The battery life of Samsung‘s Galaxy S23 Ultra has been insanely good from day one. During our review of the phone, we could get almost ten hours of screen-on time on a single charge. Over the past one and a half month, it has only got better in battery management. And that has been validated by DXOMARK. The publication recently put the Galaxy S23 Ultra through its rigorous battery test suite and the device came out with flying colors. The new Samsung flagship offered the best battery performance of any premium Android smartphone or iPhone ever.
Galaxy S23 Ultra’s battery performance is undefeated in the premium segment
During their testing, DXOMARK found that the 5,000mAh battery inside the Galaxy S23 Ultra could keep the phone running for up to two days and 19 hours on a single charge on moderate usage. The phone lost less than two percent of battery charger per night on average. It charged from 0 to 100 percent in one hour and 21 minutes (two hours and 18 minutes on wireless charging), while a 0 to 80 percent charge took 37 minutes. Just five minutes of charging was enough to keep the phone on for more than five hours.
The only notable problem that DXOMARK found on the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the battery level collapsing as soon as it reaches five percent. This is something users need to be wary of. The publication also noted that the phone’s battery consumption when using the camera or listening to music is slightly on the higher side than average. High residual consumption of the wireless stand is another con, but that’s nothing major.
Overall, the Galaxy S23 Ultra achieved a score of 142 in DXOMARK’s battery test. It leapfrogged the Asus ROG Phone 6 (140) to sit atop the chart for premium models. The latter is a dedicated gaming smartphone with a massive 6000mAh battery. Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro Max is in the third spot with a score of 136. The 2021 maxed-out iPhone model has a 4352mAh battery. Its successor iPhone 14 Pro Max also packs an identical 4323mAh battery but could only achieve a score of 133 to sit in the fourth spot. The iPhone 14 Plus makes up the top five.
The latest Samsung flagship leaves the 2022 model in the dust
What makes the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s battery life more special is the improvement over its predecessor. DXOMARK placed the Galaxy S22 Ultra in the 17th spot in its chart with a score of just 103. Samsung switching to TSMC-made Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor for the latest flagship made the difference this year. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 powering the 2022 models in the US (used in the DXOMARK test) was manufactured by the Korean brand. Qualcomm switched to TSMC for the new chips because of power-efficiency issues with Samsung’s fabrication process.
In the all-time global list, which also includes budget and mid-range models, the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s score of 142 puts it in the sixth spot. Honor’s Magic 5 Lite 5G tops the chart with a score of 152. You can find DXOMARK’s detailed battery test report for the latest Samsung flagship here.
While Bally Sports’ parent-company, Diamond Sports Group, is expected to file for bankruptcy this week, we’re already learning that they have given up their rights to four teams. Those teams include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians and San Diego Padres.
The reason why Diamond Sports Group is giving up these contracts for these four teams, is that they would be paying more to the teams then they would make on advertising and cable contracts. Making it not worth it to keep them.
A few weeks ago, it was reported the DSG had already decided not to pay an interest payment of $140 million. Which forced them into the 30-day grace period before they would need to file for bankruptcy. That grace period ends this week, so we should know soon what they plan to do.
Where can I watch these games now?
The MLB has said that it will offer the streams for these games for free on MLB.TV this season. Which makes MLB.TV a bit more interesting now.
Typically, MLB.TV is a streaming service to watch out-of-market games. But since the Diamondbacks, Reds, Guardians and Padres won’t be broadcast in-market, MLB.TV will be the only option and will be broadcasting in market. This is seen as a temporary solution for these teams. As the MLB does need to renegotiate its contracts for in-market games with different providers across the league.
But the good news is, these games will be broadcast for free, within MLB.TV.
For now, Diamond Sports Group and Bally Sports holds the rights to 10 MLB teams, as well as 16 NBA teams and 12 NHL teams. The MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred did say that if DSG missed the rights payment window for even one of their teams, they would terminate all rights contracts. So it’s possible that Bally Sports could lose the remaining 10 MLB teams.
It’s nowhere near the end of the road for DSG either. As they also have carriage contracts expiring with Comcast and DIRECTV this fall. They will likely want to pay DSG less to carry Bally Sports, or even the same amount they are currently paying. Of course, Bally Sports will want more money, as regional sports is quite pricey.
Russia-linked ransomware group ALPHV has leaked the data it stole from Lehigh Valley Health Network, including clinical photos of women undergoing breast cancer treatment.
The Russia-linked ALPHV ransomware group, also known as BlackCat, has posted sensitive clinical photos of breast cancer patients—calling them “nude photos”—to extort money from the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN).
The leak page for data stolen from the Lehigh Valley Health Network. Apart from the clinical photos, ALPHV also leaked sensitive, personally identifiable information on passports and questionnaires.
“This unconscionable criminal act takes advantage of patients receiving cancer treatment, and LVHN condemns this despicable behavior,” LVHN spokesman Brian Downs said, Lehigh Valley Newsreported.
LVHN had previously said it fell victim to a BlackCat ransomware attack on February 20. The Network initially detected an intrusion within its IT systems on February 6 and said that initial analysis showed the attack was on a network supporting one physician practice located in Lackawanna County.
The ransom amount has never been made public, but we know that the Network decided not to pay ALPHV anyway. Lehigh’s website has remained offline since the attack.
Detect intrusions. Make it harder for intruders to operate inside your organization by segmenting networks and assigning access rights prudently. Use EDR or MDR to detect unusual activity before an attack occurs.
Stop malicious encryption. Deploy Endpoint Detection and Response software like Malwarebytes EDR that uses multiple different detection techniques to identify ransomware.
Create offsite, offline backups. Keep backups offsite and offline, beyond the reach of attackers. Test them regularly to make sure you can restore essential business functions swiftly.
Write an incident response plan. The period after a ransomware attack can be chaotic. Make a plan that outlines how you’ll isolate an outbreak, communicate with stakeholders, and restore your systems.
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The cost of smartphones has skyrocketed in recent years. This, coupled with longer post-purchase support from smartphone makers, means people are now holding on to their aging smartphones longer than before. They aren’t upgrading to a new handset as often as they did in the past. This has also given rise to the used smartphone market. You can now easily sell your old smartphones and make some cash to buy a new one. Or if you don’t mind a bit of wear and tear, then you can buy a used smartphone and save some money.
Of course, you need to be very careful when buying a used smartphone. You’d want to check for physical damages, sales history, accessories, and several other things. Also, there are multiple ways of buying or selling a used smartphone. Some platforms let you put up an ad and sell your used phone directly to a buyer. Similarly, you can also buy a phone directly from the owner. There is no intermediary.
If you don’t want to negotiate with the buyer/seller, then some marketplaces buy used phones, refurbish them, and put them up for sale at a fixed price. So if you’re looking to buy/sell a used smartphone, we have compiled a list of the best Android apps to will help you with that. Go through the article below for detailed information on each app. You will find a brief description, Google Play rating and size, cost of in-app purchases, and screenshots or promo videos, as well as a Google Play Store download link for each app below.
Best Android Apps to Buy/Sell Used Smartphones 2023
Below is a quick overview of the best Android apps for buying or selling a used smartphone in 2023, including any download and in-app purchase costs.
Download Cost
In-app cost (per item)
Decluttr
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Swappa
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Craigslist
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Amazon Shopping
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Best Buy
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eBay
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Cashify
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Facebook
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$0.20 – $999.99
EcoATM
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Best Android Apps to Buy/Sell Used Smartphones 2023 Downloads
Below is a little more information on each app, including a direct link for easy downloading.
All download links go to the app’s Google Play Store listing. Users are always recommended to download apps from Google Play or an authorized app store.
Decluttr
Price: Free to download
In-app purchases: No
Size: 14MB
Google Play rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Trusted by millions of people around the globe, Decluttr is one of the most popular apps when it comes to selling your old smartphones. Not just smartphones, you can sell or buy a variety of items on this app. These include CDs, DVDs, books, games and game consoles, legos, and, of course, smartphones.
Selling an item on Decluttr is pretty straightforward. Just provide the details or scan the barcode on an item with your device’s camera and enter a few details to get an instant offer price. Once you submit your order, Decluttr will send you a free shipping label. Stick it to your box and drop your items off at a nearby UPS location. Decluttr will pay you the very next day they receive the items.
The payment is made in cash, either through PayPal or direct bank deposit. That’s another advantage of selling on Decluttr as many platforms pay you in merchandise vouchers for their own site or some third-party retailers.
Swappa’s “No Junk, No Jerks” policy is what makes it a crowd favorite. It is a human-powered marketplace that offers excellent customer support and has clear quality guidelines in place. Whether you want to sell your old smartphone, tablet, laptop, or game console, you can always list your items for free.
Although Swappa does not physically verify the condition of a listed item, it does review the listings. All reviews are made by real persons to ensure that the IMEI of a phone is valid and can be activated, or the listed item has not been reported as stolen.
Listings on Swappa also include good-quality photos that clearly show any damage. Additionally, this app also lists the sale history of phones of the same type so you know what’s a fair price for any given item in the current market.
Swappa charges a convenience fee, which is usually less than $20, from the buyer. This encourages people to list their products on Swappa, thus adding to its inventory. Also, since payment is made via PayPal, buyers always have an easy way to get their money back if they are not satisfied with the condition of an item and should they opt to return it.
Craigslist is a person-to-person selling platform. You list an item, someone interested in the item contacts you and you two mutually agree on a price. That’s about it. Craigslist has been around for almost three decades now and has wide availability all around the world. That makes it one of the most popular platforms to buy or sell used items. You can sell your old smartphone, furniture, car, clothes, and many other items.
Since you’ll be directly dealing with the buyer, you are likely to get the best prices for your items. However, this very thing can sometimes backfire as well. Having to connect with an unknown person in real life can be dangerous at times. Always choose public places and be cautious when meeting strangers. If you’re buying a used smartphone on Craigslist, ensure that its IMEI hasn’t been blocked for theft.
Amazon needs no introduction. This global e-commerce giant is a platform where you can buy pretty much everything from smartphones to clothes, furniture, and more. While people mostly buy brand-new items from Amazon, you can also find used, refurbished smartphones here.
The global availability of Amazon makes it one of the best platforms to buy used smartphones. Additionally, you’d find phones in every price range here. Whether you’re looking to buy an entry-level smartphone or a flagship, Amazon offers them all – both in new and used conditions.
Refurbished phones are the safest bet when buying a used phone. These phones have gone through various functionality checks and cleanups to verify their condition. And there are not many better platforms to buy refurbished smartphones than Best Buy, another e-commerce biggie.
Best Buy’s huge inventory means you would find the exact smartphone you are looking for. Although you would be paying much more than buying directly from the owner through apps like Craiglist, you often get limited warranties and money-back guarantees with refurbished phones.
eBay is also a household name in the e-commerce space. And it is another reliable platform for buying used smartphones at great prices. It offers lots of selections with verifiable sellers and uses PayPal for payments. So you can rest assured that your money is safe. If there happens to be an issue with the device, you can always apply to get your money back. eBay will cancel the PayPal transaction and refund you.
eBay also boasts a robust filtering system. You can filter for price, color, size, and even carrier. Additionally, eBay charges sellers for their listings, so the price you see on the app is the price you pay for it. You may have to pay shipping charges depending on your location, though.
India is the second-largest smartphone market in the world. It is also among the fastest-growing markets. No wonder India has a huge space for used smartphones as well. So if you live in India and are looking to sell your old smartphone at the best price without worrying about safety, Cashify is the app for you.
You have to simply enter your device’s details and confirm its condition. Cashify will run your device through an automatic diagnosis process and instantly make an offer for the phone. If you like the quoted price, you can select a date and time for pickup. The pickup agent will make the payment for your phone at the time of pickup. Payment is made through Internet Banking, Paytm Wallet Transfer, Amazon Voucher, or other modes.
You can also recycle your old, unusable smartphones through this app. Cashify has its services in more than 1,500 Indian cities and also lets you sell other electronic gadgets such as laptops, desktops, tablets, gaming consoles, earbuds, DSLR cameras, and TVs.
Another app in the list that needs no introduction. Facebook is one of the most widely used social networking apps. Among all the things, you can also sell used (or new) items on this app. Facebook calls it Marketplace and it works decently well for selling used smartphones as well.
Simply list your phone on the marketplace and interested people from nearby places will contact you. You can then negotiate the prices and arrange payment and shipping for the device. The Facebook Marketplace is ideal for buying or selling used smartphones or other items locally.
EcoATM offers a convenient way of making some money out of your old smartphone. Simply enter the details of your device to get a price estimate. If you’re okay with it, you can then erase all the personal information from the device and drop it at one of the over 4,500 kiosks nationwide. No need to bother with the shipping process. Someone from EcoATM will then analyze the device before providing you with a final price.
Since EcoATM is all about sustainability and going green, your device may be accepted even if it’s severely damaged or unusable. It will be recycled. So you’re leaving a positive impact on the planet while making some money.
When it comes to software development, GitHub is the main venue for developers and those who want to dig into programming. The platform currently has over 100 million users. And given the importance of existing files and documents, it needs to ensure everything is safe.
The platform has now emailed administrators and developers to notify them that setting up a 2FA will become mandatory soon. The rest of the users are obligated to follow the order by the end of this year.
According to the company’s blog post, GitHub 2FA has started from March 13, and developers are required to enable one form of 2FA for their accounts. The platform further explains its goal is to “minimize unexpected interruptions and productivity loss for users and prevent account lockouts.”
2FA becomes mandatory for GitHub users by the end of 2023
Activating 2FA for GitHub accounts happens over time for different user groups. The platform selects target groups based on their actions and the code they’re currently working on. Each group has a deadline to adhere to the order and receives a notice approximately 45 days before the deadline.
If users miss the deadline, they’re asked to enable 2FA the first time they visit GitHub daily. After a week of neglect, their access to the platform will be cut off until they activate the 2FA for the account. GitHub also asks you to perform a 2FA checkup after 28 days to ensure everything is on the right track.
Additionally, GitHub allows you to choose between SMS, time-based one-time password (TOTP), and security keys as your preferred 2FA method. However, the platform’s recommended methods are security keys and TOTPs. SMS is less safe and no longer recommended under NIST 800-63B.
The leading software development platform has also prepared a guideline on how to configure 2FA or how to recover your account if you ever lost 2FA credentials.
Offensive security released Kali Linux 2023.1 with new tools for purple and blue teamers for defensive security.
On March 13th Kali Linux penetration distro completed 10 years of providing amazing services to the cyber security community.
On celebrating its 10th anniversary the Offensive security team released Kali Linux 2023.1 with Kali purple designed for defensive security.
What’s New With Kali Linux 2023.1
Kali Purple – Defensive security
Python Changes – Python 3.11 & PIP
2023 Theme – New Theme for 2023
Desktop Updates – Xfce 4.18 & KDE Plasma 5.27
Default Kernel Settings – What makes the Kali kernel different
New Tool – 7 New Tools added
The Kali purple consists of SOC In-A-Box architecture which includes SOC analysis, Blue / Red / Purple team exercises, and design security controls.
It includes over 100 defensive tools such as Arkime, CyberChef, Elastic Security, GVM, TheHive, Malcolm, Suricata, and Zeek.
“We made offensive security accessible to everyone. No expensive licenses required, no need for commercial grade infrastructure, no writing code or compiling tools to make it all work… Just download Kali Linux and do your thing,” reads the announcement.
Following is the Kali Linux 2023.1 defensive menu structure.
Identify
Protect
Detect
Respond
Recover
Python Updates and Errors
Debian is moving to the next stable update, so there could be package updates everywhere. These updates may affect Python’s PIP behavior.
To avoid this warning Kali Team has provided a “temporary patch which prevents breaking of old packages.”
“Active package maintainers are upgrading their work to be the latest version, otherwise, it’s a long wait for the next release! Python is no exception, and Python 3.11 is now in Debian, which comes with more informative error tracebacks and huge speed increase (between 10-60%).”
Fresh 2023 ThemeinKali Linux 2023.1
Every year’s first release of Kali includes a theme refresh, following the 2023 update, and also includes wallpapers for desktop, login, and boot displays.
The desktop environments Xfce, KDE, and GNOME also updated to the latest versions to make feeling good.
Issues Fixed
Nvidia users had a nightmare with Kali Linux as their 525 series broke with some of the GPU models.
Kali Team states that the bug affects all the Linux distributions including Debian, Ubuntu, and Arch Linux.
The only possible solution is to uninstall the Nvidia drivers, then reboot:
If you are a new user you can download it from here. If you already have an existing Kali Linux installation, you can do a quick update using the commands.
With the UK’s Online Safety Bill set to become law this year, WhatsApp is standing its ground against weakening encryption.
WhatsApp will not comply with the UK’s Online Safety Bill when it passes legislation as is. In fact, WhatsApp would rather cease serving UK users, which make up 2% of its global market, than weaken its end-to-end encryption (E2EE).
Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp at parent company Meta, made these claims in a briefing with the UK press on Thursday, March 9. He reportedly met with legislators to discuss the Bill, which Cathcart described as the most concerning online regulation in the Western world.
“The reality is, our users all around the world want security,” said Cathcart, The Guardianreported.
“Ninety-eight per cent of our users are outside the UK. They do not want us to lower the security of the product, and just as a straightforward matter, it would be an odd choice for us to choose to lower the security of the product in a way that would affect those 98% of users.”
The Bill includes a provision requiring companies to use “accredited technology” to scan messages for anti-terrorism and child protection purposes. It doesn’t say how such scans could be done, yet companies are liable for the content shared on their platforms.
At the moment, organizations cannot scan end-to-end encrypted messages. So, the only way they can comply with the Bill is to make private messages scannable. This means breaking E2EE.
And breaking E2EE in order to scan for terrorism and child sexual abuse images, also means breaking encryption for the crooks too, as it will likely introduce backdoors that create vulnerabilities for attackers and hostile states to exploit. This also precedes state-mandated surveillance on a mass scale, with privacy and security risks affecting entire societies.
“If a country like the UK pushed for that [breaking encryption] on the internet, that would shape what other countries all around the world ask for on different topics on different issues,” Cathcart said, reports Politico.
Client-side scanning (CSS), a technology that can intercept and filter messages before being sent, was seen as an alternative to weakening end-to-end encryption. Still, a study argued it doesn’t guarantee “efficacious crime prevention nor prevents surveillance”. Akin to wiretapping, CSS can give governments access to private content. Its potential for abuse will not be left unnoticed.
WhatsApp refusing to comply would subject it to fines of up to 4% of Meta’s annual turnover. However, this wouldn’t happen if WhatsApp pulls out of the UK market—a possibility that Signal, another popular private messaging app, has already threatened to do.
Wired reports that WhatsApp has reported more CSAM to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) than all other tech giants combined. Internet Watch Foundation’s head of policy and public affairs, Michael Tunks disagreed: “There’s a problem with child abuse in end-to-end encrypted environments.”
“The bill does not seek to undermine end-to-end encryption in any way,” he said. “The online safety bill is very clear that scanning is specifically about CSAM and also terrorism. The government has been pretty clear they are not seeking to repurpose this for anything else.”
The Online Safety Bill will be returning to Parliament this summer.
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Samsung has released the March 2023 Android security patch for the Galaxy S10 series. The latest security update is currently rolling out to the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10+ in Europe. The company should cover the Galaxy S10 5G with the new SMR (Security Maintenance Release) in the coming days. It should also expand the release to other markets soon, including the US.
The March SMR for Galaxy devices patches more than 60 vulnerabilities. These include 23 Samsung Vulnerabilities and Exposures (SVE) items. SVEs are Galaxy-specific privacy and security flaws. These flaws don’t exist on Android products from other brands. The Korean firm patched issues with Settings, SystemUI, Bluetooth, Galaxy Themes Service, Exynos baseband, Samsung Keyboard, Call application, and many other system apps, services, and components. Some of these flaws allowed local attackers to access protected data or sensitive information without proper permission.
Apart from these Galaxy-specific patches, the March SMR for Samsung’s Android devices also includes 40-odd patches part of Google’s latest ASB (Android Security Bulletin). These are patches for vulnerabilities in Android OS and other partner components, provided by the respective vendors. At least five of these flaws were labeled critical by the Android maker. Some of them allowed remote code execution, paving a way for attackers to remotely take control of an affected device without the victim’s knowledge.
Samsung pushes the March security update to the Galaxy S10 series
Samsung has been seeding these vulnerability fixes to its Galaxy devices since last week. It has already updated the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S22, Galaxy S21, and Galaxy S20 phones to the March SMR. The Galaxy S10 lineup is now joining the party too. According to SamMobile, which first reported this rollout, users of the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10+ in Bulgaria, Serbia, the Baltic region, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands are receiving this update with the firmware build number G97xFXXSGHWC1. A wider release should be just around the corner.
The Galaxy S10 trio doesn’t seem to be picking up anything else with this update. Samsung is only pushing the latest vulnerability fixes to its 2019 flagships. And this isn’t surprising. Having already completed four years in the market, the devices are at the fag ends of their lives. They will only pick a few more security updates before the company drops official support for them. The Galaxy S10 series stopped getting feature updates after Android 12. If you’re using any of these phones, you should consider upgrading to a newer mode. You can check out these Galaxy S23 deals.
The exponential growth of digital technology has boosted the generation and collection of vast data. The quantity of information available has surpassed traditional methods’ processing capabilities. As a result, more companies are looking into growth opportunities powered by big data.
However, the abundant data availability raises concerns about the information’s quality and relevance. And the question of whether the quantity or quality of Big Data is more important has become a topic of debate. While having access to large amounts of data can provide insights into complex problems, the value of data ultimately depends on its accuracy, relevance, and usefulness.
How big is big data?
Big data refers to extensive and complex data sets that often cannot be effectively processed using traditional data processing techniques. The size definition can change as technology advances and the volume, velocity, and variety of data generated by various sources continue to grow exponentially.
So which road should a company take to leverage the full potential of Big Data, and how can various solutions like proxies help gather relevant data? Let’s find out.
The importance of quality in data collection
High-quality Big Data has several benefits that make it valuable for businesses in various industries:
It enables better decision-making by providing accurate and relevant information. With big data, organizations can identify patterns, trends, and insights that may not have been apparent before, leading to more informed and data-driven decisions.
Quality data can also improve operational efficiency and productivity. By analyzing process data, companies can pinpoint inefficiencies and areas for improvement, leading to better resource allocation and optimization.
It can help businesses personalize their offerings and services to meet the needs and preferences of individual customers. Companies can tailor their marketing, sales, and customer-facing service strategies by analyzing customer data to provide a more personalized experience.
The importance of Big Data quality is undeniable. It can provide a competitive advantage, enhance customer satisfaction, and improve business outcomes.
The base of big data – volume
The quantity of Big Data is like the foundation, especially in research and development processes. But there are other advantages of extracting large amounts of data.
Researchers can conduct more comprehensive analyses and identify more subtle patterns.
Enough data can be used for predictive modeling and forecasting, enabling businesses to anticipate future trends and plan accordingly.
A big volume of data can power up machine learning and artificial intelligence applications, allowing computers to learn and adapt based on large datasets.
It can also facilitate cross-disciplinary collaborations, as data from multiple sources can be combined and analyzed to understand complex issues comprehensively.
Large quantities of data can help businesses accelerate their growth. Enough data allows seeing a bigger picture of changing customers’ behavior and evaluating competitors’ developments.
Overall, big data can provide unique insights and opportunities that would not be possible with smaller datasets.
How to extract valuable data for your business growth
Although some companies already sell ready-to-digest datasets, they are often rather expensive and might not provide the information the business needs. Luckily, there are affordable solutions that can help companies extract data from various sources.
Scrapers are a perfect fit for businesses looking into data-fueled growth opportunities. There are options tailored to every use case, from DIY data collection tools to custom-built scraping solutions. DIY scraping tools, such as web scraping software or browser extensions, are cost-effective for smaller businesses looking to scrape data from the most popular websites. On the other hand, custom-built scraping solutions can be more expensive but adapted to the most sophisticated requirements the business might carry.
To obtain the necessary data, businesses should ensure that their scraping solutions are reliable and suitable for their use case. Regularly testing and monitoring their scraping activities can help check if data is being collected effectively. The effectiveness of the scraper highly depends on the anti-scraping software employed by the target. If used standalone, scraping solutions might not deliver the highest success rate.
However, residential proxies can help scrapers gather data even from websites with advanced anti-scraping plugins. With proxies, businesses can mask their original IP address and appear to be accessing the target from a residential location, making it more difficult for websites to detect and block their scraping activities. In short, proxies allow businesses to gather valuable public data, such as pricing information or competitor analysis, without being detected or blocklisted.
Bottom line
The importance of data quality versus quantity varies depending on a business’s needs and goals. In industries such as healthcare or finance, data quality is paramount since incomplete or inaccurate data can have severe consequences. However, companies in the marketing or eCommerce industries may prioritize data quantity to identify trends and make informed decisions.
Ultimately, organizations should strive to achieve the balance between quality and quantity of data, ensuring that they have enough data to make informed decisions and that the data they use is accurate and reliable.
The phrase “data is the new oil” continues to influence more businesses to dive deeper into Big Data. And, like in every industry, efficiency is vital when working with data. Use scraping solutions paired together with residential proxies to extract accurate data at a large volume and see a bigger picture of what’s next in your industry.
This week on Lock and Code, we speak with author and Twitter pro Becky Holmes about how she teases, fights, and shuts down online romance scammers.
Becky Holmes knows how to throw a romance scammer off script—simply bring up cannibalism.
In January, Holmes shared on Twitter that an account with the name “Thomas Smith” had started up a random chat with her that sounded an awful lot like the beginnins stages of a romance scam. But rather than instantly ignoring and blocking the advances—as Holmes recommends everyone do in these types of situations—she first had a little fun.
“I was hoping that you’d let me eat a small part of you when we meet,” Holmes said. “No major organs or anything obviously. I’m not weird lol.”
By just a few messages later, “Thomas Smith” had run off, refusing to respond to Holmes’ follow-up requests about what body part she fancied, along with her preferred seasoning (paprika).
Romance scams are a serious topic. In 2022, the US Federal Trade Commission reported that, in the five years prior, victims of romance scams had reported losing a collective $1.3 billion. In just 2021, that number was $547 million, and the average amount of money reported stolen per person was $2,400. Worse, romance scammers themselves often target vulnerable people, including seniors, widows, and the recently divorced, and they show no remorse when developing long-lasting online relationships, all bit on lies, so that they can emotionally manipulate their victims into handing over hundreds or thousands of dollars.
But what would you do if you knew a romance scammer had contacted you and you, like our guest on today’s Lock and Code podcast with host David Ruiz, had simply had enough? If you were Becky Holmes, you’d push back.
For a couple of years now, Holmes has teased, mocked, strung along, and shut down online romance scammers, much of her work in public view as she shares some of her more exciting stories on Twitter. There’s the romance scammer who she scared by not only accepting an invitation to meet, but ratcheting up the pressure by pretending to pack her bags, buy a ticket to Stockholm, and research venues for a perhaps too-soon wedding. There’s the scammer she scared off by asking to eat part of his body. And, there’s the story of the fake Brad Pitt:
“ My favorite story is Brad Pitt and the the dead tumble dryer repairman. And I honestly have to say, I don’t think I’m ever going to top that. Every time …I put a new tweet up, I think, oh, if only it was Brad Pitt and the dead body. I’m just never gonna get better.”
Tune in today to hear about Holmes’ best stories, her first ever effort to push back, her insight into why she does what she does, and what you can do to spot a romance scam—and how to safely respond to one.
Looking to accelerate your business? Our 2023 State of Malware report will equip you with the cybersecurity strategies you need to protect against the five most dangerous cyberthreats facing businesses this year.
The leak page for data stolen from the Lehigh Valley Health Network. Apart from the clinical photos, ALPHV also leaked sensitive, personally identifiable information on passports and questionnaires.
