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bitcoin

Back in 2010, when Bitcoin was just starting to attract the attention of a small group of enthusiasts, something peculiar happened in a small town. A local café called "Bits & Bytes" decided to accept Bitcoin payments as part of an experiment to test the viability of cryptocurrencies in everyday commerce.

The café owner, a tech enthusiast named Ethan, was fascinated by the idea of a digital currency and wanted to be one of the first establishments in town to adopt this new form of payment. He set up a digital wallet and distributed flyers around town announcing that Bits & Bytes would accept Bitcoin as a form of payment.

In the initial days, only a few people showed up attempting to pay with Bitcoin, but one afternoon changed everything. A foreign tourist, who had heard about the café through online Bitcoin forums, walked into Bits & Bytes excited to try this new way of paying for his coffee.

He placed his order and when it was time to pay, he pulled out his smartphone, opened his digital wallet, and attempted to make the transaction. To everyone's surprise in the café, the amount he tried to send to Bits & Bytes was significantly higher than the cost of the coffee.

It seemed like an obvious mistake, but just when everyone thought the foreign tourist would correct the error, he simply smiled and said, "Keep the change as a donation towards Bitcoin adoption!" He then walked out of the café, leaving everyone amazed by the unexpected generosity.

The news of this generous gesture quickly spread throughout the town, and Bits & Bytes started attracting more curious Bitcoin enthusiasts. Ethan decided to keep a portion of the donation to help promote education about cryptocurrencies in the local community by distributing informational flyers about Bitcoin and offering free workshops on how to use the digital currency.

This story not only showcased the kindness of a stranger but also demonstrated how a small café in a quiet town became a point of interest for Bitcoin enthusiasts, all because of an unexpected gesture and a groundbreaking technology.





Bitcoin Brew: A Tale of Generosity and Innovation

Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 1

El Salvador's Bitcoin portfolio turns profitable with an unrealized gain of over $3.6 million, defying critics of the country's strategy.
Despite heavy criticism and previous unrealized losses of $54 million, El Salvador continued to buy Bitcoin daily since November 2022.
Citizens of El Salvador see Bitcoin as a source of financial education and empowerment for the unbanked population.

Nayib Bukele has lashed out at critics after El Salvador’s Bitcoin (BTC) investment showed an unrealized profit of over $3.6 million

El Salvador, the only country to accumulate Bitcoin, had a strong conviction on the asset class. The country’s portfolio turned profitable after holding the asset throughout the bear market as Bitcoin hit $42,000.


Nayib Bukele Demands Apologies from Critics
El Salvador’s bold decision to make Bitcoin a legal tender received heavy criticism from the mainstream media and traditional finance institutions. Finally, Nayib Bukele, the President of El Salvador, wrote a post on X (Twitter), announcing that the country has unrealized profits of over $3.6 million. Bukele wrote:

“With the current Bitcoin market price, if we were to sell our Bitcoin, we would not only recover 100% of our investment but also make a profit of $3,620 277.13 (as of this moment).

Of course, we have no intention of selling; that has never been our objective. We are fully aware that the price will continue to fluctuate in the future, this doesn’t affect our long-term strategy.”

El Salvador Defies Critics as Bitcoin Portfolio Finally Turns Green

Seeking Generosity: Requesting Donations in Satoshis

It helped me a lot, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart

Hello! I'm in need and wondering if it's possible to receive a donation of some satoshis. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your consideration!

Chapter 1: The Challenge

In the near future, the president of Russia, now a lifelong leader, decided to take drastic measures against cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin. He viewed these virtual currencies as a threat to the stability of his government and control over the country's economy.

Chapter 2: The Hunt

A team of cybersecurity and encryption experts was assembled to trace and apprehend Bitcoin users. However, it became apparent to them that many Bitcoin holders were a step ahead, utilizing offline wallets to safeguard their digital fortunes.

Chapter 3: The Enigma of Offline Wallets

Offline wallets, also known as cold wallets, became Putin's Achilles' heel. These wallets, not connected to the internet, functioned as impenetrable digital vaults. Bitcoin holders, anticipating the government's reaction, transferred their coins to these wallets, making them untraceable.

Chapter 4: The Resistance of the HODLers

The cryptocurrency enthusiast community, known as "HODLers," joined forces to resist Putin's attempts to restrict Bitcoin usage. They communicated covertly, sharing strategies to keep their offline wallets secure. Government attempts to intimidate and pursue these individuals only strengthened the community's determination.

Chapter 5: The Turning Point

Faced with growing resistance and the impossibility of accessing offline wallets, Putin realized he had underestimated the decentralized and censorship-resistant nature of Bitcoin. In a surprising twist, he decided to focus on regulating and integrating cryptocurrencies into the Russian economy rather than attempting to control them.

Epilogue: Coexistence

Over time, Russia became a hotbed for blockchain and cryptocurrency innovation, while HODLers continued to use their offline wallets with confidence. The story of the government and Bitcoin served as a reminder that, sometimes, technological resistance can prevail over attempts at centralized control.

Unbreakable Cryptos

The Silk Road was an online black market operating on the dark web, facilitating the buying and selling of illicit goods such as drugs, weapons, and other illegal products, using Bitcoin for transactions. The site was launched in 2011 by Ross Ulbricht, who operated under the pseudonym "Dread Pirate Roberts."

The Silk Road quickly grew in popularity, attracting the attention of law enforcement agencies worldwide. In 2013, the FBI shut down the Silk Road and arrested Ulbricht. He was convicted in 2015 on charges related to operating the site, including conspiracy to commit money laundering, computer hacking, and drug trafficking.

Silk Road: Bitcoin's Notorious Odyssey in the Dark Web

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, launched an artificial intelligence called Grok last week to compete with ChatGPT. However, some cryptocurrencies with this name have already appeared on the market, trying to deceive the most inattentive investors.

In response, Musk stated that “none of his companies will ever create a cryptocurrency”. At the time he bought Twitter, in 2022, rumors arose that the billionaire was creating “Twitter Coin”, which never happened.

Due to his influence, Elon Musk's image is widely used by gospitas. In addition to a fake live stream having already stolen R$700,000 in Bitcoin in 2020, the scammers' new techniques are more refined and are invading other social networks such as TikTok.

Elon Musk Unveils Grok as ChatGPT Competitor, Rejects Cryptocurrency Development

Introduction: A Deep Reverence for Nostr's Genius

The accolades and commendations lavished upon Nostr stem from a distinctive perspective: Nostr serves as the cornerstone of our product. This has afforded us the opportunity to grasp its intricacies and virtues in a manner that is both profound and extensive. What follows is a heartfelt recognition of how Nostr, operating as a peer-to-peer architecture, adeptly resolves the issues afflicting traditional P2P systems and empowers authentic P2P enterprises like Bithsop to prosper (and speaking of which, there are several delightful surprises awaiting you at the conclusion of this post!)

So, without further delay, let's delve into why Nostr stands as the peerless P2P solution that consistently delivers outstanding results.


The World of Traditional P2P: A Source of Frustration

Peer-to-peer systems are often misleadingly labeled as "serverless," yet those who have hands-on experience with these technologies are well aware of the stark reality: each node essentially functions as both a client and a server, bringing forth a myriad of complexities.

Navigating the Quagmire of Setup

Server Installation: The initial step typically involves the setup of server-side software.
Port Forwarding: The next hurdle is the vexing task of configuring your router to open the required ports.
Public IP Address Woes: If you lack a public IP address, you're already facing a significant challenge.
Network Address Translation (NAT): Being behind a NAT adds yet another layer of intricacy.
Debugging: Finally, the inexplicable issues that defy comprehension and simply refuse to work can be incredibly frustrating.
The Steep Learning Curve
While there is undoubted value in tackling these challenges, personally experiencing the educational but often vexing journey of setting up my first XMPP server between the ages of 16 and 20, one must consider the average individual who recognizes the benefits of P2P but merely wishes to use it. They are left stranded and frequently exasperated, much like my own experience, despite my desire to learn.

Nostr: A Breath of Fresh Air
Now, envision a dramatically contrasting experience with Nostr:

Step 1: Download the app.

Step 2: Well, there is no Step 2. You simply use the app.

The Elegance of Relay Installation
"But what about setting up a relay?" you may inquire. Drawing from my experiences with XMPP and other protocols, I can confidently affirm that configuring a relay in Nostr is unparalleled in terms of simplicity.

The Ingenious Mechanics of Nostr
Decoupling Clients and Relays
My hypothesis regarding why Nostr functions so effectively lies in the decoupling of clients and relays. This separation preserves the advantages of a client-server architecture while sidestepping its drawbacks.

Relays with a Neutral Stance
In the realm of Nostr, relays do not need to engage in communication beyond the initial phase of initialization. This renders each relay content-agnostic, thereby avoiding the censorship issues often encountered in other networks.

User-Friendly Experience
For the average user, the app comes equipped with default relays, yet they also possess the freedom to add more if necessary.

Developer Accessibility
For tech-savvy individuals aiming to create a new relay, the process is streamlined. A plethora of packages exists across various programming languages to facilitate this. This diversity of choice is achievable because, fundamentally, Nostr deals with JSON objects—a prime example of a "Keep It Simple, Stupid" (KISS) architecture at its best.

Nostr's Role in Bitshop
We've had the privilege of utilizing Nostr as the cornerstone for Bitshop, our aggregator of diverse marketplaces. This hands-on experience has granted us invaluable insights into the inner workings and advantages of Nostr's architecture.

The Indelible Nature of Products
One remarkable feature we've observed is the inherent resilience of product data. While collecting products, vendors, and stores from various relays, we've discovered that effectively deleting a product from the network is nearly impossible. This robustness introduces a unique dimension of permanence and reliability to P2P interactions within marketplaces.

Open Source and Customizability
While we do have the technical discretion to curate the products you can view, it's important to note that our software is (or will be when we complete the documentation) open source. Although the code is still in its alpha phase, our repository will be accessible for cloning. This means you are not only welcome but encouraged to take what we've built and enhance it, potentially crafting an even superior version of Bitshop tailored to your specific requirements.

By making our software open source, we aim to contribute to the ecosystem that Nostr has so successfully initiated, embracing the same principles of openness, transparency, and collaborative enhancement.

Conclusion
Nostr outshines traditional P2P architectures that often stumble and falter. It seamlessly combines simplicity for the average user and flexibility for tech-savvy individuals, all while preserving the essence of a peer-to-peer system. It is a P2P solution that undeniably delivers on its promises.

Considering the frustrations experienced by many with traditional P2P systems, Nostr's effortless approach is nothing short of revolutionary. It circumvents the typical challenges of server-client complexities, port configurations, and more, offering a streamlined experience that is both user-friendly and robust. Nostr's decoupled, neutral architecture represents a monumental advancement in P2P technology—an advancement that we have all been eagerly anticipating.

As a reliable source of information on Nostr remains elusive, I strongly recommend referring directly to their official documentation or community forums for the most precise and comprehensive information available.

Nostr: The P2P Architecture That Just Works

Measuring Reach: A Request for 1 Sat of Attention

You stop being such a shit and just live your life


In an ideal world, peace would prevail, but unfortunately, history is replete with conflicts and wars that have left a trail of destruction and suffering. A possible catastrophe caused by war is a grim reality that humanity must strive to avoid at all costs. Besides the obvious human consequences, such as loss of lives and the devastation of communities, a war can also trigger a series of negative impacts in various areas, including the economy, the environment, and infrastructure.

One of the most immediate consequences of conflict is the disruption of the supply of essential resources, such as electricity and energy. Often, energy infrastructure is damaged during war, resulting in prolonged power outages that directly affect people's daily lives. This can lead to issues with water supply, impaired communication systems, and ultimately, the collapse of essential services.

However, amidst this devastation, it is possible to find innovations that emerge as surprising solutions. A notable example of this is the increasing adoption of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as a means to preserve value and facilitate financial transactions in scenarios of economic instability caused by war.

Bitcoin, a decentralized digital currency, can be used as a secure alternative in times of financial uncertainty. Its resistance to censorship and inflation, along with the underlying blockchain technology, allows people to store and transfer value without relying on traditional banking systems. This is particularly useful in conflict-affected areas where conventional financial systems may collapse.

Furthermore, Bitcoin can also play a role in post-war economic recovery by facilitating investment and infrastructure rebuilding. With the growing acceptance of Bitcoin, businesses and individuals can take advantage of investment opportunities in reconstruction and development projects, thus contributing to the restoration of war-torn areas.

Bitcoin: A Beacon of Hope Amidst War

Hello everyone, I'm about to share an important topic that I consider relevant. To gauge the reach of this message, if you can, please send 1 sat (or the amount you prefer) as a sign that you've seen it. I appreciate your attention and participation in advance. Stay tuned for the revelation of the topic coming soon.

deleted by author

Welcome to https://ahoro.org/ a straightforward and confidential peer-to-peer Bitcoin lending platform. Our core mission revolves around advancing financial inclusion and economic empowerment, making affordable microfinance services easily accessible to those most in need in developing nations.

Our primary objective is to connect individuals through lending, alleviating poverty on a global scale by extending capital access to underserved people and communities who are overlooked by conventional financial institutions. We particularly focus on supporting small enterprises, women, and marginalized groups.

Picture a world where all individuals possess greater self-esteem and the ability to enhance their lives through financial service accessibility. A world where lenders and borrowers unite to effect positive change. Through our online platform, we enable people to lend through Bitcoin blockchain technology, starting from as little as $1 (equivalent to 1 satoshi), reaching borrowers worldwide. We firmly believe that by harnessing the potential of Bitcoin, Lightning, and emerging social media protocols like Nostr, Ahoro can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable global landscape.

A staggering 1.7 billion adults still lack access to formal financial services, and even those who do have such access often struggle to secure credit. Ahoro aims to tackle the financial exclusion experienced by individuals, communities, and organizations in low-income countries, bridging the gap between them and basic financial services. These individuals typically have no access to traditional financial institutions, making it nearly impossible for them to access the credit necessary for starting or expanding businesses, investing in education, or covering unforeseen expenses.

According to the World Bank's Global Findex 2021 database, approximately 29% of adults in developing countries and 24% globally lack access to formal financial institutions, such as banks or microfinance institutions. The COVID-19 pandemic, or C19, has underscored the significance of financial inclusion, leading governments and financial institutions to take steps to enhance financial service access for underserved communities during this crisis.

Ahoro utilizes Bitcoin to enable individuals to offer microcredit to individuals and small businesses in low-income countries, granting them access to affordable credit without requiring a traditional bank account.

However, a significant challenge arises when individuals lack the necessary financial identity, credit history, or guarantees that traditional financial institutions typically require. How does Ahoro ensure that people without these conventional financial markers will repay their loans?

Our approach to assessing creditworthiness in the absence of traditional credit scores or guarantees involves leveraging alternative data sources and machine learning algorithms. The widespread availability of mobile phones in these regions has facilitated the development of digital financial services. Mobile network operators have expanded their networks, offering prepaid services that connect individuals without the need for upfront costs or credit agreements. This has given rise to a technological solution known as "Financial Identity-as-a-Service" (FiDaaS), which leverages the relationships mobile carriers have with customers to establish a unique financial identity and credit score for previously unbanked customers.

We collect data from mobile phones, social media accounts, and other sources to create a comprehensive profile of a borrower's financial behavior, including income, spending habits, and payment history. Machine learning algorithms analyze this data to identify patterns and predict the likelihood of loan default.

Furthermore, we utilize social media and community connections to encourage borrowers to repay their loans. Borrowers may be required to have a certain number of friends or family members on the platform who can vouch for their creditworthiness, which adds peer pressure and social responsibility to the mix, motivating borrowers to honor their repayment commitments.

Lastly, we provide borrowers with financial education and training programs to enhance their understanding of loan terms and effective financial management. Empowering borrowers to make informed financial decisions increases the likelihood that they will repay their loans on time.

Our vision is to create an inclusive world where all individuals have the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential by connecting people through lending and combating global poverty. Our goal is to expand capital access to underserved individuals and communities, with a particular focus on supporting small enterprises, women, and marginalized groups.

Imagine a world where everyone possesses greater self-esteem and the power to enhance their lives through financial services, where lenders and borrowers unite to drive positive change. Through our online platform, Ahoro empowers individuals to lend as little as $1 (1 satoshi) to borrowers around the world using Bitcoin blockchain technology. We are confident that by harnessing the power of Bitcoin and innovative social media protocols like Nostr, Ahoro can help create a more inclusive and equitable world.

But why is now the right time for this endeavor? Several factors make leveraging Bitcoin for social impact investing a compelling proposition:

Growing Interest in Bitcoin: Bitcoin's acceptance and adoption have surged in recent years, making it a valuable asset for individuals and organizations alike.

Increasing Need for Social Impact Investing: Traditional sources of funding for social programs may prove inadequate or unreliable, emphasizing the need for social impact investments.

Advances in Blockchain Technology: Ongoing developments in blockchain technology have improved the ease and security of Bitcoin transactions, rendering it a more feasible option for social impact investing.

Shift Towards Decentralized Finance (DeFi): The rise of decentralized finance has opened the door to decentralized lending and investment platforms. This trend could facilitate the creation of a decentralized social impact investing platform using Bitcoin.

Competitive Advantage: Leveraging Bitcoin for social impact investing allows B Corp organizations to distinguish themselves from traditional platforms and attract investors interested in supporting social causes through innovative technology.

The potential for banking the unbanked represents a massive $380 billion opportunity. According to a report by the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), the global microfinance sector had a loan portfolio worth approximately $380 billion as of December 2021, encompassing the entire global microfinance sector. Oxford Economics corroborated this figure at around $408 billion, with substantial growth potential in emerging markets.

Ahoro sets its sights on the 44% of the global population that remains unbanked or underbanked, primarily in low-income countries where traditional microfinance institutions struggle to reach. We aim to address this challenge by providing an online platform accessible via any mobile browser, enabling individuals to offer microcredit to borrowers in developing countries who would otherwise lack access to conventional financial institutions. Our efforts go beyond simply extending credit; we also tackle barriers to financial inclusion, including a lack of financial education and social stigma. By building a global community of lenders and borrowers, we aspire to raise awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by underserved communities, fostering greater financial inclusion and economic opportunities for all.

In summary, Ahoro's business model is designed to connect lenders and borrowers transparently and responsibly, offering borrowers access to affordable capital they would otherwise struggle to obtain. We embrace the Value4Value model, advocating that individuals receive value in proportion to the value they create. In the realm of microcredit, this means that borrowers who receive microloans are expected to generate value, be it through business growth, job creation, or other measurable impacts. This model enables us to provide services without immediate expectations of returns, promoting financial inclusivity and economic growth in local emerging economies. We have established a system of incentives and rewards to encourage both borrowers and lenders to create and provide value in proportion to what they receive, ensuring that Ahoro microloans make a meaningful contribution to financial inclusion and economic development in low-income communities.

Bringing Financial Inclusion with Bitcoin: Ahoro's Mission

Bitcoin Core integration/staging tree

If you're still confused regarding the severity of the recent lightning bug

Breaking News: Relai Enhances Bitcoin Experience with Lightning via Breez

Introducing Work.Sat 👨‍💻💸⚡

Everything that is on the internet has no owner

What is Work.Sat?
Work.Sat is a mobile web app for remote workers. It serves as a match-maker between orgs/projects and remote workers.

Orgs/ projects can post jobs/gigs and hire applicants, by paying a few Sats. Applicants can apply to most jobs/ gigs for free (unless required by org/ projects to fight application spam).

The platform distinguishes itself through the use of Lightning for payments, and the soon-to-be-released Nostr for reputation management feature. It fosters a lightweight matchmaking service that fights spam jobs & applicants while avoiding control over identity, reputation, or payments.

Why is BitShala Building it?
BitShala is a developer school focused on Bitcoin. We run a developer school to educate developers about Bitcoin Tech, but we just don't leave the graduates there, we also run an incubator to help these devs build Bitcoin/Nostr/Lightning open-source projects and help them get placed creating more Bitcoin goodness in the world.

To manage applications and to solve the matchmaking problem between graduates and projects we started building an in-house solution, but we felt it would be even more useful if
- we opened up Project/Org pool beyond BitShala
- we opened up Applicants pool beyond BitShala graduates

Work.Sat, though was born to solve our personal problem and we will continue to dogfood it, but now it's time that our baby should be released in the world as a standalone product whose ambition is to become the leading platform:
- For hiring & engaging bitcoin talent immediately (for FOSS or venture needs)
- For hiring & engaging all remote talent in the future

Where are our customers? And Why SEA?
Most of BitShala attendees have been from India, Thailand, and South East Asia.

Besides Southeast Asia, particularly Bali, is the hub for remote workers and gigs.

Working as part of the "Legends of Lightning: Indonesia Bitcoin conference" is more than a product launch for us — it's an invitation to connect with local projects, organizations, and talent. We are excited to gather invaluable feedback, allowing Work.Sat to evolve organically as a solution finely tuned to the nuances of the ecosystem of remote workers.

Why Now?
The timing of Work.Sat is strategic, addressing a pervasive challenge faced by both recruiters and applicants in the era of AI-driven application and recruitment spam.
Take applicants, for instance. Platforms like LinkedIn are witnessing an overwhelming influx of resumes. As AI advances, the ability to customize applications and resumes in seconds exacerbates this issue. Work.Sat's innovative solution introduces a cost for the recruiter's attention, if required, compelling applicants to thoughtfully consider their suitability for a position. This holds true for recruiters as well, mitigating the overwhelming influx of applications.

Pro-BTC Argentine Presidential Candidate under attack

On Monday, August 19, Information Technology Services discovered and remediated a malware installation that impacted up to 1900 computers on campus. A successful team effort between ITS Help Desk Support, Security, Networking and distributed IT staff using a variety of technical tools lessened the impact of this intrusion. The following is a summary of lessons learned In the interest of transparency and to prepare all campus staff for the possibility of future intrusion attempts.

Not the average malware

Bitcoin is a digital monetary payment system.  It uses technology that harnesses distributed processing power to facilitate for-hire computing tasks. Bitcoin processing uses legitimate Windows protocols that are neither detected by intrusion prevention systems (IPS) nor by antivirus software. While there is debate as to Bitcoin's legitimacy in the marketplace, the unauthorized use of UNL staff credentials to distribute Bitcoin mining software on University-owned computers via the UNL network, is a violation of University Computer Use Policy

and defined this activity as an intrusion and the installation as malware.

Discovery

A user reported a slow responding computer; not a scenario that immediately sets off alarm. This user was technically astute however, and relayed to a Help Center support technician that virtually 100% of the computer's processing power was being utilized for an unknown process. The support technician was able to remote into the computer and noted the unusual activity. Using UNL's client device management tools, the technician observed the same process occurring on multiple systems across campus. The security team analyzed network traffic flow to look for unusual activity and an originating source. This pinpointed a computer from a completely different department that was acting as a distribution point for the malware. The tools further helped to review system administrator login activity. It was then discovered that the malware was installed via a system administrator's compromised credentials.


48 hours

The following actions were taken on Monday, August 19 within six hours of discovery. The infected distribution computer was blocked, removed from the network and stored for further forensics. The compromised credentials were disabled. All ITS system staff changed passwords. A script to stop and remove the malware was written by ITS staff and quickly distributed to infected computers via the device management tool. Further monitoring later in the day revealed that Bitcoin activity halted on a majority of the machines.

By Wednesday afternoon, ITS staff had worked with techs in affected departments to reach other non-managed computers. The remaining handful of machines running Bitcoin ceased activity. All identified Bitcoin outbound traffic was blocked. An additional script was sent to scan infected machines for Personally Identifiable Information (PII) that could have been compromised through the malware. Results are being analyzed but it is generally agreed that Bitcoin impacted no data. Forensics are ongoing to identify how the credentials were compromised and to further monitor and search for any hidden malicious activity related to the Bitcoin intrusion.

Lessons learned

There are a number of takeaways not only for Information Technology Services, but also for departmental IT techs and the campus. The response was swift, decisive and there was excellent cooperation between ITS and distributed IT staff on campus. It is important to note that UNL was able to respond and mitigate the issues effectively as a result of the security and client device management tools, specifically KACE, that we now have available.

The following are key points for the future:

• ITS System administrators will be using temporary/throwaway credentials when logging into machines outside of their immediate control
• Two-factor authentication is strongly recommended for any account with system administration privileges
• Limit firewall access to as small of scope as possible, instead of all of campus.
• Passwords should be changed regularly to limit the possibility of compromised credentials
• All system administrators must keep computers and servers updated and patched
• Everyone has a part in ensuring security--Always be alert for suspicious activity