Digital Citizens Alliance

VPNs: Your Ally or Your Liability? Internet Users Must Choose Carefully when Choosing a VPN Service, New Report Shows

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Friday, November 3, 2023

Visa requirements for Armenian citizens, Digital Citizens Alliance, Bullet, VPN, Internet, Advertising, Democracy, Teddy Sagi, Risk, Marketing, Virtual private network, Privacy, ExpressVPN, Online shopping

While relying on online reviews is the most common way people choose VPN service, some review sites aren't the independent and neutral arbiters they pretend to be.

Key Points:

While relying on online reviews is the most common way people choose VPN service, some review sites aren't the independent and neutral arbiters they pretend to be.
For example, Kape Technologies, the owner of ExpressVPN, acquired VPN review sites in 2021, raising the question whether Internet users can now trust that those reviews are truly independent.
The investigation found that VPN providers spend an estimated $45 million a year advertising on piracy sites.
The research survey of 1,318 Internet users found that 54 percent of Americans weren't sure whether they even used a VPN.

State Attorneys General Warn Consumers: Illicit Piracy Services Cause Harm Through Credit Card Fraud and Malware

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Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Online, Capital One, Digital Citizens Alliance, Social media, AGS, DCA, PSA, PSAS, Partnership, Crime, Video game

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Online piracy, malware, and credit card fraud are dangerous and rampant, warn state attorneys general (AGs) in a series of new public service announcements (PSAs) launched today. The PSAs caution consumers: "Staying safe online has never been more difficult. Some very bad actors have found a way into our homes through the entertainment we watch." In addition to being posted online, the PSAs will be promoted through a social media campaign and submitted for airing on local TV stations.

Key Points:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Online piracy, malware, and credit card fraud are dangerous and rampant, warn state attorneys general (AGs) in a series of new public service announcements (PSAs) launched today.
To test whether credit card fraud was tied to piracy subscription services, DCA signed up for 20 piracy subscription services with a new Capital One Quicksilver credit card used solely for the project.
In addition to the investigation of the 20 piracy subscription services, DCA asked 2,330 Americans how they access online entertainment services.
According to the survey, 72 percent of Americans who said they used a credit card to purchase a piracy subscription service also reported having an issue with credit card fraud over the last year.

Piracy Subscription Services Drive Credit Card Fraud and Other Harms to Consumers, New Digital Citizens Alliance Investigation and Survey Finds

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Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Digital Citizens Alliance, Sheung Wan, Clothing, Research, Appetite, Privacy, Capital One, Quicksilver, Risk, XX, Shoe, Visa requirements for Armenian citizens, Online shopping, Cryptocurrency

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Internet users that use a credit card to sign up for illegal piracy streaming services to gain access to movies, TV shows, and games face a serious risk of having their card run up with charges they didn't authorize, according to a new Digital Citizens Alliance investigation.

Key Points:

The report titled, " Giving Piracy Operators Credit ," details how a Digital Citizens investigator's credit card was targeted for $1,495 in illicit purchases.
"Combined with our previous research highlighting the risks associated with free piracy apps and services, the situation becomes even clearer.
To test whether credit card fraud was tied to piracy subscription services, Digital Citizens signed up for 20 piracy subscription services.
In addition to the investigation of the 20 piracy subscription services, Digital Citizens commissioned a research survey to better understand the risks of piracy websites and apps.

Piracy to Ads to Ransomware: Investigation Finds $121 Million in Dangerous Malicious Ads on Piracy Sites Designed to Trick Users into Infecting Their Devices

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Thursday, September 15, 2022

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Visitors to piracy sites are bombarded with malicious ads that use scare tactics to trick them into downloading malware, including ransomware that takes over files to force victims to pay to regain access, a joint investigation by the Digital Citizens Alliance, White Bullet, and Unit 221B has found. The investigation also found that these malicious ads, called malvertising, are often enabled by ad intermediary companies that promote scare tactics and other dubious means to trick or entice users to click on dangerous ads.

Key Points:

The investigation also found that these malicious ads, called malvertising, are often enabled by ad intermediary companies that promote scare tactics and other dubious means to trick or entice users to click on dangerous ads.
Digital Citizens, piracy advertising expert White Bullet, and cybersecurity firm Unit 221B undertook a months-long investigation that analyzed thousands of piracy sites, including well-known platforms such as Fmovies[.
Visitors to piracy sites faced an estimated 321 million ads designed to harm them.
Piracy services seek to make as much money as possible whether from legitimate but misplaced ads or from malicious actors.

Nothing Has Changed: Website Retailers Selling Domains Meant for Illicit Goods and Services, Digital Citizens Alliance Investigation Finds

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Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Just last year, Digital Citizens investigators raised alarms about the ease with which registrars and domain brokers enabled the creation of websites designed to profit from illegal and/or illicit activities.

Key Points:

Just last year, Digital Citizens investigators raised alarms about the ease with which registrars and domain brokers enabled the creation of websites designed to profit from illegal and/or illicit activities.
Little stands in the way of bad actors being able to create websites such as buyillegalassaultweapons.co designed for illegal activity.
A decade after the opioid crisis went from bad to catastrophic, domains offering the drugs -without a prescription - are easily attainable.
Digital Citizens wants to create a dialogue on the importance for Internet stakeholdersindividuals, government, and industryto make the Web a safer place.

Facebook, Instagram & Telegram Are Go-To Sites to Find Illegal Vaccine Cards, Digital Citizens Alliance and CSW Investigation Finds

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Thursday, October 21, 2021

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Bad actors are using Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram to peddle illegal COVID-19 vaccination cards, a joint investigation by the Digital Citizens Alliance (Digital Citizens) and Coalition for a Safer Web (CSW) has found.

Key Points:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Bad actors are using Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram to peddle illegal COVID-19 vaccination cards, a joint investigation by the Digital Citizens Alliance (Digital Citizens) and Coalition for a Safer Web (CSW) has found.
Most troubling is that the illicit vaccination cards have remained on Facebook, Facebook-owned Instagram, and Telegram a week after the companies were alerted to their existence.
"Too often, platforms rely on the public to alert them when illegal or dangerous activities appear on their sites.
But now, even when they've been alerted, they haven't taken steps to remove them," said Tom Galvin, the executive director of the Digital Citizens Alliance.

Advertising Fuels $1.34 Billion Illegal Piracy Market, Report by Digital Citizens Alliance and White Bullet Finds

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Thursday, August 12, 2021

Online, Visa requirements for Armenian citizens, Law enforcement, Ecosystem, CEO, Advertising, Digital Citizens Alliance, Crime, Research, Organization, Fraud, AI, Intellectual property, Bullet, Industry, Video game, Online shopping, Online gambling, Cryptocurrency

The report Breaking (B)ads: How Advertiser-Supported Piracy Helps Fuel a Booming Multi-Billion Dollar Illegal Market details a year-long investigation into how brands and advertising intermediaries help support the operators of illegal piracy websites and apps through the placement of ads.

Key Points:

The report Breaking (B)ads: How Advertiser-Supported Piracy Helps Fuel a Booming Multi-Billion Dollar Illegal Market details a year-long investigation into how brands and advertising intermediaries help support the operators of illegal piracy websites and apps through the placement of ads.
"It is time for Fortune 100 companies and the legitimate advertising industry to stop funneling tens of millions of dollars to criminals."
"This report confirms the simple fact that digital advertising funds piracy," said Peter Szyszko, founder and CEO of White Bullet.
White Bullet reviewed 664 billion ad impressions and found that roughly one in three piracy websites and apps have risky advertising that exposes consumers to fraud and malware.

Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on FDA's efforts to collaborate with internet stakeholders to stop the illegal sale of opioids online

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Thursday, June 28, 2018

Health, Morphine, Pharmacies, Opioid, Online pharmacy, Substance dependence, Synthetic opioids, Opioid epidemic, Digital Citizens Alliance

And we know that digital drug dealers and other criminals are increasingly selling their illicit opioids through the internet, including social media and illegal online pharmacies.

Key Points:

And we know that digital drug dealers and other criminals are increasingly selling their illicit opioids through the internet, including social media and illegal online pharmacies.
We know that the internet both the surface and the dark web aren't the only marketplaces for the illegal sale of prescription drugs.
We're going to take new steps, and direct new investigative and criminal oversight resources, to stop the illegal sale of opioids online.
We had an open and collaborative discussion about the illegal sale of opioids online at our Online Opioid Summit .