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Topic: internet

The company claims bad actors could otherwise have changed their strategies. News 

Twitter Apologizes for Failing to Notify Users of Rate Limiting Ahead of Time

Jim Hendler,

Over the past few days, Twitter has been exceptionally chaotic due to its recent decision to restrict the number of tweets users can read daily. This unexpected move caught many by surprise, as the company claimed it was unable to provide any prior notice to its users. “We temporarily restricted access to detect and remove bots and other bad actors that are harming the platform,” a Twitter Business blog post reads. “Any advance notice of these actions would have allowed bad actors to change their behavior to avoid detection.” While…

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The EU is limiting how Meta can use your data. News 

EU Requirement for Facebook to Obtain Permission to Display Personalized Ads

Jim Hendler, , , ,

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, will be required to restrict the extent of its personalized advertisements in the European Union. The Court of Justice in the EU has determined that Meta’s Facebook brand must acquire consent prior to delivering certain personalized ads within the region. The ruling states that the vast amount of data processing involved in these tailored ads cannot be justified without the explicit permission of users. We asked Meta for a comment. In a statement to The Wall Street Journal, a spokesperson said the social media…

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Nothing lasts on the internet, not even one of the most popular GIF databases. News 

Gfycat to Cease Operations on September 1st

Adarsh V.K,

Gfycat, the popular GIF database, is set to close down as its parent company, Snap, has announced plans to delete all user content within a few weeks. A notification on the Gfycat website states that the service will be discontinued, urging users to save or remove their content by logging into their accounts on the website. Starting from September 1, 2023, all Gfycat content and data will be permanently removed from gfycat.com. The news of Gfycat’s impending demise will come as no surprise to anyone who has tried to use…

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Unverified accounts can read, at most, 600 posts daily. News 

Twitter Imposes Limitations on the Number of Tweets Viewable by Users Per Day

Jim Hendler, ,

Twitter has implemented strict limitations on the number of tweets users can view in a day. Elon Musk recently announced that unverified accounts will be restricted to reading 600 posts per day, while new accounts will only have access to 300 tweets daily. However, verified accounts will still be able to view 6,000 posts each day. This means that for the majority of users, unless they subscribe to Twitter Blue, they will only be able to spend a minute or two on the platform before encountering an “rate limit exceeded”…

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A Twitter engineer said the change would be reversed "in the near future." News 

Elon Musk States Twitter’s Recent Login Requirement is a Short-Term Measure Against Data Scrapers

Jim Hendler, , ,

Elon Musk addressed the issue later in the day after internet users noticed that Twitter was no longer allowing non-signed-in users to view tweets on Friday afternoon. Initially, it was unclear whether this change was due to a technical error or a deliberate decision made by the company’s leadership. Several hundred organizations (maybe more) were scraping Twitter data extremely aggressively, to the point where it was affecting the real user experience. What should we do to stop that? I’m open to ideas. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 30, 2023 “Temporary…

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The guidelines include a wide range of topics including, information security policies and procedures, risk assessment on a regular basis, security of network infrastructure, application and data protection, and security of end-user devices News 

Government Issues New Guidelines to Strengthen Cybersecurity – CERT-In Established

Adriana Marais, ,

In order to safeguard the country’s critical digital infrastructure from increasing threats, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), the central agency responsible, has released new guidelines for all government entities to follow and ensure the security of cyberspace. This announcement came after the special unit of the Delhi Police arrested two people who allegedly leaked personal data of Indians from the CoWIN portal. Prior to this incident, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) was hit by a ransomware attack in 2022 and hackers encrypted around 1 TB…

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The move might help it compete against Apple and YouTube. News 

Spotify Reportedly Looking to Include Music Videos in App

Jim Hendler, , ,

According to sources from Bloomberg, Spotify is considering the possibility of incorporating full-length music videos into its app, allowing users to not only listen but also watch music. The company is said to be in discussions with potential partners, although it remains uncertain who would back this feature or when it would be implemented. Spotify has chosen not to provide any comments on the matter at this time. Spotify’s videos are currently limited to podcasts, 30-second storytelling clips (which help artists talk about their work), and 10-second GIFs that rotate…

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The platform's utility continues to disintegrate. News 

Logging in to Twitter Required to View Tweets

Jim Hendler,

Twitter’s usefulness is diminishing at an alarming rate, for various well-documented reasons. In its most recent blunder, the platform appears to have restricted non-logged-in users from viewing any tweets. Until now, logged out users have still been able to check tweets and user profiles, but for now at least, they’ll have to either register an account or enter their credentials to see the Twitter owner of any unspecified meme. Elon Musk squeezed today. The Verge discovered the issue, which ReturnByte has confirmed across multiple browsers and devices. Twitter won’t confirm…

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The search firm is joining Meta in reacting to Bill C-18. News 

Google to Comply with Canadian Legislation by Removing News Links

Adriana Marais, , ,

In response to Canada’s recently implemented Bill C-18, also known as the Online News Act, Google has joined Meta in removing news content. The new law mandates that tech companies must engage in negotiations with publishers to provide compensation for linked material. As a result, Google has announced its decision to remove links to Canadian news stories from its search, News, and Discover services within the country. Additionally, Google will cease operating its News Showcase in Canada once Bill C-18 becomes effective in six months. Cris Turner, Google’s vice-president of…

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New Jersey casinos want 10 more years of internet gambling (AP) News 

NJ Casinos Request Extension of Internet Gambling, State May Only Allow 2 More Years

Nitin Misra

The casinos in New Jersey are seeking to extend the state’s leading online gambling market for another decade, however, lawmakers in the state may only grant an extension of two years. A state embassy committee approved legislation on Tuesday that originally would have allowed online casino gambling until 2033. However, the committee changed it, shortening the extension to just two years. The changes were not announced during the hearing, and lawmakers could not be reached for comment after the vote. It is unclear when the final vote will take place.…

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About 52% of the U.S. survey responders reported having faced online harassment, compared to 40% in the survey's previous year. (Pexels) News 

Survey Reveals Majority of Americans Experienced Online Harassment

Febin Mathew, ,

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), more than 50% of Americans surveyed in the past year have experienced online harassment and hate at some point in their lives. This percentage rises to over 75% among transgender individuals, as reported by the advocacy group on Wednesday. The ADL’s fifth such annual survey found that reports of online hate and harassment in the past 12 months have increased in nearly every demographic group in the United States. About 52% of respondents to a US survey said they had been harassed online, compared…

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Internet apocalypse may come sooner than expected! (NASA) Space 

The Potential Devastation of Solar Storms: What Could Happen to Earth?

Febin Mathew, , ,

Can you fathom a world without the internet or phone connectivity? The mere thought of an internet apocalypse is terrifying! A life devoid of internet would resemble the harsh and brief existence of ancient Roman times. Without internet or phone calls, emergency services would be inaccessible, and the mammoth infrastructure built upon electricity grids, hospitals, industries, and more would cease to function. In the modern era, our dependence on electronics is profound, making life without the internet incredibly challenging. Just envision enduring the COVID-19 lockdown without internet access! But could…

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The president is set to reveal how the funding will be allocated. News 

Biden Administration’s $42 Billion Broadband Initiative Launches

Jim Hendler, ,

Today, President Joe Biden is set to reveal the distribution plan for $42 billion in funding aimed at enhancing broadband internet access. The investment, which was made possible by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, seeks to provide high-speed internet access to all Americans by 2030. Last year, the White House announced an initiative to allocate at least $100 million to participating states through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The rest of the funding was on hold until the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) produced a more detailed coverage…

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Unity CEO John Riccitiello speaks on AI and gaming's future (AP) AI 

John Riccitiello Discusses AI and the Future of Video Game Software with an Insider

Febin Mathew, , , , ,

During his career spanning over 20 years, starting from his tenure as the head of Electronic Arts in 1997, John Riccitiello, the CEO of Unity, a video game software company, has witnessed the transformation and changes in the video game industry. Unity Software Inc. was founded in Denmark and is now based in San Francisco. It’s partnering with Apple to help bring games to its upcoming virtual reality headset, the Vision Pro. Riccitiello recently spoke with The Associated Press about how artificial intelligence is changing the way video games are…

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Your local bodega could bring shipments to your door. News 

Amazon to Utilize Local Businesses for Package Delivery in the US

Nitin Misra, ,

Amazon is set to launch its Amazon Hub Delivery system, which will utilize small businesses in 23 states, including California, New York, and Washington, to fulfill customer orders. The program requires participating businesses to have secure storage areas and deliver an average of 30 packages daily, excluding major holidays. Amazon is open to partnering with various business types, such as bodegas, coffee shops, and florists, for this initiative. Hub Delivery is ultimately an extension of previous initiatives. Amazon introduced the “I Have Space” system in India in 2015 and expanded…

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The group obtained social security numbers and birth dates. News 

45,000 NYC Students’ Personal Data Compromised in MOVEit Breach by Clop Ransomware Gang

Adarsh V.K, ,

The latest entity to reveal that it fell victim to the extensive MOVEit file transfer software breach is the New York City Department of Education. The agency notified parents via email on Sunday that the private data of around 45,000 students, which included social security numbers and birth dates in some instances, had been compromised. The department also confirmed that staff personal information was accessed, but did not disclose the number of teachers and other personnel affected. “The security of our students and staff, including their personal information, is of…

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Every Nigerian prince has to start somewhere. News 

Hackers turn cybercrime into a commercial service

Jim Hendler, , , ,

Online gamers are all too familiar with the frequent annoyance of DDoS (dedicated denial of service) attacks on the internet. These attacks involve hackers utilizing a vast network of compromised computers to overwhelm game servers, resulting in hours or even days of downtime for players. The issue has become increasingly widespread as hackers have started selling their botnets and spamming tools to anyone willing to pay for access to the same level of power. There’s a big internet out there, and bad Actors abound. There are worse things than spammers…

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Joseph James O'Connor allegedly stole $794,000 worth of cryptocurrency during the 2020 Twitter hack. News 

Cryptocurrency Fraudster Who Hacked Twitter Accounts Receives Five-Year Jail Term

Jim Hendler, ,

Joseph James O’Conner, also known as PlugwalkJoe online, has been sentenced to five years in prison by a federal court for his involvement in the 2020 Twitter hack. O’Conner pleaded guilty to several cyber crimes, including a SIM-swapping attack on a TikTok account with millions of followers. Along with his co-perpetrators, O’Conner gained access to Twitter’s backend and hacked the accounts of high-profile users such as Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Barack Obama. The crypto scam that followed earned O’Conner $794,000. “After stealing and fraudulently diverting the stolen cryptocurrency, O’Connor…

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At least five ISPs have restricted access to the news aggregator. News 

Russia Restricts Access to Google News Following Wagner Group’s Military Threats

Adriana Marais, , ,

Access to Google News has been blocked by Russian internet service providers following accusations by President Vladamir Putin against Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner paramilitary group, of organizing an armed rebellion. At least five Russian telecoms, including Rostelecom, U-LAN, and Telplusl, are preventing web users within the country from accessing the news aggregator, according to internet monitor NetBlocks (via The New York Times). ReturnByte’s request for comment from Google has not yet been answered. ⚠️ Confirmed: Metrics show that the Google News aggregator platform has become unavailable for…

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The open beta includes features such as Duck Player and email protection. News 

DuckDuckGo’s Privacy-Focused Web Browser Now Available for Windows Users

Jim Hendler, , ,

DuckDuckGo, the privacy-oriented substitute for Google, has been developing its own browser. After being introduced in open beta for Mac towards the end of last year, the DuckDuckGo browser is now being launched in beta for Windows from today. According to DuckDuckGo, this is the product that has been most requested for years. Naturally, DuckDuckGo is the default search engine here. But the browser has some additional features like Duck Player that prevent YouTube from showing targeted ads and block recommendations that users follow. YouTube will still see this as…

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