
Through two-plus weeks since his trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers , veteran wide receiver Mike Williams has been targeted just one time for one catch, the game-winning touchdown over the Washington Commanders in Week 10. However, that could change this week given the trajectory of his snap count, the need for threats opposite George Pickens, and the matchup with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football. Williams, who spent most of his career with the Chargers, only got on the field for nine snaps in his Week 10 Steelers debut in which he scored the highlight-reel, 32-yard game-winner on a pass from Russell Wilson. Despite seeing nearly three times (25) the snaps the following week, against Baltimore, Williams saw no targets in Pittsburgh's 18-16 Week 11 victory. That inefficiency can be attributed to a woeful offensive performance by the Steelers, who only managed 181 yards passing as quarterback Russell Wilson played by far his worst game in the Black and Yellow, sporting a 67.5 passer rating, and an interception. Having a jump ball target downfield like Williams could make all the difference against a team in Cleveland that plays Cover 1 and blitzes a lot. The Ravens avoided those tactics in order to defend Wilson's famous moonball, forcing Pittsburgh to mostly play the short passing game that better suited checkdown options like Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and Pat Freiermuth. Browns star cornerback Denzel Ward, the only player in their secondary who has been good this year, is off the injury report in advance of tonight's game, so he will likely be following Pittsburgh's star wide receiver George Pickens around. That and safeties cheating over towards Pickens will create space on the other side of the field for Williams to potentially do what he does best, just like he did two weeks ago. The Steelers sent a draft pick to the New York Jets to acquire the eight-year NFL veteran for precisely that reason: to take some defensive attention away from Pickens and make plays when No. 14 is covered. Pittsburgh's legendary coach and Coach of the Year frontrunner, Mike Tomlin, certainly acknowledges Williams' preparation and role with the team. "I like his work," Tomlin said of Williams . "How we feel about his progress is not always reflected in statistics. We'll keep working, he's doing a great job fitting in... I like the trajectory of it." For his part, Williams has his head in the right place as he is focused on winning football games and not ego. Yet, Thursday Night Football may give Williams more chances to help the Steelers win football games now that he is more acclimated to his new team.
Learn how to prevent payment fraud with effective fraud detection, online prevention solutions, and secure payment orchestration strategies. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Basics of Fraud Prevention in Online Payments With the surge in e-commerce and digital payments, fraudulent transactions have become more sophisticated, costing businesses billions annually. For businesses, effective fraud prevention tools and solutions have become a necessity. This article explores the essentials of payment fraud prevention, highlighting common threats, the role of payment orchestration platforms with advanced security measures, and best practices to safeguard transactions. Common Types of Payment Fraud Understanding the types of fraudulent payments is the first step in implementing an effective fraud prevention strategy. Here’s the list of the most common types of online payment fraud: Identity theft: Fraudsters use stolen identities to make unauthorised purchases or access accounts. Phishing scams: Cybercriminals trick users into revealing sensitive payment data and further misuse it. Card-not-present or CNP fraud : This occurs during online transactions without the physical card, making verification more difficult. Chargeback fraud : Fraudsters make purchases and later dispute the charges to reclaim the funds. Each of these threats underscores the need for robust online fraud prevention solutions and payment fraud detection systems. Essential Security Features for Fraud Prevention Investing in advanced security measures is key to mitigating payment fraud risks. Online businesses often implement tokenisation and encryption to secure sensitive payment information by converting it into protected formats that are unusable to fraudsters. Also, two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring dual forms of identification, while AI-powered payment fraud analytics enhance fraud detection by analysing patterns to identify and block fraudulent transactions in real-time. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Traditionally, compliance with PCI DSS standards ensures adherence to the highest levels of payment data protection. Payment processing solutions, including white-label ISO/MSP platforms, often incorporate these features, enabling businesses to safeguard against fraudulent transactions effectively. Best Practices for Fraud Prevention Implementing a comprehensive fraud prevention strategy requires a mix of technology, policies, and education. The following list will help you understand the basics. Adopt advanced fraud detection tools. Utilise AI and machine learning for real-time monitoring and alerts. Regularly update security protocols. Cyber threats evolve rapidly, necessitating frequent updates to your systems. Educate your team and customers. Training employees and informing customers about common fraud tactics helps mitigate risks. Leverage payment orchestration. Streamlined payment routing with fraud checks reduces vulnerabilities. Conduct payment fraud analytics. Regular analysis of transaction data can reveal patterns indicative of fraud. By adopting these practices, businesses can better protect themselves against payment fraud while keeping transactions smooth and secure for everyone. Conclusion Payment fraud is a growing threat that demands businesses to invest in anti-fraud strategies and leverage advanced technologies like payment fraud detection and analytics to protect their revenue and reputation. Staying alert and regularly updating fraud prevention strategies is key to long-term success in the world of digital payments. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); RELATED TOPICS Best Paid and Free OSINT Tools for 2024 How ID Scanning Apps Can Prevent Fraud Leveraging AI for Enhanced Threat Detection – Prevention Imperative of Automating Fraud Detection in Financial Institutions Why Incident Response Plans Are Key to Cybersecurity Resilience
ALGIERS, Algeria Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune launched a strong critique Sunday against France over the lingering effects of its colonial rule on his country. This came during a speech delivered before both chambers of parliament addressing the nation in which he presented the achievements of his first presidential term from 2019-2024 and outlined his agenda for his second term, which began in September, according to an Anadolu correspondent. Tebboune said Algeria demands that France acknowledge its crimes committed during the colonial period from 1830-1962, emphasizing that the country seeks no material compensation. "We are pursuing the dignity of our ancestors," he said. "The number of Algerian martyrs throughout the 132 years of colonization is 5.6 million, and no amount of money can compensate for the loss of even one martyr during the resistance or armed struggle,” he stressed. The remarks came amid a severe political crisis between Algeria and France which led to the withdrawal of Algeria's ambassador and the summoning of the French ambassador. Algerian authorities attributed this escalation to "hostile acts committed by French foreign intelligence on Algerian soil." Tebboune also recalled the atrocities committed by the French colonial army, particularly under General Thomas Robert Bugeaud, governor-general of Algeria from 1841-1847, whom he described as "genocidal." He reiterated his commitment to addressing the colonial-era files with France and pointed out that France continues to hold 500 skulls of Algerians who were decapitated in the 19th century and taken to Paris. "We have only managed to recover 24 skulls so far," he noted. On the domestic front, Tebboune announced plans to launch a dialogue with political parties early next year "to strengthen state independence and bolster internal unity." He said the dialogue, for which an exact start date was not specified, would be "inclusive and deep," culminating in the introduction of new laws governing political parties and associations. *Writing by Rania Abu ShamalaSay your nephew needs a Christmas present and you vaguely know what he’s into these days. A new Gift Finder feature on the Best Buy app lets users ask questions like, “What can I get for a 10-year-old who loves Minecraft?” The artificial intelligence-powered chatbot responds with a list of products like the latest versions of the game, Minecraft Legos and in-game currency. And just like that, you’re still his favorite aunt or uncle. Best Buy is one of several retailers touting new generative AI capabilities for the holiday season and year-round shopping, a critical tactic for staying relevant and making shopping hassle-free. They are all hoping as the clock ticks on a short holiday shopping window that last-minute shoppers have one less excuse for putting off their purchases. “Customers can have an interactive exchange to help guide them to the perfect gift they might not have even considered or knew that Best Buy offered,” CEO Corie Barry said about the Gift Finder on last month’s earnings call. Target launched its own version, the Bullseye Gift Finder, last week. With a few clicks, the tool will populate a list of gift ideas for kids or the whole family. “Target set out to make it easy and fun to discover on-trend and affordable items, which led to the design of our Bullseye Gift Finder,” said Cara Sylvester, chief guest experience officer. “Guests are loving the time and money saved thanks to all the affordable options served up to them, and we’ll continue to build on this technology well beyond the holiday season.” A Bain survey found more than half of consumers appreciate AI-enhanced recommendations when shopping online. The consulting firm said the approach will endure past the holidays and is “about building loyalty and market leadership that lasts into 2025 and beyond.” “Winning retailers know that AI-powered personalization isn’t just another plug-and-play technology,” according to a recent Bain report. “It empowers a strategic shift — the ability to align every message and interaction with the retailer’s identity, voice, and unique value proposition.” And Boston Consulting Group in its holiday analysis in October said retailers from Target to Walmart and department stores would have to win the weekly online battle as well as the weekend in-store race to come out ahead this season. This week, many stores including Target extended shopping hours until Christmas Eve, all in an effort to allow customers to shop however they want this season. But online purchases are expected this year to grow from 24% to 26% of overall holiday sales, and total $240.8 billion, according to Adobe Analytics research firm. Walmart embedded generative AI in its main search bar earlier this year, letting customers ask questions like “What should I make for dinner tonight?” to find loads of recommendations. Amazon also is pointing users to its virtual shopping assistant, Rufus, a chatbot that can answer questions and offer up products. “Rufus is designed to make shopping faster and easier, helping you narrow down Amazon’s wide selection and ultimately select the item that fits your needs,” the company wrote in a news release. Retailers have worked swiftly to build out AI assistants this year as the technology becomes table stakes. Target is testing a beta version of its AI shopping assistant for certain items, while Barry said Best Buy’s virtual assistant “can help 60% of our chat users without the need for a live customer support person.” Best Buy also launched an AI-enhanced package tracking tool earlier this year. Consultants at Bain wrote each retailer needs to consider its niche and how AI can serve their specific audience: “When retailers get this right, they make shoppers feel seen, valued, and engaged, which builds loyalty and sets a new bar for customer experience.”In Gaza's crowded tent camps, women wrestle with a life stripped of privacyDJI's first portable power stations are packed with features, and on sale now for Black Friday
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Along with celebrity child births, big bang Bollywood weddings, shocking divorces; the industry also saw many known faces pass away in 2024. From sudden and shocking deaths to losing long battles to illnesses, the industry lost several gems this year. Let's take a look at the celebs who passed away to their heavenly abode. Zakir Hussain: Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain passed away at the age of 73 on December 16. The musical legend had been battling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and was hospitalized for almost two weeks in San Francisco before passing away. The legend's death left a huge void in the space of Indian classic music. Pankaj Udhas: Another musical legend who breathed his last this year was Pankaj Udhas. The Ghazal maestro passed away on 26 February due to prolonged illness. He will forever be remembered for giving the Indian music industry some of the most memorable ghazals – Chandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera, Chhithi Aayi Hai, Aur Ahistaa Kijiye Baatein and more. Rohit Bal: One of India's most celebrated fashion designers, Rohit Bal, breathed his last on 01 November at the age of 63. The ace designer who dressed several big names back home and all across the globe was facing serious heart ailment for over a year. Rituraj Singh: One of the most shocking deaths this year was that of television and film actor Rituraj Singh. The Banegi Apni Baat actor died of a cardiac arrest on February 19. Known for his versatility, Singh had recently ventured into OTT too with shows like Made in Heaven, Bandish Bandits and more. Asha Sharma: Veteran actress Asha Sharma passed away due to age related health issues at the age of 88. Th talented actress had worked in various shows and films. Vikas Sethi: Television's popular face, Vikas Sethi, left the nation shocked with the news of his tragic death. The Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thhi actor passed away due to a sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 48. Atul Parchure: One of the most unexpected deaths was that of noted Marathi actor Atul Parchure. The actor died at the age of 57 after battling liver cancer. Ustad Rashid Khan: Ustad Rashid Khan passed away on January 9 after a long fight with cancer. The Padma Bhushan recipient was put on ventilator for a few days before he breathed his last. Some of his most memorable songs are from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, My Name is Khan and more. Shyam Benegal: Bollywood filmmaker Shyam Benegal passed away on December 23 in Mumbai following a long battle with chronic kidney-related disease. The cinematic genius will always be regarded as the man who gave birth to parallel cinema with films like - Ankur, Mandi, Sardari Begum, Zubeidaa and more. Sharda Sinha: Renowned folk and classical singer, Sharda Sinha, breathed her last on November 5. Known for her unconventional voice and Chhatth songs, Sinha passed away after a long battle with multiple myeloma. Zakir Hussain death: Net Worth, Last Social Media post, Family Members of the Table Maestro Shocking! Anupamaa actor Rituraj Singh succumbs to cardiac arrest at 59; Celebs and fans pay tribute Pankaj Udhas funeral: Ghazal icon laid to rest with state honours; Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan bid tearful goodbyeUsi rift with UTM Party keeps widening
DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will not be charged with a crime after he was found with a gun in a car driven by his brother, a prosecutor said Monday. The gun on the floor was registered to Williams, but he didn't have a concealed-carry permit. His brother did. Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Michigan law is “far from clear” when applied to the 1 a.m. traffic stop on Oct. 8. “We really could not recall any case that had facts that mirrored this case,” she said. Williams was riding in a car driven by his brother when Detroit police stopped the vehicle for speeding. Williams said one of two guns in the car belonged to him and was registered. But without a concealed-pistol license, known as a CPL, a Michigan gun owner typically must place the weapon in a closed case while in a vehicle. A violation is a felony. In this case, Williams' brother had a permit. “The CPL holder here was the driver and had care, custody and control of the car," Worthy said. “Guidance is needed for the future on how many weapons can a valid CPL say that they have control over.” Williams obtained a CPL on Nov. 6, a month later, attorney Todd Flood said. “My client is thankful and humbled by the hard work Kym Worthy and her team put into this matter,” Flood said. During the traffic stop, Williams was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car before officers released him with his gun instead of taking him to a detention center. Williams, a first-round draft pick in 2022, has 29 catches for 602 yards and four touchdowns this season. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLDigital fingerprinting suddenly becomes real—again With Google’s last tracking u-turn fresh in the mind, here comes another one. Not only have cookies won a stay of execution , it now looks like digital fingerprinting is back as well. But as one regulator has pointed out, Google itself has said that this type of tracking “subverts user choice and is wrong.” And yet here we are—wrong or not. “We think this change is irresponsible,” the regulator warns. For its part, Google cites advances in so-called privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) as raising the bar for user privacy, enabling it to loosen the shackles on advertisers and the hidden trackers that underpin the internet and make the whole ecosystem work. This, it says, will unlock “new ways for brands to manage and activate their data safely and securely,” while “also giving people the privacy protections they expect.” The risk is that this simply rolls the dark side of tracking cookies forward into a new era, and in a way that is impossible for users to unpick to understand their risks. The specifics are complex—these are the algorithms that ingest all the data signals you give off when browsing the internet on any device, some based on who you are—device, IP and credential identifiers, but also the sites you visit and apps you use as a map to be followed and analyzed. The change has been prompted, Google explains , in part by “the broader range of surfaces on which ads are served.” This includes smart TVs and gaming consoles, as well as all your usual browser and app activity. While Chrome has taken plenty of flack for tracking, this takes it to a new, very different level. “In the past decade,” Google says, “the way people engage with the internet changed dramatically. So we’re constantly evaluating our policies to ensure they reflect the latest evolutions in technology and meet our partners’ needs and users’ expectations.” And so from February 16 , Google will be “less prescriptive with partners in how they target and measure ads” across “the broader range of surfaces on which ads are served (such as Connected TVs and gaming consoles).” Falling Back Under North Korean Assault, A Ukrainian Brigade Turned A River Into A Natural Barrier Mystery Drone Sightings: Drones Now Banned In More Than A Dozen New Jersey Cities, FAA Says (Updated) New Gmail Security Warning For 2.5 Billion—Second Attack Wave Incoming “Fingerprinting involves the collection of pieces of information about a device’s software or hardware, which, when combined, can uniquely identify a particular device and user,” explains Stephen Almond, representing the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office . “The ICO’s view is that fingerprinting is not a fair means of tracking users online because it is likely to reduce people’s choice and control over how their information is collected. The change to Google’s policy means that fingerprinting could now replace the functions of third-party cookies.” The ICO says that “when you choose an option on a consent banner or ‘clear all site data’ in your browser, you are generally controlling the use of cookies and other traditional forms of local storage. Fingerprinting, however, relies on signals that you cannot easily wipe. So, even if you ‘clear all site data’, the organisation using fingerprinting techniques could immediately identify you again. This is not transparent and cannot easily be controlled. Fingerprinting is harder for browsers to block and therefore, even privacy-conscious users will find this difficult to stop.” Changes to user tracking confirmed Both the regulator and Google have confirmed they’ll continue to engage on this change, which the ICO says is a “u-turn in its position and the departure it represents from our expectation of a privacy-friendly internet.” The regulator has also issued a stark warning for businesses that might be readying themselves for the gloves to come off in February when the changes kick in. “Businesses do not have free rein to use fingerprinting as they please. Like all advertising technology, it must be lawfully and transparently deployed—and if it is not, the ICO will act.” Google gives an example of the need for such fingerprinting in its announcement—smart TVs and streaming services. “Internet users are embracing Connected TV (CTV) experiences, making it one of the fastest growing advertising channels. Businesses who advertise on CTV need the ability to connect with relevant audiences and understand the effectiveness of their campaigns. As people and households increasingly shift to streaming platforms, the ecosystem should invest in and develop solutions that are effective and measurable in an incredibly fragmented environment.” Put simply—cross-platform, cross-device ad tracking. A move which does take the focus away from Chrome as being the epicenter of Google’s tracking empire—the timing of which is interesting. It’s hard to imagine a more complex backdrop, with the ongoing DOJ action that is expected to see changes mandated, including the potential for Chrome to be divested . Then there is the uncertainty as to what will replace tracking cookies. “Businesses should not consider fingerprinting a simple solution to the loss of third-party cookies and other cross-site tracking signals,” the ICO says, insisting users have “meaningful control over how their information is used to show them personalized adverts.” At its simplest, while tracking cookies are a nasty underpin to the internet, they can be seen and controlled, whether by those website popups or electing to use some form of private browsing that blocks such cookies altogether. Digital fingerprinting is not as obvious and so is harder to spot and to block, it’s also more open to clever manipulation as the tracking industry tests boundaries. Google says it can “apply privacy-preserving protections that help businesses reach their customers across these new platforms without the need to re-identify them. And because we’re looking to encourage responsible data use as the new standard across the web, we’ll also partner with the broader ads industry and help make PETs more accessible.” Coming just months after the tracking cookie u-turn and with no firm Plan B in site, this is already being greeted with significant regulatory skepticism. For users it’s yet one more reason to think carefully about the browser they use and the settings they apply across all their smart devices. I have approached Google for any comments on these regulatory warnings.