Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<keyword id="54201" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="malware" source="Orion">Malware</keyword> attacks against Internet of Things (<keyword id="1967280" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="iot" source="Orion">IoT</keyword>) and Operational Technology (OT) devices have increased by 400 per cent this year when compared to the previous year, a new report showed on Wednesday.<br /><br />The report by the cloud security company Zscaler, which analysed approximately 3,00,000 blocked attacks on IoT devices over a six-month period, highlighted the relentless nature of cyber threat actors, revealing that attackers are primarily targeting legacy vulnerabilities. <br /><br />"Weak enforcement of security standards for IoT device manufacturers coupled with the proliferation of shadow IoT devices at the enterprise level poses a significant threat to global organisations. Often, threat actors target 'unmanaged and unpatched' devices to gain an initial foothold into the environment," said <keyword id="19262089" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="deepen-desai" source="Orion">Deepen Desai</keyword>, Global CISO and Head of Security Research, Zscaler.<br /><br />The researchers indicated that cybercriminals are targeting legacy vulnerabilities, with 34 of the 39 most popular IoT exploits specifically directed at vulnerabilities that have existed for over three years. <br /><br />The '<keyword id="6595" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mirai" source="Orion">Mirai</keyword>' and 'Gafgyt' malware families continue to account for 66 per cent of attack payloads, creating botnets from infected IoT devices that are then used to launch denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against lucrative businesses, according to the report.<br /><br />Manufacturing and retail accounted for nearly 52 per cent of IoT device traffic, with 3D printers, geolocation trackers, industrial control devices, automotive multimedia systems, data collection terminals, and payment terminals sending the majority of signals over digital networks.<br /><br />The education sector experienced a substantial increase in IoT malware attacks, with a percentage jump of 961 per cent.<br /><br />The wealth of personal data stored on their networks has made educational institutions particularly attractive targets, leaving students and administrations vulnerable, the report said.<br /><br />In addition, the report showed that the US is a top target for IoT malware authors, with 96 per cent of all IoT malware distributed from compromised IoT devices in the country.<br /><br />Mexico experienced the most infections, with 46 per cent of all IoT malware infections. <br /><br /><b>SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/android-smartphones-to-get-more-generative-ai-features-with-this-new-qualcomm-chipset/articleshow/104690419.cms" target="_blank"></a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/android-smartphones-to-get-more-generative-ai-features-with-this-new-qualcomm-chipset/articleshow/104690419.cms" target="_blank">Android smartphones to get more generative AI features with this new Qualcomm chipset</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/how-to-get-an-iphone-under-rs-50000-in-india/articleshow/104694207.cms" target="_blank"></a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/how-to-get-an-iphone-under-rs-50000-in-india/articleshow/104694207.cms" target="_blank">Aspire owning an iPhone? Here’s how to get one for less than ₹50,000 in India</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/best-premium-cars-and-suvs-with-cng-in-india/slidelist/104652159.cms" target="_blank"></a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/best-premium-cars-and-suvs-with-cng-in-india/slidelist/104652159.cms" target="_blank">The premium CNG cars – From Maruti Suzuki XL6 to Tata Altroz</a></b><br />

IoT malware attacks up by 400% this year: Report

Professional networking major <keyword id="28120" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="linkedin" source="Orion">LinkedIn</keyword> has been hit by several state-of-the-art recruitment scams after massive tech layoffs, and fraudsters are cheating those sacked by offering them jobs that do not exist.<br /><br />According to the Financial Times, phony recruitments are being run by scammers pretending to be employers on Microsoft-owned LinkedIn.<br /><br />"There's certainly an increase in the sophistication of the attacks and the cleverness," Oscar Rodriguez, LinkedIn's vice president of product management, was quoted as saying in the report.<br /><br />The platform has sought to block tens of millions of fake accounts in recent months, as regulators warn of a spike in job-related frauds.<br /><br />Cyber security company <keyword id="2426820" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="zscaler" source="Orion">Zscaler</keyword> recently described a scam that targeted job aspirants, where fraudsters approached people through LinkedIn's direct messaging feature InMail.<br /><br />"They also created <keyword id="6377887" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="skype" source="Orion">Skype</keyword> profiles with the picture of the real recruiter from the companies to conduct interviews as well," Deepen Desai, vice-president of security research at Zscaler, was quoted as saying.<br /><br />The fraudsters are now using artificial intelligence (AI) to create profile photos that can fool human eyes very easily.<br /><br />The <keyword id="160745" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="us-federal-trade-commission" source="Orion">US Federal Trade Commission</keyword> (FTC) recently said there were more than 92,000 job-related and business scams in 2022, with $367.4 million reported stolen.<br /><br />"We see websites being set up, we see phone numbers with a seemingly professional operator picking up the phone and answering on the company's behalf. We see a move to more sophisticated deception," Rodriguez was quoted as saying.<br /><br />Thousands of tech employees have lost their jobs at Big Tech and other companies in the global macroeconomic conditions.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/after-jammu-karnataka-next-in-turn-for-good-news-on-lithium-in-mandya/articleshow/98244881.cms" style="">After Jammu, Karnataka next in turn for good news on lithium in Mandya</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/dgca-plans-to-hire-400-tech-staff-in-1-2-years-increase-offices-to-19-arun-kumar/articleshow/98248431.cms" style="">DGCA plans to hire 400 tech staff in 1-2 years; increase offices to 19: Arun Kumar</a><br /><br /></strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/iit-madras-to-establish-100-crore-innovation-entrepreneurship-fund/articleshow/98244674.cms"><strong>IIT Madras to establish ₹100 crore Innovation &amp; Entrepreneurship fund</strong></a><br />

LinkedIn hit with state-of-the-art recruitment scams amid tech layoffs

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Funding Circle</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>The <keyword id="6354868" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="UK">UK</keyword>'s 2 biggest peer-to-peer lenders, Zopa and Funding Circle, have lost at least £50.5 million since the first platform opened up in 2005, according to an analysis of accounts by Business Insider.</p><p>These are not losses of investors who have loaned money over their platforms but losses made by the companies themselves in the course of running these platforms.</p><p>The big losses at Zopa and Funding Circle raise questions about profitability in the sector, which is dealing with slowing growth and increased scepticism from investors and the financial establishment.</p><p>The two platforms have <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/interview-with-funding-circles-samir-desai-and-sam-hodges-2015-10">facilitated almost £3 billion of loans between them</a> but Funding Circle, founded in 2010, has never made a profit, while Zopa, founded in 2005, made a small profit 2 years running, totalling less than £60,000.</p><p>Here's the breakdown of Zopa and Funding Circle's financial performance, as per accounts filed with Companies House:</p><ul><li><strong>Zopa:</strong> <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/peer-to-peer-lender-zopas-2014-accounts-2015-9">losses between 2005 and 2014 total £21.79 million</a>, according to accounts filed with Companies House, on cumulative revenues of £25.84 million. The platform made a small profit in in 2011 and 2012, totalling £58,648.</li><li><strong>Funding Circle:</strong> cumulative net loss of £28.71 million on total revenues of £20.89 million, according to accounts covering 2010 to 2014. The company has yet to make a profit.</li></ul><p>These losses have been funded by investment from venture capitalists: <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/interview-with-funding-circles-samir-desai-and-sam-hodges-2015-10">$273 million (£208.1 million) for Funding Circle</a> and <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/zopa-raising-more-than-100-million-at-a-760-million-valuation-2015-12">at least $56.6 million (£43 million) for Zopa</a>, <a href="https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/zopa#/entity">according to Crunchbase</a>.</p><h2>A hot sector cools off</h2><p>Peer-to-peer platforms let individuals and institutions invest directly in consumer or business loans through the internet, although business models have grown increasingly complicated for many platforms. Zopa, which focuses on consumer loans, first pioneered the idea in 2005 but plenty more platforms sprung up after the 2008 financial crisis.</p><p>The sector was one of the hottest areas of tech at the start of last year, with investors mesmerized by fast growth rates.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Zopa</span></p><p class="caption">Zopa CEO Jaidev Janardana.</p></div><p></p></div></div>But VCs, banks, and analysts are growing more wary after a series of bad news stories out of the US.</p><p>LendingClub, the biggest American peer-to-peer lender, lost its founder and CEO earlier this year <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/lendingclub-faces-doj-and-sec-investigations-could-buy-more-of-its-loans-2016-5">over a scandal involving fudging loan details to sell on to banks</a>. It is being investigated by the US Department of Justice.</p><p>Online lender Avant Credit has also been forced to <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/07/01/avant-online-lender-layoffs-2/">scale back lending targets and headcount amid a slowdown in the industry</a>.</p><p>Peer-to-peer lending volumes in the UK <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/uk-peer-to-peer-lending-volume-is-down-for-the-first-time-2016-7">fell in the second quarter of 2016 for the first time ever</a>.</p><p>Looking for alternative capital sources, Funding Circle launched the first European securitization of marketplace loans in May, but <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/marketplace-abs-idUKL5N18229Y">Reuters reported at the time</a> that it "leant heavily on public sector entities... casting doubts over whether real-money buyers are ready to embrace the emerging asset class." US platforms <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-25/prosper-said-to-pitch-fund-that-would-purchase-its-online-loans">Prosper</a> and <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-09/online-lender-sofi-starts-hedge-fund-to-invest-in-its-own-loans">SoFi are both setting up vehicles to buy their own loans</a> in a bid to attract more capital to keep growth going.</p><p>Neil Tomlinson, Deloitte's head of UK banking, concluded in an extensive recent report on the online lending sector that peer-to-peer lenders are <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/deloitte-report-marketplace-lending-not-significant-players-peer-to-peer-2016-5">"unlikely to pose a threat to banks" and "will not be significant players in terms of overall volume or share."</a></p><h2>'Investors and the business have placed more value on investing in our growth'</h2><p>The argument of both Zopa and Funding Circle is that they are losing money because they are investing in growth. That's fair - it's an established model for tech startups to plough money into winning market share and developing their product in the early years. Peer-to-peer also didn't exist just over a decade ago, so it's impressive that platforms like Zopa and Funding Circle have helped build it into a multibillion-pound industry.</p><p>Funding Circle, which offers loans to small businesses, declined to comment on its losses when contacted by BI but <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/funding-circle-2014-accounts-and-2015-run-rate-2015-8">pointed to comments CEO Samir Desai made to BI last year</a> when we reported the company's latest financial results. <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/funding-circle-2014-accounts-and-2015-run-rate-2015-8">Desai said at the time</a>:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"If you actually look at the core business of doing loans in the UK - strip away the technology investment and all the other extra stuff we're doing - the business is already profitable in the UK and is moving that way in the US as well. A lot of the investment we're doing is investing in creating a global business."</p><p>Zopa's CEO Jaidev Janardana told BI in an emailed statement:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"We have demonstrated that our business model is profitable with two consecutive profitable years in 2011 and 2012. Since then our investors and the business have placed more value on investing in our growth. In doing so we have been able to double our loan volumes last year, deliver positive returns for our customers at the same time investing in talent, technology, and our office.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"This all means we are in the best position to deliver on our strategic plan for continued growth and profitability long-term. Looking forward, I'm glad to say that we expect to be EBIDTA positive in Q4 2016 and profitable in 2017."</p><h2>'Pressure will build on the industry to mature'</h2><p>Christian Faes, CEO of the UK's fourth largest marketplace lender LendInvest, told BI he thinks that loss-making platforms will face increased pressure to turn a profit to "prove that they can." Remember, <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/uk-peer-to-peer-lending-volume-is-down-for-the-first-time-2016-7">the growth that Zopa and Funding Circle are chasing could be disappearing.</a></p><p>Faes told BI: "There has been a lot of hype around FinTech and P2P and there is clearly huge potential, but in the next few years investor pressure will build on the industry to mature. It's no longer going to be about hitting impressive headline lending numbers; it's got to be more about trying to build financially viable businesses.</p><p>"Over the next few years, the businesses that can prove that they can make a profit will be the ones that are going to be around in another ten years, making a lasting impact on finance."</p><p>LendInvest, which lets investors put money into short-term mortgages for people looking to renovate then sell properties, <a href="https://www.lendinvest.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/LendInvest-Annual-Report.pdf">made a pre-tax profit of £3.1 million in 2015 and £1.1 million in 2014</a>.</p><p>Together Zopa and Funding Circle make up the number 1 and 2 peer-to-peer lenders in the UK by volume lent. Zopa, which offers consumer loans, has lent £1.55 billion since launch and small business lender Funding Circle has lent £1.34 billion, according to recent figures from industry body the P2PFA.</p><p>Aside from LendInvest, Zopa, and Funding Circle, the UK's two other top 5 peer-to-peer lenders by volume have both made a profit.</p><p>MarketInvoice <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/marketinvoice-raises-6-million-in-series-a-round-2015-8">told BI earlier this year that it turned a profit in 2013 and 2014</a>. CEO Anil Stocker added in an emailed statement: "We've had a profitable business model since the early days of MarketInvoice and in 2015 entered an accelerated growth phase."</p><p>RateSetter, the UK's third biggest peer-to-peer lender, has <a href="https://members.ratesetter.com/static/images/website/pressreleases/2015/ratesetter2014-15accountsfinal.pdf">disclosed figures</a> <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/peer-to-peer-lender-ratesetter-bullish-on-2015-prospects-9988130.html">in the press in the past</a>. They suggest the company made a total profit of £223,00 between 2013 and 2015, on revenues of £18.9 million.</p><p>A spokesperson for RateSetter told BI: "We have recorded a profit for two consecutive financial years, proving that our model works and is sustainable. We are now investing to scale up, broaden, and deepen our market while continuing to deliver maximum value for investors."</p><p class="tagline"><div id="categorypromo"><p></p></div></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tony-robbins-paul-tudor-jones-investing-strategy-asymmetric-risk-reward-2016-6">TONY ROBBINS: Here's the secret to investing like hedge fund billionaire Paul Tudor Jones</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="tmdTBiNDE6SKN_YOQvCv5SewPEU8ta9Z" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Britain's 2 biggest peer-to-peer lenders lost &#163;50 million in the last decade

<p class="p1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Flickr/Maryland GovPics</span></p><p class="caption">Use these tips to become the most interesting person at a party.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Even the briefest lull in a conversation can prompt some people to wonder: "Am I boring?"</p><p class="p1">The honest answer is that you're probably perfectly fascinating - but you can always become more so. It's a question of collecting new skills, knowledge, and experiences and learning how to share them with others.</p><p class="p1">To find out how to do that, we checked out the Quora thread, "<a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person">How do I become a more interesting person?</a>" and pinpointed the most practical advice. Read on for ways to capture people's interest and win their admiration.</p><h3 class="p1">1. Develop new skills.</h3><p class="p1">One way to ensure that other people find you interesting is to make yourself helpful in any situation. That's why Quora user Anthony N. Lee <a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Anthony-N-Lee">suggests</a> learning as many useful skills as you can, from web design to sewing.</p><p class="p1">That way, you'll always be the go-to person, whether a friend needs to create a website for her new business or a blanket for her baby niece.</p><h3 class="p1">2. Be curious.</h3><p class="p2">One way to ensure that you're <em>not</em> interesting is by closing yourself off to differing opinions and viewpoints. Instead, you should actively seek out new ideas and experiences that will change the way you think and feel.</p><p class="p1">Sudhir Desai advocates being a "lifelong learner." He <a href="http://qr.ae/RF4vZR">writes</a>: "Keep an open mind, be curious. Allow for a complex world with multiple interpretations. Learn things to deepen and broaden your perspectives."  </p><h3 class="p1"><span class="s1">3. Learn how to tell a good story.</span></h3><p class="p1">Maybe you've amassed a ton of information and experiences - but if you can't communicate them to other people, you're sunk.</p><p class="p3">That's why Marcus Geduld <a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Marcus-Geduld">says</a> you should learn how to be a storyteller: "You don't just dump whatever is on your mind into the conversation; you purposefully shape it to make it interesting. … Start thinking of your life as a gift you can give to others. Wrap it in the finest paper you can find."</p><p class="p1">Geduld says that means you need to learn how to read your audience to see how long they'll be able to pay attention and tease your listeners with clues to the end of the story. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gvahim/14112239109/in/album-72157639272997445/">Gvahim/Flickr</a></span></p><p class="caption">Actively listen to what people are saying, and they'll probably think you're interesting.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h3 class="p1">4. Listen and show compassion.</h3><p class="p1">A striking number of Quora users mentioned that one way to seem interest<em>ing</em> is to be interest<em>ed </em>in others.</p><p class="p4"><a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Quentin-Hardy">Writes</a> Quentin Hardy: "Listen carefully to others, and try with some compassion to understand their motives and actions. Few of us are really good at this. Everyone becomes nearly infinite in their experience of life, if we listen to them with enough imagination. Working that out grows ourselves. Wondering if you're wrong helps, too."</p><h3 class="p6">5. Ask good questions.</h3><p class="p6">At a party, you don't need to say much about yourself for people to believe you're interesting. Instead, engage them in deep conversation about <em>their</em> lifestyle.</p><p class="p6">"Ask thoughtful (not prying) questions, as needed, about them and their interests and priorities," <a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Stephanie-Vardavas">says</a> Stephanie Vardavas. "Really listen to the answers. Follow up with more thoughtful discussion and necessary questions (again, not prying). By the end of the evening they will remember you as one of the most interesting people they ever met."</p><h3 class="p6">6. Say what you think.</h3><p class="p6">Kat Li <a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Kat-Li">says</a> people who don't opine on or disagree with <em>anything</em> can be boring.</p><p class="p6">"You feel like you can't really ever have a conversation with them," she writes. "You should try to say what you really think about some things, even if other people won't like it."</p><h3 class="p6">7. Follow your interests.</h3><p class="p6">Instead of learning about a ton of dull topics just for the sake of being knowledgeable, pursue areas that you actually find stimulating. That way, you'll sound animated and engaging when describing them to other people.</p><p class="p6">"I don't think it's as much a matter of <em>trying</em> to be interesting as much as it is naturally following what you enjoy, being an avid student and collector of information that interests and excites you," <a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Renee-Nay-1">writes</a> Renee Nay.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/luce/2970601463">p.v/Flickr</a></span></p><p class="caption">Reading a lot gives you a more interesting perspective on the world.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h3 class="p6">8. Read a lot.</h3><p class="p7">If you have the time and money to travel the world, great. But even if you don't, you can still learn about different cultures and historical periods by reading everything you can get your hands on. Books, blogs, periodicals - expose yourself to as many new stories and ideas as possible.</p><p class="p6">"Read a lot - it opens up multiple new worlds to us," <a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Chaitra-Murlidhar">says</a> Chaitra Murlidhar.</p><h3 class="p6">9. Run with a different crowd.</h3><p class="p6">Perhaps the real reason you don't feel interesting is because you're spending time with people who don't appreciate you. In that case, you should find a different community who understands how much you have to offer.</p><p class="p6"><a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Travis-Biziorek-1">Writes</a> Travis Biziorek: "Challenge yourself to meet new people, hang out with a different crowd, and experience people with different outlooks and views on life. I promise you'll find people that interest you and those that find you fascinating."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fashion-icon-nicole-miller-reveals-secrets-success-2015-8">Fashion icon Nicole Miller reveals the keys to long-term success</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="Mwb2IwdzrGvu13rJUyIKBqdmrD0IHZ86" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

9 ways to become a more interesting person

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Flickr/Maryland GovPics</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>Even the briefest lull in a conversation can prompt some people to wonder: "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/habits-of-boring-people">Am I boring?</a>"</p><p>The honest answer is that you're probably perfectly fascinating - but you can always become more so. It's a question of collecting new skills, knowledge, and experiences and learning how to share them with others.</p><p>Over on Quora, dozens of people have answered the question, "<a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person">How do I become a more interesting person?</a>" with creative insights based on their own experience. We sifted through their responses and pinpointed the most practical advice.</p><p>Read on for ways to leave every social gathering feeling confident that you captured people's interest and won their admiration.</p><h2>1. Develop new skills</h2><p>Ensure that other people find you interesting by making yourself helpful in any situation. That's why Quora user <a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Anthony-N-Lee">Anthony N. Lee suggests</a> learning as many useful skills as you can, from web design to sewing.</p><p>That way, you'll always be the go-to person, whether a friend needs to create a website for her new business or a blanket for her baby niece.</p><h2>2. Be curious</h2><p>One way to ensure that you're <em>not</em> interesting is by closing yourself off to differing opinions and viewpoints. Instead, you should actively seek out new ideas and experiences that will change the way you think and feel.</p><p>Sudhir Desai advocates being a "lifelong learner." <a href="http://qr.ae/RF4vZR">He writes</a>: "Keep an open mind, be curious. Allow for a complex world with multiple interpretations. Learn things to deepen and broaden your perspectives."  </p><h2>3. Learn how to tell a good story</h2><p>Maybe you've amassed a ton of information and experiences - but if you can't communicate them to other people, you're sunk.</p><p>That's why <a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Marcus-Geduld">Marcus Geduld says</a> you should learn how to be a storyteller: "You don't just dump whatever is on your mind into the conversation; you purposefully shape it to make it interesting. … Start thinking of your life as a gift you can give to others. Wrap it in the finest paper you can find."</p><p>Geduld says that means you need to learn how to read your audience to see how long they'll be able to pay attention and tease your listeners with clues to the end of the story. </p><p>Interestingly, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/study-men-who-can-tell-a-good-story-are-more-attractive-to-women-2016-5">recent research</a> found that men who can tell a good story are also seen as more attractive by women. The <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pere.12120/full">study authors say</a> that's possibly because skilled storytellers may seem better positioned to influence others or gain authority.</p><h2>4. Have three good stories ready to share</h2><p>Knowing how to tell a story spontaneously is a handy skill - but if you're nervous about that, arm yourself with a few personal anecdotes you can use to liven up an otherwise dull interaction.</p><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Devesh-12">Writes Devesh</a>: "Comedians don't just talk about anything when they're onstage. They have their act rehearsed. You don't just trot into a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/only-interview-questions-you-need-to-prepare-for-2016-6">job interview</a> and say whatever's on your mind. Always have three good stories on hand that reliably entertain, inform, or engage."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrosimoes7/8578279742/">Flickr/Pedro Ribeiro Simões</a></span></p><p class="caption">Listen to and be interested in what other people are saying.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>5. Listen and show compassion</h2><p>A striking number of Quora users mentioned that one way to seem interest<em>ing</em> is to be interest<em>ed </em>in others.</p><p>This idea was popularized by Dale Carnegie in his 1936 bestseller "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034">How to Win Friends and Influence People</a>." <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1962-you-can-make-more-friends-in-two-months-by-becoming">Carnegie wrote</a>: "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you."</p><p><a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Quentin-Hardy">Writes Quentin Hardy</a>, deputy tech editor for The New York Times: "Listen carefully to others, and try with some compassion to understand their motives and actions. Few of us are really good at this. Everyone becomes nearly infinite in their experience of life, if we listen to them with enough imagination. Working that out grows ourselves. Wondering if you're wrong helps, too."</p><h2>6. Ask good questions</h2><p>At a party, you don't need to say much about yourself for people to believe you're interesting. Instead, engage them in deep conversation about <em>their</em> lifestyle.</p><p>"Ask thoughtful (not prying) questions, as needed, about them and their interests and priorities," <a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Stephanie-Vardavas">says Stephanie Vardavas</a>. "Really listen to the answers. Follow up with more thoughtful discussion and necessary questions (again, not prying). By the end of the evening they will remember you as one of the most interesting people they ever met."</p><p>Don't be embarrassed to ask seemingly simple questions, either. As Evan Ratliff, a journalist who's written for publications including The New Yorker, <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3003945/one-conversational-tool-will-make-you-better-absolutely-everything">told Fast Company</a>: "There's typically no point in pretending you know something when you don't. As a reporter the goal is to gather information, not to impress your subjects. You'd think it would be different in business, but it's not."</p><p>By asking those simple questions, you may end up impressing your new acquaintances, anyway.</p><h2>7. Say what you think</h2><p><a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Kat-Li">Kat Li says</a> people who don't opine on or disagree with <em>anything</em> can be boring.</p><p>"You feel like you can't really ever have a conversation with them," she writes. "You should try to say what you really think about some things, even if other people won't like it."</p><h2>8. Follow your interests</h2><p>Instead of learning about a ton of dull topics just for the sake of being knowledgeable, pursue areas that you actually find stimulating. That way, you'll sound animated and engaging when describing them to other people.</p><p>"I don't think it's as much a matter of <em>trying</em> to be interesting as much as it is naturally following what you enjoy, being an avid student and collector of information that interests and excites you," <a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Renee-Nay-1">writes Renee Nay</a>.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/luce/2970601463">p.v/Flickr</a></span></p><p class="caption">Reading a lot gives you a more interesting and empathetic perspective on the world.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>9. Read a lot</h2><p>If you have the time and money to travel the world, great. But even if you don't, you can still learn about different cultures and historical periods by reading everything you can get your hands on.</p><p>Books, blogs, periodicals - expose yourself to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/life-changing-books-2016-9">as many new stories</a> and ideas as possible.</p><p>Based on <a href="http://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/abstract/S1364-6613(16)30070-5">a review</a> of the past decade of research on the psychological effects of reading fiction, Keith Oatley <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2016/07/22/does-reading-fiction-make-you-a-better-person/">told The Washington Post</a>: "People who read more fiction were better at empathy and understanding others."</p><p>"Read a lot - it opens up multiple new worlds to us," <a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Chaitra-Murlidhar">says Chaitra Murlidhar</a>.</p><h2>10. Display a sense of humor</h2><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Awdhesh-Singh-1">Awdesh Singh suggests</a> developing a sense of humor in your interactions with others. "Learn to see the lighter side of the life," he writes, "and develop a habit to be happy even in your failings."</p><p>Bonus if you're trying to impress a date: Research suggests <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/13-science-backed-ways-to-appear-more-attractive-2016-8">men who are funny</a> are perceived by women as more attractive, possibly because they seem more intelligent.</p><h2>11. Spend time with other interesting people</h2><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Awdhesh-Singh-1">Singh adds</a> that the company you keep influences your own personality. "If you are in the company of boring people, disgruntled people or serious people, you are likely to become like them very soon," he says. "The same is true when you have the company of interesting people."</p><p>Consider <a href="https://www.meetup.com/">joining a Meetup</a> or another group of people who are motivated to pursue their interests and passions.</p><h2>12. Dig deep into one of your interests</h2><p>You might be tempted to become a dabbler in many fields, developing a little bit of knowledge about everything. Instead, consider knowing a lot about one topic and flaunting your expertise in that area.</p><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/April-Fonti">April Fonti says</a> she finds people interesting when they "really pursue one thing with great intensity and depth over a long period of time. They could be very successful scientists or just quiet loners. It doesn't matter."</p><h2>13. Take an improv class</h2><p>Comedian Bill Connolly <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3025570/3-ways-improv-can-improve-your-career">told Fast Company</a> that practicing the art of improvisation can help improve your communication skills in daily life. One reason why is that it makes you a better listener, focusing on what the other person is saying instead of what <em>you're</em> going to say next.</p><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Ken-Gregg">Ken Gregg says</a>:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"Even if you're shy and have no intention of ever performing publicly, comedy improv will loosen you up, help you 'think faster,' re-learn how to be playful (something most adults have lost), and make you feel more comfortable making a fool of yourself in front of other people (a life skill that comes in handy frequently). It can open you up and help you become more engaged when interacting with other people."</p><h2>14. Run with a different crowd</h2><p>Perhaps the real reason you don't feel interesting is because you're spending time with people who don't appreciate you. In that case, you should find a different community who understands how much you have to offer.</p><p><a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Travis-Biziorek-1">Writes</a> Travis Biziorek: "Challenge yourself to meet new people, hang out with a different crowd, and experience people with different outlooks and views on life. I promise you'll find people that interest you and those that find you fascinating."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fashion-icon-nicole-miller-reveals-secrets-success-2015-8">Fashion icon Nicole Miller reveals the keys to long-term success</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="Mwb2IwdzrGvu13rJUyIKBqdmrD0IHZ86" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

14 ways to become a more interesting person

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Everyone has the potential to be interesting.</p><p>You don't have to be a billionaire, or a CEO, or an astronaut to hold people's attention - you can just be you.</p><p>It's a question of knowing how to highlight the traits that make you different from the person next to you.</p><p>Over on Quora, dozens of people have answered the question, "<a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person">How do I become a more interesting person?</a>" with insights based on their own experience. We sifted through their responses and pinpointed the most practical advice.</p><p>Read on for ways to convince other people - and more importantly, yourself - that you're a fascinating human being.</p><h2>1. Develop new skills</h2><p>Ensure that other people find you interesting by making yourself helpful in any situation. That's why Quora user <a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Anthony-N-Lee">Anthony N. Lee suggests</a> learning as many useful skills as you can, from web design to sewing.</p><p>That way, you'll always be the go-to person, whether a friend needs to create a website for her new business or a blanket for her baby niece.</p><h2>2. Be curious</h2><p>One way to ensure that you're <em>not</em> interesting is by closing yourself off to differing opinions and viewpoints. Instead, you should actively seek out new ideas and experiences that will change the way you think and feel.</p><p>Sudhir Desai advocates being a "lifelong learner." <a href="http://qr.ae/RF4vZR">He writes</a>: "Keep an open mind, be curious. Allow for a complex world with multiple interpretations. Learn things to deepen and broaden your perspectives."  </p><h2>3. Learn how to tell a good story</h2><p>Maybe you've amassed a ton of information and experiences - but if you can't communicate them to other people, you're sunk.</p><p>That's why <a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Marcus-Geduld">Marcus Geduld says</a> you should learn how to be a storyteller: "You don't just dump whatever is on your mind into the conversation; you purposefully shape it to make it interesting. … Start thinking of your life as a gift you can give to others. Wrap it in the finest paper you can find."</p><p>Geduld says that means you need to learn how to read your audience to see how long they'll be able to pay attention and tease your listeners with clues to the end of the story. </p><p>Interestingly, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/study-men-who-can-tell-a-good-story-are-more-attractive-to-women-2016-5">recent research</a> found that men who can tell a good story are also seen as more attractive by women. The <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pere.12120/full">study authors say</a> that's possibly because skilled storytellers may seem better positioned to influence others or gain authority.</p><h2>4. Have three good stories ready to share</h2><p>Knowing how to tell a story spontaneously is a handy skill - but if you're nervous about that, arm yourself with a few personal anecdotes you can use to liven up an otherwise dull interaction.</p><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Devesh-12">Writes Devesh</a>: "Comedians don't just talk about anything when they're onstage. They have their act rehearsed. You don't just trot into a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/only-interview-questions-you-need-to-prepare-for-2016-6">job interview</a> and say whatever's on your mind. Always have three good stories on hand that reliably entertain, inform, or engage."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>5. Listen and show compassion</h2><p>A striking number of Quora users mentioned that one way to seem interest<em>ing</em> is to be interest<em>ed </em>in others.</p><p>This idea was popularized by Dale Carnegie in his 1936 bestseller "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034">How to Win Friends and Influence People</a>." <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1962-you-can-make-more-friends-in-two-months-by-becoming">Carnegie wrote</a>: "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you."</p><p><a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Quentin-Hardy">Writes Quentin Hardy</a>, a Googler and former editor for The New York Times: "Listen carefully to others, and try with some compassion to understand their motives and actions. Few of us are really good at this. Everyone becomes nearly infinite in their experience of life, if we listen to them with enough imagination. Working that out grows ourselves. Wondering if you're wrong helps, too."</p><h2>6. Ask good questions</h2><p>At a party, you don't need to say much about yourself for people to believe you're interesting. Instead, engage them in deep conversation about <em>their</em> lifestyle.</p><p>"Ask thoughtful (not prying) questions, as needed, about them and their interests and priorities," <a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Stephanie-Vardavas">says Stephanie Vardavas</a>. "Really listen to the answers. Follow up with more thoughtful discussion and necessary questions (again, not prying). By the end of the evening they will remember you as one of the most interesting people they ever met."</p><p>Don't be embarrassed to ask seemingly simple questions, either. As Evan Ratliff, a journalist who's written for publications including The New Yorker, <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3003945/one-conversational-tool-will-make-you-better-absolutely-everything">told Fast Company</a>: "There's typically no point in pretending you know something when you don't. As a reporter the goal is to gather information, not to impress your subjects. You'd think it would be different in business, but it's not."</p><p>By asking those simple questions, you may end up impressing your new acquaintances, anyway.</p><h2>7. Say what you think</h2><p><a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Kat-Li">Kat Li says</a> people who don't opine on or disagree with <em>anything</em> can be boring.</p><p>"You feel like you can't really ever have a conversation with them," she writes. "You should try to say what you really think about some things, even if other people won't like it."</p><h2>8. Follow your interests</h2><p>Instead of learning about a ton of dull topics just for the sake of being knowledgeable, pursue areas that you actually find stimulating. That way, you'll sound animated and engaging when describing them to other people.</p><p>"I don't think it's as much a matter of <em>trying</em> to be interesting as much as it is naturally following what you enjoy, being an avid student and collector of information that interests and excites you," <a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Renee-Nay-1">writes Renee Nay</a>.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>9. Read a lot</h2><p>If you have the time and money to travel the world, great. But even if you don't, you can still learn about different cultures and historical periods by reading everything you can get your hands on.</p><p>Books, blogs, periodicals - expose yourself to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/life-changing-books-2016-9">as many new stories</a> and ideas as possible.</p><p>Based on <a href="http://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/abstract/S1364-6613(16)30070-5">a review</a> of the past decade of research on the psychological effects of reading fiction, Keith Oatley <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2016/07/22/does-reading-fiction-make-you-a-better-person/">told The Washington Post</a>: "People who read more fiction were better at empathy and understanding others."</p><p>"Read a lot - it opens up multiple new worlds to us," <a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Chaitra-Murlidhar">says Chaitra Murlidhar</a>.</p><h2>10. Display a sense of humor</h2><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Awdhesh-Singh-1">Awdesh Singh suggests</a> developing a sense of humor in your interactions with others. "Learn to see the lighter side of the life," he writes, "and develop a habit to be happy even in your failings."</p><p>Bonus if you're trying to impress a date: Research suggests <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/13-science-backed-ways-to-appear-more-attractive-2016-8">men who are funny</a> are perceived by women as more attractive, possibly because they seem more intelligent.</p><h2>11. Spend time with other interesting people</h2><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Awdhesh-Singh-1">Singh adds</a> that the company you keep influences your own personality. "If you are in the company of boring people, disgruntled people or serious people, you are likely to become like them very soon," he says. "The same is true when you have the company of interesting people."</p><p>Consider <a href="https://www.meetup.com/">joining a Meetup</a> or another group of people who are motivated to pursue their interests and passions.</p><h2>12. Dig deep into one of your interests</h2><p>You might be tempted to become a dabbler in many fields, developing a little bit of knowledge about everything. Instead, consider knowing a lot about one topic and flaunting your expertise in that area.</p><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/April-Fonti">April Fonti says</a> she finds people interesting when they "really pursue one thing with great intensity and depth over a long period of time. They could be very successful scientists or just quiet loners. It doesn't matter."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>13. Take an improv class</h2><p>Comedian Bill Connolly <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3025570/3-ways-improv-can-improve-your-career">told Fast Company</a> that practicing the art of improvisation can help improve your communication skills in daily life. One reason why is that it makes you a better listener, focusing on what the other person is saying instead of what <em>you're</em> going to say next.</p><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Ken-Gregg">Ken Gregg says</a>:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"Even if you're shy and have no intention of ever performing publicly, comedy improv will loosen you up, help you 'think faster,' re-learn how to be playful (something most adults have lost), and make you feel more comfortable making a fool of yourself in front of other people (a life skill that comes in handy frequently). It can open you up and help you become more engaged when interacting with other people."</p><h2>14. Be unconventional</h2><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Evan-Asano">Evan Asano says</a> being interesting comes down to being in some way different from everyone else.</p><p>He writes: "A friend of mine after college did something no one's ever done before (at least known). He circumambulated Martha's Vineyard via its beach/shore. It only took a couple days and some camping gear. 20 years later he still tells the story."</p><p>Still, not everyone has the resources or the motivation to set off on a record-breaking camping trip right now. So think about the unusual experiences you've already had. Maybe you've lived in a foreign country; maybe you sell art projects as a side gig; maybe you grew up with 10 siblings. There's definitely something, so keep digging.</p><h2>15. Embrace your weirdness</h2><p>"We all have quirks," <a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Del-Singh-3">writes Del Singh</a>. "It is part of our being. Interesting people unleash their inner weirdness."</p><p>Dressing, speaking, and acting like everyone else can be kind of boring - we're not in junior high school anymore. So let your freak flag fly, and do it with confidence.</p><h2>16. Open up to people</h2><p><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Danielle-Lan">Danielle Lan shares a personal story</a>, the moral of which is that no one will know how interesting you are unless you tell them:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"My husband has been described as boring. He's really a very fascinating man, with all his quirks and hobbies. The problem is he never shares with his coworkers or acquaintances.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"When asked 'How was your weekend?' his response is usually, 'Fine'. In fact he probably took part in a huge raid in his favorite MMO [massively multiplayer online game] before watching a new movie and finishing an interesting book. But he won't share that with just anyone.<br><br>"To be what people perceive as interesting you have to share. That also means you have to have things to share. It's a rare person who literally does absolutely nothing and has absolutely no opinion on any given topic. My advice is to open up."</br></br></p><p>Indeed, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/self-disclosure-helps-you-make-friends-2015-10">research suggests</a> that people like each other better when they each share something personal, as opposed to when only one person does.</p><h2>17. Run with a different crowd</h2><p>Perhaps the real reason you don't feel interesting is because you're spending time with people who don't appreciate you. In that case, you should find a different community who understands how much you have to offer.</p><p><a href="http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-become-a-more-interesting-person/answer/Travis-Biziorek-1">Writes</a> Travis Biziorek: "Challenge yourself to meet new people, hang out with a different crowd, and experience people with different outlooks and views on life. I promise you'll find people that interest you and those that find you fascinating."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fashion-icon-nicole-miller-reveals-secrets-success-2015-8">Fashion icon Nicole Miller reveals the keys to long-term success</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="Mwb2IwdzrGvu13rJUyIKBqdmrD0IHZ86" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

You Searched For "deepen desai" and got 6 results

IoT malware attacks up by 400% this year: Report

IANS

LinkedIn hit with state-of-the-art recruitment scams amid tech layoffs

IANS

Britain's 2 biggest peer-to-peer lenders lost £50 million in the last decade

Oscar Williams-Grut

9 ways to become a more interesting person

Shana Lebowitz

14 ways to become a more interesting person

Shana Lebowitz

17 ways to become a more interesting person

Shana Lebowitz

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides

You Searched For "deepen desai" and got 6 results

IoT malware attacks up by 400% this year: Report

IANS

LinkedIn hit with state-of-the-art recruitment scams amid tech layoffs

IANS

Britain's 2 biggest peer-to-peer lenders lost &#163;50 million in the last decade

Oscar Williams-Grut

9 ways to become a more interesting person

Shana Lebowitz

14 ways to become a more interesting person

Shana Lebowitz

17 ways to become a more interesting person

Shana Lebowitz

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides

Britain's 2 biggest peer-to-peer lenders lost £50 million in the last decade