Curiouser and Curiouser

Hello Dear Readers,

I hope you pardon me for this interruption to our normal blog post. Some of you already know this, but we started a new newsletter that is focused on Privacy and Security in the Metaverse. It’s called The Rebuttal. A lot of our energy is being spent on this topic so sometimes we miss our own deadline to write for this blog post.

Why focus on the Metaverse?

Because when we started to take a long look at the Metaverse, we realized that privacy thought leaders and security thought leaders had not yet entered the space. Leaving people vulnerable and companies building without guidance.

That’s not good!

If you know me, I am not one to sit idly by, but George and I wanted to make sure you continue to receive the content you expect from us. So this blog post won’t change, other than an interruption like this every once in a while.

As for the Metaverse, we also launched a webinar series that spends time on each topic relevant to privacy and security. The third one is this Thursday, 11AM EST on cryptocurrencies. I hope you will join.

Here is a synopsis of stories from The Rebuttal that you may have missed. If you want to subscribe, you can click on any of these links and Substack should make it easy for you to add your name.

Will Web3 be Better Than Web2

In this blog post, I talk about the concept of individualism that Allison and I discussed during the first webinar. I express some frustration with Web2 and how much reliance I have on devices that collect my data, process it and sometimes process it in a way that makes me feel bad about myself. Is Web3 really the utopia we are hoping for to get away from the dystopia of Web2?

What are the Security Issues with NFTs?

Do you know what a rug pull is? Most now just call it a “pull.” It is a scam that has received widespread attention. It’s when an NFT is created, sold and then the creators take the money and run rather than let the NFT trade for value. That oversimplifies it, but you get the idea. NFT scams have hurt the NFT industry more than anything else causing those, like me, who would be interested in trying to buy one, hold off. This blog post goes into all of that.

How to be (In)Famous in the Metaverse

Have you had any discussions yet with your friends where you asked “what if I want to be Will Smith in the Metaverse?” Well, maybe not as much now as before Sunday night. But seriously, can you impersonate someone in the Metaverse? Can someone impersonate you? I spent some time going through the laws, specifically focused on the U.S., to answer these questions. 

Privacy and Security Implications of Cryptocurrencies

Worldcoin is a cryptocurrency company that scans your eyeball to give you their “free” cryptocurrency. They just received massive funding and when I saw what they did, my eyes nearly popped out of my head. Which, ironically, would mean I could not get this type of cryptocurrency. This one is a long one - you have been warned!

Writing these blog posts has been fun but also forces me to educate myself on principles and processes happening with all this new technology. It has given us new ideas for ClearOPS and is a community worth watching. I think what impresses me the most is that people who have absolutely no interest in technology before are now jumping in, while those who have been in tech for a while, are waiting on the sidelines. That’s fascinating. And reminds me of the book Crossing the Chasm. Anyway, if you are hesitant to get involved, but interested, I hope you find our work helpful.

You’re the best,

Caroline

About the author: Caroline McCaffery is a co-founder at ClearOPS, offering third party risk management for both buyers and sellers. She is a frequent blogger and speaker with over 20 years of experience as a lawyer working with tech startups. You can connect with her on Linkedin.

About ClearOPS. If your job is to manage vendors or you receive inquiries about your company’s compliance, then ClearOPS is the solution to your automation needs. Inquiries: [email protected]