Approximately 70,000 cumulative profiles, Pages, and groups have been removed from Facebook and Instagram as a result of Meta’s significant action against a well-known sextortion group operating out of Nigeria. Additionally, the mechanisms to prevent them from returning have been strengthened.
Meta says that these accounts were associated with a group called “Scammers,”.
These scammers originally relied upon the old “Nigerian Prince” type of scam, where they’d try to dupe unsuspecting marks with promises of riches. But more recently, they’ve switched to romance scams, where they create fake profiles, then convince their targets to share money and/or personal details to maintain the relationship.
Meta says :
”We removed around 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria that attempted to directly engage in financial sextortion scams. These included a smaller coordinated network of around 2,500accounts that we were able to link to a group of around 20 individuals. They targeted primarily adult men in the US and used fake accounts to mask their identities. 63k profiles is a lot, and you can imagine how this group could look to use a coordinated effort of this size to intimidate targets.”
In addition to this, Meta also notes that it detected a coordinated network of around 2,500 accounts through a combination of new technical signals and processes. The majority of these accounts had already been detected and disabled by our enforcement systems, and this investigation allowed us to remove the remaining accounts and understand more about the techniques being used to improve our automated detection.
In other words, Meta has effectively been able to use this research to gain additional knowledge on the ways in which these ”Scammers” and other groups plan and collaborate in order to put pressure on users.
Which should put Meta in a better position to prevent such incidents in the future, but as is always the case, as detection systems advance, so do the strategies used by these groups. Although it’s still a cat and mouse game, Meta appears to have prevailed in some of the bigger, more significant (at scale) incidents overall, according to its continuous reporting.
Meta eliminated 5,700 groups and 1,300 Facebook pages that had been disseminating advice on how to pull off online frauds in addition to these profiles.
But again, the scammers will evolve, and in the age of AI, there are now all new vectors for them to tap into to initiate their schemes. Hopefully, Meta will also be able to evolve its systems in line, in order to maintain some kind of balance in enforcement.
Web development is in a constant flux. It changes with technology and dynamic user expectations. Moving into the future, several trends and innovations are going to change the way in which websites and web apps would be developed and consumed. Here is an inkling into what one should expect in the future of web development.
7 Key Trends Shaping the Future
1. Progressive Web Apps
Progressive Web Apps are web applications that provide a native app-like experience by working offline, loading fast, and being installable on the user’s home screen. This closes the gap between web apps and mobile device apps by providing a native user experience across devices. Notice an increasing number of businesses implementing PWAs to enhance engagement and accessibility.
2. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are finding their way to changing web development. From chatbots and virtual assistants to customized content recommendations, AI and ML offer a rich experience for users and make complex tasks easier to handle. Only then will developers integrate these technologies to make web applications wiser and more responsive.
3. Voice Search Optimization
Optimizing websites for voice search is going to be imperative as devices that are voice-activated, including smart speakers and voice assistants, begin to proliferate. That means understanding and responding to voice inquiries through NLP. That basically means that voice search optimization is going to play a very big role in enhancing accessibility and user convenience.
4. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
AR and VR are in the process of changing the way users experience and interact with web content. These technologies aid in creating extremely immersive experiences—majorly in industries such as e-commerce, real estate, and entertainment. For instance, a user could see what a product might look like in his or her space using AR, or how a virtual tour may turn out using VR, thus building engagement and decision-making.
5. Single Page Applications
A single page application loads only a single HTML page, which is then dynamically updated based on user interaction with the app. SPAs really provide a native-like user experience, so they are very suitable for complex applications. Viewed by many as the future of frontend development, SPAs are becoming ever more prevalent, and React, Vue, and Angular are leading the charge to help developers efficiently and scalably develop web applications.
6. WebAssembly (Wasm)
WebAssembly is a binary instruction format designed for high-performance on the web. It empowers developers to write code in languages like C, C++, and Rust and executes it in browsers at near-native speed. Wasm boosts web applications to be faster and more powerful.
7. Improved Cybersecurity
As cyber threats become sophisticated, enhancing the cybersecurity measures will be essential. The developers will need to focus on secure coding, using HTTPS, Content Security Policy, and keeping themselves updated on the latest security measures and protocols. Without protection of the user’s data and trust, success for web apps will be elusive.
Future Predictions for Web Development
1. The Rise of the JAMstack and Serverless Architecture
The JAMstack is gaining immense popularity. It makes use of pre-rendered static sites to deliver content and APIs for dynamic data and functionality. There are a number of advantages of this approach of serverless computing.
Performance: This means a user can have promptness like a static content.
Scalability: As a result of it, it is capable of handling as many traffic volumes as possible without having a limitation on servers.
Security: It is, therefore, critical to note that static sites are way more secure compared to traditional server-side applications.
Reduced Development Costs: Therefore, one will not have a case of the ongoing maintenance for any client using a serverless infrastructure.
2. The Metaverse and Web 3.0
Of major influence on web development will be the concepts of Metaverse—the persistent virtual environment—and Web 3.0, a blockchain-driven decentralized web. Imagine engaging online experiences where users can own digital assets, interact with 3D settings, and move with seamless continuity across platforms. Therefore, that may be new frameworks and tools required for making safe and participatory experiences inside the Metaverse.
3. Democratization of Web Development
The introduction of low-code/no-code platforms and user-friendly tools is likely to further democratize web development. This may further diminish the boundary between citizen developers and formally trained developers since, with the help of these tools, persons with zero coding experience will be in a position to build simple websites and applications. Complex functionality creation and high-performance application development will still have to involve professional programmers.
4. Ethical Considerations and User Privacy
Even while AI and machine learning find a place, increasingly, in web development, user bias and data privacy ethics have to be factored in. Developers will have to make algorithms that will ensure equity, non-discrimination, and transparency in the judgment-making process. In addition, the developers shall give top priority to secure data storage and let users have control over their information since the laws governing user data privacy are probably going to get harsher.
5. The Evolving Developer Landscape
The developer landscape is also likely to change in tandem with the new trends. Few might have predicted a rise in extremely specialized jobs related to themes like blockchain development, AI integration, and metaverse experiences, among others. Moreover, it shall be indispensable for developers who want to remain relevant in a world changing at high speed in terms of technology to upskill and continue learning.
In that respect, certain fabulous opportunities will keep developers and enterprises that want to remain at the forefront of future, evolving paths in web development on their guard.
Get ready to future-proof your web presence. With Seoghana, you’re always on top of the latest trends in web development, so you’ll never be passed by those who are ahead of their time. Our team can develop anything, from Progressive Web Apps and AI-driven features to seamless Single Page Applications.
Do not be left out in the new digital revolution. Let us show you how we can transform your web today to give your business a facelift. Building together a better future!
Protecting your privacy online is a critical area of concern for many individuals, especially when using a credit card. If you are worried about how much of your private information is online and vulnerable to theft, you’re not alone. Online has become an extensive playground for cyber hackers and security threats because users are increasingly sharing their private information online. Protecting your privacy online an important issue. How can you know that your private information is safe online? Knowing how to protect your website and yourself while online will ensure that your private data is kept private.
All e-commerce websites require you to put in your credit card information, which potentially compromises data and allows hackers to get your information. How sure are you that your information is safe with the domain that you are using?
There are ways to protect your personal information while still enjoying much of what the web has to offer. In this article, we shall consider basic things you need to know so that your financial and personal information is protected while you visit your favorite sites. Get to know the main goals of hacking and tips on how to evaluate website security.
There are various goals when hacking websites, but the main ones are:
Exploiting site visitors.
Stealing information stored on the server.
Tricking bots and crawlers (black-hat SEO).
Abusing server resources.
Pure hooliganism (defacement).
Protecting your privacy online means not sharing everything about yourself on social media
A smart way to protecting your privacy online is by not sharing everything about you on social media. Providing too much information on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram could make it easier for cybercriminals to obtain identifying information. This could allow them to steal your identity or to access your financial information.
For example, could an identity thief determine your date of birth, spouse’s name, information of your children, your location, travel plans, or your mother’s maiden name from your Facebook account? This information is sometimes used as security questions to change passwords on financial accounts.
Unfortunately, many people don’t take this advice. In a 2018 study, the Identity Theft Resource Centre found that approximately 52 percent of respondents shared personal information through social media sites. To protect your online privacy, ignore the “About Me” fields in your social media profiles. You don’t have to let people know what year or where your hometown is located— which could make you an easier target for identity theft. You might want to limit who can view your posts to those you’ve personally invited.
Create strong passwords, too, for your social media profiles to help prevent others from logging into them in your name. This means using a combination of at least 12 numbers, special characters, and upper- and lower-case letters. And never use personal, easy-to-guess information — such as your birthdate as your password.
Look out for legitimate Domain
One of the most basic steps in checking the security of the website you’re visiting is taking a look at the URL. Many people fail to look up the URL of the website, especially if they’re already reading the content on the page. Others may give it only a basic glance–and if it looks right, they’re convinced. However, one of the most common scams simply mimics the existing content. The scam site copies the content exactly as it appears on the original page—aside from a few key details.
In many cases, phishing sites use a very similar URL to the original. For example, instead of http://www.ebay.com, it may appear as http[:]//www.ebay.com. The simple addition allows scammers to convince gullible individuals that they’re visiting the site they thought they should be on. As a result, they simply hand over their credit card information without hesitation. It’s important, therefore, that you take the time to carefully check over the URL before making a purchase.
The “S” in HTTPS stands for “secured.” Websites with this simple logo indicate that they’re transferring information through an encrypted network. Not every site offers the secure technology of an HTTPS lock. If you don’t see the lock icon on the site you’re looking at, it means that HTTPS security isn’t working or that the site doesn’t offer that secure connection. And you most likely should take your shopping elsewhere.
Browse in incognito or private mode
If you don’t want your computer to save your browsing history, temporary internet files, or cookies, do your web surfing in private mode.
Web browsers today offer their own versions of this form of privacy protection. In Chrome, it’s called Incognito Mode. Firefox calls its setting Private Browsing, and Internet Explorer uses the name InPrivate Browsing for its privacy feature. When you search with these modes turned on, others won’t be able to trace your browsing history from your computer.
But these private modes aren’t completely private. When you’re searching in incognito or private mode, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can still see your browsing activity. If you are searching on a company computer, so can your employer. The websites you visit can also track you.
So, yes, incognito browsing does have certain benefits. But it’s far from the only tool available to help you maintain your privacy while online.
Browse with other search engines
If you’re like many web surfers, you rely heavily on Google as your search engine. But you don’t have to. Protecting your privacy online is one reason people prefer to use anonymous search engines. This type of search engine doesn’t collect or share your search history or clicks. Anonymous search engines can also block ad trackers on the websites you visit.
Switch to a virtual private network
A virtual private network (VPN) protects your privacy online by creating a private network from a public internet connection. VPNs mask your Internet Protocol (IP) address so your online actions are virtually untraceable.
Using a VPN is especially important when you’re on public Wi-Fi at a library, coffee shop, or other public location. A VPN will make it more difficult for cybercriminals to breach your online privacy and access your personal information.
You can find many free VPN solutions, but if you want maximum privacy, pay for the service from a trusted security provider.
Don’t click on just anything
One of the ways in which hackers compromise your online privacy is through phishing attempts. In phishing, scammers try to trick you into providing valuable financial or personal information. They’ll often do this by sending fake emails that appear to be from banks or credit card providers. Often, these emails say you must click on a link to verify your financial information otherwise you risk your account getting frozen or closed.
Don’t fall for these scams. If you click on a phishing link, you could be taken to a spoofed webpage that looks like the homepage of your bank. But when you enter your account information, you’ll be sending it to the scammers behind the phishing attempt. Before clicking on suspicious links, hover your cursor over the link to view the destination URL. If it doesn’t match the financial website you use, don’t click. If you receive such an email, immediately log a complaint to your bank.
Security Seals
Most eCommerce websites understand the critical importance of securing traffic to make their visitors safer. As a result, they frequently work with security providers to ensure they’re providing the highest possible level of website security. Each website security provider offers a scan seal or security seal option that can be viewed by users. Usually, this is in the form of an Iframe that can be placed on the protected website, letting visitors know that the website is credible. Any time you visit a new website for your shopping needs, take the time to check out its security seal.
Use strong passwords for your mobile phones
Many of us spend more time surfing the web, and watching videos on our smartphones than we do on our laptops. It’s important, then, to put as much effort into protecting our online privacy on our phones as on our computers.
To start, make sure to use passwords to lock your phone. It might seem like a hassle to enter a code every time you want to access your phone’s home screen. But this password could offer an extra layer of protection if your phone is lost or stolen. Make sure your password is complex. Don’t use your birthdate, your house number, or any other code that thieves might be able to guess.
Use caution when downloading apps. Some games and productivity tools could come embedded with dangerous viruses. Only buy games from legitimate sources. Don’t ignore software updates, either. These updates often include important protections against the latest viruses. If you continue to ignore them, you could be leaving your smartphone’s operating system and programs vulnerable to attack.
Use quality antivirus software
Finally, always install antivirus software on all your devices. This software can keep hackers from remotely accessing your personal and financial information, and tracking your location. And once you install this software, frequently update your antivirus protection.
Do you want to know more about protecting your privacy online whiles having fun on your favourite sites? Do you want to have your website thoroughly checked for malware, suspicious activity, or want to know more about the threats we check for and how that information can benefit you, your website–or the websites that you’re visiting–contact us here.
Web development is in a constant flux. It changes with technology and dynamic user expectations. Moving into the future, several trends and innovations are going to change the way in which websites and web apps would be developed and consumed. Here is an inkling into what one should expect in the future of web development.
