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This living topic delves into the multifaceted landscape of the modern internet, addressing both its advancements and the challenges it presents. It covers a range of issues such as the evolution of internet access and the shift from traditional broadband to wireless internet services. It also discusses consumer experiences with internet scams, deceptive advertising practices, and privacy concerns, including the misuse of personal data by companies and the negative impacts of social media. There are practical guides on how to mitigate some of these issues, such as managing autoplay videos and understanding new FTC rules on fake reviews. Additionally, the topic explores the economic and social implications of internet usage, from the rising costs of internet services to the role of influencers and the ethics of online advertising. Overall, it provides a comprehensive overview of how to navigate and understand the complexities of today's internet landscape.

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ChatGPT may affect your critical thinking skills, study finds

MIT researchers say to use the AI chatbot with caution

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MIT researchers studied how using ChatGPT affects brain activity during writing tasks, comparing it to writing unaided and using a search engine.

Participants who used ChatGPT showed significantly less brain engagement, especially in areas tied to creativity and memory.

Those who relied on AI struggled with recalling what they wrote and felt less ownership over their work, suggesting that AI use may reduce cognitive involvement in learning.

MIT’s Media Lab launched a projec...

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Be careful of fake websites when holiday shopping, report says

Scammers register numerous fake domains ahead of the holiday season to trick shoppers.

There have been hundreds of suspicious domains registered in 2024 that target top brands and products, including iPhones, Prada clothing and Clinique beauty products, according to digital-risk firm BrandShield. 

"We’re seeing fraudsters across the globe continue to exploit the holiday season by targeting consumers, who are spending increasingly more on holiday gifts year after year," said Yoav Keren, CEO and co-founder of BrandShield.

"With the rise of AI-enabled threats, bad actors have even more sophisticated means of tricking shoppers into buying fakes and counterfeits, and in many cases, they’ll take their money and send nothing at all," he added. "Consumers must exercise caution to ensure they buy from legitimate sources."

Registrations of fake websites in October targeting iPhone shoppers were the highest with 606 domains, followed by 239 registrations for Prada, 215 for Hermes, 191 for sneaker brand Hoka and 159 for beauty brand Clinique, BrandShield said.

How to avoid fake shopping websites

BrandShield said there are some simple steps to avoid fake shopping websites:

  • URL typos: If the website URL, or address, contains typos, such as “targett.com” or “eBaay.com”
  • Spelling or grammar errors: If the website has spelling or grammatical errors throughout. Legitimate retailers and merchants will invest in ensuring that the website is free of errors such as these.
  • Messages from third parties: If you receive a text or a private message through social media, email, text or instant messaging, offering a deal for a product that seems too good to be true, avoid clicking the links. Try finding the special offer directly at the website of the company you would like to buy from.
  • Negative reviews: If a website or company has many negative reviews, it may be a scam. Also, look for fake positive reviews trying to balance out real warnings from scam victims, and err on the side of caution when purchasing from unknown sellers.
  • No URL padlock: If a website does not have a padlock image to the left of its URL. That being said, many phishing websites now have padlocks next to the left of their URLs, so this doesn’t necessarily indicate that a website is safe.

Scammers register numerous fake domains ahead of the holiday season to trick shoppers.There have been hundreds of suspicious domains registered in 2024...