CheckPoint Report: Cyber Attacks Surge 28% in Q1 2024, Targeting Government, Military, and Healthcare

Data from CheckPoint shows that the number of cyber attacks are increasing and most of them are targeted on government, military and healthcare. CheckPoint published its latest report for cyber attack stats for Q1 of 2024. The report mentions that the frequency and nature of cyber attacks is slowly changing but it is getting more than ever. Comparing the cyber attacks of last quarter of 2023, Q1 of 2024 experienced 28% more cyber attacks which is 5% more than Q1 of 2023. The average number of cyber attacks each organization experienced weekly was 1308 which is the highest number till now.

The report states that this increase in cyber attack numbers is a great threat to many organizations. As days are passing, cyber attacks are going to increase in numbers. The organizations or industries which are highly affected by these attacks are education and research. Both of these organizations are being attacked 2454 times weekly on average. Organizations related to military and government saw cyber attacks 1692 times weekly on average the number of cyber attacks on healthcare organizations was 1605 weekly on average.

The industry that saw the biggest increase in cyber attacks was hardware vendors with 37% increase and average 1185 attacks. Africa also saw an increase in cyber attacks with 20% more attacks as compared to 2024. Latin America saw a 20% decline because of a number of reasons like modern measures and shift in focus of cybercriminals.

Ransomware attacks are still common with attackers posting more than 1000 victims on the dark web. 59% of the ransomware attacks were reported in North America, followed by 24% in Europe. The biggest target of ransomware attacks is the manufacturing industry with 29% reported attacks followed by 11% attacks in healthcare. Organizations should take improved measures to stop cyber attacks and should get help from AI if needed.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

ChatGPT Leads with 13% Month-on-Month Traffic Growth, Hits 1.77 Billion Visits in March 2024

Estimations by SimilarWeb show that ChatGPT is going to surpass its own highest traffic record that was achieved by it in May 2023. In May 2023, the highest traffic recorded on ChatGPT was 1.81 billion. In March 2024, ChatGPT had 1.77 billion visits. ChatGPT’s traffic was declining after summer 2023 but it started peaking in October and it is 33% YoY now. OpenAI also introduced many custom GPTs in fall of 2023 and the traffic there is about 56.5 million as of March 2024. A 3% increase was seen from February 2024 as Third party GPTs reached 50.5 million visits in March. It was a 68% increase from November 2023.

Out of all AI platforms, ChatGPT is the biggest AI chatbot which is a completely separate platform. Microsoft and Google are not included in the rankings because these two platforms are incorporating AI in different ways. ChatGPT saw a 13% increase in its month-on-month (MoM) traffic but it is still less than other platforms like Anthropic’s Claude that had 161% increase in its MoM traffic. This increase of traffic was highly influenced by Claude 3 release. Google’s Gemini’s traffic was 37% MoM with 433.5 million visits but when Google released Bard, it only had 30.6 million visits.

Character AI had 19% MoM and 99% YoY traffic increase and recorded 213 million visits in March 2024. Perplexity, an AI powered search engine saw 24% MoM traffic increase and 288% YoY increase with 61.5 million visits in March 2024.

Read next: OpenAI Bot Overloads Experimental Website
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Which US Companies Offer the Best (and Worst) Entry-Level Pay?

Did you know that Jeff Bezos' first job was as a breakfast cook at a fast-food restaurant? Or that Elon Musk started his work life cleaning the boiler room of a lumber mill?

It's proof that everyone has to start somewhere.

And usually, that somewhere doesn't pay particularly well.

It's starting salaries that inspired the latest study from the money experts at CashNetUSA. They analyzed data from Indeed to rank America's biggest companies based on the percentage of their entry-level jobs that pay above the local average wage.

Here's a look at which big-name US companies came out on top and which ones are putting the pay squeeze on new starters.

Major US companies with the highest-paying entry-level jobs

The Tenet Healthcare Corporation is the USA's best-paying employer for entry-level jobs. According to the Cash Net study, just under 9 out of 10 jobs (87.84%) of entry-level Tenet jobs listed on Indeed pay more than the local median wage.

Two giants of the US banking industry come next. They are investment banking firm Citigroup, with 82% of its entry-level jobs paying above average, and The Bank of America Corporation, which scored 80.21%.

The best company for entry-level job salaries in every US state

Land an entry-level job at Koppers Railroad Structures in Montana and you're guaranteed to earn more than the local median salary. That's because 100% of the company's entry-level jobs listed on Indeed pay above the average.

Only two other firms came out with a perfect 100% score for high-paying entry-level jobs. They are Shipt, a grocery delivery service based in Minnesota, and Chewy.com, a pet food and product supplier operating out of Tennessee.

Best companies for entry-level applicants in US cities

Looking at the data city-by-city data, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta takes the number one spot. Based in central Atlanta, it’s a not-for-profit children's healthcare system that also takes care of its entry-level staff by paying all of them more than the local median salary.

Another healthcare provider scores highly in this section of the study. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Atrium Health provides healthcare, support, and healing services at more than 1,400 care locations and 40 hospitals across several US southern states. The company has a strong commitment to employee welfare, which includes a generous salary package. In this case, 99% of its entry-level employees are earning more than the local average.

Entry-level salaries in the US restaurant industry

Almost 33% of Americans say their first job was in a restaurant. So, given that it's the first stepping stone for many US workers, Cash Net dedicated a part of their study to looking at entry-level salaries in the restaurant chain industry.

And the data highlights what many restaurant workers already know; this is an industry where the hours are long and the wages are low.

Every single restaurant chain in this section of the study scored under 50%.

Arby's is the best-paying restaurant chain for entry-level jobs. Still, only 46% of its entry-level workers can expect to earn more than the local average.

It's even worse for Burger King staff. Nearly 90% of them earn under the local median salary for entry-level staff. The poor pay is due to various factors impacting the entire industry, including low-profit margins and a surplus of young workers who have yet to develop marketable skills or gain any real-world work experience.

Entry-level pay in the restaurant industry across each US state

But the data (and the pay) in the restaurant industry starts to look a little brighter on a state-by-state basis.

Idaho's highest-paying restaurant chain for entry-level jobs is Taco Bell, where 95% of new starters earn more than the average local salary.

Jack in the Box is Missouri's best-paying restaurant chain for entry-level jobs (94%), while some other restaurant chains in several different states scored relatively highly. For example, 77% of entry-level employees working at a Denny's outlet in Utah earn more than most other workers in the state.

The best US retail companies for entry-level starting salaries

The retail industry is another industry where many US workers get their first paid job. And while the pay for entry-level roles isn't great, at least not on a nationwide basis, then it's certainly not terrible.

Almost 8 out of 10 entry-level workers applying for jobs at Target will earn more than the average salary if they get the job.

Every state's best-paying company for entry-level roles

But there's a big disparity in entry-level salaries in the retail industry when breaking down the data state-by-state. In other words, this is an industry where some workers earn a lot while others struggle to get by on a salary well below the local average.

For instance, 96% of entry-level workers for Amazon in Washington earn above the average local salary. However, that figure falls to just 5% for people employed by Dollar General, a discount hypermarket based in North Dakota.

Read Next: New Study Proves Quarter Of Shoppers More Likely to Purchase Products Online After Seeing Ads On Retailer Websites
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

WhatsApp Changes Age Limit Amid Safety Concerns

Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has made a change to the minimum age for users in the UK and EU. It has been lowered from 16 to 13 years old. This decision has upset many child safety groups. They argue that Meta is choosing profits over the safety of children.

The group Smartphone Free Childhood said this move goes against a growing demand for more child protection from big tech companies. They feel that allowing younger children to use the platform suggests it is safe, although many teachers, parents, and experts disagree.

WhatsApp says this new age limit is the same as in most other countries and assures that they have safety measures in place. Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, is getting ready to enforce stricter online safety rules. Mark Bunting, the online safety strategy incharge, said that they are writing new rules for online platforms. Once these rules are active next year, Ofcom will check if companies are protecting users well. Companies that don't follow the rules could be fined heavily.

Meta has also introduced new safety features, including Facebook and Instagram, to address issues like sextortion and the sharing of private images. One new tool is the Nudity Protection Filter. This filter will automatically blur images that show nudity for users under 18 years old.

It also allows users to block the sender and report the chat if they receive inappropriate images. This tool is meant to help users feel safe and avoid pressure to respond to such images. Meta is taking these steps to make their platforms safer for all users, especially young people.

Image: DIW-AIgen

Read next: Employee Referrals Schemes Are Driving Recruitment In Us Tech And Media Jobs
by Mahrukh Shahid via Digital Information World

Employee Referrals Schemes Are Driving Recruitment In Us Tech And Media Jobs

When it comes to landing that dream job in tech or media, it's mostly about what you know. Or at least your potential to learn and develop.

But, as this recent study from Switch on Business shows, who you know can be the real dealbreaker.

Using data collected for Glassdoor, it shows that many of today's biggest media and tech firms hire many of their new staff through employee referral programs.

In other words, having a friend at the company you want to work for gives you a major advantage over all the other applicants.

So which companies make the most of these referral programs? And how much do employees earn for a successful recommendation?

Find out the answer below.

The US tech firm with the highest number of employee referrals

Having the right skills to land a high-paying role at tech-giant Salesforce might get you through the interviewer's door. But if you really want that job, the best thing to have in your favor is a friend or two who already works there.

That's because Salesforce loves hiring people that their staff know, trust, and recommend. According to the data collected by Switch On Business, just over 4 in 10 (41%) of new Salesforce employees come through the company referral scheme. That's the highest referral rate for any tech company included in the study.

The firm incentivizes referrals by offering a $2,000 cash bonus for successful recommendations. Bonuses for referring people for senior roles and executive suite positions can go up to $10,000. Nice.

A report by fortune.com showed that Salesforce has paid out over $5 million in referral bonuses since the scheme started. And while that sounds like an absurd amount, it's actually money well spent. Referred employees tend to be more successful and stay at the company longer, reducing the costly churn rate and lowering other recruitment costs.

To ensure a steady inflow of potential candidates, Salesforce often runs recruitment mingling sessions. Called the "Recruit Happy Hours," these are network events where employees can bring along their friends to meet Salesforce recruiters in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Referring your way into a tech job

Employee referrals are a huge part of many other tech company’s recruitment strategies. And although nobody does it quite like (or as often as) Salesforce, it's now standard practice across the entire industry.

Software provider Nutanix is a big believer in the employee referral recruitment model. Over 30% of its current workforce was recruited by a friend already working there. And getting friends a job at Nutanix can turn into a very lucrative little side hustle. The firm offers a tiered bonus based on the number of referrals. Staff who bring in 5 successful new hires are rewarded with a $6,000 annual bonus.

Software firm Splunk, electronic agreement facilitator DocuSign, and marketing platform provider HubSpot are three more companies that are always asking their staff for referrals. In each case, a quarter of their new hires come through some kind of employee referral scheme.

Then there's Coinbase. The world's first publicly listed cryptocurrency exchange has experienced a massive amount of growth over the last few years. And much of it was driven by employee referrals. The Switch on Business study found that just over 1 in 5 Coinbase employees are referrals. Hopefully, someone there has a friend who can fix the platform's issues during busy periods, which impact user transactions, access, and the ability to sell your coins when the price is pumping. But that's a whole different story.

Using employee referral schemes to break into the media industry

Finding a job in the media industry is notoriously challenging. In fact, it's one of the toughest industries to break into. The industry is highly competitive, with a large number of candidates vying for relatively few positions.

Media jobs often require a unique blend of skills, including creativity, technical proficiency, and strong communication abilities, alongside a deep understanding of the audience and current trends.

Then there's the changing media landscape, including the rise of digital platforms and alternative media sources. This has put a giant strain on traditional media organizations, often leading to job cuts and fewer openings.

However, there are several ways to improve the odds of securing a job in the media. Networking is huge in this industry. And that includes people who already work for major media firms.

BuzzFeed, The New York Times, and even Warner Bros all use employee referral schemes when looking for new hires. At BuzzFeed and The New York Times, 20% of its staff were introduced to the company by a friend through a referral scheme. The figure is slightly lower at Warner Bros., where 18% of staff are referrals. Still, it proves that having friends in the right places will really boost your chances of getting a yes from a media recruiter.

Other major companies on the list published by Switch on Business include Paramount Global (15.03%), Live Nation Entertainment, and Walt Disney (6.2%).

Then there's News Corp, the media firm that owns many of the world's biggest newspapers and content sources. One in 10 people working on News Corps' globally leading media brands were referred to the firm by a current employee.

The US media companies that use employee referral schemes the most

But none of the media companies mentioned above utilize employee referral schemes as much as the Salem Media Group. Operating out of Irvine, Texas, Salem Media Group is a radio broadcaster, internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher that focuses on discussing and promoting Christian values. It describes itself as a trusted source of "family-themed content with conservative values."

The company likes to hire employees who embrace these values. So it's no surprise that it finds many of its like-minded staff through employee referral schemes. The data shows that 25.89% of the media group’s current employees are classified as referrals.

Activision Blizzard takes a very different approach to entertainment. The video game holding company is renowned for producing gaming franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and the adrenaline-packed first-person shooter Overwatch.

However, the gaming giant has a very similar policy when it comes to recruiting. A quarter (25%) of all its staff came through employee referral programs.

Read next: Salaries for Remote Work Have Started to Decline, New Study Reveals
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Google Pulls the Plug on Its Neglected VPN

An unsurprising move from the tech giant Google has made the decisive call to discontinue its Virtual Private Network (VPN) service offered through its One subscriptions. The impetus? A severe dearth of interest from the user base.

The death knell for this VPN arrived subtly, with existing subscribers receiving an unassuming email notification regarding the upcoming change. No hard termination date was specified, but the subtext is clear - this virtual private party is nearing its end.

Rewind to 2020 when Google first launched the One VPN as an exclusive premium perk for its highest-tier subscribers paying hefty $10-plus monthly fees for vast 2TB storage reserves. A belated 2022 bid to democratize the VPN by extending access down to even basic $2 monthly plans did little to ignite broader appeal.

Despite Google's ambitious global rollout spanning 22 countries across iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows platforms, the VPN's promise of secure, anonymous browsing failed to captivate users' imaginations. Put simply, people weren't bothering to use it.

Rather than stubbornly clinging to an evidently unpopular offering, Google pragmatically chose to refocus its resources on features and services that genuinely excite its One subscriber base and earn their engagement.

There's a silver lining for Pixel purists, however. Even as the broader VPN bows out, owners of the Pixel 7 and forthcoming models can rest easy knowing they'll retain access to a native VPN service via their smartphone's settings menu.

Ultimately, Google's strategy realignment stems from a customer-centric drive to elevate offerings that deliver tangible value to its user community – a commendable principle for any business striving to thrive in today's unforgiving digital marketplace.

Hey Readers! Are there better VPN alternatives out there, or will Google's departure leave a void in your online privacy, freedom and security? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on social media with a mention to our social media profile.

Image: Google

Read next: How to Keep Your Digital Footprint Secure After Your Death?
by Asim BN via Digital Information World

How to Keep Your Digital Footprint Secure After Your Death?

Have you ever wondered what happens to your phone after you die? A US based SellCell has found that 95% of the adults all over the world have left their mobile phones behind after their death. This means that they haven’t just left their phone, but also online accounts and a lot of data. 51 million phones were orphaned just in 2023 and this number is going to increase in coming years as mobile phone usage is increasing each passing day. This means after your death there is a lot of personal data that is left in the digital world.

So what to do to secure your data on your phone after you have passed away? The first thing you should do is make some secure passwords for your email, social media, online banking and other platforms’ accounts and entrust a family member or friend to keep them safe for you. A trusted person is very important when it comes to your password. Tell them how important managing your digital footprint is to you. Tell them the location where you have saved all of your passwords and emails. Get a digital repository where you can store all your personal online information and it will be released to a trusted person after your death.

You should also write out a will stating how you want your digital assets to be handled after your death. You can also hire some professional legal help to write out this will. Appointing a digital executor who can manage your digital assets and online presence after your death is a good choice. He will be responsible for managing your digital footprint after you have left this world. Clearly write the instructions about whether you want some things to be deleted or passed down to a family or friend.

If you know someone who has passed away and left their mobile phones and other digital assets, you may need to consider some things. The first thing you should do is call their loved ones and check any important contact information from that device. Save all their memories and disable their social media accounts. After doing all this, you can give the device to their loved ones, donate it to a charity or resell it. Make sure their digital footprint is secure after they have passed away.

Read next: Study Claims Almost One In Three Parents Have Never Spoken To Their Kids About Cybersecurity And That’s Alarming
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World