DuckDuckGo Now Also Blocks Microsoft Trackers

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August 8, 2022

In May 2022 — a dark DuckDuckGo secret came to light— security researcher Zach Edwards pointed out that Microsoft domains and scripts were excluded from DuckDuckGo tracking protection.

The company has finally come up with a fix. Through their website, DuckDuckGo confirms that next month they will begin to block Microsoft trackers.

In its official blog post, DuckDuckGo assures that the demands of Microsoft are no longer required. According to DuckDuckGo’s CEO Gabriel Weinberg, “I’ve heard from a number of users and understand that we didn’t meet their expectations around one of our browser’s web tracking protections. So today, we are announcing more privacy and transparency around DuckDuckGo’s web tracking protections.” He said, “Over the next week, we will expand the third-party tracking scripts we block from loading on websites to include scripts from Microsoft in our browsing apps (iOS and Android) and our browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge and Opera), with beta apps to follow in the coming month. This expands our 3rd-Party Tracker Loading Protection, which blocks identified tracking scripts from Facebook, Google, and other companies from loading on third-party websites, to now include third-party Microsoft tracking scripts.”

The main premise of DuckDuckGo is that it allows you to browse the internet safely. To do so, the browser blocks the trackers that you can find on each of the websites, including those of their own or third parties. However, Microsoft’s trackers were not being blocked due to some kind of agreement between the two companies.

However, there is still one exception — if an ad is clicked on in the DuckDuckGo search engine, bat.bing.com will load the appropriate scripts to measure conversations — i.e. whether clicks on ads have actually led to product purchases. These scripts are still not blocked by DuckDuckGo’s software in the context of the DuckDuckGo website but are blocked in other contexts.

Nevertheless, viewing ads on Duckduckgo is anonymous. Microsoft has undertaken not to create profiles of Duckduckgo users by clicking on ads, emphasizes Weinberg. He said, “To eventually replace the reliance on bat.bing.com for evaluating ad effectiveness, we’ve started working on an architecture for private ad conversions that can be externally validated as non-profiling.”

In order to be able to check which tracking scripts are blocked and which are not, DuckDuckGo has now also made the block lists publicly available on GitHub.

Microsoft Will Improve Graphics Of New Games For The Low-Cost Xbox Series S

By

Adwaith

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August 6, 2022

After game developers complained about the Xbox Series S memory limitations, Microsoft has started distributing an update to the game console’s software development kit that can improve graphics performance by allowing developers to access more memory on the console.

Microsoft has released a video for the June 2022 GDK for the Xbox Series S, which frees up “several hundred MB” of RAM on the console — which can then be used for games.

With more memory accessible to games, graphics performance could improve in games that have previously been hitting the console’s memory limits.

The Xbox Series S has 10 GB of DRAM, which is physically divided — the main memory is segmented into 8+2 GB (224+56 GB/s), with the graphics unit using the faster area. So far, around 7.5 GB are effectively available for developers — the operating system and apps occupy the slower rest.

Because the GDK (Game Development Kit) update adds a few hundred MB, Microsoft says GPU performance improves in memory-limited scenarios. In such, relevant data also ends up in the 2 GB block, which the RDNA2 graphics unit of the Xbox Series S chip can access at a lower speed, which can consequently reduce the frame rate.

Microsoft is targeting 1440p gaming at up to 120 FPS with the Xbox Series S, while the Xbox Series X is designed for 4K gaming. In practice, however, many games on the Xbox Series S do not achieve the desired resolution of 2560 × 1440 but are only playable in Full HD with 1920 × 1080 and sometimes only 60 frames per second.

Common Ecommerce Problems, and How Corporate Visions Fixes Them

By

Nethra Gupta

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August 6, 2022

Since we’ve moved our business to the internet, Ecommerce has quickly become one of the most popular methods for selling products and services. It’s efficient, it’s fast, and it allows customers to purchase items from the comfort of their own homes. However, there are a few common problems that can occur when running an Ecommerce business.

Thankfully, business consultants can help you solve these problems so you can keep your business running smoothly. The best of these consultants is none other than Corporate Visions Inc.

Corporate Visions Inc reviews every part of your ecommerce business and provides solutions to common problems. Let’s take a look at some of these problems, and how Corporate Visions can help you fix them.

Contents

1 1. You’re not closing enough sales
2 2. You’re not generating enough traffic
3 3. You’re losing customers
4 4. You’re not making a profit
5 5. You’re not growing
6 6. You’re not organized
7 7. Having Difficulty Scaling
8 8. Lackluster Marketing Campaign
9 9. Inefficient Operations
10 10. You’re Not Innovative
- 10.1 Conclusion

1. You’re not closing enough sales

If you’re not making enough sales, it could be due to a number of factors. Maybe your prices are too high, or maybe your products just aren’t that appealing to customers. Whatever the reason, it’s important to find out why customers aren’t buying from you. Corporate Visions can help you by conducting market research and analyzing your customer data. With this information, they can help you make changes to your business that will attract more customers and increase sales.

2. You’re not generating enough traffic

If you’re not generating enough traffic, it could be because your website is not optimised for search engines. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a process that helps your website rank higher in search results. This means that more people will see your website when they search for keywords related to your business. Corporate Visions can help you by auditing your website and making changes to your SEO strategy.

3. You’re losing customers

If you’re losing customers, it could be because they’re not happy with your products or services. It could also be because they had a bad experience on your website, or they didn’t receive their order on time. Whatever the reason, it’s important to find out why customers are leaving. Corporate Visions can help you by conducting customer surveys and analyzing your data. With this information, they can help you make changes to your business that will keep customers happy and coming back for more.

4. You’re not making a profit

If you’re not making a profit, it could be because your expenses are too high, or because you’re not charging enough for your products. Whatever the reason, it’s important to find out why you’re not making money. Corporate Visions can help you by auditing your financials and providing recommendations on how to cut costs and increase revenue.

5. You’re not growing

If you’re not growing, it could be because you’re not reaching new customers. It could also be because you’re not selling enough of your products, or because your costs are too high. Whatever the reason, it’s important to find out why your business isn’t growing. Corporate Visions can help you by conducting market research and providing recommendations on how to expand your customer base and increase sales.

6. You’re not organized

If you’re not organized, it could be because you don’t have a system in place for tracking inventory, or because your website is a mess. Whatever the reason, it’s important to find out why you’re not organized. Corporate Visions can help you by providing recommendations on how to streamline your operations and get your business organized.

7. Having Difficulty Scaling

One of the hardest parts of growing a business is learning how to scale. When you’re small, you can get by with a few employees and a shoestring budget. But as you grow, you need to learn how to add more employees, open new locations, and manage a larger budget. Corporate Visions can help you by providing recommendations on how to scale your business.

8. Lackluster Marketing Campaign

It’s okay! not all of us are experienced in marketing, and that’s where Corporate Visions come in to help. Marketing is a critical part of any business, but it can be hard to do it right. That’s where Corporate Visions can help you by conducting market research and providing recommendations on how to improve your marketing campaigns.

9. Inefficient Operations

If your operations are inefficient, it could be because you’re not using the right software, or because your employees aren’t properly trained. Whatever the reason, it’s important to find out why your business isn’t running smoothly. Corporate Visions can help you by auditing your operations and providing recommendations on how to improve efficiency.

10. You’re Not Innovative

If you’re not innovative, it could be because you’re not investing in new products or services. It could also be because you’re not using the latest technology. Whatever the reason, it’s important to find out why your business isn’t innovating. Corporate Visions can help you by conducting market research and providing recommendations on how to bring new products and services to market.

Conclusion

If you’re facing any of these common problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to Corporate Visions. Their team of experienced consultants will help you find the root of the problem and provide solutions that will get your business back on track. Contact them today to learn more!

Amazon Acquires iRobot, The Makers Of The Roomba, For $1.7 Billion

By

Anu Thomas John

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August 6, 2022

Amazon takes over the Roomba manufacturer iRobot. The tech giant announced this in a press release on August 6th — the purchase price amounts to $1.7 billion.

Founded in 1990, iRobot has been making the Roomba vacuum cleaner robot since 2002. iRobot has a large number of products, most of them already sold on Amazon. Now with this agreement, all those products that iRobot markets, as well as those that could be developed in the future, will become part of Amazon’s own product range, and both companies will work together on the creation of new devices.

Amazon is paying a price of $61 per share for the acquisition. Prior to the acquisition, iRobot’s share price was just under $50. iRobot’s shareholders have yet to approve the acquisition. Co-founder Colin Angle will remain CEO of iRobot after the acquisition.

Dave Limp, senior vice president of Amazon’s Devices division, welcomed the new team. He said, “Over many years, the iRobot team has proven its ability to reinvent how people clean with products that are incredibly practical and inventive.”

While Amazon doesn’t detail its plans for iRobot, the synergies with its other smart home products are clear. Last year Amazon launched its smart home robot Astro which can draw floor plans, listen for commands to move between rooms, and even recognize faces. Just like an Alexa-based device, it can answer questions, play music, and show things like the weather.

Goodbye To ‘Ok Google’: Control The Google Assistant With Your Eyes

By

Sabarinath

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August 6, 2022

In December 2020, Google announced ‘Look To Speak‘, an application designed to help people with disabilities speak through their eyes. Now, after two years, as the service has advanced and evolved a lot — Google is planning to integrate it within Google Assistant products.

In future, you longer have to say ‘Ok Google’ to trigger Google Assistant; instead, it is able to activate automatically when it detects our gaze.

Google wants Assistant to be as human-like and natural in its interaction as possible, including being able to start talking to you when you make eye contact. To achieve this, they announced ‘Look and Talk’ at Google I/O 2022, now explaining that it is the first time the device has simultaneously analyzed audio, video and text.

The feature currently works only on the Nest Hub Max and in English. With this new technology, activation would be done by looking directly at the device. The Google Nest Hub, for example, will detect the attitude and expression of the person in front of the screen who wants to start a conversation. For this, the orientation of the head, the gaze and even the direction of the subject’s body is analyzed.

As the Google AI blog notes, “Using eight machine learning models together, the algorithm can differentiate intentional interactions from passing glances in order to accurately identify a user’s intent to engage with Assistant. Once within 5ft of the device, the user may simply look at the screen and talk to start interacting with the Assistant.”

This information is collected on video, so the device must have a camera and be placed in an optimal position to see the room. Added to this is the analysis of the audio collected by the microphones. The audio should determine that the person is talking to Google and not someone else in the room.

In addition, the Assistant also confirms the audio input is tied to Google’s Voice Match, so the Assistant won’t interact with anyone whose voice it doesn’t recognize. The tone of voice, the speed and some contextual signals are analyzed to understand whether or not the user wants to make a query.

It is quite an advance that the smart speakers that are beginning to be seen in every house can not only understand sentences or complete conversations out loud but also analyze gestures and non-verbal communication.

Although this novelty is currently limited to a small number of devices and only supports conversations in English. Later Google will expand its advances to other languages and regions. Google Assistant currently works in 95 countries and recognizes more than 29 languages.

The 3 Steps To Become An Authority Blogger In Your Niche

By

Jenna Jose

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August 6, 2022

It used to be a lot easier to make money as a blogger since the search engine algorithms were more forgiving. There is still plenty of money to be made with a website and blog. However, it takes a bit more effort and focus than it used to. This isn’t a bad thing necessarily, it just means you have to be prepared for the long haul.

The best way to gain traction and create a successful blog is to become an authority in your niche. This is what search engines like Google are looking for. They want to see an expert creating helpful content and not just a fly by night operation that is trying to game the system for views. You can still use tools to make things easier such as apps and SEO research tools, but you’ll need to focus on becoming an authority. In this article, we will go over several ways that you can do this.

1. Put your name and face on it

The way to be an authority is to make a name for yourself. Google wants to see a common thread around the internet with your name and face so it can understand that you have some recognition as being an expert. This means that the days of the anonymous websites with questionable credibility are long over.

These days you have to make sure that you become an expert if you weren’t one already. Then, get a good picture of yourself to put on your website. You can make a professional profile picture by using a background remover from Vista Create and then use it on your about page and your social media profiles.

It’s important that Google can recognize that it is the same person when it sees an article mentioning you or your website across the internet so having consistent photos and making sure your actual name is on the site is important.

2. Start networking

Networking is very important no matter what type of business you are getting into. When you are trying to become an authority in a niche it takes on added importance. This is because you need to get your name spread around the internet so it gets picked up by the search engine algorithms.

Take every opportunity you can to get your name on a website with the name of your blog, too. If you have the chance to be on a podcast, for instance, then jump on it so you can be known in the niche and industry.

The thing to avoid is backlink trading, however. This means that if you are approached by a blog in your niche and they ask you to put a link to their blog on yours in exchange for a link back to yours then decline. The search engines understand this method of trying to build authority and it can hurt you in the long run.

3. Create an empire

When you pick a niche in which to operate, you need to dominate it and be the name everybody recognizes. It doesn’t matter if the topic is lawn care or personal finance. You need to be the person people trust to give them good information.

The way to do this is to use every platform at your disposal to create a name for yourself. You can’t just have a website and rely on organic traffic. Start a Youtube channel on the topic and cover a lot of questions that people have about the topic. Even if you are camera shy there are ways to make videos without your face being in it. As long as it is your name attached then people will trust you.

Then, have a podcast where you can discuss the topic in more detail. Look for people in the niche that are also experts to interview on your podcast. Lastly, have a solid presence on the social media platform where your audience tends to hang out the most. You can’t be active on every one of them so choose the right social media network that is going to be worth your time and effort.

After a couple of years, you will be known in the niche and Google will certainly pick up on the fact and reward you with traffic to your blog. This is why the big sites always have the top posts in the SERPs. It isn’t just because they have a lot of backlinks and pay for SEO services.

Meta Sued For Using Medical Data To Display Targeted Ads Based On Patient Illnesses

By

Adwaith

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August 5, 2022

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has been sued along with a couple of US hospitals for violating patient privacy through the Meta Pixel tracker.

The two class action lawsuits against Meta allege that it used people’s medical data without permission for targeted ads on Facebook based on the illnesses they had.

According to The Verge, an investigation by The Markup found that “33 of the top 100 hospitals in the United States use the Meta Pixel on their websites. At seven hospitals, it was installed on password-protected patient portals. The investigation found that the tool was sending information about patient health conditions, doctor appointments, and medication allergies to Facebook.”

Among the hospitals that used the Meta tool to obtain sensitive information from patients are:

Johns Hopkins
UCLA Reagan Medical Center
New York Presbyterian Hospital
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Duke University Hospital

The lawsuit, which was filed last week in the Northern District of California, is the second of its kind accusing US hospitals of providing Meta with confidential patient information and violating HIPAA.

The other class action lawsuit, which was filed in June, claims that at least 664 health care providers, such as hospitals and health centers, shared medical information with Facebook through Meta Pixel.

6 Best Apps to Track Kids for Parents

By

Nethra Gupta

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August 5, 2022

Today’s kids learn how to use smartphones from a tender age. Despite their positive contribution to children’s cognitive development and socialization skills, cell phones can expose them to a world of cyberbullying and other digital perils. Fortunately, parents can utilize an app to track children’s phone and protect them from any potential dangers they may face online.

Read on to learn about the best apps for tracking your child.

Contents

1 Why Might Parents Need Tracking Apps?
2 The Top 6 Apps for Parents

Why Might Parents Need Tracking Apps?

As a parent, you’re responsible for providing the best life possible for your children. Here are a few reasons why guardians may decide to install one of the top-notch apps to track kids on their youngsters’ devices:

To Safeguard Their Kids from Digital Threats

Around twelve million kids worldwide are exposed to a plethora of cyber risks. Using a tracking app allows you to unearth whether your children are talking to creeps, swindlers, or general strangers online.

To Ensure They’re Not Sexting

Sexting refers to sending sexually explicit content online. Apart from being morally indecent, it’s illegal for anyone to share pornographic materials on digital platforms. Monitoring your children’s phone will help you know if they’re sexting or not, allowing you to stop such behavior from progressing.

To Check Whether They’re at School During Learning Hours

Teenage kids require close monitoring to ensure they’re not sneaking out of school with their rebellious friends. Using spy apps to track kids will assist you in knowing their whereabouts throughout the day.

To Discover Any Signs of Cyberbullying

It’s estimated that more than nine million children are affected by cyberbullying around the world. Using a kid tracker phone app can help you discover if your child is a victim or perpetrator of cyberbullying.

The Top 6 Apps for Parents

We’ve conducted some research and chosen the best tracking applications that come highly recommended by other users.

Here are the top six apps for tracking kids:

1. eyeZy

Despite being relatively new in the market, eyeZy is already gaining a reputation as the best app for tracking kids. This high-quality software comes with a social spotlight feature that allows you to read their private conversations on Facebook, WhatsApp, Tinder, Snapchat, and other instant messaging platforms. It’s also equipped with a Keylogger, Plans Breaker, Files Finder, and more.

2. mSpy

Regarded as the best kid tracker app in the market, mSpy contains a variety of helpful tracking features for parents. For instance, it has a social media monitoring feature that reveals your target’s incoming and outgoing messages, shared multimedia files, recipient information, and more.

mSpy is also equipped with a GPS location tracker that accurately reveals your kid’s whereabouts. You can use the app’s built-in geofencing tool to set “safe” and “dangerous” zones on a map. If your child enters or exits these zones, you immediately receive a notification.

In addition, mSpy allows parents to monitor their children’s internet activity, gallery multimedia files, call logs, emails, and more.

3. MamaBear

This app is specifically designed with parental control in mind. Apart from monitoring your kids’ social media accounts and tracking their location, this app checks for potentially harmful text conversations and sends prompt notifications to parents in case it detects sexting, cyberbullying, and other inappropriate behaviors.

4. FamilyTime

It’s important for parents to limit their children’s screen time. Luckily, FamilyTime allows you to do just that. You can set Time Limits, Homework Time, and BedTime controls to ensure that your kids focus on things that matter most, such as rest and schoolwork.

5. Net Nanny

This kid tracker phone app comes with some effective parental control features that can help parents to protect their little ones whenever they’re online. Apart from filtering internet content, Net Nanny allows users to block inappropriate apps installed on the target device and manage kids’ screen time.

6. Norton Family

Norton Family is a family-focused tracking app that allows kids to explore the internet safely. This app filters and blocks unsuitable websites, tracks children’s real-time locations and helps parents to set healthy device limits for their kids.

Conclusion

Protecting our loved ones from digital harm should always come first on our list of priorities. Luckily, the tracking apps described above can help make parental control feel like a breeze. As our top pick, we’ve chosen mSpy to be the best app for tracking kids today.