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<ul class="summary-list"><li>A tech recruiting firm left the personal information of roughly 216,000 people exposed, a researcher said.</li><li>The information included partial Social Security numbers, email addresses, and visa statuses.</li></ul>An IT researcher found that the unsecured files from a tech recruiter's database included personally identifying information of an estimated 216,000 job seekers — including data like names, phone numbers, passport numbers, visa information, and partial Social Security numbers. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cvs-database-of-1-billion-data-points-inadvertently-leaked-2021-6">Jeremiah Fowler</a>, the security researcher who co-founded the consulting firm Security Discovery, said he didn't know how long the data had been exposed but told Business Insider that the database was soon locked once he contacted the recruiter in September. He said New Jersey-based <keyword id="23993132" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alltech-Consulting-Services" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Alltech Consulting Services" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Alltech Consulting Services">Alltech Consulting Services</keyword> never responded to his notices. Fowler on Monday published his <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.websiteplanet.com/news/alltechconsultinginc-breach-report/">security report</a> indicating that Alltech left its database of job candidate information unsecured without a password. That left the personal identifying information of about 216,000 tech job candidates exposed. Because the door was essentially left unlocked, someone trying to steal identities wouldn't have needed to hack into Alltech's database — or even search that hard — to find the information, Fowler said. Alltech says on its website that "more than 1,000 companies" rely on its services to connect them with tech professionals. Business Insider hasn't been able to verify this independently. BI also contacted the company by calling its main phone number, sending direct LinkedIn messages to its executives, and emailing its main email address. When contacted through its public email and phone number, Alltech didn't respond to requests for comment from BI. Two Alltech executives, listed as the company's owner and vice president on LinkedIn, told Business Insider in direct messages they weren't aware of anyunsecured data or a breach. Fowler said the data exposed included email addresses, passport numbers, the last four digits of SSNs, and information on work visas. "The records also contained internal notes about their experience, qualifications, and type of job they are looking for," Fowler said. Business Insider has reviewed the message Fowler sent to three Alltech email addresses on September 10 disclosing the unprotected data. Fowler has previously flagged <keyword id="19906883" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cybersecurity" source="keywords">cybersecurity</keyword> issues with a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51682280">Wi-Fi provider</a> at UK rail stations, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wired.com/story/us-school-shooter-emergency-plans-leak/">software</a> company used by more than 5,000 US school districts, and a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.wired.com/story/confidant-health-therapy-records-database-exposure/">virtual medical</a> provider, among others. Justin Miller, an ex-Secret Service agent and associate professor of practice of cyber studies at the University of Tulsa, told Business Insider that leaving a database unprotected by a password or any encryption means "anybody could potentially access the database." It's unclear, though, if any other unauthorized parties accessed the Alltech data. Miller and Fowler said that the type of information left exposed by the database, including the last four digits of a Social Security number, could allow a cybercriminal to impersonate a person. "You're looking toward identify theft," Miller said. "Details like names, work history, your visa status, passport numbers, even parts of your Social Security number, allow for bad actors to piece together enough information to steal identities and create fraudulent profiles." Fowler added that incidents like Alltech's — and others he investigates — highlight how important it is for companies to protect their data. "It also serves as a wake-up call to the industry to review their data security practices and identify vulnerabilities to protect their internal systems and the personal information of the individuals they serve," Fowler said. Alltech's website says it was founded in 1998. It's unclear why Alltech collected job seekers' Social Security or passport information. Fowler said job candidates should be "skeptical" of recruiters who ask for personal information as a condition of applying for a job. Have a tip? Contact the reporters at lloydlee@businessinsider.com and ktangalakislippert@businessinsider.com

Nearly 216,000 job seekers had their personal data left unsecured on a tech recruiter's database, a security researcher says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Six moms say they spend $500 to $2,600 a month to create their <keyword id="23551039" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="paid-village" source="keywords">paid village</keyword>.</li><li><keyword id="20826057" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="childcare" source="keywords">Childcare</keyword> is the most substantial cost, while many also hire cleaners.</li></ul>Amy Johnson, a mom of two in <keyword id="19991752" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cleveland" source="keywords">Cleveland</keyword>, can count on both her mother and mother-in-law to help with the kids and with domestic chores every month. Despite having that unpaid support, Johnson and her husband pay $2,600 a month for childcare and cleaning — the sort of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/grandparents-cant-look-after-grandkids-still-work-full-time-2024-9">paid village</a> that Johnson says is essential when both <keyword id="19987662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="parents" source="keywords">parents</keyword> are working. "Life is currently a juggle between time and money," said Johnson, whose kids are 2 and 3. Johnson and her husband both work full-time, and Johnson also runs a website,<a target="_blank" href="https://amybabys.com/"> Amy Baby</a>. "I feel if we don't use the time wisely to create more revenue streams, we're just going to sink," she told BI. Parents around the country are struggling to pay for <keyword id="23417837" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="childcare-costs" source="keywords">childcare costs</keyword>—which are often higher than a mortgage or rent. In 2018 (the most recent year for which data is available), median childcare costs ranged from $4,800 in small counties for a school-age kid at home to $15,400 for an infant at a center, <a href="https://blog.dol.gov/2023/01/24/new-childcare-data-shows-prices-are-untenable-for-families" target="_blank">according</a> to the Department of Labor. Adjusted for inflation, that was $5,000 to $17,000 in 2022 money. In addition to childcare, many families find they need to pay for other domestic services, like transportation for their kids, grocery pickup, or cleaning—essentials that parents say they simply don't have time for while juggling their careers. That leaves families like Johnson's "trying our best to keep our heads above water," she said. It's a familiar refrain for many parents around the country. Here's what five other parents are paying to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/family-tiny-house-village-kids-have-own-homes-3-years-later-2023-5">create the village</a> they need to survive. <h2>A mom of 3 in rural North Dakota: $1,300+ a month</h2>Katie Nostrum relies on unpaid childcare from her three kids, who are 9, 2, and 6 months old. When the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/school-start-times-in-conflict-dont-mesh-with-work-2023-9">kids aren't in school</a> or at day care, Nostrum's grandparents watch them as Nostrum works as a postmaster and her partner works in a welding shop. Day care for the two younger kids costs $650 every two weeks, or over $1,300 a month. Nostrum's town is very rural — about 45 minutes away from the nearest store. Like many rural Americans, she has limited options for childcare and other support. "There are not a lot of options to create a village, no after or before school programs, etc," she said. <h2>A Texas mom of 3: $1,090 a month</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/notastarvingartistgirl/?hl=en">Jessica Lemmons</a> lives in Bryan, Texas, with her husband and three kids, ages 10, 5, and 2. She pays about $1,090 a month for childcare, which includes day care tuition for her youngest and occasional babysitting for all three. The costs would be a lot higher if Lemmons couldn't count on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/having-children-pushed-me-away-from-my-career-2022-4">unpaid help</a> from friends and bartering the skills of her husband, who is a chef. "I am very fortunate in that I have close friends here who are childless by choice, who genuinely love spending time with my kids," she said. "I do make sure I have the capacity to feed them tasty meals whenever they're doing so." <h2>Mom of 1, outside Chicago: $2,000+ a month</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.lorealthompsonpayton.com/">L'Oreal Thompson Payton</a>, a freelance writer who lives outside Chicago, pays $497 each week to send her 3-year-old to preschool. On rare occasions, she <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-saved-childcare-costs-by-swapping-babysitting-with-a-mom-2021-10">uses a babysitter</a>. She and her husband also pay $25 an hour for a cleaner and hire one occasionally if they have guests coming to stay. While she pays for some of her village, Thompson Payton also cultivates unpaid support by connecting with day care parents and neighbors who also have young children. While the costs are high, Thompson Payton said the benefits are well worth the money. "I think there's a lot of unnecessary guilt and shame that can come up with having a 'paid' village,'" she said. "As much as I love being a mom, it's important for me, my sanity, and our marriage that I have an identity outside that, which would simply not be possible if we didn't have paid support." <h2>Mom of 2 in Tennessee: $520 a month</h2>Miriam Udy was paying $1,600 a month for childcare in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intergenerational-living-benefits-for-kids-free-babysitting-2024-10">the San Francisco Bay Area</a> when she got pregnant with her second. She and her husband relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee, in part because they couldn't afford to pay more than $3,000 a month in childcare costs. After moving, she paid $520 a month for care for her daughter. Her son qualified for free preschool because he has special needs. Now that both kids are in school, Udy is looking for a helper to get the kids off the bus, do homework with them, and drive them to activities. She also budgets for summer camp costs, which exceeded $4,000 last year. <h2>A mom of 2 in New York: $500 a month</h2>Aghogho Oluese quit her job when she got pregnant with her second. "The cost of childcare was so high that I would've only netted $500 a month if I had stayed in my former job," she said. Since then, she's launched<a target="_blank" href="https://blwforbusymoms.com/"> Baby-Led Weaning For Busy Moms</a>. She provides the bulk of childcare for her two children but still pays to build her village. Her older child goes to aftercare which is $15 an hour, and the family has a weekly cleaner at $30 an hour. Occasionally, Oluese pays a babysitter $30 an hour to watch both kids. Overall, she spends about $500 a month on paid help. "I wouldn't be able to do all that I do during the day without it," she said. Correction: October 2, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated which year the Department of Labor's childcare-cost figures came from. They're from 2018, not 2022. They also were the median costs, not the average costs.

Parents are turning to a 'paid village' to handle childcare and cleaning. Costs range from $500 to $2,600 a month.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>It can feel like AI chatbots are everywhere, from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-dating-chatbots-replika-rizz-how-to-use-2024-4">dating apps</a> to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cvs-pharmacy-use-ai-customer-service-call-centers-tilak-mandadi-2024-6">customer service</a>.</li><li>"Botshit" describes inaccurate or fabricated info produced by chatbots that humans use for tasks.</li></ul>When Jake Moffatt's grandmother died in 2022, he booked a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airline-ordered-to-compensate-passenger-misled-by-chatbot-2024-2">flight</a> to her funeral on Air Canada, hoping to use their bereavement travel discounts.Air Canada's customer service chatbot told Moffatt he could claim the discount after the flight. Yet, the company later denied his discount request because they said it had to be filed prior to the flight.In February, Canada's Civil Resolution Tribunal — an online platform to resolve disputes — ruled that Air Canada's chatbot had misled Moffatt and ordered the airline to compensate him for the discount.The chatbot misleading Moffatt with false information is an example of "botshit," which describes incorrect or fabricated information produced by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-ai-chatbots-like-chatgpt-work-explainer-2023-7">chatbots</a> that humans use to complete tasks.Researchers Ian P. McCarthy, Timothy R. Hannigan, and André Spicer coined the term in a paper published in January and a July 17 <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://hbr.org/2024/07/the-risks-of-botshit">Harvard Business Review article</a>.Botshit is one example of how the use of AI might worsen companies' customer service. As businesses employ <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/companies-using-ai-bain-survey-roi-2024-6">generative AI</a>, the researchers said employees must be more critical in managing chatbot-generated responses.<h2 id="4e8446af-2884-470d-8291-77bffb7a99ce">AI is here to stay, but chatbots keep spewing botshit</h2>The use of generative AI in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-gpt-4o-productivity-hacks-for-work-2024-7">workplace</a> has nearly doubled in the past six months, according to a survey of 31,000 global workers conducted between February and March by the research firm Edelman Data and Intelligence. The results were published on May 8 by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=1276ca41485b68659b6ade9ae14b644ef6e852268612e9f2de3850b3950d0ef2&amp;postID=66994630c79d31931d7b6d84&amp;postSlug=ai-chatbots-bad-customer-service-botshit-inaccurate-information-airlines-accountability-2024-7&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.microsoft.com%2Fen-us%2Fworklab%2Fwork-trend-index%2Fai-at-work-is-here-now-comes-the-hard-part">Microsoft and LinkedIn</a>.What's more, 79% of business leaders said their companies must adopt AI to remain competitive.According to economist Dan Davies, companies <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flight-refunds-customer-service-accountability-sinks-dan-davies-2024-7">employ technology</a> like AI and chatbots to streamline decision-making and optimize efficiency. Over the past decade, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chatbots-are-gaining-traction-2017-5">chatbots have proliferated</a> as a customer service feature for businesses.However, that can also lead to situations where no one employee is accountable for an algorithm going awry.For example, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-may-provide-false-answers-to-medical-questions-study-2023-12">researchers</a> in 2023 found that about 75% of ChatGPT responses to drug-related questions were often inaccurate or incomplete. Additionally, when asked, ChatGPT generated fake citations to support some of its inaccurate responses.In January, a UK parcel company <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/parcel-delivery-firm-pr-nightmare-ai-chatbot-cusses-mocked-company-2024-1">removed</a> its new AI customer service chatbot after it swore at a customer.And when Google <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-gemini-woke-images-ai-chatbot-criticism-controversy-2024-2">rolled out</a> its AI chatbot Gemini earlier this year, it produced historically inaccurate <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-gemini-ai-pause-image-generation-people-woke-complaints-2024-2">images of people of color</a>. The company paused and then relaunched the chatbot's image-generation tool after <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-gemini-woke-images-ai-chatbot-criticism-controversy-2024-2">public backlash.</a>In a February <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-gemini-bias-sundar-pichai-memo-2024-2">memo</a> to employees, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the chatbot's responses were "unacceptable" and the company had "got it wrong" when trying to use new AI.McCarthy, Hannigan, and Spicer wrote in the July 17 article that businesses that carelessly use AI-generated information jeopardize their customer experience and reputation, going as far as risking legal liability."Managers and organizations are beginning to see an increasing array of new risks based on expectations and professional standards around the accuracy of information," the researchers wrote.Still, they wrote that they believe AI provides opportunities for useful application "as long as the related epistemic risks are also understood and mitigated."<h2 id="d215ff9c-5975-4514-aead-73f48b3a8f30">Black boxing and the risks of using AI</h2>The biggest challenge associated with using AI chatbots for customer service is "black boxing," in which it becomes difficult to discern why an AI technology operates a certain way, according to the researchers.McCarthy, Hannigan, and Spicer wrote that AI customer service chatbots can be improved through more rigorous and specific guidelines, guardrails, and restrictions on the available range of vocabulary and response topics.However, the researchers argued that customer service is the least risky use of AI for businesses.Using AI chatbots for tasks like safety procedures in healthcare, complicated financial budgeting, or legal judgments are cases where it's most essential the AI is accurate, but it's most difficult to verify in real time, according to the researchers.In 2023, a New York law firm <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-generative-ai-law-firm-fined-fake-cases-citations-legal-2023-6">was fined $5,000</a> after lawyers submitted a court brief containing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lawyer-duped-chatgpt-invented-fake-cases-judge-hearing-court-2023-6">false references</a> produced by ChatGPT.While general AI chatbots like ChatGPT are more susceptible to botshit, practice-specific chatbots that use <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retrieval-augmented-generation-making-ai-language-models-better-2024-5">retrieval augmented generation</a>, a technology that enhances AI accuracy, are more promising, according to the researchers.The researchers said that rigorous checking and calibration of the AI's output over time, including expert fact-checking of its responses, can mitigate risks."Chatbots and other tools which draw on generative AI have great potential to significantly improve many work processes," the researchers wrote. "Like any important new technology, they also come with risks. With careful management, however, these risks can be contained while benefits are exploited."

'Botshit' is an example of how AI is making customer service worse 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>On Sunday, a suspect was apprehended after an apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump.</li><li>Experts told BI that protecting a president at outdoor events presents tough security challenges.</li></ul>An apparent <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-shots-fired-florida-golf-course-2024-9">assassination attempt against Donald Trump</a> on Sunday was another stark reminder of the challenges the Secret Service faces when protecting a president outdoors, security experts told Business Insider.The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-shooting-assassination-attempt-secret-service-past-scandals-2024-7">Secret Service</a> fired shots at a suspect after agents spotted a man with an AK-47-style rifle at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, where the former president was playing, authorities said. It remains unclear if the man fired his gun before the security team engaged him.Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said that the suspect was between 300 and 500 yards from the former president.After being shot at by the Secret Service, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-ryan-wesley-routh-second-trump-assassination-attempt-suspect-2024-9">the suspect</a> fled the scene. Details from an eyewitness allowed the man to be apprehended by law enforcement as he drove away on the interstate.<div type="image" title="Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw holds a photograph" height="4154" width="5539" msid="113380601" hostid="261" sizebytes="383564"></div>According to intelligence and security experts who spoke with BI, a potential assassin being spotted and detained showed that the former president's security detail handled the situation exactly as they were trained to do."This is a very good outcome, considering the number of people that they had to handle the situation," Kenneth Gray, a former FBI special agent, told BI.The Sunday incident is the second time in two months that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/timeline-donald-trump-rally-shooting-pennsylvania-2024-7">Trump's life was put in danger</a>, underscoring how difficult it is to protect him in an outdoor setting, let alone a golf course, the experts said.On July 13, Trump was injured after a man fired off several shots during an outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The man, who was spotted on a building rooftop about 147 yards away from the podium, was killed by a Secret Service sniper.The agency faced immediate <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/secret-service-scrutiny-shooting-donald-trump-pennsylvania-rally-2024-7">backlash</a> for its handling of the rally security, sparking an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.dhs.gov/independent-review-2024-attempted-assassination">independent review</a> of the incident ordered by the Biden Administration."Look, all outdoor events are nightmares," Jeffrey James, a former Secret Service agent, told BI. "That's how I described the rally where President Trump was shot because when you're outdoors, sightlines go on for thousands of yards."James was a special agent for the Secret Service for 22 years, serving during the Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations. In an interview, he told BI that a golf course, one of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-good-donald-trump-at-golf-handicap-scratch-players-2024-9">Trump's oft-visited settings</a>, presents unique challenges for the Secret Service.<div type="image" title="Law enforcement near trees." height="644" width="859" msid="113380603" hostid="261" sizebytes="41934"></div>James said that as a former president, Trump does not receive the same security package as a sitting president. But the fact that he's a nominee and an attempt on his life was made in July changes the scope of the security detail, he added.Still, the Secret Service faces several limitations and blind spots at a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-golf-courses-around-the-world-photos-2019-7">golf course</a>."There's only so much that any sort of law enforcement or protective service can do in these sorts of situations where there's large open areas," Matthew Shoemaker, a former intelligence officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency, told BI.James, the former Secret Service agent, agreed that a golf course is "essentially wide open" outside the tree line or vegetation, where a suspect could easily hide."So someone could be in a tree line 15 feet deep in the shadows and the president is walking or riding down the center of the fairway where he's in a wide open posture," James said.<div type="image" title="A satellite image of Trump Golf Club at West Palm Beach" height="964" width="1818" msid="113380607" hostid="261" sizebytes="191724"></div>In addition to the blind spots, James added that the Secret Service would never shut down an entire golf course — even for a sitting president."It's not always practical to shut down things like abutting roadways — that could get very extensive. And then you start to interrupt commerce and traffic just for the president golfing, and that's when it gets tough to justify something like that," James said.Instead, the former agent said a security detail would set a perimeter around where the president is golfing.During his time in the Secret Service, James said that his team usually had an agent walk out one hole ahead along with a "trailing element" to ensure nobody could sneak up behind the president. James said there was also a team that would be in proximity to the president in case he needed to be grabbed and evacuated."The agent who was out ahead who saw it — that's exactly what he or she was supposed to do," James said.

Trump's favorite hobby presents a 'nightmare' security challenge, former Secret Service agent says

Issues related to data privacy and rising <keyword id="20127272" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-frauds" source="keywords">online frauds</keyword> are emerging as significant hurdles in the growth of e-commerce in India, said the <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Economic-Survey" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Economic Survey" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Economic Survey">Economic Survey</keyword> 2023-24 tabled in Parliament on Monday. Citing third-party data, the survey said that the e-commerce industry in India is expected to cross USD 350 billion by 2030 and called for the need to educate users on the safe use of e-commerce platforms. "The rise of e-commerce is constrained by inadequate skills required for online selling, such as cataloguing. <keyword id="22505774" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="data-privacy-issues" source="keywords">Data privacy issues</keyword> and increasing online fraud have turned out to be the most significant hurdle in the growth of e-commerce in India. It becomes imperative to educate users on the safe use of e-commerce platforms," the survey said. The survey mentioned that India's e-commerce market has gained significant momentum during the past few years, owing to technological advancements, evolving new-age business models coupled with government initiatives like the Digital India program, UPI, One District - One Product (ODOP), Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), new foreign trade policy, easing of FDI limits and Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules 2021. It has identified data privacy and <keyword id="19906883" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cybersecurity" source="keywords">cybersecurity</keyword> as critical concerns in the <keyword id="22505776" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digitisation-of-services" source="keywords">digitisation of services</keyword> in the country and called for adopting strong security measures, compliance with privacy regulations, and innovation, among others. "Data privacy and cybersecurity have become critical concerns with the increasing digitisation of services," according to the survey. It said that the government is spearheading data protection laws and cybersecurity policies to safeguard consumer data and strengthen cybersecurity measures in the services sector. "To further embrace technology with confidence, ensuring the adoption of strong security measures, compliance with privacy regulations, and fostering innovation in security technologies are essential," the survey noted. It said the future of e-commerce is built on the enhanced <keyword id="20290101" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="user-experience" source="keywords">user experience</keyword> through <keyword id="19899640" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI" source="keywords">AI</keyword>, seamless <keyword id="21332958" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-payment-methods" source="keywords">digital payment methods</keyword>, innovations like UPI, and business engineering data analytics for business operations and enhancements. The survey mentioned that the buyer ecosystem in India is evolving at a very sharp rate, and business models will need to innovate to serve the needs of a diverse shopper base regarding service expectations, price sensitivity and language requirements. "Local language platforms are needed as the shopper base expands to tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Growing startups and innovative social media platforms provide an opportunity to test unique business models that might be targeted to specific demographic cohorts," the survey said.

Data privacy issues, online frauds emerging as e-commerce growth hurdles: Eco Survey

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I went from having a full time office job to being a freelancer and had to adjust my spending.</li><li>I cut down on fun things, like going out for dinner or buying fancy things in the supermarket.</li></ul>When I changed my career from a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/my-husband-i-full-time-freelancers-how-we-make-it-work">salaried office job to going freelance</a>, it came with the understanding that my relationship with money would change. Even so, I still wasn't prepared for how often I'd have to reckon with the same gnawing question dejectedly, "Is there a cheaper way to do this?"Every trip to the store, every weekend plan, and every activity require that I do the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-cities-with-the-lowest-cost-of-living-2016-7">least expensive version</a> of it or skip it altogether.I basically downgraded my lifestyle.<h2 id="572d061a-4b56-4cbb-9959-fee10386532f">I stopped doing a lot of the things I liked because of money</h2>When my total income began to look like the portion of my past paychecks I put into savings, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/cut-expenses-debt-payoff-netflix-get-smart-with-money-2022-9">first expenses to be cut</a> were those little pleasant parts of life. As much as I may enjoy them, I don't need them the same way I need to pay rent and buy groceries. No more fancy IPAs, I drink Miller now. No more appetizers, in fact, no more eating out at all. No more Gatorade when I pass by a Wawa, I have water at home. If it's hot out, turn off the AC and put some ice cubes in your water bottle. New clothes are for when you need them, not when you want them.Recently, at CVS, I found myself <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/beauty/best-drugstore-shampoos">standing in the conditioner aisle</a>, using my phone's calculator to divide milliliters by price. Do you know what's a great snack? Yes, chips and salsa, but you know what's a great snack when you don't have any money? A three-pound bag of great-value peanuts.<h2 id="b9b47adc-e3ba-48c8-998a-e5a83df93341">My parents pay for the fun things</h2>That's where my parents come in. It's with them that I finally have a chance to partake in the finer things — mind you, not the "finest" things — just finer.It's not rent or utilities or the many things I'm fortunate enough to be at least able to afford. But if you've ever eaten <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ways-to-make-ramen-taste-good-according-to-chefs">ramen with sliced carrots</a> day after day while your apartment gets stuffier and warmer, sometimes just knowing your folks are taking you to lunch in a couple of weekends keeps you going.<div type="image" title="Family posing for photo" height="2304" width="3072" msid="112194664" hostid="261" sizebytes="924056"></div>It's not life and death, but enjoying something <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/daily-allowance-budget-trick-2015-2">outside your budget</a>, even for an hour, goes a long way to making spartan weeks and months bearable. I don't buy a lot of groceries, mostly rice, cheese, and occasionally eggs. A lot of bagels. Bagels are recession-proof. When my parents come to visit and offer to buy me groceries, I get bread from a bakery, whatever coffee beans are not on sale, and Cheez-Its. Everything I usually don't allow for myself.I don't purchase top-shelf alcohol. I buy cheap beer, which is a bummer because back when I did have money, I allowed myself to become an IPA snob. But when my parents are here, I'm ordering the Weissbeer that's new on the draft list for a limited time only. I might get two. Salad and appetizers? If my parents are offering them, then it's a yes.I turn on my AC unit for an hour at a time a few days a week, and only when it's sweltering. But when I visit home, the question, "Is it too cold in here?" does not have an affirmative answer. When I get to my parents, after I eat deli meat for the first time in weeks, I watch TV in their ice box of a den because I also canceled my streaming services.I used to be embarrassed to accept my parents' help when I had an office job; I'm not sure why. But now that money is tight, they've become like an airline unexpectedly boosting a passenger to business. They upgrade me, and I eagerly accept.My mom has caught on. Recently she offered me two bags of walnuts that had been sitting in her cupboard for, I want to say, years. She may as well have offered me sacks of gold. I had salads all week. It's still a Waldorf if there are no grapes or blue cheese crumbles, right? Of course, it had apples. Someone has to buy those marked-down reds delicious.

I'm 30 years old and only make enough money to cover the essentials. I rely on my parents to pay for fun things.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Travelers appear to be abandoning Airbnb due to high costs, excessive fees, and poor host service.</li><li>Airbnb was once a disruptor offering affordable stays but some say it has lost its charm.</li></ul>As the founder of a travel site, Michael Rozenblit and his partner Maggie have stayed in hundreds of Airbnbs over the past decade."We love the convenience of having our own space," Rozenblit told Business Insider. "Particularly when it comes to cooking our own meals and having a bit more comfort than is found in a typical hotel room."But after recent trips, Rozenblit said they have both "fallen out of love" with the platform. They claim places to stay on Airbnb are more expensive now than hotels, and hosts are not even providing toilet paper, trash bags, and coffee anymore.Rozenblit said cleaning fees are also extortionate, despite hosts demanding that guests do the chores. One host <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/high-airbnb-cleaning-fee-less-bookings-not-dipping-into-profit-2023-5">previously told BI</a> he charges $400."There are almost always over-the-top cleaning requirements for check-out, often including the requirement to take out the trash and strip the beds at the minimum," Rozenblit said.Travelers have become wise to this apparent shift. Airbnb was once hailed as a major disruptor of the vacation industry, allowing people to stay in cities all over the world in comfort and at a price tag much lower than costly hotels.But the pendulum has swayed the other way, with some holiday-makers now tired of the endless fees, and difficult hosts who can make their stays miserable, say experts.Locals in tourist hot spots, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/barcelona-airbnb-ban-florence-amsterdam-lisbon-are-regulations-working-2024-8">Barcelona</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/greece-middle-of-an-anti-cruise-rebellion-overtourism-economy-travel-2024-8">Athens,</a> have also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-of-protesters-rallying-against-overtourism-in-barcelona-2024-7">protested</a> overtourism this year, taking aim at the platform's hosts buying up properties and pricing them out.Airbnb warned investors of dwindling customer demand in an earnings call earlier this month, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbnb-vs-hotel-some-travelers-choose-hotels-for-price-quality-2024-8">BI reported</a>, and lowered its projected earnings for Q3 from $3.8 billion to between $3.67 billion and $3.73 billion.The company's revenue is also down 15% compared to this quarter last year, from a net income of $650 million to $555 million.Airbnb's stock has since tanked, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/airbnb-stock-price-consumer-demand-slowing-inflation-travel-pandemic-spending-2024-8?_gl=1*oitje4*_ga*MTIzMzIzMzcyNi4xNzEzNzg0Nzk5*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTcyNDE0MjQ1NC4zMDYuMS4xNzI0MTQ0MjA4LjUxLjAuMA..">falling 14% in one day earlier this month</a>.Meanwhile, hotels have bounced back, with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbnb-vs-hotel-some-travelers-choose-hotels-for-price-quality-2024-8">former Airbnb fanatics returning</a> and some seeing pre-pandemic levels of occupancy, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.statista.com/topics/1102/hotels/">according to Statistica</a>. The industry is expected to see an annual growth rate of 3.72% until 2029, when it is anticipated to be worth $511 billion, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.statista.com/outlook/mmo/travel-tourism/hotels/worldwide">according to Statistica data</a>.Experts say hosts have a lot to answer for in Airbnb's downfall.<h2 id="ff01f1b4-94e7-4e95-a951-a5d181b7fff1">All about profit</h2>Grace Moser, the owner of the women's lifestyle blog Chasing Foxes, has been a full-time traveler since 2016 and believes hosts have played "a huge role in Airbnb's crash.""Airbnb essentially allows anyone to sign up to be a host, which will always prove to be problematic," she told BI. "Because when you have people flooding in year after year who are seeing it as a way for them to make quick cash, you're going to be met with bad customer service."Moser believes that the majority of hosts now aren't prioritizing the guest — "it's just another income stream where they do the bare minimum and know nothing about customer relations.""There's no training, only feedback to the host after the fact," she said. "If that customer either leaves a positive or ambiguous review, or none at all, they probably won't improve for the next person."Jessica Dante, a travel expert and the founder of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://loveandlondon.com/">Love + London</a>, told BI it was the personal connection that guests and hosts would make that made Airbnb such a success in the early days when it launched in 2008."Most listings were with hosts that would be staying in the property with the guest or who were leaving for a few days and renting their place for a bit of extra income," Dante said. "Hosts would leave binders filled with local recommendations, be there to help with anything that guests needed, and you'd hear stories of guests and hosts that became great friends after a stay."These days, she said, the majority of hosts are staff or property owners who are "solely focused on maximizing revenue.""They charge cleaning fees while asking for chores to be completed, they aren't readily available where there's a problem, and they see guests as just a number," Dante said. "The personal connection has been lost."<h2 id="97a9c439-17f7-4c39-8210-6b8f47567e64">Nightmare hosts</h2>Stories about bad Airbnbs frequently hit the headlines, in part because wronged guests can go viral on TikTok with their experiences.In January, one traveler said the trailer she rented <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbnb-woman-shares-freezing-cold-nightmare-rental-2024-1">was so cold she could see her breath</a>. Another described his "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-shows-san-diego-airbnb-broken-toilet-bed-in-garage-2023-10">Airbnb from hell</a>" as "the most pathetic excuse for a house" he's ever stayed in, with the toilet not attached to the wall and a bed in the garage.Last year, a woman booked a New Orleans Airbnb for Taylor Swift's Eras tour this fall, but <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbnb-host-triples-price-for-taylor-swift-concert-2023-11">the host later tried to triple the price</a> when they realized they could charge a premium.Other horror stories include a guest saying their <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbnb-guest-belongings-dumped-street-passport-checkout-date-compensation-2023-11">host dumped all their belongings</a>, including their passport, into the street after mixing up the checkout date and a woman saying her host didn't refund her booking when she had to cancel it <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbnb-did-not-cancel-booking-when-guest-mom-was-dying-2023-11">after learning her mom was dying</a>.Duncan Greenfield-Turk, the chief travel designer at Global Travel Moments, told BI that hosts "without a doubt" have played a big part in Airbnb's unpopularity.Inconsistent quality and service have led to growing dissatisfaction and a lack of trust in the platform, he said."Unlike hotels, which generally adhere to industry standards, Airbnb experiences can vary widely from one property to the next," Greenfield-Turk said. "While some hosts provide excellent service, others have been accused of being greedy or neglectful, focusing on maximizing profits at the expense of guest satisfaction."Stories of unreasonable rules, hosts cutting corners, and being unresponsive when issues arise are only becoming more common, Greenfield-Turk said."These negative experiences contribute to a tarnished reputation for the platform as a whole, making the reliability of traditional hotels more appealing," he said.<h2 id="62730fa3-d9b8-46eb-bdab-f59f986a3e26">Hotels are bouncing back</h2>When Airbnb was new, it offered authentic, community-driven travel experiences, Greenfield-Turk said. But now, it's full of full-time, profit-driven businesses, meaning the original charm is gone.Airbnb's loss is the hotel industry's gain. The industry is making the most of the backlash by offering more personalized services and often matching or undercutting Airbnb prices.Rozenblit said travelers are more aware of the problems that can come with Airbnbs and see the benefits of hotels, where they have "little of these requirements placed upon them."For Airbnb to regain its footing, Greenfield-Turk said it will have to implement stricter guidelines for hosts, enforce transparency with its pricing, and reconnect with the community-driven values that set it apart in the first place."This shift toward commercialization has alienated a segment of travelers who were drawn to the platform for its promise of unique, personal experiences," Greenfield-Turk said."Instead, they are now often met with impersonal, hotel-like stays — without the consistency and reliability that hotels offer."BI has reached out to Airbnb for comment.

Hosts have ruined Airbnb with excessive fees, high demands, and bad customer service, travel experts say 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I'm preparing my son for college move-in, and I've been so focused on his dorm needs.</li><li>But there were a lot of other things I needed to get squared away ahead of his move-in.</li></ul>Congratulations, parents of incoming <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/college-senior-advice-what-freshmen-need-to-know-2023-8">college freshmen</a>! We survived the application process, this year's FAFSA debacle, the big choices, high school graduation, and now, finally, we are about to send our kids out into adulthood.It's a bittersweet, busy time as they register for classes, connect with new roommates, and prepare for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/day-in-the-life-nyu-student-intern-content-creator-2024-1">campus life</a> away from home.While my mind is currently drifting toward <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/home/college-dorm-essentials">dorm room</a> décor and meal plans, there's another important checklist that all parents need to complete — full of practicalities I certainly didn't expect.Here are 7 things you'll want to have squared away before <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/college-nyu-fresham-move-overwhelming-2023-9">move-in day</a>.<h2 id="9d9215b4-e5ca-4afe-b875-bb2f992f8155">Fill out all the necessary legal paperwork</h2>This first step is perhaps the most crucial: You'll want to ensure you and your child complete power of attorney forms, including those for health and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quit-my-career-live-off-savings-financial-crisis-2024-6">finance issues</a>. While your kid is still a teen, she or he is technically an adult now.Unless you have certain legal documents completed and readily available, a hospital cannot give you information about your child if they are unconscious and unable to consent. You'll also need a FERPA waiver if you want the university to share your student's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-choose-college-campus-tour-data-2023-12">academic information</a> with you.The good news is these forms can be easily filled out online, signed off, and then executed by a local notary public. I used <a target="_blank" href="https://mamabearlegalforms.com/">Mama Bear Legal Forms</a>; the process was a snap, not too expensive, and now I have peace of mind.<h2 id="4c5e8bc4-ebac-4dd0-8c03-8d9c59d59707">Open a new, nationwide bank account</h2>My son's been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/big-tech-layoff-to-part-time-sales-associate-and-entrepreneur-2024-4">working part-time</a> for several years, and his paychecks go directly to his bank account. But that account is linked to mine at a regional institution that doesn't have branches on the West Coast, where he's headed.It's time to get their money matters in order to avoid fees, inconvenience, and general angst. So we chose a larger national bank with plenty of ATM options on and near his campus.I also made sure to add his new account to my <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/how-to-use-venmo">Venmo app</a>. I'm sure he'll be hitting me up for cash occasionally, and when I'm feeling generous, I'll be able to send him money with the push of a button.<h2 id="f51855a4-aaa8-4921-a6c7-ba7449c2414e">Download transportation apps like Lyft and Uber</h2>While Uber recently added a teen account option for younger riders, Lyft still doesn't transport kids under 18 without adults. So, while your <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/incoming-harvard-university-freshman-tuition-financial-aid-2023-8">incoming student</a> might not have used either service before, you'll want to ensure she or he has access to them now.Safe, reliable transportation anytime they need it is a must, especially if they're like my son and not taking a car to college. Download those <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lyft-aims-at-uber-with-price-lock-feature-surge-pricing-2024-8">rideshare apps</a> now, and make sure they're linked to your kid's new bank card.<h2 id="76c122f3-36a5-423a-9039-7a1a93bb4578">Make sure they have health insurance</h2>While many colleges and universities charge a student health fee, allowing access to an on-campus clinic for basic medical care, some also require all students to have <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-millennials-giving-up-medical-care-cant-afford-costs-2024-2">health insurance</a> and will charge for that policy as well.Double-check your bill. If your child is already well covered with your own plan, apply to have the university coverage waived. You could save hundreds, even thousands of dollars.<h2 id="83bfa6f1-4b46-428d-95d7-cff2fe657c5d">Sign them up for frequent flyer accounts</h2>If you send your kiddo to a college that's further away than a quick <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/solo-road-trip-tips-us-how-to-plan-2024-1">road trip</a>, chances are you'll be racking up the air miles. Don't let them go to waste.Make sure your student is signed up for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/frequent-flyer-programs-aadvantage-loyalty-program-competition-for-couples-2024-3">frequent flyer</a> accounts on the airlines with the best direct routes to and from home. Those breaks and holidays will add up quickly.<h2 id="5b84ecb7-d68a-4452-943c-725c2e5779fa">Hand over their important government IDs</h2>Many parents (me included!) cringe at the idea of giving their young adults original birth certificates, Social Security cards, or passports. However, if your child will be looking for a job once they get to campus, copies or screenshots of these identifying documents might not be adequate for the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jobs-microsoft-meta-google-nvidia-hiring-process-explained-interviews-recruitment-2024-7">hiring process</a>.Check ahead, and if originals are needed, hand them over — but stress the importance of keeping them safe and secure.<h2 id="8b36c18a-c63e-41da-b056-65ec94d727e5">Make sure they are registered to vote</h2>Last but certainly not least, if your incoming college freshman is 18, they're finally <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/some-cities-are-allowing-corporations-to-vote-in-local-elections-2023-7">eligible to vote</a>.Make sure your child is registered and has a plan for November — and beyond — if attending school out of state. Depending on where you live, that might include early in-person voting, requesting an absentee ballot, or voting by mail.

I was so focused on dorm room essentials I didn't know I had to do these 7 things ahead of my son's college move-in

New Delhi, Mar 28 (PTI) Petrol price on Monday was hiked by 30 paise a litre and diesel by 35 paise, taking the total increase in rates in the last one week to Rs 4-4.10 per litre. Petrol in Delhi will now cost Rs 99.41 per litre as against Rs 99.11 previously while diesel rates have gone up from Rs 90.42 per litre to Rs 90.77, according to a price notification of state fuel retailers. Rates have been increased across the country and vary from state to state depending upon the incidence of local taxation. This is the sixth increase in prices since the ending of a four-and-half-month long hiatus in rate revision on March 22. In the first four four occasions, prices were increased by 80 paise a litre - the steepest single-day rise since the daily price revision was introduced in June 2017. On Sunday, petrol price went up by 50 paise a litre and diesel by 55 paise. In all, petrol prices have gone up by Rs 4 per litre and diesel by Rs 4.10. Prices had been on a freeze since November 4 ahead of the assembly elections in states like <keyword id="6357713" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="uttar-pradesh" source="Orion">Uttar Pradesh</keyword> and Punjab -- a period during which the cost of raw material (crude oil) soared by about USD 30 per barrel. The rate revision was expected soon after counting of votes on March 10 but it was put off by a couple of weeks. The increase in retail price warranted from crude oil prices rising during the 137 day hiatus from around USD 82 per barrel to USD 120 is huge but state-owned fuel retailers <keyword id="6356834" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="indian-oil-corporation" source="Orion">Indian Oil Corporation</keyword> (IOC), <keyword id="155363" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="bharat-petroleum-corporation-ltd" source="Orion">Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd</keyword> (BPCL) and <keyword id="500127" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="hindustan-petroleum-corporation-ltd" source="Orion">Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd</keyword> (HPCL) are passing on the required increase in stages. Moody's Investors Services last week stated that state retailers together lost around USD 2.25 billion (Rs 19,000 crore) in revenue for keeping petrol and diesel prices on hold during the election period. Oil companies "will need to raise diesel prices by Rs 13.1-24.9 per litre and Rs 10.6-22.3 a litre on gasoline (petrol) at an underlying crude price of USD 100-120 per barrel," according to Kotak Institutional Equities. CRISIL Research said a Rs 9-12 per litre increase in retail price will be required for a full pass-through of an average USD 100 per barrel crude oil and Rs 15-20 a litre hike if the average crude oil price rises to USD 110-120. India is 85 per cent dependent on imports for meeting its oil needs and so retail rates adjust accordingly to the global movement. PTI ANZ RUP SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/two-day-bharat-bandh-essential-services-likely-to-be-affected/articleshow/90486188.cms">Two-day Bharat Bandh: Essential services likely to be affected</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/how-this-former-vedantu-cofounder-is-taking-on-instagram-and-snapchat-to-build-social-media-for-teens/articleshow/90443442.cms">How this former Vedantu cofounder is taking on Instagram and Snapchat to build social media for teens</a>

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I'm 30 years old and only make enough money to cover the essentials. I rely on my parents to pay for fun things.

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I was so focused on dorm room essentials I didn't know I had to do these 7 things ahead of my son's college move-in

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