Rumble, the online video-hosting platform that claims to be a free speech YouTube alternative, is reportedly under investigation by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

According to WIRED, the SEC confirmed the investigation after a public records request by the news organization in November. It had denied the request on the grounds that an “active and ongoing” inquiry was taking place in relation to the company. The response follows claims made against the company including that it allegedly inflated certain metrics, which Rumble denies.

Following the announcement, founder Chris Pavlovski posted on X that the “report is bogus.” He said the company had proof in the form of Google Analytics to track monthly active users and criticized the move as a tactic “to get investors to sell the stock so that the short seller profits.”

The playbook to try and destroy $RUM (Rumble)

A short seller creates a bogus report and sends it to the SEC. The SEC investigates the bogus report. Then the short seller talks to the media to get a story about how the SEC is investigating the report that started with him. The…

— Chris Pavlovski (@chrispavlovski) January 8, 2024

“This is just the start, they’re coming for us in 2024. They can’t stand Rumble’s mission, but they are going to learn quickly how hard we punch back,” he added while stating he was exploring legal options to “hold short sellers accountable.”

The SEC, however, noted that the probe did not necessarily mean “any violations of law have occurred with respect to any person, entity, or security.” As a result, the exact nature of the investigation is unclear.

Melinda Hardy, the SEC’s assistant general counsel for litigation and administrative practice, confirmed the investigation in a letter sent on January 8th. Hardy further explained that releasing the documents could potentially harm the ongoing and active proceedings. She noted that this could happen because individuals and entities involved in the investigation might fabricate evidence, tamper with witness testimony, or destroy or modify relevant documents.

What has Rumble said?

Rumble spokesperson Rory Rumore responded to the allegations saying the company provided information to the SEC voluntarily and cautioned against anyone from jumping to false conclusions.

Rumble’s legal challenges

It is not the first time Rumble has become involved with legal matters. In November, the platform filed a lawsuit against two people connected to Media Matters. Rumble’s court filings state that two individuals who ran ‘Check My Ads’ created fake profiles, sought out objectionable user-uploaded videos, and refreshed the pages multiple times until they could capture screenshots showing ads from high-profile brands next to the offending content. This data was subsequently utilized by Media Matters in a campaign urging major brands to steer clear of Rumble.

Who are Rumble’s investors?

The video network is backed by billionaire Peter Thiel, which became a publicly traded company in 2022. “Hillbilly Elegy” author J.D. Vance is also an investor, along with Colt Ventures, the family office of Dallas investor and former Trump adviser Darren Blanton. Its valuation currently exceeds $1.2 billion.

The platform was founded in 2013 by the Canadian entrepreneur, and posits itself as an alternative to “cancel culture.” In a statement on the website, Pavlovski wrote: “We are a movement that does not stifle, censor, or punish creativity and freedom of expression. We believe everyone benefits when they have access to more ideas and diverse opinions.”

Featured Image: Canva / Rumble / U.S. Government

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Logan Paul announced in an X post that he has “personally committed” to a $2.3 million to buy back eggs associated with the failed non-fungible token (NFT) game CryptoZoo. However, anyone who gets a buy-back in this way is agreeing not to participate in any legal action against Paul, including the class action lawsuit he is currently subject to.

The time frame to claim buybacks lasts until Feb 8. Paul is providing claimants 0.1 Ethereum (ETH) for each eligible returned NFT, which some might see as better than nothing. It’s about the equivalent of $224. However, it’s a lot less than they might be eligible for if the class action lawsuit against Paul succeeds.

The ground-level buy-in for CryptoZoo consisted of ‘Base Animals’ or ‘Base Eggs’, NFTs that would eventually be used in-game for breeding and other activities. The game, which was announced on YouTube in August 2021, was meant to be a “really fun game that makes you money,” but was never completed.

Today, I am incredibly happy to announce that I am delivering on my promise to buy back Base Egg and Base Animal CryptoZoo NFTs for their original purchase price. This buy-back program is being carried out at https://t.co/XIQzLAGKiG. Claims can be submitted through this site… pic.twitter.com/VMPDHvdXkq

— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) January 4, 2024

Base Eggs and Base Animals frequently cost over 1 ETH each (over $2200). The buy-back amount being offered by Paul is a fraction of that. Paired with the terms and conditions of the refund stating that claimants “are waiving any actual or anticipated claims against Paul”, there is speculation that he is trying to minimize his losses.

Logan Paul faces class action lawsuit over CryptoZoo

Class action lawsuit damages can include full refunds of what the buyer initially lost, plus damages and fees. “Paul may be betting (or at least hoping) that enough people who would otherwise be potential class members will take him up on this offer and drastically reduce his potential exposure in the pending case by doing so,” said Rob Freund, a lawyer who spoke to TechCrunch about this issue. “That would let him angle for a much more favorable settlement.”

The social media influencer and professional wrestler has this week filed a counterclaim to the class action suit, alleging that two of the people who also worked on the game are “con artists” who “sabotaged” CryptoZoo. He has made the full counterclaim document public.

Paul claims that he never made any money off CryptoZoo; “In fact, the opposite is true, because I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to make it happen,” he said on X, going on to say that the game will never be released. “I personally spent $400,000 to have it developed and after its completion in early 2023 & some further diligence, unfortunately, there are too many regulatory hurdles that would need to be cleared that I did not originally understand and would ultimately delay this buy-back even further.”

Featured image credit: Erik Drost via Wikimedia Commons and @CryptoZooCo

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It’s been in the pipeline for years and it’s now it’s here – Google has begun killing off third-party cookies in Chrome.

The search giant has taken its time. They are four years behind Mozilla’s Firefox browser and Apple’s Safari browser but now, with their alternative user tracking system, ‘Privacy Sandbox,‘ in place, it’s time to end tracking cookies in Chrome once and for all.

When will third-party cookies be phased out in Chrome?

For approximately 30 million Chrome users, right now. Towards the end of last year, the search giant outlined the changes in an update posted on their blog.

On Dec.14, Anthony Chavez the VP of Privacy Sandbox wrote: “On January 4, we’ll begin testing Tracking Protection, a new feature that limits cross-site tracking by restricting website access to third-party cookies by default.

“We’ll roll this out to 1% of Chrome users globally, a key milestone in our Privacy Sandbox initiative to phase out third-party cookies for everyone in the second half of 2024, subject to addressing any remaining competition concerns from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).”

What are third-party cookies used for and why is this a big deal?

Third-party cookies are small pieces of data stored on your web browser by websites other than the one you’re currently visiting. These cookies are created by third-party companies or domains that are not the primary website you’re interacting with. They are used for personalized advertising and website analytics by tracking user behavior across different websites.

Stopping them matters to online businesses because cookies help sites make money by enabling targeted advertising. Targeted ads mean better ad engagement which in turn means more revenue for advertisers, publishers, and online platforms.

Google’s plan to phase out third-party cookies in Chrome – the world’s most popular web browser – will not go unchallenged.  Several antitrust investigations from both the EU Commission and the CMA are ongoing.

Thousands of advertisers rely on cookies for their revenue and their job will become harder in the short term. Publishers have also been concerned. It becomes harder to monetize websites and ad yields fall. It might lead to a decline in the quality of the content we see online or, what is more likely, we will see more publishers switching to subscription models and a heavier push towards first-party data capture – most commonly done through registration with a website.

But what about the little guy, the casual internet browser? Well, for them the end of third-party cookies has a lot of positives. Firstly we become harder to track( ‘harder’ but not impossible). Secondly, it meets the growing demands of consumers to have better data privacy.

What is Google Chrome’s new ‘Tracking Protection’?

It’s essentially the function which will stop websites from using third-party cookies to track you as you move around the web.

Google emphasized we won’t all get it all at once. Participants will be chosen at random and get a notification when they open Chrome on desktop or Android.

Gradually it will be rolled out to more and more users.

Picture: Created by DALL-E

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PornHub and other Aylo sites are now blocked in North Carolina and Montana as the state’s age verification laws have come into effect, reports Engadget. As well as PornHub, Aylo also owns pornographic websites Brazzers, Redtube, and YouPorn.

Louisiana introduced laws requiring adult platforms and websites to verify users’ age in 2023, and multiple other states have followed suit, including Utah, Arkansas, Mississippi, Virginia, and Texas. Many of the laws are very similar to Louisiana’s law, which includes claims about pornography addiction and the risk of harm to viewers.

Instead of making users in these states jump through hoops to verify their age, Aylo has decided to simply block their sites in those states. Users in those states attempting to access the site will find a message from the site, delivered by Cherie DeVille, a performer. In the message, DeVille explains why the sites are no longer accessible.

Why has PornHub been blocked in North Carolina and Montana?

Many other websites have chosen to implement third-party age verification to allow users in these states to continue to access their websites, but Aylo-owned sites are not taking this path.

In Louisiana, there is a state ID driving license app which PornHub is using to verify local users’ ages. However, many states do not have such an app, and the sites have concerns about privacy and safety.

“As you may know, your elected officials in your state are requiring us to verify your age before allowing you access to our website. While safety and compliance are at the forefront of our mission, giving your ID card every time you want to visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution for protecting our users, and in fact, will put children and your privacy at risk.” States the message on Aylo’s sites.

It continues: “The safety of our users is one of our biggest concerns. We believe that the best and most effective solution for protecting children and adults alike is to identify users by their devices and allow access to age-restricted materials and websites based on that identification. Until a real solution is offered, we have made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in your state.”

The EU is also making moves to regulate PornHub under new rules governing very large online platforms, with over 45 million users per month.

Featured image: Unsplash and Pexels

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Telegram, the messaging platform, launched its most recent update on New Year’s Eve, boasting a brand-new calls interface and some colorful visual design, along with its biggest-ever bot update.

Latest Telegram update offers improved calls

Whilst best known for messaging, Telegram also features end-to-end encrypted voice and video calling. The recent update has redesigned the call interface, including dynamic backgrounds that change whether the call is ringing, active, or ended. Despite the new design having multiple animations, Telegram has stated the new interface uses fewer resources than the old one, draining less battery and improving performance on older devices.

Vaporize animation on message delete

A fun new addition to the app – whenever a user deletes a message they will experience what Telegram is calling a “Thanos Snap” animation – the message will pop and vaporize out of existence. This was introduced last month as a trial on iOS but has now rolled out across platforms.

Bot platform update

Telegram offers developers powerful tools to create integrated services from chatbots to mini-apps that can replace a website. Bot developers have been treated to the biggest bot tools update to date. It adds “dozens” of new features, including bot message reactions, managing reactions, quotes, and links, and sending replies to other chats.

A full list of new features and updates to Telegram’s bot platform can be found in the change log. The blog post announcing the update states that there are even more features included in this update but these won’t be announced until January.

There are thousands of bots available on the platform and they can do anything from gaming to ChatGPT integration. They are definitely worth looking into for some easy efficiencies, especially if you’re already a Telegram user.

The communication platform is used by over 800 million users monthly. It has raised over $1.2 billion in debt financing, including through bond sales, but is still not profitable.

Featured Image Credit: Graphic by Dima Solomin; Unsplash.

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Chrome extensions help users of the world’s most popular browser personalize their experience and Google has released a list of its favorites of the year – with one area conspicuously missing.

From improving the aesthetic of your browser to boosting productivity, there’s a Chrome extension for everything. One of the most popular uses is ad-blocking software, which automatically blocks pop-up and pre-roll ads.

Many sites will now require you to turn off your ad blocker to access their pages as it impacts their ad-based revenue and such extensions are also not popular with Google. It’s perhaps no surprise, then, that ad-blocking extensions do not appear anywhere on Google’s list of top extensions for 2023.

Google hasn’t been quiet about its plan to prevent ad-blocking software from working at all, as part of its long-term plan to improve its services. After all, ad block impacts its revenue made through YouTube videos and on-site ads, so it was inevitable that ad-blocking extensions aren’t top of Google’s list of favorites for 2023.

Google’s top 12 Chrome extensions of 2023

Despite skipping over what’s surely one of the most used Chrome extensions, there are still some handy examples included in their list, such as:

• Scribe, which uses AI to document workflows and create step-by-step guides to easily train colleagues
• DeepL Translate, which translates web pages without navigating away from the page
• QuillBot, which allows you to compose and respond to emails faster with its spell checker, summarizer tool, and AI writing assistant
• Sider, an in-browser sidebar that lets you use generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Bard without having to open another tab
• Teal, which bookmarks jobs from popular job boards and keeps job applications in one place
• Transkriptor, a tool for automatically transcribing meetings from audio to text to review later
• Bonjourr, to create a minimalist aesthetic on  your Chrome homepage
• Speechify, a text-to-speech extension that reads articles, emails and PDFs using natural voices and accents for those who prefer to listen than read
• Equalizer, offering more fine-tuned audio controls for online content
• Boxel 3D, a platformer game that allows you to create your own levels
• BTRoblox, to enhance the game’s platform with a variety of new features
• Coupert, an extension designed to find the best promo codes from across the web and automatically apply them at checkout

Featured image: DALL-E

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Update: 15th December

Yesterday we published a story regarding Twitch’s update to its sexual content guidelines, but after accusations of not being clear, and a host of streamers publishing questionable content to the platform, Twitch has now been forced to update its update stating the following:

“On Wednesday, we updated our Sexual Content Policy. Our primary goal in making these updates was to make our guidelines easier to understand and enforce.

Part of this update included changes to how we treat fictionalized nudity. For years, through UserVoice and in conversations, we heard from artists that our content policies were limiting. In making this update, we were trying to be responsive to these requests and allow the thriving artist community on Twitch to utilize the human form in their art.

First, we want to make clear that some streamers, in response to this update, created content that was in violation of our new policy. We’ve worked quickly to remove that content and issue channel enforcements.”

Twitch goes on to say, “So, effective today, we are rolling back the artistic nudity changes. Moving forward, depictions of real or fictional nudity won’t be allowed on Twitch, regardless of the medium. This restriction does not apply to Mature-rated games.

While I wish we would have predicted this outcome, part of our job is to make adjustments that serve the community. I apologize for the confusion that this update has caused.”

The update comes after streamers took advantage of the wording of the new conditions to stream the drawing of X-Rated material so such a point some users were accusing the service of being “like a porn site for 25 hours.” in the comments to the below which appeared on X.

We’re making some additional updates to our Sexual Content Policy. We realize that our earlier update caused confusion and appreciate all the feedback we’ve received. Thanks for always coming together with us to help build the best version of Twitch.

Check out the changes here:… https://t.co/Qj9IJLntff

— Twitch (@Twitch) December 15, 2023

13th December

Twitch has updated and clarified its policy on explicit and sexual content after a streamer was banned over the weekend for appearing to be topless in a stream.

The streamer, Morgpie, was live on the Amazon-owned streaming platform with her shoulders and collarbone visible. She received a ban from the online stream platform as a result. Speaking to Dexerto, the streamer stated that she is fully clothed, wearing a very low-cut top which is not visible on camera.

In their announcement, Twitch acknowledged their previous guidelines were confusing because there were two sections which dealt with sexually explicit content, along with further guidelines on when streamers need to label their content as including sexual themes.

The guidelines now clarify that female presenting streamers must not show their nipples on stream and that they do not permit exposed under-bust. They do allow cleavage and as a result Morgpie argues that she did not break the terms of service.

Twitch acknowledged that the previous wording of their policy resulted in female presenting users of the platform being unfairly and disproportionately penalized. As a result, some previously banned content will now be allowed with a label.

We’ve gotten feedback that our policies around sexual content are unclear so we’ve drawn clearer boundaries between what is & isn’t permitted on Twitch.

We also recognize that not everyone wants to see certain content, so we’re updating our criteria for homepage recommendations. pic.twitter.com/rvZ4kFADR6

— Twitch (@Twitch) December 13, 2023

Twitch makes updates to the front page policy

In the updated policy, the live-streaming platform has also clarified how content is promoted to the front page. Previously, users arriving to the Twitch homepage had a chance to see thumbnails from streams that included content that was labeled as mature.

However, the website has changed its homepage recommendation algorithm so that any stream labeled Drugs, Intoxication, or Excessive Tobacco Use; Violent and Graphic Depictions; Gambling; and/or Sexual Themes will no longer be eligible for promotion on the homepage. However, streams labeled as containing profanity or mature games will not be affected and will still be included on the homepage.

The statement released says: “Making this change helps ensure that viewers will not see content they haven’t consented to see.”

Twitch launched in 2011 as a live streaming service focused on gamings. It hit 3.2 million users per month within its first year.

Three years later, Amazon parted with $970 million in cash to acquire Twitch. Today, Twitch has 140 million monthly active users (MAUs).

Featured image credit: Twitch

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Jimmy Doladson, also known as MrBeast, the most-subscribed YouTuber in America, has launched a new YouTube analytics platform alongside creator Chucky Appleby. ViewStats is currently available in beta.

In the world of content creation, MrBeast is known for his attention to detail, even going so far as to A/B test whether mouth-open or mouth-closed thumbnails work best. One of the goals Donaldson and Appleby have for ViewStats is to enable other creators to approach their content in a more analytical, data-driven way, according to an interview in TubeFilter. They want it to be so useful that creators check it daily.

What information does ViewStats have?

ViewStats uses the YouTube public API to serve data to users on a clean, simple interface. Search for a channel and you will see a range of information, from simple metrics such as the number of subscribers and views a channel has, to estimated revenue for the time period.

You can also drill down into the data and view per-video statistics such as views per hour and video revenue. The site also shows projections for future performance and growth. Each channel page has a section where users can find other similar channels, ranked by “similarity score”, which could be a very useful tool for viewers and channel discoverability.

As well as a website, users can install a Chrome extension to use the tool.

What features will be added in the future?

Speaking to TubeFilter, Appleby said, “We realized that we should create a data site to help people understand their analytics, to make it easier to make better video ideas,” adding, “[Jimmy and I] are obsessed with content. And our approach was to say, ‘We are only going to add features that we know actually affect the performance of a YouTube video.’”

So far, they plan on adding “tools that help with ideation and thumbnail design” to ViewStats. These are expected to come in the next few months. Appleby said that the tools will resemble some of the tools that the MrBeast team uses to ensure his videos are performing as expected. “There’s so much more that we’re going to be building,” Appleby told Tubefilter.

It is currently unclear how ViewStats plans on monetizing its platform. Other similar tools offer a free tier and a premium tier which includes additional information. They have also not ruled out on-site advertising. It is also not known at this time how the tool will handle data generated by tools like YouTube’s Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated summaries.

Featured Image: NickRewind, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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American viewers can now watch movies and shows from the ad-free tier of Max on YouTube Primetime.

For a while now, the world’s most popular video-sharing platform has used its Primetime Channels to host third-party entertainment from several networks. Now, Warner Bros.’ Max (formerly HBO Max) has teamed up with YouTube to provide the ad-free tier of Max via Primetime.

That means American viewers will be able to watch a variety of scripted and unscripted programming from Warner Bros. brands like HBO, TLC, Food Network, HGTV, Cartoon Network, and OWN from December 15 onwards.

This integration is the latest effort from Warner Bros. to encourage Max subscriptions. Max’s With-Ads tier is currently priced at $9.99 a month, and its Standard Ad-Free tier is $15.99 a month, as well as its highest-priced Ultimate Ad-Free tier at $19.99 a month.

Using YouTube Primetime, users can browse, sign up for and watch their favourite shows, movies, sports and more. With so many streaming options today, Primetime Channels are designed to make it easier for viewers to watch content from multiple streaming services in one place, as well as subscribe directly to YouTube.

How to watch Max content on YouTube Primetime

You can find Primetime Channels by visiting the Explore tab on the left of YouTube, then navigating to ‘Movies and TV’. You can subscribe and watch more than 40 on-demand streaming services, with many offering a seven-day trial before requiring a paid subscription.

YouTube primetime channels are similar to Amazon Prime Channels, allowing you to stream across various networks via the YouTube app. You can also manage your different subscription services in one place.

Other features within the YouTube app or website include the recent addition of the Multiview feature, offering sports fans the option to watch four different games at once. The progression of the platform demonstrates that Google is working on having YouTube function as more than the video site it once was, but as a multi-functional entertainment platform and, in its ideal world, as a go-to streaming service for Google customers.

Featured image: Unsplash

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Online video platform Rumble is cracking down on Media Matters with a new lawsuit targeting people connected to the left-leaning website.

The suit from the video-sharing platform, popular with free speech advocates, alleges the non-profit media watchdog group engaged in misleading and unethical practices to damage its business.

The lawsuit filed on Nov 29, centers around Media Matters’ alleged strategy of repeatedly refreshing controversial videos on sites it aims to take down to capture major brand advertisements running adjacent to the content.

According to Rumble’s recent court filings, two individuals who run ‘Check my ads’ created fake profiles, sought out objectionable user-uploaded videos, and refreshed the pages multiple times until they could capture screenshots showing ads from high-profile brands next to the offending content. The data they collected was then used by Media Matters to call on big brands to avoid Rumble.

THREAD: Rumble is suing two individual Plaintiffs who run "Check my Ads" in connection with Media Matters. They are seeking punitive damages and an injunction to stop their conduct, among other things.

This will be my ongoing thread analyzing this lawsuit. Please bookmark it,… pic.twitter.com/QrKnx5w6JQ

— Tracy Beanz (@tracybeanz) December 12, 2023

Rumble said this strategy caused some brands, including Netflix, to pull their advertising spending on its platform after Media Matters showed them the controversially placed ads. The video platform called the tactics “unethical” and said the two defendants Nandini Jammi and Claire Atkin deliberately tried to damage sites it deemed controversial by orchestrating the ad placements.

Rumble’s legal action comes on the heels of the group’s parent company, X Corp, filing what owner CEO Elon Musk called a “thermonuclear” lawsuit against Media Matters last month. X Corp alleged Media Matters executed a similar “refresh” tactic on its platform to capture brand ads next to antisemitic content.

The split second court opens on Monday, X Corp will be filing a thermonuclear lawsuit against Media Matters and ALL those who colluded in this fraudulent attack on our company pic.twitter.com/55vl7PspaQ

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 18, 2023

The lawsuit claims Media Matters then showed the screenshots to companies like Apple and IBM to prompt them to suspend their advertising partnerships with X Corp.

X Corp said Media Matters’ actions suppressed its free speech rights. Legal experts project X Corp may seek billions of dollars in damages from the media group.

Between the high-profile lawsuits from internet media giants Rumble and X Corp, Media Matters faces growing scrutiny and liability over its controversial editorial tactics. The non-profit will need to answer for its allegedly unethical practices in court in the months ahead.

Media Matters fights back

That’s not the end of the lawsuits. Media Matters is suing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after he opened an investigation into their reporting of  X.

In the lawsuit, the non-profit alleges that Mr Paxton’s “retaliatory” investigation is unlawful and violates its First Amendment rights.

Lawyers for Media Matters said: “The chill imposed by his retaliatory scheme injures Plaintiffs’ ability to investigate and publish news stories and further chills their ability to participate in a robust public discussion around political extremism on the X platform”.

In an interview with Reuters after Musk filed his lawsuit, Angelo Carusone, the Media Matters president, said the non-profit’s findings flew in the face of X’s statements that it had introduced safety protections to prevent ads from appearing next to harmful content.

“If you search for white nationalist content, there are ads flourishing. The system they say exists is not operating as such,” he said.

Featured Image: Pexels

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The widespread spread of the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing has become obvious in this continually developing tech world. Everyone is embracing the potential of these transformative technologies to improve daily life activities.

Let’s take a look at the advantages and difficulties that come with the prevalent adoption of IoT and cloud computing, revealing insights into the dynamics of modern digital connectivity.

The Rise of IoT

IoT has changed how the world interacts. It has smoothly integrated into almost every aspect of our daily lives, from smart homes and wearable devices to autonomous vehicles and industrial sensors. However, this has also paved the way for cyber threats. There has been a larger avenue for threat actors due to the magnitude of interconnected devices, making traditional measures incompetent.

Cybersecurity has started concentrating on data encryption, device-level security, and robust authentication mechanisms to address security challenges. Presently, manufacturers emphasize that security is incorporated into the plan of IoT devices from the onset. This includes executing secure boot processes, regular firmware updates, and traceability and accountability enhancement using unique devices.

Cloud Computing’s Universality

Business operations have changed from traditional on-premises infrastructure to scalable and flexible cloud-based solutions since the advent of cloud computing. According to Statista, the worldwide public cloud computing market was worth 478 billion dollars in 2022 and is estimated to reach 679 billion dollars in 2024. That’s a whopping 201 billion increase in the space of 2years.

Although Cloud computing brings evident benefits such as availability and cost savings, it also has cyber security challenges. Cloud services are centralized in nature; which implies that a breach could expose a tremendous amount of sensitive data. To tackle these threats, advanced cybersecurity measures focus on data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and strong access controls.

Cloud service providers now invest greatly in advanced security measures, like real-time monitoring, threat intelligence, and automated incident response systems. The shared responsibility model emphasizes the collaboration between cloud providers and their clients –  which has become a foundation of cybersecurity to ensure a comprehensive security posture.

Confluence of IoT and Cloud Computing

The merging of IoT and Cloud Computing has created a mutual relationship that increases both the risks and benefits. The cloud provides the necessary infrastructure for storing, processing, and analyzing the vast amount of data produced by IoT devices. Even so, this connection also presents a complex security landscape.

In the end, cybersecurity aims to create a consistent and secure data flow, so it has evolved to provide end-to-end protection that involves securing the communication channels between devices and the cloud.

For the benefit of the IoT and Cloud Computing ecosystem, cybersecurity solutions apply improved identity and access management and use AI for anomaly detection and to predict threat analysis.

Challenges in the Changing Landscape

Despite the developments in cybersecurity, there are difficulties in the changing landscape of IoT and Cloud Computing.

Different IoT devices each have its own specifications and security protocols, which is a major challenge. In security practices across the industry, standardization is vital for guaranteeing a uniform and robust security posture.

The ever-changing nature of cyber threats is another challenge. As technology changes, so do the techniques employed by cybercriminals; they keep finding new ways to breach security. Cybersecurity Ventures states that global cybercrime costs will grow by 15 percent annually over the next five years, from $3 trillion in 2015 to reaching $10.5 trillion year-over-year by 2025.

Cybersecurity measures need continuous monitoring, regular updates, and joint effort between cybersecurity experts, device manufacturers, and network security providers  – to remain dynamic and versatile in front of rising threats.

The Human Factor

The human factor is an essential component of cybersecurity. While the focus is on technological solutions, users must also be educated on the risks and best practices for maintaining a secure digital environment.

Ransomware attacks, insider threats, and phishing attacks are major concerns. Phishing email statistics show that 1.2 percent of all emails sent are malicious, which translates into 3.4 billion phishing emails daily.

Education and awareness programs are very important. People should be taught to recognize and report these threats, attend cybersecurity forums and events, and they should stay informed about safe online practices, including using strong passwords or password managers.

Also, organizations must hold regular training sessions and conduct strict cybersecurity policies to keep employees informed on the most recent cyber threats and precautions. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, in 2023, global spending on security awareness training for employees is up from around $5.6 billion and is predicted to exceed $10 billion by 2027 – a whole 15 percent yearly increase.

The Future of Cybersecurity

As the world relies on digital networks daily, there is a need to strengthen and improve cybersecurity. Marsh’s U.S. Cyber Purchasing Trends report states that during the first quarter of 2023, insurance for cyber security pricing increased by 11 percent in the U.S. compared to 28 percent in 2022, and the cost is still on the rise.

The future of cybersecurity will be shaped by technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) – which has an important role to play in threat detection and solutions, quantum computing which might present new decryption challenges and solutions, and 5G networks.

Although the spread of 5G networks will result in faster speed and connectivity, it can also give way to cyber threats. Therefore, getting the right foundation of 5G networks on vital systems and services is necessary to get ahead of attacks.

Conclusion

The evolution of cybersecurity is a continuous ride and is constantly changing. With the emergence and merging of technologies like IoT and Cloud Computing, there has been an increase in the risks of cyber threats, and cybercriminals find new ways to breach security daily.

Managing these challenges requires teamwork and an extensive security strategy. This strategy should aim to improve the digital ecosystem’s connection and make the digital future secure. It should also involve education, regular monitoring, a combination of all the latest technologies, and the creation of cybersecurity awareness.

Featured Image Credit: Tima Miroshnichenko; Pexels

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The Wikimedia Foundation has revealed the 25 most-read articles on English Wikipedia this year with ChatGPT comfortably in the number one spot.

Just over one year since its launch, ChatGPT  – and artificial intelligence (AI) in general – continues to be a hot topic, in public discourse. Often as a source of concern. This week a study found 36% of the world’s IT workers are fearful AI will take their jobs over the next five years.

The Wikimedia report detailed the large language model (LLM) chatbot’s article had “pageviews between 100,000 and 400,000 nearly every day.”

“In fact, across all of the languages Wikipedia supports, we registered over 78 million pageviews to ChatGPT articles.”

The list of the most-viewed Wikipedia articles of 2023 includes the figures up to Nov. 28, but a full, definitive list up to the end of the year will be compiled and released in January.

Other topics in the top 10 included Deaths in 2023, Cricket World Cup (plus two other cricket entries) and two different listings relating to the Oppenheimer film.

Impact of ChatGPT

Sports, film and celebrities are popular evergreen pop-culture topics people want to read about. Those areas always dominate the Wikipedia list but it is a sign of the times and the vast interest in OpenAI’s flagship product it commands the top spot.

The ChatGPT entry on Wikipedia begins with a concise explanation of what it is:

“ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a chatbot developed by OpenAI and launched on November 30, 2022. Based on a large language model, it enables users to refine and steer a conversation towards a desired length, format, style, level of detail, and language.”

As is customary with all content listed on the online encyclopedia, the article gives a detailed explanation and breakdown of ChatGPT and is available in 98 languages.

The 25 most-read articles on English Wikipedia in 2023

1. ChatGPT: 49,490,406
2. Deaths in 2023: 42,666,860
3. 2023 Cricket World Cup: 38,171,653
4. Indian Premier League: 32,012,810
5.  Oppenheimer (film): 28,348,248
6. Cricket World Cup: 25,961,417
7. J. Robert Oppenheimer: 25,672,469
8.  Jawan (film): 21,791,126
9. 2023 Indian Premier League: 20,694,974
10.  Pathaan (film): 19,932,509
11. The Last of Us (TV series): 19,791,789
12. Taylor Swift: 19,418,385
13.  Barbie (film): 18,051,077
14. Cristiano Ronaldo: 17,492,537
15. Lionel Messi: 16,623,630
16. Premier League: 16,604,669
17. Matthew Perry: 16,454,666
18. United States: 16,240,461
19. Elon Musk: 14,370,395
20.  Avatar: The Way of Water: 14,303,116
21. India: 13,850,178
22. Lisa Marie Presley: 13,764,007
23.  Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: 13,392,917
24. Russian invasion of Ukraine: 12,798,866
25. Andrew Tate: 12,728,616

Featured Image: Pexels

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In times of economic downturn, it’s no surprise that marketing budgets are the first to get cut. The percentage of overall revenue allocated to marketing budgets dropped by 4.4% between 2022 and 2023.

The instability of the fluctuating economy over the past few years makes it difficult to plan too far into the future. Yet, brands must be forward-thinking to maintain business continuity. This often requires marketers to seek solutions that can proactively provide the greatest return on investment (ROI) to protect against external factors.

Finding this ideal balance can be tricky, but there are key steps brands can take to build a safety net that can keep them afloat.

Invest in owned assets

Consider marketing strategies in terms of a significant investment, like home ownership. If you invest in properties you own and control, the value you put into them continues to impact your life long after you’ve purchased the home or remodeled the kitchen. If you rent, you’ll get value for as long as you pay. Once you stop paying, most, if not all, of the value is lost.

Owned assets are your brand’s controlled property, technically and creatively. Think: your website, messaging, and blog content.

By investing resources in your owned assets, your brand’s visibility within managed and leveraged channels like Google search, social media, and, yes, even advertising will grow organically.

In short, if you expand your website and optimize your brand content, you can sustain continued, self-propelling value across channels.

Use behavior data to truly connect with consumers

Leverage multiple data sources to truly understand what your target audience is looking for and where they spend time. That way, your brand can prioritize what answers to provide and where to direct content efforts.

Activating consumer search insights includes conducting surveys, monitoring social engagement, collecting organic search intent, reviewing website traffic, and tracking third-party research.

When pulled together, this data accurately represents the information people are searching for at any given time, providing your brand with the tools required to deliver solutions where they matter most.

Stick to efficient spending

Efficiency is key.

Avoid falling into the trap of reliance on traditional strategies that deliver leads with limited returns. Smart, not necessarily common, strategies yield greater bang for your buck. Simple, yet effective, is the motto for the foreseeable future. It can lay the groundwork for your brand to expand if there’s an increase in your brand’s marketing budget.

The owned asset optimization (OAO) method includes expanding and optimizing your brand content. And the returns are impressive. The OAO approach has been shown to drive five to seven times ROI and 87% lower cost-per-acquisition compared to paid-only strategies.

An independent paid strategy can only go so far. Still, suppose your brand’s foundation, the channels you control completely, is optimized, strengthened, and visible. In that case, you can create a natural failsafe to protect assets like ads in the event of an economic downturn.

Take on a challenger mindset

Using audience data to create a direct-to-consumer (D2C) content strategy is valuable for brands. It enables brands to meaningfully connect with consumers, even when they don’t follow the same product distribution model as D2C challenger brands.

No matter their business type, enterprise brands can (and should) think of themselves as publishers pushing their content distribution model directly to consumers.

Leveraging data-informed content not only helps cut out the middleman and keep budgets low, but it also builds trusted relationships directly with its customers.

Consider global brands that sell through retailers, like Johnson & Johnson. Even though they aren’t D2C, these brands must still convince consumers that their product is the right choice when faced with dozens of options in-store. Publishing data-informed content online that’s optimized for visibility will help them achieve this drive, better brand trust, and support future purchasing decisions.

Prioritize consumer service over transactions

In a down economy, businesses and marketing departments aren’t the only ones stretching lean budgets—consumers are, too.

Instead of trying to create sales where they might not exist, focus on serving your audience, building trust, and earning their purchases before they have the money to spend with you. Building brand equity before and during economic downturns builds resilience.

This means your brand is better suited to maintain consumer awareness, market share, and differentiation from competitors. Implementing an OAO strategy reminds consumers that your brand exists and offers solutions they might need down the line.

Consumers who find brands that understand their needs, speak their language and share their values are likelier to stick with those brands through economic headwinds. By building content that delivers the most relevant value possible, you show audiences that you care enough about their needs to invest in fostering authentic relationships.

Featured Image Credit: Nataliya Vaitkevich; Pexels

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In the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce, it’s evident that the last decade has witnessed a remarkable expansion. A paradigm shift in consumer shopping habits has transformed how we engage with products and services. From the convenience of online grocery shopping to the experience of trying on apparel within the confines of our homes, the e-commerce realm has revolutionized the retail sphere. Moreover, consumers are increasingly turning to e-commerce platforms for products they once only considered purchasing after in-store trials. Notably, beauty-specific e-commerce has seen an exponential surge, nearly quadrupling between 2015 and 2022.

As we traverse into the next phase of e-commerce’s evolution, one entity reigns supreme: Amazon.

As the world’s largest e-commerce company, boasting a market capitalization exceeding $1.3 billion, Amazon significantly shapes the trajectory of e-commerce trends.

In 2023, we observe a discernible trend where brands progressively favor third-party, or 3P, selling.

What Is 1P vs. 3P E-Commerce?

In a 1P, or first-party, e-commerce model, brands sell their products to Amazon, entrusting the platform to sell them to the public. Conversely, the 3P model allows brands to sell through Amazon while retaining their identity as vendors.

A 3P e-commerce model has been gaining momentum over the last few years. While about half of all Amazon vendors use a hybrid approach of both first-party and third-party selling, as of the second quarter of 2023, 3P sellers sold 60% of paid units on the platform.

Why the Shift?

This paradigm shift toward 3P selling directly responds to evolving consumer buying patterns. It offers brands extended reach and more profound connections with their customer bases, driven significantly by the vast reservoir of data at Amazon’s disposal. The capacity to leverage Amazon’s extensive data resources in targeting customers throughout their shopping journey has proven irresistible to brands seeking to optimize their advertising investments.

Though a 1P marketplace might be simpler because it mimics the traditional wholesaler-retailer relationship, 3P offers vendors continued ownership, including more significant levels of visibility into sales data and more control over packaging, marketing, and category options.

Operating in an Open Marketplace

The shift to 3P also reflects the challenges many brands face in the 1P marketplace. In general, 1P sellers are more restricted. They have less control over pricing, for instance. Amazon operates as an open marketplace and does not adhere to the suggested retail price (SRP) or minimum advertised price (MAP) guidelines. Moreover, using algorithms to determine pricing strategies often leads to abrupt reductions to compete with marketwide discounts.

However, despite the shift from 1P to 3P, brands wishing to leap must be ready for the demands of an open marketplace. They will need to summon their external and internal resources to support demand planning, content creation, SEO, marketplace compliance, and promotional strategy and logistics. Will the move be worth it?

How Brands Can Benefit From Moving to 3P

Weighing up 1P vs. 3P e-commerce means considering how your brand will maximize the opportunities of a move to third-party selling. How will you make the most of its benefits as other companies rush to do the same? Start with these tips:

1. Access Innovations as They Arrive

Amazon is at the forefront of e-commerce innovation and implements new technology to improve its services. As a third-party seller, you will gain access to data tools, giving you deeper insight into sell-through performance, the long-term value of customers, the share of the basket, and other essential marketing metrics. And, when Amazon gets involved with generative AI, you know it will change the marketing game.

2. Elevate Your Brand Presence

Success in the 3P model hinges on elevating your brand within Amazon’s ecosystem.

Crafting a distinct brand identity and showcasing unique qualities is paramount in standing out among the vast array of sellers.

Leveraging the storytelling tools available to 3P sellers can enhance your brand’s visibility and appeal.

3. Diversity Revenue Streams

Access to a larger market means access to more diverse revenue streams, which can be revitalizing for brands looking to grow and potentially add new product lines. Plus, acting on some of the other opportunities of third-party selling — such as brand-building social media or collaboration with influencers — can give your brand extra power in the marketplace so that those diverse revenue streams keep multiplying.

The truth is that nearly all e-commerce companies could benefit from the 3P model of e-commerce. The question is, how will you manage that transition and properly support its growth? When will be the right time in your strategy as a business to leap, or are you already prepared?

Featured Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Photo by Christian Wiediger; Unsplash

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Huawei Technologies and China Mobile have collaborated with Tsinghua University and Cernet.com Corp. to build what they claim is the world’s first internet network capable of achieving speeds of 1.2 terabits per second over long distances. The 3,000 kilometer network links Beijing to southern China and is being promoted as a significant technological achievement using entirely Chinese technology.

According to a recent Bloomberg report, trials of the network began on July 31, and tests have verified the capability to reach 1.2 Tbps speeds, according to Tsinghua University statements. This bandwidth is several times faster than typical internet speeds globally. Tsinghua, known as the alma mater of President Xi Jinping, is presenting the network as an industry-first built completely using homegrown Chinese technology. The university gave prominent credit to Huawei’s role in developing the network.

Huawei has been in the spotlight recently after unveiling a 5G smartphone in August containing an advanced Chinese-made processor. This sparked celebration on Chinese social media and debate in Washington about whether more should be done to limit China’s technological progress. Chinese state media are characterizing the new network as further evidence of the country’s expanding technological capabilities thanks to domestic innovation.

The claims about the network’s capabilities and the use of solely Chinese technology have not been independently verified. In February, Nokia announced achieving 1.2 Tbps speeds over a 118 km network in Europe. If China’s claims are valid, its new network would represent a significant leap in bandwidth speeds over long distances.

The network marks the latest volley between the U.S. and China over the future of technology and connectivity. While China touts its advances, Washington debates stronger actions to limit Chinese firms like Huawei over national security concerns. The unveiling of this ultrafast network using Huawei gear will likely amplify those concerns. China presents the project as a triumph of self-sufficiency, while critics see it as a worrying expansion of China’s technological footprint.

Photo by Irina Iriser.

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Ghostwriters and ghostwriting are one of the emerging methods of generating content. It is used to produce high-quality content, especially when you need to hit some targets. Ghostwriters have developed into an incredible writing world, and more businesses and people are using it.

The main reason anyone considers hiring a ghostwriter is because everyone is not a natural writer. And also, at times, it is not necessary to be a great writer or an editor. The reasons why businesses or individuals go for ghostwriting differ. Sometimes, people are short on time and cannot complete their books on time. The businesses typically hire ghostwriters to divide the work so there is less burden. So, if you realize it cannot be done on your own, then it is better to look for Ghostwriters for hire.

The USA is also a big ghostwriting industry; many new businesses and individuals seek guidance from ghostwriters. With an overwhelming number of services available, let’s look into some places to consider for ghostwriting.

The Process of Selecting a Ghostwriting Company

To begin any process requires a lot of research and analysis. You cannot jump to conclusions and make rash decisions. Therefore, it is ideal to check everything and then move towards choosing a ghostwriting agency.

Today, different ghostwriting agencies are working around the globe with so many services on offer. But make a stop and look at this,

Before choosing a ghostwriting company, you must look at,

• Ensure they communicate clearly with you and understand what you want.
• Assess and look at their previous work to make some intelligent investigations.
• Ask and try if they can speak in your tone.
• Ask other businesses about the specific ghostwriting company on their work manner, style, and commitment.
• Ask for quotes to have an idea before contacting them for work.

Later, let’s move on to the top 10 Ghostwriting services in the USA (greyjournal dot net) for hire.

1.      Vox Ghostwriting

The first name on the list is Vox Ghostwriting, a certified name in writing, publishing, and publishing services. The company is not a referral name, and the writers are supervised under the agency. From fiction to non-fiction or writing a history book, every genre is catered by Vox Ghostwriting.

They follow a commendable process that ensures their and the client’s ideas fall into one place. Vox Ghostwriting never deviates from fulfilling clients’ demands by adding to their imaginations.  They thoroughly listen and deliver work with the finest details.

The writing services they offer,

• E-book publication
• Video book trailers
• Branding and marketing
• Book covers and design
• Web content and SEO

Every customer is treated distinctly. This is why they have determined a top-notch way of catering to their clients. Users can connect to their representatives whenever they have a query as they keep their customer care window open 24/7.

2.      Ghostwriting Solution

At number 2, the name is Ghostwriting Solution, a guaranteed name in ghostwriting and publications. The firm deals with highly talented and professional writers, providing 100% profits to customers. They also have the art of upscaling business and reaching marketing goals. Therefore, the firm is not restricted to book writing only. Once anyone joins Ghostwriting Solution, they bring many solutions together, and it is up to you what needs to be chosen.

What do they have to offer,

• Book Writing
• Digital Marketing
• SEO-optimized content
• Cover design
• Book review and consultation

Ghostwriting Solution has topped the number of services as they excel in memoir writing, article writing, proofreading, celebrity autobiography, and more. The credibility of their work can be seen in their tutorials as they speak about the greatness of their work. Moreover, getting associated with Ghostwriting Solution allows individuals to be recognized internationally and create capital by selling books online.

3.      Nexus Ghostwriting

Nexus Ghostwriting is an elite name in the list of ghostwriting services. They have emerged as an excellent solution for businesses and individuals. They are among the list of top companies due to their professional board of writers and editors. The writers at Nexus work with utmost dedication due to their art in serving flawless pieces, whether writing or editing.

They follow a creative process created exclusively by Nexus Ghostwriting. The process begins with introducing the pricing plans so there are no hassles afterward. Further, they move to adjust and create content and match accordingly with the client’s demand. After all the pre-phases, they move to drafting and final submission.

What they offer,

• Fiction
• Memoir
• Autobiography
• Wed design
• Video book trailers
• SEO

The Nexus Ghostwriting has the greatest combination of books and further services. Publishing books is one of their distinct sets them apart from others. To give your book prosperity, Nexus helps bring it to the front.

4.      Fiction Ghostwriting

Fiction Ghostwriting provides ghostwriting and editing services. They have compiled a team of experts who are well-versed in editing, creating customized content, and keeping it original. Creative content writers always develop thought-provoking ideas and set some mind-blowing plots with twists.  Further, they take these manuscripts to convert them into a transformation phase and save the enticing plot by putting them into perfect words.

Services they offer,

• Fan fiction
• Audiobooks
• Over Design
• Web Design
• Branding and publicity

Where all the services are available, there are different people to cater to it to avoid any monotonous. The work of Fiction Ghostwriting allows people to have the unseen success they wait for. Whether for your business or a book you have been holding for years, it is composed to its best.

5.      Ghost Writer Inside

Are you looking to make an autobiography on the adventures you had? Take a look at Ghost Writer Inside. It is a certified name in the field of ghostwriting and has not gone wrong since the day it began. They offer services ranging from memoir, adventure, fiction, non-fiction, and autobiography. Ghost Writer Inside is indeed brought to people as a solution for their ghostwriting solution.

What they offer,

• Autobiography writing
• Proofreading services
• Book Layout Designing
• Book Publishing

Ghost Writer Inside has stored all the great facilities under one roof. It allows them to cater to their clients to the next level.

6.      Collins Ghostwriting

Another name that has bagged to the list is Collins Ghostwriting. They have collected a great source of writing and editing services by having top-notch writers and other teams serving their best. They have a strategic approach to writing as they follow a proper method. From briefing to drafting, they have a valuable mode of working that also serves the most beautiful result.

One of their distinct qualities that is often discussed is timely delivery. Everything is delivered on time, whether it is a long task of the month or a year. Even if the client demands a draft, it is delivered beforehand.

What they have at the offer,

• Editing
• Publishing
• Memoir writing
• Songwriting
• Biography
• Non-fiction
• Informative writing

7.  Ghostwriting Saga

To bring the second last name to the list, the word that caught the eye is Ghostwriting Saga. With their widespread reputation in the industry, they look forward to making a difference in the ghostwriting industry. With competent services, they have made themselves notable in the industry.

Here are the services they offer,

• Book Writing
• Book Publishing
• Book Marketing
• Video book trailer
• Cover design

8.      All American Ghostwriters

All American Ghostwriters is a well-established name in ghostwriting, yearning to make a top name in ghostwriting. They have shaped some amazing books from different perspectives and in other languages.

This is what they offer,

• Memoirs
• Fiction and Nonfiction
• Biography
• Informative
• Branding

9.      Barnett Ghostwriting

Another seasoned name on the list is Barnett Ghostwriting, where numerous ghostwriting services are available in one place. Book publishing, editing, and ghostwriting are the main forte of the firm, and they have been servicing their level best. The firm has worked on over a thousand projects, becoming a top name to consider in ghostwriting.

This is what they offer,

• Article writing
• Book writing
• Editing
• Book cover design
• Consultation and Proofreading

10.      Semrush Marketplace

Semrush has also come with their ghostwriting services, where they offer some effective ghostwriting services. You can give them your topic, and they design and modify it accordingly. They have an array of services available for services. They ask us to forget about searching for vetted writers as they have the best services.

Sermush offers,

• Website copy
• Ebook
• Email news
• Article
• Product Description

They deliver and design content according to business needs to match specific goals. Whether the client’s demands are for SEO-optimized business copies or any technical article — these are all perfectly catered to.

FAQ’S – Ghostwriters For Hire

Q: How much does a good ghostwriter cost?

The cost of a good ghostwriter can vary widely, but on average, you can expect to pay between $0.10 to $2.00 per word, $50 to $200 per page, or a flat fee ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 or more for a complete book or lengthy project.

Q: How do I find the best ghostwriter?

When finding the best ghostwriter for your project, several key factors can help you make an informed decision. Considering Vox Ghostwriting, a highly reputable ghostwriting service, can be a wise choice due to its outstanding track record and commitment to excellence. Here are some steps to guide you in finding the best ghostwriter, including Vox Ghostwriting:

1. Research and Referrals
2. Portfolio and Samples
3. Expertise and Experience
4. Client Testimonials
5. Communication and Understanding

Q: Who are the best-selling ghostwriters?

Vox Ghostwriting is a reputable brand known for providing high-quality ghostwriting services. They have a team of talented ghostwriters with experience across various genres, some of whom may have been involved in best-selling projects.

The End Note

With so many platforms available, these chosen platforms can make it easier for you. They are written based on the services they offer and how they work.

Featured Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Thank you!

The post 10 Best Ghostwriters for Hire in USA 2024 appeared first on ReadWrite.

Google recently announced significant new requirements for senders of bulk email to Gmail users, aiming to cut down on spam and make inboxes more secure.

According to an Oct. 3 announcement, the new policies will take effect in February 2024 and will target bulk senders — those who send more than 5,000 messages per day to Gmail addresses. These high-volume senders must authenticate their emails, enable one-click unsubscribes, and stay under a defined spam threshold.

Email authentication is a key focus. Google says too many major senders fail to properly secure their systems, leaving them vulnerable to spoofing by attackers. Spoofing is when someone disguises their email to make it look like it’s coming from a trusted source. Authentication uses protocols like DMARC to verify the actual sender of an email. The new authentication rules will attempt to close spoofing loopholes and confirm senders are who they claim to be.

The unsubscribe requirement makes it easier for users to opt out of commercial email. Senders must process unsubscribes within two days. This ensures users don’t keep getting unwanted marketing messages. Google is basing the rules on open standards like LISTUNSUB so all email providers can benefit from faster unsubscribes.

Finally, bulk senders must stay under a maximum spam rate to avoid bombarding Gmail users. Google will enforce a threshold on the percentage of messages sent that end up marked as spam. This spam filter is an industry-first, according to Google. It provides another layer of protection against unwanted email.

Google says the changes reflect “email hygiene” best practices that many ethical senders already follow. The company is sharing guidance to help other significant senders upgrade their systems before enforcement starts in 20 months.

The goal is to keep inboxes clutter-free while blocking more unwanted messages. Google plans to collaborate with the email community to fine-tune protections and stop evolving threats.

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Mozilla fixed a critical zero-day vulnerability affecting its Firefox web browser and Thunderbird email client via emergency security updates.

The security flaw in question — CVE-2023-4863 — stemmed from a heap buffer overflow in the WebP code library.

“Opening a malicious WebP image could lead to a heap buffer overflow in the content process,” Mozilla said in an advisory published on Tuesday, adding: “We are aware of this issue being exploited in other products in the wild.”

The not-for-profit software developer addressed the zero-day exploit for:

• Firefox 117.0.1
• Firefox ESR 115.2.1
• Firefox ESR 102.15.1
• Thunderbird 102.15.1
• Thunderbird 115.2.2

The details surrounding the WedP flaw being used in attacks have not been shared, but users have been strongly advised to update their versions of Firefox and Thunderbird.

Google already patched Chrome

Mozilla software was not alone in using the vulnerable WebP code library version.

Google patched its Chrome web browser on Monday while warning that “an exploit for CVE-2023-4863 exists in the wild.” Its security updates have been rolling out and are expected to cover its entire user base in the weeks ahead.

Apple and The Citizen Lab identified the flaw

Apple’s Security Engineering and Architecture team first reported the flaw on Sept. 6, alongside The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto’s Munk School — the latter famous for identifying and disclosing zero-day vulnerabilities.

Citizen Lab recently identified two zero-day vulnerabilities used to deploy NSO Group’s infamous Pegasus mercenary spyware onto up-to-date iPhones. Apple patched the vulnerabilities last week before backporting them to older iPhone models — such as the iPhone 6s, iPhone 7 and iPhone SE.

The post Mozilla patches Firefox and Thunderbird against zero-day exploits appeared first on ReadWrite.

The first use of computers was pretty simple. Scientists performed calculations, kept the data on punch cards, sent astronauts to the moon, and hoped they would come back. Each computer was a world of its own, a tool on which experts punched in one set of numbers and received a different set.

As learning about machines evolved, the next step was to find ways to connect the terminals so that users could share information. The TCP/IP protocol created a set of rules to govern the way computers communicate. But having worked out how to make the machines talk, engineers needed something to say. So the second step in the development of the Web was to create a library of pages that users could access for information and entertainment.

Those pages were originally text-based because that was all the communication channels would allow. As bandwidth widened, content found room for images, which led to the third step in the Web’s evolution: a three-dimensional world users could navigate as though it were physical.

That mostly happens in gaming, but we’ve now had about twenty-five years of text-based, two-dimensional networking and a similar period of three-dimensional gaming in which we answer the Call of Duty or follow an Assassin’s Creed on Xboxes and Playstations.

All this means we’re about due for a new development, and according to Dan Mapes, co-founder of Verses.ai, a cognitive computing company specializing in artificial intelligence, that step is coming now.

The Dawn of the 3D Internet and AI-Powered Evolution

From mid-2025, Mapes argues, the world will enter the age of 3D Internet. Headsets will come down in price for those who want a fully immersive experience. New three-dimensional applications will come out for business, government, entertainment, and health. Everything now available on the Worldwide Web will be available on more than one plane.

“In the future, people are … never going to want to come to a Facebook page and send notes to each other when they can be hanging out together in a virtual world,” Mapes told Joel Comm and Travis Wright of The Bad Crypto Podcast. “Facebook took one look at it and they went, ‘Oh my God.’”

Mark Zuckerberg might have moved early, but he was right to shift focus from Facebook to the metaverse, argues Mapes.

But the development of spatial computing is only one part of what Mapes sees as the next step in the development of the Internet. At the same time that content is becoming three-dimensional, artificial intelligence is changing what data can do — and in the process, it’s creating an entirely new kind of computer.

AI’s Evolutionary Path Beyond Machines

“They’re not really machines,” says Mapes. “They’re really sentient entities that are like digital organisms.”

He compares the evolution of an artificially intelligent machine with autopoiesis, a term coined in the 1970s to describe the way organic systems organize and maintain themselves, learning through their experience with the world. Humans, for example, don’t need to be updated at regular intervals to learn and develop. Growth happens constantly. Experience teaches babies how to crawl, then walk, then ride a bike, then slam doors and talk back. People are self-evolving. The combination of constant data and artificial intelligence software will give computers a similar ability.

Mapes differentiates between the language learning models of tools like OpenAI and the active inference he envisions computers developing. Language learning models are content creators. They gorge on vast amounts of data and then regurgitate that data to answer questions. Active inference constantly engages with the world, drawing in new data to produce results that are always up-to-date.

Artificial intelligence and automotive data in new cars, for example, can manage the flow of traffic lights to enhance efficiency. Active inference allows machines to look at the world through a network of connected devices to draw real-time conclusions about cities, factories, hospitals, and education centers.

“We’re going to have a global nervous system that really helps us manage our climate, our finances, other kinds of things,” predicts Mapes. “No one’s going to be left behind in the future … There’s going to be universal housing and universal healthcare. Universal education available to everybody. Right now, half the planet doesn’t even have access to a decent school system. By 2050, everybody’s going to have access to a better-than-Harvard education for free globally.”

Challenges and Opportunities of Unleashing AI’s Potential

Mape’s prediction sounds idealistic, and it depends on at least two requirements. The first is technology, and the second involves embedding artificial intelligence across a broad swathe of life.

That’s where Mapes’s company comes in. In early 2024, Verses.ai will begin offering tools that allow developers to create their own AI applications.

“We’re going to do what Apple did with iOS,” explains Mapes. “When they launched the iPhone, it came with ten apps: messaging and navigation and notes and things like that. Apple had to build all those because they built iOS, but then they opened the App Store and said, ‘You guys make the apps.’ We followed that model as well.”

Manufacturers of products from white goods to personal transport will be able to integrate artificial intelligence into their products, enabling those products to both gather data and use that data to constantly improve their services.

With that gathering of private data will come regulation. Initial attempts at governance will come from the industry itself, through the establishment of its own guardrails and standards. Just as the Web’s standards create challenges for child pornographers and terrorists, the new Web will implement barriers to safeguard data. Verses.ai has already teamed up with law firm Dentons to produce an International Rating System for Autonomous Intelligent Systems (AIRS).

How well that system will operate and whether it will be adequate remains to be seen. But as the new Web develops, there will be plenty of intelligent applications watching and suggesting smarter ways to keep everyone safe in the world of spatial computing.

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Today’s vast digital era is fueled by websites, web apps, and everything working on the web. The primary force behind this enhanced way of connecting with people and providing services is web development and web development. Right from e-commerce platforms to social media networks and business websites, web developers play a pivotal role in designing and building the virtual spaces we navigate.

Web developers cover the various aspects of web application development, including frontend and backend development, deployment of apps, database management, and application support and maintenance. With a plethora of tech stacks and frameworks in place, today’s web development is quite different than some years ago. Today, the best web developers possess a blend of technical skills, creativity, problem-solving skills, an understanding of design, and exceptional user experience.

With so many web developers in the market who claim to be masters at developing scalable web-based products, it is hard to find the best ones. Hiring web developers is challenging because of the number of choices and things you must keep in mind. Rather than doing everything on your own, what if there was a way to hire web developers in India without all the heavy lifting? Sounds great, right? Many companies in India let you Hire Indian web developers for the best rates, and they can work remotely with your team.

If you want to Hire web developers in India, we have highlighted some of the best places to hire your developers in the next section. So, let’s get started.

Sites to Hire Dedicated Web Developers In India

1. eSparkBiz

eSparkBiz is a pioneering web development company based in India. It has completed 12 years of serving clients worldwide while maintaining an excellent 95% client retention rate.

It is one of India’s few CMMI Level 3 certified software and web development companies. eSparkBiz has a team of 250+ experienced web and software developers working on client projects. Whether you are looking to build frontend or backend for your web applications, CRM systems, or Portals, the developers at eSparkBiz can help you do it all.

The company also provides end-to-end web app development services, which start from UI/UX design and end with continuous maintenance and support of the product in production environments. Suppose you have an old web app that needs to be migrated to the latest technologies. In that case, eSparkBiz provides excellent upgradation and migration services with the option to integrate third-party integrations for enhanced performance of your new web applications.

The company follows a strict NDA and provides all clients a 15-day risk-free trial period. So, if you don’t like the work in the first 15 days, you can withdraw your project without paying anything, and your project idea will never be discussed with anyone too.

Lastly, all deliveries with eSparkBiz will be on time as the company follows an agile methodology for software development, and they provide ample resources to your project to complete things on the agreed timelines.

So call this team today discuss your needs, and hire web developers in India for the best rates.

2. Alphonic Net Solutions

After completing 10+ years and delivering 300+ client projects successfully, Alphonic Net Solutions is another company on this list where you can hire web developers. The company has a team of 100+ employees who work across different technologies and client projects.

This company provides various services like web development, mobile App development, UI/UX design, cloud development, and blockchain development. Under the web development umbrella, Alphonic Net Solutions provides PHP, JavaScript, .Net, Angular, MEAN Stack, and Ruby on Rails development services. If you want to build your web application based on any of these technologies, this team can surely be helpful.

With their hiring model, you can hire a dedicated software developer for your project who will work as an extended team member from Alphonic’s offices. This company also provides 24*7 technical support and free 180 days of support even after the signoff and handover of the project. Moreover, multiple engagement models are on offer, so you enjoy the best value for money on your engagements with this company.

3. Mtoag Technologies

Mtoag is a team of 50+ experienced software developers and architects with more than 13+ years in the business. The company has successfully delivered 2500+ projects during this time for its 650 customers.

Mtoag Technologies provides a wide variety of services like Mobile and Web app development, eCommerce development, CMS development, IoT development, cloud computing, and wearable app development.

The team can help you develop custom and tailor-made web applications by leveraging React, Flutter, Swift, Laravel, NodeJS, Angular, and Drupal technologies. With these technologies, Mtoag also provides end-to-end web design, web development, software testing, and round-the-clock support for all their projects.

The company offers multiple resource models and claims you can start working with them in just one day. They also provide on-time deliveries and flexible solutions that are easy to expand and scale when needed.

4. Unico Connect

Unico Connect is a medium-sized software development and consulting company from India. It has a talented team that can provide services like UI/UX Design, AI, Web, and Mobile development and technical consulting for your projects.

The team can help you finalize your project ideas by guiding you through all the steps in building a successful project. Unico Connect has 10+ years of experience in delivering web development services to clients, and by now, it has delivered 100+ products successfully.

The team provides support and maintenance, customization of applications, and optimization of existing applications for all their clients. If you want to enjoy hiring flexibility, Unico Connect offers a way to hire entire teams or even a single developer. Moreover, if you want to complete the project on a fixed budget, you can choose the fixed-scope engagement model offered by this company.

5. Mobulous

With a 95% customer retention rate and more than 8 years in the business, Mobulous is another excellent company to hire web developers in India. Mobulous provides website design, mobile, and web development services to its customers, and by now, it has helped more than 500 businesses.

You can hire a dedicated developer from Mobulous, and all their developers are good at software application development, API integrations, custom web app development, eCommerce web development, cloud development, and full stack development with multiple technologies.

The company offers competitive pricing for hiring web developers, and it has delivered some great applications like IndiaMart and Dainik Bhaskar, which shows the caliber of the developers available to hire.

6. AXAT Technologies

AXAT Technologies began its operations in 2010, providing services like web development, UI/UX designing, Digital Marketing, and mobile app development.

Whether you want to upgrade your applications with the latest features, or you want to add new integrations to the app, or just maintain it to keep it running, the team at AXAT Technologies can do it all.

The development team is well-versed in multiple technologies and can work with technologies like C#, Python, Java, Laravel, etc.

7. Lean Apps

Lean Apps is an app development agency with offices around Europe, UK, and India. The team is an expert in building web, mobile, AR/VR, Blockchain, and wearable apps. With technology expertise of multiple frameworks in frontend and backend, and deployment knowledge of multiple public and private cloud providers, the lean apps team is ready to take on any challenge.

Each app built by the Lean apps team is based upon the DevOps and Agile ideology, and they can even craft fantastic microservice architecture for tension-free scaling. If you want to build futuristic applications, this team can help you using all the advanced web development technologies.

8. Complere Infosystem

Complete Infosystem is a software consulting company with 6+ years of experience serving global clients. The company provides services like app development, website development, and data analytics.

By leveraging their developer pool, Complere Infosystem can help you develop high-performance and reliable web applications.

9. Inwizards Software Technology

Inwizards is a US-based software development and consulting company with expertise in services like Mobile app development, Product development, and digital marketing solutions.

The company can provide you with developers for custom software development, eCommerce development, Frontend and Backend development, and support and maintenance tasks.

Reach out to the sales team and inquire about the latest developer rates before choosing.

10. WisdmLabs

WisdmLabs is a team of 100+ software developers and architects that work on exciting web app development projects. The company started in 2012 and quickly introduced developer-for-hire services.

You can hire WordPress developers to build excellent WordPress websites with this company.

Conclusion

Coming to an end, various companies on this list provide an option to hire your developers and work with them remotely. You should definitely choose a company that has more accreditations to its name and better reviews. Ultimately, your app’s progress will depend on how good and talented the company and developers are. So get in touch with these companies and get a quote for your needs before finalizing any one service provider.

Featured Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Pexels; Thank you!

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