Linqd out #4 – Crypto goes to DC

Only if you squint will you realize that it’s been just over a year since my last post.

So no squinting.

That said, let’s commence with LINQD Out #4 and just keep moving along like nothing happened.

Security

• Several sites are now fully dedicated to publishing WP security alerts and breaches as they are discovered. Worthwhile to bookmark these:
  • https://www.wordfence.com/blog/
  • https://patchstack.com/category/security-advisories/
  • https://solidwp.com/blog/category/wordpress-vulnerability-report/
  • https://blog.sucuri.net/
• The prevailing story on WP security remains the supply chain vulnerability within the plugin ecosystem. WordFence appears to the be the first org to bring the issue to light.
• Proton keeps building on momentum and adds collaborative Docs and Photo Uploads features to ProtonDrive. Oh yes – it is also moving towards becoming a Non-Profit org status.
• With Amazon Prime Day coming up, KeeperSecurity warns about scammers taking advantage of eager shoppers.
• It cracks me up that MS Windows is such a poor product that it has a dedicated day for security patches. Giving Taco Tuesday a run for its money is Windows Patch Tuesday.

biz + marketing

• No sooner had I posted my own thoughts on the future of digital ads/SEO than Brave follows up with a little affirmation bit.
• AI is still hanging around the marketing watercooler, trying to find its place in the space. CopyBlogger throws out some ideas on how to leverage it in content marketing
• Meanwhile, Ahrefs crosses the 10k downloads milestone for their SEO podcast. To celebrate, Tim Soulo provides 10 reasons why you shouldn’t do it.
• If you use Stripe for billing and payments, be sure to check out the new changes announced for July 2024 as products are being consolidated.

Web 3 + crypto

There is so much going on in this space – and so quickly – that it would be impractical to try and link out to all the headlines. One crypto news aggregate site that I scan daily is:

• https://cryptopanic.com/

Have at it.

That said, here are some happenings that I found of interest

• With the US general election in full acceleration, crypto has suddenly become a platform plank. And The Donald has come out as its champion.
• If you’ve been keeping track of how the current regime has been abusing the crypto space, via the SEC, and particularly in the case of Ripple ($XRP), then this move for the GOP makes perfect sense. Though it will certainly cause anxiety among some that live and breathe in this space.
• Operating in a more subtle way, some crypto giants have been smartly deploying PACs to get boots on the ground in the political arena. One story does a great job connecting some dots to this end, in recent upsets in a few political races.
• One of the core political issues involving cryptocurrency is the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), or digital dollar.
• Related to this is Coinbase’s recent announcement to team up with Stripe to offer easy conversion between crypto and fiat. Read on…
• This is facilitated using $USDC – which is run by a company called Circle. Circle also recently announced it’s ongoing successful collaboration to create a digital EU currency. Keeping an eye on these movements.
• Lastly, I found this Daily HODLE article outlining the current state of developing for Web3 to be a good read.

AEC

As the rest of the world seems to be in general decline and turmoil, let’s check in on how they’re doing over in Saudi…

Is it just me, or does the narrator sound just a wee tad upset that things are going so swimmingly with these projects?

And with that – I’m all LINQD OUT!