User blogs
A VERY LOW DOSE of tamoxifen—5 mg/d, given for 3 years rather than 5
years—halved the risk of breast cancer recurrence or new lesions over
placebo in women with breast intraepithelial neoplasia, without
producing the usual toxicities seen with the standard dose, Italian
researchers reported at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.1wisepoqder Tamoxifen
“We believe our results have external validity and—given their pragmatic nature and the easy accessibility of tamoxifen—are generalizable,” said Andrea De Censi, MD, of the National Hospital E.O. Ospedali Galliera–Division of Medical Oncology in Genoa, Italy. “Tamoxifen, 5 mg a day (splitting the tablet) or 10 mg every other day, is applicable in clinical practice tomorrow.”
Breast cancer experts at the meeting said this is news they can use. “Looking at these data, I would definitely give lower doses of tamoxifen, especially in patients with atypical ductal hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ,” said Virginia G. Kaklamani, MD, Professor of Medicine at The University of Texas at San Antonio and leader of the Breast Cancer Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.
“This information tells me I can perhaps cut back on the dose for patients who are not tolerating tamoxifen. This would help me keep them on the dose, rather than have them abandon therapy,” said John Cole, MD, of the Ochsner Health System in New Orleans.
ALTHOUGH TAMOXIFEN is effective in preventing breast cancer recurrence, its side effects—menopausal symptoms, endometrial cancer, deep-vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism— are barriers for its use as a preventive measure. The aim of this de-escalation study was to determine whether a lower dose and shorter duration of tamoxifen therapy would be as efficacious as and better tolerated than the standard dose.
Dr. De Censi and colleagues had previously shown that a dose as low as 1 mg/d is noninferior to 20 mg in decreasing Ki67 (a marker of proliferation), though less effective in modulating serum biomarkers.2 For the current study, the investigators decided 5 mg/d would be a reasonable compromise between activity and safety. He explained that the government- and charity-funded study could not afford to financially support the use of a very large noninferiority trial of tamoxifen at 20 mg/d for 5 years as the control arm.
“We believe our results have external validity and—given their pragmatic nature and the easy accessibility of tamoxifen—are generalizable,” said Andrea De Censi, MD, of the National Hospital E.O. Ospedali Galliera–Division of Medical Oncology in Genoa, Italy. “Tamoxifen, 5 mg a day (splitting the tablet) or 10 mg every other day, is applicable in clinical practice tomorrow.”
Breast cancer experts at the meeting said this is news they can use. “Looking at these data, I would definitely give lower doses of tamoxifen, especially in patients with atypical ductal hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ,” said Virginia G. Kaklamani, MD, Professor of Medicine at The University of Texas at San Antonio and leader of the Breast Cancer Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.
“This information tells me I can perhaps cut back on the dose for patients who are not tolerating tamoxifen. This would help me keep them on the dose, rather than have them abandon therapy,” said John Cole, MD, of the Ochsner Health System in New Orleans.
ALTHOUGH TAMOXIFEN is effective in preventing breast cancer recurrence, its side effects—menopausal symptoms, endometrial cancer, deep-vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism— are barriers for its use as a preventive measure. The aim of this de-escalation study was to determine whether a lower dose and shorter duration of tamoxifen therapy would be as efficacious as and better tolerated than the standard dose.
Dr. De Censi and colleagues had previously shown that a dose as low as 1 mg/d is noninferior to 20 mg in decreasing Ki67 (a marker of proliferation), though less effective in modulating serum biomarkers.2 For the current study, the investigators decided 5 mg/d would be a reasonable compromise between activity and safety. He explained that the government- and charity-funded study could not afford to financially support the use of a very large noninferiority trial of tamoxifen at 20 mg/d for 5 years as the control arm.
The study found that of 258 healthy women in England with a family
history of the disease, six out of seven decided not to take the drug to
help prevent it from developing.
Sixteen women were then interviewed in order to determine what factors played a role in their decision, with key reasons found to be a belief that cancer was down to fate, a distrust of medication in general, or fear of side effects would interfere with looking after their family.wisepoqder Tamoxifen powder
The research team, based at the University of Leeds, Northwestern University, University College London and Queen Mary University of London, found women with children were more likely to take up the offer of tamoxifen, and that social class, educational attainment and ethnicity had no effect on uptake.
In 2013, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence endorsed NHS funding for use of tamoxifen cancer prevention in women at increased risk of the disease due to a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, following research which showed it could lower risk by around a third.
According to the guidelines, doctors should offer tamoxifen for five years to premenopausal women at high or moderate risk of breast cancer, unless they have a past history or may be at increased risk of thromboembolic disease or endometrial cancer, and anastrozole for five years to postmenopausal women unless they have severe osteoporosis.
For postmenopausal women at high risk of breast cancer with severe osteoporosis, but no history or increased risk of thromboembolic disease or endometrial cancer, tamoxifen should for offered, or raloxifene as an alternative for women with a uterus.
“It’s valuable to understand why women might reject tamoxifen, and this research highlights there are a range of complex reasons behind the decision,” said Dr Richard Roope, Cancer Research UK’s senior clinical adviser and GP expert.
“It’s vital more work is done to understand these barriers, improve treatments and ensure doctors are getting the support they need to help women decide whether preventative medication is right for them.”
Sixteen women were then interviewed in order to determine what factors played a role in their decision, with key reasons found to be a belief that cancer was down to fate, a distrust of medication in general, or fear of side effects would interfere with looking after their family.wisepoqder Tamoxifen powder
The research team, based at the University of Leeds, Northwestern University, University College London and Queen Mary University of London, found women with children were more likely to take up the offer of tamoxifen, and that social class, educational attainment and ethnicity had no effect on uptake.
In 2013, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence endorsed NHS funding for use of tamoxifen cancer prevention in women at increased risk of the disease due to a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, following research which showed it could lower risk by around a third.
According to the guidelines, doctors should offer tamoxifen for five years to premenopausal women at high or moderate risk of breast cancer, unless they have a past history or may be at increased risk of thromboembolic disease or endometrial cancer, and anastrozole for five years to postmenopausal women unless they have severe osteoporosis.
For postmenopausal women at high risk of breast cancer with severe osteoporosis, but no history or increased risk of thromboembolic disease or endometrial cancer, tamoxifen should for offered, or raloxifene as an alternative for women with a uterus.
“It’s valuable to understand why women might reject tamoxifen, and this research highlights there are a range of complex reasons behind the decision,” said Dr Richard Roope, Cancer Research UK’s senior clinical adviser and GP expert.
“It’s vital more work is done to understand these barriers, improve treatments and ensure doctors are getting the support they need to help women decide whether preventative medication is right for them.”
Bristol-Myers Squibb has discontinued its oral d-sotalol SWORD (survival
with oral d-sotalol) trial due to a monitoring committee report of
excess mortality in the treated group compared to placebo. The Phase III
trial was intended to study the effect of the drug in preventing sudden
cardiac death in myocardial infarction patients at risk of
life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. Originally, the compound was
intended as a single isomer follow-up to B-MS' Betapace (sotalol) drug.wisepoqder Sotalol
The excess mortality came to light after the SWORD data safety monitoring committee examined interim data from 2,762 patients and determined that the overall mortality in the d-sotalol group was 3.9% compared to 2% in the placebo group.
The SWORD trial was touted by B-MS as the largest of its kind and had enrolled 3,000 of the planned 6,400 patients. Because of problems with Class I (sodium channel blockers) and Class II (beta blocking) drugs, focus has now shifted to the Class III potassium-blocking agents, said B-MS. Sotalol has both Class II and III activity, but the single d-isomer is purely Class III in action.
SWORD is one of 15 studies in progress evaluating d-sotalol in the prevention of ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The other prevention trials are studying different patient populations than in the SWORD trial. B-MS said that study of the compound will continue. However, all trials of d-sotalol with SWORD-like patient and protocol profiles will be discontinued and enrollment in the supra-ventricular arrhythmia trial has been halted pending protocol revision.
...And Withdraws Questran Tablets Bristol-Myers Squibb is also withdrawing Questran (cholestyramine) tablets in the USA and Canada, following seven reports of patients experiencing swallowing difficulties with the tablets including two reports of choking episodes. The 1gm tablets were launched in May last year at a 10% discount to the oral suspension formulation. Neither of the powder forms are affected by the withdrawal.
The excess mortality came to light after the SWORD data safety monitoring committee examined interim data from 2,762 patients and determined that the overall mortality in the d-sotalol group was 3.9% compared to 2% in the placebo group.
The SWORD trial was touted by B-MS as the largest of its kind and had enrolled 3,000 of the planned 6,400 patients. Because of problems with Class I (sodium channel blockers) and Class II (beta blocking) drugs, focus has now shifted to the Class III potassium-blocking agents, said B-MS. Sotalol has both Class II and III activity, but the single d-isomer is purely Class III in action.
SWORD is one of 15 studies in progress evaluating d-sotalol in the prevention of ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The other prevention trials are studying different patient populations than in the SWORD trial. B-MS said that study of the compound will continue. However, all trials of d-sotalol with SWORD-like patient and protocol profiles will be discontinued and enrollment in the supra-ventricular arrhythmia trial has been halted pending protocol revision.
...And Withdraws Questran Tablets Bristol-Myers Squibb is also withdrawing Questran (cholestyramine) tablets in the USA and Canada, following seven reports of patients experiencing swallowing difficulties with the tablets including two reports of choking episodes. The 1gm tablets were launched in May last year at a 10% discount to the oral suspension formulation. Neither of the powder forms are affected by the withdrawal.
Sotalol powder Drug Market share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks).wisepoqder β-agonist Powder
The research report on Global “Sotalol Drug Market” report primarily focuses on the market trends, demand spectrum, and future prospects of this industry over the forecast period. Furthermore, the report provides a detailed statistical overview in terms of trends outlining the geographical opportunities and contributions by prominent industry share contenders. The report is a comprehensive collection of essential data with respect to the competitive spectrum of this industry where the Sotalol Drug market has profitably established its presence.
About Sotalol Drug Market:
Sotalolis a medication used to treat abnormal heart rhythms.
In 2019, the market size of Sotalol Drug is xx million US$ and it will reach xx million US$ in 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% from 2019; while in China, the market size is valued at xx million US$ and will increase to xx million US$ in 2025, with a CAGR of xx% during forecast period.
In this report, 2018 has been considered as the base year and 2019 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Sotalol Drug. This report studies the global market size of Sotalol Drug, especially focuses on the key regions like United States, European Union, China, and other regions (Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia).
This study presents the Sotalol Drug sales volume, revenue, market share and growth rate for each key company, and also covers the breakdown data (sales, revenue and market share) by regions, type and applications. history breakdown data from 2014 to 2019, and forecast to 2025.
For top companies in United States, European Union and China, this report investigates and analyzes the production, value, price, market share and growth rate for the top manufacturers, key data from 2014 to 2019.
Salbutamol
powder, also known as albuterol, is a medication that opens up
constricted medium and large airways in the lungs and is often used to
treat asthma. Because high doses are suspected by some to also have an
anabolic effect, its daily dosage is restricted by the World Anti-Doping
Agency, which uses urine tests to determine violations. A new British
Journal of Clinical Pharmacology study shows that large variability in
urine concentrations, however, lead to infeasibility of determining an
administered dose from a single untimed urine sample.wisepoqder Salbutamol powder
The authors noted that the current threshold inadvertently leads to incorrect assumptions of violation, whereas many violations will go unnoticed, especially when samples are taken long after drug administration. These issues, combined with the dubious assertion of its anabolic effect, indicate that the large effort involved in testing should be reconsidered.
"Using available pharmacological knowledge, we demonstrate that the current approach to detect excessive salbutamol use is fundamentally flawed and cannot differentiate between illegal and allowed use," said co-author Jules Heuberger, of the Centre for Human Drug Research, in Leiden, The Netherlands. "If the doping community is determined to control for excessive salbutamol use, these procedures should be changed, ideally in collaboration with clinical pharmacologists."
The authors noted that the current threshold inadvertently leads to incorrect assumptions of violation, whereas many violations will go unnoticed, especially when samples are taken long after drug administration. These issues, combined with the dubious assertion of its anabolic effect, indicate that the large effort involved in testing should be reconsidered.
"Using available pharmacological knowledge, we demonstrate that the current approach to detect excessive salbutamol use is fundamentally flawed and cannot differentiate between illegal and allowed use," said co-author Jules Heuberger, of the Centre for Human Drug Research, in Leiden, The Netherlands. "If the doping community is determined to control for excessive salbutamol use, these procedures should be changed, ideally in collaboration with clinical pharmacologists."
Is someone watching you right now?
Are you being spied on online? The short answer is: probably.
This post will take a look at the key ways third parties could be snooping on your online activities right now.
Government surveillance
Your government is almost certainly spying on you. In the U.S., the National Security Agency (NSA) legally collects private data including:
Emails, messages and other data from your accounts with AOL, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, PalTalk, Skype, Yahoo, YouTube, and others
Internet traffic passing through undersea fiber optic cables, which it taps in collaboration with governments around the world
Cell phone locations in some countries outside the U.S. It collects around 5 billion records per day
In the UK, the Tempora program intercepts internet traffic for surveillance purposes in partnership with the country’s telecom companies and the NSA.
These are just the programs we know about, based on leaked information. So there’s also the possibility that new and secret surveillance programs are spying on us in other ways, too.
Unsecure internet connections
You might have secured your own network and computers with firewall and security software. You probably also have an authenticated connection to your ISP. But how secure is the path your data takes when you transmit it over the internet?
Unless you’re using a VPN, not very. When you send or receive data packets online, you know when they reach their destination. But you don’t know which networks that data passed through on its way to that destination—or who might have made a copy. It’s possible that your internet traffic is being spied on, by other parties as well as government agencies.
Malicious software
If your computer is infected with malicious software, then it could be spying on you too. Types of malware that can steal your data include:
Keyloggers – These programs record every keystroke you make and send it to a third party, to track your activity or steal information like credit card numbers.
Adware – Websites you visit are tracked and sent to a third party, which uses the data to target ads based on your browsing history.
Spyware – Software that appears to serve a useful purpose but that also steals your data. The infamous CoolWebSearch download presented itself as a browser add-on, but it also stole chatlogs, account credentials, bank information and more.
Third-party tracking cookies
Web advertising distribution networks get a cookie from your browser every time you see one of their ads. Each cookie includes information that identifies you, either by your IP address or your browser’s unique identifier.
If the ad distributor is big enough, you’ll see their ads on lots of different sites. And they’ll get a cookie each time. The result is that the advertiser can track your browsing activity and use the data to target ads more effectively.
Most commercial websites now warn you that “This website uses cookies to improve the user experience.”
Whether or not this constitutes spying is a matter of perspective. But these tracking cookies could undoubtedly be considered a sneaky invasion of your privacy.
Measures to protect you from spies
If you want to protect your data from secret surveillance, consider the following steps.
Use a VPN to encrypt your internet traffic, so spies can’t open data packets even if they intercept them
Install security software and keep it up to date, to protect your computer from malware and hackers
Disable third-party cookies in your browser. It’s a simple option in Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, and others.
Our recommendation is RitaVPN. RitaVPN is an excellent choice for accessing your favorite geo-blocked content. It allows P2P connections on all servers and offers specialized servers for Netflix and other favorite streaming channels. RitaVPN is a relatively new VPN service, but it’s already making a name for itself，which makes it one of the best VPN in 2019.
Qwer432
http://www.fastritavpn.com/
http://www.buyvpns.net/
http://www.buyvpnservices.com/
Are you being spied on online? The short answer is: probably.
This post will take a look at the key ways third parties could be snooping on your online activities right now.
Government surveillance
Your government is almost certainly spying on you. In the U.S., the National Security Agency (NSA) legally collects private data including:
Emails, messages and other data from your accounts with AOL, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, PalTalk, Skype, Yahoo, YouTube, and others
Internet traffic passing through undersea fiber optic cables, which it taps in collaboration with governments around the world
Cell phone locations in some countries outside the U.S. It collects around 5 billion records per day
In the UK, the Tempora program intercepts internet traffic for surveillance purposes in partnership with the country’s telecom companies and the NSA.
These are just the programs we know about, based on leaked information. So there’s also the possibility that new and secret surveillance programs are spying on us in other ways, too.
Unsecure internet connections
You might have secured your own network and computers with firewall and security software. You probably also have an authenticated connection to your ISP. But how secure is the path your data takes when you transmit it over the internet?
Unless you’re using a VPN, not very. When you send or receive data packets online, you know when they reach their destination. But you don’t know which networks that data passed through on its way to that destination—or who might have made a copy. It’s possible that your internet traffic is being spied on, by other parties as well as government agencies.
Malicious software
If your computer is infected with malicious software, then it could be spying on you too. Types of malware that can steal your data include:
Keyloggers – These programs record every keystroke you make and send it to a third party, to track your activity or steal information like credit card numbers.
Adware – Websites you visit are tracked and sent to a third party, which uses the data to target ads based on your browsing history.
Spyware – Software that appears to serve a useful purpose but that also steals your data. The infamous CoolWebSearch download presented itself as a browser add-on, but it also stole chatlogs, account credentials, bank information and more.
Third-party tracking cookies
Web advertising distribution networks get a cookie from your browser every time you see one of their ads. Each cookie includes information that identifies you, either by your IP address or your browser’s unique identifier.
If the ad distributor is big enough, you’ll see their ads on lots of different sites. And they’ll get a cookie each time. The result is that the advertiser can track your browsing activity and use the data to target ads more effectively.
Most commercial websites now warn you that “This website uses cookies to improve the user experience.”
Whether or not this constitutes spying is a matter of perspective. But these tracking cookies could undoubtedly be considered a sneaky invasion of your privacy.
Measures to protect you from spies
If you want to protect your data from secret surveillance, consider the following steps.
Use a VPN to encrypt your internet traffic, so spies can’t open data packets even if they intercept them
Install security software and keep it up to date, to protect your computer from malware and hackers
Disable third-party cookies in your browser. It’s a simple option in Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, and others.
Our recommendation is RitaVPN. RitaVPN is an excellent choice for accessing your favorite geo-blocked content. It allows P2P connections on all servers and offers specialized servers for Netflix and other favorite streaming channels. RitaVPN is a relatively new VPN service, but it’s already making a name for itself，which makes it one of the best VPN in 2019.
Qwer432
http://www.fastritavpn.com/
http://www.buyvpns.net/
http://www.buyvpnservices.com/
Is internet privacy a lost cause?
Most people think of privacy as a fundamental right. The right to have a personal conversation without someone listening, the right to keep your belongings out of public view.
believes that individual privacy is something everyone deserves.
For a long time on the internet, there was an illusion of privacy. From secure online shopping payments to password-protected social network accounts—we were told our information was protected and safe. Perhaps you still believe it is?
But for many people, events like mass NSA surveillance and the theft of celebrities’ personal photographs have changed perceptions about internet privacy. It seems all too easy for hackers to get into our stuff—and much of that ‘hacking’ is government-sponsored.
Getting your data is like taking candy from a baby
There have been many high profile cases of hacking and surveillance in the past few years.
The National Security Agency: The NSA legally monitors every American’s phone records, has access to phone and internet traffic in the U.S. and abroad, and hacks targets as it sees fit. The UK and other governments do it too.
Celebrity photo theft: Anonymous posted over 500 celebrity photos on the 4chan image board in 2014, many containing nudity. Apple’s iCloud service is believed to be the source of the breach.
eBay: The online shopping service was hacked in mid-2014, exposing millions of users’ passwords and data.
Target: 70 million Target customers had their credit card data stolen in 2014 after hackers found a security hole in the company’s systems.
PlayStation Network: The online game service was hacked by LulzSec in 2011, resulting in the theft of around 77 million users’ account data.
When our data is stolen and monitored so often, from big companies who insist our data is safe in their hands, it seems sensible to be a little less trusting with our information.
The cost of free online services is your privacy
If you use free web email and social media services, then you also give up your private information to third parties every day.
There’s a reason these services are free. Some of the ways they use your data include:
Ad targeting: Search engines, social networks, and other services track your activities, so they can target you with ads.
Selling your data: With your consent, and sometimes without, companies you sign up with online often sell your information to marketing list makers. Junk mail ahoy!
Monitoring your email: Many popular free webmail services monitor your messages for criminal activity and may be legally obliged to share your data with government agencies.
Of course, you might well be aware of all this – and yet you probably still choose to use Facebook, Gmail, Twitter and so on.
After all, nothing is really free. Maybe giving up a little of your information is worth it?
Malicious hackers
Another major threat to Internet privacy is one we can probably all agree is unwelcome.
Symantec’s “2014 Internet Security Threat Report” found that malware, phishing and other attacks on our personal computers led to the exposure of over 552 million identities in 2013. There was a 62% increase in the number of breaches and a 91% increase in targeted attacks campaigns in the same year.
With online crime on the increase, the future of internet privacy appears far from safe.
Privacy steps you can take
When all’s said and done though, who is responsible for your privacy online? You are.
Anyone who wants to keep their data totally private could stay off the internet, but that isn’t much of an option in today’s world. So it’s about taking the right security steps and making informed choices about how we share our data. Sometimes, as with government surveillance, those choices are out of our hands. But there are steps you can take to increase your privacy.
Take security measures: Keep your online accounts safe, reduce the risk of security breaches by keeping your software up to date and by using security software. Stay aware of common online risks.
Be careful who you sign up with: Don’t trust every cloud service with a fancy website. Research online, read the terms of service, and look for how they’ll use your data.
Use a VPN service: VPN services encrypt your Internet traffic so that third parties can’t snoop on your activities. Data is much more secure when you connect to the Internet via a VPN.
Read more top internet privacy tips here.
A connected world probably means less privacy
So is internet privacy a lost cause? As we’ve seen, putting our personal information in the hands of big companies is not very secure. There’s a real risk it will be stolen. And that risk seems to be increasing.
Using online services means willfully giving up a bit of our privacy. But because we want to be part of a connected world, many of us are happy to do so.
In the internet economy, your data is valuable currency. Internet privacy isn’t likely to get any easier in the future. Stay aware, stay secure, and choose how you share your data carefully. And, of course, don’t forget to use a VPN to protect your data.
Our recommendation is RitaVPN. RitaVPN is an excellent choice for accessing your favorite geo-blocked content. It allows P2P connections on all servers and offers specialized servers for Netflix and other favorite streaming channels. RitaVPN is a relatively new VPN service, but it’s already making a name for itself，which makes it one of the best VPN in 2019.
Qwer432
http://www.buyexpressvpn.net/
http://www.buyvpnservice.net/
http://www.vpnsnetflix.com/
What are the moral issues with internet privacy?
The difference between right and wrong is rarely black and white. When it comes to the big moral issues around internet privacy—from government surveillance to Facebook privacy—you might have your own opinions. But there are two sides to every story.
Let’s take a look at some of the current moral issues surrounding internet privacy.
The law’s guidance on internet privacy
Perhaps the most clear-cut moral issue relating to internet privacy is the use of spyware, and other malicious software, to steal private information and commit cybercrime.
In the U.S., Europe, and other countries, many cyber crimes have been outlawed – reflecting a consensus that stealing is wrong.
In the U.S., federal laws against cybercrime cover:
Unfair or deceptive acts or practices
Credit card fraud
Fraud in connection with identification documents and information
Fraud in connection with access devices
Fraud in connection with computers
These laws make it illegal to invade someone’s privacy in order to steal from them. But they also outlaw hacking that isn’t malicious.
The morality of hacking
In May 2014, the Guardian reported that some of the world’s best security researchers were under threat of indictment for their efforts to expose vulnerabilities in internet infrastructure.
The U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act outlaws hacking or breaking into private networks and systems. But internet security experts use hacking projects to uncover security flaws with the intention of fixing them. For example, the Critical.IO project discovered a weakness in the UPnP protocol that put up to 50 million computers at risk and fixed it—by hacking private computers.
Because of this and many similar incidents, lots of people believe that cybercrime laws should take into account the intent behind hacking, and not just the act itself.
The creep factor
Threats to privacy on the internet don’t only come from criminals. We also willingly give up our personal data on a daily basis, to online services like Facebook and Google.
In these cases, our data isn’t stolen, but many public concerns have arisen over how corporations use the data. For Facebook, holding the personal data of hundreds of millions of users has created an expectation among those users that the company should use it reasonably and protect their privacy. In the past few years, users have raised complaints about:
Sharing of their private information on Facebook with third-party websites and applications, which could be used for data mining
Confusing privacy settings that prevented many users from being able to control their privacy effectively
Bugs that allowed third parties to invade users’ privacy, including one that enabled posting to any Facebook user’s wall
In none of these cases had Facebook broken privacy laws. But in each case, users found their information was being used in a way they did not expect and did not like. These disturbing and unexpected uses of our data are known as the “creep factor.”
The creep factor demonstrates that for companies to use private data ethically, they must be very clear about what they’re doing with it—even if what they’re doing with it is legal. Otherwise, people get a little creeped out.
Freedom of information or the right to be forgotten?
A key feature of the Internet that affects our privacy is its inability to forget. Web pages about individuals often stay online and searchable indefinitely, potentially affecting the subject’s reputation.
In May 2014, the European Union ruled that its citizens had a “right to be forgotten” and told Google it must delete “inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant” pages from its search results.
The case led to debates between those who believe privacy is a human right and those who prioritize freedom of information.
The downside of internet anonymity
While many internet privacy issues are about the exposure of identities, it’s also possible to use many online services anonymously. And often, that anonymity is used for evil.
Doxxing is the act of hacking someone’s personal information (including their address, contact information, and banking details) and posting it anonymously online. In August 2014, hackers posted social security information, PayPal details and other private information belonging to the game developer Phil Fish. Fish later announced he would be leaving the games industry.
Other doxxing victims have included Mel Gibson and the LAPD police chief. Perpetrators might argue that these people got what they deserved, but their actions are hard to defend.
Government surveillance: Necessary or evil?
The governments of most nations, including the U.S. and those in Europe, tap internet traffic as part of national security programs.
While revelations about NSA surveillance in the U.S. led to privacy concerns and talk of a “surveillance state,” many conservative thinkers believe “we need an invasive NSA” to protect against cyber intrusions.
As with all moral issues about internet privacy, there are two sides to the story—that of the person giving up their private data, and that of the person storing it.
What are your thoughts on internet surveillance and privacy online? Is there ever a good reason for a government to spy on its citizens? Or should they all leave us alone?
When comes to the issue of online privacy and security, we suggest to use a VPN, and our recommendation is RitaVPN. RitaVPN is an excellent choice for accessing your favorite geo-blocked content. It allows P2P connections on all servers and offers specialized servers for Netflix and other favorite streaming channels. RitaVPN is a relatively new VPN service, but it’s already making a name for itself，which makes it one of the best VPN in 2019.
Qwer432
https://www.ritavpn.com/blog/how-to-unblock-websites/
https://www.ritavpn.com/blog/wifi-password-hacker-cause-data-leakage/
https://www.ritavpn.com/blog/5-best-torrent-sites/
The difference between right and wrong is rarely black and white. When it comes to the big moral issues around internet privacy—from government surveillance to Facebook privacy—you might have your own opinions. But there are two sides to every story.
Let’s take a look at some of the current moral issues surrounding internet privacy.
The law’s guidance on internet privacy
Perhaps the most clear-cut moral issue relating to internet privacy is the use of spyware, and other malicious software, to steal private information and commit cybercrime.
In the U.S., Europe, and other countries, many cyber crimes have been outlawed – reflecting a consensus that stealing is wrong.
In the U.S., federal laws against cybercrime cover:
Unfair or deceptive acts or practices
Credit card fraud
Fraud in connection with identification documents and information
Fraud in connection with access devices
Fraud in connection with computers
These laws make it illegal to invade someone’s privacy in order to steal from them. But they also outlaw hacking that isn’t malicious.
The morality of hacking
In May 2014, the Guardian reported that some of the world’s best security researchers were under threat of indictment for their efforts to expose vulnerabilities in internet infrastructure.
The U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act outlaws hacking or breaking into private networks and systems. But internet security experts use hacking projects to uncover security flaws with the intention of fixing them. For example, the Critical.IO project discovered a weakness in the UPnP protocol that put up to 50 million computers at risk and fixed it—by hacking private computers.
Because of this and many similar incidents, lots of people believe that cybercrime laws should take into account the intent behind hacking, and not just the act itself.
The creep factor
Threats to privacy on the internet don’t only come from criminals. We also willingly give up our personal data on a daily basis, to online services like Facebook and Google.
In these cases, our data isn’t stolen, but many public concerns have arisen over how corporations use the data. For Facebook, holding the personal data of hundreds of millions of users has created an expectation among those users that the company should use it reasonably and protect their privacy. In the past few years, users have raised complaints about:
Sharing of their private information on Facebook with third-party websites and applications, which could be used for data mining
Confusing privacy settings that prevented many users from being able to control their privacy effectively
Bugs that allowed third parties to invade users’ privacy, including one that enabled posting to any Facebook user’s wall
In none of these cases had Facebook broken privacy laws. But in each case, users found their information was being used in a way they did not expect and did not like. These disturbing and unexpected uses of our data are known as the “creep factor.”
The creep factor demonstrates that for companies to use private data ethically, they must be very clear about what they’re doing with it—even if what they’re doing with it is legal. Otherwise, people get a little creeped out.
Freedom of information or the right to be forgotten?
A key feature of the Internet that affects our privacy is its inability to forget. Web pages about individuals often stay online and searchable indefinitely, potentially affecting the subject’s reputation.
In May 2014, the European Union ruled that its citizens had a “right to be forgotten” and told Google it must delete “inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant” pages from its search results.
The case led to debates between those who believe privacy is a human right and those who prioritize freedom of information.
The downside of internet anonymity
While many internet privacy issues are about the exposure of identities, it’s also possible to use many online services anonymously. And often, that anonymity is used for evil.
Doxxing is the act of hacking someone’s personal information (including their address, contact information, and banking details) and posting it anonymously online. In August 2014, hackers posted social security information, PayPal details and other private information belonging to the game developer Phil Fish. Fish later announced he would be leaving the games industry.
Other doxxing victims have included Mel Gibson and the LAPD police chief. Perpetrators might argue that these people got what they deserved, but their actions are hard to defend.
Government surveillance: Necessary or evil?
The governments of most nations, including the U.S. and those in Europe, tap internet traffic as part of national security programs.
While revelations about NSA surveillance in the U.S. led to privacy concerns and talk of a “surveillance state,” many conservative thinkers believe “we need an invasive NSA” to protect against cyber intrusions.
As with all moral issues about internet privacy, there are two sides to the story—that of the person giving up their private data, and that of the person storing it.
What are your thoughts on internet surveillance and privacy online? Is there ever a good reason for a government to spy on its citizens? Or should they all leave us alone?
When comes to the issue of online privacy and security, we suggest to use a VPN, and our recommendation is RitaVPN. RitaVPN is an excellent choice for accessing your favorite geo-blocked content. It allows P2P connections on all servers and offers specialized servers for Netflix and other favorite streaming channels. RitaVPN is a relatively new VPN service, but it’s already making a name for itself，which makes it one of the best VPN in 2019.
Qwer432
https://www.ritavpn.com/blog/how-to-unblock-websites/
https://www.ritavpn.com/blog/wifi-password-hacker-cause-data-leakage/
https://www.ritavpn.com/blog/5-best-torrent-sites/
What are the most dangerous technologies of the surveillance age?
Technology such as encryption, VPNs, and Tor can help us maintain and defend our privacy online.
But technology can also work in the opposite direction, helping the spooks learn about our private lives and behavior, which makes it difficult for individuals to develop personalities freely from fear and control.
But which technologies should we be afraid about most, and why? And what can help us protect ourselves from these trends?
1. Facial recognition systems
There are already cameras everywhere, and while it’s undeniably entertaining to watch bloopers from everyday life on youtube, it is creepy to know everything we do in public life is potentially made available to the world to consume.
With advanced technology, it will soon be possible to not only record all our public life but also analyze it in almost real time. While facial recognition is far from perfect, it already allows a computer to match a person even if glasses or hats obscure parts of their face.
Quite likely, facial recognition software will become more accurate than humans—especially when scaled to databases the size of a city’s voters registry, national passports, or even that of Facebook.
With advanced face recognition software, a state might be able to find out with high accuracy where a person is at all times, who they are with, and what they are currently doing.
It’s pretty hard to protect against facial recognition. The most effective tools stand out considerably to the human eye, and they only really work if a large number of people use them. If only a few people use tricks to deceive cameras, it will be quite easy to work out who they are.
For now, items that fool the cameras are mainly a sign of (much needed) protest and objection to the automatization of the police state.
2. Ride-sharing apps
Your car is your property, and there are limits to what governments can do with it. They cannot deny you access to it, seize it, or search it without good reason.
In your car, you also decide where to go, and what hardware and software to install.
However, when you rent a car or hop into somebody’s rideshare, you are not protected by these same provisions. On top of that, the app you use to hail the ride knows where you are at all times and will record this data.
The app even knows where you are going before you get there and, in some cases, can even predict your commuting behavior (this risk is also endemic to navigation systems). All of this data is available to advertisers and governments.
At present, it’s still relatively easy to avoid ride-sharing if your hometown has decent public transportation or you can afford a car.
3. Electronic money
Carrying change in our pockets is inconvenient. Finding an ATM nearby can cost money and take time. Most of us have access to electronic payment methods like credit cards, Google Pay, Wechat Pay or Venmo.
But relying on these systems can be dangerous. Not only are all your transactions analyzed and sold to advertisers, but they are also available to your government. Tourists crossing the U.S. border from the north can be refused entry, and possibly even face jail time, because they purchased marijuana legally in Canada.
Electronic money can not only be used to surveil and prosecute you, but also to deny you access to services only available with credit cards, such as online purchases or card-only shops.
If we do end up eradicating cash, as we already have for expensive goods, we are making it easy to marginalize people without access further.
To avoid government snooping, use cash as much as you can, and Bitcoin whenever you shop online.
4. Predictive policing
Predictive policing has inspired many science fiction stories, most famously Philip K Dick’s The Minority Report.
Unlike in The Minority Report, we cannot rely on psychic mutants to see future crime, but instead, we have to rely on existing crime databases, most of which carry a fair amount of prejudice and bias.
Predictive policing amplifies this bias, meaning some crime goes less punished, while citizens in crime-ridden areas are inconvenienced through concentrated law enforcement action, similar to that of racial profiling at airports.
It may seem far-fetched, but predictive policing is already in trial stage at multiple locations around the world—most notably through U.S. military contractor Palantir in New Orleans.
All of the above is why we should all demand ethical technology
It is the responsibility of all of us to use and further ethical technology while rejecting technology that can be used against us.
Wear face covers where you can, even if it is just as a protest. Make use of your own car or even better, public transportation, and pay with cash and Bitcoin wherever possible.
Be vigilant against attempts in your community against any policies that endanger the equality of all and the erosion of your rights.
When comes to the issue of online privacy and security, we suggest to use a VPN, and our recommendation is RitaVPN. RitaVPN is an excellent choice for accessing your favorite geo-blocked content. It allows P2P connections on all servers and offers specialized servers for Netflix and other favorite streaming channels. RitaVPN is a relatively new VPN service, but it’s already making a name for itself，which makes it one of the best VPN in 2019.
Qwer432
http://www.fastexpressvpn.com/
http://www.fastvpnproxy.com/
http://www.buysecurevpn.com/
Technology such as encryption, VPNs, and Tor can help us maintain and defend our privacy online.
But technology can also work in the opposite direction, helping the spooks learn about our private lives and behavior, which makes it difficult for individuals to develop personalities freely from fear and control.
But which technologies should we be afraid about most, and why? And what can help us protect ourselves from these trends?
1. Facial recognition systems
There are already cameras everywhere, and while it’s undeniably entertaining to watch bloopers from everyday life on youtube, it is creepy to know everything we do in public life is potentially made available to the world to consume.
With advanced technology, it will soon be possible to not only record all our public life but also analyze it in almost real time. While facial recognition is far from perfect, it already allows a computer to match a person even if glasses or hats obscure parts of their face.
Quite likely, facial recognition software will become more accurate than humans—especially when scaled to databases the size of a city’s voters registry, national passports, or even that of Facebook.
With advanced face recognition software, a state might be able to find out with high accuracy where a person is at all times, who they are with, and what they are currently doing.
It’s pretty hard to protect against facial recognition. The most effective tools stand out considerably to the human eye, and they only really work if a large number of people use them. If only a few people use tricks to deceive cameras, it will be quite easy to work out who they are.
For now, items that fool the cameras are mainly a sign of (much needed) protest and objection to the automatization of the police state.
2. Ride-sharing apps
Your car is your property, and there are limits to what governments can do with it. They cannot deny you access to it, seize it, or search it without good reason.
In your car, you also decide where to go, and what hardware and software to install.
However, when you rent a car or hop into somebody’s rideshare, you are not protected by these same provisions. On top of that, the app you use to hail the ride knows where you are at all times and will record this data.
The app even knows where you are going before you get there and, in some cases, can even predict your commuting behavior (this risk is also endemic to navigation systems). All of this data is available to advertisers and governments.
At present, it’s still relatively easy to avoid ride-sharing if your hometown has decent public transportation or you can afford a car.
3. Electronic money
Carrying change in our pockets is inconvenient. Finding an ATM nearby can cost money and take time. Most of us have access to electronic payment methods like credit cards, Google Pay, Wechat Pay or Venmo.
But relying on these systems can be dangerous. Not only are all your transactions analyzed and sold to advertisers, but they are also available to your government. Tourists crossing the U.S. border from the north can be refused entry, and possibly even face jail time, because they purchased marijuana legally in Canada.
Electronic money can not only be used to surveil and prosecute you, but also to deny you access to services only available with credit cards, such as online purchases or card-only shops.
If we do end up eradicating cash, as we already have for expensive goods, we are making it easy to marginalize people without access further.
To avoid government snooping, use cash as much as you can, and Bitcoin whenever you shop online.
4. Predictive policing
Predictive policing has inspired many science fiction stories, most famously Philip K Dick’s The Minority Report.
Unlike in The Minority Report, we cannot rely on psychic mutants to see future crime, but instead, we have to rely on existing crime databases, most of which carry a fair amount of prejudice and bias.
Predictive policing amplifies this bias, meaning some crime goes less punished, while citizens in crime-ridden areas are inconvenienced through concentrated law enforcement action, similar to that of racial profiling at airports.
It may seem far-fetched, but predictive policing is already in trial stage at multiple locations around the world—most notably through U.S. military contractor Palantir in New Orleans.
All of the above is why we should all demand ethical technology
It is the responsibility of all of us to use and further ethical technology while rejecting technology that can be used against us.
Wear face covers where you can, even if it is just as a protest. Make use of your own car or even better, public transportation, and pay with cash and Bitcoin wherever possible.
Be vigilant against attempts in your community against any policies that endanger the equality of all and the erosion of your rights.
When comes to the issue of online privacy and security, we suggest to use a VPN, and our recommendation is RitaVPN. RitaVPN is an excellent choice for accessing your favorite geo-blocked content. It allows P2P connections on all servers and offers specialized servers for Netflix and other favorite streaming channels. RitaVPN is a relatively new VPN service, but it’s already making a name for itself，which makes it one of the best VPN in 2019.
Qwer432
http://www.fastexpressvpn.com/
http://www.fastvpnproxy.com/
http://www.buysecurevpn.com/
4 Ways you can be identified through social media
On social media, it is easy to forget who can see our posts. A pseudonym can protect us from revealing too much, but there are still plenty of ways we can accidentally dox ourselves.
1. There’s lots of metadata in images
Many cameras and smartphones collect metadata along with the picture. This data might include the time you took the photo, information about your camera, and highly sensitive information such as GPS coordinates or usernames.
Some social media sites will remove this metadata from the image before making it publicly available, but they will still collect and store the information for themselves. Other sites will not remove your metadata at all.
It’s best always to remove metadata yourself to prevent unwanted followers to show up at your doorstep.
Some metadata is pretty hard to remove. A picture of you in front of the Eiffel Tower will always reveal that you are currently in Paris, for example. So maybe it’s best to wait until you are back home to post it so as not give potential robbers any ideas.
Look carefully at pictures before you post them. Maybe a street sign or passing public bus reveals your location?
2. QR Codes are embedded with lots of information
We know it’s tempting to show your followers that you are on your way to a vacation, or just saw a cool new blockbuster, but this is not without risk. Be careful of everything that has a QR code in it, such as movie tickets or flight tickets. The QR code might include your loyalty card number or even your name.
With this information, a criminal, personal enemy, or even just a prankster might be able to successfully change your flight, get themselves movie tickets on your expense, or empty your loyalty card.
3. Your language and writing style is a dead giveaway
Blogging anonymously is hard. You will have to change your language and style and avoid slang carefully. Everybody has some words they use far more than others, and the science of stylometry helps people find out who wrote what.
The more casual the writing style, the easier it is to find out who is the author of an anonymous piece, such as a song.
It is possible to use computers to automatically analyze essays, work emails, or blog posts and correlate them with the style of the social media account.
Your IP address will betray you
Every site you visit can see your IP address. Somebody who wants to find out your IP address and approximate location needs only to trick you into visiting a site they own, for example by commenting on your recent social media post, and then routing the request.
It’s straightforward to reroute traffic unnoticeably, for example by using a link shortener service. A shortened link can direct to a third-party before forwarding on to the site you expect to see, and there is no visible trace your information was caught in the middle.
In some countries, such as the United States, it’s even easier to get internet usage data. ISPs will happily sell your information to anyone who asks, so any site you have visited can cheaply find out our name and address.
Think twice before you post anything
You already know you have to be careful with what you post on your social media accounts. But be especially careful with metadata, information in the background of pictures and videos, and QR and barcodes.
When comes to the issue of online privacy and security, we suggest to use a VPN, and our recommendation is RitaVPN. RitaVPN is an excellent choice for accessing your favorite geo-blocked content. It allows P2P connections on all servers and offers specialized servers for Netflix and other favorite streaming channels. RitaVPN is a relatively new VPN service, but it’s already making a name for itself，which makes it one of the best VPN in 2019.
Qwer432
http://www.vpnsnetflix.net/
https://www.ritavpn.com/blog/popular-adult-site-exposed-user-data/
https://www.ritavpn.com/blog/what-is-the-best-vpn-provider-for-uae-in-2019/
On social media, it is easy to forget who can see our posts. A pseudonym can protect us from revealing too much, but there are still plenty of ways we can accidentally dox ourselves.
1. There’s lots of metadata in images
Many cameras and smartphones collect metadata along with the picture. This data might include the time you took the photo, information about your camera, and highly sensitive information such as GPS coordinates or usernames.
Some social media sites will remove this metadata from the image before making it publicly available, but they will still collect and store the information for themselves. Other sites will not remove your metadata at all.
It’s best always to remove metadata yourself to prevent unwanted followers to show up at your doorstep.
Some metadata is pretty hard to remove. A picture of you in front of the Eiffel Tower will always reveal that you are currently in Paris, for example. So maybe it’s best to wait until you are back home to post it so as not give potential robbers any ideas.
Look carefully at pictures before you post them. Maybe a street sign or passing public bus reveals your location?
2. QR Codes are embedded with lots of information
We know it’s tempting to show your followers that you are on your way to a vacation, or just saw a cool new blockbuster, but this is not without risk. Be careful of everything that has a QR code in it, such as movie tickets or flight tickets. The QR code might include your loyalty card number or even your name.
With this information, a criminal, personal enemy, or even just a prankster might be able to successfully change your flight, get themselves movie tickets on your expense, or empty your loyalty card.
3. Your language and writing style is a dead giveaway
Blogging anonymously is hard. You will have to change your language and style and avoid slang carefully. Everybody has some words they use far more than others, and the science of stylometry helps people find out who wrote what.
The more casual the writing style, the easier it is to find out who is the author of an anonymous piece, such as a song.
It is possible to use computers to automatically analyze essays, work emails, or blog posts and correlate them with the style of the social media account.
Your IP address will betray you
Every site you visit can see your IP address. Somebody who wants to find out your IP address and approximate location needs only to trick you into visiting a site they own, for example by commenting on your recent social media post, and then routing the request.
It’s straightforward to reroute traffic unnoticeably, for example by using a link shortener service. A shortened link can direct to a third-party before forwarding on to the site you expect to see, and there is no visible trace your information was caught in the middle.
In some countries, such as the United States, it’s even easier to get internet usage data. ISPs will happily sell your information to anyone who asks, so any site you have visited can cheaply find out our name and address.
Think twice before you post anything
You already know you have to be careful with what you post on your social media accounts. But be especially careful with metadata, information in the background of pictures and videos, and QR and barcodes.
When comes to the issue of online privacy and security, we suggest to use a VPN, and our recommendation is RitaVPN. RitaVPN is an excellent choice for accessing your favorite geo-blocked content. It allows P2P connections on all servers and offers specialized servers for Netflix and other favorite streaming channels. RitaVPN is a relatively new VPN service, but it’s already making a name for itself，which makes it one of the best VPN in 2019.
Qwer432
http://www.vpnsnetflix.net/
https://www.ritavpn.com/blog/popular-adult-site-exposed-user-data/
https://www.ritavpn.com/blog/what-is-the-best-vpn-provider-for-uae-in-2019/