In today’s hyper-connected world, digital identity has become the foundation of how we do interaction, transactions and access online services. Nevertheless, with every click and login, the risk of identity theft, data breaches, and unauthorized access increases, exposing millions of frauds and privacy violations. Traditional identification management systems are highly dependent on centralized databases and have shown significant weaknesses.

Imagine a digital world where you control your identity, and your personal information stays safe from misuse or manipulation by others. This is the place where digital identification management is re-shaped through decentralization in blockchain technology, cryptographic security and tampering-proof record-keeping.

Blockchain creates a secure digital record that cannot be changed. This helps people and businesses control their own data. As more people look for safer and more transparent digital ID solutions, blockchain is becoming a powerful solution. In this article, we pay attention to how the blockchain replaces digital identification management, detects its major benefits, and checks what this technological change means for the future of online security.

How Does Blockchain Benefit Digital Identity Management?

Blockchain technology is revolutionizing digital identity management by offering a decentralized, safe and transparent structure. Blockchain empowers individuals and organizations with confidence in handling more control, efficiency and digital identity. Below are the major benefits of availing blockchain for identification management:

Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI)The blockchain introduces the concept of self-sovereign identity, where individuals have complete ownership and control over their personal data. Users can decide what information is to be shared with whom. This empowerment not only increases privacy but also promotes confidence between users and service providers.

Elimination of Password-Based Authentication

The blockchain enables certification mechanisms that do not depend on traditional password-based systems. Through cryptographic keys and biometric authentication, blockchain passwords reduce the risks of violations, phishing attacks and identity theft.

1. Cross-Border Identity Verification

Blockchain provides seamless cross-border identity verification facility, enabling individuals and businesses to verify their identity globally without constraining by the local regulatory structure. It is particularly beneficial for international transactions, remote onboarding and global digital services.

2. Decentralization

The decentralized structure of blockchain removes the necessity for centralized powers and intermediaries. Not only does this minimize the vulnerability points, but it also increases user control and autonomy over individual data.

3. Higher Transparency

Blockchain offers an immutable and transparent ledger of all identity-related transactions. Every action is dated and verifiable, enabling users and service providers to track data usage, verify compliance, and establish trust.

Real world applications of Blockchain Used in Identity Management

Some organizations and governments have already begun using blockchain for digital identity management:

1. Microsoft’s ION (Identity Overlay Network)

Based on blockchain, Microsoft’s ION enables individuals to establish decentralized digital identities that they themselves are in control of. It minimizes the use of conventional identity providers such as banks and social media. Individuals are able to prove their identity without conveying personal information to third parties. This helps to make online interactions safer, more private, and less reliant on centralized authorities that tend to hold sensitive information.

2. Estonia’s e-Residency Program

Estonia is one of the first countries to use blockchain-based digital identity for both citizens and businesses. Through their e-residential program, people in the world can safely reach Estonian services, sign documents, and run businesses remotely. The system ensures safe cross-border transactions while protecting personal data. This is a great example of how blockchain can simplify international business without the risks of traditional paperwork.

3. Sovrin Network

The Sovrin Network is designed as a global public utility for decentralized digital identification. This allows individuals and organizations to create self-confident identity, which means they control their own data without trusting any central authority. Sovrin uses blockchain technology to secure this information and prevent tampering. This gives users the right to share only the necessary information while protecting digital interactions, while protecting sensitive details.

Consequences of Blockchain on Digital Identity Management

The incorporation of blockchain into digital identity management has varied implications. It transforms the way personal information is managed and secured. One of the significant changes is the shift towards self-sovereign identity, in which individuals have full control over their personal data without relying on centralized organizations. This transformation promotes greater privacy, lessens risks of large-scale data breaches, and promotes increased trust among users and service providers. Moreover, blockchain’s lasting guarantees transparency and accountability in all identity transactions, but it also raises issues concerning data persistence and the right to be forgotten.

Blockchain also enables end-to-end identity verification across the globe, cross-border transactions, allowing individuals and corporations to simplify and speed up operations while maintaining global compliance with unique international regulations. This change imposes the burden of data management and key security upon users, mandating strong user education and seamless recovery processes. In general, blockchain strengthens digital identity systems in terms of safety, privacy, and control while requiring new regulatory, technical, and social consideration for large-scale and responsible take-up.

Why Now is the Right Time to Adopt Blockchain for Digital Identity

The need to use blockchain for managing digital identity comes from the surge in cyberattacks, data breaches, and demand for privacy-oriented digital ecosystems at an accelerated rate. Conventional identity systems, which are over-reliant on centralized databases, have been repeatedly shown to be weak and have high-profile data breaches.

With increasingly stringent regulatory frameworks like the GDPR, CCPA, and other international data protection legislations, companies need to prioritize technologies that provide greater security, user control, and compliance. Blockchain’s distributed architecture meets these requirements head-on by removing the single points of failure and allowing users to have control over their own identities.

Moreover, the emergence of digital transformation projects in financial services, healthcare, e-governance, and IoT has given rise to an immediate need for secure, interoperable identity solutions. Blockchain facilitates this by providing verifiable credentials and decentralized identifiers, enabling individuals and organizations to attest to identity attributes without successive submissions of personal information.

Segments such as banking and healthcare are already investigating blockchain for the safe onboarding of customers and managing patient identities, so the time is now to invest in blockchain-based digital identity systems that hold out the promise of security, privacy, and scalability for the future.

The Future of Blockchain for Digital Identity Management

The future of blockchain in digital identification management is ready to proceed with the integration of sophisticated cryptographic technologies and decentralized identification protocols.

• Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs): Users will be able to prove unique identification characteristics – such as age or citizenship – disclosed without any additional personal information. This will increase privacy and ensure compliance with data protection laws.
• Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VCs): These technologies will gain wider adoption. Users can store their information cryptographically and present them for verification without relying on centralized officials.
• Interoperable Identity Systems: Blockchain platforms can collaborate with governments, enterprises and regulatory bodies. Together, they can build global digital identification standards for spontaneous cross-border verification and compliance.
• Biometrics Integration: Advanced biometrics such as facial identification and palm vein scans will be paired with blockchain. This integration will provide strong certification methods and improve overall security.
• AI and ML Integration: AI and ML will strengthen the abilities to detect fraud. They will also help identify discrepancies and support real -time risk analysis and will gain more digital identity.

Conclusion

Blockchain technology has the potential to transform digital identity management by enhancing security, transparency, and efficiency. Its real-world implementations have already demonstrated its effectiveness, making it a promising solution to the challenges of conventional identity systems. As cyber threats rise and regulatory compliance becomes more stringent, adopting blockchain for digital identity is no longer just a future vision but an immediate necessity. By leveraging blockchain, organizations, governments, and individuals can create a more secure and efficient digital identity framework.

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This ransomware strain has gained notice to infiltrate the network, encrypt sensitive files and demand heavy ransom payment. Companies, government institutions and individuals should take active measures to protect against these potential disastrous attacks.

The advisory said, “Ransom demands are posted on the site, with direct hyperlinks to Medusa affiliated cryptocurrency wallets. At this stage, Medusa concurrently advertises sale of the data to interested parties before the countdown timer ends. Victims can additionally pay $10,000 USD in cryptocurrency to add a day to the countdown timer.”

How Medusa Ransomware Works

The Medusa ransomware security is operated using a misleading strategy by exploiting security and achieving access to the system. One of its most effective methods includes the phishing campaign of Medusa, which tricks users to download malicious attachments or click on the fraud link. Once inside a network, the ransomware spreads rapidly, encrypts important files and makes them inaccessible to the victim.

The cyber criminals behind the Medusa ransomware attacks demand a significant amount in exchange for the decryption keys. In many cases, the victims who fail to follow the demands face serious consequences, including data loss and operating disruption. Financial and reputed damage can be severe, making a strong cyber security strategy for businesses.

Medusa’s Phishing Campaigns: A Major Concern

The Medusa ransomware is one of the primary methods of the infiltration system through the phishing campaigns of Medusa. These campaigns often appear as valid emails from reliable sources, assuring recipients to provide sensitive information or inadvertently download malware. By stealing the credentials of the victims by Medusa, cyber criminals can reach important accounts and deploy ransomware to the infrastructure of the entire organization.

Cyber security experts emphasize the need for user awareness training to prevent phishing violations. Employees should be educated to identify suspicious emails, confirm sender identity and avoid interaction with unknown attachment or link. Strengthening authentication measures such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) can also help reduce the risks associated with credential theft.

Medusa ransomware is an example of how cyber threats are always developing. With cybercriminals improving their strategies continually, companies and individuals have to remain cautious and invest in robust cybersecurity solutions. Organizations can minimize the chances of getting victimized by these expensive attacks by taking a proactive approach to mitigate weaknesses like warning the employees against the phishing attacks by Medusa and adopting data breach protection tactics.

Cybersecurity experts call on organizations to act now and boost their defenses against Medusa ransomware attacks since prevention is still the best course of action in dealing with this increasing cyber threat.

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The use of AI is transforming telecom operations and allowing businesses to transition beyond traditional connectivity services. AI-driven automation is optimizing network efficiency, lowering operational costs, and delivering better customer experience through predictive maintenance and smart chatbots. Telecom businesses are ensuring smooth operations, stronger security, and quicker response times by incorporating AI-led solutions.

Makoto Takahashi, president and CEO of Japanese telecom giant KDDI, spoke about plans to build a smart city dubbed Takanawa Gateway City in Tokyo and to roll out direct-to-cell satellite internet connectivity in partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink venture.

The Evolution from Dumb Pipes to Smart Networks

Telecom operators have been accused for years of being “dumb pipes”—operators that simply delivered network infrastructure while technology giants collected the revenues from online services. But that is changing as the transition from dumb pipes to smart networks is now well underway. AI-powered analytics, machine learning, and automation are enabling telcos to transform into intelligent service providers that can offer personalized solutions, ranging from cloud computing to edge computing and IoT services.

With AI, telcos are shifting towards predictive network management, where networks can identify and fix problems before they affect users. This proactive strategy not only enhances service quality but also enables operators to minimize downtime and maintenance expenses.

Ralph Mupita, the CEO of Africa’s largest mobile network operator MTN, “The telco business has served us well. It has iterated since. But the future is really about the future of platforms.”

The Role of Satellite Internet Providers in Telecom

As telcos adopt AI, satellite internet providers within the telecom industry have been significantly contributing to extending connectivity. Organizations such as SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper are using AI-based analytics to ensure improved satellite coverage and data transmission speeds. Such development is highly impactful in rural and far-flung regions, where traditional infrastructure within a network is still poor.

Despite these innovations, these developments have greatly affected telecom companies so that their role has become more similar to infrastructure providers than as central players in the industry. Therefore, they are perceived more as relics that only fix and construct network connectivity. Such a view has characterized the telecom industry as “dumb pipes.”

Hatem Dowidar, CEO of UAE state-owned telecom company e& said, “I remember early in the industry, even before mobile internet when SMS used to be the killer app. All this over the years got disrupted by over-the-top players, to the point that today, a lot of telcos around the world are reduced to being a pipe of packets just getting data across the networks. And competition is not staying still. They have the scale, they have the investment to go and disrupt even further.”

The Telco to Techco Transition

The telco to techno evolution is no longer a choice—it’s a survival imperative in a digitally driven world. Telecom behemoths like Verizon, AT&T, and Vodafone are making significant investments in AI, cloud computing, and IoT to reframe their business models. As telcos adopt AI-based solutions, they are increasing the scope of their products and services beyond classic voice and data offerings, venturing into cybersecurity, cloud offerings, and enterprise solutions.

Over the last two decades, the big tech companies such as Meta, Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Netflix have flourished in a world where content is available instantly, communication is easy, and storage or streaming of data occurs easily—all thanks to innovations like the internet, smartphones, and cloud computing.

The AI transformation is changing the sector, allowing companies to move away from legacy network providers to become technology-driven companies. As evolution from dumb pipes to smart networks, AI-powered automation, and the growing role of satellite internet providers in telecom, the sector is undergoing a huge shift. AI will continue to be at the center of innovation, propelling new possibilities and defining the future of global connectivity.

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Do you know why every business needs a data loss prevention strategy? There is an increasing risk of cyberattacks, insider threats, and digital data leaks. The consequences of a single data breach can be severe with loss of financial data, legal penalties, and reputational damage to the organization.
Understanding how data loss prevention (DLP) works is essential to prevent malicious breaches, unauthorized access, and exposure to sensitive information. This article explains DLP in cyber security, common causes, types of DLP solutions, and top data protection tools for your business.

What is Data Loss Prevention in Cyber Security?

Data loss prevention (DLP) in cyber security refers to the strategies and techniques to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. Industries such as accounting, healthcare, and legal services have confidential information that must not get into the wrong hands. Therefore, a good DLP plan ensures that sensitive data remains within only assigned networks. As an organization prioritizing data loss prevention, you must regularly review existing regulatory compliance standards such as GDPR, ISO/IEC 27001, PCI-DSS, and HIPAA.

How Does DLP Work?

Data loss prevention in cybersecurity works to identify, monitor, and control how data moves across your organization’s network, endpoints, and cloud-computing systems. There are three operational areas for DLP solutions:

• Protecting data in motion
  Cyber scammers sometimes target the high vulnerability in data transfer methods. Businesses must have trusted security frameworks that monitor emails, messaging platforms, cloud applications, and company networks to prevent unauthorized sharing.
• Protecting data at rest
  DLP for data at rest protects information stored in a cloud or physical hard drive. A secured data loss prevention strategy should include regular database updates, efficient backup systems, high-end encryption, and automated scanning to detect risks.
• Protecting data in use
  Protecting data in use involves preventing unauthorized copying, modification, or sharing. It involves DLP functions to mitigate insider threats and breaches during active data processing.

Common Causes of Data Loss

A popular misconception is that the data loss threat is always a cyber attack. Sensitive information could be lost in different ways such as:

1. Insider threats

An insider threat is when an authorized user leaks data either intentionally or not. You need a user analytics tool to track unusual employee behavior. Employees may attempt to leak information due to job termination, financial benefits, or other wrong motives.

2. Human error

Some simple human errors that can cause data loss are accidental deletion of useful files, failure to save documents in real-time, or wrong formatting of storage devices. Employee cybersecurity training is important so they know how to properly handle data while backup systems must be put in place.

3. Cyberattacks

Cybersecurity threats are a popular reason why every business needs a data loss prevention strategy. Hackers can use AI and Deepfake technology to mimic identities while trying to attack with malware to corrupt files, ransomware to encrypt data, and phishing tactics to trick authorized users into revealing login credentials.

4. Hardware failure

The unreliability of hard drives with limited lifespans is one of the reasons why many businesses are adopting cloud computing strategies. Mechanical issues, overheating, or physical damage can make the data on hardware inaccessible.

5. Corrupted software

Software and operating systems could also malfunction through glitches, bugs, sudden crashes, or shutdown while running. Frequent software updates and using trusted products are how to avoid this common cause of data loss.

6. Violations of data retention policies

Compliance with standard industry regulations is important as a safety-conscious business. Failure to adhere to these standards can result in data loss. Organizations should regularly ensure compliance within their frameworks and among third-party vendors.

7. Weak credentials or unsafe networks

Using weak passwords or connecting to public Wi-Fi networks exposes you to unauthorized users bypassing your security access. Weak credentials like your business ID can also be easily replicated and cause data loss to the wrong persons.

Types of DLP Solutions

Every business needs a data loss prevention solution to protect its sensitive data and ensure compliance with policies that prevent unauthorized access. There are three major types of DLP solutions:

• Network DLP Network DLP solutions monitor and protect data movement across the network of your organization. They usemachine learning and artificial intelligenceto oversee the outflow and inflow of data to block unauthorized file transfers or email attachments. A good network DLP primarily protects your data in motion, but should also cover data in use, and data at rest.
• Endpoint DLPEndpoint DLP solutions focus on the separate activity of devices such as laptops, servers, and mobile devices on the same business network. Endpoint data loss prevention tools are installed individually to prevent users from actions beyond their access levels. This could involve restricting unauthorized screenshots, printing, and file sharing between devices.
• Cloud DLPCloud data loss prevention tools protect information stored and processed in cloud environments such as SaaS applications or cloud-based storage. Cloud DLP solutions scan and encrypt sensitive data in cloud storage while ensuring compliance with cloud security regulations.

Top Data Loss Prevention Tools and Their Benefits

The penalty for a data privacy violation can be severe, such as the 1.3 billion US dollar fine on Meta in 2023 by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) of Ireland. These are our top 4 data loss prevention tools to avoid such data breach issues:

1. Symantec DLP (Broadcom)

The Symantec DLP tool leverages generative AI in its content-aware detection feature to minimize false positives and false negatives. It is a leading data security application for protecting data across endpoints, networks, and cloud environments. Symantec DLP operates an integrated zero-trust model for real-time data alerts and a robust incident management plan through automated response actions.

2. The Forcepoint DLP

Forcepoint DLP is a behavioral pattern solution that uses advanced analytics to monitor user interactions and detect anomalies that may indicate a potential data leak or insider threat. Unlike other cyber resilience DLP solutions, it implements a human-centric method to identify risky behaviors and real-time security structures to prevent malicious data loss. Forcepoint DLP tools protect data across endpoints, networks, cloud services, and email platforms.

3. Digital Guardian DLP

Powered by AWS, Digital Guardian is a cyber defense tool that tracks sensitive data location, movement, and risk analysis. It provides endpoint-to-cloud protection for hybrid organizations and enforces zero-trust cyber security with real-time data egress monitoring across your SaaS and cloud-based platforms. Digital Guardian offers their security experts to manage your data security platform so you can focus more on business operations.

4. Microsoft Purview DLP

Microsoft Purview is a comprehensive data loss prevention solution with full integration support for Microsoft 365, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams. It seamlessly protects data privacy across your cloud storage and email communications in the Microsoft environment. This explains why third-party integrations with non-Microsoft platforms may be limited. However, Purview applies an automated incident response plan like other top DLP tools and customizable cybersecurity options.

Conclusion

Every business needs an effective data loss prevention (DLP) strategy that seamlessly integrates with cloud and offline applications across its network. However, the ideal DLP plan goes beyond implementation and requires a clear understanding of common data loss causes, DLP solution types, and the top prevention tools. Monitoring your security frameworks is a continuous responsibility and a crucial one to protect data privacy.

The post Why Does Every Business Need a Data Loss Prevention Strategy? appeared first on Tech Research Online.

The entry of Starlink satellite internet into the Indian market comes at a time when US and Indian officials are discussing a trade deal. The US has said it will impose retaliatory tariffs on India starting April 2.

Expanded Internet Coverage

By the close of 2024, Starlink had about 4.6 million subscribers across the globe. SpaceX wanted to launch Starlink broadband services in India in 2021. However, the company encountered regulatory challenges that delayed its debut in the Asian country.

Analysts have taunted the Jio and Airtel Starlink deals as critical in expanding satellite internet coverage in India. However, the agreements between SpaceX and the two telcos remain conditional and await Starlink’s approval in India before commencing operations. Bharti Airtel and Jio plan to leverage Starlink and their mobile networks to make broadband internet services accessible to businesses and communities in remote regions.

Jio says it will facilitate supply of Starlink equipment in India through its retail outlet network and digital stores. The company will also provide installation services. Although Airtel plans to do the same, it will be leveraging its deal with Eutelsat OneWeb to expand connectivity. Eutelsat OneWeb is a Starlink rival. Prior to the latest deal, Jio was considered Starlink’s major rival in India’s satellite internet market.

Musk’s Influence

Tech analyst Prasanto K. Roy says the decision to allocate satellite spectrum as opposed to auctioning it may have been influenced by Musk’s proximity to the US government. Globally, India ranks second in terms of internet market size. However, about 48% of the 1.4 billion people in the country have no access to the internet.

Previously Airtel and Jio owners billionaires Sunil Bharti Mittal and Mukesh Ambani had opposed Musk’s request to allocate satellite spectrum administratively. Musk wanted the spectrum to be allotted to ensure alignment with global standards. On their part, the telco owners wanted the spectrum actioned as opposed to being bid competitively.

Musk got his way when the government of India announced that the satellite spectrum would be assigned administratively. The decision came after Musk met Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month in Washington. During the meeting, the two discussed potential cooperation in mobility and space technology.

The Pricing Factor

If the Indian government approves SpaceX’s deal with the big telcos, Musk could access up to 70% of mobile users in the Asian country. The tech billionaire has been looking to enter the Indian market for some time now.

“Starlink is a clear winner here, Musk has been eyeing a presence [in India] because its size will also give him economies of scale,” Counterpoint Research Analyst Tarun Pathak says.

The two partnerships also provide an easy avenue for Starlink to comply with data localization regulations in the country. But pricing of internet services will be key considering that mobile data in the country is among the lowest across the world.

Satellite broadband internet plans are quite high – about $150 per month. Mobile data, on the other hand, costs about $2. SpaceX partnership with Jio and Airtel may help reduce satellite internet plans downs.

“Pricing may be better from Musk’s point of view and not rock-bottom, with Jio and Airtel offering the same services. Jio was hoping that it would raise the entry barriers for others by pressing for the auction route. But since that hasn’t happened, they must have felt it is better to change tack and do a tie-up,” Roy added.

Starlink provides broadband internet access areas within the satellite’s coverage. This makes satellite internet more reliable in rural or remote areas where conventional services like DSL that rely on telephone lines or cable to transmit data.

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A Strategic Move

Analysts see the appearance of Unitree’s Wang Xingxing’s at Xi Jinping’s private sector summit as strategic for the robotics firm. Throughout the meeting, Xingxing sat at the front row, right in front of President Jinping. His sitting position was more central compared to other well known founders like Jack Ma and Pony Ma.

“The appearance of executives from Unitree in the meeting with Xi could increase interest in Chinese robotics startups, which may become the biggest growth drivers for IPOs in China over the next couple of years. Although robotics is an established theme, its applications are expanding with technology advances due to factors such as AI, population trends and the drive across industries for greater efficiency and accuracy,” Analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence said.

Growing Recognition

Unitree robotics manufactures agile robots that can walk, dance, perform kung fu, and even work. Wang says the evolution of humanoid robots is happening faster than he expected. He says products such as those that his company makes may be deployed widely in the manufacturing and service industries by 2026 or 2027.

“When what you do conforms to the main theme of the times, good resources will tilt toward you. Humanoid robots are the wave now” Wang said in a Chinese Media Interview last year.

Besides Wang’s stellar appearance at Jinping’s summit, Unitree has featured widely in a robots research project at the Carnegie Mellon University on robots like Lebron James that perform.
Already, Meta is reportedly holding cooperation talks with the Chinese company. In late January, Unitree G1 robots appeared in the Chinese lunar new year robot performance that featured an extravaganza dance.

Security Concerns

Even with these breakthroughs, some leaders in the US have raised concerns over the security threats that Unitree robots pose to the country’s defense and business interests. Last year, US law makers Jacob Helberg and Katie Britt published a column in the Wall Street Journal urging Washington to take swift action to curb the threat posed by Chinese robots. The two legislators highlighted Unitree for the advancements it has made in the robotics field.

“Humanoid robots will have both defensive and offensive national-security implications. The US military is exploring ways to incorporate humanoids into modern warfare, but China has already deployed armed robotics to the battlefield. If the U.S. falls further behind in such critical technology, our troops will face fatal disadvantages on the battlefield,” the Legislators wrote.

However, Unitree has argued that the robotic products it makes are for civilian, and not military use.

“Our products are made for civilian use and we don’t engage in any uses of our products for military purposes,” Unitree said, highlighting the content of a statement it issued jointly with Boston Dynamics back in 2022. In the statement, the two companies committed not to weaponize their robotic products.

High Potential

Unitree humanoid robots can change the Chinese robotics sector the way DeepSeek is altering the AI industry. Wang’s team has developed tech innovations that cost relatively less to produce. This raises China’s potential to produce numerous robots for commercial, industrial, and military use.

Wang’s first robot was the XDog, a robotic dog that he designed while in graduate school between 2013 and 2015. The dual-application potential of Unitree’s robotic dogs attracted criticism from the US after the robot appeared in a Chinese military drill in 2024. Videos from the May drill showed images of the robots carrying assault rifles in a joint exercise conducted by Cambodia and Chinese armies.

The low-cost approach to producing AI tools and robotics has captured the attention of investors globally. Unitree has already attracted investments from different investors, including venture capital firm Source Code and food-delivery company Meituan.

The post How Unitree’s Dancing Robots are Raising Founder Wang Xingxing’s Profile in Beijing appeared first on Tech Research Online.

The number of cyber scams in 2025 keep rising as cybercriminals leverage advancements in artificial intelligence, automation and cloud technology to deceive victims. AI-powered phishing attacks now mimic human interactions with an alarming accuracy while deepfake technology helps with identity fraud. Automation has made it easier to launch these cyber crimes on larger scales while exploiting vulnerabilities in popular cloud computing systems. Therefore, it is necessary to stay informed as cybercriminals find new ways to attack. Here are the top cyber scams you need to watch out for in 2025.

1. AI-Powered Phishing

The unethical use of artificial intelligence in cyber phishing scams makes them more difficult to detect, unlike traditional phishing, which uses generic and unauthentic responses. Cyber scams in 2025 now involve machine learning and AI advancements to analyze company data in public spaces such as social media posts or online forums. The scammers use previous interactions to generate emails that perfectly impersonate target employees’ tone, behavior, and style.

• How to prevent AI-powered phishing: Verify all unexpected connection requests. Never be in a hurry to click unverified links. Use advanced email filters, multi-factor authentication, and employee training to recognize suspicious messages.

2. E-commerce and Online Sales Scams

Identifying the right business opportunities is crucial for making early profits. However, some online opportunities come with an equal vulnerability that scammers can exploit. Cyber Monday scams in 2025 now involve fake e-commerce websites with fake product listings and customer testimonials. The aim is to trick shoppers into providing personal credit card information or even making purchases for products that don’t exist.

• How to prevent e-commerce scams: Only buy from trusted online vendors, brands, or companies. Enter the product catalog through the official page URL and only pay through secured payment methods.

3. Cryptocurrency Investment Scams

Fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities are among the latest scams to lure victims. These scams involve phishing tactics and unsecured addresses to steal wallet credentials or trick investors. Some scammers gain their fake credibility by using unsuspecting social media influencers or AI-generated identities with no credible digital footprint.

• How to prevent cryptocurrency cyber scams in 2025: Cryptocurrency is on a decentralized network. Verify every investment and use only trusted exchanges and proven wallets with robust security features.

4. Ransomware Cyber Scams

Ransomware attacks are top cybersecurity threats for accounting firms and companies with sensitive data. They are cyber scams done by encrypting your files through a passcode that requires payment to get access. They are embedded codes placed on unverified marketplaces and websites usually in the form of links. Therefore, trying to purchase software from prohibited websites increases the likelihood of downloading one of these ransomware-as-a-service that encrypts your files in exchange for money.

• How to prevent ransomware cyber attacks: Always back up your data and avoid downloads from unofficial websites. Also, do not resort to paying scammers if you fall victim. Try consulting with your IT person for possible decryption tools if possible.

5. Fake Technology Support Scams

Fake tech support is when certain individuals try to impersonate legitimate companies like Apple or Microsoft. Previous traditional tech support scam attempts use cold calls to disguise as employees of the company and request personal account information. Modern cyber scammers now use AI chatting tools to impersonate companies’ support agents or business smart assistants.

• How to prevent fake tech support cyber scams: Never give out sensitive information about your account nor should you engage support contacts that you cannot verify on the official website.

6. QR Code Scams

Otherwise called “Quishing” or “QR phishing”, QR code scams are next on the list of biggest cyber scams in 2025. How do these QR code scammers operate? By redirecting you to a fake website or duplicate of the official one. The signs will usually always be there with slight differences in the URL spelling and fonts for the website’s design. However, these differences might be negligible at a quick glance. Getting redirected to a fake website where you input your details can result in stolen or compromised financial or personal data.

• How to avoid QR code cyber scams: Avoid scanning QR codes from public places or untrusted sources. Prevent entering personal or financial information on websites accessed via unknown QR codes.

7. Social Media Impersonation

One of the most common social media impersonation frauds is romance cyber scams. Love is a good thing but playing intelligence on the feelings or goodwill of others is completely unethical. We have cybercriminals who use AI-generated images, fake personal and business profiles, and deepfake videos to create a false online representation. These scammers tend to form a mutual connection which they later exploit to trick their victims into sending personal information or money.

• How to prevent social media scams: Be suspicious of strange messages or friend requests. You should also avoid sending money or personal information through unreliable platforms.

8. Fake Job Cyber Scams

These might sound unbelievable until you read victim stories online but fake job scams are a real pandemic. You need to learn to protect yourself as the cyber scams in 2025 are becoming more deceptive with fake recruiter profiles, deepfake video interviews, and AI-generated job listings. These job offers also look authentic, unlike traditional employment scams with unprofessional tone or spelling errors. How do fake job scams work? By stealing personal information under the pretense of onboarding. Other techniques are requesting upfront fees for training or work equipment.

• How to prevent fake job scams: Only apply and respond to verified job postings from official company websites. Avoid greed and double-check offers that seem too good to be true.

9. Scams Calls and SMS Fraud

Distress calls or urgent security alerts regarding your payment accounts or confidential information should be cautiously responded to. Do not reveal sensitive information over calls or texts, especially when you did not initiate the action. If you must respond to a malicious sms or call, report it to your organization, bank, or relevant company. The use of voice cloning tools, automated messaging apps, and fake delivery notifications may be hard to detect. Hence, avoid assumptions and verify all sources.

• How to prevent fraudulent calls and sms scams: Avoid engaging with unknown numbers and never share sensitive information over a text or call. Use call-blocking apps, enable spam filters, and verify messages directly with the source before taking action.

10. Cyber scams through Third-Party Vendor

The common cyber attacks don’t have to be directly targeted at your company. Scammers sometimes prefer supply chain vulnerabilities such as third-party vendors or software suppliers that have access to the organization’s database. Access to one careless third-party company could be enough to swiftly evade the tough cybersecurity framework of an organization.

• How to prevent third-party cyber scams: Businesses relying on cloud computing or services of third-party vendors should enforce strict compliance standards, zero-trust models, and multi-factor authentication systems.

Fraud Prevention Tips to Keep You Safe from Cyber Scams in 2025

• Enable multi-factor authentication: Passwords alone should not be sufficient to log in to your sensitive account profiles.
• Use strong and unique passwords: Ensure your passcodes are complex with mixed characters and not the same for different accounts.
• Update your software: Companies and organizations using cloud computing must constantly update their software to the latest cybersecurity patch.
• Don’t browse unverified sites: Searching unofficial pages for software downloads or clicking unverified links puts you at risk of cyber scammers.
• Avoid greedy offers: Any overly generous offer that seems too good to be true must be investigated before you engage. It is most likely a scam if it cannot be properly explained.

Conclusion

Staying vigilant is the first and most important step to protect yourself and your personal information from the popular 2025 cyber scams. There are different cyber resilience strategies you can adopt but it starts with watching out for suspicious messages and phishing attempts. Staying informed on the latest advancements in tech and cloud-based services is also crucial. Cybercriminals are getting smarter but cannot trick you unless you make careless online decisions, click fake links, scan fake QR codes, or directly share sensitive information.

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Veeam Trivia Showdown,
featuring Data Resilience!

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Brazil is also in discussions with project Kuiper Internet service initiated by Bezos and Telesat, a Canadian satellite internet firm.

The Starlink Advantage

Musk-owned Starlink Communications has been launching satellites into low-Earth orbit (LEO), an altitude that’s less than 2,000km away. All its competitors have been installing satellites at higher altitudes. At the low altitude, satellites are extremely efficient at transmitting data. This enables the company to take nex-gen satellite connectivity to communities in remote areas, militaries during war, and seafaring vessels.

“The space world is moving fast and busy experimenting. Pioneers are enjoying this relative freedom and are shaping it to their advantage to claim key positions before rules become more stringent – like the wild west,” Global Head of Space at Analysys Mason Consultancy, Antoine Grenier said.

Beijing sees Musk’s dominance in space as a big threat as it finances military research, invests heavily in rivals and tracks satellite constellations. According to tech consulting firm Analysys Mason, China launched 263 LEO satellites last year alone.

The Brazilian government has welcomed the emerging Starlink competition as the country seeks to bring high-speed internet connection to communities living in far-flung areas. The south-American country has previously had a standoff with Musk over politics and commerce.

Starlink vs. Chinese Satellite Internet

The attention of military researchers in China has been captured by Starlink’s fast expansion and its use by the Ukrainian military. This has prompted significant financing of rival satellite networks by the Chinese government.

For instance, Hongqing Technology is working on a 10,000 satellite constellation. Founded in 2017, this company raised about 340 million yuan this month from investors who are mostly affiliated to the state.

In 2024, a financing round that was led by an investment fund that’s owned by the state raised about $930 million for SpaceSail. The focus of this fund is to upgrade China’s manufacturing capacity. Researchers in China, particularly those that are linked to the People’s Liberation Army are increasingly interested in satellite internet.

In 2023 alone, China published 2449 patents relating to LEO satellite technology, compared to the 162 published in 2019. Majority of these patents related to low-latency communication and cost-efficient networks.

Some of China’s published research hits out at Starlink with one of them terming Musk’s system a threat to data, network, and military security. The Chinese government is creating tools to monitor and track Starlink’s satellites. Last month, researchers from two institutes indicated that they had developed an algorithm for monitoring huge constellations like Starlink.

“With the growing trend of space militarization, developing tools to monitor and track these mega constellations is critically important,” the researchers in one of the studies published in the Chinese engineering journal.

The Global Satellite Internet Race

Few Starlink rivals are as ambitious as China’s SpaceSail. Controlled by the municipal government of Shanghai, this satellite internet company plans to deploy up to 648 LEO satellites by the end of 2025 and about 15,000 satellites by the year 2030. Currently, Starlink has deployed about 7000 satellites and is targeting to launch 42000 more by the end of this decade.

“The endgame is to occupy as many orbital slots as possible,” Space Technology Expert Chaitanya Giri said.

Last year, a Chinese newspaper reported that SpaceSail “capable of transcending national boundaries, penetrating sovereignty and unconditionally covering the whole world, a strategic capability that our country must master.”

China has three other satellite internet constellations under development. Beijing plans to launch an additional 43,000 LEO satellites in the next decades. China also plans to invest in rockets that have the capacity to carry multiple satellites.

The post Elon Musk’s Starlink Faces Stiff Competition As Chinese Firms Enter the Global Satellite Internet Race appeared first on Tech Research Online.

Reality Check

Towards the end of last year, Australia approved a social media ban for kids below the age of 16. The ban, which is expected to take effect at the end of this year, set a high benchmark for countries across the globe.

Although social media platforms don’t allow access to persons aged 13 and below, the report shows that 80% of Australian kids aged between 8 and 12 years used the platforms last year. YouTube, TickTok, Instagram, and Snapchat are the platforms that most children use.

All social media platforms except Reddit require users to provide their date of birth when signing up. However, these platforms rely on self-declaration to verify information provided and have no other age assurance tools.

The latest eSafety report highlights results from a social media usage national survey that targeted 8 to 15 year olds. It also includes responses from different social media services including YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitch. These services are owned by Google, Meta, ByteDance, and Amazon respectively.

Age Detection

The report showed that Snapchat and Instagram have over a million users aged between 13 and 17. TikTok had over 522,800, YouTube 643,600, Facebook 455,000, and Twitch 24,400. Reddit did not have a record of underage users.

These statistics raise questions about the ability of Australia’s social media regulations that have been criticized for being ill-considered and rushed by a section of politicians and industry experts. The country’s under 16 social media ban relies heavily on truthful declaration of age to enable social platforms to block under age users.

“There is still significant work to be done by any social media platforms relying on truthful self-declaration to determine age with enforcement of the government’s minimum age legislation on the horizon,” Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner said.

Social media platforms like Snapchat, Twitch, and TikTok use language analysis technology to identify under 16 users. Twitch and TikTok also use AI-driven age estimation to detect below 16 users. Instagram and Facebook have age stimate models while YouTube relies on classifiers.

YouTube is the only social platform that supports under-age use with parental supervision. The platform does this through family accounts. However, none of the minors with YouTube accounts reported being shut down due to being underage.

Shared Responsibility

Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook said it supports age-appropriate experiences for children. However, the tech giant holds that the responsibility of enforcing age restrictions lies with app stores.

“Since the start of 2023, our proactive age detection tools have resulted in the removal of more than one million Australian users suspected of being under the age of 13,” a TikTok spokesperson said.

Commission Grant highlighted the need for social media companies to comply with online safety laws, safety expectations, minimum age requirements, and the emerging global needs.

“While social media services must do more to implement age assurance measures and prioritise the best interests of children, we cannot expect them to act alone,” she said.
She however acknowledged that this responsibility does not belong to social media platforms only.

“The responsibility for child safety, including appropriate age assurance, must be shared across the digital ecosystem, including devices and their operating systems, app stores, search engines, and other services. Parents and carers, educators, policymakers, and technology developers all have a role to play in fostering safer digital spaces,” she added.

The eSafety report appreciated that most social media platforms had conducted research on improving age assurance setups. Some had provided ways for users to report instances of underage use.

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Eliminating Tech Crackdowns

President Jinping’s symposium was attended by big names in the electric vehicle, chip manufacturing, and artificial intelligence industries. The Chinese leader delivered a speech after meeting representatives from Alibaba Group Holding and Xiaomi Corporations.

During the meeting, Xi voiced support for the Chinese private sector. The meeting demonstrated the government’s software stance towards businesses that fuel China’s economy. Xi delivered a speech after hosting representatives of firms including the Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

“It is necessary to resolutely remove all kinds of obstacles to the equal use of production factors and fair participation in market competition. Beijing should continue to promote the fair opening of the competitive field of infrastructure to all kinds of business entities, and continue to make great efforts to solve the problem of difficult and expensive financing for private enterprises,” Jinping told entrepreneurs.

The President asked the tech CEOs and founders to sustain their competitive spirit and remain confident in China’s future. The Chinese leader committed to eliminating unreasonable fines or fees against private enterprises and leveling the playing field for all players. This promise came as a relief to Chinese entrepreneurs, who have previously complained of state-dominated systems.

The Chinese parliament said it will commence a review of the country’s laws to facilitate private sector economic growth strategy even as President Jinping emphasized that the current changes are temporary.

Boosting Social Confidence

Experts have seen Jinping’s move to express China’s private sector support as an indication of China’s wider strategy to boost confidence.

“This is the strongest signal China could release to boost social confidence. The fact that Xi Jinping himself shows up to meet with the entrepreneurs highlights the political significance of this meeting,” You Chuanman, Senior Lecturer at Singapore University of Social Sciences said.

Previously, the Chinese government has launched major crackdowns on tech companies. Jack Ma became the highest-profile tech entrepreneur to be targeted by Jinping’s private sector crackdown in 2020. At the time, government authorities scuttled an IPO of Alibaba’s affiliate company, Ant Group. The crackdown marked the start of a 12-month campaign to tighten state control over the Chinese economy. The campaign also targeted billionaires and shifted resources towards government priorities that included tech self-sufficiency and national security.

The crackdown forced Jack Ma to disappear from the public. But things have taken a dramatic turn in recent months following China’s economic slowdown. Chinese authorities are now less combative and companies have aligned themselves with the government’s push for tech leadership in industries such as AI.

Market Reaction

Chinese tech stocks had mixed reactions to the February 17 meetings as investors awaited details of Jinping’s meeting with tech entrepreneurs. Last month, stock prices surged after DeepSeek launched its latest AI model. DeepSeek surpassed ChatGPT on Apple Play Store, triggering optimism in the country’s AI advancements.

“Some investors chose to take profit. Whether there will be further upside room depends on what support measures will be introduced, and it’s hard for the effects of these measures to manifest within a short period of time,” Chanson & Co Director Shen Meng said.

Besides Xi Jinping and Jack Ma, the private sector entrepreneur meeting was attended by tech leaders who are considered important figures in the country’s ambition to lessen its reliance on US technology. They included Tencent founder Pony Ma, Meituan’s Wang Xing, DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng, Unitree’s Wang Xingxing, and Huawei’s Ren Zhengfei. Robin Zeng of Contemporary Amperex and BYD’s Wang Chuanfu were also present. The two represented China’s fast ascent in electric vehicles.

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Ever wondered what lies beyond the internet you browse? Curious about the dark side of the web? This blog answers all your questions about the mysterious Dark Web beyond the Surface Web.

The Dark Web is the side of the internet that is not indexed by standard websites or search engines like Chrome or Bing. It can only be accessed through encrypted web browsers like The Onion Router (Tor), Freenet, and other such websites. The websites that are accessible through Tor have a “.onion” domain and maintain the user’s anonymity.

While the Dark Web hosts legal and legitimate content, such as privacy-focused forums and whistleblower platforms. But, it is also known for the notorious illegal activities like black market for drugs, selling of stolen data, and hacking services.

The anonymity surrounding Dark Web makes it both intriguing and controversial since people argue about its ethical and legal boundaries. Government authorities and cyber security professionals continuously observe this untraceable domain to detect and report cyber offences. but advocates defend its usage as a necessity for people living in oppressive countries. Whether seen as a threat or a tool for privacy, the Dark Web remains one of the most mysterious areas of the internet.

Surface Web Vs Deep Web Vs Dark Web

The internet is divided into three parts: The Surface Web, the Deep Web and the Dark Web. Surface Web refers to the part of the internet that is indexed and could be accessed through browsers like Chrome and Bing. It has a lot of .com, .net and .org sites but only represent 5% of the total internet.

The size of the Deep Web surpasses the Surface Web while remaining secure as an Internet zone. Almost 90% of all the websites are on Deep Web and are majorly used by Government agencies, corporations amongst others. These websites are protected behind the security walls, authentication form and password.

A piece of Deep Web is the Dark Web which can only be accessed through browsers like Tor and Freenet for navigation. Though using the Tor is completely legal and legitimate but there is some content that cannot be accessed as it is a punishable offence.

Legal and Ethical use cases of the Dark Web

Dark Web is part of a Deep Web which can only be accessed through browsers like Tor or Freenet. According to market.us, the Dark Web Intelligence Market size reached $619.1 million in 2024 and is expected to reach $2921.8 million at a CAGR of 21.8% from 2024-2032.

The dark web intelligence market experiences a dynamic increase in cybercriminal operations. 4iQ reported that stolen account credentials on the dark web experienced an 82% increase in 2022 to reach 15 billion. Identity theft cases lead the dark web monitoring activities at 65% while credit card fraud follows closely behind at 15% and the number of card dumps exceeds 192 million according to Sixgill’s reports. Chainalysis researchx` Anatomy reveals dark web cryptocurrency activity almost doubled between 2020 and reached $25 billion in 2022 thus underscoring the necessity for advanced tracking systems.

The Dark Web is infamous for its illegal activities like black markets and cybercrimes along with illicit transactions but simultaneously supports legitimate applications to protect privacy help activists communicate safely and allow access to restricted content in closed territories. Here are a few legal uses of the Dark web:

1. Privacy and Anonymity

One of the major advantages of the Dark Web is the maintenance of “Privacy and anonymity”. Journalists, activists and others use the Dark Web to communicate safely and anonymously to avoid censorship. Platforms like SecureDrop provide a safe space to communicate and share information anonymously.

2. Access to Restricted Information

There are a lot of websites and information that cannot be accessed through the Surface Web. The Dark Web helps in bypassing restrictions and accessing blocked websites, social media and news sources. People living in countries with internet censorship can access news through these websites as they are untraceable due to high security. Activists and journalists can also utilize the Dark Web to gather sensitive data which cannot be accessed through surface media or present their unbiased opinion through these platforms.

3. Ethical Hacking & Cybersecurity Research

Governments around the globe hire ethical hackers to get an insight into various information. Access to the Dark Web can help in providing a lot of leaked data that helps in the prevention of cyber threats, protecting a lot of individuals and organizations.

The UK and the US have strong legal frameworks regarding data breaches because data leaks constitute severe incidents. GDPR violations in the UK can lead to maximum fines that reach either £17.5 million or 4% of the organization’s global annual turnover. The U.S. Data Breach Notification Laws mandate rapid breach reporting from companies while HIPAA and similar regulations enforce healthcare organizations to pay fines reaching up to $1.5 million for each recorded violation.

4. Research Purposes

Researchers and law enforcement professionals use the Dark Web to understand crime patterns and illegal activities by notorious groups to prevent these crimes from happening. It could also be used to gather information about criminals that cannot be accessed easily through indexed websites.

5. Cryptocurrency & Blockchain Discussions

Cryptocurrency is used as a transactional unit on the Dark Web. However, there are a lot of forums that decentralize finance legally by discussing blockchain and other forms of investments. Decentralization helps users gain more knowledge about the working of block chain across various industries and strengthen their investment game.

Ways to access the Dark web

Standard web browsers like Chrome and Firefox do not provide access to the Dark Web. Users access hidden websites securely and anonymously by using specialized browsers such as The Onion Router (Tor) and Invisible Internet Project (I2P). Though, using the Dark Web remains legal in most parts of the world, conducting illegal activities will inevitably result in legal penalties.

The Dark Web serves legitimizing purposes for journalists’ activists and cybersecurity researchers who use it to maintain privacy and conduct research and protected communications. Here are a few browsers through which Dark Web can be easily accessed:

• Tor Browser (The Onion Router):

  Tor Browser stands as the most popular tool for .onion website access since it protects users with encryption across multiple layers. The Tor application directs users’ internet data through numerous volunteer-operated servers distributed worldwide which protects user activities from tracking.

• Freenet

  The software platform operates as a peer-to-peer decentralized system through which users maintain anonymity during communication and file exchanges. Data processed through this network splits into encrypted fragments which get dispersed among different nodes to stop tracking and ensure anonymity.

• I2P (Invisible Internet Project)

  This networking system delivers private and encrypted communications through an anonymous system for messaging. The fundamental function of I2P that differs from Tor is it builds its own enclosed network that supports users to establish secretive web pages called “eepsites.”

• Whonix

  A privacy-focused operating system that routes traffic through Tor for enhanced security. It consists of two virtual machines: one that runs applications and another that connects to the internet via Tor.

• GNUnet

  GNUnet is a free and open-source framework designed to enable secure, privacy-focused, and decentralized peer-to-peer (P2P) communication. Developed as part of the GNU Project, GNUnet provides a censorship-resistant platform for file sharing, messaging, and various other decentralized applications.

Conclusion

Although the Dark Web enables absolute privacy along with forbidden content access it functions as a dangerous domain where illegal operations create ethical dilemmas and legal complications. Users are increasing their investments in Dark Web Intelligence services because it plays a key role in criminal investigation while businesses and academics both need insight into digital threats.

While the Dark Web hosts illegal activities, it also supports legitimate uses like protecting free speech and aiding cybersecurity. A person must exercise caution while accessing the Dark Web, while being mindful of legal obligations and possessing an ethical perspective. The debate about how best to balance technology regulation against anonymous benefits will transform as science advances.

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