Google Cloud Accidentally Deletes $125 Billion Pension Fund’s Online Account
A major mistake in setup caused Google Cloud and UniSuper to delete the financial service provider’s private cloud account.
This event has caused many to worry about the security and dependability of cloud services, especially for big financial companies.
The outage started in the blue, and UniSuper’s 620,000 members had no idea what was happening with their retirement funds.
Services didn’t start again until Thursday, and the fund promised its members that investment account amounts would be updated as soon as possible, even though they were still showing numbers from the previous week.
Joint Statement and Apology
According to the Guardian reports, the CEOs of UniSuper and Google Cloud, Peter Chun and Thomas Kurian, apologized for the failure together in a statement, which is not often done.
“This incident is an exceptional and singular occurrence that has not happened with any client of Google Cloud on a global scale before.” This ought not to have occurred. Google Cloud has implemented preventative measures in response to the identified events that precipitated this disruption.
They said that the event was “extremely frustrating and disappointing” for members and caused by a “one-of-a-kind occurrence” in which UniSuper’s Private Cloud services were set up incorrectly, causing the fund’s cloud subscription to be deleted.
“UniSuper’s Private Cloud subscription was ultimately terminated due to an unexpected sequence of events that began with an inadvertent misconfiguration during provisioning,” the two sources stated. “Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian has confirmed that the disruption was caused by an unprecedented sequence of events.”
Google is the most popular email provider (Gmail) contributes about 70% of the email traffic on earth and being one of the oldest mass adopted email service (passing 20 years old is a worth achievement for any application, especially a “free” one.
As a cyber security digital expert, I have raved about the free service, its novel cloud-based structure, and how and why is
While I’m tickled to have been an early adopter of now-successful technology, though, it’s important to know when enough is enough. For me, that time has come, and I’m moving my primary digital correspondence to privacy-focused Swiss provider Proton Mail. It’s been a long time coming.
Should I, or should I not be popular?
Google is a Mega Monopoly Email Provider: Legal, but is it Ethical?
We’ve seen a lot go down in the privacy and security realms over the last two decades. Google’s been far from the only culprit, but as the default search engine for most browsers and the curator of Android, the Play Store, Google Analytics, reCaptchas, and more, the Big G has more data on the average North American user than any other corporation.
I’m as far from paranoid as any internet user, and even I use a VPN (primarily for spoofing IP geolocation); while I don’t do anything nefarious, and nobody’s tracking me for anything other than advertising, I prefer knowing I’m a little safer from bad actors that can hijack the content I’m viewing and thus possibly my hardware.
But Google creeps me out, and I’m no longer comfortable using Gmail. The successors to the FAANG stocks, the MAMAA companies (Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet) own a considerable amount of not just forward-facing web resources but also the underlying infrastructure most of the world’s internet relies on. I can’t avoid my data passing through the Google Cloud or Amazon Web Services, but I can limit what sites and apps I actively engage with.
Gmail’s interface is fine, I guess, if somewhat cluttered and not very attractive
Google’s always innocent until it’s not
Until 2017, Google automatically scanned Gmail accounts for keywords that it then used to personalize ads within the platform and probably outside it, too. Here’s why that should terrify you:
It had likely been happening since Gmail’s launch
Scans included messages from non-Gmail accounts, presumably contributing to shadow accounts containing data on those users
Widespread publicity via a 2013 Microsoft ad campaign and lawsuit the same year failed to stop it
Google’s proposed settlement was rejected for being overly vague and failing to promise proper disclosure of data harvesting practices
I’m under no misconception that I can extricate myself entirely from Google’s clutches; It’s too ubiquitous, and tons of common apps and services rely on its wide range of services. But I’ll do what I can, which includes moving to Proton Mail, a privacy-centric email provider with encrypted, underground servers, practically the polar opposite of Alphabet Inc.
Google paid over $26 billion in 2021 to remain the default search engine in various browsers
The surprisingly easy switch to Proton Mail
Why Proton Mail is my new favorite email provider
My own Proton account has been used as a backup since 2018. Moat recently though, it has now become my primary email for both personal and business.
I tested a trial of ProtonVPN a few years afo (ProtonVPN was a bit slow back then, but I and other cyber security expert highly recommend it as one of today’s top VPNs) due to its increased infrastructure and massive much faster speed. They have quadrupled the number of Servers globally since 2021).
I made the jump many years ago (2018) and highly recommend it to all of you going forward – primarily due to Proton’s comprehensive set of features, as well as the policies it enacts to keep your data private.
Among Proton’s consumer-friendly practices:
It opposes data harvesting, ads, and trackers (even the subversive tracking that comes from opening third-party-hosted images)
It falls under Switzerland’s privacy jurisdiction and isn’t subject to US surveillance
Theoretically, no other human can view your emails. In fact, if you lose and need to reset your password, you’ll lose access to previous messages, an impressive layer of security against hacking
Support for end-to-end encryption between Proton users and password protection for external emails
Open-source encryption (including optional PGP signing) and independent auditing to ensure strict adherence to standards
A few clicks, and I never have to access my Gmail page again
Compared to my first brief look years ago, Proton’s UI and general implementation have matured significantly. It was also a breeze to sit back and observe how easy it was to have over 100 (128 and counting!) forward over 100 (121 and counting!) of my Client’s perform the action of transferring each of their current Gmail messages to their now-primary Proton address, and the calendar appears to have integrated well, with alerts showing up consistently on both Android and iPhones without problems.
They are perfectly happy with the features provided by Proton’s most affordable tier, the Mail Plus plan. You can create 10 separate addresses and even a custom domain, as well as shorten the default existing domain to pm.me (because @protonmail.com is, admittedly, a bit of a mouthful).
It includes 15GB of storage, unlimited folders and filters, and can do everything I ever wanted my Gmail account to do. Most importantly, it keeps their permanent correspondence out of Alphabet’s umbrella and especially any private or confidential emails, as well as people who send it to them that don’t even use Gmail!
Proton offers diverse Subscription Plans (including Free!)
You can actually use Proton Mail entirely for free, although it does have restrictions: You are limited to 150 emails per day and 1GB of storage, can’t create custom addresses or domains, and won’t have access to the calendar, or the encrypted password manager and unlimited VPN offered by the Proton Unlimited subscription. But even the free tier is visually and more private and securr, as well as overall being much better than Gmail.
Committing to 1 or 2 years of the $5/month low tier drops the price to $4 or $3.50, respectively.
The Unlimited tier will set you back $10 or $8 per month at those same subscription lengths and afford you 500GB of storage, 15 custom addresses, 3 custom domains, and unlimited VPN and Proton Pass (its password manager) access. There is also a six-user family plan starting at $30 and three tiers of slightly more business-focused options.
But I’m really not advertising for Proton here. I’m just choosing to actively take my digital footprint back into my own hands in a way many of us haven’t done since Gmail’s massive rise over a decade ago. It’s well overdue, and over the few weeks I’ve used Proton Mail full-time, I can’t say I regret it or will ever look back.
Are you concerned about your online privacy and looking for ways to mask your IP address on Coinbase?
If like many people, you have come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to change your location on Coinbase (or any other Crypto Exchange) and hide personal information like your IP address, country, and region.
Quick Guide: Hide Your IP Address and Change Your Location
Mask Your IP Address
Flush DNS and Renew Your IP Address
Change Your Coinbase Location Settings
Other Methods to Hide Your IP Address and Location on Coinbase
Why Hide Your IP Address?
There are several reasons why you might want to hide your IP address. One of the main reasons is to protect your privacy and prevent Coinbase from tracking your physical location. By masking your IP address, you can also avoid leaving a digital footprint and bypass content filters or bans.
How to Hide Your IP Address and Location from Coinbase
Mask Your IP Address
Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or proxy server to mask your IP address and spoof your location.
We recommend using NordVPN for its ease of use and reliability.
Follow these steps to install and configure NordVPN:
Visit NordVPN’s website and create an account.
Download and install NordVPN on your devices.
Connect to a VPN server from your preferred location.
Flush DNS and Renew Your IP Address
Clear your DNS cache to ensure your computer obtains the latest IP address from Coinbase’s DNS server.
Renew your IP address through your device’s settings or command prompt.
Follow these steps for PC (Any Windows OS Computer) (please contact me directly at https://www.t.me/DigitalFoundation for one on one Consultation):
Step-by-Step Guide: Flush DNS and Renew Your IP Address
Step 1: Open Command Prompt
On Windows: Press the Windows key, type “cmd” in the search bar, then press Enter.
On Mac: Open Spotlight (Command + Space), type “Terminal,” then press Enter.
Step 2: Run Command Prompt as Administrator
Right-click on Command Prompt in the search results.
Select “Run as administrator” from the context menu.
Step 3: Enter Commands
In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
ipconfig /flushdns (This command clears the DNS resolver cache.)
ipconfig /release (This command releases your current IP address.)
ipconfig /renew (This command requests a new IP address from your DHCP server.)
Step 4: Confirm Success
Look for confirmation messages after each command.
You should see messages indicating successful flushing of the DNS resolver cache and renewal of your IP address.
Step 5: Close Command Prompt
Once you’ve completed the commands and confirmed success, you can close the Command Prompt window.
Note:
Flushing the DNS resolver cache and renewing your IP address can help resolve network connectivity issues and ensure that your computer has the latest IP address information.
These steps may vary slightly depending on your operating system. Always run Command Prompt with administrator privileges for these actions.
Mac/Apple Flushing DNS:
Change Your Coinbase Location Settings
Before logging in to your Coinbase account, ensure NordVPN is running and connected to the preferred server location.
Log in to your account, go to “Privacy Settings,” and change your “Location/Region/Country” to match your VPN server.
Save the changes and you’re all set.
Can’t Change Your Coinbase Location Settings? Here’s What to Do
If you’re unable to change your region, location, or country on Coinbase’s account settings, you can contact Coinbase support for assistance. Follow these steps:
Send a message to Coinbase support requesting a manual update of your physical location.
Wait for 24-48 hours for their response.
Other Methods to Hide Your IP Address and Location on Coinbase
In addition to using a VPN or proxy server, you can also consider using a neighbor or trusted friend’s Wi-Fi networks or proxy servers. However, keep in mind the security and privacy implications of these methods. If you are unsure or don’t know whether or not your Internet/Device/Computer is truly SECURE, take 2 minutes of your valuable time and go here to run a VPN and Browser Leak Scan: https://browserleaks.com/webrtc
VPN vs. Proxy vs. Public Wi-Fi: A Comparison
Here’s a comparison table outlining the key differences between using a VPN, proxy server, and public Wi-Fi to hide your IP address and change your location on Coinbase:
Features/Attributes
VPN
Proxy Server
Public Wi-Fi
IP Address Masking
Yes
Yes
Yes
Encryption
Yes (High-level)
No
No
Geolocation Spoofing
Yes
Yes
Partial
Ease of Setup
Easy
Moderate
Easy
Speed
Fast (depends on service)
Moderate
Varies (often slow)
Security
High
Low
Very Low
Privacy
High
Low to Moderate
Very Low
Access to Restricted Content
Yes
Yes
Maybe
Consistency
High
Moderate
Low
Cost
Subscription
Subscription or one-time fee
Free
Legality & Compliance
Generally Legal, some restrictions apply
Generally Legal, some restrictions apply
Legal
In summary, using a VPN offers the highest level of security and privacy, while proxy servers and public Wi-Fi networks may be less reliable. Choose the method that best suits your needs and always prioritize your online privacy and security.
By following these steps and tips, you can effectively hide your IP address and change your location on Coinbase, ensuring your online activities remain private and secure.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog post is for educational purposes only. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we cannot guarantee the effectiveness or suitability of the methods described.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you acknowledge that neither any individuals affiliated with GeeksByTheHour nor its affiliates are responsible for any actions, events, or consequences that may occur as a result.
It is recommended to consult with a qualified IT professional or technician before performing any network-related actions on your computer. Always proceed with caution and at your own risk.
In this digital age of 2024 and beyond, information and data is needed as the air we breathe, the tools we use to sift through data should uplift, not undermine, our quest for knowledge.
Yet, here we are, navigating the choppy waters of search engines like Bing and Google, only to find ourselves awash in a sea of advertisements, our privacy eroded by relentless tracking, and our quest for truth skewed by biased algorithms.
Does that seem okay to you?
These platforms, once hailed as the lighthouses of the information age, now seem more like will-o’-the-wisps leading men to their deaths in murky bogs. Radicalization through search engine commercialization is actually a real problem. For everything that Google has claimed, it is fighting against such things, the work of non-biased researchers like Cory Doctorow and Rebecca Giblin have proven that these companies can’t ever fulfill their promises… not when they rely on radicalization to help line their shareholder’s wallets.
Folks – it is jut not Google (Alpha) that does this! Today we face a plethora of Social Media “trackers” and “data miners” that commercialize every step and action that you take online within their platform for full disclosure. This article is just sharing with you that browsers such as Google (and its email product called Gmail) tracks, profits, and commercializes everything that you do in it.
Stract: A New Open Source, customizable search engine.
This innovative search engine feels like a callback to an earlier Internet age, when our networks were meant to be part of a free, open-source ecosystem.
Now, to be clear, Stract is in early “Beta” stage. This simply means that it is lacking many “normal” features that are common in modern browsers. You will not be using it for your daily browsing quite yet (I recommend Vivaldi, Brave (which offers Staking Rewards as well) and DuckDuckGo for the time being). That said, it has WONDERFUL potential.
The top ten main features of Stract include:
Open Source: Stract is entirely open-source, promoting transparency and community collaboration in its development and enhancement.
Customization: The platform stands out for its high degree of customizability, allowing users to tailor their search…
Advanced Search Capabilities: Stract offers advanced search capabilities, including Boolean operators, filters, and facets, empowering users to refine their searches with precision and efficiency.
Natural Language Processing (NLP): Leveraging cutting-edge NLP algorithms, Stract understands and interprets natural language queries, ensuring accurate search results even for complex or ambiguous queries.
Personalization: Stract employs sophisticated personalization algorithms to deliver tailored search results based on user preferences, search history, and behavior, enhancing the overall search experience and relevance of results.
Scalability: Built on a scalable architecture, Stract seamlessly handles large volumes of data and user queries, ensuring fast and reliable search performance even as data volumes grow.
Federated Search: Stract supports federated search capabilities, enabling users to search across multiple data sources and repositories from a single interface, eliminating the need to switch between different applications or platforms.
Real-time Indexing: With real-time indexing capabilities, Stract ensures that new content is immediately available for search, providing users with up-to-date and relevant information at all times.
Integration Options: Stract offers seamless integration with a wide range of third-party applications, databases, and content management systems, allowing users to leverage their existing infrastructure and workflows.
Analytics and Insights: Stract provides powerful analytics and insights into search behavior, user interactions, and content usage, enabling organizations to gain valuable insights and optimize their search strategies for better performance and user satisfaction.
Overall, Stract offers a comprehensive and feature-rich search solution that EMPOWERS users to find relevant information quickly and efficiently. It is also the ideal choice for individuals and organizations seeking a powerful and 100% CUSTOMIZABLE search engine for their own needs, wishes, and goals. In summary, if you are familiar with technology and don't expect a full-blown Browser experience without a few minor speed bumps, it is highly recommended to check Stract out here: https://stract.com/about
For 2024, Google and Yahoo are rolling out updated guidelines for bulk email senders, aimed at boosting deliverability and fighting the good fight against spam. This is good news: not only will it positively impact your deliverability, it’s easy to implement.
Why the update?
It’s simple: to create a cleaner, more secure environment for both senders and recipients. The new requirements fall into three key categories:
Authentication: Email authentication verifies you’re a legitimate sender, not a spammer. If you’re sending emails already, you’ve probably already taken the first step by setting up SPF (sender policy framework) and DKIM (domainkeys identified mail) records, even if you weren’t sure what they did. Now, the next crucial step is publishing a DMARC policy.
Simple unsubscribes: No more requiring users to authenticate or navigate labyrinthine unsubscribe processes. One-click unsubscribe provides a better user experience. Luckily, if you’ve already been offering this option, you’re already ahead of the curve!
Spam complaints: If you’re diligently collecting opt-ins with proper consent, spam complaints likely won’t be a concern. But it’s always good practice to maintain a healthy email list and engage your audience thoughtfully.
So what is DMARC?
The DMARC policy (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) acts as your email’s official security document, telling the world how to handle messages claiming to be from your domain.
Setting it up properly is essential today because many Email List Providers (such as small businesses) are already being surprised that their E-Mail Success % Rates Are Decreasing Just This Week (Google and Yahoo Domain Emails Began Enforcement On February 2nd, 2024).By February 1, 2024, publish your DMARC policy with your domain provider. Ensure this TXT record is added to your DNS settings with “yourdomain.com” replaced with your actual company domain:
It is actually straight-forward for most technical savvy folks whether you manage DNS yourself or need to put in a ticket so that your IT team can handle the DNS settings. (You can learn even more about DMARC records, including other options like adding a “rua” value to designate an email address that will receive DMARC reports, in Google’s documentation here.
These new email requirements might seem like extra hurdles, but they’re ultimately a positive step towards a more reliable and enjoyable email experience for everyone. By taking the small steps outlined above, you can ensure your business thrives under the new rules, reaching your target audience effectively and building lasting relationships. TECHNICAL DETAILS ABOUT DMARC IF YOU WANT TO DIVE DEEPER:
Domain-Based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC) is an email authentication policy that protects against bad actors using fake email addresses disguised to look like legitimate emails from trusted sources.
DMARC makes it easier for email senders and receivers to determine whether or not an email legitimately originated from the identified sender. Further, DMARC provides the user with instructions for handling the email if it is fraudulent.
WHY SHOULD ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS BE INTERESTED IN DMARC?
Phishing and Spearphishing are among the top attack vectors for any organization dealing with PII (Personal Identifying Information), which can lead to identity impact, financial fraud, or even protected health information (PHI) breaches and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) fines --> why? Because many individuals in the "black market" underground will access, buy, and sell that PII for non-Citizens/those who do not have health insurance-->they will be using it for their own "services" with fake ID presented as the same name and person that your company revealed their PII.
Summary: Your/Your Company liability can be far more reaching than you could ever imagine. It happens every day in the United States where "Joe" walks up to the urgent care or hospital needing emergency care with someone else's ID/SSN/healthcare insurance information all for the right price!
Fraudulent emails are easy to design and cheap to send, which gives threat actors incentive to use repeated email attacks. DMARC provides an automated approach to reducing fraudulent email, before it ever reaches an employee’s inbox. In addition, DMARC helps prevent adversaries sending email to your organization or others purportedly from your staff.
HOW DOES DMARC WORK?
DMARC removes guesswork from the receiver’s handling of emails from non-authoritative email servers, reducing the user’s exposure to potentially fraudulent and harmful messages. A DMARC policy allows a sender to indicate that their emails are protected by Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and/or Domain Keys Identified Message (DKIM), both of which are industry-recognized email authentication techniques. DMARC also provides instructions on how the receiver should handle emails that fail to pass SPF or DKIM authentication. Options include sending the email to quarantine or rejecting it entirely.
DMARC provides the receiver with an email address to provide feedback to the sender.
Potential feedback can include that the sender’s email was rejected/quarantined by the receiver or that a threat actor is attempting to imitate the sender’s domain.
HOW CAN I ADOPT DMARC ON MY DOMAIN?
Savvy organizations that adopt DMARC do so in strategic stages, with feedback loops between IT departments and their staff (depending on the size of the organization of course!). Because DMARC can block third parties delivering mail on the purported sender’s behalf, some intended messages may be flagged as illegitimate in some cases - which is a very small price to pay (risk vs. reward) in cybersecurity honestly.
Below Are A Few Steps Organizations Can Take To Ease Into DMARC Over Time:
1. Deploy DKIM & SPF in reporting-only mode first, listing known authorized email servers (such as vendors and trusted internal/external Partners).
2. Collect and review reports to identify unknown email servers.
3. Work with business units and IT staff to identify servers and determine their legitimacy.
4. Update DMARC policy flags to “quarantine” then to “reject” as confidence increases that most or all legitimate
servers have been accounted for.
6) IoT with 5G Network: The New Era of Technology and Risks
7) Automation and Integration
8) Targeted Ransomware
9) State-Sponsored Cyber Warfare
10) Insider Threats
2023: The Digital Transformation realized for businesses, organizations and even governments are relying on computerized and progressively increased digital systems to manage their day-to-day activities making Cybersecurity a primary goal and priority for all Executives and Organizations of all sizes.
The 2020 pandemic year exacerbated this fact – with up to 75% of billions of people globally transitioning from their physical office (which had the IT resources and personnel) to their “home office”. Essentially turning the entire “working from home industry” and all of the IT and HR requirements that it needs due to safeguarding data from various online attacks or any unauthorized access as the new “norm” of virtual/remote work.
Going Forward: Continuous change in technologies including the popular Dual Authorization Password apps primarily through utilizing the smart phone also implies a parallel shift and priority in Cybersecurity trends across the board in every organization as news of data breach, ransomware, malware, compromised devices/browsers and hacks unfortunately become the norms. This is simply based on adapting to the progressing volume (millions before the 2020 Pandemic worked from home, today it is billions) of remote workers. Here are the top Cybersecurity trends for 2023:
1) Rise of Automotive Hacking
Modern vehicles nowadays come packed with automated software creating seamless connectivity for drivers in cruise control, engine timing, door lock, airbags and advanced systems for driver assistance. These vehicles use Bluetooth and WiFi technologies to communicate that also opens them to several vulnerabilities or threats from hackers. Gaining control of the vehicle or using microphones for eavesdropping is expected to rise in 2023 with more use of automated vehicles. Self-driving or autonomous vehicles use an even further complex mechanism that requires strict cybersecurity measures.
2) Potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
With AI being introduced in all market segments, this technology with a combination of machine learning has brought tremendous changes in cybersecurity. AI has been paramount in building automated security systems, natural language processing, face detection, and automatic threat detection and the ChatGPT OpenAI capabilities that are literally transforming industries of anything relating to “the written word” including Copy Writing, Marketing, Advertising, Education, and many, many others are all being automated with AI. Although, it is also being used to develop smart malware and attacks to bypass the latest security protocols in controlling data. AI enabled threat detection systems can predict new attacks and notify admins for any data breach instantly.
3) Mobile is the New Target
Cybersecurity trends provide a considerable increase (50 percent) for mobile banking malware or attacks in 2020, making our handheld devices a potential prospect for hackers. All of our photos, financial transactions, emails, and messages possess more threats to individuals. Smartphones are logically one of the biggest targets for anyone with the skills and agenda primarily based on two facts:
Smartphones are used by more people globally today than PC’s (personal computers)
The security and vulnerabilities of smartphones are far less on average than PC’s
Social Media like Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok as well as other installed Apps of all types on smartphones/PC’s/devices are being targeted more and more each day by malicious individuals and “ransomware gangs” globally.
4) The “Cloud” i.e. Internet is Also Potentially Vulnerable
With more and more organizations now established on clouds, security measures need to be continuously monitored and updated to safeguard the data from leaks. Although cloud applications such as Google or Microsoft are well equipped with security from their end still, it’s the user end that acts as a significant source for erroneous errors, malicious software, and phishing attacks more than ever before today. Malicious actors across the globe are adapting faster than end users can act, especially in today’s ever so popular Social Media world.
5) Data Breaches: Prime target
Data will continue to be a leading concern for organizations around the world. Whether it be for an individual or organization, safeguarding digital data is the primary goal now. Any minor flaw or bug in your system browser or software is a potential vulnerability for hackers to access personal information. New strict measures General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was enforced from May 25th, 2018 onwards, offering data protection and privacy for individuals in the European Union(EU). Similarly, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) was applied after January 1st, 2020, for safeguarding consumer rights in the California area.
6) IoT with 5G Network: The New Era of Technology and Risks
With the advent and growth of 5G networks, a new era of inter-connectivity will become a reality with the Internet of Things (IoT).
The Internet of Things (IoT) is essentially an interconnected global network where all devices are connected to each other as well as the “internet” 24×7. This communication between multiple devices also opens them to vulnerabilities from outside influence, attacks or an unknown software bug. Even the world’s most used browser supported by Google, Chrome was found to have serious bugs. 5G architecture is comparatively new in the industry and requires a lot of research to find loopholes to make the system secure from external attack.
Every step of the 5G network might bring a plethora of network attacks that we might not be aware of. Here manufacturers need to be very strict in building sophisticated 5G hardware and software to control data breaches.
7) Automation and Integration
With the size of data multiplying every day, it is eminent that automation is integrated to give more sophisticated control over the information. Modern hectic work demand also pressurizes professionals and engineers to deliver quick and proficient solutions, making automation more valuable than ever. Security measurements are incorporated during the agile process to build more secure software in every aspect. Large and complex web applications are further hard to safeguard making automation as well as cyber security to be a key concept of the software development process.
8) Targeted Ransomware
Another important cybersecurity trend that we can’t seem to ignore is targeted ransomware. Especially in the developed nations’ industries rely heavily on specific software to run their daily activities. These ransomware targets are more focused today in 2023 including examples like the Wanna Cry attack on the National Health Service hospitals in England corrupted more than 70,000 medical devices. Though generally, ransomware asks to threaten to publish the victim’s data unless a ransom is paid still it can affect the large organization or in case of nations too.
9) State-Sponsored Cyber Warfare
There won’t be any stoppage between the western and eastern powers in attempts to find superiority. The tension between the US and Iran or Chinese hackers often creates worldwide news though the attacks are few; they have a significant impact on an event such as elections. And with more than 70 elections bound to be held this year, criminal activities during this time will surge. Expect high-profile data breaches, key infrastructure like airlines grounding planes due to internal software compromises, etc. as top cybersecurity trends for 2023.
10) Insider Threats
Human error is still one of the primary reasons for data breaches and cyber security issues and service tickets, up to 75% of all reported in fact according to the most recent 2022 statistics. Any employee having a grudge or just a bad day at their employer or intentional loophole can bring down a whole organization with millions of stolen data. One example of this in 2022 was an official Report by Verizon that a documented data breach gives strategic insights on cybersecurity trends that 45 percent of total attacks were directly or indirectly made by the employees. Creating a culture of more awareness within premises to safeguard data in every way possible is truly the primary goal today in 2023 as well as the future.
ChatGPT is the future and right now in 2023 so far it is completely FREE!
In this article, I will show you how to use it to make video creation a breeze.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a powerful tool in the kit of any creator. From smart editing tools to copy writing to whole original image creation, there is a lot that AI can do. One stage of the creation process that AI can streamline is the pre-production process: brainstorming, writing, and prepping.
In this article, I’ll show you how to use ChatGPT to write something like a video script to make your video production workflow faster and easier.
What Is ChatGPT?
How to Use ChatGPT to Create Content
What Are the Limitations of ChatGPT?
What Is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is the latest tool from OpenAI, the company behind DALL-E, the AI-powered art and image generator.
Unlike DALL-E and other AI art tools like the Lensa AI Magic Avatars or the MyHeritage AI Time Machine that have become popular recently, ChatGPT is NOT an image generator.
Summary: It’s a conversational text and code generator.
You plug in a question or a prompt, and ChatGPT will give you an answer. Or an essay, poem, idea, line of code, etc.
OpenAI has made ChatGPT available as part of a research release. That means a) that they are taking users’ feedback during this period to improve the AI model and b) that it’s currently free to use, which is great news for creators.
How to Use ChatGPT to Create Content More Quickly
Let’s walk through how to use ChatGPT and how it can speed up your content creation process.
Step 1: Set Up an Account with ChatGPT
To start, head to chat.openai.com. You’ll be asked to either log in or create an account.
As of writing this article, setting up an OpenAI account is totally free, no payment info required.
I opted to use the integrated Google login.
Step 2: Read Through the Disclosures and Limitations
Once you’ve signed in to ChatGPT, you’ll see a few pop-ups explaining how the research release works and what to expect.
It’s important to read through these disclosures to fully understand the limitations of the tool and how to use it for best results.
Step 3 (Optional): Ask ChatGPT for Video Script Ideas
If you already have an idea for the video you want to shoot in mind, go ahead and skip this step. But if you’re still looking for ideas, enlist ChatGPT as your brainstorming buddy.
All you have to do is type your prompt or question into the chat bar at the bottom of your screen:
In just a few seconds, ChatGPT will generate a list for you.
Not happy with the results? Just hit the “Try again” button. You can also try wording your prompt differently to get better results.
Step 4: Ask ChatGPT to Write Your Video Script
All that’s left is to write your video script. Or rather, to let ChatGPT write it.
In the chat bar, type your request and make sure that you include the idea you’ve chosen from ChatGPT (or your own idea).
And that’s really all there is to it. Sit back and let ChatGPT generate a whole video script for you in just a few seconds.
You can see that the script isn’t that long — it took me about three minutes to read it out loud at a moderate narration pace. That’s because ChatGPT can only generate so much text at a time and now that it is approaching INCREDIBLY POPULARITY faster than Facebook, Google, and even Instagram, the “demand” for its “Server” aka the computational workhorse behind the scenes is truly working harder than an air conditioner in a Las Vegas summer!
This is a great tool for turning out short-form content, like TikToks and YouTube Shorts, quickly.
For something like a video for your regular YouTube feed, you can always pad your ChatGPT video scripts out with examples and asides, to give it more of a personal touch and add a little bit of watch time.
If you want ChatGPT to write the script for any videos longer than 5 minutes, I’d recommend asking for an outline first, then having the AI write each section of that outline individually.
Step 5: Edit and Publish Your Video
Script-writing isn’t the only part of the video creation process that artificial intelligence can help with. To keep your video editing as streamlined as your script-writing, here are three AI-powered GeeksByTheHour tools I recommend using:
1) SmartCut
Remove silences and awkward pauses from your videos automatically with SmartCut. You will find SmartCut under the “AI Tools” section in GeeksByTheHour’s video editor Resources.
To use it, just click on the SmartCut button and the AI will automatically detect and delete silences from your video.
You can adjust the threshold of what SmartCut detects as a silence by using the Silence Sensitivity slider. Once you’re satisfied with the results, click “Done” and the changes will be applied to your video in the editor.
2) Clean Audio
Filming conditions aren’t always ideal, but that doesn’t mean your video has to have poor audio quality. You’ll find the Clean Audio tool in the left sidebar under the “Audio” tools.
Clicking on it will remove unwanted background audio as well as level the audio volume and reduce popping sounds.
It will take a few minutes for the AI to process and clean your audio, depending on the length of your video. Once it’s done, you’ll know the Clean Audio tool has been applied because the button in the sidebar will remain blue.
3) Find Scenes
For longer form content, it’s important to break your content up into scenes with headers and even include the timestamps in your description for platforms like YouTube. Finding all of the spots in your video where you move from one topic to the next or the scene changes can be tedious, though. Find Scenes lets AI do that for you.
Find Scenes is in the AI Tools section of the Edit menu
In the Find Scenes window, adjust the AI’s sensitivity to control how many scenes are detected. Wherever a scene is detected, your video will split into separate clips.
After you’ve applied the changes to your video, you can easily add title cards, graphics, talking head footage, etc., between scenes.
What Are the Limitations of ChatGPT for Content Creation?
Even though it was only recently released, it’s already apparent that ChatGPT is going to be a very powerful tool. With that said, though, it does still have functional (and ethical!) limitations. Let’s break down a few of the more important ones.
Does ChatGPT Always Provide Factually Accurate Information?
While ChatGPT is trained on a large amount of data and is designed to provide factual information, it’s not always possible for it to provide completely accurate answers to every question. This is because ChatGPT is a machine learning model and its responses are generated based on the inputs it receives from you, the user. In some cases, this can result in responses that are not entirely accurate or complete.
Additionally, ChatGPT is a text-based AI and does not have access to the internet, so it cannot browse the web or provide information that is not contained within its training data as of today at least (2023).
It’s always a good idea to double-check the information provided by ChatGPT and use other sources to verify its accuracy.
Is ChatGPT versed in current events?
No.
ChatGPT is a large language model trained by OpenAI, and its training data has a fixed cutoff point. In its current iteration, that cutoff point is the end of 2021. This means that it may not have the most up-to-date information on certain topics, and its responses may be based on outdated information.
For example, you wouldn’t be able to ask ChatGPT to explain the timeline of Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter because that happened in 2022 before the OpenAI database “updated” any data or information such as events that occurred in 2022 or for that matter today in 2023!
What Kinds of Inappropriate Requests Is ChatGPT Programmed to Decline?
According to OpenAI, ChatGPT is “trained to decline inappropriate requests.” However, when I asked ChatGPT what is considered an inappropriate request that it would decline, this is the response it gave:
“ChatGPT is a neutral AI and is not trained to decline inappropriate requests. It is trained to provide responses based on the inputs it receives from the user, and it will generate a response to any input it receives, regardless of whether the request is considered appropriate or not.
In general, it is always a good idea to treat ChatGPT with respect and to ask questions that are appropriate and relevant. This will help ensure that you receive the most accurate and helpful responses possible.”
That doesn’t mean that you can generate any kind of content with ChatGPT, though. If you input an inappropriate request, ChatGPT will form a response, but you will also receive this pop-up warning:
You can find a full, detailed list of what ChatGPT has been trained to detect as inappropriate in OpenAI’s Content Policy. Here is the Summary:
You may not use ChatGPT to generate content of the following natures:
Hate speech
Harassment
Violent
Self-harm
Sexual
Spam
Deception
Malware
As with any tool, AI or otherwise, ChatGPT should be used responsibly.
I hope that this article helps streamline your creation process by using ChatGPT to write video scripts. For more creator tips, tools, and news, visit our Resources Library or check out our YouTube channel. We create new content every week, made for creators by creators.
6) IoT with 5G Network: The New Era of Technology and Risks
7) Automation and Integration
8) Targeted Ransomware
9) State-Sponsored Cyber Warfare
10) Insider Threats
The Digital Transformation for businesses, organizations and even governments are relying on computerized systems to manage their day-to-day activities and thus making cybersecurity a primary goal to safeguard data from various online attacks or any unauthorized access.
Continuous change in technologies also implies a parallel shift in cybersecurity trends as news of data breach, ransomware and hacks become the norms. Here are the top cybersecurity trends for 2023.
1) Rise of Automotive Hacking
Modern vehicles nowadays come packed with automated software creating seamless connectivity for drivers in cruise control, engine timing, door lock, airbags and advanced systems for driver assistance. These vehicles use Bluetooth and WiFi technologies to communicate that also opens them to several vulnerabilities or threats from hackers. Gaining control of the vehicle or using microphones for eavesdropping is expected to rise in 2023 with more use of automated vehicles. Self-driving or autonomous vehicles use an even further complex mechanism that requires strict cybersecurity measures.
2) Potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
With AI being introduced in all market segments, this technology with a combination of machine learning has brought tremendous changes in cybersecurity. AI has been paramount in building automated security systems, natural language processing, face detection, and automatic threat detection. Although, it is also being used to develop smart malware and attacks to bypass the latest security protocols in controlling data. AI enabled threat detection systems can predict new attacks and notify admins for any data breach instantly.
3) Mobile is the New Target
Cybersecurity trends provide a considerable increase (50 percent) for mobile banking malware or attacks in 2020, making our handheld devices a potential prospect for hackers. All of our photos, financial transactions, emails, and messages possess more threats to individuals. Smartphones are logically one of the biggest targets for anyone with the skills and agenda primarily based on 2 facts:
1. They (Smartphones) are used by more people globally today than PC’s (personal computers)
2. The security and vulnerabilities of smartphones are far less on average than PC’s
4) Cloud is Also Potentially Vulnerable
With more and more organizations now established on clouds, security measures need to be continuously monitored and updated to safeguard the data from leaks. Although cloud applications such as Google or Microsoft are well equipped with security from their end still, it’s the user end that acts as a significant source for erroneous errors, malicious software, and phishing attacks.
5) Data Breaches: Prime target
Data will continue to be a leading concern for organizations around the world. Whether it be for an individual or organization, safeguarding digital data is the primary goal now. Any minor flaw or bug in your system browser or software is a potential vulnerability for hackers to access personal information. New strict measures General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was enforced from May 25th, 2018 onwards, offering data protection and privacy for individuals in the European Union(EU). Similarly, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) was applied after January 1st, 2020, for safeguarding consumer rights in the California area.
6) IoT with 5G Network: The New Era of Technology and Risks
With the advent and growth of 5G networks, a new era of inter-connectivity will become a reality with the Internet of Things (IoT).
Read about What Is the Internet of Things (IoT) and Why It Matters? This communication between multiple devices also opens them to vulnerabilities from outside influence, attacks or an unknown software bug. Even the world’s most used browser supported by Google, Chrome was found to have serious bugs. 5G architecture is comparatively new in the industry and requires a lot of research to find loopholes to make the system secure from external attack.
Every step of the 5G network might bring a plethora of network attacks that we might not be aware of. Here manufacturers need to be very strict in building sophisticated 5G hardware and software to control data breaches.
7) Automation and Integration
With the size of data multiplying every day, it is eminent that automation is integrated to give more sophisticated control over the information. Modern hectic work demand also pressurizes professionals and engineers to deliver quick and proficient solutions, making automation more valuable than ever. Security measurements are incorporated during the agile process to build more secure software in every aspect. Large and complex web applications are further hard to safeguard making automation as well as cyber security to be a key concept of the software development process.
8) Targeted Ransomware
Another important cybersecurity trend that we can’t seem to ignore is targeted ransomware. Especially in the developed nations’ industries rely heavily on specific software to run their daily activities. These ransomware targets are more focussed such as the Wanna Cry attack on the National Health Service hospitals in England Scotland corrupted more than 70,000 medical devices. Though generally, ransomware asks to threaten to publish the victim’s data unless a ransom is paid still it can affect the large organization or in case of nations too.
9) State-Sponsored Cyber Warfare
There won’t be any stoppage between the western and eastern powers in attempts to find superiority. The tension between the US and Iran or Chinese hackers often creates worldwide news though the attacks are few; they have a significant impact on an event such as elections. And with more than 70 elections bound to be held this year, criminal activities during this time will surge. Expect high-profile data breaches, political and industrial secrets to top cybersecurity trends for 2023.
10) Insider Threats
Human error is still one of the primary reasons for the data breach. Any bad day or intentional loophole can bring down a whole organization with millions of stolen data. One example of this in 2022 was an official Report by Verizon that a documented data breach gives strategic insights on cybersecurity trends that 34 percent of total attacks were directly or indirectly made by the employees. Creating a culture of more awareness within premises to safeguard data in every way possible is truly the primary goal today in 2023 as well as the future.
Have you updated your web browser recently? Most browsers update themselves, but be sure to check that your browser is handling it! Regular updates are vital for everything, from making sure you can see the modern web to protecting your devices and privacy.
Browser Updates Are The Easiest Way To Protect Your Computers and Devices!
Today in 2021, there are TWO primary ways for anyone in the world to access/compromise your Device/Computer: a. Your Web Browser and b. Your Modem/Router. In this exclusive Cyber Security Article, we will be reviewing your Browser. Specifically, the primary focus is to ENSURE YOUR WEB BROWSER IS UP TO DATE NOW AND ON A REGULAR BASIS (AT LEAST ONCE EVERY MONTH).
You should be aware that running an out-of-date web browser could put your system at risk. Bad actors will use vulnerabilities in web browsers to target users with malware such as ransomware, privacy exploits, and other attacks.
So-called “drive-by downloads” will attempt to download malicious content onto your computer regardless of whether you consent to it. All you need to do is visit a compromised website or be served a malicious advert, and you don’t even need to be visiting unsavory corners of the web, since many of these attacks are spread via social media.
Then there’s the practice known as “malvertising,” which inserts malicious code into legitimate-looking adverts. According to a report by the leading cyber security news source Confiant, 1 in 200 online advertisements is malicious. Depending on where you live in the world, you might see many more malicious adverts. Patching your browser can help defend against such vulnerabilities, particularly once they become common knowledge.
Extensions and plugins that you have installed alongside a browser could also pose a risk. Adobe finally put Flash to rest in January of 2021, with security vulnerabilities playing a large part in that decision. All versions of Flash since May of 2020 have had a killswitch in them that disabled the plugin permanently after December 31, 2020.
If you’re running a version of Flash released prior to this (32.0.0.371 or earlier) on a browser that hasn’t been updated since then, you’re assuming a huge level of risk every time you browse the web. If you’re holding out because you’re fond of Flash, you should know that there are ways of using Flash that don’t put you at risk.
Browser updates can disable extensions and plugins with known vulnerabilities or change the underlying code in a way that renders these exploits ineffective.
Privacy exploits in browsers are also common. In May of 2021, FingerprintJS discovered a vulnerability in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Tor Browser that could link a user’s identity across different desktop browsers, effectively bypassing privacy protections put in place by those same browsers. By the time FingerprintJS had discovered the issue, Chrome’s developers had already added a fix to their update roadmap. Of course, you won’t get the benefit if you don’t apply the update.
Browser-based attacks can also do some pretty eyebrow-raising things when taken to extremes. There are many examples of devices being jailbroken that use browser exploits, such as the iPhone OS 3 jailbreak that exploited a flaw in the way that Safari rendered PDF files. This provided hackers with the system-level access that they needed to install custom firmware on Apple’s smartphone.
Even if you’re not attempting to jailbreak, from a security standpoint, Safari is probably your iPhone’s weakest link.
Outdated Browser? You Could Be Missing Out
Another great reason to update your browser is to ensure that you’re getting the best possible web browsing experience. Web technologies are constantly changing, with technologies like HTML5 and WebGL pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on a web page.
It was through HTML5’s <video> tags that YouTube and other streaming sites were able to move beyond Flash. This move massively improved page performance and device compatibility, providing a plugin-free video streaming experience. These modern browser advancements make it possible to run emulators and games in your browser without having to download and maintain additional software like Flash or Java. Per our previous GeeksByTheHour.com article on Windows 11, Android Apps will run integrated with it (aka without a 3rd Party Software Emulator needed for Windows OS up to Windows 10) such as the award-winning BlueStacks found here: https://www.bluestacks.com/
An outdated browser can also present you with website compatibility problems. Sometimes, this manifests as page instability, crashing, or rendering issues where the page doesn’t display correctly. Other times, you’ll see a “your browser isn’t supported” error message without being able to access the website at all.
If you’re heavily reliant on web apps like Google Docs or Microsoft 365, then you’ll want the latest updates to ensure that browser-based software runs as smoothly as possible.
Don’t forget about the features baked into the browser, too. Apple regularly adds new features to Safari with each major operating system upgrade, like the ability to share tabs seamlessly between devices or pay for items on your desktop using Apple Pay on an iPhone. Google also rolls out new features regularly, with some web apps reliant on the latest version of Chrome to unlock features like offline mode.
Version mismatches can also be a headache—for example, running an outdated version of Safari on your Mac and the latest version on your iPhone. Features like Handoff and iCloud Keychain might not work correctly if you’re running an outdated version (We GeeksByTheHour.com geeks have seen this happen ourselves internally during testing).
There’s a reason that developers implore users to update to the latest version of their apps if they’re having technical issues. It’s one of the first places you should start when troubleshooting any tech issue.
How to Update Your Web Browser
Most browsers update automatically in the background, but you can always force an update by manually checking. In some cases, browser updates are tied to operating system upgrades, with a few caveats for security updates.
How to Manually Update Google Chrome
By default, Chrome will update itself.
If you want to make certain it is updated (very recommended):
You can run a manual update check using Chrome’s “Safety check” tool. To access this, launch Chrome, and then click on the “three dots” menu button in the top-right corner of the window.
Click “Settings” and look for the “Safety check” section.Click on the “Check Now” button, and Chrome will check for any new updates.
How to Update Mozilla Firefox
Firefox will also try to update itself, but you can search for a Firefox update manually, too:
First, click the “three lines” menu button in the top-right corner of the window, and then click the “Preferences” option. In the “General” section, scroll down to “Firefox Updates” and wait.
Firefox will download any available updates. If an update is applied, you will see a “Restart to Update Firefox” button, which you can use to finalize the update. You can also manually enable “Automatically install updates” below if it’s disabled for some reason.
How to Update Apple Safari
Updating Safari can be a bit confusing depending on which version of macOS you are running. Generally speaking, Safari is kept up to date using regular macOS updates, which you can find under System Preferences > Software Update.
Major new versions of Safari are delivered via major new releases of macOS, usually each fall. Security updates are still delivered to older versions of Safari using the aforementioned Software Update tool in your Mac’s System Preferences.
Caveat: If you are running an older version of macOS (or OS X), you might find that updates are delivered via the Updates tab in the App Store.
How to Update Microsoft Edge
If you use Microsoft Edge, you can manually check for an Edge update by first launching the browser and then using the “Help” drop-down menu at the top of the window (on Windows) or screen (on a Mac), and then clicking the “Update Microsoft Edge” button.
Shortcut: You can also get there using the ellipsis “…” icon, followed by Settings > About Microsoft Edge.
Update Your Mobile Browsers, Too
Your mobile browser is just as important as your desktop browser. Both Android and Apple’s mobile ecosystem have had their fair share of attacks and vulnerabilities, so make sure that you’re applying updates across all devices.
If you use an iPhone or iPad, make sure that you install the latest iOS or iPadOS updates, since these will update the rendering engine that’s used by all browser apps on the system. You can do this under Settings > General > System Update.
For Android, make sure that your browser of choice is kept updated via the Google Play store. Launch the Play Store app, and then tap on the “three lines” menu button, followed by “My apps & games” in the top-left corner. Find your browser in the “Updates” section and tap “Update” to manually apply the latest version.
Update Automatically and Forget About It
Automatic updates take a lot of the pain out of keeping your software in great shape. Since most browser information is now synced with the cloud by default to make tab retrieval and bookmark sharing simple, there is little risk in allowing software to update itself (even if something goes wrong).
Staying ahead of security and feature updates applies not only to your browser but to your operating system, too. Allowing us GeeksByTheHour to help you keep Windows, Android and Mac/Apple Browsers up to date will significant;y assist the security of your technology.
%20(2).webp "Google Cloud Accidentally Deletes 5 Billion Pension Fund’s Online Account")
