AI in the Workplace: Majority of Workers Avoid Paying for Tools, Survey Shows

According to a new survey by Tech Brew, most of the office workers do not pay for AI tools for their work. AI is getting quite common in workplaces and many office workers have started using it during their work too, but the results of the survey suggest that most of the office workers are not spending anything on AI.

Out of 878 people who were surveyed, 78% of them said that they do not pay anything for AI tools, while only 16% spend $1-$20 on AI tools every month. Only 5% of respondents said that they have allocated more than $20 every month for the AI tools that they use.

The survey also found that more than half of the respondents use AI at work, whether it's provided by their company or they use on their own. 23% of them use customized AI tools, 30% of them use third party AI tools and 38% of the respondents reported using AI tools on their own while working.

The people who are more likely to pay for AI tools are business owners(43%) and freelancers(31%) and they are the ones that pay for AI independently. Most of the other workers have their companies for any AI tools they use during their work. When the respondents were asked why they are not using paid AI tools, most of them said that cost was a problem. Sometimes, companies cannot handle the extra expense of paying for AI tools and other times, the workers do not have the capacity to pay on their own.

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69% of the respondents said that they always use AI at work, followed by 32% who use them often and 26% who use AI tools only sometimes. 13% of the respondents said that they use AI rarely while 18% said that they have never used AI tools for work. There was an age factor when it came to using AI at work. Workers between the ages of 18-24 are more likely to use AI Tools than people of older ages. People with ages more than 44 are more likely to not use AI Tools at work at all. Gen-Z said that AI helps them sound professional at work and guides them and how to make emails and rewrite things to sound professional.

Respondents from marketing and advertising reported using AI persuasively, with 90% saying that they use AI tools sometimes. 78% of the respondents from technology and computer industry also reported using AI for work, with Microsoft CoPilot, ChatGPT, Perplexity and Adobe being the most used AI tools.

Image: DIW-Aigen

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Google Warns Gmail Users of Rising Cyber Threats Ahead

Google is warning its 2.5 billion Gmail users about a looming second wave of cyber threats. Attackers, it seems, are gearing up for the final push of the year. While phishing attacks have dropped by 35% compared to last year’s holiday season, there’s been a massive increase in email traffic since mid-November, making it harder than ever to protect users’ inboxes. Google, as the world’s most popular email service, remains a top target for hackers, but the company is doing everything it can to shield users from these persistent threats.

To this end, Google has invested heavily in new technology. They’ve developed AI models specifically designed to detect phishing, malware, and spam. According to Andy Wen, Gmail’s senior director of product management, these new systems have already blocked 20% more spam than before. One of the latest models is an AI tool that acts as a supervisor, reviewing hundreds of potential threats in an instant. It’s all part of Google’s effort to stay ahead of cybercriminals, but even with these innovations, the fight is far from over.

As we head into the busiest time of year, Google is warning users about three specific scams that have resurfaced. First, the “We know where you live” extortion scam. Attackers send emails with personal information about the victim—like their home address—along with threats of physical harm or blackmail. It’s a tactic designed to frighten people into responding quickly without thinking.

Image: Google

Second, there’s the Gmail invoice scam. It’s as old as the internet, but still effective. Fraudulent invoices are sent to victims, claiming they owe money for a service or product. The scammer then urges the victim to call a phone number to dispute the charges. Once the victim is on the line, the scammer uses pressure tactics to trick them into paying fees or handing over personal information.

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Lastly, we have the celebrity impersonation scam. In this case, attackers send emails pretending to be famous personalities, either claiming they’re endorsing a product or trying to sell something in their name. It’s a clever trick that preys on trust, making people more likely to click or buy something they wouldn’t otherwise.

The good news is, you don’t have to fall for these scams if you stay alert and think critically. Google’s advice is simple, slow down and think. Don’t let the sense of urgency get the best of you. If something feels off or sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Take a minute to double-check the email address of the sender. And remember, no reputable organization will demand money or personal details via email. An important tip is to search key parts or the entire suspicious email or message on Google, which might reveal clues about its authenticity. 

If you get a suspicious email, don’t hesitate to report it. By marking these messages as spam, you’re not just cleaning up your inbox; you’re also helping Google improve its AI defenses, making Gmail safer for everyone.

In the end, protecting your Gmail account is just like locking your front door. You can have all the security systems in place, but you still need to take care in how you open it. Cybercriminals are always looking for ways in. The key is to stay alert, think before you act, and use the tools available to keep your inbox safe.

Read next: Human Rights Watch Labels Israel's Gaza Tactics Genocide, Intensifying Global Calls for Justice
by Web Desk via Digital Information World

Human Rights Watch Labels Israel's Gaza Tactics Genocide, Intensifying Global Calls for Justice

Israel's actions in Gaza have come under renewed focus as Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a scathing report, which has pointed to the denial of basic resources like clean water for Palestinians.

Illustration: HRW

The report directly labels these actions as acts of genocide, which underscores the mass killing of civilians as a violation of international law. HRW claims that these policies amount to extermination and genocide, as defined by the 1948 Genocide Convention. While proof of intent remains an important part of legal classification, statements made by Israeli officials might suggest the intent to destroy the Palestinian population, thereby strengthening the case for genocide.

This assessment follows similar accusations by Amnesty International, marking the second major rights group to use the term genocide in this context. Israel has repeatedly rejected these accusations, asserting its right to defend itself following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, which resulted in over a thousand Israeli deaths and hundreds taken hostage. In response, Israel launched a large-scale air and ground campaign, which has reportedly killed over 45,000 Palestinians, displaced millions, and left much of Gaza in ruins.

The legal ramifications are significant. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over alleged war crimes, including genocide. Israel denies these allegations, maintaining its stance that its actions are necessary for national security.

The blockade on Gaza has crippled essential infrastructure, with water, electricity, and fuel supplies severely restricted. This has led to catastrophic conditions for Palestinians, as the Human Rights Watch report details the extent of the crisis. With genocide now being formally attributed to Israel’s actions, international discussions on accountability and justice are more urgent than ever.

Information is everywhere, yet too often, it doesn’t lead to action. We have the tools to see the truth, but the stories we hear are shaped by the powerful, not the vulnerable. Technology should inform, but it too often distorts, clouding the human cost of conflicts.

Powerful nations and digital platforms decide what we focus on, leaving lives, dignity, and morality on the sidelines. The real question is what we choose to do next. When knowledge is within reach, inaction becomes a choice. And that choice — more than anything — defines us.

Top featured image: Dixit Dhinakaran / Unsplash

Read next: Supreme Court Steps In as TikTok Challenges U.S. Sale Order Deadline

by Asim BN via Digital Information World

Supreme Court Steps In as TikTok Challenges U.S. Sale Order Deadline

TikTok has secured a crucial opportunity in its battle against a U.S. government order demanding its sale. The Supreme Court has agreed to review the case, providing the platform one last chance to challenge the controversial sell-off mandate.

This decision follows a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which dismissed TikTok’s claim that the order violated its First Amendment rights. The appeals court upheld concerns over foreign adversary threats, prioritizing national security over TikTok's constitutional arguments.

TikTok’s fight in the Supreme Court centers on whether the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act infringes on free speech rights. The platform argues that the law itself is flawed, rather than addressing specific claims of its misuse by foreign entities. This strategic approach, however, may face significant hurdles, as the government’s case is built on classified evidence that TikTok cannot directly challenge.

Despite the challenges, the Supreme Court's willingness to hear the case suggests there may be merit to TikTok’s argument. Yet, legal experts believe the odds remain stacked against the app, given the weight of national security concerns in such cases.

If TikTok fails to overturn the sell-off mandate, the platform faces a tight deadline. It has until January 19 to comply, which could involve selling its U.S. operations to an American company. TikTok has argued that this requirement is tantamount to a ban, as restructuring its systems within the timeline would be nearly impossible.

• Also read: New Report Reveals Rising Trend of Fake Captchas and Malvertising on the Internet

This isn’t TikTok’s first brush with removal threats. In 2020, a potential deal with Oracle and Walmart fell through. Revisiting that framework could offer a lifeline if a sale becomes inevitable, though such a move would require approval from both U.S. and Chinese authorities.

Meanwhile, political dynamics add another layer of uncertainty. While President-Elect Donald Trump hinted at saving TikTok during his campaign, his recent comments suggest limited confidence in reversing the situation once inaugurated.

As the January 10 Supreme Court hearing approaches, the clock is ticking for TikTok. The outcome could determine whether the app continues to serve millions of U.S. users or faces removal from the nation's app stores. While hope remains, the path forward is fraught with challenges.

Image: DIW-Aigen

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by Asim BN via Digital Information World

New Report Reveals Rising Trend of Fake Captchas and Malvertising on the Internet

A new report from Guardio Labs reveals that many fake captchas are appearing on search engines, with even legitimate publishers hosting malicious websites that spread malware to users' devices. When users are browsing, fake captchas appear out of nowhere and look just like real captchas. They also have a similar verification process as real ones so users often get fooled by them. The fake captchas ask users to press three key combinations, and when users press the keys, a malicious PowerShell command gets copy pasted on the system's Run window. It was still unclear how those threat actors are delivering fake captchas to users but now it's found that it is simply the exploitation by legitimate publishers.

Threat actors infiltrate the ad networks as they distribute from publishers’ websites to advertisers’ landing pages and even websites like Google and Facebook aren't safe from them. Malvertising is also happening on big platforms through ad networks which distribute traffic on a massive scale. When researchers analyzed malvertising and fake captchas, they found that all of the fake captchas have originated from one single site called Monetag, a subsidiary of PropellerAds. PropellerAds is an ad network company from Cyprus and it has been previously caught urging users to update their software or scan computers. Advertisers can easily create a Monetag account to run ads because the company provides everything an advertiser needs. The malicious ads created by Monetage then spread to different websites related to live sports streaming, piracy of movies and links on social media. Some of these malicious ads even appear at the top of Google search results.

Guardio Labs identified about 3,000 publishers in the last 10 days that had been using Monetag ad scripts. It was also found that malicious ads didn't always lead to malicious websites, and there were other services which were abused by abusers to spread malware. Actors are also using BeMob and tainting its reputation, and were using sites like Scaleway, Oracle Cloud, EXOScale and Bunny CDN to host fake captcha pages.

The researchers say that this is just a single example of how the advertising ecosystem on the internet is exploiting the users. The only solution to keep yourselves safe from these malicious actors is to be cautious of websites which are offering free content, and make sure you don't click on anything that promises you a gift. Malvertising cannot be stopped in a day because there's a huge network behind it so we should play safe on the internet as much as we can.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Troubled Times for Meta As Company Fined $264M For 2018 Privacy Breach and $50M For Enabling Cambridge Analytica Scandal

In 2018, 29M users on Facebook were impacted by a massive security breach that put their personal data at risk.

Several years later, the company is finally being penalized by the Irish DPC with a 251M Euros fine as it feels the tech giant did not do enough to ensure users’ security on the platform.

Meta was slammed for not providing protection against cyberattacks where criminals exploited a vulnerability inside FB’s code.

This sort of exploit enabled them to use the page’s ‘View As’ so that they could get a hold of others’ data with ease. From email IDs to phone numbers and even exact locations, the list was full of shocking sensitive data including names of kids and their information.

This was a clear case of not providing the right kind of data protection measures to safeguard users and therefore putting them at a very high risk of harm. Most profiles on FB entail data related to issues like religion and politics as well as intimate life which many don’t wish to disclose to the public.

In the EU, more than 3M users were impacted by such a breach where the GDPR was violated unlawfully by the company. Now the company is not staying hush on the matter, adding that it will appeal this decision.

It’s quite similar to that seen in 2018 when Meta explained how it highlighted the matter as soon as it was put on public view. But that is not the last of Meta’s concerns. The tech giant was blasted over its involvement in the infamous Cambridge Analytica scandal in Australia. It explained how the firm is now settling the matter by fining Meta for violating the privacy and security of Australian citizens.

While the exact details of this scheme are still under cover, it’s clear that this is a strong message to the world that they need to be more careful about users’ sensitive data. For those still wondering what this scandal was all about, well it dates back to 2013. Five years after that, it became an infamous name thanks to the data put out by millions of users.

This was used to target them with messages about politics such as the 2016 US elections period. It also took on their private data through other apps owned by third parties like This is Your Digital Life which was made in 2013. It was enabled by Meta who chose to do this. The figure adds that close to 311,074 people on FB who were friends with users on the app were also likely to be impacted.

As far as how this payment scheme works, well, it’s part of legal proceedings and so payments are set up by Facebook’s parent firm but carried out by another third party. Anyone who had an account on the app between 2013 November to December 2015, was present in Australia for at least a month during that timeframe and downloaded the This Is Your Digital Life app, or was friends on Facebook with those having the app will be liable to receive payments.

Image: DIW-Aigen

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

WhatsApp Beta Adds AI Replies and Themes: A Game-Changer for Businesses

WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.24.26.16 brings exciting updates aimed at improving the WhatsApp Business app. The update introduces new features like AI-powered replies, multi-platform integration, and customizable themes, offering enhanced functionality for businesses and their customers.

One major highlight is the addition of AI-powered replies, which allows businesses to automate responses when team members are unavailable. This feature ensures faster replies to frequently asked questions, such as inquiries about purchase processes, business details, and other common queries. Businesses can also customize AI responses to match their brand’s voice and tone, ensuring a personalized experience for customers. Importantly, when AI is used to generate responses, customers will be notified, maintaining transparency between businesses and their users.

Another significant update is the multi-platform management feature, which enables businesses to access both the WhatsApp Business app and the WhatsApp Business Platform simultaneously. Previously, users had to choose between these platforms, but now, with a simple QR code scan, accounts can be managed seamlessly across both. This improvement also allows businesses to share individual chat histories with customers for up to six months between the platform and the app. However, group chat history sharing remains unavailable.

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Additionally, the update enhances the visual experience by introducing theme customization options. Beta testers can now choose between dark and light modes and select accent colors for these themes. This customization helps businesses differentiate between WhatsApp Messenger and WhatsApp Business, creating a more distinct user interface. Previously, the app only supported default accent colors, but this update adds greater flexibility. While this feature was already available on iOS, it is now being rolled out for Android users as well.

These updates mark a significant step in making WhatsApp Business more interactive and user-friendly. With AI-driven automation, improved platform integration, and customizable themes, businesses can streamline their operations and improve customer engagement. The new version will soon be available on the Google Play Store, expanding access to these features for more users.

Image: WABetaInfo

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