste, eBay, Lee Jeans, Temple and Webster, Wrangler, Ugg and General Pants, along with a host of other retailers. The entire cohort has a collective network of more than 1000 stores.

Funds raised from sales on January 9 will go towards improving the wellbeing of people in evacuation centres, providing emergency grants and supporting ongoing disaster education and training. The companies will also be taking additional donations from customers both online and in-store.

Australia's largest retailers have also made significant contributions to the bushfire appeals. Electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi has donated $150,000 and will match all donations made by staff, and Premier Investments-owned Just Group has donated $250,000. Similarly, department store Myer donated more than $470,000 in both direct and customer contributions and Super Retail Group, owner of Rebel Sport and Supercheap Auto, contributed $250,000. Outdoor retailer Kathmandu will donate $20,000 worth of products to the Red Cross and is also matching customer donations. Woolworths and Coles have also pledged significant amounts, with Coles donating $3 million in gift cards and Woolworths contributing the same amount in direct and customer donations. theage.com.au

How 12 Shoe Brands and Retailers Are Helping Fight the Australian Bushfires
As Australia continues to be devastated by deadly bushfires, many footwear companies with ties to the country are pitching in with fundraising efforts.

Nearly 20 million acres have been burned throughout the country since the fire season began; at least 25 people have died and entire towns have been evacuated. More than 1 billion animals, from koalas and kangaroos to several endangered species, are feared dead across the fire zone, over 800,000 of them in New South Wales. With the country still in the grips of a record heat wave and Australian summer not yet at its peak, the damage is also far from over - particularly, experts say, because climate change exacerbates the fires' worst effects.

Here's how 12 footwear brands and retailers are contributing funds and raising awareness: footwearnews.com

US firefighters cheered at Australia airport as fires worsen,
new evacuations ordered
American firefighters got a hero's welcome in Australia. Dozens who arrived at Sydney International Airport this week to assist in battling a series of devastating wildfires were met with cheers from a crowd that had amassed at the terminal.

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service warned Friday that forecasted wind gusts could "cause erratic fire behavior over many firegrounds." As of 6 p.m. local time, more than 3,300 firefighters were battling 137 blazes across Australia, 66 of which have not been contained, it added.

The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho said the more than 100 firefighters from the U.S. that arrived Thursday will join 159 already in Australia. It's the largest-ever deployment of American firefighters abroad. foxnews.com

Rich and famous donate millions for bushfire relief

Leonardo DiCaprio's foundation donating $3 million to Australia fire relief

Australia fires: where your disaster relief donations can help the most
 

More than 1,700 stores are closing in 2020 as the retail apocalypse drags on
More than 9,300 store closings were announced in 2019, smashing the previous record of roughly 8,000 store closures in 2017, according to an analysis by Business Insider.

The number of store closings this year could be even higher than previous records, according to estimates from the real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. The firm estimated last year that as many as 12,000 major chain stores could close in 2020.

Retailers have so far confirmed at least 1,700 stores slated for closure in 2020, according to a Business Insider analysis. Here's a list of the stores expected to close this year: businessinsider.com

Retail imports settling down after year of tariff surges
After a year of fluctuations driven by the uncertainty of the trade war with China, volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to return to its usual seasonal patterns during the first few months of 2020, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. nrf.com

Wawa founding family accused of cheating former workers
out of millions in company stock
Engineer Brad Wall oversaw the modernization of Wawa Inc.'s Delaware County industrial dairies on U.S. 1 near its Red Roof headquarters, and went on to lead the popular convenience chain's rapid store expansion from 1999 until 2013 as Director of Construction and Design.

He was one of many proud Wawa employees who hoped one day to retire on Wawa stock grants. But today, as the company expands along the East Coast, "Wawa is pretty much dead to me," Wall said in an interview last week. "I am one of the ones who lost at least a couple million" after the company reversed a promise to let employees who left the company hold onto their shares until retirement age, as their value rose.

Wall is one of more than 1,200 former workers who shared a $25 million settlement in 2018 - a fraction of their actual losses, according to Wall and some others - to settle accusations that the company cheated them out of company stock they were saving for retirement. inquirer.com

U.S. judge orders Michael Avenatti to face fraud charge as Nike trial looms
A U.S. judge on Thursday rejected celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti's bid to dismiss a criminal charge that he defrauded a client who he said knew about improper payments that Nike allegedly made to families of college basketball recruits. U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe in Manhattan ruled three days after refusing to dismiss two extortion charges accusing Avenatti of threatening a news conference about the payments unless Nike paid him up to $25 million. Nike has denied wrongdoing. reuters.com


WATCH: IAI's Elite Training Days 2020 Sneak Peek
Register Now to Attend on April 1-2
The Elite Training Day event has key topics presented by industry professionals. Elite Training Day was created by IAI for CFIs to promote their educational growth as elite interviewers. Over 200 professional interviewers attended the past Elite Training Day events. Attendees ranged from CEOs, Directors, and Managers to Store Associates and Law Enforcement. CFIs and IAI Members receive discounted pricing to attend Elite Training Day.

Anyone interested in becoming an elite interviewer should attend. Elite Training Day is the only event of its kind focused on the craft of interviewing and interrogation. Click here to register


CES 2020 Focuses on Security's Intersection with Consumer Electronics
Security's intersection with consumer electronics is on view at CES 2020, the world's largest technology event, Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas. The giant show features more than 170,000 attendees, 4,500 exhibitors and 1,100 industry thought-leaders featured on the CES stage.

A range of technologies will be on display, from artificial intelligence (AI) to 5G, vehicle technology to AR/VR (augmented and virtual reality), robotics to home automation. Security plays a prominent role, too.

● Smart home market on the forefront
● Focus on Cybersecurity
● Smart access control
● DIY CCTV demonstrations
● Security and automation solutions
● Personal safety mobile application seurityinformed.com

Presenting the Best of CES 2020 winners


Would you let your boss chip you?
The Humble Office ID Badge Is About to Be Unrecognizable

Plastic cards may soon give way to biometric systems, microchip implants, gait recognition and other technologies that aim to improve security, generate health data and monitor workers.

For many employees, the workday starts by swiping a plastic ID card to enter the office. But employers can't always be sure who's holding the card.

That humble ID badge is starting to be replaced by biometric identification systems, microchip implants and tools that monitor workers' gaits or typing habits - technologies that might not only make workplaces more secure and easier to navigate but also generate personalized health and productivity data.

It's easy to see why some employers are already using technologies like face and iris scans, which are more difficult to spoof than standard plastic ID cards. Cameras scan and record the faces of employees and temporary contractors, allowing the workers to bypass turnstiles. Companies can easily reconfigure existing office cameras with facial-recognition technology. When a person leaves a job, the employer can tag the person's face so cameras block re-entrance. wsj.com

P&G exec says employees need to get out of the office to think
Markus Strobel, president of Procter & Gamble's Global Skin and Personal Care business, writes on CNBC, "When members of my team ask me how they can be better at their jobs, I encourage them to get out of the office and purposely spend time not working. This seemingly contradictory advice has, in fact, yielded some of the best work as people come back to work with fresh inspiration, generating ideas they would have never come up with while spending more time at their desks." retailwire.com

Bed Bath & Beyond still plans to close 60 stores but officials say 20 closures will be delayed

Taco Bell tests $100K pay packages to recruit and retain restaurant managers

Indiana may toughen retailer penalties with 21 smoking age

Retail has had a rough post-holiday ride in the stock market

$3 billion worth of gift cards go unused each year
 

How the California Consumer Privacy Act Impacts Retail

On the heels of shifting consumer preferences, global policy changes and a steady flow of cyber-attacks, the state of California has put into motion the most comprehensive consumer data protection to date. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which went into effect January 1, 2020, has wide-ranging impacts stretching far beyond the state's borders.

From new preventative measures retailers must make, to increased safeguards for consumer data, these new policies will fundamentally change the retail sector. But what does this all mean for merchants and consumers alike? And how can they best prepare ahead of the new year?

What is the CCPA?
The California Consumer Privacy Act is a new law designed to protect the rights of consumers within the state of California. Similar to Europe's recent General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the CCPA will modify how organizations approach user data and shift how this information is collected, shared and used.

This bill will require retailers to adopt fresh policies that increase security protections, privacy policies and more transparency on consumer rights.

Impact on the retail industry
For retailers, the CPPA could have even broader effects. It could mean the end for many loyalty programs offering incentives and promotions in exchange for data. As well, the new law could make in-store returns without a receipt a thing of the past, due to the deletion and encryption of shopper information. Furthermore, the impacts of the CCPA reach beyond what many may think.

Apart from California-based retailers, any merchants who conduct business with California consumers in any capacity will need to be CCPA compliant. Already impacting a significant portion of U.S. merchants and retailers, the bill could be the framework for similar policies enacted by other states, and eventually a national law on data protection. Thus, it is best to become aware and compliant now, rather than waiting too late in the game.

What merchants need to know
According to a recent survey by PossibleNOW, only 8% of businesses are prepared for the implications involving CCPA. Many companies are either unaware of the requirements or lack the funds and resources to become compliant. This absence of awareness and education can be an issue for companies across the nation, particularly when they could soon begin receiving fines unknowingly.

As well, it is crucial that all merchants are aware of exactly where their personally identifiable information (PII) is and have a roadmap for how to handle any data requests or deletions. PII is any data that can be used to identify a specific individual, which now has a larger impact with the arrival of the CCPA. Moving forward, merchants cannot afford any lack of preparation or awareness when it comes to this type of information. chainstoreage.com
 

UK Retailer Fined £500K For Data Breach Affecting 14 Million
Dixons Carphone, the owner of Currys PC World and Carphone Warehouse, has been fined £500,000 over a hacking that targeted millions of customer accounts.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said the data of 14 million customers was compromised over a period of nine months between July 2017 and April 2018 - when the cyber attack was detected.

Its investigation found that malware was installed on 5,390 tills at the company's Currys PC World and Dixons Travel stores. It meant, the watchdog said, that the attackers got unauthorised access to 5.6 million payment card details used in customer transactions. sky.com

Walmart goes high-tech with 'Alphabot,' a grocery-picking machine
Walmart (WMT) is debuting a pilot grocery-picking robot program at one of its Supercenter stores, a move that could "revolutionize" the retailer's booming online grocery business.

The company worked exclusively with Massachusetts-based Alert Innovation to deploy its Alphabot, a first-of-its-kind technology. The machine will make its first appearance at Walmart's Supercenter location in Salem, New Hampshire - just off of Interstate 93.

Alphabot automates specific steps of the online grocery pickup process by using autonomous mobile carts to gather shelf-stable, refrigerated, and frozen items from a high-density storage system. Robotic carts will retrieve and deliver these items to store associates to fulfill online orders quickly.

This automated process occurs in the back of the store, in a 20,000-square-foot warehouse-like space, out of the view of customers. finance.yahoo.com

Nordstrom opens inventory to brick-and-mortar shoppers
A leading luxury retailer is leveraging robotics to help ensure customers have access to the products they want, in-store as well as online. Seeking to provide every store with the ability to provide customers with desired items, however they want to receive them, Nordstrom is piloting robotic technology from Tompkins Robotics and Attabotics for the purpose of connecting inventory across its stores and facilities within a market so customers have access to a larger selection of product, faster. chainstoreage.com

$6M Ransom: Travelex hackers threaten to sell credit card data on dark web

AWS Issues 'Urgent' Warning for Database Users to Update Certs

New Hampshire Senate pushes back Biometric Information Protection Bill

PCI Security Standards Council
Q&A: Online Skimming and Payment Security

In this blog, PCI covers basic questions with Christopher D. Roberti, Senior Vice President for Cyber, Intelligence, and Security Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and PCI SSC Chief Technology Officer Troy Leach about this growing threat to businesses across the U.S. and how to better protect yourself from this dangerous threat.

What is online skimming? Is that the same thing as the Magecart attack?
Web-based or online skimming attacks steal payment data information by infecting e-commerce websites with malicious code, known as sniffers or JavaScript (JS) sniffers. They are difficult to detect as once a website is infected, payment card information is "skimmed" during a transaction when the customer enters information from their device without the merchant or consumer being aware that the information has been compromised.

A term sometimes used in the press for this threat is Magecart. Magecart is an umbrella term used by some security researchers to describe several criminal hacking groups who are responsible for various online skimming attacks. The term has also been used to generally identify the type of attack being utilized by the groups.

So how exactly do these attacks work?
Without the proper controls in place, these attacks can be very difficult to detect. That is what makes them so dangerous. Threat actors use various methods, all in an attempt to gain access and inject malicious code. These attacks are either directly into e-commerce websites or often into a third-party's software libraries that merchants rely upon. Payment service providers may not be aware of the risk they create for their customers if they are not focused on security and the potential threats targeting them.

Once compromised, these third-party services are used by attackers to inject malicious JavaScript into the target websites. Because these third-party functions are typically used by multiple e-commerce sites, the compromise of one of these functions can allow an attacker to compromise many websites at the same time through mass distribution of the malicious JavaScript.

What are some prevention best practices to stop this attack form happening in the first place?
The best protection to mitigate against these attacks is to adopt a layered defense that includes patching operating systems and software with the latest security updates. Some recommendations to prevent these types of attacks include:

● Verify vendors enforce security best practices
● Apply security patches for all software
● Restrict access to only what is absolutely needed and deny all other access by default
● Use strong authentication for all access to system components
● Implement malware protection and keep up to date pcisecuritystandards.org

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