Current Events in November 2018

Facebook users are being warned of an old scam that’s made its way back onto Facebook this holiday season.

The “Secret Sister” scam, which promises users 36 gifts through the mail after they buy a gift worth $10 of more and add their name to a list, is actually a pyramid scheme. In addition to being out money, the scam tricks users into making their personal information public.

"Anyone want to join in on this fun?" one version of the post reads, according to CBS News. "You have to buy one gift valued of at least $10 and send it to your secret sis. (Hello, Amazon!) you will then receive 6-36 gifts in return."

From there, users are instructed to comment, "I'm In,” for more information.

Avoiding the scam

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says consumers who may receive a chain letter -- either by mail, email, or social media -- should check with the BBB first, especially regarding propositions involving money or valuable items. These types of scams are illegal, and anyone who sends or participates in one is breaking the law.

The best thing to do is to ignore these letters altogether, the organization says.

When the “Secret Sister” gift exchange first started making the rounds in 2015, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) issued the following statement:

"The people at the top of the 'pyramid' benefit most — and might actually receive the items promised," the USPIS wrote. "However, for everyone to receive what they've been promised, each layer of the pyramid must attract new recruits. It's mathematically impossible to sustain."

Tumblr has confirmed that it pulled its app from the iOS App Store over the discovery of child pornography on the social media network.

The app was initially removed from the App store on November 16. At the time, Tumblr said it was “working to resolve the issue with the iOS app.” In the last few days, Download.com contacted Tumblr about the issue with sources claiming that the reason the app was removed was related to a matter involving child pornography.

Tumblr then issued a new statement which explained that content was discovered during a “routine audit” that wasn’t included in the database it was using to filter out child sex abuse material from appearing on its app.

“Every image uploaded to Tumblr is scanned against an industry database of known child sexual abuse material, and images that are detected never reach the platform. A routine audit discovered content on our platform that had not yet been included in the industry database,” Tumblr said in a statement.

Immediately removed

Tumblr said it immediately removed the content, but the app is still unavailable on the App store. However, Android users can still find the app in the Google Play store.

“We’re committed to helping build a safe online environment for all users, and we have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to media featuring child sexual exploitation and abuse,” Tumblr said. “As this is an industry-wide problem, we work collaboratively with our industry peers and partners like [the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children] (NCMEC) to actively monitor content uploaded to the platform.”

“Content safeguards are a challenging aspect of operating scaled platforms. We’re continuously assessing further steps we can take to improve and there is no higher priority for our team,” the Yahoo-owned platform added.

Tumblr hasn’t given a specific time frame for when its app will return to the App Store.

Disney will be investing around $24 billion to “supercharge its theme park division,” according to a report from the New York Times. The company will spend more money on parks than it did on Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar combined (more than $15 billion).

Disney’s parks, resorts, and other vacation destinations -- a roster that includes six locations in America, France, China, and Japan, as well as the Disney Cruise Line -- will receive new attractions and immersive upgrades.

“It can’t just be special — it has to be spectacular,” Bob Chapek, Disney’s theme park chairman, told the Times.

‘Enhancement on steroids’

Chapek, who described the overall expansion plan as “enhancement on steroids,” said a major goal is to add capacity to Disney’s most popular parks (Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea). Other locations will get upgrades that will help spread visitors more evenly throughout the grounds.

“You can only let so many people in a park before you start to impede on satisfaction level,” Chapek said.

Several resorts will get “Frozen” and Marvel rides, and a “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” park is headed to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida next year. The latter will feature provide guests with an interactive experience where they can board an Imperial Star Destroyer or “pilot” the Millennium Falcon.

Star Wars enhancements will also arrive at its hotel, where Disney is expected to unveil an experience of sleeping aboard a luxury Star Wars starship. In place of regular windows, the company will have screens projecting a view of space as the ship travels through the galaxy.

Disney’s investment in its Cruise Line will also be significant. The company has ordered three new ships costing roughly $1.25 billion each. Disney is also buying 746 acres on a Bahamian island to build a second Caribbean port.

Parks continue to do well

The company’s parks and resorts have continued to do well in recent years. They’ve seen a 100 percent increase in profits over the last five years. Disney reported an estimated $4.5 billion for the 2018 fiscal year, according to The Times.

“It’s the highest return on investment that Disney has,” said bank analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Jessica Reif.

By contrast, the company’s TV networks, like ESPN and ABC, pulled in a profit of $6.6 billion, a 3 percent decline.

Regardless of age, staying connected with friends and family is key to ensuring positive mental health. However, many older adults may find it hard to keep in touch with loved ones, particularly when they live far away, which researchers say can lead to depressive symptoms.

A new study conducted by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University found that older adults that regularly use video chatting apps -- such as Skype or FaceTime -- were less likely to experience symptoms associated with depression when compared to those who used other social media apps.

“Video chat came out as the undisputed champion,” said Dr. Alan Teo. “Older adults who used video chat technology such as Skype had significantly lower risk of depression.”

Positive power of social media

The researchers had over 1,400 participants, with an average age of 65 years old. Each person completed a survey about their social media and technology use so the researchers could gauge how often they used email, instant messaging, video chat, or social media platforms like Facebook.

Two years later, the participants were asked to take another survey measuring their symptoms associated with depression, if they had any.

Perhaps the biggest finding was the power that video chatting seemed to have on the participants’ development of depressive symptoms. Those that used Skype or FaceTime were half as likely to be depressed compared with those that primarily used email, instant messaging, or social media.

The researchers believe their study is the first of its kind that links the positive relationship between video chatting and reduced risk of depression symptoms in older adults.

Despite these positive results, Dr. Teo still encourages people of all ages to engage face-to-face with as many people as possible to ensure a healthy mind.

“If we’re looking at the reality of modern American life, we need to consider these communication technologies,” Dr. Teo said. “And when we do consider them and compare them, our findings indicate that I’m better of Skyping with my dad in Indiana than sending him a message on WhatsApp.”

Finding a balance

Recently, researchers have found both positives and negatives associated with social media. As powerful a tool as it is, it’s important that consumers find the balance that works for them.

Last month, researchers found that words users post in their Facebook status could be used to detect depression. Researchers created an algorithm that was successful in predicting depression up to three months before a formal diagnosis, based entirely off what words users’ put in their Facebook statuses.

Instagram rolled out a new feature a few years ago that could help those suffering from eating disorders, depression, and other mental illnesses. Users can anonymously flag posts if they come across one that they think was posted by someone in need of help. Once a photo is flagged, the poster will receive a notification from Instagram advising them that a follower is concerned, and provide them with several different ways they can get help.

On the other hand, social media has been found to be the cause of some negative emotions. Many reports look to social media as one of the primary causes of the increase in depression among young people.

Researchers also found that social media can create an exclusionary effect for many users who see their friends interacting without them. Though this oftentimes occurs unintentionally, the damage is done.

“We’re using these technologies daily and they’re pushing information to users about their networks, which is what the sites are designed to do, but in the end there’s negative effects on people’s well-being,” said Michael Stefanone.

“It happened to me the other night. I see my friends are doing something while I’m sitting at home. It’s not devastating, but that’s the moment when I felt badly.”

Majestic Meat Company of Salt Lake City, Utah, is recalling approximately 532 pounds of ground beef, ground beef patties, and meatballs.

The products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following items, produced on November 8, 2016, are being recalled:

• 10 lb. plastic packages “MAJESTIC MEAT” 2/1(patties per pound) Ground Beef Patties 80/20 with a production date of 11/8/2018
• 10 lb. plastic packages “MAJESTIC MEAT” 8/1 (patties per pound) Ground Beef Patties 80/20 with a production date of 11/8/2018
• 10 lb. plastic packages “MAJESTIC MEAT” 3/1 (patties per pound) Ground Beef Patties 80/20 with a production date of 11/8/2018
• 5 lb. plastic packages “MAJESTIC MEAT” 4/1 (patties per pound) Ground Beef Patties 80/20 with a production date of 11/8/2018
• 10 lb. plastic packages “MAJESTIC MEAT” bulk Ground Beef 80/20 with a production date of 11/8/2018
• 10 lb. plastic packages “44 FARMS” 5/1 (patties per pound) Ground Beef Patties 80/20 with a production date of 11/8/2018
• 10 lb. plastic packages “44 FARMS” 3/1 (patties per pound) Ground Beef Patties 80/20 with a production date of 11/8/2018
• 10 lb. plastic packages “44 FARMS” 2/1 (patties per pound) Ground Beef Patties 80/20 with a production date of 11/8/2018
• 10 lb. plastic packages “44 FARMS” 4/1 (patties per pound) Beef Patty Chuck 80/20 with a production date of 11/8/2018
• 10 lb. plastic packages “44 FARMS” 7 oz. Ground Beef Patties 80/20 with a production date of 11/8/2018
• 4.05 lb. plastic shrink wrapped packages “44 FARMS” 7 oz. Ground Beef Patties 80/20 with a production date of 11/8/2018
• 10 lb. plastic packages “44 FARMS” 10 oz. Ground Beef Patties 80/20 with a production date of 11/8/2018
• 10 lb. plastic packages “44 FARMS” bulk Ground Beef 80/20 with a production date of 11/8/2018
• 10 lb. plastic packages “Meatball Beef, Pork, Veal Ground” with a production date of 11/8/2018

The recalled products, bearing establishment number “EST. 19915” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped to restaurants in Utah.

What to do

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Raymond Zaelit at (801) 486-4904.

Suzuki Motor of America is recalling 21,052 model year 2010-2013 Kizashis.

Dust can enter the vent line that provides fresh air to the carbon canister, restricting its air flow and possibly creating excessive negative pressure in the fuel tank which may result in the fuel tank cracking.

A cracked tank may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

What to do

The remedy for this recall is still under development.

The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934.

Swift Beef Co., of Hyrum, Utah, is recalling approximately 99,260 pounds of raw non-intact ground beef.

The products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following bulk ground beef items, produced on Oct. 24, 2018, are being recalled:

• 2,000 lb. - bulk pallets of Swift Ground Beef 81/19 (81% lean) Fine Grind Combo bearing product code 42982.
• 8-10 lb. - plastic wrapped chubs of “blue ribbon BEEF” Ground Beef 81/19 (81% lean) Coarse Grind bearing product code 42410.
• 8-10 lb. - plastic wrapped chubs of “blue ribbon BEEF” Ground Beef 93/07 (93% lean) Coarse Grind bearing product code 42413.
• 8-10 lb. - plastic wrapped chubs of “blue ribbon BEEF” Ground Beef 85/15 (85% lean) Coarse Grind bearing product code 42415.
• 8-10 lb. - plastic wrapped chubs of “blue ribbon BEEF” Ground Beef 73/27 (73% lean) Coarse Grind bearing product code 42510.

The recalled products, bearing establishment number “EST. 628” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped to retail distributors for further processing and food service distributors for institutional use in California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

What to do

Consumers with questions may call the JBS USA consumer hotline at (800) 727-2333.

It's the final days before Black Friday, the official kickoff to the holiday shopping season, and the nation's top retailers are jockeying for position. At stake is potential record holiday spending.

Among the deals designed to entice consumers is Best Buy's offer of a Toshiba 43-inch 4K smart TV for $129.99. Target plans to offer an Element 55-inch Smart 4K UHD TV for $199.99, available only in Target stores.

Walmart is offering a $300 Walmart gift card with the qualifying activation of an iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, or iPhone XR. It ups the ante to a $400 Gift Card with qualifying activation of Apple iPhone 8, iPhone 8+, or iPhone X.

For its part, Amazon has been offering up deals for several days with its "Countdown To Black Friday" sale. According to shopping site BestBlackFriday.com, the online retailer is sitting on its best deals and saving them for Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday.

Looking ahead

Meanwhile, Target is looking ahead to next week, kicked off by Cyber Monday. However, the retailer is spreading the deals over the entire week, starting Sunday, Nov. 25. On Cyber Monday, Target will offer online shoppers 15 percent off on hundreds of thousands of items spread across all departments.

Among the advertised deals is a Swagtron Metro hoverboard with LED lights for $150, regularly selling for $229.99. Deals on vacuums include the iRobot Roomba 960 for $449.99 and Dyson V8 Absolute for $349.99.

More buying moves to online channels each holiday season, and the same is anticipated this year. An analysis by Internet Retailer projects consumers will spend nearly 120 billion online in November and December, a 15 percent increase over last year's total.

Total spending could rise 5 percent

The National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts total holiday spending will increase nearly 5 percent over 2017 and reach $720 billion, although other estimates suggest spending could top $1 trillion this holiday season.

“Our forecast reflects the overall strength of the industry,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Thanks to a healthy economy and strong consumer confidence, we believe that this holiday season will continue to reflect the growth we’ve seen over the past year."

NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said consumers continue to do the heavy lifting to support the economy and attributes their efforts to robust job creation, higher pay, and tame inflation.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has amended her suit in state court against opioid manufacturers, naming pharmacy retailers Walgreens and CVS as additional defendants. She also added Insys Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, to the suit.

In her amended complaint, Bondi alleges that Walgreens Co. and CVS were major opioid distributors in Florida and failed to stop suspicious orders of opioids. The complaint also claims that both retailers filled prescriptions for "unreasonable quantities of opioids" from their pharmacies.

“We will continue to pursue those companies that played a role in creating the opioid crisis,” Bondi said. “Thousands of Floridians have suffered as a result of the actions of the defendants.”

Walgreens said it doesn't comment on litigation but in a statement to the media, a spokesman for CVS said the suit was "without merit."

Original suit filed in May

Bondi filed the original suit in May of this year against major opioid manufacturers, including Purdue Pharma L.P., Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cephalon, Inc., Allergan plc, Mallinckrodt LLC, and related companies, as well as the major opioid distributors, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation, Cardinal Health, Inc., McKesson Corporation, and a related company.

The suit accused the opioid manufacturers of using a “campaign of misrepresentations and omissions” about the use of opioids, including false statements about the addictive nature of opioids and omissions of the severe risks posed by taking opioids.

The defendants are also accused of funding media outlets that published favorable information about the benefits of opioids for chronic pain while failing to warn consumers about their addictive nature.

Bondi has also taken aim at companies that distribute opioid painkillers, claiming these companies shipped “inordinately high volumes of opioids” to customers in Florida without reporting these suspicious orders.

The amended complaint, filed late Friday, specifies additional claims for alleged "gross negligence and civil conspiracy."

As easy and convenient as technology makes our day-to-day lives, making sure personal information stays personal is an ever-present concern.

For leaders in healthcare, cybersecurity continues to be one of the top challenges plaguing the industry, and as officials gear up for the annual “Top of Mind for Top Health Systems” Conference, the results from this year’s survey show what healthcare officials are concerned about moving forward.

Survey results

The survey was conducted in three parts and was led by the Center for Connected Medicine in partnership with The Health Management Academy.

Forty healthcare systems across the United States participated in the survey and were first asked to fill out information regarding the top areas in the digital health field for 2019. A few months later, the researchers sent out another survey that asked respondents about telehealth services, interoperability, and cybersecurity.

Companies like Amazon, Apple, and Google testing the waters in the healthcare market was a concern for many respondents. While just 10 percent said they were “very concerned,” 70 percent said they were “somewhat concerned” with the tech giants getting involved in healthcare.

Survey participants were also concerned about cybersecurity, as 87 percent said they plan to increase spending on cybersecurity initiatives in the next year -- and no one said they’d decrease spending.

On a positive note, healthcare officials are confident that with both government and commercial dollars, telehealth services will be completely funded by 2022. These services include videoconferencing, mobile health text alerts, and remote patient monitoring, and are beneficial for long-distance healthcare, health education, and health administration.

Legitimate concerns

Headlines from the last year show that health officials’ concerns -- and plans -- for the next year are warranted.

Recently, Amazon has joined forces with Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase to create a non-profit joint venture that will streamline their employee healthcare programs. The goal is to provide high-quality healthcare solutions that are technology-based and affordable.

Amazon also acquired PillPack earlier this year, an online pharmacy that sends customers individualized packages of pills every week.

Apple has entered into the healthcare world, offering employees and their families their own health clinic. AC Wellness Network will also use the latest technological practices, which are designed to cater directly to the patients.

On a more public scale, Apple rolled out their Health Records feature earlier this year that allows iPhone users to access parts of their medical records through the Health app. The tool was designed to give consumers greater control over their medical records and is being used at over 100 hospitals and clinics across the country.

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) teamed up to work to prevent cybersecurity attacks on medical devices.

Hackers have been known to target hospital and medical office computers as a way to steal confidential patient information, and oftentimes patients’ individual devices aren’t equipped with the protection necessary to ward off hackers.

Pacemakers were under attack last year, when the FDA announced 465,000 devices across the country were vulnerable to attacks and had security issues. Consumers with the devices were urged to contact their healthcare providers to install firmware onto their pacemakers.

As for telehealth, CVS launched MinuteClinic visits through its smartphone app earlier this year in an effort to provide around the clock healthcare to patients.  

CVS has spent a great deal of time researching the endeavor, and found that 95 percent of patients willing to try the services were “highly satisfied” with their experience.

Attracting new talent to move to some of America’s cities has taken on a new angle -- getting paid to live there!

While many cities offer companies everything from tax incentives to free property to move their business there, there’s a new trend catching fire that offers workers cash and perks to move themselves and their skill sets, as well.

Taking a page out of Vermont’s how-to-lure-new-talent initiative, Tulsa, Oklahoma, in concert with the George Kaiser Family Foundation, launched Tulsa Remote, a program offering a $10,000 grant and other benefits to remote workers or entrepreneurs who are up for relocating to the city.

Baltimore is also rolling out all the red carpet it can find. Its “Buying Into Baltimore Program offers first-time homebuyers $5,000 toward buying a home, according to Thrillist. Add to that its Live Near Your Work Program, a grant capping out at $5,000 that can be used toward down payment and closing assistance. And if you’re handy, Baltimore’s Vacants to Value Program will give you $10,000 to move in and rehab one of the city’s vacant houses.

Other locales willing to pony up for relocaters include the states of Washington, Alaska, Kansas, and Maine, as well as metros like New Haven, Connecticut.

Even rural America is getting in the game. Small towns like Curtis, Nebraska, and Marne, Iowa will give you a free lot of land to build on if you’ll move there. Tribune, Kansas, for example, offers to pay down student debt in exchange for moving there.

It’s more than just a place to work

On top of the cash incentives, cities are selling the “experiences” they offer over others. In Tulsa, grantees are given a co-working space at a local “entrepreneur basecamp,” 36 Degrees North -- a $149 a month savings. Tulsa also promotes its pluses like an emerging beer scene to millennials, not to mention a perfect place to raise a family.

“Great for families, unbelievably kid-friendly. Kids can ride bikes and roam around their neighborhoods safely,” quipped one person who relocated to Tulsa. “My little boy thought that only happened in movies until he got here. It is a wonderful place for kids.”

Second cities are becoming millennials’ first choice is how Curbed put it. Places like Louisville, Kentucky are popping up on millennials’ radar with lures like major college sports, a growing bourbon industry, a culture-rich arts community, and a geo-location that’s a short hop to major cities like Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, and Cincinnati.

“The biggest improvement to our quality of life is not a lower median house price (though that doesn’t hurt),” wrote one re-planted former Google employee describing his reasons for moving to Columbus, Ohio.

“Rather, it is a sense of freedom that comes from finding personal and professional fulfillment in a vibrant and welcoming city, away from the Bay Area’s grinding commutes and careerist, status-obsessed culture.”

Through a partnership with Hallmark, Amazon is now giving consumers the ability to purchase a live, full-size Christmas tree on its site.

The online retailer is selling a variety of evergreen tree options ranging in size between 6 feet and 7 feet. Once ordered, consumers can expect to receive their freshly cut tree within 4 to 7 days. The tree will arrive in a box on a pre-selected delivery date.

"This is our first entry into fresh-cut trees," Ann Ramsey, Hallmark licensing manager for Hallmark Flowers, told the Kansas City Business Journal. "When consumers think about holidays, they think about Hallmark, so Christmas trees are a perfect extension of the Hallmark brand."

The trees cost between $99 to $110 and, like millions of other items on Amazon this holiday season, will be shipped for free.

Expanding tree selection

Last year, the company offered smaller, three-foot live trees. “Given the popularity among customers, we increased the assortment,” the company told Today.  

Available trees include two types of Spruce trees, a Fraser Fir tree, and a Balsam Fir tree. Amazon is also selling holiday plants and wreaths for around $25 to $50.

This year’s live trees will start shipping on Wednesday, November 21. Each tree will come in a box packed with a biodegradable tree removal bag and tree preservative.

“Bringing this time honored tradition right to your front door is amazing,” Hallmark said in a statement. “We're making it easier than ever to experience a fresh-cut Christmas tree in homes all across the country."

Nespresso is teaming up with mining and metals company Rio Tinto to work toward the goal of using 100 percent “responsibly sourced” aluminum in all of its coffee pods by 2020.

The companies announced on Monday that Rio Tinto will supply aluminum with renewable power and respect for biodiversity to Nespresso as part of a larger effort to reduce the negative environmental impact of the coffee giant’s coffee pods.

“This is an important step towards the use of responsibly sourced aluminium across manufacturing industries, which Rio Tinto is the first to supply,” said Alf Barrios, the company’s chief executive of aluminium, in a statement.

“It’s addressing a preference that consumers and society are clearly articulating … but it’s also good commercial sense,” Barrios added.

Sustainable aluminum

Under the partnership, Nespresso will work with its capsule manufacturers to ensure they use exclusively metal certified by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative.

“Nespresso is proud to have been a driving force in creating and implementing the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative,” Nespresso chief executive Jean-Marc Duvoisin said. “Together, we have made responsibly sourced aluminium a reality, and the ASI traceability mechanism will enable us to meet our commitment to customers to reduce the impact of their consumption.”

The partnership will help Nespresso, which currently holds almost a third of the coffee pod market, compete with companies that market themselves as sustainable. Last week, rival Halo claimed to have created the world’s first fully compostable coffee capsule and packaging.

Nespresso critics have said the company's coffee pods are a waste of resources since they are not biodegradable. Millions of used coffee pods end up in landfills each year.

The company has tried alternatives to aluminum, but none of them have sufficiently protected the coffee from exposure to the air, nor have they been able to withstand the pressure of the Nespresso machines.

Nespresso says it’s working with its manufacturers to ensure that all capsules are ASI-certified, a process that will take some time The Nestle-owned company is also aiming to make recycling as easy as possible.

Some Instagram users may have had their password information exposed as a result of a security breach tied to the platform’s “download your data” feature, the Information reported on Friday.

The Facebook-owned company has notified users who may have been affected by the bug. A spokesperson for Instagram said the security flaw was “discovered internally and affected a very small number of people.”

Instagram’s “download your data” feature, introduced in April, “lets users download all the data that Instagram has on them, both to comply with new European data-privacy regulations and to satisfy increasingly privacy-sensitive users around the world," according to the tech news website.

Some users who used the tool had their passwords included in a URL in their web browser, meaning others could have seen the password if they had been using the feature on a shared computer or on a compromised network. The passwords were also stored on Facebook’s computers.

“This is very concerning about other security practices inside of Instagram because that literally should not be possible. If that’s happening, then there are likely much bigger problems than that,” Chet Wisniewski, a principal research scientist at security firm Sophos, told the Information.

Instagram said it has fixed the bug and deleted the data from Facebook’s servers, but it’s advising users to change their passwords as a precaution.

The security breach comes on the heels of several others that hit Facebook, including one in September which compromised the information of 50 million users.

The Information previously reported that Facebook may be looking to purchase a cybersecurity company to boost its defenses against hackers and prevent future security breaches, as well as increase its trustworthiness in the eyes of consumers, investors, and government regulators.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued an opinion finding that 1-800 Contacts entered into illegal agreements with other contact lens sellers to reduce competition in the industry.

Specifically, the ruling accused the retailers of agreeing not to bid for search engine ads that would inform consumers that the products they are looking for are available at lower prices. That, the FTC ruled, is a violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act.

In a statement to the media, 1-800 Contacts disputed the FTC's finding and said it would appeal. The company may file a petition for review of the Commission opinion and final order with a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals within 60 days of the order being issued.

The FTC opinion breaks new ground in antitrust enforcement, focusing on how companies use search engine ads to reach customers, rather than relying on more traditional means. The opinion said any agreement to limit or bar these ads that appear in search engine results hurts consumers by restraining online advertising.

Search engine ads are relatively inexpensive and allow smaller contact lens retailers to advertise lower prices. The FTC said maintaining the ability of consumers to easily find the lowest price for contact lenses is healthy for competition and good for consumers.

Lawsuit settlement

According to the National Law Review, 1-800 Contacts sued a number of competitors for trademark infringement when their ads often appeared when consumers specifically searched for 1-800 Contacts. The case was eventually settled, and the FTC contends that the resulting settlement agreements constitute anticompetitive behavior.

The FTC action orders 1-800 Contacts to cease and desist from the alleged illegal activity. It also orders the company to refrain from entering into any future agreements with competitors to restrict search advertising or to limit participation in search advertising auctions.

The case goes back to August 2016 after the filing of an administrative complaint. A year later, an administrative law judge issued a ruling which found that agreements limiting search engine advertising were unfair methods of competition.

As kids and adults alike continue to be plagued by peanut allergies, it can be difficult to stay on top of dietary restrictions.

Oftentimes, people are exposed to peanuts accidentally, and while cases range in severity, avoiding flare-ups -- and peanuts -- is of the utmost importance.

However, though the longstanding belief was that those with an allergy should steer clear of peanuts at all costs, a new study shows that slowly introducing peanuts to build up a tolerance could actually benefit someone who is accidentally exposed.

The researchers are confident in the results the study produced and are now waiting on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review it and make it a formal treatment option.

“We’re excited about the potential to help children and adolescents with peanut allergies protect themselves against accidentally eating a food with peanuts in it,” said Dr. Stephen Tilles.

Building up a tolerance

The researchers wanted to see if the study participants would be able to handle minimal exposure to peanuts by slowly introducing them into the participants’ diets over the course of the study.

Two-thirds of the group received peanut protein in increasing doses until they reached one peanut per day, while the remaining one-third received a placebo.

“Our hope when we started the study was that by treating patients with the equivalent of one peanut per day, many would tolerate as much as two peanuts,” Dr. Tilles said. “We were pleased to find that two-thirds of the people in the study were able to tolerate the equivalent of two peanuts per day after nine to 12 months of treatment, and half the patients tolerated the equivalent of four peanuts.”

The study was the largest and most thorough investigation of its kind, and the researchers were pleased with the results. All but 20 percent of participants were able to handle being exposed to one peanut per day, and one-third of the participants made it through the study with just mild side effects.

Though the results were promising, the researchers do warn that those suffering from peanut allergies shouldn’t try eating a whole jar of peanut butter anytime soon. However, following this treatment option may make day-to-day life easier -- particularly when faced with accidental exposure.

“This is not a quick fix, and it doesn’t mean people with peanut allergies will be able to eat peanuts whenever they want,” said Dr. Jay Lieberman. “But it is definitely a breakthrough. The hope would be to have treatment available in the second half of 2019. If that happens, people who receive and are able to tolerate this treatment should be protected from accidental exposures.”

If the FDA approves the method, the treatment will be available only by prescription for qualifying patients.

Avoiding peanuts

Keeping children peanut-free can often be a difficult task for many parents, and in recent years, there have been several new methods on the market to help reduce peanut allergies.

A few years ago, researchers discovered a wearable skin patch -- the “Viaskin” patch -- that works to slowly build a peanut tolerance. Much like this most recent study, the researchers found that introducing peanut protein into the skin in small doses was an effective way to treat the allergy.

The patch proved to be easy for children to wear and use, and it comes in either a high dose or a low dose. The study found that the patch was successful in 48 percent of the high-dose group and 46 percent of the low-dose group.

A similar approach was approved by the FDA late last year. Hello, Peanut introduced a product that is beneficial for parents who are looking to slowly introduce peanuts into their infants’ diets.

The product comes with eight packets of powdered organic peanut and sprouted oat mixtures, and it has been touted as a safe way for parents to mix the powder into a food they know the baby can eat without a reaction to see if there is an allergic reaction. Researchers found that introducing peanuts to infants in this way reduced the risk of developing a peanut allergy.

Southwest Airlines took the initiative to no longer serve passengers free peanuts while in the air. The change went into effect on August 1st, and the airline joins one of several who have made the choice to reduce the risk of a peanut allergy while at 30,000 feet.

Passengers will still receive pretzels, and on longer flights, there will be a greater variety of snacks to choose from.

American Honda Motor Co., is recalling 64,785 model year 2017-2019 Acura MDXs, model year 2017-2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrids, model year 2018-2019 Honda HR-Vs and Honda Odysseys, and model year 2016 Honda HR-Vs.

The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating, causing gas pockets to form, reducing brake performance and increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Owners will be notified, and Honda or Acura dealers will bleed the brakes, free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin December 17, 2018.

Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C31 and L30.

Alebrije Dist Wholesale is recalling Quesillo “Queseria La Milagrosa” and “Alebrije” cheese.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The following items, distributed October 23 – 24, 2018, through retail sale and direct delivery, in Los Angeles, are being recalled:

Quesillo “Queseria La Milagrosa” wrapped in a basic plastic bag with a yellow label with two presentations ½ kg and 1kg.

“Alebrije Cheese” wrapped in a basic plastic bag with an orange and blue label with three presentations ½ kg, 1kg and 5kg.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may call at (619) 646-5361 from 9 am – 5 pm (PST) Monday through Friday.

Facebook has gone on the defensive in the wake of this week's expose in the New York Times, which alleged that the social media giant tried to spin its way out of the brewing scandal surrounding privacy and manipulation issues.

The Times specifically alleged that Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg was a key figure in the company's attempt to deflect attention from Russian efforts to use the platform to influence the 2016 presidential election.

Facebook has issued a point-by-point rebuttal of many of the Times’ allegations, including that the company knew about Russian activity as early as the spring of 2016 but did nothing to stop it.

Accounts were shut down

“Leading up to Election Day in November 2016, we detected and dealt with several threats with ties to Russia … [including] a group called APT28 … we also saw some new behavior when APT28-related accounts, under the banner of DC Leaks, created fake personas that were used to seed stolen information to journalists," the company said in a blog post. "We shut these accounts down for violating our policies.”

The company said both Sandberg and CEO Mark Zuckerberg have been deeply involved in identifying and blocking so-called "fake news" from the site and denied the two top executives ever discouraged security chief Alex Stamos from looking into Russian activity.

Facebook also denies the allegation in the Times that it instructed an organization called the Definers, an opposition research group, to write articles on Facebook's behalf, though until this week the company had a contractual relationship with the Definers that "was well known by the media."

Conference call with reporters

On Thursday, Zuckerberg held a lengthy conference call with reporters where he continued to tamp down the charges raised in the article. Without citing specifics, he said many of the issues raised in the newspaper article were "simply untrue."

Zuckerberg also announced the establishment of an independent third-party entity that will review Facebook decisions to remove content from its platform.

Facebook followed Zuckerberg's call by disclosing its most recent efforts to enforce its community standards opposing adult nudity and sexual activity, fake accounts, hate speech, spam, terrorist propaganda, and violence and graphic content.