Published March 6, 2025 10:00am EST close Americans to see taxes go up if Trump tax cuts arent extended: GOPAC chair America Reports panelists Meghan Hays and David Avella discuss Democrats' ongoing criticism of DOGE cuts. Tax season is upon us, and while many of you are preparing to file your returns, it's crucial to be aware of the ever-evolving world of tax scams.This year, it's more important than ever to stay informed and on your guard.New research by McAfee, a cybersecurity company, has shed light on how common these scams are and what kind of scams they are, revealing some surprising trends and highlighting the importance of protecting yourself.STAY PROTECTED & INFORMED! GET SECURITY ALERTS & EXPERT TECH TIPS SIGN UP FOR KURTS THE CYBERGUY REPORT NOW Scam written on tax forms (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)How Americans file and pay taxes in 2025Before diving into the scams, let's look at how people are handling their taxes these days. TheMcAfee research indicates that:A little more than half of Americans (53%) are e-filers, taking the online route through tax software or IRS Free FileNearly a third (31%) rely on professional tax preparersThe vast majority (60%) handle payments and refunds electronicallyA large portion (52%) still receive their W-2s and 1099s the old-fashioned way: in the mailWhile others (31%) log in to payroll service portals (e.g., ADP, Workday, Paychex) to retrieve them Illustration of tax prep tools (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)The unsettling reality of tax scamsThe reality is that tax scams are more prevalent than we might prefer to acknowledge. Nearly one in four individuals (23%) say they know someone or have personally fallen victim to such scams. Let's break down who's being affected and how.Young adults (18-24): This group is, surprisingly, the most likely to fall victim to scams. They are also most likely to have their information compromised via Instagram and WhatsApp.Older adults (65-74): On the other end of the spectrum, older adults are the least likely to have encountered tax scams.Gender differences: Young men are significantly more likely to lose money to scams than young women.And when people do lose money, the amounts can be substantial:81% lost over $50051% lost over $1,000A sobering 5% lost over $10,000 Scam written on a tablet surrounded by cash (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Demands and threats: What scammers wantScammers use a variety of tactics to trick people into giving up their money or personal information. The research shows that many people have received suspicious messages claiming to be from the IRS or a state tax authority via:Phone calls (30%)Text messages (27%)Facebook/Facebook Messenger (5%)WhatsApp (3%)Instagram/Instagram Direct Messages (2%)These messages often include demands for:Social Security numbers or tax identification numbers (40%)Immediate payment of back taxes (27%)Bank account numbers (18%)Credit/debit card information (17%)It's important to note that the IRS generally doesn't initiate contact via phone, text or social media to demand immediate payment. A woman preparing her taxes (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Who's being targeted by which scam?Different age groups are targeted with different scams. Heres the breakdown.Older adults (65-74): This group is heavily targeted by payment scams, such as demands for back taxes or fake tax refund schemes.Middle-aged (35-54): This group is targeted by a mix of identity theft and payment scams, like requests for Social Security numbers or demands for back tax payments.Younger adults (18-24): Scammers often seek personal information from this group, like birth dates and bank account numbers. A woman working on her taxes (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)The cost of falling for scamsMany people have received emails or texts about their "tax refund" or "tax refund e-statement" with a link. A large portion of people (39%) clicked on these links. It's definitely alarming how many people end up falling for these scams.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?Almost 40% of people who get a scam message or call actually send the scammer money. Younger adults are particularly vulnerable; more than half of 18- to 24-year-olds know someone who's paid up. When people click those tempting links about tax refunds or e-statements, they're playing a risky game: Almost 40% of people clicked on that email or text message, and thats where scammers can really get you. A woman working on her taxes (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)AI's role in the future of tax scamsLooking ahead, AI is making scams even scarier. A whopping 87% of people are worried about AI's role in creating realistic tax scams, but only 40% feel confident they could spot a deepfake from the IRS. As a result, many people (41%) are second-guessing real tax communications. In fact, more than half of people say the tax scam messages theyve received this year are more sophisticated or realistic than last year. Its no wonder that most people are concerned about tax fraud this season.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE"Tax scammers are getting smarter, and many are using AI to make their tricks more convincing than ever, just when people are feeling the most pressure to file quickly," said Abhishek Karnik, head of threat research at McAfee. "While not every scam uses AI, we predict a rise in more sophisticated, social engineering-focused tax fraud tactics as access to AI tools increases, including fraudulent emails, phone calls that use AI-generated audio and fake tax prep websites, making it easy for even the savviest filers to slip up."How to protect yourself from tax scamsOK, so the scam landscape looks pretty grim. What can you do to stay safe? Here are some practical steps to protect yourself.1. Be skeptical of unsolicited contact: Remember that the IRS will never contact you via phone, email, text or social media to demand immediate payment or request personal information.2. Avoid clicking suspicious links; use strong antivirus software: Do not click on links in emails or texts from unknown senders. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.3. Guard your personal information: Protect your Social Security number, bank account details and other sensitive data carefully.4. Create strong, unique passwords: Be sure to use strong passwords on financial and tax websites. Make sure each password is unique, especially for financial accounts. Get more details about mybest expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 here.5. Enable two-factor authentication: This adds an extra layer of security to your accounts that will prevent a hacker from getting into your accounts.6. Invest in personal data removal services: These services monitor your personal information and alert you to potential fraud. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time.Check out my top picks for data removal services here.7. Dont respond to texts/calls from unknown sources: Whatever you do, dont respond to texts/calls from unknown sources whatsoever.8. Trust your gut: If something feels off, it probably is. Verify information independently by contacting the IRS or your state tax authority directly.Kurt's key takeawaysTax season doesn't have to be a stressful time filled with worry. By staying informed, being on your guard and taking simple steps to protect yourself, you can confidently navigate the tax landscape and avoid falling victim to these scams. Be skeptical, be careful and always remember that when it comes to your taxes, it's always better to be safe than sorry.Have you or someone you know been targeted by a tax scam?Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

charles taylor - stock.adobe.comNewsEuropean cloud providers unite over data sovereignty-focused APIThree of the continents cloud providers have joined forces to create an API that will make it easier for users to move apps, data and workloads from one European providers platform to anotherByCaroline Donnelly,Senior Editor, UKPublished: 06 Mar 2025 15:50 European cloud providers are being urged to adopt a newly created open source infrastructure management application programming interface (API) designed to make it easier for customers to move workloads and applications between competing off-premise platforms.The Sovereign Europe Cloud API (SECA) is freely available to all European cloud providers to adopt and contribute to the development of, and has been co-created by suppliers Aruba S.p.A, Ionos and Dynamo.The offering is being touted by its creators as a tool to enhance interoperability so that users can run workloads and applications in the European cloud environments of their choice.It also ensures seamless access to the respective platforms, while upholding the highest levels of security, control, and data sovereignty in full compliance with stringent European standards, said its creators, in a statement. At the same time, this will enable enterprises to leverage integrated solutions that drive greater efficiency and innovation, all while ensuring full compliance with European regulations.Web hosting companies Aruba and Ionos have committed to becoming the first two European cloud service providers to roll out the SECA API to their customers.Achim Weiss, CEO of Ionos, said the API will ensure its customers, which are predominantly SMEs, will have the digital independence they need to thrive during the era of artificial intelligence (AI).AI and cloud are transforming the global economy, and Europe cannot afford to be left behind, Weiss said. Europe needs a strong, sovereign digital ecosystem. SECA is a critical step in building a secure, independent and future-proof digital infrastructure one that keeps Europe strong, competitive and in control.Stefano Cecconi, CEO of Aruba S.p.A, added: The creation of these common APIs with Aruba and IONOS as first movers marks a pivotal and voluntary step for the European cloud industry towards enhanced interoperability, strengthening the continents cloud services ecosystem.The third participant in the creation of SECA is Dynamo, which is a company that offers an all-in-one platform that brings together multiple cloud service providers from across Europe, and has committed to offering connectors based on SECA to automate the provisioning process for all compatible providers joining its network.Dynamo CEO Francesco Bonfiglio, said the offering of sovereign APIs such as SECA represent the offering of a a strong handshake of trust between customers and providers.The timing of the APIs creation is notable, as matters of data sovereignty are increasingly top of mind for European cloud providers and their customers, as concerns about entrusting all of their data and workloads to US tech giants, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft, rise.In recent weeks, this movement has seen the Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE) trade body announce a shake-up of its governance structure, with greater emphasis on championing the interests of the continents homegrown cloud services providers.The organisation announced an update to its articles of association on 13 February 2025 that means only European cloud providers are permitted to hold board positions at CISPE. The rule change resulted in US cloud giant Amazon Web Services (AWS) stepping down as a board member, meaning it now has no sway over the organisations governance or direction, because only board members have the right to vote on such matters at CISPE.At the start of 2025, details of the EuroStack initiative also emerged, which is geared towards creating an open, interoperable and sovereign digital infrastructure for Europe, which will incidentally be supported by the SECA API and Dynamo.According to its creators, EuroStack will provide the building blocks for Europe to build its own cloud ecosystem, independent of external control, and that will underpin a competitive, sustainable and democratic digital economy.Read more about data sovereigntyWe assess the impact of new regulations and government policy on the ability to use public cloud services.Documents show Microsofts lawyers admitted to Scottish policing bodies that the company cannot guarantee sensitive law enforcement data will remain in the UK, despite long-standing public claims to the contrary.In The Current Issue:DeepSeek-R1: Budgeting challenges for on-premise deploymentsInterview: Why Samsung put a UK startup centre stageDownload Current IssueCan the government's new digital broom sweep the civil service clean of its resistance to change? Computer Weekly Editors BlogSLM series - Iterate.ai : Strategic sweet spots for sustainable savviness CW Developer NetworkView All Blogs

Samsung is springing into the early days of the spring season with savings on top products like TVs, phones, appliances, and more during the tech giant's Discover Samsung Spring Sale.This sale officially kicked off earlier this week and lasts through Sunday, March 9. You can shop Samsung's deals of the day, bundle offers, and weeklong offers on their top tech products. You'll find daily deals across mobile, home, appliances, monitors, and entertainment categories that you can exclusively shop at Samsung.From the latest Galaxy S25 smartphone lineup to washers, dryers, and TVs, now's your chance to snag savings on top flagship Samsung devices. We'll update this list daily with fresh deals, so check back before you check out.Shop the Samsung Discover Spring SaleThe best Discover Samsung Spring Sale deals you can shopGalaxy Z Flip6: Starting at $900 (save up to $820 with up to $700 trade-in credit or $200 without trade-in + double the storage on select colors) (Deal of the Day, 3/6)Buy a 32" Odyssey Neo G7 4K UHD 165Hz 1ms(GTG) Quantum HDR2000 Curved Gaming Monitor and get a 24" Odyssey G3 (G30D) FHD 180Hz 1ms Gaming Monitor with Ergonomic Stand on us. Plus, get Samsung Care+ for $1 (Prices starting at $500, save up to $600)(Deal of the Day, 3/6)27" M80C Smart Monitor 4K UHD with Streaming TV, USB-C Ergonomic Stand and SlimFit Camera - Warm White: $300 (save $350)(Deal of the Day, 3/6)Bespoke 6.3 cu. ft. Smart Slide-In Induction Range with AI Home & Smart Oven Camera in White Glass: $2,299 (save $1,100)(Deal of the Day, 3/6)1.1 cu. ft. Smart SLIM Over-the-Range Microwave with 550 CFM Hood Ventilation, Wi-Fi & Voice Control in Stainless Steel: $399 (save $230)(Deal of the Day, 3/6)Bespoke 6.3 cu. ft. Smart Slide-In Electric Range with Smart Oven Camera & Illuminated Precision Knobs in Stainless Steel: $1,399 (save $1,100)(Deal of the Day, 3/6)Phones Kerry Wan/ZDNETGalaxy S25 Ultra: Starting at $1,100 with trade-in (save up to $1,020, with $900 trade-in credit, or $200 without trade-in + double the storage on select colors)Galaxy S25+: Starting at $870 with trade-in (save up to $800, with up to $700 trade-in credit or $100 without trade-in + double the storage on select colors)Galaxy Z Flip6: Starting at $1,300 with trade-in (save up to $1420, with up to $1,000 trade-in credits or $300 without trade-in + $300 IR and double the storage on select colors)Galaxy Z Fold6: Starting at $950 with trade-in (save up to $820, with up to $700 trade-in credit or $150 without trade-in + double the storage on select colors)Galaxy S25: Starting at $720 with trade-in (save up to $560, with up to $500 trade-in credit or $100 without trade-in + double the storage on select colors)Select Cases: Save up to $30Select Adapter/Battery/Charger: Save up to $60Laptops and tablets Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETGalaxy Tab S10 Ultra: Starting at $1,060 (save up to $1,000 with up to $800 instant trade-in credit or up to $400 instant trade-in credit with any tablet trade-in. Or, get up to $180 off without trade-in)Galaxy Book5 Pro: Starting at $1,150 (save up to $500 with up to $300 guaranteed instant trade-in credit with any PC trade-in or get up to $200 off before trade-in)Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: Starting at $1,450 (save up to $500 with up to $500 guaranteed instant trade-in credit or $200 guaranteed instant trade-in credit with any PC trade-in. Or up to $250 off without trade-in)Galaxy Book4 Ultra: Starting at $1,750 (save up to $650 with up to $500 instant trade-in credit or get $650 off without trade-inGalaxy Tab S9 FE/FE+: Starting at $1,900 (save up to $350 with instant trade-in credit or up to $200 off without trade-in)Smartwatches, smart rings, and earbuds Matthew Miller/ZDNETGalaxy Buds FE: Save up to $30 with trade-inGalaxy Buds3: Starting at $55 (save up to $125 with enhanced trade-in)Galaxy Buds3 Pro: Starting at $210 (save $40 without trade-in or up to $150 with enhanced trade-in)Galaxy Watch Ultra: Starting at $490 (save $160 without trade-in or up to $400 with enhanced trade-in)Galaxy Watch7: Starting at $100 (save up to $200 with enhanced trade-in)Galaxy Ring: Starting at $150 (save up to $250 with enhanced trade-in)Galaxy Watch6 Classic: Starting at $250 (save $150 without trade-in or up to $225 with enhanced trade-in)Audio & TV Jason Hiner/ZDNETFreestyle Projector 2nd Gen: $600 (save $200)Neo QLED 8K TVs (QN800D): Starting at $2,600 (save up to $2,000)Neo QLED 4K TVs (QN90D): Starting at $900 (save up to $2,000)The Frame TV: Starting at $550 (save up to $1,300) + select models get a free bezelCrystal UHD TVs: Starting at $2,500 (save up to $1,500, plus get free TV mounting)85" Class QLED 4K Q80D: Starting at $750 (save up to $1,600)85" Class QLED 4K QE1D: Starting at $530 (save up to $1,620)83" Class OLED S90D: Starting at $1,000 (save up to $2,100)98" Class Crystal UHD DU9000: Starting at $2,000 (save up to $500)75" Class Samsung Neo QLED 8K QN800D: Starting at $2,600 (save up to $2,000)85" Class Samsung Neo QLED 4K QN90D: Starting at $900 (save up to $6,000)85" Class Samsung Neo QLED 4K QNX1D: Starting at $850 (save up to $2,050)Q-series 3.1.2 ch. Dolby ATMOS Soundbar with / Q-Symphony / HW-Q600C: $350 (save $250)Memory and monitors June Wan/ZDNET990 EVO Plus Gen4 NVMe SSD 4TB: $270 (save $110)990 PRO w/ Heatsink PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD 4TB: $340 (save $105)Portable SSD T7 USB 3.2 1TB (Blue): $110 (save $45)PRO Plus Sonic the Hedgehog + Adapter microSDXC 512GB: $50 (save $19)27" Odyssey G65B QHD 240Hz 1ms HDR600 Gaming Hub 1000R Curved Gaming Monitor: $400 (save $300)43" Odyssey Neo G7 4K UHD 144Hz 1ms VESA Display HDR600 Smart Gaming Monitor: $600 (save $400)27" M70C Smart Monitor 4K UHD with Streaming TV USB-C and Ergonomic Stand: $350 (save $200) Kerry Wan/ZDNET Right now, you can save up to $250 off a newSamsung Galaxy Ringwith an eligible trade-in at Samsung. This could help you score one of the latest smart wearables, which sells for $400, for as low as $150. That's a great deal for Samsung'sflagship smart ring, which offers top features like sleep and stress tracking, fitness tracking, and more.The Samsung Galaxy Ring is ZDNET's pick forbest smart ring for Android users, and editor-in-chief Jason Hiner says Samsung delivers a smart ring that is outstanding at overall wellness tracking --"especially for delivering actionable insights about the data it collects to help you improve areas of your health that could use some attention," he says. Show more View now at Samsung Kerry Wan/ZDNET Every size of Samsung's popular The Frame TV is discounted during the Discover Samsung Spring Sale this week. So if you've been looking for a quality TV that won't ruin the aesthetics of your living room, look no further.The Frame is a QLED 4K TV, with an anti-reflection matte display to limit glare day and night. When you turn on Art Mode, the TV becomes a display for your personal art or photo collection, or for iconic pieces from theMetropolitan Museum of Art.Right now, Samsung has all display sizes discounted, with the 32-inch starting at $550 (save $50) and ending with the 85-inch for $3,000 (save $1,300). Plus, starting with the 75-inch model and above, you'll get a free bezel with your purchase.The Frame TV also includes a slim-fit wall mount, so you can hang the TV flush against the wall to look like, well, a picture frame. Samsung also aims to limit unsightly cables with just one cable needed, keeping eyes on the display itself. You can also pick a customizable bezel to make The Frame fit into your home decor. Show more View now at Samsung Allison Murray/ZDNET Current price: $600Original price: $800Samsung's Freestyle 2 combines a projector and a gaming hub all-in-one, and the Freestyle 2 builds on its predecessor with greater functionality, a better remote, and some literally game-changing features. In fact, what's distinctly unique about the Samsung Freestyle 2 Gaming Hub is that you don't need a physical console to play a game, but just the Freestyle 2, internet access, and game controller.When ZDNET's Allison Murray and her husband tested the Freestyle 2 in their home, they were impressed with the portable projector's power-packed value, and the ability to play video games from the ceiling -- or any room in the house with an open wall."My husband was able to playRocket Leaguewith a free membership to GeForce Now, and other free games likeFortnitewere also available. The overall gaming experience will depend on your Wi-Fi connection, but the graphics were crystal clear, and the Freestyle 2 loaded the games fast with virtually no glitches," Murray said.And the Freestyle 2's projecting capabilities weren't lackluster, either."The Samsung Freestyle 2 impressed me with both image quality, the ability to auto-focus -- whether it was projecting onto a slanted ceiling or a projector screen -- and the overall experience of setup and streaming," Murray wrote in her review. Show more View now at Samsung When will these deals expire? Samsung's Discover Spring sale will officially kick off on March 3, 2025 and will run through March 9, 2025. There are mystery deals, Deals of the Day, weeklong discounts, and more throughout the event, so keep an eye out on your favorite products this week.As always, deals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We're sorry if you've missed out on these deals, but don't fret -- we're constantly finding new chances to score savings and sharing them with you atZDNET.com. Show more ZDNET Recommends

ZDNETI don't mean to be dramaticButtttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt AI video and image generators like Sora, Runway, and Midjourney have a huge problem that could be a fatal flaw. AI-powered image and video generators turn text into visuals with what feels like digital wizardry. You type in a prompt, the algorithm processes it, and a fully rendered image or video appears within seconds. Also: 3 lucrative side hustles you can start right now with OpenAI's Sora video generatorIt sounds like the creative utopia we were promised, but is it?This "utopia" has a dark side you wouldn't believe; one could argue it's actually radioactive.And I don't know about you, but I prefer my radios not active(Ba dum tss).In this article, I'm going to share with you:What text-to-video is and why it mattersWhat this fatal flaw is and how we got hereMy genius idea to fix the industrySo grab a coffee and kick up your feet. We are about to jump off the top rope with this hot take. Quick introIf you're new to my work, my name is Lester, but feel free to call me Les I'm a founder with a successful exit under my belt. These days, I'm the exec chair for a group of e-commerce brands, but at my core, I'm an award-winning performance marketer. Data and insights are my expertise, and my experience as a business professional and creator gives me a unique perspective on the critical flaws plaguing the AI image and video generation industry. If you're into data-driven business and marketing insights and strategies, check out my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts. I share what's working in the world of business, along with marketing insights and trends I'm seeing. But that's enough about me. I must bring you up to speed on what's happening with the AI text and video generation industry. AI text and video generation?Let's first break down what AI text and video generation is and how it works. Here is the oversimplified version: An AI model learns to generate images by first taking existing images and gradually adding noise, making them look like static on a TV.It then trains by reversing that process, learning how to remove noise step by step until it can reconstruct an image from pure randomness. Text-to-video models explained via Google Research YouTubeWhile learning, the model is given captions that describe each image, like "a cat playing," helping it associate text with visual patterns. Once trained, if you type new words like "a red car," the model starts with a noisy image and refines it into something that matches the description. Text-to-video models explained via Google Research YouTubeThe same process happens for videos but involves creating a series of images while ensuring smooth transitions between frames. The model cleans up noise and learns to maintain motion consistency so that objects don't randomly change shape or position between frames. Text-to-video models explained via Google Research YouTubeLike I said, this is the oversimplified version. The "what" these models do is simple; the "how" they do it is incredibly complex. This technology is powerful but raises important questions about how it's trained and who benefits from its creations. The big problem with AI text and video generatorsSo, what's the big problem? AI models train on existing content, but whether that constitutes fair use or something more problematic is still up for debate."Training" happens on the backs of creators who, in most cases, weren't asked for consent or given compensation. When you hear that these AI tools are "creating," that's somewhat misleading. One could argue they are compiling, not creating. Because the content was never given to the AI for training, it opens a can of worms for copyright claims and questions about who owns the intellectual property. Here's where it gets tricky: Our legal systems haven't caught up yet, so corporations are highly cautious about using AI-generated images and video.At ZDNET, we can't use AI to create content or AI images #jobsecurity. Besides, ChatGPT could never be as funny as me, pffft, but I digress. On Feb.11, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware ruled in favor of Thomson Reuters in the case of Thomson Reuters Enterprise Centre GmbH v. Ross Intelligence Inc. The court found that Ross Intelligence's use of copyrighted material to train its AI system was not fair use.This landmark decision carries significant implications for AI copyright cases. Like I said, RADIO!!! ACTIVE!!! My big idea to save the AI industryNow that you are all caught up, let me tell you about my genius idea. What if... hear me out: what if we made Spotify but for AI text and video? Let's call it a cool name like AI-text-ify. AItextify would operate similarly to Spotify, where a creator (let's call him John) uploads original work to train the AI models. When a user purchases AI-generated content that uses John's work to create the final output, John will be compensated for his work, similar to how artists get paid for streams on Spotify. Also:3 big opportunities you shouldn't ignore in 2025 - and whyAItextify stands out by ensuring creators receive ongoing payments whenever their work is used, rather than a one-time fee for training. This guarantees continuous income as their content helps refine and improve the models.AItextify is groundbreaking because it uses blockchain technology to guarantee transparent tracking and fair compensation for creators. Every time its AI models use a creator's work, they get paid instantly and securely. This business model draws top-tier creators by offering fair compensation and elevates AItextify as best in class. AItextify also includes a suite of AI-assisted tools to help creators refine their ideas and generate new content based on trends and user preferences. This allows users to collaborate with AI to create unique stories, videos, or art that resonates with audiences worldwide. To make it even more accessible, AItextify will partner with leading educational institutions to offer courses on AI content creation. This way, creators from all backgrounds can learn to leverage AItextify's tools to produce high-quality content. But why stop there? Also:15 surprising ways I used AI to save me weeks of work in 2024AItextify can patrol the internet for copyright infringements on John's behalf. This protects creators' rights and ensures corporate clients can use AItextify without worrying about legal issues. This is crucial for professional users who need reliable and legally sound outputs. Slap a .AI domain on it, and unicorn status is almost guaranteed. (As I write this, I'm trying to decide what color Lambo to get.) AItextify would be a win-win-win: creators receive their fair share of the revenue, users enjoy unparalleled AI-generated content, and corporate clients can use this content without constantly looking over their shoulders and worrying about potential lawsuits. My two centsI think we just saved the AI industry. Who knew that simply paying creators fairly could be a revolutionary business model?Could this work? Of course, it could; this is a brilliant idea! But if I must be critical, here's what could go wrong, aside from everything...I know similar ideas exist, but my concern is that these platforms treat creators as an afterthought rather than an integral part of the project. Industry leaders need to prioritize valuing creators. Doing what is right should not be up for debate. As AI continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how things unfold.If the Thomson Reuters case is any indication, we may be moving toward a fairer system for all parties involved. If you decide to bring AItextify to life, you will need a CMO. I volunteer as tribute. Hope this helps; I'm rooting for you. BTW, if you're into data-driven business and marketing insights, you should sign up for my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts. I share what's working, the latest trends, revenue-scaling strategies, and actionable tips. Plus, you'll get the occasional pep talk to keep you inspired. If this sounds like your jam, click here to sign up, it's totally FREE!Oh, I think I will go with green for the Lambo with the license plate "LAMBO-IFY" Featured

Cyber adversaries are evolving into enterprise-scale operations, leveraging AI, social engineering, ... [+] and identity-based attackscan defenders keep up?gettyCybercrime is no longer just about opportunistic hackers looking for a quick payday. The modern cyber adversary is highly structured, well-resourced, and increasingly operates like a business. From nation-state actors to financially motivated cybercriminals, threat groups are becoming more sophisticated, leveraging AI-driven automation, social engineering, and cloud exploitation to breach even the most well-defended organizations.The 2025 CrowdStrike Global Threat Report paints a stark picture: adversaries are faster, more efficient, and more business-like than ever before. Their tactics have evolved beyond traditional malware, shifting toward identity-based attacks, deepfake-driven social engineering, and rapid cloud exploitation.Security teams are now in a race to out-innovate attackers who are thinking and operating like enterprises themselves.Cybercrime as an Industry: The Business of HackingCybercriminals have streamlined their operations, creating a sophisticated underground economy. One of the fastest-growing trends is Access-as-a-Service, where initial access brokers specialize in infiltrating networks and then selling entry points to ransomware groups and other threat actors.Adam Meyers, CrowdStrikes head of counter adversary operations, explained during a recent media roundtable, One of the big things that kind of exploded in 2024 is the increase in social engineering, particularly using voice phishing. We saw a 442% increase in voice phishing. Adversaries are realizing that traditional technical attacks are getting harder, so theyre going after the weakest linkhumans.This shift away from malware is reshaping the cyber threat landscape. 79% of observed attacks were malware-free, relying on valid credentials, remote administration tools, and hands-on-keyboard attacks instead.Breakout timesthe speed at which attackers move laterally within a breached networkhit a record low of just 48 minutes, with the fastest breakout happening in only 51 seconds.Scott Crawford, Research Director of Information Security at 451 Research, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, described this shift as part of a long-evolving cybercriminal ecosystem. Weve seen that evolution for many years now. The threat landscape has long matured into a well-developed ecosystem where information, tactics, and skills are traded with regularity, enabled by innovations like the development of cryptocurrencies that make attacks for tangible gain more practical for adversaries.The AI Arms Race: Cybercriminals Weaponizing Artificial IntelligenceAI isnt just revolutionizing business operationsits transforming cybercrime. Adversaries are using generative AI to craft hyper-convincing phishing emails, create deepfake videos, and even simulate real-time interactions in social engineering campaigns.Meyers highlighted the chilling effectiveness of AI-driven deception. AI-generated phishing emails have a 54% click-through rate, compared to just 12% for human-written emails. Deepfake technology is now being used for business email compromise, including a $25.6 million transfer scam last year using a deepfake video.At the same time, however, the rise of generative AI makes things like credible deception and phishing attacks more believable to targets, pointed out Crawford. Although it still has gaps such as defects in image manipulation that can still make some attempts detectable, sophistication is growing and can be expected to challenge defenders increasingly.Cybercriminals are also using AI-powered social engineering to infiltrate organizations at a deeper level. A North Korean-affiliated group, Famous Chollima, was caught creating fake LinkedIn profiles, using AI for job interview answers, and even deploying deepfake videos to land jobs within tech companiesgranting them insider access to corporate networks.Crawford emphasized, But defenders can leverage innovation, tooand we can expect to see this continue to shape the security technology landscape sooner rather than later.Chinas Cyber Expansion: A New Era of Nation-State AttacksWhile criminal enterprises are evolving, nation-state actors are scaling their operations with unprecedented efficiency. CrowdStrikes report reveals a 150% increase in China-nexus cyber activity, with some industriesincluding finance, manufacturing, and mediaexperiencing spikes of 200-300%.Meyers didnt mince words about the implications of this growth. After decades of investment, Chinas offensive cyber capabilities are now on par with other world powers. Theyve moved from smash-and-grab operations to persistent, stealthy intrusions that are highly specialized.Chinas new adversary groups are targeting specific industries, leveraging specialized techniques, and focusing on maintaining persistent access. For example, Vanguard Panda has been pre-positioning itself in critical infrastructure networks as part of what analysts believe is an effort to prepare for geopolitical conflicts, including potential tensions over Taiwan.Identity is the New Perimeter: The Death of Traditional SecurityOne of the most striking findings in the CrowdStrike report is the shift away from traditional malware toward identity-based attacks. Cybercriminals and nation-state actors alike are exploiting cloud services, stealing credentials, and bypassing endpoint security altogether.The cloud is no longer a safe havena 35% increase in cloud intrusions shows that attackers are specifically targeting cloud control planes and SaaS environments, where identity verification is often the weakest link. Access broker activity surged by 50%, further highlighting that stolen credentials are the new goldmine for cybercriminals.The Future of Cyber Defense: Can Enterprises Keep Up?With cybercriminals and nation-state actors adopting AI, cloud exploitation, and sophisticated social engineering, organizations must rethink their approach to security. Meyers laid out the key priorities for defenders:Identity security is paramount. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) alone isnt enoughorganizations need continuous identity monitoring and behavioral analytics to detect unauthorized access.Cross-domain visibility is critical. Companies must integrate intelligence across endpoint, identity, and cloud security to spot threats before they escalate.Threat intelligence-driven patching. Adversaries are increasingly chaining low-severity vulnerabilities together to create high-impact exploits. Patching strategies must prioritize real-world threat activity, not just severity scores.As cyber threats continue to evolve, the big question remains: Can defenders keep up with enterprise-grade adversaries who innovate as fast as the businesses they target? The next phase of cybersecurity will be a battle between AI-driven attackers and AI-driven defenses.For organizations, the message is clear: Adapt now, or risk becoming the next target in an era where cybercrime is no longer just a threatits an industry.

Bloomberg Philanthropies has already invested a total of $104 million over the years via its ... [+] Initiative to Prevent Drowning to support such drowning prevention interventions in Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Uganda and Viet Nam as well as 10 states in the U.S. with higher numbers of drowning deaths: Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma and Texas. (Photo: Courtesy of Bloomberg Philanthropies)Courtesy of Bloomberg PhilanthropiesHeres another episode of Things You Can Accomplish When You Actually Work Together To Use Science To Solve a Major Problem. The World Health Organization with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies published its first-ever report on drowning prevention that brought to the surface a major success story. As of last year, the rate of drowning deaths across the world has gone down by 38% since 2000. Although theres still more work to do as the average number of drownings per hour remains above 30, this drop didnt occur by accident so to speak. It happened after the WHO, Bloomberg Philanthropies, different national governments and various local organizations got together to use that thing called science to help reduce drowning.The significant decline in drowning deaths since 2000 is great news and proof that the simple, practical interventions that WHO recommends work, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, the WHO Director-General, said in a statement. Still, every drowning death is one death too many, and millions of people remain at risk. This report contains crucial data for policy-making and recommendations for urgent action to save lives.Implementing Evidence-Based Interventions To Prevent Drowning DeathsBy simple, practical interventions, the WHO Director-General was referring to evidence-based interventions such as:Installing barriers to prevent child access to water: Because little kids by themselves and water dont often mix well. Ive described for Forbes previously how drowning has been the leading cause of deaths among young children.Providing of safe places away from water for pre-school children: The youth may not be always well served by water with nearly half of those dying from drowning being under 29 years of age and a quarter being less than five years of age.Teaching school-aged children basic swimming water safety and safe rescue skills: A Red Cross survey from a decade ago found that 61% of children didnt have basic swim safety skillsTraining people in rescue and resuscitation: Naturally, when someone is drowning, you dont everyone around to go, Umm, what do we do?Strengthening public awareness on drowning: Many people may not be aware of how much a risk drowning or the magnitude of the drowning problem, such as around 300,000 people dying by drowning in just one year, 2021.Setting and enforcing safe boating, shipping and ferry regulations: According to the American Boating Association, drowning has been the reporetd cause of death in 75% of fatal boating accidents in the U.S.Improving flood risk management: Floods bring water where its not supposed to be.Bloomberg Philanthropies has already invested a total of $104 million over the years via its Initiative to Prevent Drowning to support such drowning prevention interventions in Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Uganda and Viet Nam as well as 10 states in the U.S. with higher numbers of drowning deaths: Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma and Texas.Part of these efforts has been to raise more awareness of drowning, explained Becky Bavinger, who works on the public health team at Bloomberg Philanthropies. There is the misconception that drowning is not preventable an act of God.The Majority Of Downing Deaths Occur In Low and Middle Income CountriesWhile many of the best things in life may be free, that still doesnt necessarily always apply to safety, health and public health measures. The aforementioned interventions do require investment to implement before the benefits and potential savings can be realized. Thats why it shouldnt be surprising that people in lower resource settings have higher risks of drowning. In fact, nine out of every 10 drowning deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries. Plus, such countries are low and middle income often because they have the misfortune of being situated in less favorable and harsher environments. Torrential rains, flooding, turbulent water and other such conditions do make navigating in and around water more treacherous.It also isnt super surprising that progress in reducing drowning deaths has been uneven across the world. While the WHO European Region experienced a 68% drop in such deaths from 2000 to 2021, the WHO African Region saw only a 3% drop during the same time period. The WHO African Region continued to have the highest rate of any region at 5.6 deaths per 100 000 people.But the success stories of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative to Prevent Drowning to date suggest that many of the challenges that LMICs face can be overcome. For example, in Bangladesh, Bloomberg Philanthropies has helped support community childcare for over 50,000 children across the country. And in Viet Nam, since 2019, it has worked with the government to offer survival swimming classes to children. This has already helped over 28,000 children across 13 provinces pass a survival swimming course.The Lack Of Data And National Strategies On Drowning DeathsOne continuing problem with drowning prevention is the you-dont-know-what-you-dont-know problem. Many locations dont even know enough about the surrounding risk factors that they may have and the causes of past drownings. In fact, they may not even know how many drowning deaths have occurred. Theyve lacked data. And making decisions without proper data can amount to guessing.Bavinger emphasized that its not enough to simply know the number of drowning deaths and the approximate age and sex of the victims: Basic demographics are not the fully story. We often dont have know the underlying circumstances. Therefore, a major part of the Initiative to Prevent Drowning has been to increase and bolster data collection and analysis efforts.Another continuing problem has been the dearth of national strategies to prevent drowning. In the European Region, 45% of countries have some kind of national strategy or plan to prevent drowning. Thats not a great number but still higher than the 15% number for the African Region. It will be important to match up the policies with the burden," Said Bavinger. She went to say that the majority of countries have no policy of fencing around swimming pools and only a minority have have swimming and national swimming training as part of their curricula.Drowning continues to be a major public health issue, but progress is possible, particularly if governments work with strong partners at the local level, Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, and 108th mayor of New York City, said in a statement.Climate Change May Raise The Risk Of Drowning DeathsClimate change can lead to more extreme weather events, which in turn could lead to greater drowning ... [+] risk. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)Getty ImagesAlthough things seem to be going in the right direction, theres one big global thing thats going in the wrong direction: climate change. Climate change has been leading to all sorts of changes that may increase the risk of drowning. Climate change can lead to more extreme weather events, rain getting disrupted, flash flooding and other things, Bavinger explained.Bavinger went on to talk about the need to strengthen weather alerts and make sure that they are up-to-date. After all, the words torrential rains and lets go swimming dont typically go well together. Increasing public awareness of the weather will grow increasingly important with climate change, especially with More people turning to water for recreation, which is understandable but means increased risk, as Bavinger described. She mentioned how the migration of people around the world can change the risk situation as well.Another big concern is whats happening in Washington, DC, right now. Who knows what longterm negative impact the Trump Administrations plan to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO will have? The same applies to the dismantling of USAID and cuts in support for other government agencies that help facilitate international collaboration and work.Continuing Work To Prevent Drowning DeathsSo, while past work has helped bring the problem of drowning more to the surface and result in the aforementioned drops in the rates of drowning deaths, the world is certainly not out of the water yet. Things have been improving and getting there, said Bavinger. [Bloomberg Philanthropies] is committed through 2027, $60 million to work in high burden countries. Increased cooperation across the globe would help significantly. A United Nations General Assembly resolution in April 2021 did declare July 25 each year to be World Drowning Prevention Day to help further raise awareness of this problem and foster collaborative work. Any set of deaths that could have been prevented can end up having reverberating effects across many different people, sectors, communities and countries often in unexpected ways. Not realizing this and neglecting the value of global cooperation could leave everyone under water in more ways than one.

In brief: Elon Musk's close relationship with Donald Trump and his outspoken views have led to a backlash against Tesla vehicles in many countries around the world. However, sales of the EVs in the UK rose by a fifth last month, with the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y the nation's second and third most-popular models, respectively. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) writes that almost 4,000 Teslas were sold in the UK in February, up 20.7% year on year and increasing Tesla's market share from 3.75% in February 2024 to 4.6% last month.Electric vehicle popularity continues to grow in the UK. Plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEVs) registrations were up 19.3% and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) increased 7.9%. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations were up by 41.7% to 21,244. That's despite the UK's overall car market declining by 1% to 84,054 new registrations.The figures are a contrast to Tesla's declining popularity in Europe. The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association showed sales of new Tesla cars almost halved in Europe last month, which is being attributed to Musk's support of Trump, his role as head of DOGE, the dismantling of USAid, and association with Germany's far-right AfD party.It's not just in Europe where Tesla's business is suffering. Sales in Australia were down 72% last month compared to the same period a year earlier. Sales of Tesla's entry level Model 3, which had been the second-best selling EV in Australia in 2024, were down 81%.In Germany, demand for anti-Musk stickers for Tesla cars has exploded, and several corporations have said they will no longer be using Teslas in their fleet vehicles. // Related StoriesIn Poland, the country's tourism minister called on citizens to boycott Tesla vehicles. There was also a poll in the Netherlands suggesting 31% of respondents who owned Teslas were considering selling or had already sold them.Figures for the start of 2025 show Tesla registrations were down 63% YoY in France, 59% in Germany, 44% in Sweden, and 38% in Norway. It has been noted that factors beyond Musk may have played a part in these fallinf sales, including customers awaiting Tesla's release of the updated Y model, cheaper Chinese rivals, and people buying fewer cars in general.In addition to the UK, Tesla sales have also risen in the US. Preliminary data for February indicates that around 42,000 of its EVs were sold during the month in the United States, up 14% year-on-year.Masthead: Bruno Martins

Bottom line: OpenAI has faced repeated accusations of exploiting content creators, journalists, and researchers to fuel its for-profit empire built on AI models prone to hallucinations. Now, the San Francisco-based company is attempting to repair its tarnished reputation by committing millions to a new funding initiative aimed at putting its technology to more positive use. OpenAI recently announced NextGenAI, a new consortium aimed at advancing research and education through AI-driven innovation. The company is committing $50 million from its growing financial reserves to fund leading academic institutions and equip researchers with AI tools to accelerate their workloads. Notably, participants will be encouraged to utilize OpenAI's own products and API technologies.According to OpenAI, NextGenAI marks a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the company and 15 research institutions across the US and the UK. The funding will be allocated toward research grants, computing resources, and API access to OpenAI's AI models, supporting students, educators, and researchers.NextGenAI partners include Caltech, California State University, Duke University, the University of Georgia, Harvard University, Howard University, the University of Mississippi, Ohio State University, Texas A&M, and Boston Children's Hospital, among others.OpenAI partners are already leveraging AI in cutting-edge research initiatives that could revolutionize healthcare and reimagine education. The company highlighted several breakthrough examples, including Ohio State University, which is exploring AI models to advance healthcare, manufacturing, and energy. Meanwhile, Harvard University and Boston Children's Hospital are using OpenAI tools to reduce the time required for accurate patient diagnoses.Beyond healthcare, OpenAI envisions a future where libraries and universities are deeply integrated with AI. For instance, the University of Oxford and Boston Public Library are digitizing rare texts and public domain materials using OpenAI's APIs, enabling better transcriptions and expanded access to historical knowledge. Meanwhile, the University of Mississippi is still in the early stages of exploring how AI can enhance education, research, and service. // Related StoriesHowever, OpenAI is also pushing for widespread AI adoption in academia, ensuring that future generations become deeply immersed in its technology. The company openly states its goal of making students and scholars "AI-fluent" a move that, unsurprisingly, would also boost its own business.The NextGenAI initiative builds upon ChatGPT Edu, a program OpenAI launched in May 2024 to provide expanded access to ChatGPT for educational institutions. While ChatGPT Edu focused primarily on AI-powered chat, NextGenAI takes a broader approach, offering financial support, computing resources, and research tools to scientists, scholars, and students.

The PlayStation 5 is a hefty investment, but you can now get your hands on one without the high upfront cost. PlayStation Direct has started a rental program (only in the United Kingdom for now), offering participants a rental PlayStation 5 for as low as 10.99 GBP roughly $15.Sony offered with Raylo to establish the program. Currently, there are five different options to choose from. The PlayStation 5 Digital is the least expensive option, starting at just 10.99 GBP per month on a 36-month lease. The price goes up as the lease term goes down, and theres a lease-free option thats 21.95 GBP each month but can be cancelled anytime.Recommended VideosThe most expensive option is the PlayStation 5 Pro console. It starts at 18.95 GBP per month for a 36-month term, reaching 26.99 GBP per month for a 12-month term. If you opt for the lease-free plan, its a hefty 35.59 GBP each month. The good news is shipping is free and theres no upfront payment, so someone with a more limited budget can get their hands on a PlayStation 5 and check out whatever games theyre interested in without a long-term commitment.SonyYou dont have to return the console at the end of the lease term, either. According to Raylo, youre free to upgrade to a different version, keep paying the established cost, or just cancel the contract by returning the device. Device insurance is available starting at 3.99 GBP per month, too.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe appeal to this program (aside from cost-saving, of course) is that it has a lower environmental impact. When someone is done with the PlayStation 5 and returns it, it allows another person to borrow that same console and enjoy it without the need to purchase a new one. Though the program could have an impact on overall PlayStation 5 sales, it makes the console more accessible to a wider number of gamers.Editors Recommendations

As you work your way through the thrilling co-op adventure in Split Fiction, you'll stumble upon a variety of cute, one-off interactions within the worlds. While most of them are just for kicks, there are a handful that also grant you trophies or achievements for engaging with them. One of these called "A Friendly Push" involves swinging on a two-seater swing fairly early in the game. Here's where to find the swing and how to get the "A Friendly Push" trophy or achievement.Recommended VideosDifficultyEasyDuration5 minutesEAStep 1: Go to Chapter Select and choose Hopes of Spring > The Underlands.Step 2: Navigate through the opening of the level until you push a boulder through some overgrowth.RelatedStep 3: After passing through the large door you just opened a way through, look to the right to see a swing near the cliffside.Step 4: Have Zoe sit on the swing alone.Step 5: Shapeshift Mio into a gorilla.Step 6: Use your slam ability while directly against the swing to instead turn it into a punch of sorts, sending Zoe flying off the level and popping the "A Friendly Push" trophy or achievement.Editors Recommendations