Current Events in October 2018

A Seattle-based startup called Privacy Labs recently unveiled a device that allows everyday consumers to send and receive email, as well as utilize contacts and calendar services, from their own personal web domain.

The device, dubbed “Helm,” was born out of the belief that “everyone should have the right to their online lives,” according to co-founder and CEO Giri Sreenivas. Instead of storing information in the cloud, information is stored and encrypted in the device.

“Right now, nearly all of the data that comprises your online life is stored in a massive data center,” Sreenivas wrote in a blog post. “You don’t own it. You can’t see it, you can’t touch it — and you don’t know who can. That dream of a device that would make data ‘ownable’ to the individual — not a stranger — is what led to Helm.”

Personal computer server

In terms of size, the Helm Personal Server isn’t very large; it’s about as big as an upside-down book. It sits on a table or desk, connects to a home network, and pairs with an app that lets users create their own domain name, passwords, and recovery keys.

It costs $499, which includes 128 gigabytes of local storage and a year of email, calendar, contacts, and a web domain for multiple users. After the first year, owners pay an annual subscription fee of $99.

Privacy Labs says it plans to add services other than email, contacts, and calendar. Future services will include photo storage, password management, and virtual private networking.

Although personal email servers already exist, Helm was created with the aim of being easy to configure and maintain for the average user. It takes just three minutes to set up.

“With Helm, you can be safe, secure, and in control, knowing your data is right where it should be: with you, so you can live online on your own terms,” Sreenivas wrote. “It all starts with email, and over the coming months and years, our team will be working on a number of additional services, each bringing you one step closer to total autonomy online.”

Future aspirations

Privacy Labs eventually wants to become a “digital-identity hub” for everything consumers do on the internet, according to Bloomberg. In an age where digital security is at the forefront of many consumers’ minds, Privacy Labs wants to give consumers total control of their data and make it so that companies have to ask for access.

“We want to help people break through the way the internet works today and not engage with Google and other big tech companies,” Sreenivas told Bloomberg, adding that he sees the iPhone as Helm’s only major competitor.

“Apple Inc. has been putting more data and computing processes on the device, and it increasingly stresses privacy benefits. Still, iPhones continue to rely on cloud-based services like iCloud and the devices regularly ping data centers run by internet giants like Google, he said,” according to Bloomberg.

While researchers continue to look for the cause of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience explores the connection between the development of the condition and the herpes virus.

Researcher Ruth Itzhaki has spent over two decades studying the relationship between herpes and Alzheimer’s, and in this most recent study she studied the effects that herpes flare ups have on neurons in the brain.

Exploring the connection  

Herpes never goes away entirely, with the condition often flaring up during times of stress or illness. The most severe form of herpes is Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV1), and according to Itzhaki, this strand of the infection could account for “50 percent or more of Alzheimer’s disease cases.”

A key component of Itzhaki’s theory was testing an antiviral drug that could alleviate the risk of senile dementia in people that had herpes.

To get an accurate population sampling to test this theory, Itzhaki utilized data taken from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, which documents information on disease and infections.

As nearly all of Taiwan’s population is enrolled in the Database, Itzhaki was able to evaluate three studies published between 2017 and 2018 that described the ways patients with HSV1 were treated by healthcare professionals; the data showed the evolution of those with senile dementia.

Itzhaki found that the antiviral drug was an effective course of treatment for those who were infected with HSV1 and then developed dementia. She also found that those who already have HSV1 areat a much greater risk of later developing senile dementia.

Itzhaki noted that this study focuses on those with the most severe cases of the infection, and future research would have to focus on dementia rates in those with more mild forms of herpes.

Despite this, Itzhaki was confident in the study’s results.

“Considering that over 150 publications strongly support an HSV1 role in Alzheimer’s, these Taiwan findings greatly justify usage of anti-herpes antivirals -- which are safe and well tolerated -- to treat Alzheimer’s disease,” said Itzhaki. “They also incentivize development of an HSV1 vaccine, which would likely be the most effective treatment.”

Recent Alzheimer’s breakthroughs

Alzheimer’s research continues to be a point of emphasis for the medical community, and researchers have made considerable contributions to the field in recent months.

Back in July, a major drug company reported positive results from a clinical trial for a new Alzheimer’s drug. The study involved nearly 900 participants in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, and after 18 months, the drug was found to be successful in slowing the progress of the disease.

Later in the summer, researchers at the University of Adelaide found a link between iron in our cells and a rare genetic mutation that causes Alzheimer’s.

Most recently, researchers from the Clinical Memory Research Unit at Lund University found a new brain imaging technique that would help doctors diagnose Alzheimer’s more accurately. The PET scan involved in the study proved to be more successful than traditional treatments that are currently used to diagnose Alzheimer’s, and the researchers are confident the method will gain popularity worldwide.

Ruiz Food Products of Denison, Texas, is recalling approximately 2.491 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry taquitos.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following ready-to-eat meat and poultry taquitos, produced from July 1 – October 10, 2018, are being recalled:

• 4.5-lbs. cardboard cases containing 24-count Go-Go Taquitos “Beef Taco & Cheese Taquitos” with a case code 86183 printed on the label.
• 4.5-lbs. cardboard cases containing 24-count Go-Go Taquitos “Buffalo Style Cooked Glazed Chicken Taquitos” with a case code 86006 printed on the label.
• 4.5-lbs. cardboard cases containing 24-count Go-Go Taquitos “Chipotle Chicken Wrapped in A Battered Flour Tortilla” with a case code 86019 printed on the label.

The recalled products, bearing establishment numbers “17523A or P-17523A” and “45694 or P-45694” in the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped to distributors nationwide.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but discard them or or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may may contact the Ruiz Food Products consumer hotline at (800) 772-6474.

Bakkavor Foods USA located in Carson, Calif., Charlotte, N.C., and Jessup, Penn., is recalling approximately 795,261 pounds of ready-to-eat Harris Teeter and Trader Joe's meat and poultry products.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following ready-to-eat items, produced from September 27, 2017, through October 15, 2018, are being recalled:

• 16-oz. plastic-wrapped with paperboard sleeve packages containing HARRIS TEETER FRESH FOODS MARKET DELI-BAKERY brand “BBQ STYLE CHICKEN ARTISAN PIZZA,” with “Use By” dates from 01/07/19 through 04/11/19 (inclusive) printed on the case packaging.

• 8-oz. butcher-paper wrapped packages containing HARRIS TEETER FRESH FOODS MARKET DELI-BAKERY brand “CHICKEN SAUSAGE, EGG WHITE and CHEESE BREAKFAST BURRITO,” with “Use By” dates from 01/24/18 through 10/25/18 (inclusive) printed on the case packaging.

• 8-oz. butcher-paper wrapped packages containing HARRIS TEETER FRESH FOODS MARKET DELI-BAKERY brand “BACON, EGG and CHEESE BURRITO,” with “Use By” dates from 01/24/18 through 10/25/18 (inclusive) printed on the case packaging.

• 10-oz. butcher-paper wrapped packages containing “TRADER JOE’S CARNITAS WITH SALSA VERDE Burrito,” with “Use By” dates from 10/08/17 through 10/24/18 (inclusive) printed on the retail packaging.

The recalled products, bearing establishment numbers “EST. 19198,” “P-19198,” “EST. 46937” or “EST. 45335,” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but discard them or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact the Bakkavor Foods USA corporate recall line at (855) 312-7504.

Envolve Foods of Corona, Calif., is recalling approximately 292,764 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken and beef products.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following ready-to-eat items, produced and packaged from February 2, 2017, through October 12, 2018, are being recalled:

• 22-oz. plastic bags containing “simple truth, Chicken Bibimbap” and a case code number of 011110890108 on the label and use by/sell by dates of 11/2/18 through 3/12/20.

• 22-oz. plastic bags containing “simple truth, Thai Style Green Curry” and a case code number of 011110816382 on the label and use by/sell by dates of 3/13/19 through 1/24/20.

• 22-oz. plastic bags containing “simple truth, Chicken Tikka Masala” and a case code of 011110890092 on the label and use by/sell by dates of 3/22/19 through 4/12/19.

• 10-lb. cases containing “CADENCE GOURMET, Steak Fajitas,” with an item number of SS00024, and an expiration dates of 11/1/2018 through 01/18/19, on the label.

• 10-lb. cases containing “CADENCE GOURMET, Tuscan Tomato Basil Chicken & Sausage,” with an item number of SS00032, and an expiration dates of 10/20/18 through 01/09/19 on the label.

• 10-lb. cases containing “CADENCE GOURMET, Rustic Toasted Tomato Basil Chicken & Vegetables,” with an item number of SS00047, and an expiration dates of 2/05/19 through 10/12/19 on the label.

The recalled products, bearing establishment number “EST. 44857” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped to distribution warehouses nationwide.

What to do

Customers who have purchased the recalled should not consume them, but discard them or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may call the company’s customer service hotline at (877)-244-0947.

SK Food Group of Groveport, Ohio, and Reno, Nev., is recalling approximately 174,207 pounds of jenny Craig chicken wraps.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

The following, frozen, fully cooked items, produced from October 15, 2017, through October 15, 2018, are being recalled:

• 4.5-oz. plastic packages containing “jenny CRAIG CHICKEN WRAP WITH BBQ SAUCE,” with lot codes WO0096753S10, WO0097880S10, WO0098216S10, WO0098565S10, WO0098923S10, WO0100691S10, WO0100692S10, WO0101746S10, WO0101861S10, WO0102176S10, WO0102469S10, WO0102758S10, WO0103920S10, WO0104247S10, WO0104353S10, WO0104615S10, WO0104995S10, WO0106312, WO0106312S10, WO0106945S10, WO0107556S10, WO0108694S10, WO0108695S10, WO0096753S02, WO0097880S02, WO0098216S02, WO00982416S02, WO0098565S02, WO0098923S02, WO0100691S02, WO0100692S02 and WO0101746S02.

The recalled products, bearing establishment number “EST. 45367” or “EST. 20552” stamped on the product centerfold, were shipped directly to consumers through catalog sales in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Texas.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but discard them or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall may contact Steve Sposari at (206) 957-6225.

If you were one of the 30 million Facebook users whose data was accessed by unauthorized third parties, then Facebook has its own version of encouraging news. The hackers were spammers who wanted your money, not foreign agents trying to influence your vote. Congratulations?

A new report by the Wall Street Journal says that, according to Facebook, the hackers were linked to a digital marketing company that specializes in deceptive advertising. People familiar with Facebook’s internal investigation assured the paper that the hackers didn't have ties to a nation-state.

Apple scam

A Reddit user reportedly caught a new, realistic phishing email scam that could trick iPhone users into handing over the usernames and passwords to their Apple accounts. The email appears to be from Apple and lets a user know that they have completed a purchase through Spotify. Once the confused recipient clicks to review the purchase, they are directed to a site that is a realistic imitation of an Apple login page.

But a look at the web address, according to a screenshot captured, shows that the address does not correspond to Apple. It’s all part of what security expert Tim Sadler says is a classic phishing scam.

"Phishing emails, like spam, are bulk in nature, but are often farming for a user's credentials by mimicking the identity of a trusted website or service – in this case, Apple and Spotify,” he told the Sun.

Minnesota private records

Government employees, it’s time to do a better job of screening suspicious emails. A phishing email scam targeting state email accounts in Minnesota may have revealed the social security numbers, medical records, employment information, and financial records for 21,000 residents.

“Because the Minnesota Department of Human Services respects and values the privacy of your personal information, we want you to know about two recent data security incidents that may have resulted in someone accessing your personal information without permission,” the state wrote in a recent letter to potential victims of the hack.

Victims are urged to keep an eye on their credit card records.

For the second time in four months, the federal government is asking the Supreme Court to toss a lawsuit demanding it act on climate change for the sake of younger generations.

The youth climate change lawsuit, as it is known, was originally filed by a group of 21 children and teenagers in Oregon in 2015. The group alleged that the United States government and state agencies were knowingly doing nothing to stop global warming. The suit says that such inaction is in violation of the constitutional rights of younger generations, specifically “their right to 'life, liberty, and property' as enshrined in the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment."

While former President Barack Obama has long said man-made climate change is a real phenomenon, numerous oil and gas projects requiring federal permits continued under his watch, and climate scientists and activists said he was not doing enough to curb emissions.

Sure enough, his administration filed a motion trying to toss the kids’ case in 2016, only for a U.S. District Justice in Oregon to side with the kids and send the case to the Supreme Court.

Despite President Donald Trump’s tendency to undo any action put in place by his predecessor, the youth climate change lawsuit appears to be the one of the few areas where the two administrations are in agreement.

After the Supreme Court decided on July 30 that the case "presents substantial grounds for difference of opinion” and refused to toss it, the Trump administration on Thursday once again filed a motion requesting a stay.

The decision is now up to Chief Justice John Roberts of the Ninth Circuit, and he can either rule on his own or send the case to the Supreme Court, potentially kicking Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court career off with one of the country’s most high-profile environmental lawsuits.

Kavanaugh has previously said that “humans are contributing” to the earth’s warming temperatures, but he has also argued that it should be up to Congress, not the Environmental Protection Agency, to do something about the problem.

The plaintiffs, now ranging in age from 11 to 22, could see the case go to trial on October 29 if the courts do not intervene before then.

The ongoing investigation into alleged price-fixing in the canned tuna industry reached another milestone this week as StarKist, one of the top three canned tuna producers, pleaded guilty to fixing prices.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, StarKist entered a guilty plea to a one-count felony charge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco. According to the plea, StarKist agreed to fix the prices of canned tuna fish from as early as November 2011, through at least as late as December 2013.

In a deal with federal prosecutors, the company agreed to cooperate in the ongoing investigation. It will face a criminal fine of up to $100 million that could be reduced at sentencing.

StarKist is one of three companies at the center of the Justice Department probe. In May 2017, Bumble Bee Tuna also pleaded guilty to conspiring with rivals and retailers to keep the price of canned tuna artificially high.

Taking a cue from Walmart

After Walmart filed a civil lawsuit alleging price collusion in the canned tuna industry, the federal investigation expanded to include most companies within the industry.

“The conspiracy to fix prices on these household staples had direct effects on the pocketbooks of American consumers,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “All Americans have the right to the benefits of free and open competition — the best goods and services at a price free from collusion. We will continue to hold companies and individuals who cheat consumers accountable.”

The investigation is headed by the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division in San Francisco. So far, the probe has produced a total of six charges.

Two years ago, Walmart sued the big three tuna companies – StarKist, Bumble Bee, and Chicken of the Sea – claiming they control as much as 80 percent of the canned tuna market and used that control to fix prices from as early as 2008 to 2015. Other grocery retailers, such as Kroger, Wegmans, and Albertsons, have filed similar actions.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a harsh critic of Wells Fargo from the earliest days of the unauthorized accounts scandal, is pressing for continued sanctions against the bank.

Warren has sent a letter to Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell urging him to maintain the Fed's punitive growth restrictions on Wells Fargo until the bank replaces CEO John Sloan with, in the senator's words, “someone who is not deeply implicated in the bank's misconduct.”

Sloan served as Wells Fargo's chief operating officer (COO) before being elevated to CEO, replacing John Stumpf, who took early retirement following the 2016 revelation that Wells Fargo employees had opened millions of checking and credit card accounts without customers' knowledge or consent.

In response the Fed placed restrictions on the bank, including limits to how quickly, and to what extent it could grow.

Follows bank’s positive earnings report

Warren's letter follows last week's third quarter earnings report, showing Wells Fargo earned more revenue than expected during the period, even as its bottom line came in slightly softer than expected. On a conference call with analysts last week, Sloan said the results reflect the positive changes the bank has been making.

The Fed issued an order in February telling Wells Fargo it would not be permitted to get any larger until it improved its internal controls. In her letter to Chairman Powell, Warner argued those changes will not happen until there is a change at the top.

Bank confident it’s meeting requirements

In a statement to the media, Wells Fargo said it continues to have a “constructive dialog” with the Fed and is working to satisfy its obligations under the consent order. A spokesman said the bank is confident that it is meeting its requirements.

"Mr. Sloan's long track record at the bank demonstrates little ability to 'effectively manage the firm's activities' - and should give the Federal Reserve little confidence that he can help transform the bank's culture and operations as the Cease and Desist Order requires," Warren wrote in her letter.

"To effectively enforce the requirements in the February 2, 2018 Cease and Desist order, the Federal Reserve should not remove the growth cap on WFC until the Board replaces Mr. Sloan with a new CEO who has not contributed to the very problems the Federal Reserve is seeking to fix," the letter continued.

In the wake of the 2016 scandal Warren not only pushed for the removal of Stumpf as CEO but also urged the Fed to remove 12 members of the bank's board of directors. She renewed that call in July 2017 when it was revealed as many as 800,000 auto loan customers were sold insurance they didn't need.

The lightning-fast pace of technology has dug deeper into consumers’ billfolds. Mastercard announced on Friday that signatures will soon be optional for all cardholders, not only on the card but on receipts, as well. Mastercard issuers will start distributing the signature panel-less cards in April, 2019.

Having the luxury of get-it-and-go without having to sign anything offers consumers the ability to save time and deal with a little less hassle at the tail end of a transaction for those who “tap-and-pay.”

Mastercard didn’t come to this change quickly. In a study of 1,200+ credit card users, only 40 percent said they had put their John Hancock on the back of their cards, and one-third of those who haven’t signed said they didn’t really see any value in doing it anyway.

“With modern, advanced forms of authentication now available, removing the requirement for signature capture at the point of sale and now signature panels on Mastercard cards is an important step in support of our digital evolution,” said Linda Kirkpatrick, executive vice president, U.S. Merchants and Acceptance, Mastercard. “Issuers, merchants and cardholders will benefit from this change as faster, safer options improve satisfaction and increase sales.”

Mastercard said the move to signature-less was also delayed until cards embedded with chips became common.

Any security risk?

In Mastercard’s research, most of the survey takers didn’t believe that leaving their signature off posed a risk, and two-thirds of the respondents said they preferred biometrics over the standard signatures, PIN numbers, and passwords when paying with their card.

“We see this as a win for all. The investments we’ve made in technology like artificial intelligence and biometrics are what’s powering this next step,” said Ajay Bhalla, president of Mastercard’s cyber and intelligence solutions.

“We believe our merchant and issuing partners everywhere will embrace the ability to deliver a simpler checkout experience while maintaining the highest levels of security.”

To give consumers an extra ounce of confidence in Mastercard’s technology move, the company says that users will remain protected against fraud via Mastercard Zero Liability coverage. However, knowing the caveats of the policy will be important to ensure that there are no gaps.

If a consumer’s card ever gets compromised, the company’s Zero Liability policy states that the card user will not be held responsible for unauthorized transactions only if:

• The user has used reasonable care in protecting their card from loss or theft; and

• The user promptly reports loss or theft to their financial institution.

Verifi, an ecommerce solution provider, tells ConsumerAffairs that adding three-factor authentication through biometrics will help ensure that consumers’ identities are protected. However, there are drawbacks to consider.

“The plus for biometrics is that they cannot easily be counterfeited as they are unique to the customer and they are easily accessible for the user,” a company representative said. “On the flip side, this type of authentication is less convenient for consumers and usually requires a longer time commitment for the checkout process as the merchant is requiring an additional factor of authentication.”

A new study conducted by researchers at Florida State University explores the effects of paternal nicotine use on future children.

Pregnant women have been warned against smoking for decades, as there is no shortage of negative health risks associated with nicotine exposure, but a lack of research on fathers’ smoking habits and their future children led the scientists to dive in.

Though the testing has been limited to mice so far, the outcomes show that paternal smoking can affect cognition in both children and grandchildren.

“Cigarette smoking was more common in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s compared to today,” said research Pradeep Bhide. “Could that exposure be revealing itself as a marked rise in the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and autism?”

New discoveries

The researchers exposed an experimental group of male mice to nicotine in their drinking water for 12 weeks, after which they were bred with female mice that had no nicotine exposure. The same process was repeated with a control group of male mice that were not exposed to nicotine.

While the father’s behavior remained stable, the researchers noted cognitive differences in both the male and female offspring. The babies were found to have cognitive inflexibility -- meaning they lacked the ability to cognitively adjust to new conditions and showed signs of attention deficits and hyperactivity.

The researchers linked these side effects to the way the nicotine affected the father’s sperm. Bhide says some of these cognitive difficulties are temporary, though some can last longer, and more research needs to be done to determine a more concrete timetable.

“In analyzing spermatozoa from the father, we found multiple genes with epigenetic changes,” said researcher Deirdre McCarthy. “This includes the dopamine D2 gene, which has an important role in brain development and learning. This is likely the source for the cognitive deficits found in the descendants.”

Overall, the researchers believe these findings to be significant, as many couples are unaware of the effects father’s smoking can have on future generations.

“Doctors may not warn men that their smoking could be harming their unborn child even if the mother never smoked,” said Bhide. “I believe our study brings this to the fore.”

Bhide believes the findings would hold up should the study evolve to include humans.

Many parents consider high school to be an important stepping stone to their child’s future college and career achievements; that’s why many consumers want to ensure that their child’s place in a top school.

A group of researchers recently delved into this subject area, studying the outcomes of students who attend some of the “best” high schools. The researchers wanted to see what was more likely to affect a student -- a school that was comprised of children from affluent backgrounds or a school that was focused on high-achievement.

The researchers used data from Project TALENT -- a study that follows high school students nationwide for 50 years -- to see how the students’ choice of high school affected them throughout their lives.

“Above and beyond students’ individual capabilities and their family background, more selective schools provided both benefits and risks to students, which translated into real-world differences in their career years later,” said lead researcher Richard Göllner. “Specifically, being in a high school with a higher average socioeconomic background benefited students later on, whereas being in a school with a higher average achievement level harmed students later on.”

High achievement comes at a price

To get a strong assessment on the way the difference in high schools’ affected students later in life, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 400,000 students at over 1,200 schools across the country.

They assessed the students’ scores on standardized tests, their expectations for achievement, and their economic backgrounds.

The researchers found that students who attended schools that placed a greater emphasis on academic achievement were more likely to struggle later in life, compared with those who went to wealthier schools. Both 11 and 50 years after high school, these students were found to have lower incomes and lower educational and career achievement.

The exact opposite was true of students who attended more affluent schools. They pursued -- and earned -- more degrees in higher education, made more money, and landed careers that were more desired.

Managing expectations

The researchers believe this outcome is related to the students’ own expectations. Those in high-achieving environments are often comparing themselves to other students, which the researchers found can lead to lower expectations for themselves, as they’re always looking over their shoulders at their peers.

“The permanent comparison with high-achieving peers seemed to harm students’ beliefs in their own abilities and that was associated with serious consequences for their later careers,” said Göllner.

In future research, the scientists are hoping to explore the effects teachers can have on student-learning outcomes. Their goal is to foster a more supportive learning environment that puts an end to students comparing themselves to one another.

On Friday, T-Mobile officially launched a new program that gives consumers three years to pay off certain smartphones, rather than the usual two years.

The following phones will be eligible for the 36-month extended payment plan: the Samsung Galaxy S8, S9; the LG G7 ThinQ; and the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR. Those who qualify for the plan could pay “as little as $10 a month for your new smartphone” when they trade in an eligible device, according to T-Mobile.

The devices that are eligible for trade-in include:

• Apple iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus; Samsung Galaxy S8 series, Note8; Google Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel, Pixel XL; LG V30, G7

• iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s+, iPhone 6, iPhone 6+; Samsung: GS7 series, Note 5, GS6 series; LG: V20, G6; Motorola: Z2 Force; One Plus: 5, 5T, 6.

• iPhone 5C, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone SE; Samsung: GS4 series, GS5 series, Note 4; HTC: 10; LG: G5, G4, V10; Motorola Nexus 6; One Plus: 3, 3T, X, 2, 1

Depending on the condition and model of the device being traded in, customers could get up to $360 in bill credits toward the purchase of a new phone.

New deals

In a press release about the new extended payment option, T-Mobile's CEO John Legere pointed out that a family of four can sign up for the T-Mobile Essentials plan and get a new device for $50 per month per line with autopay.

“T-Mobile ONE includes all the extras — the industry’s best travel benefits, a personal Team of Experts for all your customer care needs, Netflix included for families, unlimited mobile hotspot and so much more. Starting Friday, well-qualified customers with trade-in and T-Mobile’s new 36-month EIP can get 4 lines of T-Mobile ONE and four new phones for as little as $50 a month per line with autopay,” the CEO said.

Legere also made sure he didn’t miss an opportunity to take a shot at the competition.

"Everyone knows we’ve got America’s fastest 4G LTE network and now we’ve got some of the best deals of the year on new smartphones. We’re not messing around," Legere said. "Forty dollars a month will only get you data on Dumb and Dumber’s congested networks. At T-Mobile, $40 a month will get you a hot new smartphone AND unlimited, so you can unleash everything that new phone is capable of doing!"

Uber is testing an on-demand staffing service called Uber Works, which would let companies recruit temporary workers for events or corporate functions, the Financial Times reports.

The new program -- which is currently being tested in Chicago, following a pilot in Los Angeles earlier this year -- would be the company’s first effort to tap into an industry other than transportation.

Although Uber hasn’t made any official statements about Uber Works, advertisements for the program suggest that the company is seeking candidates with a “strong interest in the on-demand labor space” able to be “on call when the product is busiest (often nights, weekends, and holidays)”.

Diversifying its offerings

In addition to ride-hailing, Uber currently offers freight hauling, food delivery, and electric scooters. The company’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, has said Uber plans to go public next year. The effort to expand beyond transportation is likely part of a larger goal to attract investors as the company prepares for its initial public offering.

"Uber Works could help to persuade potential investors in next year's IPO that Uber is more than just a transportation service, instead pitching it as a broader platform for all kinds of flexible work and on-demand services,” the Financial Times said.

If launched in markets beyond Chicago, Uber Works could also help Uber’s current employees make money when demand for rides is lower than usual. However, sources say the new program is primarily aimed at people who aren't currently drivers with Uber.

Ebay has filed a lawsuit against Amazon accusing the e-commerce giant of illegally poaching its third-party sellers, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The lawsuit, filed in California on Wednesday, seeks to block Amazon sales representatives from using eBay’s messaging system to hire sellers for its Marketplace. Ebay is also seeking unspecified damages as monetary relief for sales lost due to the alleged seller-poaching.

The lawsuit follows a cease and desist letter that eBay sent to Amazon on October 1.

“We can confirm that we have uncovered an unlawful and troubling scheme on the part of Amazon to solicit eBay sellers to move to Amazon’s platform,” eBay told the WSJ earlier this month. “We have demanded that Amazon end its unlawful activity and will take the appropriate steps, as needed, to protect eBay.”

Amazon said at the time that it was conducting a thorough investigation of the allegations.

‘Startling in breadth’

In an earlier report, the WSJ said eBay had discovered that roughly 50 Amazon employees in various parts of the world had sent more than 1,000 messages to sellers on its platform. The company said it became aware of the issue after being alerted by a seller.

The suit alleges that Amazon employees, "perpetrated a scheme to infiltrate and exploit eBay's internal member email system.” Ebay accuses its competitor of using special tactics to avoid being detected, such as putting dashes in between each letter of the word “Amazon” and spelling out email addresses when trying to lure “high-value” eBay sellers away from Amazon.

"The scheme is startling in breadth - involving large numbers of Amazon representatives ("Amazon reps"), targeting many hundreds of eBay sellers, and spanning several countries overseas and many states in the United States (including California)," the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit alleges that these practices violated a California computer crime law, as well as its own user agreement.

After an unusual post-summer surge over the last few weeks, gasoline prices have finally begun to back off to normal levels.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gasoline is $2.86 a gallon, down four cents from a week ago. It's still three cents higher than a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $3.42 a gallon, down three cents from last Friday. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.29 a gallon, the same a last week.

Prices are lower due to falling demand, and the future could see even lower prices, at least in the short run. That's because U.S. oil supplies are increasing. The Energy Information Administration reports U.S. Crude stockpiles grew by 6.5 million barrels last week, hitting 416 million barrels.

“The larger-than-expected growth in crude levels jolted the market, which had seen prices steadily rising due to concerns about U.S.-Saudi Arabia relations and upcoming U.S.-imposed sanctions on Iran’s crude exports,” AAA said in a market update. “With continued worries about global crude supply and demand this fall, more growth in total crude inventories could reduce concerns and push crude prices lower in the coming weeks if the trend continues.”

The biggest drop in prices at the pump this week occurred in the Midwest. In Ohio, the average price plunged by 15 cents a gallon. It's down by 10 cents in Indiana and is eight cents lower in Kentucky.

The states with the most expensive regular gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• Hawaii ($3.90)
• California ($3.81)
• Washington ($3.54)
• Alaska ($3.39)
• Oregon ($3.38)
• Idaho ($3.11)
• Nevada ($3.29)
• Pennsylvania ($3.05)
• Michigan ($3.02)
• Montana ($3.01)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

These states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas, the survey found:

• South Carolina ($2.59)
• Mississippi ($2.60)
• Alabama ($2.61)
• Louisiana ($2.63)
• Ohio ($2.62)
• Missouri ($2.62)
• Arkansas ($2.63)
• Texas ($2.63)
• Oklahoma ($2.65)
• Virginia ($2.65)

American Honda Motor Co. is recalling 54 model year 2017-2018 Honda Civics and CR-Vs.

The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become dislodged.

During a full lock turn, the dislodged magnet may cause steering assist to be applied in the opposite direction, reducing vehicle maneuverability and increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly, free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin November 5, 2018.

Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C2N, P2O.

The chairman and ranking Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee want to hear from executives at Hyundai and Kia about a reported rash of vehicle fires. A hearing on the subject has been scheduled for Nov. 14.

That follows a public statement last week from the Center for Auto Safety, which called on the Korean automakers to recall recent model cars and SUVs to address the problem. The group said it counted 220 reports of vehicle fires involving the two brands received by it and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“Since our call for an investigation into these Kia and Hyundai non-collision fires, we have seen reports of almost one fire every single day across these five models,” Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, said last week. “The number and severity of these complaints, when people are simply driving their cars on the highway, is frightening. It is long past time for Kia and Hyundai to act."

Hyundai is reviewing committee's request

In a statement to media outlets, Hyundai confirmed that it had received a request to appear before the committee and that the request is currently being reviewed. The company said it actively monitors potential safety concerns and acts quickly to correct them.

“We’ve got to get to the bottom of what’s causing these car fires,” Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) wrote in a tweet. “Owners deserve to know if their vehicles are safe, so we’ve called on the heads of Kia and Hyundai to testify in front of Congress.”

In response to the Center for Auto Safety report, Hyundai said in rare instances -- a rate of less than 1 percent -- some engines have caught fire. But the automaker said an "exhaustive" study showed there is no systemic defect that would cause the fires.

Flaming Sorento

The center has collected details of all 220 reports of vehicle fires involving the two brands. In one, a consumer from Clarksburg, Mass., said she was driving a 2011 Kia Sorento on the Massachusetts turnpike one morning and noticed the rear window was cloudy.

"I washed the rear windshield and kept on driving," the consumer reported. "A few minutes later a man pulled alongside me and signaled that I should pull over. I stopped the car and smoke started to come out from under the hood."

The consumer said by the time she pulled off the highway and called 911 there were flames coming from beneath the hood.

According to the Senate Commerce Committee, there has been at least one non-collision fire-related fatality when an Ohio man burned to death last year after getting in his mother’s 2014 Kia Soul.