Monthly Archives: January 2024

Online Gaming Myths Beginners Should be Aware Of – Play3r

Posted: January 30, 2024 at 10:28 pm

The online gambling market has come a long way. In less than two decades, the sector has embraced the development of technology providing players with a wide range of gaming options. Online casinos have evolved into easily accessible platforms with thousands of products available with a few clicks. They even included live games where players could enjoy the benefits of gambling with human dealers. Today, the internet gambling industry is one of the fastest growing, with thousands of platforms hosted online that contain more games, such as Buffalo Slot for example.

Despite the successes achieved by online casinos, consumers continue to be cautious. Doing anything online requires trust, which is not easy to achieve given the dangers lurking out there. Thus, it makes sense that some people may not be too open about using online casinos. This mistrust has perpetuated numerous myths about gambling sites. Misconceptions about online casinos make some new players hesitant to play at online casinos. You may lose a rewarding experience because you have taken negative information too seriously. For this reason, players need to know what is true and what is not true about internet gambling. This guide helps with that.

Online gaming is rigged

This myth is probably one of the most common. It is probably the first thing you will hear about online casinos. The problem is that at regular casinos, people are used to watching the games unfold in front of them. Online casinos dont give you that. You have to trust that the results are truly random. On legitimate websites, you have nothing to worry about. First, online games use random number generators algorithms that create unpredictable results. This system cannot be hacked, and it ensures that every roll of the dice, deal of cards, and spin of the reel is random. All regulated gambling sites are tested to ensure that the GSC is functioning optimally. Thus, any inconsistency in the system can be a red flag. A reputable casino should not risk its license because of machinations.

In the case of crypto casinos, you have provable integrity a system that allows players to track the results of games. Another truth that refutes this misconception is that regulated providers test their products independently. They make sure that the games meet the necessary standards of fairness. Players should make sure that they use a licensed online casino with reliable providers.

Some games require wins

Player error has led to the ruin of many players. Some players believe that if you play long enough, at some point the game must bring a win. Nothing proves that a winning streak is bound to come after a string of losses. As mentioned earlier, online casino games utilize the GSC. The system does not follow any pattern and has no way of knowing what results have come before. Whether you play random games or skill titles, the results are completely random. In strategy games, tactics can increase potential wins, but you still cant change the results. Therefore, never engage in casino games with the hope that at some point you will win because you have already lost. This idea could cost you your entire bankroll.

Card counting is illegal

Casinos may not approve of card counting, but it is not illegal. Card counting is one of the oldest casino gaming strategies. It involves monitoring the cards remaining in the deck in blackjack and other games. If successful, this tactic can help you tilt the advantage slightly in your favor. The system can be effective in regular casino games, but it is not easy on the internet. You may only be able to count cards in single deck games. Betting strategies are legal in many regions, and the casino cant stop you if you want to use them. However, the use of bots and other digital tools is considered fraudulent and therefore illegal. Therefore, be careful about the system you use.

You win more in free games

Play money games are popular on gaming sites. Operators use free games to lure players. Once you see how addictive online games are, you may be encouraged to spend real money. However, a common misconception is that demos allow you to win consistently to lure you into gambling for real money. Once you start playing, you will no longer have the same opportunities to win. However, this opinion is not misinformation. Developers use demos to give players a preview of the real thing. Playing for fun is just a feature, everything else remains the same. The demos use the same software and GCH as the games they are based on. Therefore, the randomness of the results does not change when playing for free. Hence, beginners should take advantage of demos as they are great for practicing.

Online gambling increases the risk of addiction

The debate about online gambling and addiction has been going on since the inception of internet casinos. One of the biggest criticisms of online gambling is that it increases the risk of gambling problems. The argument is that gambling sites are more accessible than regular casinos, allowing vulnerable players to gamble whenever they want. While this may be true to some extent, it does not reflect the whole picture. Unlike regular establishments, online casinos have tools to track behavior. Regulated operators have a responsible gambling policy that includes various tools. A gambling website can detect when a player is spending too much time online and take appropriate action. Features such as self-exclusion, time-out and deposit limits are available to help vulnerable players control their activities.

Online gambling can be an interesting pastime if you do it right. However, many players, especially newcomers, remain skeptical about using gambling sites, largely due to misinformation. There are many myths about online casinos, some of which prevent players from enjoying themselves. So, players should learn to distinguish truth from misconceptions before gambling online.

Read more from the original source:

Online Gaming Myths Beginners Should be Aware Of - Play3r

Posted in Online Gambling | Comments Off on Online Gaming Myths Beginners Should be Aware Of – Play3r

10 Best No KYC Casinos With No ID Verification for 2024 – ReadWrite

Posted: at 10:27 pm

No KYC casinos are ideal for those who want to join a casino and start playing immediately without worrying about proving their identity with an ID verification process. More than that, you avoid various privacy issues as casinos that dont require documents dont need your ID, and you can withdraw your winnings later on without going through KYC checks.

Here, weve prepared a list of the best no KYC casinos on the market, all of which allow you to start playing within seconds. Keep reading to learn what these are, what each one has to offer, but also how they work their benefits, safety, and legal status.

TG Casino

200% Deposit Match Up To 10 ETH

200% Deposit Match Up To 10 ETH

9.3

NO CODE REQUIRED

Lucky Block Casino US

200% Welcome Offer Up To $10,000 + 50 Free Spins

200% Welcome Offer Up To $10,000 + 50 Free Spins

9.8

NO CODE REQUIRED

MegaDice Casino US

offer 200% Bonus up to 1BTC + 50 Free Spins

offer 200% Bonus up to 1BTC + 50 Free Spins

9.8

NO CODE REQUIRED

WSM Casino

200% Deposit Match up to $25,000 + 200 free spins

200% Deposit Match up to $25,000 + 200 free spins

9.4

NO CODE REQUIRED

Wild Casino US

$5,000 Welcome Bonus For New Players

$5,000 Welcome Bonus For New Players

9.8

NO CODE REQUIRED

Bovada US

100% Deposit Match Up To $3,000

100% Deposit Match Up To $3,000

9.7

NO CODE REQUIRED

Betnow US

50% Casino Bonus up to $500

50% Casino Bonus up to $500

9.7

NO CODE REQUIRED

Everygame Casino US

$7,777 Welcome Offer for New Players

$7,777 Welcome Offer for New Players

9.7

NO CODE REQUIRED

MyBookie US

150% Deposit Bonus up to $750

150% Deposit Bonus up to $750

9.6

General T&Cs apply.

BetUS

150% Up To $3,000

9.6

NO CODE REQUIRED

Show More Offers+

Youve seen the list, and if you want to know more about each casino, keep reading as we have prepared extensive reviews for each one. Well cover what these platforms offer in terms of games and bonuses, how they handle payments, and more.

Mega Dice is a full crypto casino that offers many gambling options. It doesnt require registration, sharing personal information, and going through KYC processes. This includes access to an excellent range of games and betting options.

First, Mega Dice is not only a Bitcoin casino but a dedicated sportsbook covering various real and virtual sports. It also functions as a Telegram casino, the first of its kind.

The casino section has hundreds of games from elite providers like Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, NetEnt, Red Tiger, Betsoft, Evoplay, Blueprint, and Evolution. More than that, like all of our recommended crypto casinos, the library contains many provably fair games, including crash titles like the famous Aviator, Jet X, Pilot, Magnify Man, and Cricket X. You can also find other popular Plinko casino games.

New players can start their journeys with a welcome package of a 200% match bonus up to 1 BTC and 50 free spins. Moreover, Mega Dice features other promos like the weekly free spins and the Monday reload bonus, which awards up to 500, depending on how much you deposit.

As for payments, they are super fast, and the site allows you to buy crypto directly, so even if you dont have any digital currency, you can quickly obtain it and start playing immediately. Supported cryptos include Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, Litecoin, Ripple, Dogecoin, and a couple of others.

Pros

Cons

Lucky Block is another crypto-exclusive casino that deserves a high spot on our list for doing many things right. Most of all, it excels with the number and diversity of games and the worth of its bonuses.

You get to start your journey with a substantial 200% match bonus up to 10,000 and 50 free spins. The wagering requirements are pretty good, 30x, even though the bonus is massive. To be precise, you get 20 released for every 600 wagered.

Both casino players and bettors can start their journey with a hefty 200% welcome package. Existing players can also benefit from bonuses as Lucky Block features a weekly deposit bonus and the game of the week offer from which you get free spins to test a new game every week.

The substantial library primarily offers slots, many of which are true classics, like Sweet Bonanza, Lucky Lady Charm Deluxe, and the Book of Dead. Besides slots, you can also play provably fair games, game shows, roulettes, blackjacks, and poker titles.

To fund your journey, you can deposit various cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Litecoin, USDT, and Tron. The site also has a native crypto called LBLOCK which provides access to a loyalty program and LBLOCK jackpots.

Pros

Cons

BC.Game is among the most widely known crypto sports betting sites and anonymous casinos. It has a large player base and deals with sports organizations like Cloud9 and the Argentine national football team.

The site offers over 7,000 gaming titles, one of the largest collections on the online casino market. This includes numerous slots, live dealer games, tables, provably fair titles, and even a bunch of original BC titles developed for this platform only.

The live dealer section is exceptional because it covers more than 500 titles, which is more than a sizable number for a live dealer section. Plus, many of these come from the top live casino software providers in the industry, including Evolution, Ezugi, and Pragmatic Play.

As for promotions, new players get a massive welcome package of up to 360%. Specifically, there are four deposit bonuses worth 180%, 240%, 300%, and 360%. Each is bigger than the last and covers a lot of funds, but these are all in BC.Games native token BCD. Plus, the wagering requirements are 500x.

Other than that, BC.Game always runs several other promos. Most are time-limited, but expect to see cashbacks, prize drops, tournaments, and much more.

However, thats not all. The platform features an entire VIP program with many perks. Plus, theres the Quest system with tasks you need to complete to get prizes and the Lucky Spin feature that works like all prize wheels, where you can spin the wheel and hope for a massive reward.

Pros

Cons

Metaspins is a blockchain-based casino without KYC verification that only uses crypto. Its also made to support Web3-based technologies like NFTs.

More importantly, it offers more than 2,000 provably fair games, many of which have higher RTPs than usual, a common staple of blockchain casino releases. Most of these are slots, but this anonymous casino also offers various crypto table games like roulette, blackjack, and baccarat.

As for its standard casino releases, youll find that many are made by elite providers, including well-known names like Quickspin, Red Tiger, NetEnt, Playn GO, and Hacksaw Gaming. Metaspins casino library is filled with slots, games with live dealers, table, provably fair, and many other games.

New players on Metaspins can claim a hefty welcome package of 100% up to 1 BTC. It might seem weaker than most other crypto welcome packages, but it only has wagering requirements of 25x, which is much better than most other signup offers. However, you need to complete them within a week.

Other than that, Metaspins offers the MettaLotto system, a daily lottery with jackpots of up to $20,000 worth of cryptocurrency. Established players can use various other promotions, including a rewarding Level Up program with rakeback bonuses that go as high as 50% for the players at the highest levels.

Pros

Cons

Wild.io is a crypto no ID verification casino with full Web3 capabilities, offering new players a hefty 480% welcome package with 300 free spins. Its separated into four deposit bonuses, each with three options depending on how much you decide to deposit.

The platform is heavily focused on bonuses and rewards, which is why youll find a lot of other reload and special promos. You can participate in a VIP club, tournaments, and a Wheel of Fortune you can spin daily.

Wild.io offers a whole Web3 casino experience and a hefty 150% welcome package with 500 free spins.

The platforms library is rich in slots, table games like roulette and blackjack, live dealer titles, and jackpots. Naturally, there are many provably fair releases, too, since this is a standard for a casino without ID needed.

Wild.io accepts several popular crypto coins, including BTC, ETH, BCH, LTC, DOGE, ADA, USDT, and XRP. However, the site doesnt support currency exchange.

Wild.io has over 3,000 games, and the great thing is that you can view the RTP values right from the library. The list of providers could be more extensive, but there are still a few elite names like Betsoft, Evolution, NetEnt, Yggdrasil, and Nolimit City.

Pros

Cons

Heybets is a three-sided gambling site that offers sports betting, DFS, and online casino games. The casino has games from elite providers like NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger, and Evolution, with popular titles including Big Bass Bonanza, Sugar Rush, Sweet Bonanza, Hand of Anubis, and Starburst.

The game selection is vast, but theres no way of knowing how many titles there are, as the library features a minimalistic design. Youll only find a few very broad categories and be able to view releases by provider.

Thankfully, the lineup of software providers is good as it includes elite names like Pragmatic Play, Evolution, Hacksaw Gaming, Nolimit City, NetEnt, Red Tiger, Quickspin, Playn GO, and Relax Gaming.

You can play various slots, tables, live dealers, and game shows. However, there is no welcome package at the moment, nor reload or special offers. Thankfully, theres a VIP club that comes with perks like a rakeback promo, a level-up bonus, and a weekly offer.

View original post here:

10 Best No KYC Casinos With No ID Verification for 2024 - ReadWrite

Posted in Online Gambling | Comments Off on 10 Best No KYC Casinos With No ID Verification for 2024 – ReadWrite

Navigating India’s Online Casino Landscape: A Real Money Guide – Udaipur times

Posted: at 10:27 pm

India's online gambling industry is on an upward trajectory, thanks to the digital revolution that has gripped the nation. This growth is fuelled by a combination of increased internet penetration, a burgeoning middle class, and the widespread availability of smartphones. As more Indians go online, the allure of digital entertainment, including online casinos, has grown exponentially. However, this burgeoning domain comes with its challenges, and navigating it requires a blend of awareness, caution, and knowledge.

At the forefront of guiding Indian players through this complex landscape isReal.casino, a review platform dedicated to making the online casino experience both safe and enjoyable for Indian players. With an array of options at their fingertips, Indian players are often at a crossroads: how to choose a platform that is not only entertaining but also trustworthy and compliant with Indian gambling laws? This is where Real.casino steps in, offering a comprehensive guide to the best online casinos for real money in India.

In a country where gambling laws are a complex web of state and central regulations, online casinos operate in a somewhat grey area. The Public Gambling Act of 1867, the central legislation on gambling, does not address online gambling directly, leaving room for varied interpretations at the state level. Some states have embraced this ambiguity to license and regulate online gambling, while others have outright banned it. This patchwork of regulations makes it essential for players to stay informed about the legalities of online gambling in their specific region.

Real.casino emerges as a beacon of clarity in this scenario, providing Indian gamblers with detailed information on the legal landscape of online gambling in India. The platform's dedication to legal compliance and player safety sets it apart as a reliable source for those looking to indulge in online casinos.

A crucial aspect of online gambling is the transaction process. Indian players, like their global counterparts, seek secure, fast, and convenient payment options. Recognizing this, Indian online casinos, as reviewed on Real.casino, offer a variety of payment methods. These include traditional choices like credit/debit cards and bank transfers, as well as India-specific options such as UPI, Paytm, and PhonePe. The inclusion of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum also reflects the evolving nature of online transactions in the Indian market.

Real.casino's emphasis on player safety extends beyond legal compliance and payment security. The platform advocates for responsible gambling practices, underscoring the importance of setting limits and recognizing the signs of problem gambling. This approach aligns with the broader trend in the Indian online gambling industry towards promoting player well-being.

The Indian online casino landscape is not just about compliance and security; it's also about entertainment. Indian players have an eclectic mix of options ranging from traditional casino games like slots, blackjack, and roulette to Indian favorites like Teen Patti and Andar Bahar. Live dealer games, offering an immersive casino experience, have also seen a rise in popularity. Platforms like Real.casino help players sift through these choices to find games that suit their preferences and playing styles.

Looking forward, the Indian online gambling industry shows no signs of slowing down. The increasing interest from international gambling companies and the continuous technological advancements, including mobile gaming and virtual reality casinos, are set to redefine the online gambling experience for Indian players.

In summary, the online casino landscape in India is vibrant and ever-evolving, offering a world of opportunities for players. Platforms like Real.casino are instrumental in guiding players through this landscape, ensuring a balance between fun, safety, and legal compliance. For those venturing into the exciting world of online casinos, this review platform serves as an essential resource, helping players make informed choices and enjoy a rewarding gaming experience.

DISCLAIMER ADHERENCE TO GUIDELINES ON ONLINE GAMING ISSUED BY ADVERTISING STANDARDS COUNCIL OF INDIA (ASCI) This is a Sponsored Post published as provided and UdaipurTimes does not endorse any information provided in this post. This game involves an element of financial risk and may be addictive. Please play responsibly and at your own risk.

View original post here:

Navigating India's Online Casino Landscape: A Real Money Guide - Udaipur times

Posted in Online Gambling | Comments Off on Navigating India’s Online Casino Landscape: A Real Money Guide – Udaipur times

Cyber Security Headlines: Microsoft takes another hit, Energy giant hit by ransomware, the NSA is secretly buying your … – CISO Series

Posted: at 10:27 pm

Microsoft Teams takes another hit

Adding to Microsofts recent woes, on the heels of the outage on Friday that we reported on yesterday, the company has now faced yet another outage. Thats two outages across North and South America in the last three days. Microsoft confirmed that Mondays outage impacted users in North America, Canada, and Brazil, with customers experiencing connectivity issues or delays in sending and receiving messages. As of this recording, Microsoft released a statement on their X account (formerly known as Twitter), stating they are actively monitoring the situation, but all internal service telemetry is healthy.

(Bleeping Computer), Microsofts X Account

Schneider Electric continues to grapple with the aftermath of a ransomware breach that targeted their sustainability business division earlier this month. The energy management and automation giant fell victim to a Cactus ransomware attack, reportedly resulting in the theft of terabytes of corporate data. According to Bleeping Computer, the ransomware gang is now attempting to extort the company by threatening to leak the stolen data.

In a statement provided to Bleeping Computer, Schneider Electric confirmed the attack and clarified that only one division of the company was impacted., No word on whether the company plans to negotiate with the ransomware group. Customers of the sustainability business division include Clorox, DHL, Hilton, and Walmart.

(Bleeping Computer)

The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) wants to know what websites and apps Americans are using. The agency has acknowledged purchasing internet browsing records without the need for a court order, as revealed in a statement from Senator Ron Wyden, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. In a letter to the Director of National Intelligence, Wyden stated, The U.S. government should not be funding and legitimizing a shady industry whose flagrant violations of Americans privacy are not just unethical but also illegal. In response, the NSA stated that they are taking steps to minimize the collection of U.S. person information.

(Hacker News, Wyden Release)

The IT software firm Ivanti is officially one week behind schedule in releasing critical zero-day patches, and this delay is just the beginning. Weve been covering this story since early January when researchers at Volexity discovered a Chinese government-backed hacking team exploiting two zero-day vulnerabilities in Ivanti. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an emergency directive, setting a deadline for federal agencies to deploy fixes by January 22nd. However, Ivanti has confirmed that the release of patches will be delayed. Ivanti now aims to release some patches next week for Ivanti Connect Secure (versions 9.1R17x, 9.1R18x, 22.4R2x, and 22.5R1.1), Ivanti Policy Secure (versions 9.1R17x, 9.1R18x, and 22.5R1x), and ZTA version 22.6R1x. Additional patches are still expected to be released on a staggered schedule, but the timing of those releases remains unclear.

(Security Week)

Vanta is the leading Trust Management Platform that helps you centralize your efforts to establish trust and enable growth across your organization.

Over 6,000 companies partner with Vanta to automate compliance, strengthen security posture, streamline security reviews, and reduce third-party risk.

To learn more, go to vanta.com/ciso and watch their 3-minute product demo.

Three former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees have been sentenced for conspiring to steal proprietary software and sensitive law-enforcement databases from the U.S. government for commercial use. According to court documents, the stolen information included sensitive law-enforcement data and personally identifiable information of over 200,000 federal employees. The three individuals charged are Charles K. Edwards, former Acting Inspector General of the DHS Office of Inspector General, who received a 1.5-year prison sentence; Sonal Patel and Murali Y. Venkata, both from the DHS-OIGs information technology department, were sentenced to 2 years of probation and 4 months in prison, respectively. The trio had planned to use the stolen data to create a commercial software product for sale to other government agencies.

(Bleeping Computer), (U.S. Department of Justice)

SolarWinds is dismissing the SECs fraud charges against the company as unfounded as they are unprecedented. We of course, all remember that 18,000 organizations were impacted by the supply chain attack, ranging from major entities like Microsoft and Intel to government agencies such as the Pentagon and Treasury. In the aftermath, the SEC filed a lawsuit against SolarWinds, alleging the company and its CISO misled investors about their security practices. SolarWinds has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, with a representative for the company telling The Register that SolarWinds took the proper steps when disclosing the incident. The company claims the SECs lawsuit is an attempt to force companies to disclose internal details about their cybersecurity programs. As of this recording, the SEC has not responded to The Registers request for comment.

(The Register)

Ukraines agency for Prisoners of War faced a weekend denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. According to The Record, the agency works with families of military personnel who were captured or missing and negotiates prison exchanges and the return of bodies of fallen soldiers. Access to the website has since been restored, the state agency claims the attack aimed at suppressing information on a planned prisoner exchange. While the hackers behind the attack have not been identified, the agency has accused Moscow as retribution for a recent Russian transportation crash.

(The Record)

Scammers beware. The FBI is warning about a government impersonation scam that is primarily targeting seniors. According to the FBI, from May to December 2023 this scam cost victims over $55 million dollars. The fraudulent scheme consists of instructing victims to liquidate their assets into cash and/or buy gold, silver, or other precious metals. Once completed, the scammers would send couriers to retrieve the items from the victim with the promise they would be put into a secure account. Needless to say, those items were never seen again.

(Federal Bureau of Investigations)

Here is the original post:
Cyber Security Headlines: Microsoft takes another hit, Energy giant hit by ransomware, the NSA is secretly buying your ... - CISO Series

Posted in NSA | Comments Off on Cyber Security Headlines: Microsoft takes another hit, Energy giant hit by ransomware, the NSA is secretly buying your … – CISO Series

India now cooperating with Nijjar probe: Canada’s NSA – IndiaTimes

Posted: at 10:27 pm

NEW DELHI: Claiming an "evolution" in India's position on Canadian probe into the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's NSA Jody Thomas said India is now cooperating with the investigations and her discussions with her counterpart Ajit Doval on the issue had proved fruitful, allowing things to move forward. However, while she spoke about importance of bringing the guilty to justice, Thomas also underscored the significance of ties between the two countries, saying Canada's ability to work in Indo-Pacific depends on having a healthy relationship with India.

Nijjar killing: India is actively cooperating with Canada in investigation, says PM Justin Trudeau's aide

"My discussions with my counterpart in India have been fruitful and I think they have moved things forward," she said, while calling Indian cooperation an evolution because India had been dismissive of allegations initially. When asked if this evolution was spurred on by the US Pannun case, she said the two were connected for sure. "The US judicial system is different from ours. They have sealed indictments the way we don't. They were investigating a conspiracy and we are investigating a murder. The information they revealed supported our position and our assertions with India," said Thomas. The official, however, underlined the significance of bilateral ties with India and the need for the two countries to work together in the Indo-Pacific. "We think it's important that we resolve what happened to a Canadian citizen but we have to have people to people ties. We have a huge diaspora. We have to have a trade relationship. Our ability to function in the Indo-Pacific does rely on having a healthy relationship with India and we are working back towards it," Thomas added.

Link:
India now cooperating with Nijjar probe: Canada's NSA - IndiaTimes

Posted in NSA | Comments Off on India now cooperating with Nijjar probe: Canada’s NSA – IndiaTimes

Readout of NSA Jake Sullivan’s Meetings with PM Srettha and DPM/FM Parnpree – US Embassy in Thailand – USEmbassy.gov

Posted: at 10:27 pm

Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivans Meetings with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Srettha Thavisin and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met today in Bangkok, Thailand with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of Thailand. He also met with Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara. Mr. Sullivan reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Thailand treaty alliance and partnership, and discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation across a range of bilateral and global issues. Mr.Sullivan emphasized U.S. commitment to expanding collaboration on trade and investment, accelerating the transition to a clean energy future, deepening our people-to-people ties, and broadening our security cooperation as we promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. Mr. Sullivan affirmed the United States unwavering commitment to ASEAN centrality, and welcomed the United States engagement with Thailand in ASEAN settings. The two sides also discussed the importance of democracy, human rights, and ensuring all citizens can freely participate in the political process.

Mr. Sullivan also discussed regional and global issues, including efforts to address the worsening crisis in Burma. They discussed the importance of providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Burma, and welcomed efforts to advance meaningful implementation of the ASEAN Five Point Consensus.Mr. Sullivan also emphasized U.S. commitment to secure the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas. Mr. Sullivan welcomed plans to increase the pace of high-level U.S.-Thai engagement, including through the U.S.-Thailand Strategic and Defense Dialogue in February, through which U.S. and Thai officials will build on our 190 years of bilateral relations to further strengthen our alliance and partnership.

###

By U.S. Mission Thailand | 26 January, 2024 | Topics: News, U.S. & Thailand

Original post:
Readout of NSA Jake Sullivan's Meetings with PM Srettha and DPM/FM Parnpree - US Embassy in Thailand - USEmbassy.gov

Posted in NSA | Comments Off on Readout of NSA Jake Sullivan’s Meetings with PM Srettha and DPM/FM Parnpree – US Embassy in Thailand – USEmbassy.gov

Former NSA Saint has a chance to become repeat Super Bowl champion – The Suffolk News-Herald – Suffolk News-Herald

Posted: at 10:26 pm

Published 4:59 pm Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Most kids only dream about making it to the Super Bowl, but for former Nansemond-Suffolk Academy star Cole Christiansen, getting to the big game is old hat at this point. The former Saint and Army product was part of the Chiefs practice squad last year when Kansas City defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. Christiansen was elevated to the active roster and will travel with the Chiefs to Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII, where he and his teammates hope to become the first back-to-back champions since Tom Brady and the New England Patriots 2003-2004 team.

It definitely meant a lot last year, but this ones gonna be really, really, really special, Christiansen told the Suffolk News-Herald. Even this past AFC Championship game had a little more meaning to it. Being a part of the team and having grass stains on my uniform, like I really contributed, it really meant a lot.

Being close to home and winning the AFC Championship allowed more family and friends to be in the stands to watch him play.

I had my parents, my fiancee, my middle sister, my financial adviser, his wife, and then two of my parents friends came, Christiansen said. So we had a big crew, and they had a blast being there. It really made me happy knowing that they were up there watching me.

Christiansen said his family is excited about this trip to the Super Bowl, especially having him suited up and likely to see action on the field. Cole says no one is more excited than his father, David.

Theyre so pumped, Christiansen said about his family. They honestly are more thrilled than I am. Dad especially because he has been my number one supporter my whole life in football. My mom, too, honestly, but my dad really just loves being at the tailgates, like when I was in college, they would drive up every single weekend, and they were the king and queen of the Army tailgate. My dad [would] be out there at six in the morning grilling for all the dads, and theyd be out there until 10 oclock at night after the game with all my buddies. So, he doesnt want this train to end. So, every time he gets to go to another football game, hes just so excited, and then to be able to go to the Super Bowl twice, I mean, the guy is losing his mind. Its awesome.

Cole was able to defer his military commitment out of college to pursue his career in the NFL. Still, after his NFL ride is over, Cole will jump into another uniform to defend our nation in the United States Army. However, his NFL opportunity almost wasnt available. Before a last-minute change to the National Defense Authorization Act in 2019, upperclassmen at service academies could only pursue professional careers after fulfilling their service obligations.

When I went in, they werent letting us go to the league, he said. All the way up until my senior year, the rule was still that you would serve first, play second. Then, we were actually at the White House accepting the commander-in-chief trophy the second time, and President Donald Trump found out that we had to serve first, and he said I want to change that rule; called his lawyer while we were in the Oval Office talking to him and says I want to do this, I want to sign an Executive Order to let them play. Fast forward like three months, the rules change.

Cole played a pivotal role in the Chiefs defeat of the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round on Jan. 23, 2024. With under 13 minutes to play in the game, with the Chiefs up three points and the Bills facing a fourth-and-five at their 30-yard line, Buffalo ran a fake punt most likely because they realized the Chiefs only had 10 players on the field. However, it only took one man Christiansen to stop Damar Hamlin two yards short of the line to gain, paving the way for another trip to the AFC Championship game in Baltimore, Maryland. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10 Sunday to secure a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, for Super Bowl LVIII and a chance at a repeat.

On that play, Cole says Hamlin had been lined up on the opposite side of him the whole game, then came to his side. That was just one of four indicators the Chiefs special teams unit picked up on to determine the Bills would try the fake punt. Cole credits his teammates for setting the edge on their side, which allowed him to run down Hamlin for the stop.

I thought it was going to come to my side because he [Hamlin] originally switched his alignment to my side, Cole said. So, I went up the field to set the edge, but it [the play] goes away from me, and the rest of the guys did an awesome job setting the edge on their side, and I just ran him down from behind.

Cole earned Chiefs Special Teams Player of the Week for that play.

Super Bowl LVIII will take place in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m. and will be televised on CBS.

Photo courtesy of Cole Christiansen

Read the original:
Former NSA Saint has a chance to become repeat Super Bowl champion - The Suffolk News-Herald - Suffolk News-Herald

Posted in NSA | Comments Off on Former NSA Saint has a chance to become repeat Super Bowl champion – The Suffolk News-Herald – Suffolk News-Herald

NSA Veteran Teresa Shea Joins Board of Directors of Two Six Technologies – ExecutiveBiz

Posted: at 10:26 pm

Teresa Shea, previously a vice president at the former Raytheon company, was added to the board of directors of Two Six Technologies, an Arlinton, Virginia-based company that provides national security customers with technology products and expertise.

The company said Friday that aside from her time as VP of cyber offense and defense experts within Raytheon Intelligence and Space, the executive has over three decades of experience in serving with the National Security Agency, where she held key leadership responsibilities such as delivering signals intelligence advice to the director of NSA, the director of national intelligence and government and military officers.

[Sheas] insights will enable us to understand the shifting priorities of the [intelligence community] and identify mission requirements that we can address with our innovative products, remarked Larry Prior, chairman of the Two Six board.

The executive also previously worked at In-Q-Tel and serves as president of Oplnet and as adviser on numerous boards including Cigent Technology and ZeroFox.

Read more:
NSA Veteran Teresa Shea Joins Board of Directors of Two Six Technologies - ExecutiveBiz

Posted in NSA | Comments Off on NSA Veteran Teresa Shea Joins Board of Directors of Two Six Technologies – ExecutiveBiz

Book Review: Tripping on Utopia, by Benjamin Breen – The New York Times

Posted: at 10:26 pm

TRIPPING ON UTOPIA: Margaret Mead, the Cold War, and the Troubled Birth of Psychedelic Science, by Benjamin Breen

Halfway through Tripping on Utopia: Margaret Mead, the Cold War and the Troubled Birth of Psychedelic Science," the historian Benjamin Breen presents a tantalizing hypothetical, one that would have had an inestimable impact on culture, medicine and perhaps the whole of civilization had it come to pass: What if, in the mid-1950s, Margaret Mead had publicly endorsed psychedelics?

Its not as outrageous a proposition as it may sound. The pioneering anthropologist made studying LSD something close to her full-time job in the summer of 1954. Though we dont know about her own experience with the drug, Mead was surrounded by researchers and users who enthused about the nonaddictive, liberatory, insight-generating potential of acid and mescaline, and she had written about the curative properties of peyote two decades prior while studying the Omaha people.

These natural drugs were new to the white West, and LSD was new to the entire world, having been (accidentally) discovered by a Swiss chemist in 1943, so these substances were free of criminalization and stigma. Meads blessing might have created a climate in which they still would be.

Tripping on Utopia makes the convincing case that Mead and her cohort were key players in the first wave of psychedelic science, which began not in the 1960s but in the 1920s. Timothy Leary and the baby boomers did not usher in the first psychedelic era, Breen writes. They ended it.

Meads interest in psychedelics stemmed from her lifelong quest to find a way to help humanity design peaceful, culturally diverse societies full of self- actualized individuals in essence, a utopia. For her, the dream only intensified during World War II and the Cold War, when the specter of nuclear apocalypse (and the less totalizing yet still nefarious psychochemical warfare) loomed.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit andlog intoyour Times account, orsubscribefor all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?Log in .

Want all of The Times?Subscribe .

See the rest here:

Book Review: Tripping on Utopia, by Benjamin Breen - The New York Times

Posted in New Utopia | Comments Off on Book Review: Tripping on Utopia, by Benjamin Breen – The New York Times

A mysterious phone call cloned Biden’s voice. Can the next one be stopped? – POLITICO

Posted: at 10:26 pm

This story originally appeared in Digital Future Daily, POLITICOs newsletter about how technology is redefining global power. Subscribe here.

The impact of deepfakes on society and elections particularly has been an anxiety for years. Easy-to-use generative AI tools have recently moved it from an issue in niche areas to a top security risk across the board. Before the Biden robocall, AI deepfakes were used in attempts to disrupt elections in Slovakia and Taiwan.

Congress has taken note. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told POLITICO that as the Senate hashes out its priorities on AI legislation, there is growing recognition that tackling the use of AI in campaign ads and communications should top the list. And after explicit deepfakes of Taylor Swift spread on X last week, lawmakers renewed calls for urgent legislation on the issue.

A reminder: no federal laws currently prohibit the sharing or creation of deepfakes, though several bills have been proposed in Congress and some states have passed laws to crack down on manipulated media. The Federal Election Commission, too, has been considering rule changes to regulate the use of A.I. deepfakes in campaign materials.

Deepfakes is the first test that generative AI has thrown at us because it fundamentally eliminates all trust, Vijay Balasubramaniyan, CEO of the phone fraud detection company Pindrop, told Steven Overly on a POLITICO Tech podcast episode that delved into the Biden robocall incident. If we cant get together and figure out how to solve that problem, yeah, the killer robots will definitely get us.

No surprise thats easier said than done. One especially tricky part will be figuring out how to tackle the full range of manipulated media from older techniques like splicing in fake audio to the new generative AI-fueled advancements, and all the hybrids in between. The robocall, for one, was not a very advanced audio deepfake, according to Matthew Wright, who chairs Rochester Institute of Technologys cybersecurity department.

There are tools available now that that can do a better job, and consequently be more dangerous, he told DFD.

Looking at the proposed federal bills and enacted state laws, it turns out theres not a whole lot they collectively agree on, starting with even what should be regulated.

California and Washingtons laws target false depictions only of political candidates, while Texas and Minnesota go further to include those created with the intention of harming a political candidate or influencing election outcomes.

Consensus on what constitutes a deepfake is also lacking. Some bills distinctly cover images and video, while others extend to audio.

This episode does highlight how important it is to have audio be included in these efforts, said Mekela Panditharatne, counsel for the Brennan Centers Democracy Program. It could be kind of separated and done piecemeal. But I do think it makes sense to consider those different forms of gen-AI production together.

Piecemeal seems to be the way regulation on deepfakes is moving. Wright drew parallels with the landscape for privacy legislation, where a patchwork of laws offer varying levels of protection.

A key question is who should be held accountable: phone service providers, platforms, developers or distributors of the deepfakes? How you answer that ends up defining the focus of proposed solutions.

At the federal level, bills have assigned responsibility to two main groups, said Panditharatne. The first includes the actors that fall under campaign finance disclosure requirements: campaigns, super PACs and donors. Often, the resulting bills address the timing of deepfakes like one act that bans false endorsements and knowingly misleading voting information 60 days before a federal election or transparency, as in the case of Rep. Yvette Clarkes (D-N.Y.) bill which requires that political ads reveal their use of AI-generated material through mandatory labeling, watermarking or audio disclosures.

The second category targets deepfake disseminators, so long as they meet certain knowledge or intent requirements in some cases. Rep. Joe Morelles (D-N.Y.) Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act would make it illegal to share deepfake pornography without consent.

There is relatively little attention both at the federal and state level in holding other actors to account for deepfakes, Panditharatne added, giving social media companies and AI developers as examples.

As with past content moderation issues, social media giants enjoy some protection from legal liability under federal law (thanks to the famous Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act), which complicates such efforts. The bipartisan Senate NO FAKES Act is one attempt; it proposes holding liable anyone who makes or publicly shares an unauthorized digital replica including companies and allowing for penalties that start at $5,000 per violation.

Still, its unclear to Wright whether any regulations under consideration, or industry solutions in development, could have prevented the Biden robocall. Wright said he has built a deepfake detection tool of his own, but also offers one solution for which the technology does not currently exist on phones. Every microphone is going to have to have even live audio being constantly re-certified. That might have to be whats required.

The design of the scheme exploited an area on which detection focuses less: a direct line with no real-time feedback from social media and limited playback capabilities.

Enforcing the regulations being floated will require some sort of detection mechanism ( many have been invented). But for now, some bad actors with just a voter registration list, phone, and 30-second clip of a political figure can inevitably fly under the radar. The FTC has sponsored a challenge with a $25,000 top prize for the most effective approach to safeguard against the misuse of AI-enabled voice cloning, covering everything from imposter fraud to using someones voice without consent in music creation. Its suggestions include real-time detection and monitoring to alert users to voice cloning or block calls.

Excerpt from:

A mysterious phone call cloned Biden's voice. Can the next one be stopped? - POLITICO

Posted in Cloning | Comments Off on A mysterious phone call cloned Biden’s voice. Can the next one be stopped? – POLITICO