Webster in the News: Cyber hacks, Taiwan, Senate race, Veiled Prophet
June 10, 2021
Recent news media coverage featuring Webster University faculty expertise includes:
Granneman on Ransomware
School of Communications adjunct faculty member Scott Granneman was quoted by CBS affiliate KMOV for a story on cyber crime after a St. Clair County computer system suffered a ransomware attack:
With an uptick of ransomware attacks, News 4 consulted with a local cyber expert who said the attacks are becoming more common because they’re easy to commit and the criminals behind them are rarely prosecuted.
“They go after the targets who make the most money, so if they find a business, businesses are always going to be able to have more money available than the average person, so the person at home doesn't have to worry about this so much, although their business laptop is what's used to get into the business,” said Scott Granneman with Webster University.
View the full story at KMOV here.
Fatton Discusses Taiwan with RTS
Lionel Fatton, assistant professor of international relations at Webster Geneva, was interviewed about Taiwan and tensions with China by national Swiss broadcaster RTS. The segment aired on RTS1 and then on TV5Monde last weekend.
Watch the segment in French at RTS here.
Hall in AP Story on Missouri Senate Candidates
Bill Hall, adjunct faculty member of political science, was interviewed by the Associated Press about U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler’s plans to run for Missouri U.S. Senator Roy Blunt’s seat:
Webster University political scientist Bill Hall said Hartzler's biggest obstacle is name recognition. Still, he believes the GOP candidate to replace Blunt could come down to whomever earns the support of Trump and Missouri's other senator, Josh Hawley.
“I see Trump still very strong, very influential," Hall said. "I see Hawley also strong in Missouri. If they should agree that one particular candidate will be the best candidate for the base, that candidate will be a formidable candidate to beat in the primary.”
The wire story was carried by more than 170 news outlets.
Anderson Morton on VP Controversy
History Professor Kristen Anderson Morton was interviewed by FOX 2 news Tuesday about the history of the Veiled Prophet Organization in St. Louis, which recently has been embroiled in a controversy around its roots with former Confederate soldiers.
The organization’s roots have created the issues, Dr. Anderson Morton said.
“It’s definitely an organization that has a history in the racial and labor strife of the late 19th century,” she said. “Part of what they’re doing with that is trying to reassert elite dominance over the use of public space. Kind of demonstrating what they see as the proper order of things: they will be the ones belonging to the organization, riding in the parades, while the white and black working-class St. Louisans will be back in their proper place as the audience.”