BRIDGING FIAT CURRENCY WITH LARGE BANKS EMBRACING ISO20022 FINANCE!
The rise of tokenization by large banks
A narrative in the banking industry that has been building momentum for some time now, faster payments, may unlock the key to this merge of centralized and decentralized future for payments. Cryptocurrency, with over $3 trillion dollars in market capitalization and over $153 billion of that being stablecoins, the trend is clear. The tokenization of fiat currencies and real world assets (RWA) is inevitable.
Banking On The Blockchain: Data = New Oil!
Recently we have seen the rise of tokenization by large banks and funds, most notably the Blackrock Bitcoin ETF and BUIDL fund which essentially tokenizes the US Dollar and pays interest on-chain in USD, invests in cash, U.S. Treasury Bills and repurchase agreements. This is the first large institutional stablecoin offering on-chain, and it goes hand in hand with the securitized version of Bitcoin that trades today as the Blackrock Bitcoin ETF IBIT. This movement by traditional finance into the decentralized world is only the beginning of the marriage between CeFi and DeFi. One can only imagine, over the next decade, we will witness trillions of dollars of asset tokenization, from fiat currencies, to securities, to precious metals and everything in between.
Enter Marshall Hayner, the man with the vision of melding traditional finance and cryptocurrency, who has been hard at work on this problem for over a decade. Hailing from Upstate NY, and attending college at Northeastern University in Boston, Marshall was always fascinated with technology and the internet, particularly decentralized networks and encryption. In 2011 Marshall moved from Boston Massachusetts to San Francisco California and shortly thereafter began working in blockchain. Having been a spectator and hobbyist from the early day of Bitcoin (2009 and on) Marshall envisioned a time in which cryptocurrency would reach mass adoption, and that the early ethos of Bitcoin overtaking banks was incorrect, he believed that banks and consumers would ultimately embrace this technology.
Cryptocurrency, as Hayner saw it, would transform the world of payments through transparency, speed, efficiency and programmability. Marshall launched his first cryptocurrency startup QuickCoin in 2013, a simple, easy-to-use Bitcoin wallet that could be created and managed through your Facebook account. Shortly thereafter he would leave QuickCoin to join Stellar Development Foundation, get obsessed with Dogecoin and eventually go on to create his vision for the future of blockchain, Metallicus.
Fundamental major hurdles to crypto adoption
At Metallicus, Marshall worked with his co-founder, Glenn Marien (who coincidentally built the first Dogecoin wallet Dogechain.info, where they met) and team to begin building this vision for merging traditional banking and blockchain with the launch of Metal Pay in 2018. Metal Pay allowed consumers the first opportunity to have a regulated bank account paired with crypto trading and payments in the US.
With the launch of the Metal Pay app, the Metal DAO, a decentralized autonomous organization, based around the Metal ecosystem began. From the Metal DAO a cohesive ecosystem for banking and payments emerged. A fast and relatively free payments network was needed without gas-fees, that could easily support decentralized identity, and XPR Network was born.
Traditionally, the crypto space had not embraced compliance and regtech (regulation technology), rather it initially favored a more anarchist state. This culture ultimately led to multiple boom and bust cycles in which, eventually the mainstream and the industry itself began to realize: compliance and identity on-chain could actually unlock the keys to massive growth. The blueprint to building the bridge from the world of blockchain to traditional banking was formed.
From this vision Hayner immediately began working with his team at Metallicus to build Metal Dollar (a stablecoin index basket), Metal Identity (a decentralized identity protocol for multiple chains), Metal X (an open source decentralized trading engine), WebAuth Wallet (a non custodial crypto wallet focused on Web Authentication) and Metal Blockchain (a layer zero blockchain that could host public and private ledgers for institutions).
Positioning banks to have their own private ledgers
With the rise of L1s, it became clear, banks would not be launching on existing blockchains, rather their interest remained in having their own private ledgers that could eventually some day interact with public ledgers like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The concept of L0, albeit a relatively new one, is to position the banks to have their own private ledgers which increase efficiency and accountability, while allowing them to settle assets between each other relatively instantly.
Additionally, a notion of decentralized identity for consumer, business and government is critical for maintaining BSA (Bank Secrecy Act) compliance on-chain. The message instantly resonated and Metallicus began to welcome banks and Credit Unions into its ecosystem with the Metal blockchain Banking Innovation program launched earlier this year.
Since then, Hayner and Metallicus have focused on using the framework created by XPR Network (fast instant payments, low resource costs, scalable, decentralized identity) as a template for other banks to launch their own ledgers, while having their own stablecoins and DeFi ecosystems and beyond. XPR Network, ultimately, would evolve to become a subnet of Metal blockchain, forming one cohesive chain.
Metal DAO would go on to pass a governance proposal to form Metal L2, building a bridge between the bulk of DeFi activity on Ethereum and the Optimism Superchain, directly into Metal blockchain. Imagine the day that you could fluidly move a dollar from your checking account to the blockchain, and directly from the chain into your savings account, instantly. That day is coming soon if Hayner has anything to say about it. According to Hayner: he envisions “A day in which we stop working for money, and money begins working for us”.
Everyone loves to generate AI art, but no one likes to pay for it. GeeksByTheHour.com and Dr. Sky also believe that “Freedom of Expression”, especially through art, should be free! Not just low levels of quality expression, but also high quality art should not cost anyone an arm and a leg to express themselves, their culture, or even showing how they are feeling today.
Here are five places you can go right now to make some pretty pictures that are free to create, but don’t necessarily “look” free!
1 Craiyon
This tool used to be known as “DALL-E Mini”, but had to change to Craiyon since the company isn’t affiliated with OpenAI or its DALL-E image generator.
Transparency here at GeeksByTheHour.com is a key value, so we want to be clear – Craiyon does not produce very good results compared to most paid or free AI image generators, but it is the only free option that still has that unique “shaky-ness” that early AI images had. While everyone is approaching perfection with their models, Craiyon has retained that quirky charm, and so deserves some love in my opinion.
2 Stable Diffusion Online
If you have a GPU with enough memory and performance, you can run Stable Diffusion locally on your computer. If not, or you don’t want the hassle, then you can use this high-end image generation model via Stable Diffusion Online. You can sign up and generate images for free, although you only get a limited number of credits to play with.
Also, on the free plan images have a watermark, but you can always crop that out if you’re smart with the aspect ratio selection. Overall, the quality of the images generated here is great and comparable to paid services like MidJourney or DALL-E.
3 Ideogram
Ideogram is a hot new competitor to MidJourney which I found to be quite promising in terms of features, but not quite there when it comes to the final quality of the results or consistency. However, one big advantage Ideogram has over MidJourney is its free tier. MidJourney used to offer a free tier, but has since ended it. So if you want something quite similar, but don’t want to pay for it, give Ideogram a shot. It’s definitely one of the best AI image generators on the market right now.
4 Artbreeder
Artbreeder offers a set of different tools that let you do all sorts of creative things with images. This includes “Prompter” which is the core tool to create images from text prompts. However, there’s some interesting stuff that lets you mix images, create a character with a certain pose from source images, and much more. The output is quite decent, but it works best when you provide your own source images in addition to your text prompt.
The free tier comes with 10 credits per month, but you can get more by earning achievements.
5 OpenArt
OpenArt comes with a 50-credit trial, and if you join the OpenArt Discord server, you’ll get another one-time allocation of 100 credits. These credits let you use all the premium features of the service.
Once you have used up those credits and fall back to the free tier, you will be limited to 50 generations using one of only four models per day. You are also limited in terms of image size.
One major bonus of the free tier for OpenArt is that even images generated on the free tier are private, which is not true for the competition who usually require a paid subscription (and quite an expensive one) to generate images privately.
While you are enjoying those free trial credits, you’ll have access to a mind-boggling number of specialized image generation models, so make the most of it!
While it’s definitely worth paying for a premium art generation service like MidJourney, if you just want to make some AI images for a once-off project, or you want to learn the ins and outs of this fascinating new technology without spending any money, these free services offer more than most people will ever need.
Having a loan or bill go to collections is bad enough as it is, but now in the first half of 2024, the second largest debt collection agencies in the U.S. has revealed that it has fallen victim to another data breach in which nearly Two Million borrowers information was exposed online.
As first reported by BleepingComputer, Financial Business and Consumer Solutions (FBCS) has begun notifying impacted individuals after the sensitive personal information of approximately 1,955,385 people was recently accessed by hackers.
As a nationally licensed debt collection agency, FBCS collects unpaid debts from credit card companies, healthcare organizations, car dealerships, student loans and utilities. However, unlike with the other companies you do business with, if one of your loans or bills has ended up in FBCS’ hands, you’re stuck with them.
Here’s everything you need to know about this recent data breach along with some tips and tricks on how to stay safe after your personal or financial information ends up in the hands of hackers.
Unauthorized network access
In a data breach notice (PDF) submitted to the Attorney General’s office in Maine, FBCS explained that hackers first breached its network on February 14, 2024. The unauthorized actor remained there until February 26 and during that time, they were able to “view or acquire certain information on the FBCS network.”
During that 12-day window, they could have accessed the full names, Social Security numbers (SSNs), dates of birth, account information and driver’s license numbers or ID card numbers of almost 2 million Americans.
With this information in hand, the hackers behind this breach can easily launch targeted phishing attacks, commit fraud or use social engineering for identity theft. FBCS has enrolled thousands of them automatically for 12 months of credit monitoring through the company Cyex.
A 6G transmitter has been created that can reach the fastest internet capabilities recorded yet.
The new technology was created by four companies in Japan putting their best qualities forward to achieve the next generation of ultra-fast internet.
6G internet brings completely new advancements to technology and communicationThe highest generation of internet right now is 5G and is the current standard
The announcement of the new 6G breakthrough came in a press release on April 11 and the four companies involved include DOCOMO, NTT, NEC, and Fujitsu.
5G internet operates from 6-40 GHz while the new 6G test operated at much higher bands in 100 GHz and 300 GHz.
The 6G transmitter transferred data at 100 Gbps per second at 100 GHz indoors and 300 GHz outdoors over 328 feet, per the release.
The highest generation of internet right now is 5G and is the current standard.
Using higher frequency bands allows for much faster internet speeds and is the plan of how to achieve the next generation.
“High-capacity wireless communication is expected to be achieved by exploiting the abundant bandwidth available in the sub-terahertz band from 100 GHz to 300 GHz,” the release said.
The 6G potential is 500 times faster than the average 5G t-Mobile speeds in the US, according to Statista.
Its speed can also be compared to transferring five HD movies wirelessly per second, per Live Science.
The tech companies have hinted that 6G will allow for groundbreaking new ventures.
This includes extremely high-quality video streaming, better control for self-driving cars, and faster communication.
Some other advancements to look forward to include smoother operation for: Virtual Reality (VR)
*Metaverse
*Metaverse applications
*Mixed Reality experiences.
*Fully Automated Vehicles
*Hovercraft and other flying machines
*It will also support brand new technologies like Holographic images and Holographic Communication (seeing g a hologram of the person you are talking to emanate from a phone as an example)
“In the 6G era, when wireless networks are envisioned supporting diverse applications ranging from ultra-HD video streaming to real-time control in autonomous vehicles, as well as increasing communication demands,” the press release said.
WORKING THROUGH KINKS
Implementing the new high-speed 6G will come with some complications though.
The experts explained completed new devices will need to be made that can handle the high-frequency bands.
This is because of the large difference between what 5G devices are currently operating at and the high-frequency band 6G would need.
“However, compared to 28 GHz and other millimeter bands used in current 5G systems, the much higher frequencies of the sub-terahertz band will require entirely different wireless devices that are now being developed from scratch,” the press release said.
To be successful, this effort will need to overcome several key challenges, such as determining the specific performance requirements of wireless devices operating in the sub-terahertz band, and then actually developing such devices.Press Release
“To be successful, this effort will need to overcome several key challenges, such as determining the specific performance requirements of wireless devices operating in the sub-terahertz band, and then actually developing such devices.”
The next move for the four tech companies is to keep working out the kinks and utilizing each company’s strengths to make 6G a reality.
“Going forward, the four companies will continue to conduct extensive research and development into sub-terahertz telecommunications,” the press release said.
“Leveraging each company’s strengths in various initiatives to contribute to 6G standardization.”
In an unprecedented move, a recent court order has now mandated YouTube to disclose the identities of individuals who have viewed certain videos. This decision, stemming from legal proceedings that scrutinized specific content on the platform, marks a significant shift in online privacy dynamics, raising concerns among digital rights advocates and everyday users alike.
What Does This Mean for You?
The ruling necessitates YouTube to reveal viewer details, potentially exposing individuals’ viewing habits and preferences. In an era where digital privacy is already under siege, this development adds another layer of vulnerability, highlighting the necessity for robust measures to safeguard online anonymity.
Safeguard Your YouTube Browsing with Nordman VPN
In response to these growing privacy concerns, turning to reliable security solutions like Nordman VPN becomes paramount. Nordman VPN stands out as a beacon of digital privacy, offering top-tier encryption and IP masking features that ensure your YouTube activities remain confidential and untraceable.
Why Choose Nordman?
Enhanced Privacy: Nordman VPN encrypts your internet connection, keeping your online activities private and secure from prying eyes.
IP Anonymity: It masks your real IP address, making your YouTube viewing habits invisible to outsiders, including ISPs and third parties.
Ease of Use: With user-friendly interfaces and seamless integration, Nordman ensures that your online privacy protection is hassle-free and efficient.
Embrace Your Digital Freedom
While the digital realm continues to evolve, often bringing complex challenges to the fore, tools like Nordman VPN empower you to take control of your online privacy. In light of the recent YouTube ruling, adopting Nordman VPN isn’t just a choice—it’s a necessity for those who value their digital freedom and wish to maintain a private, secure online presence.
Stay Informed, Stay Secure
As advocates for digital rights and privacy, we must stay informed and proactive in protecting our online spaces. By choosing robust security solutions like Nordman VPN, you can safeguard your digital footprint and continue to enjoy the vast world of YouTube without compromising your privacy.
ALERT: Hackers Are Posing As ID.me To Steal Your Identity
Do You Know All .ME Domains like ID.ME Required by the IRS are Owned By Montenegro & Their Billionaire Club?
Identity verification services like ID.me have become indispensable in the digital age. By providing a secure and convenient way to prove your identity online, ID.me opens doors to essential services and benefits. However, as with any popular online platform, scammers are finding ways to exploit these services and trick unsuspecting users.
This article will take an in-depth look at the ID.me scams popping up, how they work, and most importantly, how to avoid becoming a victim. With identity theft and online fraud at an all-time high, awareness is your best defense.
ID.me provides a valuable service as a digital identity network used by government agencies, healthcare providers, and other organizations to securely verify user identities online. By acting as a trusted validator of personal information, ID.me opens the door for people to easily access essential services and benefits.
However, this convenience also creates an opportunity for fraudsters. Scammers are increasingly impersonating ID.me through phishing campaigns in order to steal personal information from victims. Once they have the data, they can hijack identities, drain accounts, and perpetrate other forms of fraud.
These ID.me scams are growing more complex and convincing, making it crucial for users to understand the tactics and stay vigilant. Here are the main types of ID.me scams and frauds being perpetrated:
Phishing Emails
This is one of the most common vectors for ID.me scams. Victims receive emails pretending to be from the legitimate ID.me security team. These emails may:
Warn that unusual activity was noticed on your account
State that immediate account suspension will occur if no action is taken
Provide a fake deadline such as 24-48 hours to re-validate your account
Include a “Verify Account” or “Reset Password” button/link to a phishing site
If the user clicks the deceptive call-to-action button or link, they are taken to a convincing but fake ID.me login page designed to steal login credentials as well as other personal data.
Smishing Text Message Scams
Similar to phishing emails, fraudsters send text messages also impersonating ID.me. They state your account is at risk of being locked or needing immediate validation via a link included. If clicked, the link directs victims to a phishing site masquerading as the legitimate ID.me site.
Once on the fake page, any information entered is captured by scammers. Smishing texts use urgency and threats to get users to comply without thinking it through.
Vishing – Phone Call Scams
This technique uses phone calls rather than messages to trick victims. Scammers posing as ID.me support agents call users claiming that suspicious activity means accounts will be suspended without immediate intervention.
The “agents” pressure and persuade victims to provide personal details or even remote access to the victim’s device, enabling installation of info-stealing malware.
Fake ID.me Websites
Beyond phishing pages, scammers also create entire fake websites impersonating the real ID.me site. Links to these fraudulent sites are sent out en masse via email spam campaigns. They are designed to capture login details and personal info from unsuspecting victims who were persuaded the site was legitimate.
Malicious Software Scams
Scammers may also use phone calls, emails, or texts to trick users into downloading malware. This can occur by:
Sending a phishing message with an infected file attachment
Persuading victims to click a link to download fake “security software”
Requesting remote access to devices in order to “diagnose connectivity issues” then installing malware
Once installed, info-stealing malware can harvest data and credentials directly from the compromised device.
Account Takeover Scams
Sophisticated scammers may attempt full account takeover rather than simple phishing. By gathering key details like usernames, passwords, and partial SSNs from data breaches, they can convince ID.me’s system they are the legitimate account owner.
This enables them to bypass identity verification and fully compromise the account. 2FA often thwarts these takeover attempts however.
In summary, ID.me scams aim to exploit trusting users through impersonation and clever psychological manipulation. By understanding the deceptive tactics used in these scams, people can better recognize the warning signs and avoid being victimized.
How the ID.me Scams Work
Fraudsters use clever psychological tactics to manipulate victims in ID.me scams. Here is an inside look at exactly how they operate:
Step 1 – Initial Contact
Scammers initiate contact via:
Emails pretending to be ID.me security alerts
Texts claiming your ID.me account is at risk
Calls posing as ID.me support agents
Their goal is to cause panic so you act without thinking.
Step 2 – Creating Urgency
Next, scammers pressure you to take immediate action by:
Stating your account will be frozen if you don’t re-verify
Claiming the deadline to avoid suspension is approaching
Warning of penalties or losses if you don’t comply
This plants a fear of missing out, causing you to stop questioning.
Step 3 – Requesting Information
Scammers will instruct you to confirm sensitive details such as:
Login credentials
Social Security Number
Bank account info
Credit card numbers
They may pretend it’s needed to verify your identity and keep your account active.
Step 4 – Gaining Remote Access
In some cases, scammers will try to gain remote access to your device by making you:
Download suspicious files allowing control of your system
Enter codes sent to your phone number enabling account takeover
Allow screensharing applications giving them access to your data
Step 5 – Leveraging Your Identity
Once scammers have your information, they can:
Access and drain your financial accounts
Make purchases using your credit cards
Commit tax fraud with your SSN
Steal your identity to open accounts or apply for loans
The damage can be extensive if scammers successfully exploit your identity.
What to Do if You Fell Victim to an ID.me Scam
If you suspect your ID.me account or identity has been compromised, take these steps immediately:
Step 1 – Lock Down Your Accounts
Reset your ID.me password and enable two-factor authentication
Contact banks to freeze accounts potentially accessed by scammers
Place fraud alerts and monitor your credit reports closely
Change passwords on any compromised accounts
Step 2 – Report the Incident
File identity theft reports with the FTC and your local police department
Notify ID.me directly so they can secure your account
Contact companies where your identity was likely abused
Report social media and email phishing attempts
Step 3 – Monitor for Suspicious Activity
Set up account alerts to notify you of any unusual activity
Periodically get free credit reports to catch new fraudulent accounts
Review all statements thoroughly for any unauthorized charges
Sign up for identity theft protection services to detect misuse
Step 4 – Recover From the Fraud
Dispute any fraudulent charges or accounts opened in your name
Work with creditors to close fraudulent accounts and reverse damages
Update information related to your identity, accounts, and credentials
Change compromised account numbers and request replacement cards
Frequently Asked Questions About the ID.me Scam
1. What is the ID.me scam?
The ID.me scam involves fraudsters impersonating the valid ID.me identity verification service in phishing attempts via email, text messages, and phone calls. Their goal is to trick victims into revealing login credentials or sensitive personal information.
2. How do scammers carry out the ID.me scam?
Scammers initiate contact posing as ID.me through:
Fraudulent emails warning your account is at risk
Smishing texts claiming you must reverify your ID.me account
Vishing phone calls pretending there is suspicious activity
They pressure you to act urgently and provide info to avoid account suspension.
3. What techniques do scammers use in the ID.me scam?
Scammers manipulate victims using:
Fear – Threatening account suspension or penalties
Urgency – Impending deadlines to reverify accounts
Social Engineering – Pretending to be ID.me support agents
4. What information do scammers attempt to steal with the ID.me scam?
Scammers phish for:
Usernames and passwords
Bank account and routing numbers
Credit card details
Social Security Numbers
Driver’s license numbers
Digital wallet account access
5. What do scammers do with my information from the ID.me scam?
Scammers can use your information to:
Drain financial accounts
Make purchases with your credit cards
Steal your tax refund
Apply for loans or credit in your name
Access government benefits using your identity
6. How can I avoid falling for the ID.me scam?
To avoid the ID.me scam:
Never click links in unsolicited messages
Don’t provide info to incoming calls alleging to be ID.me
Verify custom URLs before entering login credentials
Enable two-factor authentication as an extra layer of security
Monitor accounts closely for unauthorized activity
7. What should I do if I fell victim to the ID.me scam?
If you fell for the scam, immediately:
Reset your ID.me password and security questions
Contact banks to freeze accounts
Place fraud alerts on credit reports
Report identity theft to the FTC and police
Close any accounts opened fraudulently
8. How can I recover from identity theft related to the ID.me scam?
To recover, be sure to:
File police reports regarding the identity theft
Dispute fraudulent charges with banks and creditors
Change compromised account numbers and request new cards
Monitor credit reports and financial statements for misuse
Sign up for identity theft protection services
9. How can I help others avoid the ID.me scam?
You can help others by:
Reporting scams and phishing emails to help shut them down
Making family and friends aware of the tactics scammers use
Encouraging people to use unique passwords and two-factor authentication
Advising caution against unsolicited calls, texts and emails
10. Who can I contact for help after falling victim to the ID.me scam?
Reach out to the following for assistance:
ID.me Support – They can secure your account
Your bank’s fraud department
Federal Trade Commission – To report identity theft
IRS – If tax fraud occurred
Local police – To file an identity theft report
The Bottom Line
ID.me provides a valuable service, but also opens the door for scammers to steal identities. Stay vigilant against phishing attempts via email, text and phone. Never click unverified links, provide sensitive information to strangers, or allow remote access to your device. If you do fall victim, take steps immediately to lock down your identity and report the fraud before irreparable harm is done. Spread awareness about these scams to help others avoid becoming victims too.
How to Stay Safe Online
Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:
Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.It’s essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.
Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.
Be careful when installing programs and apps.Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you’re agreeing to before you click “Next.”
Install an ad blocker.Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.
Be careful what you download.A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Be alert for people trying to trick you.Whether it’s your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it’s easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn’t make messages more trustworthy.
Back up your data.Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.
Choose strong passwords.Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.
Be careful where you click.Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.
Don’t use pirated software.Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.
To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it’s important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.CategoriesScamsLoad Comments
Meet Thomas Orsolya
Thomas is an expert at uncovering scams and providing in-depth reporting on cyber threats and online fraud. As an editor, he is dedicated to keeping readers informed on the latest developments in cybersecurity and tech.
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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.
