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In a bid to bolster the safety and security of <keyword id="19989657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-payments" source="keywords">digital payments</keyword> and enhance regulatory frameworks, the Reserve Bank of India (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) unveiled a series of proposals aimed at fostering innovation, inclusivity, and efficiency in the financial ecosystem. These initiatives, announced by RBI Governor <keyword id="19913110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shaktikanta-das" source="keywords">Shaktikanta Das</keyword>, signify the central bank's commitment to fortifying India's digital infrastructure and promoting a conducive environment for financial transactions. One of the key announcements made by Governor Das pertained to the establishment of a Digital Payments <keyword id="21971766" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="intelligence-platform" source="keywords">Intelligence Platform</keyword>. This platform, leveraging advanced technologies, aims to mitigate payment <keyword id="19898489" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fraud" source="keywords">fraud</keyword> risks and enhance the safety of digital transactions. According to the annual report released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on May 30, there was a significant surge in the number of financial frauds reported by banks, increasing by 166 per cent year-on-year in the financial year 2023-24 to reach 36,075 cases. This figure starkly contrasts with the 13,564 cases reported in the previous fiscal year, FY23. Despite the notable rise in the number of fraud cases, there was a substantial decrease in the total amount involved in these incidents. The amount of money associated with total bank frauds plummeted by 46.7 per cent year-on-year in the financial year 2023-24, totaling Rs 13,930 crore. In comparison, the amount recorded in FY23 stood at Rs 26,127 crore. RBI has proposed a revision of the limit of bulk deposits for Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) and Small Finance Banks (SFBs). This move, aimed at enhancing flexibility and aligning with evolving market dynamics, underscores the RBI's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for the banking sector. Currently, banks have the discretion to offer differential rates of interest on bulk deposits based on their requirements and Asset-Liability Management (ALM) projections. The existing bulk deposit limit for SCBs (excluding Regional Rural Banks) and SFBs, set at 'Single Rupee term deposits of Rs 2 crore and above,' was established in 2019. However, following a comprehensive review, the RBI has proposed to revise this definition to 'Single Rupee term deposits of Rs 3 crore and above' for SCBs and SFBs. In addition to the proposed revision for SCBs and SFBs, the RBI has also suggested defining the bulk deposit limit for Local Area Banks (LABs) as 'Single Rupee term deposits of Rs 1 crore and above,' mirroring the criteria applicable to Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). RBI has also unveiled plans to rationalize export and import regulations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. This initiative, driven by the imperative of progressive liberalization and operational flexibility, underscores the RBI's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for international trade and investment. By eliminating redundancies, enhancing clarity, and reducing procedural complexities, the RBI aims to promote ease of doing business for all stakeholders involved in cross-border trade. The RBI aims to streamline and simplify operational procedures related to export and import transactions, thereby reducing administrative burdens and enhancing efficiency for businesses and authorized dealer banks. By aligning regulations with international best practices and market realities, the RBI seeks to create a business-friendly environment conducive to fostering trade and investment growth. Simplified regulations will facilitate smoother trade transactions, encouraging businesses to explore new markets and expand their global footprint. While promoting ease of doing business, the RBI remains committed to ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and safeguarding the integrity of the financial system. The proposed rationalization will uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and risk management in cross-border transactions. As part of the process, the RBI plans to publish draft regulations and directions on its official website by the end of June 2024. In a bid to enhance the convenience and efficiency of digital payments, RBI has unveiled plans to expand the e-mandate framework to include recurring payments for Fastag, National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), and similar services. This initiative, aimed at modernizing payment systems and promoting financial inclusion, underscores the RBI's commitment to fostering innovation and leveraging technology to meet evolving consumer needs. The current UPI Lite service permits customers to load their UPI Lite wallets with up to Rs 2000/- and conduct transactions of up to Rs 500 from the wallet. To enhance the seamless usage of UPI Lite for customers, and in response to feedback from various stakeholders, it is suggested to integrate UPI Lite into the e-mandate framework. This integration would introduce an auto-replenishment feature for UPI Lite wallets, automatically refilling the wallet balance when it falls below a predetermined threshold set by the customer. Since the funds remain under the customer's control (transferring from their account to the wallet), it is proposed to eliminate the need for additional authentication or pre-debit notifications. Relevant guidelines pertaining to this proposal will be issued shortly. RBI has embarked on a mission to foster innovation and transformation in the financial sector with the launch of its third edition of the global hackathon, "HARBINGER 2024 - Innovation for Transformation." It would feature two primary themes: 'Zero Financial Frauds' and 'Being Divyang Friendly.' Solutions aimed at bolstering the safety and security of digital transactions, with a specific emphasis on identifying, preventing, and combating financial frauds, will be solicited. Additionally, there will be a focus on fostering inclusivity for individuals with physical disabilities. Further details regarding the hackathon will be unveiled shortly. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indian-smartwatch-shipments-remain-flat-in-q1-2024-the-year-expected-to-end-in-a-decline/articleshow/110789121.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indian-smartwatch-shipments-remain-flat-in-q1-2024-the-year-expected-to-end-in-a-decline/articleshow/110789121.cms" target="_blank">Indian smartwatch shipments remain flat in Q1 2024, the year expected to end in a decline</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/computex-2024-intel-debuts-lunar-lake-chips-with-focus-on-microsofts-ai-ambitions-for-pcs/articleshow/110745670.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/computex-2024-intel-debuts-lunar-lake-chips-with-focus-on-microsofts-ai-ambitions-for-pcs/articleshow/110745670.cms" target="_blank">Computex 2024: Intel Debuts Lunar Lake Chips With Focus On Microsoft’s AI Ambitions For PCs</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/may-auto-sales-tata-motors-and-hyundai-continue-to-fight-for-the-second-spot-as-car-sales-grow-by-4/articleshow/110649713.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/may-auto-sales-tata-motors-and-hyundai-continue-to-fight-for-the-second-spot-as-car-sales-grow-by-4/articleshow/110649713.cms" target="_blank">May Auto Sales – Tata Motors and Hyundai continue to fight for the second spot as car sales grow by 4%</a>

RBI announces digital payments intelligence platform to check online frauds

The technology platform for providing "<keyword id="22918315" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="frictionless-credit" source="keywords">frictionless credit</keyword>" launched by the <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reserve Bank of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reserve Bank of India">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) last year as a pilot project will soon be introduced nationwide soon, said Reserve Banks of India Governor, <keyword id="19913110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shaktikanta-das" source="keywords">Shaktikanta Das</keyword> on Monday. This technology platform will be named "<keyword id="22918314" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Unified-Lending-Interface" source="keywords">Unified Lending Interface</keyword> (ULI)", Das said while speaking in Bengaluru at the event of the Global Conference on Digital Public Infrastructure and Emerging Technologies. Governor Das said "Just like <keyword id="19900911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPI" source="keywords">UPI</keyword> transformed the payments ecosystem, we expect that ULI will play a similar role in transforming the lending space in India. The 'new trinity' of JAM-UPI-ULI will be a revolutionary step forward in India's <keyword id="20018890" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-infrastructure" source="keywords">digital infrastructure</keyword> journey." The ULI platform facilitates a seamless and consent-based flow of digital information, including even land records of various states, from multiple data service providers to lenders. The technology platform introduced last year as a pilot projects cuts down the time taken for credit appraisal, especially for small and rural borrowers. Das stated that the ULI architecture has common and standardised APIs, designed for a 'plug and play' approach to ensure digital access to information from diverse sources. "This reduces the complexity of multiple technical integrations. It enables borrowers to get the benefit of seamless delivery of credit, and quicker turnaround time without requiring extensive documentation. By digitising access to customer's financial and non-financial data that otherwise resided in disparate silos, ULI is expected to cater to large unmet demand for credit across various sectors, particularly for agricultural and MSME borrowers," the RBI governor stated. Showing confidence in the newly launched ULI, Das said, "Just like UPI transformed the payments ecosystem, "we expect that ULI will play a similar role in transforming the lending space in India." Speaking about the success of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) Das said, "The current ecosystem of digital payments in India offers a bouquet of simple, safe, and secure options for instant or quick transfer of funds, both large and small value, for businesses and individuals." Das further stated stated that the apex bank is consistently trying to secure the financial system in the country. "We are constantly working on devising policies, approaches, systems and platforms that will make our financial sector stronger, nimble and customer-centric," Das said. Additionally, Das also highlighted that the central bank is constantly working on devising policies, systems, and platforms that will make the financial sector stronger, nimble and customer-centric. Das said that over the last decade, the traditional banking system has undergone an unprecedented technological transformation. By all indications, this process is likely to become even more intense in the coming years, he said. On the country's experience in DPI, he said, "DPI has enabled India to achieve in less than a decade levels of financial inclusion that would have otherwise taken several decades or even more" He also emphasised that UPI system has the potential to evolve into a cheaper and quicker alternative to available channels of cross-border remittances. The Governor also stressed that financial institutions should be abundantly mindful of associated risks of Artificial Intelligence.

After UPI, RBI set to launch Unified Lending Interface (ULI) for friction-less credit

A public interest litigation (<keyword id="19957723" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PIL" source="keywords">PIL</keyword>) has been filed in the <keyword id="19905533" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bombay-High-Court" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bombay High Court" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bombay High Court">Bombay High Court</keyword>, urging the establishment of stringent guidelines to curb <keyword id="21811854" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="black-marketing" source="keywords">black marketing</keyword> and <keyword id="23311384" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ticket-scalping" source="keywords">ticket scalping</keyword> for major events. The PIL comes in the wake of widespread concerns over alleged irregularities during the online sale of tickets for the British band Coldplay’s upcoming concert in Navi Mumbai, scheduled for January 2025. Filed by advocate Amit Vyas, the PIL highlights the growing menace of ticket scalping and black marketing at large-scale events, including concerts, live shows, and sports matches. The plea calls for a thorough investigation into illegal ticket sales and the manipulation of online ticketing platforms, with specific reference to Coldplay's highly anticipated concert. The plea was mentioned on Monday for urgent hearing before a division bench comprising Chief Justice D. K. Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar. Noting that a police inquiry into the matter was already underway, the court adjourned the hearing to November, after the Diwali vacation. <h2>Allegations of <keyword id="23627270" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ticketing-irregularities" source="keywords">ticketing irregularities</keyword></h2>The PIL specifically alleges foul play during last month’s sale of tickets for Coldplay's concert on the popular online ticketing platform, <keyword id="20215809" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BookMyShow" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BookMyShow" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BookMyShow">BookMyShow</keyword>. According to the petition, many potential buyers were locked out of the website within minutes of the ticket sales opening, only to discover that the tickets had been sold out. Shortly thereafter, these same tickets appeared on secondary platforms at exorbitant prices, fueling suspicions of deliberate manipulation. Vyas, in his submission, noted that secondary websites were still selling tickets at inflated rates. He argued that this exploitative practice deprived fans of their right to fair access to entertainment, violating the <keyword id="20003683" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-protection" source="keywords">Consumer Protection</keyword> (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, which mandate fair and non-deceptive practices by e-commerce entities. The PIL underscored that this problem extends beyond the <keyword id="22044624" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Coldplay-concert" source="keywords">Coldplay concert</keyword>, pointing to similar issues during other major events, including the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, the 2023 Cricket World Cup, and concerts of global artists like <keyword id="19897184" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="taylor-swift" source="keywords">Taylor Swift</keyword> and Diljit Dosanjh. In each case, fans were exploited through black market ticket sales, with prices soaring well above their official rates. According to Vyas, there is an urgent need for the government and judicial system to intervene, as ticketing platforms and event organisers are either complicit or failing to regulate secondary market sales effectively. <h2>Call for stricter guidelines</h2>The plea calls for the Bombay High Court to lay down stringent guidelines to prevent the black marketing and touting of event tickets. Vyas has asked for a framework that would ensure transparency and fairness in <keyword id="23627269" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-ticket-sales" source="keywords">online ticket sales</keyword> and reduce the exploitation of fans. The PIL emphasises that the lack of proper regulations in India’s ticketing sector has allowed platforms like BookMyShow to bypass rules, leaving consumers vulnerable to deceptive practices. It urges the court to consider the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, as the basis for implementing stricter regulatory measures in the ticketing industry. <h2>Ongoing police investigation</h2>Following last month’s irregularities, Vyas lodged a police complaint with the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police, which is currently conducting an inquiry. The PIL has highlighted the need for a more immediate judicial intervention to prevent further exploitation in upcoming events. As the Coldplay concert approaches, the spotlight remains on the High Court’s response to this plea and whether it will pave the way for reforms that will bring much-needed transparency and accountability to India’s ticketing industry. The court is expected to hear the matter again in November. (With inputs from agencies)

Coldplay concert chaos aftermath: PIL filed in Bombay HC to demand stricter controls over online ticket sales

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Meta's Nick Clegg criticized Elon Musk's X as a platform for elites and unregulated speech.</li><li>Clegg highlighted X's role in allowing some users to incite far-right protests in Britain.</li></ul>A top executive at Meta slammed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-twitter">Elon Musk's X</a> on Thursday, saying it has turned into a "tiny" platform designed for elites.Nick Clegg, Meta's president for global affairs and the former British deputy prime minister, compared X to Facebook and Instagram. He called X an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-advertisers-cannes-speech-tweets-twitter-x-peter-kafka-2024-6">unregulated platform</a> that lets "anyone say anything."In a talk at a think tank in London, Clegg said that Musk turned X, which he bought in 2022, into "a sort of one-man, sort of hyper-partisan and ideological hobby horse."Clegg noted that people barred from Meta's platforms were allowed to continue sharing on X and Telegram right before <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/arrests-violence-riots-uk-far-right-wing-protests-immigration-2024-8">far-right protests and riots that swept Britain</a> last month.Clegg's examples included <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/authorities-raid-andrew-tates-homes-in-underage-sex-investigation-2024-8">Andrew Tate</a>, a self-described "success coach" and misogynist, was barred from Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. He also mentioned Tommy Robinson, a far-right activist who is permanently barred from Meta's platforms for repeatedly breaking policies on hate speech.X said it has 250 million daily active users in a March post, while Meta's platforms had 3.3 billion daily active users, it said in a second-quarter earnings report.To be sure, Meta has faced its share of public criticism for content moderation.In the US, Meta has faced criticism for, among other issues, its role in the<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-ai-moderating-ads-drugs-cocaine-ecstasy-lawmakers-send-letter-2024-8"> illicit sale of drugs</a>. Earlier this year, founder Mark Zuckerberg joined other tech CEOs, including X's, for a Congressional grilling about inadequate <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-ceos-face-senate-in-hearing-over-child-sexual-exploitation-2024-1">safety measures for children</a> online. Internationally, Meta's lack of content moderation and reliance on third-party civil society groups to report misinformation have been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/metas-moderation-is-failing-and-people-are-getting-killed-2023-6">found to play a role in proliferating violence</a> in Myanmar, Iraq, and Ethiopia.<h2 id="e67f2a7f-71c3-4515-bcf7-c2e9a17a30ba">String of problems</h2>The platform that was once Twitter has taken a dramatic turn since Musk's takeover.The serial entrepreneur haphazardly launched a<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/timeline-elon-musks-chaotic-twitter-blue-verification-rollout-2022-11"> paid verification system, </a>which gives users a blue check next to their names. The check was once a coveted status symbol given to verified high-profile users, including journalists, celebrities, politicians, and official agencies, but then became a badge <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-new-twitter-blue-probably-different-color-checks-2022-11">anyone could purchase</a>. The change made it harder for users to spot authentic accounts, and <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-elon-musk-climate-crisis-misinformation-thriving-study-2023-1">misinformation</a> has flourished on X under Musk's leadership.In June this year, Musk's platform allowed X-rated content, as long as it was "properly labeled and not prominently displayed."The platform has also seen a surge in hate speech after the company <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-is-removing-less-hate-speech-eu-criticises-social-media-2022-11">lowered the guardrails </a>on content moderation, dismantled the <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-appears-to-disband-its-trust-and-safety-council-2022-12">Trust and Safety council</a> — which <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/3-members-twitter-trust-and-safety-council-quit-elon-musk-2022-12">recommended</a> ways in which the social media platform could keep users safe — and promoted baseless conspiracy theories, <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-suggests-dr-fauci-should-be-prosecuted-in-tweet-2022-12">some from</a> <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-responds-hillary-clinton-paul-pelosi-attack-rumor-2022-10">Musk himself.</a>Things are not going well from a business perspective, either.X, which runs on premium subscriptions and advertising, said in July 2023 that ad revenue has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-twitter-still-losing-money-heavy-debt-advertisers-flee-2023-7">fallen by about 50%</a>. <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-joins-list-major-companies-leaving-elon-musk-x-2023-12">Major advertisers like Apple, IBM, and Disney pulled their ads</a> after Musk called one X user's antisemitic post the "actual truth." Last month, X also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-x-advertiser-lawsuits-silence-opponents-2024-8">fulfilled</a> its <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://nypost.com/2024/07/11/business/elon-musk-threatens-to-sue-major-companies-over-advertising-boycott-racket/">promise to sue advertisers</a> over their boycotting of the platform.To add to its problems, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-brazil-x-ban-feud-content-moderation-free-speech-2024-9">Brazil suspended the platform </a>earlier this month after it failed to appoint a new legal representative in the country before a court-imposed deadline. Brazil had the platform's fifth-largest user base.Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story, sent outside standard business hours.

Meta exec Nick Clegg blasts Elon Musk's X as a 'tiny' platform for angry elites

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ikea has launched a marketplace for customers to buy pre-owned items, Financial Times reported.</li><li>The pilot program will be tested in Madrid and Oslo through the end of the year.</li></ul>Now, you can pay to reassemble someone's pre-owned <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/using-ikea-interior-designer-service-review-great-value-2024-7">Ikea furniture</a> thanks to a new secondhand marketplace launched by the home furnishings giant.The Financial Times reported that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ikea-first-time-visit-most-surprising-things-2023-12">Ikea</a> is launching its pilot marketplace, Ikea Preowned, to compete with resale sites like eBay in the United States and Gumtree and Finn internationally.So far, only customers in Madrid and Oslo can access the pre-owned offerings, but the company could expand beyond its test markets in the new year, per FT."This has been a dream in the making for a while," Jesper Brodin, chief executive of Ingka, the main operator of Ikea stores, told FT. "We are in a place in Ikea where we can do more advanced and cool stuff. There is an incredible confidence in the company evolving on digital."Sellers list their pre-owned Ikea products on the marketplace with their own photos and listing price, and the site's AI-enabled database automatically populates details like dimensions and promotional images into the listing, FT reported."With this marketplace we want to enable people to connect and support each other to fulfil the needs and dreams of a home and have access to an even more affordable IKEA range," a spokesperson for Ikea told Business Insider.The spokesperson added: "The global second-hand furniture market is growing rapidly, with a projected annual growth rate of 6.4% in 2024. Already today, 10% of the second-hand home furnishing market is made up by IKEA products. With the platform that we are testing in Madrid and Oslo, we have the possibilities to simplify and enhance the experience for both the seller and the buyer."For now, listings on the marketplace are free, but Brodin told the outlet that Ikea may charge a "symbolic" fee in the future. Sellers listing pre-owned items on the marketplace can receive cash payments or an Ikea voucher with a 15% bonus, per FT."We're going to verify the full scope including the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ikea-employee-turnover-problem-increased-wages-flexibility-retail-2024-6">economics</a>," Brodin said. "If a lot of people use the offer to get a discount with Ikea — it's a good way to reconnect with customers. I am very curious. I think it makes business sense."

Ikea aims to compete with eBay with launch of secondhand online marketplace   

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Elon Musk mocked Microsoft over a global IT outage affecting multiple sectors.</li><li>The X owner posted a laughing emoji in response to a meme poking fun at Microsoft.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a> poked fun at Microsoft on Friday over a global IT outage.The billionaire owner of X posted a laughing emoji in response to a meme shared on the social-media platform mocking the disruption. The meme's caption read: "Everything else is down, but this app still works." Airlines, banks, retailers, and healthcare providers are experiencing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/major-disruptions-airline-bank-london-stock-exchange-microsoft-outage-2024-7">widespread disruptions</a> after Microsoft reported problems with its online services linked to an issue at the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike.The issue has left some Windows users unable to access their systems, with a "blue screen of death" appearing on their computer screens.In another post on X, Musk <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1814203437275361458">quoted</a> and resurfaced a post he wrote in 2021: "Macrohard &gt;&gt; Microsoft."James Bore, a cybersecurity expert and managing director at Bores Group, told Business Insider that the outages appeared to have been caused by a CrowdStrike tool called Falcon.Bore said <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fix-windows-computer-blue-screen-death-what-to-try-2024-7">the issue couldn't be fixed automatically</a> and required a manual reboot.CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz said in an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/George_Kurtz/status/1814235001745027317">X</a> post Friday that the cybersecurity firm was "actively working with customers that are impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts." He added that the issue was not a cyberattack or security incident and that "the issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed." Microsoft didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Elon Musk mocks Microsoft over the global IT outage 

Paul got his first bottle of pills from Hims in May. He said he didn't really need the generic Viagra, but after a friend bragged that he'd been using it for years to "go multiple rounds," Paul figured he'd give it a shot. So he signed in to Hims and found that the process of getting it from the direct-to-consumer telehealth company was almost disturbingly easy. Paul, who's in his early 40s, answered some multiple-choice questions online, a doctor supposedly reviewed his responses, and then a bottle of pills showed up in the mail a couple of days later.He's used the drug twice, though it doesn't really work how he thought it would. Nobody had explained what to expect, which probably wouldn't be the case in a regular healthcare setting. When I asked Paul (a pseudonym) why he didn't just go to his regular doctor for the issue, his answer was succinct: "Speed, convenience, positive my doctor would say no." His primary-care provider had mentioned a while back that he thought Viagra was overprescribed.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/booming-direct-consumer-healthcare-business-2018-10">direct-to-consumer health industry</a> has exploded in recent years. The pandemic accelerated the rise of telehealth, which these DTC companies are a part of both culturally and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dea-proposed-rules-controlled-substances-buprenorphine-startups-2023-3">legally</a>. Grand View Research estimates that the global telehealth market was worth $101.2 billion in 2023 and that it's growing rapidly. Multiple startups have popped up to capitalize on this growth, with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-investment-firms-vcs-making-most-telehealth-investments-2021-7">venture capital and investor dollars flowing in</a>. Hims &amp; Hers Health has a market cap of over $4 billion. Ro, one of the other main players in the industry, has raised over $1 billion and has a valuation of $6.6 billion, according to PitchBook.These companies sell a wide array of products to help with everything from weight loss to mental health. Much of their business proposition, however, is targeted specifically at young men and, more specifically, at their insecurities. Are you worried about your hairline? Your fertility? What about getting an erection? Are you scared to talk to a doctor face-to-face about any of this? Well, Hims promises you can "skip the awkward doctor visits" and offers "ED meds from your couch." A "healthy, handsome you" is only a click away."These platforms are basically set up to minimize the distance from advertising and hooking the consumer to getting a prescription in their hand," said Matthew McCoy, an assistant professor in the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. "The advantage of that is efficiency — people, understandably, don't have a lot of time always to spend on these sorts of things. The downside of that is risks that you're not making fully informed decisions or that the kind of advice that you're getting is being colored by the company's financial incentives rather than a doctor's honest opinion of what's in your medical best interest."Those at the forefront of the DTC health revolution have American guys right where they want them: insecure, on edge, and ready to open their wallets.There are some variations in how these services work, but the gist is this: You go to a website (probably because you saw some ad for it), fill out a questionnaire about your condition, maybe chat with a doctor (though often you don't), and then voilà, a prescription is on its way to you in what's promised to be discreet packaging."It typically bypasses traditional healthcare settings, and often there's little to no involvement of a healthcare provider," said Ashwini Nagappan, a doctoral candidate at UCLA's Fielding School of Public Health who has studied DTC medicine and ethics.There is some altruistic appeal: DTC medication services can help with access for people who live in remote areas or can't easily get to a doctor. But for many clients, and especially young men, the upside is that it's simply more convenient than a traditional appointment."In general, men are less likely to utilize healthcare when compared to women," said Joshua Halpern, the chief scientific officer at Posterity Health, a male-fertility clinic, and an adjunct assistant professor of urology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. "And we know that many young men don't even have a primary-care physician to begin with, so the process of establishing care can be daunting, especially when it can take months to get an appointment."Even if they do have a relationship with a medical provider, it may not be the type where they feel comfortable bringing up sensitive or stigmatized issues. Research indicates that when it comes to seeking care for sexual-health concerns, privacy is a primary consideration for young men. A review of literature on DTC telemedicine and men notes that men who use DTC platforms <a target="_blank" href="https://wjmh.org/DOIx.php?id=10.5534/wjmh.230057">cite convenience</a> as an important motivation, as well as embarrassment and discretion. Financial factors, interestingly, aren't very much in play. A survey conducted in late 2019 and early 2020 found that men under 40 and in the middle-income range were <a target="_blank" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36310185/">likelier to use</a> DTC telehealth services than older, wealthier men.While DTC services may help with timely access and do some work on destigmatizing certain issues, there are substantial drawbacks. Men using these services might not get the comprehensive evaluation they need to uncover underlying conditions and address their overall health, Halpern said, and they may not be seeing a healthcare provider who is most appropriate for managing their condition."They can also end up paying more for care that would be more affordable elsewhere or even covered by their medical insurance," he said.His research suggests that some platforms may also be providing what's known as guideline-discordant care, meaning patients are getting unnecessary tests and inappropriate treatments, such as testosterone replacement for men who are trying to conceive, which can be detrimental in some cases. Plenty of doctors have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doctors-worry-about-how-startup-hims-prescribes-viagra-online-2019-2">sounded the alarm about DTC telehealth companies</a>, and some firms have gotten into legal trouble, too. The Department of Justice has charged the leaders of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-adderall-targeted-advertising-opioid-crisis-cerebral-purdue-pharma-2023-7">ADHD-focused telehealth company Done</a> with fraud over its Adderall prescription practices and advertising.For all the issues with DTC companies, it's fair to note that traditional healthcare settings are far from perfect. Patients can lie to their doctors in person. Providers don't always have a full view of their patients' health or everything they're taking. Navigating insurance and appointments is a hassle. But handing out drugs in a faceless manner across the internet is markedly different from what has happened in healthcare historically, and it presents different risks. "When you're in person or you're doing telehealth through a more established healthcare entity, there is a little bit more collection of your medical history," Nagappan said.While DTC platforms say they serve a valuable purpose in getting young men to address medical needs they would otherwise ignore, the monetary factors involved are different from those at a regular physician's office."These companies are in the business of selling drugs," McCoy said. "A medical provider ideally is in the business of providing the best medical care, which sometimes involves writing prescriptions for drugs, but sometimes involves alternative modalities or nothing at all."One man who got generic Viagra through Hims told me he went through the platform to avoid the "8 million" questions his doctor would ask — and he knew he'd probably be approved. "I mean, whenever you deal with these drug companies that are trying to do direct-to-consumer, you've got to know that their doctors are just checking a box," he said. "They're not going to give you too much crap. If you have a pulse, they're going to give you a prescription." (He was also concerned about privacy, but he said the packaging wasn't as discreet as he'd hoped — "Hims" was on the shipping label, and he knows his mail guy.)These companies make money if you buy something, and it's even better if you set up a recurring subscription, so advertising that leans into young men's fears can be especially fruitful."You might say that makes them a target for high-pressure, potentially even manipulative marketing in a way that we should worry about," McCoy said.The dynamic is similar to pharmaceutical ads on TV for drugs like Ozempic or Cialis. Instead of getting advice from disinterested parties, like their doctors, people are getting messages from quite interested parties — pharmaceutical companies — hoping they show up at their next medical visit and make an ask.A spokesperson for Hims said in an email that a "core tenet" of the company is "to help people address issues that may be hard to talk about, but are important for feeling good and being healthy" and that its platform and customer experience is "is designed to help customers bypass the various hurdles that come with getting the care and accessing necessary treatments." When asked how doctors are compensated, they said it's a time-based model that takes into consideration time spent and "certain efficiency metrics," but it's not about prescriptions written. The spokesperson emphasized that "the health and well-being of our customers will always be our top priority" and confirmed that fees are only charged if someone receives treatment. A spokesperson for Ro said that it's a "misconception" that its patient base skews younger and that 87% are over 30. They said that providers' prescribing decisions do not impact their compensation and provided a link to their operating system.DTC telehealth can play a role in people getting treatment they may otherwise not seek, whether for alcoholism or depression or hair loss, and at the very least it can help people realize they're not so alone in whatever issue that's ailing them. While I was reporting for this story, a friend told me he got a hair-loss prescription from Hims after his barber mentioned his bald spot — to me, that seems fine.But it's hard not to recognize these companies' financial incentives and the ways they may distort care. They're prescribing all sorts of drugs constantly and not asking too many questions in the process. That young guy listening to a hair-loss ad on his favorite podcast isn't just a patient — he's a customer.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/emily-stewart">Emily Stewart</a> is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, writing about business and the economy.

Online health providers are preying on young men's worst fears

New Delhi [India], August 1 (ANI): The <keyword id="20104222" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="season-finale" source="keywords">season finale</keyword> episode '<keyword id="20023656" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="House-of-the-Dragon" source="keywords">House of the Dragon</keyword>' has <keyword id="21676044" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="leaked-online" source="keywords">leaked online</keyword> days before its release. Clips from the eighth episode, which was set to air on August 4, were illegally uploaded to <keyword id="19932634" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TikTok" source="keywords">TikTok</keyword> on Tuesday night and quickly spread across other social media platforms, as per The Hollywood Reporter. These clips appeared to be recorded by someone filming a screen with a secondary device. <keyword id="19911380" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="HBO" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="HBO" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="HBO">HBO</keyword> released a statement saying, "We are aware that clips from the House of the Dragon season finale have surfaced across social media platforms. The clips were posted after an unintentional release from an international third-party distributor. HBO is aggressively monitoring and removing clips from the internet, and fans can watch the episode in its entirety this Sunday night on HBO and Max." The '<keyword id="20023654" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Game-of-Thrones" source="keywords">Game of Thrones</keyword>' franchise has faced similar issues in the past, often occurring when episodes are sent to HBO's global content partners just before airing, as per The Hollywood Reporter. The 2022 leak, for example, was traced back to a distributor covering Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. 'House of the Dragon' takes place two hundred years before the events of 'Game of Thrones', the HBO megahit that ran for eight seasons from 2011 to 2019.

Clips from 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 finale get leaked online

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Google faces a landmark antitrust trial over its alleged digital ad market monopoly.</li><li>The DOJ and 17 states allege Google used acquisitions and ad auction tactics illegally.</li></ul>Google executives and lawyers are headed to the Eastern District of Virginia Courthouse on Monday to face a landmark antitrust trial that could result in the breakup of its business.That outcome would be a boon for Google's adtech rivals but wouldn't necessarily provide an instant panacea for the publishers and advertisers that have come to depend on its services.The case, brought by the US Department of Justice and 17 state attorneys general, alleges that Google used acquisitions and anticompetitive ad auction tactics to build an illegal monopoly of the digital ad market.The trial is focused on the open web display ad market and the tools that power the ad auctions that happen in the milliseconds it takes for a webpage to load.Google owns an ad server that publishers use to manage their ad inventory, buying tools that advertisers use to purchase ads, and an ad exchange that connects the two. It owns the most popular of all three technologies, which the DOJ alleges helped the company impede rivals, inflate advertising costs, and reduce revenue for publishers.The trial is set to last multiple weeks, and Google will likely appeal if the judge doesn't rule in its favor. That means it could be months before the real ramifications of the case are known.Still, the case is being closely watched by all members of the online ad ecosystem, which is expected to reach some <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://chart-na1.emarketer.com/265167/digital-ad-spending-worldwide-2022-2027-billions-change-of-total-ad-spending#_gl=1*i6ho3e*_gcl_au*MjM0MjQ1ODQ0LjE3MjI5NDExNzUuMTI1NDc4NTAuMTcyMjk0MTE3Ni4xNzIyOTQxMTc4">$691 billion in spending this year</a>. The DOJ and the states are seeking a breakup of Google's adtech business. Such a move would not only transform the online advertising landscape. It would be the "biggest forced corporate shake-up since Microsoft unbundled the Internet Explorer browser in 2000," Macquarie media tech analyst Tim Nollen wrote in a recent research note.Business Insider interviewed analysts, legal experts, and adtech insiders to explore how the industry would shape up if Google is declawed. Google on Sunday published a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/public-policy/google-ad-tech-sept-2024/">blog post</a> that said it intends to show in court how advertisers and publishers choose to use its adtech because it "simple, affordable, and effective."<h2 id="d9ba6873-391d-40b5-ab40-742d45033c22">A Google breakup would be a major boost for rival adtech firms like The Trade Desk and Magnite</h2>It's hard to find an adtech company that isn't gunning for Google to lose this case.The DOJ wants the judge to rule that Google needs to separate its publisher adtech — the DoubleClick for Publishers ad server and its Google AdExchange — from its advertiser adtech, namely its Google Ads and Display &amp; Video 360 ad-buying platforms.<div type="image" title="Google's ad tech stack" height="666" width="1276" msid="113191335" hostid="261" sizebytes="24658"></div>The argument goes that by owning the entire adtech stack, Google has access to a huge pool of ad inventory that it can tie to demand on its ad-buying platforms. That setup means most publishers select Google as their ad server, the complaint argues.Plus, Google has troves of user data from its logged-in users on platforms like Chrome and Gmail. Combined, that gives Google wide visibility across the entire auction process, the ability to refine its bids accordingly, and a way to self-preference its own ad inventory tech, the complaint says.Many industry experts think that untethering Google's supply and demand side would level the playing field for competing tech companies with big advertising businesses, such as Meta and Amazon, as well as pureplay adtech firms. That, in turn, could boost innovation in the space, reducing costs for advertisers and increasing revenue for publishers, some experts say."[Demand-side platforms] like The Trade Desk, [supply-side platforms] like Magnite and PubMatic, specialist ad tech services like Criteo, and companies supporting alternative IDs and data collaboration like LiveRamp, all should see a better competitive landscape without the heavy hands of Google scooping up so much of the business itself, and for its own purposes (YouTube)," Macquarie's Nollen wrote in a recent research note.Separately, a divestiture could encourage more transparency and traceability of data flows within the online ad ecosystem, Elettra Bietti, assistant professor of law and computer science at Northeastern University, told Business Insider."Transparency, in turn, could lead to better regulation of surveillance and behavioral advertising, which is currently a significant concern for privacy advocates," she added.<h2 id="22fbad15-d850-486a-8c45-0310325ac6af">A DOJ win isn't necessarily good news for all publishers and advertisers</h2>Google and its lawyers are expected to argue in court that a breakup of its adtech stack would harm publishers and advertisers and make it more difficult for the company to invest in important research in areas like artificial intelligence.The barrier to entry to start advertising on Google Ads is incredibly low, which is part of the reason why it has attracted so many small business advertisers.Mark Jamison, director and professor of the Public Utility Research Center and director of the Digital Markets Initiative at the University of Florida, has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.aei.org/technology-and-innovation/small-businesses-should-be-wary-of-a-breakup-of-google/">said</a> a breakup of Google and the resulting free-for-all from lower quality adtech players could result in higher ad prices and lower quality ads."Absent evidence that Google is artificially restricting the quantity or quantity of ads, and that consumers would accept more ads, a breakup of Google's business will harm small businesses by removing their preferred advertising channel," he told Business Insider.One publisher tech executive, who asked for anonymity to preserve business relationships, said while many in the publishing community are unhappy with some of Google's historical actions, a breakup might not be the best outcome.This executive said that if Google sold off its sell-side business, its DV360 ad-buying platform might not have any incentive to continue spending on the open web and instead just direct even more ad dollars to Google's own platforms. Separately, they said that while a separation of Google's ad server and its ad exchange would be good for competition in the adtech market, it might drive ad server costs up for publishers.Google's ad server is "a loss leader, they make all their money in AdX," the exec said, referring to Google's ad exchange that connects buyers and sellers.<h2 id="302448a4-afd4-4a39-b44d-78c9314e5f31">Global regulators have Google in their sights, too</h2>Any unraveling of Google's ad empire would be complex.A separate adtech company would still likely be worth billions, meaning any potential suitor with enough capital to acquire it would encounter its own competition issues. It's more likely that it would be spun off into a separate company. But then there's also the technical challenge of untangling assets that, by design, have become so intertwined.Either way, experts generally think Google will probably come away from this trial with a bloody nose as regulators are increasingly taking a dim view of its advertising practices. The company recently lost a separate search ads antitrust trial.Over the pond, the European Union said last year it might look to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-says-it-may-seek-breakup-of-googles-ad-tech-business-b988fd78">break up</a> Google's adtech business. And just last Friday, the UK's competition watchdog <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-objects-to-googles-ad-tech-practices-in-bid-to-help-uk-advertisers-and-publishers">said</a> its investigation into Google's adtech practices had provisionally found Google had abused its dominant positions in operating its publisher ad server and ad buying tools. In a statement, Google said it disagreed with the CMA's findings, which it said were based on "flawed interpretations of the ad tech sector.""It's a bad month to be a monopolist," <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ariellesgarcia_usvgoogle-activity-7237762680244113408-tR5g?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop">wrote</a> Arielle Garcia, director of intelligence at adtech watchdog Check My Ads.

Inside the landmark Google adtech antitrust trial that could transform the $700 billion global digital ad market

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo says she's leaving X after 14 years on the platform.</li><li>In a lengthy farewell post, she said the platform has become a "gigantic global sewer."</li></ul>Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo says she's leaving X after more than 14 years on the platform, formerly known as Twitter.In a lengthy statement <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Anne_Hidalgo/status/1729079532240384196">shared on X</a> and through the French news outlet <a target="_blank" href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2023/11/27/paris-mayor-anne-hidalgo-i-have-made-the-decision-to-leave-twitter_6291847_23.html">Le Monde</a> on Monday, Hidalgo highlighted a long list of issues that she says plague the platform — including anti-semitism, misinformation, and attacks on women, scientists, and environmentalists — and said X was "an impressive tool for destroying our democracies.""This platform and its owner intentionally exacerbates tensions and conflicts," she wrote in French, adding that the platform has "become a gigantic global sewer.""To remain true to my convictions and my commitment, I am leaving Twitter today," Hidalgo wrote on Monday. Her post has been liked more than 2,700 times. An early proponent of Twitter, Hidalgo <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Anne_Hidalgo/status/1380860248">joined the platform</a> in 2009 when she was the deputy mayor of Paris. One of her first tweets was an invitation to Paris residents to join a dialogue session.Hidalgo, who has over 1.5 million followers on X, wrote that she would remain on other platforms "in which respectful exchanges can still take place," referring to her accounts on social media rivals Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and LinkedIn.Her departure adds to the growing chorus of public figures criticizing the management and direction of X under Elon Musk.Musk has faced <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/musk-faces-consequences-for-calling-antisemitic-tweet-actual-truth-2023-11">considerable backlash</a> after endorsing an antisemitic post on X on November 16. His actions <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-criticized-business-leaders-tesla-investors-endorsement-antisemitic-theory-2023-11">drew condemnation</a> from figures including long-time Tesla investor Ross Gerber and Facebook cofounder Dustin Moskovitz.The ongoing controversy has led to corporate fallout for X, with major companies like Apple, IBM, and Disney <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-companies-drop-ads-x-twitter-antisemitism-elon-musk-2023-11">pulling their ads</a> from the platform. This exodus could potentially cost X <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-antisemitic-post-could-cost-x-millions-advertiser-revenue-2023-11">up to $75 million</a> in ad revenue by the end of 2023, according to The New York Times.Hidalgo's X account was still online as of 11 p.m. EST. Hidalgo did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.X and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment from BI, sent outside regular business hours.

The mayor of Paris is making a loud exit from X, calling the platform a 'gigantic global sewer'

India has witnessed the fastest jump in alternative payment share for <keyword id="21422684" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="e-commerce-payments" source="keywords">e-commerce payments</keyword> in the <keyword id="20122305" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Asia-Pacific-region" source="keywords">Asia-pacific region</keyword> from 20.4% in 2018 to 58.1% in 2023 as per a report by GlobalData, a data and analytics company. Options for payment other than traditional cash include <keyword id="19900911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPI" source="keywords">UPI</keyword>, <keyword id="6354770" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="debit-cards" source="Orion">debit cards</keyword> and <keyword id="6387037" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-cards" source="Orion">credit cards</keyword> among others. "This significant uptake of alternative payment solutions can be attributed to the widespread usage of <keyword id="21223853" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mobile-wallets" source="keywords">mobile wallets</keyword>, largely driven by UPI, which facilitates mobile payments in real-time simply by scanning <keyword id="19993724" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="QR-codes" source="keywords">QR codes</keyword>," GlobalData report elaborated. The report highlights that in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, the payment solutions such as mobile and digital wallets have displaced traditional payment methods like cash and bank transfers for e-commerce payments. The report states that such alternative payments are already immensely popular in countries like <keyword id="1334" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="china" source="Orion">China</keyword> and India and are also gaining traction in other APAC markets as well. However, China led the way in 2023, with alternative payments accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total e-commerce payments value in 2023 that took place in the entire Asia Pacific region. However, India is also not far behind, with a significant surge in alternative payment methods since 2018. The e-commerce analytics by the company revealed that even traditionally cash-intensive countries in APAC such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, are witnessing a similar trend. "While most Asian markets are traditionally cash-dominated, the adoption of alternative payment methods for both online and in-store payments is growing across many markets in the region, even outpacing the West. This trend is driven by the rising smartphone and internet accessibility, increasing convenience of electronic payments, and the proliferation of mobile and QR code-based payment solutions" said Shiv Gupta, Senior Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData. The report also highlights that within the Asia-Pacific region, China and India have a higher adoption rate of alternative payment methods as compared to their peers. According to the company's 2023 Financial Services Consumer Survey, alternative payment solutions account for more than 65% of the e-commerce transaction value in China, the largest e-commerce market globally. It represents a significant increase from 53.4% in 2018. Other Asian markets like Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines are also seeing higher adoption of alternative payment solutions. "Alternative payment solutions accounts for lion share in e-commerce markets across many APAC countries, supported by rising internet and smartphone penetration, and growing acceptance of digital payments by merchants. With the convenience, speed, and security they offer, coupled with high expected growth in the overall e-commerce market in the region, these payment tools are anticipated to further gain traction and disrupt the consumer payment space in the region" said Gupta.

India's non-cash payments on e-commerce platforms surge to 58.1% in 2023

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Former FBI agent Jason Hogg shared five tips to stay safe online.</li><li>Hogg emphasized the importance of verifying messages and being cautious with social media.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jason Hogg, a former FBI agent and an executive at the private equity firm Great Hill Partners. It has been edited for length and clarity.I can't talk too much about it, but I was a special agent with the FBI.As a member of Special Operations Group 13, I was exposed to a wide range of humanity's worst — from organized crime and terrorist activity to financial abuse and online death threats.After I left the FBI, I became the global CEO of a cybersecurity firm, where I ran everything from digital forensic investigations to penetration testing.The problem with staying safe on the internet nowadays is that the horse is out of the barn. But there are still things you can do.Here are five simple things to bear in mind on the internet:<h2 id="66b0c235-2235-478c-bdd0-056dacd9b5d0">Always be suspicious</h2>If you receive a video, phone call, voicemail, email, or direct message, try to confirm independently with the sender that it's real.If you don't recognize the number on a phone call, but it sounds like the person, put them on hold and independently verify it.Someone once tried to execute a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hacker-online-scams-getting-worse-ai-cybersecurity-expert-2024-9">deepfake call</a> on my mother. They sounded like my eldest daughter. My mom was 80 years old then, but the good news is that multiple people in her family were FBI agents or detectives, so she was immediately suspicious.She called me to check, and my daughter was with me, so she knew it was fake. Other people have not been that careful in the past.<h2 id="32b738df-1457-478e-b66d-725359185f66">Listen to your phone</h2>You know how your phone sometimes tells you your passwords have been compromised in a data leak? Some people just ignore that, which is astonishing to me.My father was the former CEO of MasterCard and a former FBI agent himself, but he still ended up having a significant amount of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-avoid-online-scam-ex-mastercard-exec-2024-9">money removed from his checking account</a> due to compromised credentials that he did not reset.Check the list of apps that have compromised passwords — you might be surprised at how many websites you have a password for in the first place — and go into the apps and change your passwords, at least for the important ones.Don't use the same password for absolutely everything. You don't need to have 150 passwords for 150 websites — but spread them out.I know it's a pain, but you are better safe than sorry.<h2 id="839fa3ab-b7e4-4211-b803-7ad79d39b394">Free WiFi is a risk</h2>If you are going to be using free WiFi at coffee shops or stations, definitely think about installing a VPN on your phone. It's so easy.And do not make financial transactions on a public WiFi network. You don't know who could have access to that information.<h2 id="75e4280b-83f0-4d43-8c6f-ee90d7127f83">Lock your credit information down</h2>It's easy. Just call the reporting agency (like Experian) and tell them you want to lock your credit bureau. They will develop a passkey for you to unlock it later.My lifelong friend's father had his <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-score/how-to-reduce-identity-theft-risk">identity stolen</a> once, and he didn't have his credit bureaus locked down.The criminals used a false identity to purchase real estate in Brooklyn in his name and used the real estate to conduct fraudulent transactions.It was quite a personal and financial disruption in his life.This is something a lot of people don't do, but it's a free procedure that makes you instantly more protected against fraud.<h2 id="83142354-c2c2-4d7c-94f5-e5a3c69a407c">Post intelligently</h2>Whenever you are posting, always assume it could be used in some form against you. Would you still post it?It's one thing to post pictures of you having a good time — you do you — but it's another thing to go and publicly tag every person in the photo.For all the positive things that come from social media, it creates a treasure trove of information for bad actors. You have video, you have pictures, you have associations of friendship. You also have machine learning that can go through all of that at an incredible rate of speed — something that we've never seen before until now.There are service platforms and ransomware on the dark web that accelerate these exploits. That's also how <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-image-generators-used-by-children-to-create-indecent-images-safety-group-2023-11">deepfakes</a> are becoming more and more convincing — they use voice and image models from videos and photos that are out there already.

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