Latest news with #onlineprivacy
Digital Trends
2 days ago
- Digital Trends
Exclusive offer: Protect your digital identity with 30% off Pimeyes
Online privacy isn't optional anymore, it's essential. With the spread of facial recognition, image scraping, and deepfake technology, it's never been easier for your face to end up somewhere you never intended. Pimeyes is a powerful facial recognition engine that scans the internet for matches of your face, showing you where and how your image is being used. From July 1 through August 1, Digital Trends readers can take 30% off Pimeyes Open Plus and ProTect subscriptions by using the code DigitalTrends30 at checkout. What is Pimeyes? Pimeyes is a facial search engine that empowers you to track where your face appears online. You upload a photo of yourself, and Pimeyes scans billions of publicly accessible images across websites, social media, and online databases to find visual matches. Results include the image source, links to the hosting site, and tools to help you take control of how and where your face is used. The tech is particularly valuable for digital creators, public figures, and anyone serious about their online privacy. Whether you're trying to spot stolen modeling photos, track down deepfake content, or make sure your headshot isn't being misused, Pimeyes can help. Which Plan Is Right for You? Pimeyes offers two subscription tiers that cater to different levels of image monitoring and control: Open Plus is ideal for active monitoring. It includes 25 daily searches and three alerts that notify you when new results appear. You also get access to full search result sources, so you can see exactly where your image is hosted. ProTect takes it a step further. In addition to everything in the Open Plus plan, it includes 80 takedown requests per month. This means Pimeyes will act on your behalf to request the removal of your image from offending sites; a major time-saver when dealing with misuse, impersonation, or defamation. As of now, Open Plus and ProTect subscriptions are normally priced at $29.99 and $79.99 per month respectively. With our exclusive 30% discount, that drops to $20.99 and $55.99. That's a small price to pay for proactive image protection and peace of mind. Claim Your Discount Ready to start protecting your face online? Head over to and choose your plan. Don't forget to use the code DigitalTrends30 during checkout to apply your 30% discount. This exclusive offer runs from July 1 through August 1, so there's no time to waste. Take control of your digital identity now, before someone else does it for you.
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Safety without spying: How UAE parents can protect teens' online lives
For many parents, raising children in a digital-first world comes with new, unfamiliar challenges, especially when it comes to keeping their teenagers safe online without invading their privacy. While their kids navigate complex social platforms and endless content streams, parents often ask themselves: How can I guide them without crossing a line? That question is increasingly shaping how major platforms like TikTok and Snapchat are developing their safety features, not just to protect teens, but to help families create a shared understanding of digital wellbeing. 'It's not about spying,' Ilunga Mpyana, head of Public Policy Programmes for the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Pakistan, and South Asia at TikTok told Khaleej Times. 'It's about sharing your experience with your teenager. These tools are meant to trigger conversation, to ask, what are you experiencing? What are your concerns?' On TikTok, one of the main features designed to support this is Family Pairing, which allows parents to connect their accounts with their teen's. Once enabled, with the teen's knowledge and consent, parents can set screen time limits, apply content filters, monitor who their child follows or is followed by, and receive alerts when their teen reports harmful conten t. 'You're doing it together,' Mpyana said. 'It's about experiencing the platform together, not surveilling it.' Snapchat, too, is refining its approach to teen safety by relaunching its Family Safety Hub, a redesigned platform aimed at helping parents better understand and support their children's digital habits. The language has shifted, from 'Parents Site' to 'Family Hub', to signal that safe online behavior is a shared responsibility between adults and teens. One of the key features of Snapchat's family hub allows parents to see who their teen is communicating with, without giving access to the actual content of those conversations. This balance, between oversight and autonomy, is part of a wider effort to build trust rather than tension. 'From the start, Snapchat was designed as a safe and private platform, making user safety a fundamental priority,' said Jawaher Abdelhamid, head of Public Policy for the Middle East and Africa at Snap Inc. 'The Family Safety Hub reflects our commitment to empowering families across the region with the tools they require to make what they believe are the right choices for their teens, all while still respecting young Snapchatters' privacy.' New additions to the Hub include simplified FAQs, feature walkthroughs, downloadable guides, and embedded educational videos that are regularly updated to keep pace with the platform's evolution. But as useful as these tools are, mental health experts say technology is only part of the equation. Dr Jana Bou Reslan, a lecturer in educational psychology and content creator, believes safety starts with communication, not control. 'Digital space is a part of their world now,' she said. 'It's not just about how long they're online, but how they're using it. Are they passively scrolling, or are they actively learning?' She encouraged parents to engage with their teens' interests instead of imposing limits in isolation. 'Use the platforms together. Build connections, share ideas. The goal isn't restriction; it's guided exploration.' Still, many teens keep their digital experiences private, not because they have something to hide, but because they fear being judged, punished, or misunderstood. 'Teens are exploring who they are,' Bou Reslan said. 'They seek validation and identity online. If a parent responds with power or punishment instead of understanding, it deepens the secrecy.' She recommended looking out for signs like sudden withdrawal, changes in school performance, or a shift in how protective they are of their devices. 'Say, 'Hey, I noticed you've been quiet lately. Is there something on your mind?' Share your own struggles. Make it a dialogue, not a confrontation.' Ultimately, platforms may provide the tools, but the most important work happens at home, through trust, empathy, and honest conversations. 'We're not just protecting them from the internet,' Bou Reslan said. 'We're teaching them how to exist in it with confidence and care.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
You Only Have to Pay for AdGuard Once to Eliminate Ads, and Now It's Only $16
The following content is brought to you by PCMag partners. If you buy a product featured here, we may earn an affiliate commission or other compensation. Ever feel like ads are taking over the internet? Maybe it's the banners that recount your latest online shopping trip or the video ads interrupting your YouTube binges, but it's enough to frustrate anyone. This AdGuard subscription gives you a much-needed break. During this limited-time StackSocial price drop, you no longer have to pay $169.99 for this ad blocker—only $15.97 with code FAMPLAN. It works on Windows and Mac desktops and mobile devices, but only on browsers. Finally, you can read articles, scroll social media, and watch videos without being plagued by advertisements. At the same time, AdGuard also helps you avoid accidentally clicking on harmful ads, phishing attempts, and malware attacks. If you're a parent, you'll also enjoy the option for custom content controls. With them, you can set up filters that block inappropriate websites or types of content from the backend to protect your kids online. Get access to AdGuard and stop ads in their tracks, plus keep your data private for just $15.97 (reg. $169.99) when you enter coupon code FAMPLAN at checkout. Prices subject to change. PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through StackSocial affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.
WIRED
5 days ago
- Business
- WIRED
US Supreme Court Upholds Texas Porn ID Law
If you try to access Pornhub, one of the world's biggest websites, from any of 17 US states, you'll be blocked. Pornhub's parent company, Aylo Holdings, has restricted access in response to a slew of laws that says Pornhub itself should be responsible for checking that every visitor is over 18. Now, the United States Supreme Court has made a decision on a key age verification law, which could have ramifications for the entire country and the wider internet as a whole. On Friday, in a 6–3 decision that could reshape the landscape of online privacy and free speech, the Supreme Court upheld in full the Texas age verification law—one of the first passed in the country—requiring many websites publishing pornographic content to check that all visitors are over 18. The law, TX HB1181, says sites that are 'more than one-third sexual material' can face fines of up to $10,000 per day if they don't put in place age verification systems, plus extra penalties of up to $250,000. It also states websites should display health warnings about the potential health risks of pornography. Writing for the majority, Justice Clarence Thomas said that because the law "simply requires proof of age to access content that is obscene to minors, it does not directly regulate adults' protected speech," adding, "adults have no First Amendment right to avoid age verification." In her dissent, Justice Elena Kagan argued that the Texas law imposes a direct and unconstitutional burden on adults' access to protected speech. 'A State may not care much about safeguarding adults' access to sexually explicit speech; a State may even prefer to curtail those materials for everyone,' she wrote, 'but the First Amendment protects those sexually explicit materials, for every adult.' The ruling marks a major victory for Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, who defended the law amid fierce opposition from digital rights groups and the adult entertainment industry. Legislators in Texas passed HB1181 in early 2023, but it was struck down in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas for potentially being unconstitutional before the law went into effect. Adult industry group the Free Speech Coalition, among others, challenged the Texas law on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment by restricting adults' access to constitutionally protected speech. In March last year, a Fifth Circuit appeals court upheld the Texas law before the Free Speech Coalition took the case to the Supreme Court in a January hearing.
Gizmodo
6 days ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
This Cheap Surfshark VPN + Antivirus Bundle Feels Illegal (But It's Not)
The new Surfshark bundle practically pays for itself. Who needs a free VPN when you can enjoy virus protection and online privacy for pennies? If you act fast, Surfshark can be yours at a ridiculously low price. When things look too good to be true, something's always off. Not today. Explore the Surfshark bundle, save big, and enjoy your summer vacation free of viruses, prying eyes, and other online nasties for a pocket change! Grab Surfshark At 85% Off Here Surfshark is the king of affordable VPNs, but never have we seen such a significant deal. The star of this sale is the biennial Surfshark One plan, which is discounted by 85% thanks to three free months. Instead of $17.95 monthly, you'll spend only $2.69. Paid upfront, we're looking at a meagre $72.63 for the first 27 months. Apart from a 30-day money-back guarantee acting as a failsafe, Surfshark not only offer a VPN. As said, the package is complemented by an antivirus. This antivirus is no slouch. It works on all devices, providing real-time protection, webcam protection, and scheduled scans. Antivirus and VPN services differ a lot, which makes the combo unique. On one hand, you enjoy the privacy that Surfshark offers on a silver platter. On the other hand, there's virus protection to ensure device safety and prevent unwanted software from ruining the day. Such a unique combination raises the question of quality. Are the VPN and virus protection tools worth your time? Yes! We're discussing flagship products that adhere to the highest standards of user satisfaction. Surfshark VPN includes unlimited connections, applications for all devices, and competent 24/7 support. It also features modern security features, a verified no-log policy, and streaming and torrenting servers. As one of the top performers, Surfshark is popular worldwide. Its Camouflage Mode helps sidestep censorship in specific areas, while MultiHop routes the connection through two servers, doubling the encryption. Extras like Alternative ID, Alert, and Search are there. Surfshark uses them to enrich the package and provide users with innovative features. For example, Alternative ID makes a new ID with fake information to conceal your identity. Alert is a Dark Web Monitor. Conversely, Search is an incognito browser with no tracking. Combine everything with virus protection and get a complete security bundle for all your devices. However, the Starter plan doesn't include these tools, so keep an eye out when exploring Surfshark's plans. If you don't find its biennial plans attractive, the provider offers three more 12-month plans with exceptional discounts. Ultimately, if you're swimming in a money pool, you may prefer its monthly deals at much higher prices. Test Surfshark VPN Risk-Free
