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artificialimages · 7 months
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Get ready to embark on a virtual journey around the world with stunning images generated by midjourney AI. Explore magnificent landscapes, vibrant cities, and hidden gems from the comfort of your screen.
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webgraphworldwidenyc · 8 months
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Pinterest Marketing
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kenwords-blog · 1 year
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Pinterest Review: A Social Media Platform for Endless Inspiration
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Introduction:
Welcome to our review blog, where we'll dive into the fascinating world of Pinterest! In this post, we'll explore the features, benefits, and overall experience of using Pinterest, the popular visual discovery platform. Whether you're seeking inspiration for your next home improvement project, looking for fashion ideas, or simply want to explore various interests, Pinterest has something for everyone. Join us as we take a closer look at what makes Pinterest such a captivating and versatile platform.
User Interface and Navigation:
Pinterest greets you with a visually appealing and user-friendly interface. The clean design and intuitive layout make it easy to navigate and discover new content. The home feed presents a personalized collection of pins based on your interests and past activities. The search bar allows you to explore specific topics, while categories and trending pins offer further inspiration. The overall interface is sleek, responsive, and optimized for both web and mobile devices.
Endless Inspiration:
Pinterest is a treasure trove of inspiration. Whether you're planning a wedding, redecorating your living space, looking for recipe ideas, or seeking fashion inspiration, Pinterest offers an endless supply of creative ideas. The platform is powered by a vibrant community of users who curate and share captivating content. From high-quality images to engaging videos, Pinterest caters to various types of content, providing inspiration for every project or interest imaginable.
Organizing and Saving Ideas:
One of Pinterest's standout features is its ability to help you organize and save ideas. You can create personalized boards and categorize your saved pins according to different themes or projects. This feature allows for efficient planning and easy access to your favorite ideas. Whether you're collecting recipes to try out later or creating a mood board for a design project, Pinterest's organizational tools are invaluable.
Discoverability and Personalization:
Pinterest's recommendation algorithm is impressively accurate. As you interact with pins and boards, the platform learns your preferences and tailors content suggestions to your interests. This personalized approach ensures that your home feed remains filled with relevant and engaging ideas. Additionally, the "Related Pins" feature enables further exploration, making it effortless to discover new content that aligns with your tastes.
Community and Collaboration:
Pinterest is not just about saving and collecting ideas; it's also about sharing and collaborating. You can follow other users, boards, or specific topics to stay updated on their latest pins. Collaborative boards allow for teamwork and idea-sharing, making it an excellent platform for group projects, event planning, or collaborative brainstorming. The active Pinterest community fosters creativity, connection, and the opportunity to engage with like-minded individuals.
Conclusion:
Pinterest has established itself as a leading visual discovery platform, offering an abundance of inspiration across numerous interests. With its user-friendly interface, personalized recommendations, and efficient organizational features, Pinterest stands out as an invaluable tool for anyone seeking creative ideas and projects. Whether you're a design enthusiast, a DIY aficionado, or simply looking to explore new hobbies, Pinterest provides an immersive experience that will keep you engaged and inspired. To further enhance your Pinterest experience and maximize your social media presence, we recommend using Tailwind. Tailwind is a powerful scheduling and analytics tool specifically designed for Pinterest and Instagram. With features like scheduled pinning, SmartLoop for resharing top-performing content, Tribes for community engagement, and in-depth analytics, Tailwind can help you streamline your Pinterest strategy and achieve optimal results.
What is Tailwind
Tailwind is a popular social media scheduling and analytics tool specifically designed for Pinterest and Instagram. It helps individuals and businesses optimize their presence on these platforms by offering a range of features to enhance efficiency, scheduling, and performance tracking. Tailwind offers several key features that can benefit Pinterest and Instagram users: - Scheduling: Tailwind enables users to schedule pins and posts in advance, allowing for consistent and strategic content distribution. By using the scheduling feature, users can plan and automate their posting schedule, saving time and effort. - SmartLoop: This feature allows users to reshare their best-performing Pinterest content automatically. SmartLoop ensures that your most engaging pins continue to reach your audience, increasing visibility and driving traffic to your website or blog. - Tribes: Tailwind Tribes are communities where members can share and discover relevant content. Tribes provide an opportunity to reach a wider audience by collaborating with other like-minded users, increasing engagement,, and expanding your reach. - Analytics and Insights: Tailwind offers in-depth analytics and insights for both Pinterest and Instagram. These analytics provide valuable data on post-performance, audience engagement, and follower growth, helping users understand what content resonates best with their audience and make data-driven decisions. - Hashtag Finder: Tailwind's Hashtag Finder is a powerful tool that suggests relevant and trending hashtags for Instagram posts. By using the right hashtags, you can increase your content's visibility and reach a wider audience. If you're interested in trying out Tailwind for yourself, you can sign up using our affiliate link here. By using our affiliate link, you not only gain access to an incredible tool, but you also support our blog and the content we provide. Overall, Tailwind is a comprehensive tool that streamlines the management and optimization of Pinterest and Instagram accounts. Its features help users save time, improve content strategy, and gain valuable insights into their social media performance. Whether you're a content creator, marketer, or business owner, Tailwind can be a valuable asset in maximizing your presence on Pinterest and Instagram. Unlock the full potential of Pinterest with Tailwind and take your social media presence to new heights. Get organized, save time, and gain valuable insights with this fantastic tool. Remember, Pinterest and Tailwind work hand in hand to provide you with a seamless experience, helping you discover endless inspiration and optimize your social media strategy. Give Tailwind a try and see the difference it can make! You can read other software reviews on this blog using this link. Read the full article
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theinstanderapp · 22 days
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"🚀 Elevate Your Visual Discovery: Download the Latest Version of Instander APK (v19.0) 2024! Dive into a world of endless inspiration, trendsetting content, and seamless browsing. Whether you're a fashion enthusiast, travel lover, or foodie, Instander APK has something for everyone. Join the community of creatives and explorers who rely on Instander APK to fuel their imagination and stay ahead of the curve. Don't miss out on the opportunity to unlock new possibilities. Download now and embark on a journey of creativity and exploration! #InstanderAPK #LatestVersion #VisualDiscovery"
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tecbashar · 9 months
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I am Digital Marketer. I specialist at local SEO & Pinterest Marketing. you can hire me growth your Business. my WhatsApp : +8801723092969 https://shorturl.at/demK3 #PinInspiration #PinterestPerfection #PinTrends #VisualDiscovery #PinYourDreams #PinspirationNation #PinterestGoals #PinWorthy #CreativePinning #VisualIdeas #PinItForLater #PinterestAddict #Pinfluence #PinHacks #PinningPassion #PinnersParadise #PinterestDIY #PinMarketing #PinnersUnite #PinCrafting
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cedimungai · 3 years
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Exploring the highlands in The Defender was such an amazing experience. It truly felt like it was doing what it was built to do. Full project link on my bio. #visualdiscovery #vsproductions #visualstimulism #thevisualstimulist (at Kenya) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIyHLC5gNzS/?igshid=8d8t4q9r513u
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ncconsumer · 6 years
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Final Settlement Approved in Case of Harmful Preloaded Ad Software on Lenovo Laptops
READ MORE: https://www.ncconsumer.org/news-articles/final-settlement-approved-in-case-of-harmful-pre-loaded-ad-software-on-lenovo-laptops.html
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itp-projects · 7 years
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Atrapan a Lenovo vendiendo Laptops con adware peligroso preinstalado .
Atrapan a Lenovo vendiendo Laptops con adware peligroso preinstalado .
Diario TI – 07/09/17 – Atrapan a Lenovo vendiendo Laptops con adware peligroso preinstalado .
La Comisión Federal de Comercio de Estados Unidos (FTC), ha decidido prohibir al fabricante chino Lenovo “desinformar sobre la funcionalidad del software preinstalado en sus productos”. Asimismo, la entidad obliga a Lenovo obtener el consentimiento de sus usuarios antes de instalar adware en sus…
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itpprojects · 7 years
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Atrapan a Lenovo vendiendo Laptops con adware peligroso preinstalado .
Atrapan a Lenovo vendiendo Laptops con adware peligroso preinstalado .
Diario TI – 07/09/17 – Atrapan a Lenovo vendiendo Laptops con adware peligroso preinstalado .
La Comisión Federal de Comercio de Estados Unidos (FTC), ha decidido prohibir al fabricante chino Lenovo “desinformar sobre la funcionalidad del software preinstalado en sus productos”. Asimismo, la entidad obliga a Lenovo obtener el consentimiento de sus usuarios antes de instalar adware en sus…
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ct3ch · 7 years
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Lenovo will pay a $3.5 million fine for preinstalling adware on certain laptops
Lenovo will pay a $3.5 million fine for preinstalling adware on certain laptops
Lenovo came under fire a few years ago for pre-installing adware called VisualDiscovery (developed by Superfish) onto new machines. Now that the legal dust has settled, the laptop maker has agreed to pay $3.5 million in fines to a 32-state coalition “to resolve their concerns” related to the nefarious bloatware app. In 2015, the worry was that the software performed a man-in-the-middle attack on…
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bhargavrepaka-blog · 7 years
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Lenovo will pay $3.5 million to settle pre-loaded software suit
Lenovo will pay $3.5 million to settle pre-loaded software suit
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The Federal Trade Commission has settled with Lenovo after it was revealed that 750,000 laptops came pre-installed with spyware and adware. The attorneys general of 32 states acted alongside the FTC and have collectively fined the company $3.5 million. Offending laptops were sold from August 2014 through June 2015 and came installed with a program called VisualDiscovery.
The full…
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newingtonnow · 7 years
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Tech Firm to Pay $3.5M in Settlement Over Preloaded Software
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A technology company will pay $3.5 million and change how it sells laptop computers as part of a settlement reached with federal officials and 32 states.
The agreement with Lenovo announced Tuesday settles allegations that the North Carolina-based firm sold devices with preloaded software that made users’ sensitive personal information vulnerable to hackers.
The VisualDiscovery software was installed on hundreds of thousands of laptops to deliver pop-up ads to consumers.
Lenovo stopped shipping laptops with VisualDiscovery preinstalled in February 2015, but some states contend that some laptops with the software were still being sold by various retail outlets as late as June 2015.
Under the settlement, Lenovo will now obtain consumers’ consent to use the software and provide a reasonable way for consumers to opt out, disable or remove it.
“Lenovo compromised consumers’ privacy when it preloaded software that could access consumers’ sensitive information without adequate notice or consent to its use,” acting Federal Trade Commission Chair Maureen Ohlhausen said. “This conduct is even more serious because the software compromised online security protections that consumers rely on.”
The states involved in the settlement are Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Washington.
  Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
from Business – CBS Connecticut http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/2017/09/05/tech-firm-to-pay-3-5m-in-settlement-over-preloaded-software/
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kennethherrerablog · 5 years
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Did You Flush Charmin Wipes or Use Dial Soap? These Class-Action Settlements are For You
Even though it may take years before a settlement is reached in a class-action lawsuit, the time frame to claim your share can fly by.
But if you purchased a Lenovo laptop that’s slow because of tracking software, a blouse at a Ross Dress for Less that had a misleading price-comparison label or Dial foaming liquid hand soap that promised to rid you of 99.9% of germs, you could be eligible for anywhere from a few cents to several hundred dollars.
Check out this month’s choice selection of class-action settlements that have deadlines approaching to see which ones align with purchases you’ve made.
Ross Stores “Compare at” Pricing
Did you purchase items at a Ross Dress for Less believing you were saving more money than you actually did?
Ross has agreed to a $4.85 million class-action settlement to resolve allegations that the store used deceptive pricing methods to convince customers they were getting a great deal.
Class members are customers who bought one or more items with a Ross price tag indicating a “compare at” price from any Ross store since June 20, 2011, and have not received a refund or credit for these purchases.
Plaintiffs allege the “compare at” price tags are not a true price comparison but are instead simply a reference price. They claim that this is not properly conveyed to the shopper.
Ross admits no wrongdoing by settling the lawsuit, but with the settlement, both parties avoid the risks and costs associated with continued litigation.
Class members may receive store credit in the form of a merchandise certificate or cash equal to 75% of the value of the merchandise certificate. No proof of purchase is required.
Click here now to file a claim, because this offer goes out of fashion (no more claims will be accepted after) May 31, 2019.
Lenovo Laptops Adware
If you bought a Lenovo laptop between Sept. 1, 2014, and Feb. 28, 2015, you could be eligible for a portion of an $8.3 million class-action settlement.
Plaintiffs allege several models of the non-Think-branded Lenovo laptops experienced inhibited performance capabilities because the company added a tracking software called VisualDiscovery by Superfish.
The software allegedly allowed Lenovo to monitor user activity to tailor advertisements to users.
Owners of the laptops also claim the monitoring of their online habits was an invasion of privacy.
Under the settlement, eligible class members include consumers who purchased certain non-Think-branded Lenovo laptops between Sept. 1, 2014, and Feb. 28, 2015. Models included in the settlement are:
G Series: G410, G510, G710, G40-70, G50-70, G40-30, G50-30 and G50-45.
U Series: U430P, U430Touch and U530Touch.
Y Series: Y40-70 and Y50-70.
Z Series: Z50-75, Z40-70 and Z50-70.
Flex Series: Flex2 14D, Flex2 15D, Flex2 14, Flex2 15, Flex2 15(BTM) and Flex 10.
MIIX Series: MIIX2-10 and MIIX2-11.
YOGA Series: YOGA2Pro-13, YOGA2-13, YOGA2-11BTM and YOGA2-11HSW.
A bar-code sticker should be located on the bottom of the laptop to indicate the machine’s model.
Class members may receive anywhere from $40 to $750 if they can provide proof of loss, such as receipts for expenses related to technical assistance or credit monitoring, with their claim form.
For more details on how to file a claim by the March 25, 2019, deadline, click here — even if you’re on your Lenovo laptop and the company might know you click.
Flagship Credit Acceptance Robocalls
Auto loan company Flagship Credit Acceptance LLC has agreed to a $4 million class-action settlement over alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
Class members include anyone who received a call from Flagship through a TCN, LiveVox or Aspect dialing system or artificial/prerecorded voice between May 5, 2013, and Sept. 18, 2018.
The TCPA prohibits telemarketing practices that make use of robocalls through autodialers or prerecorded messages.
Flagship admits no wrongdoing but has settled the lawsuit to avoid the costs of future litigation and the uncertainty of a trial verdict.
The TCPA allows eligible consumers to collect between $500 and $1,500 per violation, but the potential reward through the settlement will be determined by the number of valid claims submitted by the Feb. 25, 2019, deadline.
For more information and to submit your claim, click here.
NIBCO Plumbing Fixtures
If you have NIBCO PEX plumbing in your home that has leaked and caused water damage, you could be eligible for a portion of a $43.5 million class-action settlement.
Class members include consumers who have owned or occupied a building that contained NIBCO plumbing fixtures since Jan. 1, 2005, and either have costs from water damage or costs from repairing water damage that have not been reimbursed.
In addition, compensation will be available for six years after the start of the settlement to compensate homeowners for future property damage if it occurs.
Plaintiffs allege NIBCO PEX plumbing tubes, brass fittings and stainless steel clamps include a manufacturing defect that can result in potentially damaging water leaks.
Class members who file a claim with qualifying supporting documents may be able to receive between 25% and 70% of their monetary losses due to water damage.
Time, if not water, is running out. Click here for more information and to make a claim by the May 31, 2019, estimated deadline.
Charmin Freshmates Flushable Wipes
If you bought Charmin Freshmates flushable wipes, or any other Charmin pre-moistened wipes that said “flushable” on the label, between April 6, 2011, and Nov. 26, 2018, you might be eligible for a portion of a class-action settlement.
The Charmin Freshmates wipes plaintiffs allege that consumers incur financial injuries of at least a few hundred dollars when they have to hire a plumber to unclog sewer lines impaired by the collection of wipes.
Plaintiffs allege the wipes were falsely advertised as flushable and safe for septic systems, when in fact the wipes purportedly clog and damage sewage systems.
Class members who submit proof of purchase may receive a payout of up to $30. Those without proof of purchase may claim up to seven purchases.
Class members will receive 60 cents per package. Class members include consumers throughout the U.S., except for those in the state of New York.
If plumbing problems from Charmin flushable wipes have been a drain on your wallet, click here for more information on how to file a claim before the Feb. 28, 2019, deadline.
Dial Complete Foaming Liquid Hand Soap
Several lawsuits against Dial Complete foaming liquid hand soap have been resolved with a $7.4 million class-action settlement.
The lawsuits alleged marketing, advertising and sales violations by Dial, based on its use of active ingredient triclosan.
The false advertising claims include statements such as: “Kills 99.99% of germs encountered in household settings,” “no. 1 doctor recommended antibacterial liquid hand wash” and “kills more germs than any other liquid hand soap.”
Dial Corporation denies any wrongdoing, but both parties agreed to the class-action settlement to avoid the costs and risks of ongoing litigation.
Class members include consumers who purchased Dial Complete foaming liquid hand soap between Jan. 1, 2001, and Jan. 2, 2019
They will receive 27 cents per package for up to 30 packages without proof of purchase for a total of $8.10. Those who provide proof of purchase may receive 27 cents per package as settlement compensation for all packages purchased.
If, after subtracting all expenses from the settlement fund, the funds remaining are insufficient to pay all timely valid approved claims, then payments will be reduced proportionately on a pro-rata basis.
Don’t miss your chance to clean up with this settlement offer. Click here for details on submitting a claim by April 12, 2019.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.
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Did You Flush Charmin Wipes or Use Dial Soap? These Class-Action Settlements are For You published first on https://justinbetreviews.tumblr.com/
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thetrumpdebacle · 6 years
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Welcome to OVERNIGHT CYBERSECURITY, your daily rundown of the biggest news in the world of hacking and data privacy. We’re here to connect the dots as leaders in government, policy and industry try to counter the rise in cyber threats. What lies ahead for Congress, the administration and the latest company under siege? Whether you’re a consumer, a techie or a D.C. lifer, we’re here to give you …
  THE BIG STORY:
–PRESSURE BUILDS TO BOLSTER ELECTION CYBERSECURITY: Congressional efforts to secure election systems from cyberattacks are picking up steam with lawmakers under pressure to prevent hacks in the 2018 midterms. After the revelation that Russia tried to probe election systems in 21 states in the 2016 election, security experts, state officials and others demanded federal action to help states upgrade outdated voting machines and bolster security around voter registration databases. At the end of December, a bipartisan coalition of six senators introduced the Secure Elections Act, which includes a measure authorizing grants for states to upgrade outdated voting technology and shore up their digital security.
–The issue of Russian interference has generated significant attention in Washington over the past year, but little successful legislative action. The bill introduced by Sens. James LankfordJames Paul LankfordGOP and Dems bitterly divided by immigration Grassley offers DACA fix tied to tough enforcement measures We are running out of time to protect Dreamers MORE (R-Okla.), Amy KlobucharAmy Jean KlobucharFranken resignation could upend Minnesota races Avalanche of Democratic senators say Franken should resign Trump-free Kennedy Center Honors avoids politics MORE (D-Minn.) and others, though, is evidence of a growing effort to pass legislation specifically addressing voting infrastructure cybersecurity. The bill comes as state officials are clamoring for swifter action ahead of the 2018 midterms. “When we had instances last year all over the country related to people trying to get into other peoples’ data and voter files – why are we waiting for something bad to happen to start doing something about it?” said Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan (R). “Let’s be honest, it’s not going to happen if we all stay quiet about it,” Reagan added.
–Advocacy groups like Verified Voting are lining up in support of the bill. They hail it as a long-awaited, multifaceted approach that both incentivizes states to bolster voting system cybersecurity and provides resources to replace insecure election technology. The concerns surrounding election infrastructure cybersecurity are two-pronged. Officials maintain that Russia did not target voting machines, which are not connected to the internet. Many say the decentralized nature of the U.S. voting system makes it difficult for hackers to actually change a result. Still, some security experts say that voting technologies are vulnerable to hacking and have called for election officials to swap out paperless direct-recording electronic voting machines for systems that yield an auditable paper ballot, to increase confidence.
To read the rest of our piece, click here.
  A CASE UPDATE: FTC APPROVES SETTLEMENT WITH LENOVO OVER PRIVACY CHARGES: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Tuesday approved a settlement with computer manufacturer Lenovo over charges that it had violated user privacy with software that came preloaded on its computers.
The commission voted 2-0 to approve the settlement it reached in September with the company.
“Lenovo compromised consumers’ privacy when it preloaded software that could access consumers’ sensitive information without adequate notice or consent to its use,” acting FTC Chairwoman Maureen Ohlhausen said in a statement at the time. “This conduct is even more serious because the software compromised online security protections that consumers rely on.”
Between August 2014 and February 2015, Lenovo laptops came preloaded with software called VisualDiscovery, a program developed by the now-defunct advertising company Superfish. The FTC found that VisualDiscovery delivered pop-up ads from its retail partners to consumers while accessing their sensitive personal information, like Social Security numbers and financial data.
Lenovo said in a statement that it’s aware that the settlement was approved Tuesday. In September, the company pointed users toward a guide on how to remove the software. In a statement at the time, it said it stopped pre-installing the program on devices after questions were raised about privacy violations.
“While Lenovo disagrees with allegations contained in these complaints, we are pleased to bring this matter to a close after 2-1/2 years,” the company said in the statement.
“To date, we are not aware of any actual instances of a third party exploiting the vulnerabilities to gain access to a user’s communications.”
To read the rest of our piece, click here.
  A LIGHTER CLICK: Sen. Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenDemocratic senator predicts Franken will resign Thursday Avalanche of Democratic senators say Franken should resign Lobbying world MORE (R-Ore.) announced Tuesday that he has hired Chris Soghoian as a senior technologist in his Senate office to help address tech and cyber issues. Soghoian previously worked with the Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and also started as a TechCongress fellow in Wyden’s office last February.
“Between attacks on our election system, data breaches at Equifax and elsewhere, and warrantless searches of Americans’ phones at the border, Congress is in desperate need of more expertise on tech and cybersecurity issues,” Wyden said in a statement unveiling the new hire.
  A REPORT IN FOCUS: AGENCIES RACE TO IMPLEMENT EMAIL SECURITY TOOL: The federal government’s use of a security tool that cracks down on fake emails has surged in recent weeks as agencies with .gov domains rush to meet a deadline to implement the tool and bolster cybersecurity, according to new research.
The tool, called the Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC), helps organizations that use it identify fraudulent messages purporting to come from their email domains.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced in mid-October that it would mandate that organizations operating .gov domains use DMARC as well as HTTPS to encrypt web traffic. Homeland Security gave departments and agencies 90 days, or until mid-January, to comply with the directive.
According to research released Tuesday by data security company Agari, the adoption of DMARC throughout the federal government increased by 38 percent in 30 days between mid-November and mid-December, indicating a “rapid adoption” of the tool ahead of the Jan. 15, 2018, deadline set by Homeland Security.
As of mid-December, 47 percent of federal government domains were secured with DMARC, compared with 34 percent a month prior. According to Agari, 151 federal government domains are newly secured with DMARC, raising the total to more than 400.
DMARC allows organizations to report emails that fail authentication tests or, if stronger settings are enabled, send the messages to a recipient’s spam folder or block them from reaching the recipient altogether.
Federal agencies are required to move to the strongest “reject” setting of DMARC within a year.
In a statement, Jeanette Manfra, a top cybersecurity official at DHS, underscored the need for remaining agencies to act quickly to implement the tool before the “imminent” deadline.
“DMARC has proven to be an effective solution to secure our federal domains, but more work is needed to protect all federal domains,” Manfra said. “Cybersecurity is a critical component of our homeland security policy, but it is also a shared responsibility. It is crucial for U.S. citizens to trust that an email from a government agency is legitimate.”
To read the rest of our piece, click here. 
  WHAT’S IN THE SPOTLIGHT: ONE HACKER’S CLAIM: A jailed Russian hacker who claims he was ordered by Russian intelligence to hack into Democratic National Committee (DNC) networks says he can prove he was behind the breach.
Konstantin Kozlovsky, who has been jailed on cyber fraud charges in Russia, told independent Russian network TV Rain in a recent interview that he left a file on the DNC network containing markers to prove he had been there.
Specifically, Kozlovsky said he left a .dat file with his passport number and the number of his visa to Caribbean island St. Martin on the DNC’s internal server, according to a written interview published last week.
Kozlovsky is among a group of hackers arrested by Russian authorities last year for using malware to steal more than $25 million from Russian banks. Earlier this year, Kozlovsky posted a purported court testimony on Facebook that showed him claiming he hacked the DNC on the orders of Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB.
Kozlovsky’s claims, if proven, would undercut Russian President Vladimir Putin’s repeated denials the Kremlin was behind the hacking campaign targeting the 2016 U.S. election.
The unclassified assessment released by the U.S. intelligence community in January blamed Russian intelligence for hacking into DNC networks as part of an influence campaign ordered at the highest levels of the Kremlin.
“In July 2015, Russian intelligence gained access to Democratic National Committee (DNC) networks and maintained access until at least June 2016,” the document states.
The assessment does not make specific mention of the FSB but does say Moscow’s foreign military intelligence agency, or GRU, “probably began cyber operations aimed at the US election by March 2016.”
In June 2016, CrowdStrike, an independent cybersecurity firm hired by the DNC, identified two separate Russian intelligence-affiliated infiltrations of DNC networks.
The firm identified one intrusion beginning in summer 2015 linked to Cozy Bear, a hacking group believed to be affiliated with the FSB. CrowdStrike linked the second breach, which occurred in April 2016, to Fancy Bear, believed to be connected to the GRU.
In the latest interview, Kozlovsky also claimed he wrote malware for the FSB for several years, including the code used in the “WannaCry” ransomware attacks for which the U.S. government has publicly blamed North Korea.
To read the rest of our piece, click here.
  IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Links from our blog, The Hill, and around the Web.
Romanian hackers charged with disabling DC police cameras during inauguration. (The Hill)
In surprise, Trump maintains many Obama-era Russia policies. (The Hill)
State Department calls on Iran to stop blocking social media. (The Hill)
OP-ED: To fight cyber crime, we need swords, not just shields. (The Hill)
Clothing store Forever 21 admits breach that exposed customer credit card information. (CNET)
Massive Equifax data breach fails to trigger successful congressional action. (Politico)
Cyber criminals are turning away from Bitcoin. (Bloomberg)
Ukraine’s security service says it defeated Russian cyber campaigns. (Kyiv Post)
If you’d like to receive our newsletter in your inbox, please sign up here.
via The Trump Debacle
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thegoviza · 7 years
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Don’t Hide the Ball from Consumers: FTC’s Lenovo Settlement Sheds Light on FTC’s Disagreement Over Its Deceptive Omission Authority
Savvy consumers are generally aware that new computers often include pre-installed software. However, most consumers do not realize that lurking behind their screens is software that computer manufacturers include to pad profit margins. And, because such pre-installed software is often harmless (if obnoxious), it is often called bundled software, bloatware or – the most vulgar reference – crapware. However, in 2014, as part of its standard pre-installed software packages on its laptops, Lenovo included VisualDiscovery, an advertising software developed by Superfish, Inc. Among many things, the software delivered pop-up ads from Superfish’s retail partners’ products whenever a consumer’s cursor hovered over a similar-looking product. To make those pop-up ads possible, the software meddled in the interaction between browsers and websites in, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) called it in its complaint against Lenovo, a “man-in-the-middle” role.
Earlier this week, the FTC and 32 state attorneys general announced that they settled complaints against Lenovo. The FTC’s complaint included three FTC Act violations. Under count one, the FTC alleged that Lenovo’s failure to disclose that the software would act as a man-in-the-middle between consumers and all websites, including encrypted websites, was a deceptive act or practice. In count two, the FTC alleged that Lenovo committed an unfair act by not adequately disclosing, or obtaining informed consent from the consumer, that the pre-installed software could cause substantial injury to consumers by leaving a user’s sensitive personal information vulnerable to hackers in certain situations. Finally, under count three, the FTC alleged that Lenovo’s failure to take reasonable measures to address the security risks created by the software constituted unfair security practices.
The settlement prohibits Lenovo from misrepresenting any features of pre-installed software on laptops that will inject advertising into consumers’ Internet browsing sessions or transmit sensitive consumer information to third parties. Additionally, the settlement agreement requires Lenovo to obtain consumers’ affirmative consent before installing similar software.
What we found most interesting, however, are FTC Acting Chairman Ohlhausen’s and FTC Commissioner McSweeny’s statements about the case. That is, even though Acting Chairman Ohlhausen and Commissioner McSweeny both voted to issue the FTC’s complaint and accept the settlement, they both issued conflicting concurring statements about the scope of the FTC’s authority to bring deceptive omission cases. In her statement, Commissioner McSweeny asserted that Lenovo’s conduct went beyond what was alleged in the complaint. She argued that Lenovo, by not disclosing to consumers that the pre-installed software would inject pop-up ads and that such activity would disrupt web browsing, deceptively omitted material facts relevant to consumers. She explicitly asserted that “Lenovo deceptively omitted that VisualDiscovery would alter the very internet experience for which most consumers buy a computer.” To that point, she believes that consumers would have deactivated VisualDiscovery if they had been fully aware of its purpose and effect on the computer.
Arguing in opposition of a challenge of deceptive omission, the Acting Chairman in her statement cautioned against the FTC’s over-broad application of its deceptive omission authority. Specifically, she took the position that Lenovo’s silence about VisualDiscovery’s ad-placement issues and web-browsing effects, while perhaps irritating to consumers, did not rise to the level of a deceptive omission. She further stated that it is critical for the FTC to maintain a clear distinction between deceptive omission and unfair omissions and that “[w]hen evaluating the legality of a party’s silence, [the FTC] must be careful not to circumvent unfairness’s higher evidentiary burden by simply restyling an unfair omission as a deceptive omission.”
Drawing the line on what constitutes an actionable “deception by omission” can be a hard call. Jamming a computer with the software in question here does not seem like such a hard call. Probably seemed like a good idea at the time.
Don’t Hide the Ball from Consumers: FTC’s Lenovo Settlement Sheds Light on FTC’s Disagreement Over Its Deceptive Omission Authority published first on http://ift.tt/2uG9qor
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lawfultruth · 7 years
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Don’t Hide the Ball from Consumers: FTC’s Lenovo Settlement Sheds Light on FTC’s Disagreement Over Its Deceptive Omission Authority
Savvy consumers are generally aware that new computers often include pre-installed software. However, most consumers do not realize that lurking behind their screens is software that computer manufacturers include to pad profit margins. And, because such pre-installed software is often harmless (if obnoxious), it is often called bundled software, bloatware or – the most vulgar reference – crapware. However, in 2014, as part of its standard pre-installed software packages on its laptops, Lenovo included VisualDiscovery, an advertising software developed by Superfish, Inc. Among many things, the software delivered pop-up ads from Superfish’s retail partners’ products whenever a consumer’s cursor hovered over a similar-looking product. To make those pop-up ads possible, the software meddled in the interaction between browsers and websites in, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) called it in its complaint against Lenovo, a “man-in-the-middle” role.
Earlier this week, the FTC and 32 state attorneys general announced that they settled complaints against Lenovo. The FTC’s complaint included three FTC Act violations. Under count one, the FTC alleged that Lenovo’s failure to disclose that the software would act as a man-in-the-middle between consumers and all websites, including encrypted websites, was a deceptive act or practice. In count two, the FTC alleged that Lenovo committed an unfair act by not adequately disclosing, or obtaining informed consent from the consumer, that the pre-installed software could cause substantial injury to consumers by leaving a user’s sensitive personal information vulnerable to hackers in certain situations. Finally, under count three, the FTC alleged that Lenovo’s failure to take reasonable measures to address the security risks created by the software constituted unfair security practices.
The settlement prohibits Lenovo from misrepresenting any features of pre-installed software on laptops that will inject advertising into consumers’ Internet browsing sessions or transmit sensitive consumer information to third parties. Additionally, the settlement agreement requires Lenovo to obtain consumers’ affirmative consent before installing similar software.
What we found most interesting, however, are FTC Acting Chairman Ohlhausen’s and FTC Commissioner McSweeny’s statements about the case. That is, even though Acting Chairman Ohlhausen and Commissioner McSweeny both voted to issue the FTC’s complaint and accept the settlement, they both issued conflicting concurring statements about the scope of the FTC’s authority to bring deceptive omission cases. In her statement, Commissioner McSweeny asserted that Lenovo’s conduct went beyond what was alleged in the complaint. She argued that Lenovo, by not disclosing to consumers that the pre-installed software would inject pop-up ads and that such activity would disrupt web browsing, deceptively omitted material facts relevant to consumers. She explicitly asserted that “Lenovo deceptively omitted that VisualDiscovery would alter the very internet experience for which most consumers buy a computer.” To that point, she believes that consumers would have deactivated VisualDiscovery if they had been fully aware of its purpose and effect on the computer.
Arguing in opposition of a challenge of deceptive omission, the Acting Chairman in her statement cautioned against the FTC’s over-broad application of its deceptive omission authority. Specifically, she took the position that Lenovo’s silence about VisualDiscovery’s ad-placement issues and web-browsing effects, while perhaps irritating to consumers, did not rise to the level of a deceptive omission. She further stated that it is critical for the FTC to maintain a clear distinction between deceptive omission and unfair omissions and that “[w]hen evaluating the legality of a party’s silence, [the FTC] must be careful not to circumvent unfairness’s higher evidentiary burden by simply restyling an unfair omission as a deceptive omission.”
Drawing the line on what constitutes an actionable “deception by omission” can be a hard call. Jamming a computer with the software in question here does not seem like such a hard call. Probably seemed like a good idea at the time.
Don’t Hide the Ball from Consumers: FTC’s Lenovo Settlement Sheds Light on FTC’s Disagreement Over Its Deceptive Omission Authority syndicated from http://ift.tt/2qyreAv
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