FTC fines mental health startup Cerebral $7 million for major privacy violations

ReportApril 16, 2024Editorial DepartmentPrivacy Breach/Regulatory Compliance

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has ordered psychological telemedicine company Cerebral not to use or disclose personal data for advertising purposes.

The company was also fined more than $7 million for disclosing users’ sensitive personal health information and other data to third parties for advertising purposes and for failing to comply with its easy cancellation policy.

“Cerebral and its former CEO, Kyle Robertson, repeatedly violated their privacy commitments to consumers and misled them about the company’s cancellation policies,” the FTC said in a press statement.

The FTC said that although the company claimed to provide “safe, secure and discreet” services to attract consumers to sign up and provide data, it did not clearly disclose that this information would be shared with third parties for advertising purposes.

The agency also accused the company of deceptive behavior by hiding its data-sharing practices in dense privacy policies by claiming it would not share user data without their consent.

The company allegedly provided sensitive information about nearly 3.2 million consumers to third parties such as LinkedIn, Snapchat and TikTok by integrating tracking tools into its websites and apps designed to provide advertising and data analytics.

This information includes name; medical and prescription history; home and email addresses; phone numbers; date of birth; demographic information; IP addresses; pharmacy and health insurance information; and other health information.

The FTC complaint further alleges that Cerebral failed to implement adequate security safeguards, allowed former employees to access users’ medical records between May and December 2021, used unsecured access methods to expose patient information, and failed to secure access to consumer data. Restrict access to employees who require it.

“Cerebral mailed promotional postcards without envelopes to more than 6,000 patients that included their names and language and appeared to disclose their diagnoses and treatments to anyone who saw the postcards,” the FTC said.

Under the proposed order, which is pending federal court approval, the company is prohibited from using or disclosing consumers’ personal and health information to third parties for marketing purposes and ordered to implement a comprehensive privacy and data security program.

Cerebral is also required to post a notice on its website reminding users of the FTC order and adopt a data retention plan and delete most consumer data that is not used for treatment, payment or health care operations unless they consent. Users also need to be provided with a mechanism to delete their data.

Days ago, the Federal Trade Commission banned alcohol addiction treatment company Monument from disclosing health information to third-party platforms such as Google and Meta for advertising without user consent between 2020 and 2022, even though the company claimed that such data would be used for advertising “100 % Confidential”. “

The New York-based company has been ordered to notify users of disclosures of their health information to third parties and ensure that any shared data is deleted.

“Monument failed to ensure that it lived up to its promises and actually disclosed users’ health information to third-party advertising platforms, including highly sensitive data that showed its customers were receiving help to overcome their alcohol addiction,” the FTC said.

Last year, the FTC announced similar enforcement actions against health care providers such as BetterHelp, GoodRx and Premom for sharing user data with third-party analytics and social media companies without their consent.

it also warns [PDF] After Amazon eventually acquired membership-based primary care provider One Medical for $3.9 billion, it objected to the use of patient data for marketing purposes.

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Hive RAT creator and mastermind of $3.5M cryptocurrency hijack arrested in global crackdown

Two people in Australia and the United States have been arrested for allegedly developing and distributing a remote access Trojan called Hive RAT (formerly known as Firebird).

The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) said the malware “enabled malware buyers to take control of victim computers and gave them access to victims’ private communications, login credentials, and other personal information.”

Edmond Chakhmakhchyan (aka “Corrupt”), a 24-year-old man from Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, was arrested for selling Hive RAT licenses to undercover employees of law enforcement agencies.

He was charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of advertising the device as an interception device, each count punishable by five years in prison. Chakhmakhchyan has pleaded not guilty and will stand trial on June 4, 2024.

Court documents allege that there was a partnership between the creators of the malware and the defendants, under which the latter would advertise the malware on cybercrime forums called Hack Forums and accept cryptocurrency payments from customers. , and provide product support.

Hive RAT has the ability to kill programs, browse files, log keystrokes, access incoming and outgoing communications, and steal victim passwords for bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets and others from the victim’s computer without the victim’s knowledge or consent. The function of the certificate.

“Chakhmakhchyan exchanged electronic messages with buyers and explained to one buyer that the malware ‘allowed Hive RAT users to access other people’s computers without their knowledge,'” the DOJ said.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) announced charges against a citizen suspected of being involved in the manufacture and sale of Hive RAT, and said an investigation into the matter began in 2020.

The unnamed suspect faces 12 charges, including one count of providing data with intent to commit a computer crime, one count of controlling data with intent to commit a computer crime and 10 counts of providing data with intent to commit a computer crime. crime. The maximum penalty for each offense is three years’ imprisonment.

Sue Evans, AFP’s acting cybercrime commander, said: “Remote access Trojans are one of the most harmful cyber threats in the online environment. Once installed on a device, a RAT can provide criminals with complete access to the device. Access and control.”

“This could include anything from committing crimes anonymously to spying on victims through camera equipment, wiping hard drives or stealing banking credentials and other sensitive information.”

Nebraska man indicted in cryptojacking scheme

The development comes as U.S. federal prosecutors indicted 45-year-old Charles O. Parks III, also known as “CP3O,” for conducting a large-scale illegal cryptojacking operation that defrauded “two well-known cloud computing service providers” of more than $3.5 million in mining value. Nearly $1 million in cryptocurrency computing resources.

The indictment charges the Parkers with wire fraud, money laundering and engaging in illegal currency transactions. He was arrested on April 13, 2024. He also faces 10 years in prison for illegal currency transactions.

While the DOJ did not specify which cloud providers were targeted by the fraud, it noted that the companies were based in Seattle and Redmond, Washington — the corporate headquarters of Amazon and Microsoft.

“From approximately January 2021 to August 2021, Parks created and used various names, corporate affiliations, and email addresses, including emails bearing the domain of the corporate entity he operated […] Registered a large number of accounts with a cloud provider and obtained large amounts of computing processing power and storage space for which he did not pay,” the U.S. Department of Justice said.

The illegally obtained resources are then used to mine cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC) and Monero (XMR), which are traded through a network of cryptocurrency exchanges, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) Marketplaces, online payment providers and traditional bank accounts are used to launder money and hide traces of digital transactions.

The ill-gotten gains were eventually converted into U.S. dollars, which Parks used to make a variety of lavish purchases, including Mercedes-Benz luxury cars, jewelry, first-class hotels and travel expenses, prosecutors said.

“Parks deceived providers into approving enhanced privileges and benefits, including increased cloud service levels and deferred billing accommodations, and deflected provider inquiries about questionable data usage and growing unpaid subscription balances,” the DOJ said.

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Keanu Reeves reportedly to play Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic 3

when Sonic 3 When it hits theaters later this year, you might be able to see one of Hollywood’s most fan-favorite actors voicing the fan-favorite entry in the series.Keanu Reeves reportedly set to play brooding, tormented shadow the hedgehog hollywood reporter and type. The antihero, who is both Sonic’s archrival and ally, will be created by Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik after the events of “Sonic.” Sonic 2based on the first footage from the film, which was screened at CinemaCon last week.

Shadow has a long history in the Sonic universe, first appearing in Sonic Adventure 2The game was launched in 2001. It’s unclear if the movie will follow a similar storyline – although we can once again look forward to Sonic and his gang thwarting Dr. Robotnik’s plans to take over the world – but we’ll likely get some details on this before it’s released on December 20. More details about the film Jeff Fowler will remain on board as director, while Ben Schwartz and James Marsden will play Sonic and his adoptive father, Sheriff Tom Wachowski, respectively.

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Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve 19 launched with AI-powered motion tracking and color grading

Blackmagic Design has released its annual NAB 2024 update and announced more than a dozen new products, including new versions of its popular DaVinci Resolve editing suite. Other key products include the DaVinci Resolve micro color panel for iPad, 17K 65mm camera and Pyxis 6K cube camera.

da vinci determination 19

DaVinci Resolve has become a popular choice for editors who don’t want a monthly subscription to Adobe Premiere Pro, and is arguably more powerful in some ways. However, the latest version, version 19, takes a page from its competitors and offers a slew of new AI features for effects, color, editing, audio, and more.

DaVinci Resolve 19 “Color Slicing” Tool (Black Magic Design)

Starting with the Edit mod, a new feature lets you edit clips using text instead of video. Transcribing a clip opens a window showing the text detected from multiple speakers, allowing you to delete parts, search for text, and more. Other features include a new trim window, a fixed playhead (reducing zooming and scrolling), and a window for faster and more changes to audio properties.

The Color tool introduces “color slicing,” a way to adjust images based on six vectors (red, green, blue, yellow, cyan, and magenta) and a special skin tone slider. For example, you can adjust any specific color and easily change saturation and hue levels while viewing and adjusting underlying keys. A dedicated skin slider will certainly make it attractive for quick skin tone adjustments.

DaVinci Resolve 19 Intellitrack (Black Magic Design)

Another key feature in Color is IntelliTrack, powered by Neural Engine AI, which allows you to quickly select points to track to create effects or stabilize images. Blackmagic has also added a new Lightroom-like artificial intelligence noise reduction system that can quickly remove digital noise or film grain from images without the need for user adjustments.

“Film Look Creator” is a new module that opens up color grading possibilities with over 60 film parameters. It seems fairly easy to use, as you can start with a preset (Preset 65mm, Film, Bleach Bypass, Retro) and adjust the parameters to suit your taste. Another new trick is Defocused Background, which lets users realistically simulate shallow depth of field through mattes (unlike smartphones), while Face Refinement tracks faces so editors can adjust brightness, Colors, details, etc.

The Fusion FX editor has added some new tools to simplify the operation of 3D objects. In terms of audio (Fairlight), BMD has introduced “Dialogue Separator FX” to separate dialogue, background or atmosphere. DaVinci Resolve 19 is now available in open beta for everyone to try, but a full release date has not yet been revealed. As usual, the Studio version is priced at $295, while the main version is free.

Micro color panel

black magic design

BMD’s DaVinci Resolve for iPad has proven to be a popular choice for mobile editors, and now the company has introduced a dedicated control interface with a new Micro Color panel. It’ll give editors far more control than the already decent pencil and multi-touch input, while remaining relatively unobtrusive at 7.18 x 14.33 inches.

A slot on the top front allows you to slide your iPad in, and from there you can connect via Bluetooth or USB-C. The company promises a “professional” feel to its controls, which consist of three weighted trackballs, 12 control dials and 27 buttons. With these, you can perform edits, adjust parameters such as shadows, tones, and highlights, and even perform erasures and other effects.

“Older DaVinci Resolve Micro Panel models have been popular with customers who wanted a compact graded panel, but we wanted to design a more portable and affordable solution,” said Grant Petty, President of Blackmagic Design. Pre-orders are available now, priced at $509.

Box 6K camera

black magic design

Blackmagic Design has launched a new box camera, the Pyxis 6K full-frame camera, following in the footsteps of rivals such as RED, Sony and Panasonic. The idea is to start with the basic brain (controls, display, CFexpress media, brain, and sensors) and then use side panels or mounting screws to attach accessories like controllers, microphones, and SSDs. It also comes with Blackmagic’s URSA Cine EVF (electronic viewfinder), which adds $1,695 to the price.

Its specs are very similar to the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K I tested late last year. The full 36 x 24mm sensor has a native resolution of 24 million pixels (6K), a dynamic range of up to 13 stops, and a dual native ISO of up to 25,600. It can record 12-bit Blackmagic RAW (BRAW) directly to a CFexpress Type B card or SSD.

It also supports direct streaming to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and more via RTMP and SRT over Ethernet or using a cellular connection. Because streaming is built into the camera, clients and customers can stream status and data rates directly in the viewfinder or LCD. The Pyxis 6K will be available in June for $2,995 and comes with three mounts (Canon EF, Leica L, and Arri PL).

Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K and 17K

black magic design

In addition to the Pyxis, Blackmagic has launched two cinema cameras: the URSA Cine 12K and 17K models. Yes, those numbers represent the resolutions of both cameras, with the first offering a 36 x 24mm full-frame sensor at 12K (12,888 x 6,480 17:9) and a rather mind-boggling frame rate Confident 100 fps. The second uses a 65mm (50.8 x 23.3 sensor) with a resolution of 17,520 x 8,040 and offers up to 16 stops of dynamic range.

Both models are equipped with features such as built-in ND filters, optical low-pass filters, and BMD’s latest generation 5.0 color science. The URSA Cine 12K will come with 8TB of internal storage, or you can use your own CFexpress media. Other features include live streaming, high-resolution EVF, V battery support, wireless Bluetooth camera control, and more. The URSA Cine 12K model is available for pre-order at $14,995, or $16,495 with the URSA Cine EVF, and will be available in April. The URSA Cine 17K is in development and no pricing or release has been announced yet.

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Cloud storage without climate costs

As of 2022, more than half of enterprise data will be stored in the cloud, and the demand for cloud storage has never been higher. This has triggered extreme energy consumption across the data center industry, resulting in significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Worryingly, the European Commission currently estimates that EU data center energy use will increase from 2.7% of total EU demand to 3.2% by 2030. This would make the industry’s emissions almost as polluting as international aviation in the European Union.

Still, it’s important to remember that cloud storage is still more sustainable than other alternatives.

Why should we consider cloud storage sustainable?

It’s important to understand the energy used by cloud storage and consider the energy it can save elsewhere. With file storage and sharing services, teams can collaborate and work from anywhere, eliminating the need for large offices and daily commutes.

As a result, businesses can reduce their workspace and reduce the environmental impact of employee travel. In fact, it’s estimated that working from home four days a week can reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions by about 10%.

In addition, cloud storage reduces dependence on physical local servers.For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), owning on-site servers or their own data center can be very expensive, while operating and cooling the equipment requires a lot of energy, which means more CO2₂ emission.

On the other hand, cloud servers offer a more efficient alternative. Unlike a local server, which may only use a fraction of its capacity, a cloud server in a data center can be used more efficiently. Because virtualization technology allows a single physical server to act as multiple virtual servers, they typically run at higher capacities.

Each virtual server can be used by different businesses, meaning fewer physical units are needed overall. This means less energy is required for power and cooling, reducing overall emissions.

Additionally, local servers often have more storage and computing power than is needed to handle occasional spikes in demand, which is an inefficient use of resources. In contrast, cloud data centers aggregate large numbers of devices to manage these peaks more efficiently.

In 2022, the average power consumption efficiency of data centers will increase. This shows that cloud providers are using energy more efficiently and helping companies reduce their carbon footprint through cloud storage.

Sustainable Transformation: Three Steps to Create Green Cloud Storage

Importantly, there are ways to further improve the sustainability of services such as cloud storage, and energy savings of 30-50% can be achieved through green strategies. So, how does ordinary cloud storage transform into green cloud storage? We believe there are three basic steps.

First, businesses should carefully consider location. This means choosing a cloud storage provider that is close to power facilities. This is because distance matters. If electricity travels a long distance between generation and use, some of it is lost. In addition, data centers located in cooler climates or underwater environments can reduce the energy required for cooling.

Next, companies should ask green suppliers what steps they are taking to reduce their environmental impact. For example, using wind, solar or biofuels to power their operations minimizes reliance on fossil fuels and thereby reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Some facilities will be equipped with large battery banks to store renewable energy and ensure a continuous, environmentally friendly supply of electricity.

Last but not least, technology offers powerful ways to enhance the energy efficiency of cloud storage. Some vendors have been investing in algorithms, software and hardware designed to optimize energy use. For example, introducing frequency scaling or artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms can significantly improve the way data centers manage power consumption and cooling.

For example, Google used DeepMind AI to reduce its data center cooling costs by 40%, a prime example of how smart systems can achieve greater sustainability.

As the world warms accelerating, choosing a cloud storage provider with a clear commitment to sustainability can make a big difference. In fact, major cloud providers such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon have taken steps to make their cloud services more environmentally friendly, such as committing to switching to 100% renewable energy.

Cloud storage without climate costs

The impact of the cloud on businesses is undeniable, but our digital growth could lead to an unsustainable future with serious environmental consequences. However, companies should not have to choose between innovation and the planet.

The answer lies in green cloud storage. By using providers powered by renewable energy, efficient data centers and innovative technologies, businesses can reap the benefits of the cloud without incurring devastating energy taxes.

Now is the time to take action. The onus is on businesses to choose green cloud storage and become part of the solution, not part of the problem. By making the shift today, we can ensure that the cloud remains a convenient refuge rather than a culprit in climate change.

Check out the upcoming Cloud Transformation Conference, a free virtual event for business and technology leaders to explore the evolving cloud transformation landscape. Book your free virtual ticket to gain insight into the practicalities and opportunities of cloud adoption. Learn more here.

Label: climate, cost, storage, sustainability

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IoT Technology Expo North America 2024 Agenda Preview: Explore the Latest IoT Innovations

The highly anticipated North American IoT Technology Expo will return to the Santa Clara Convention Center on June 5-6, 2024, offering a broad agenda focused on the latest advancements and applications of Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0 technologies. This event promises to be an unmissable opportunity for senior industry professionals to explore the future of smart IoT solutions, industrial applications and connected technologies.

The first day of free entry to the IoT arena will focus on smart IoT solutions, applications and smart cities. Attendees will explore topics such as IoT for sustainability, digital twins, smart cities, expanding IoT deployments and a groundbreaking IoT pilot for street parking with automated enforcement capabilities.

The first day also offers paid Industrial IoT and Industry 4.0 sessions, showcasing sessions on advancing manufacturing, IoT innovation in industrial settings, and discussions on leveraging wafer supply chain traceability and human-centered IoT experiences. .

On day two, the focus shifts to Applied IoT Security (free to attend) and Connectivity & Analytics (paid track). Attendees will gain insight into the current state of IoT security, designing cybersecurity into devices, the intersection of 5G and IoT, and the role of artificial intelligence in revolutionizing the efficiency of industries such as electric vehicles (EVs).

The concurrent Edge Computing Expo will feature thought-provoking sessions discussing the evolving landscape of edge computing, its applications in healthcare and the infrastructure requirements to enable widespread adoption.

“We are excited to announce the comprehensive agenda for the Santa Clara IoT Technology Expo, which includes leading experts from well-known companies such as Wells Fargo, BP, Hanesbrands, Meta and Toyota,” said conference director Sophy Searight. “The line-up is sure to be great. Excellent and thought-provoking discussion on how IoT and Industry 4.0 technologies are reshaping the industrial and urban landscape.

The first day of the event will conclude with an exclusive VIP social gathering at the Terra Courtyard at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, where Gold and Ultimate Pass holders, speakers, media and sponsors will gather for an evening in an informal atmosphere , for social activities.

Tickets for the IoT Tech Expo are selling out quickly and are only available in limited quantities. Don’t miss your chance to attend a gathering of IoT thought leaders and innovators.Lock your location now www.iottechexpo.com/northamerica/

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How to add the Recycle Bin to the Windows 11 taskbar

Windows 11 does not provide a built-in tool to pin the Recycle Bin to the taskbar. However, the steps in this guide provide workarounds.

Step 1: Create a Recycle Bin shortcut

1. Right-click on the Windows desktop and select new, then click shortcut.

2. Then, on the first page of the Create Shortcut wizard, enter the following and click Next.

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe shell:RecycleBinFolder

3. Finally, name the shortcut recycling pairn and click Finish.

Step 2: Change the shortcut icon to Recycle Bin

1. Right-click the shortcut and select Properties.

2. then click shortcut Tab, “Change Illustration.”

3. Enter the path below in “Look for icon on this document:” and press Enter to load the icon. Then, find the recycle bin icon, select it, and click OK twice.

%SystemRoot%\System32\SHELL32.dll

Step 3: Pin the Recycle Bin shortcut to the taskbar

Hold down the Shift key, right-click on the new Recycle Bin shortcut you created, and then select Pin to Taskbar. The recycle bin will be pinned to the work column.

in conclusion

Pinning the Recycle Bin to the taskbar makes it easy to access it, especially when you hide desktop items. Let me know what you think of this guide by answering “Was this page helpful?” Question below.

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