Major Tech Companies and Open-Source Projects Among the Most Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks, Report Finds

Recent analysis shows that Google, Fedora Project, and Microsoft had the most exposures in 2022. The good folks over at AtlasVPN analyzed the information from the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system to determine which companies and products were most at risk for cyber attacks.

It highlights that Google had the most vulnerabilities with a total of 1372 exploits reported in the previous year. This was followed by the Fedora Project with 945 susceptibilities and Android with 897. Other companies, with a major open-to-attack ratio, included Chrome Operating System, Fedora Linux, and open-source software such as Debian.

Besides this, according to an analysis from CVSS, Microsoft products are ranked 9+ (the score that determines the intensity of vulnerabilities). The Apple developments also rate at 9+ with over 17% share in weaknesses. Google comes third with ratings of 9+ and 14% of the overall share.

But to keep note, a product's vulnerability count does not always indicate how secure it is. Popular and open-source goods frequently have more flaws since more people are finding hacks for them.

While the number of vulnerabilities in Google's products is concerning, it is worth noting that Google also has one of the largest product portfolios in the world, with numerous products and services used by millions of people every day. This makes it a prime target for cybercriminals.

In response to the study, various organizations stated that they take security seriously and work continuously to improve the security of their products. They also urged users to enable two-factor authentication and to keep their software up to date to minimize the risk of cyber-attacks.

Despite the efforts of these organizations, the report highlights the need for increased vigilance when it comes to cybersecurity. With cyber-attacks becoming more frequent and sophisticated, individuals and businesses need to take steps to protect themselves and their data.

Some recommended steps include using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, keeping software up to date, and being wary of suspicious emails and links. By taking these steps, users can help minimize the risk of cyber-attacks and protect their sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Online Scam Alert: Study Finds Users Vulnerable, Despite False Sense of Security

A recent survey has revealed that, despite being overconfident in their ability to identify online scams, one-quarter of consumers still fall victim to them. The findings highlight the need for greater education and awareness around online security, particularly when it comes to the risks of phishing attempts

The study, conducted by cybersecurity firm F-Secure, surveyed ample users in the United States to assess their knowledge and awareness of online security. The results showed that while 70% of consumers thought they were confident in their ability to spot a phishing scam, 27% had fallen victim to one in the past year.

The study also found that many consumers were unsure about how to protect themselves from online scams, with 60% of respondents expressing that they didn't know how to tell if an online store was safe or not. This lack of knowledge and awareness can leave users vulnerable to phishing attacks, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect. F

Phishing scams typically involve the use of fake emails or websites to trick users into providing personal or financial information. These attacks can be devastating, resulting in identity theft, financial loss, and other serious consequences.

Despite the risks, many users remain overconfident in their ability to spot phishing scams. This false sense of security can lead to complacency and a failure to take the necessary steps to protect themselves. With these phishing attacks, 51% of respondents consider themselves unaware of the safety of their mobile phones.

In response to the findings, cybersecurity experts are urging users to take a more proactive approach to online security. This includes being cautious of unsolicited emails, avoiding clicking on suspicious links or attachments, and regularly updating passwords and security software.

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The experts also emphasize the need for greater education and awareness around online security, particularly among vulnerable populations such as older adults and those with limited digital literacy.

To stay safe online, users should remain vigilant and take steps to protect themselves from online scams. This includes being cautious of unsolicited emails, avoiding clicking on suspicious links or attachments, and regularly updating passwords and security software.

By taking a proactive approach to online security and staying up to date on the latest threats, technologies, and suitable practices, users can help protect themselves from the devastating consequences of online scams.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

New Study By Apple Watch Says Most People Don’t Get Enough Sleep Each Night

Researchers focused at Apple Watch are making claims about the sleeping patterns of people and the results are surprising.

The team took data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study to come to the conclusion that most individuals are not getting enough sleep each night.

The report for this research was published recently which took the data belonging to 42,000 Apple watch wearers into consideration.

This study was designated with the title, Apple Watch sleep tracking study.

For the study, nearly 2.9 million sleeping nights were analyzed from those wearing the Apple Watch. And out of those, just 31% spoke of getting 7 hours of sleep each night and that happens to be the bare minimum needed for a healthy adult.

Today, the American Heart Association says people need at least 7 to 9 hours of sound sleep each day. And when you don’t get at least seven hours into your routine, it may lead to detrimental effects on your general health pattern.

Common health risks include cardiovascular disease, dementia, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, uncontrolled cholesterol, depression, and cognitive decline.

Researchers were able to gain access to such data thanks to the study that was unveiled in 2019. And anyone making use of the Apple Health App on their iPhones would be eligible to take part.

With this data, researchers got access to a lot of data points that we’ve delineated for you below.

For starters, most people go to bed before midnight on weekdays. But when it comes down to weekends, the figure drops to nearly 56%. Secondly, the American state of Washington had the greatest number of people getting more than seven hours and above of sleep. But the lowest ranked in terms of sleeping hours was Hawaii.

For those participants enrolled in this study sharing 10 sleep nights worth of data, the average sleeping hours per person turned out to be around 6 and a half hours. But despite the differences seen on the state level, all states showed a particular pattern.

Around 40% of citizens did end up meeting the recommended sleeping guideline duration by the American Heart Association.

So as you can see, there was definitely some positive that did come out of this.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Google’s Search Advocate John Mueller Reveals Tips On How To Land Jobs At Top Tech Companies

Today’s world is as competitive as it gets. We’re looking at some of the biggest companies being stricter in terms of hiring. But if you happen to be wondering what’s the secret behind the process, you might want to read on.

John Mueller is Google’s top search advocate and now, he’s giving out some interesting work-related tips on how you can get hired at a leading tech firm.

A recently published thread on Reddit saw one user asking for some much-needed advice on how to really land a great job at one of the biggest tech firms out there, Google.

The company’s Search Advocate, John Mueller has reportedly been with the firm since the year 2007, and he really did manage to give out a great response with plenty of valuable insights.

He knows that many feel that landing a job at the search engine giant can be an absolute dream journey. But it’s crucial to keep in mind that hiring in such firms as large and complex as Google is always a competitive affair.

Nevertheless, with such great advice, so many job applicants can really do a great job at positioning themselves to get what they’ve longed for so long. Moreover, Mueller added how those trying to increase their chances of getting a dream job can do so with a simple guide.

This entails making more contacts, getting ready for interviews, and building some great skills along the way too. So we’re going to be discussing each one of those in detail for you below.

Firstly, the goal is to enhance your skills and get the right contacts from the industry. Mueller says that there are some great job applicants out there that really take out due time to get their skills on point and attain knowledge of a certain degree while trying to know more people.

For that, he advises studying and contributing more to projects that are more open-source in nature, despite it not being coding. Moreover, these efforts end up putting the user in the driving seat whenever job openings come again.

While he does work for Google, Mueller says that he can’t speak on behalf of the firm. But keeping in mind the current economic situation, he does recommend people to get on board with some great skills and some wonderful knowledge of a certain degree.

That would seriously make you look into jobs after things start to pick up the pace. And until then, don’t slack off, he adds.

This happens to be the time to build more contacts in the industry. And remember, this also happens to be the time when a lot of people are putting a pause on hiring and focusing more on carrying out layoffs.

As you can imagine, getting jobs in such downturn economic situations can be hard and very chaotic. So you might want to wait for things to get better with time instead of rushing.

Next, he says it’s time to start seeing more openings for jobs and that means preparing full throttle for interviews. A lot of training is necessary depending on what type of position you might be willing to attain.

A good tip by Mueller is to find a person that might be in the same rank that you happen to be interested in. Meet them and start to ask them questions.

Once you start answering queries in an objective manner and provide the necessary stats with that instead of personal opinions, you’ve already won.

Hence, the moral is to keep an eye out for job postings and start interview training regarding such postings. After all. It’s great to be a smart person and go into something that is less stressful by having a knowledgeable background of what’s going on.

As far as coding is concerned, Mueller says to read books to get handy tips. Meanwhile, for the likes of non-coding, there might be books too but knowing someone that’s familiar with such domains is always helpful.

Last but not least, he says that the motto should always be linked to never getting discouraged. Don’t get your hopes up and don’t focus on just one firm or a single location.

Even if your interview goes fabulous, it does not mean you’ve gotten the job.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

WhatsApp for Business Just Got Status Update Advertising Capabilities

WhatsApp has been doing a lot of work trying to upgrade its messaging platform because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up keeping the users coming in. It turns out that the messaging app is leaning heavily towards business users, since they can help make the platform more relevant than might have been the case otherwise.

An upcoming update for WhatsApp is likely going to make things easier for businesses with all things having been considered and taken into account. This update will enable businesses to advertise their Status Updates, as spotted by WBI. Many enterprises regularly update their statuses on WhatsApp so that they can get more eyes on their products and services, but in spite of the fact that this is the case this update is likely going to take things to another level.

What’s more, businesses will now have the ability to advertise their status updates on Facebook as well as Instagram. If you are a WhatsApp for Business user, you can simply post a status and tap on the “Boost” button that will be featured just below it. That will enable your business to show its products to users on Facebook, something that will greatly expand your consumer base and help you keep the money coming in.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that this update is only going to be available to those that use WhatsApp for Business. It is currently unknown if this feature will make it to the regular version of WhatsApp, but it seems unlikely.

WhatsApp wants to make its Business app a bigger player than it is right now. Updates like these will go a very long way towards making that happen. It will be interesting to see if any more updates are around the corner. The more WhatsApp emphasizes its business users, the closer it will get to its goal of being the one and only messaging app for the business community. The next update will indicate the trajectory of the app in the near future.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

This Chart Highlights the Origins and Destinations of Plastic Waste

The presence of plastic waste is among the biggest challenges facing the world because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up creating waste that will never break down. Our World in Data compiled information from various sources into a chart that outlines where plastic waste comes from as well as where it usually ends up with all things having been considered and taken into account.

The first thing that stands out in this chart is that over 350 million tons of plastic waste are produced each and every year. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that a lot of this waste simply ends up in landfills which makes it more likely to cause pollution than might have been the case otherwise.

By far the most significant exporter of plastic waste is Germany, with the European nation producing an estimated 853 million kilograms of plastic waste on an annual basis. Coming in at a close second is Japan with a little over 820 million, followed by the US with 624 million. Every single country in the top ten list save for Japan is part of the Western Hemisphere, with 8 out of the 10 nations hailing from the continent of Europe.

In spite of the fact that this is the case, the list of countries that import the most plastic waste features far more Asian nations. At the top of this list is Malaysia which imports an estimated 715 million kilograms of plastic waste annually, followed by Turkiye at just under 620 million kilograms. Germany comes in third with 567 million kilograms, although this is still a massive shortfall from the waste they export

East and Southeast Asian nations often have to deal with the plastic waste produced by more developed countries. That can create a huge problem, since the countries that are responsible for this waste are often the least likely to have to deal with it and that can create a massive imbalance around the world.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

New Lawsuit Holds Social Media Apps Accountable For Teen Addictions And Self-Harm

A new legal case has been filed in the federal court of California and it accuses social media giants of intentionally disregarding the great harm they impose on users.

From Meta’s apps to TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and more - the case says all these companies chose to intentionally disregard the dangers they pose to children and teenagers in particular.

It was last year in October when we heard more about this case and how more than two dozen complaints had been filed and that is what led to this single class action lawsuit. But now, the case has picked up the pace and we’re hearing more about it.

Among the long list of accusations, a lot of complaints have to do with the use of algorithms that drive plenty of addictive behaviors that lead to anxiety, sleeplessness, depression, and some major eating disorders that end up in self-harm.

Clearly, the documents being presented at this moment in time were never seen in the past and it’s awfully concerning how so many social media firms are treating this endeavor as one that’s linked to public relations as compared to their own platforms being a real threat to security.

This entails burying internal research that records such harms and also blocking all sorts of safety measures as they tend to decrease the engagement seen there. Lastly, they are defunding all of those teams that keep users’ mental health as a major priority as they’re not finding it profitable.

To be more specific, the suit has added that such big names in the tech world are encouraging the behavior of addicts and bypassing all kinds of parental guidance and controls in place. They’re also failing to confirm the ages of users and end up protecting against different kinds of harmful content and go about multiplying such content too.

The lawsuit is even going about directing a message to Mark Zuckerberg where it says Meta wasn’t on track in terms of succeeding in so many core topics linked to well-being. And the complaint is backed up by the likes of internal studies that Meta conducted on its own. The alarming results showed how its own platforms are huge risks to younger audiences.

But Meta disagrees and says that it is working hard at maximizing security and privacy for users on the app. They also claim to be increasing funding to ensure users' rights are safeguarded in the right manner.

H/T: Mediapost

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World