FBI blocks 13 internet domains as they are associated with malicious DDoS services. This action was carried out by the United States (US) agency in an operation called PowerOFF.

Blocking is done because DDoS allows hackers to launch DDoS attacks on any target worldwide. This can be done as long as the hackers are willing to pay for services in cryptocurrency.

In its official announcement, the FBI stated the success of the operation. The US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California also confirmed the government had successfully dismantled the DDoS criminal infrastructure.

The FBI described the seizures as part of a third wave of US law enforcement actions against leading DDoS service providers. And calling this a significant win for law enforcement.

It was explained that of the 13 domains, 10 of them were new avatar services that closed their previous operations in December 2022. During the sweep, the FBI also closed 48 internet domains and charged six suspects.

A total of four suspects as part of the latest crackdown have pleaded guilty to participating in the operation of booter services. The suspects are aged between 19 and 37 and are from Florida and Texas.

As compiled from TechSpot, Friday (12/5/2023) the US is the most preferred domain registrar location for the service, although some sites are also registered in France, Hong Kong, Italy, and Canada.

The presence of ChatGPT in our midst is indeed like a double-edged sword, which means that it has many benefits but there are also dangers that always lurk for the user or even other people.

As a result, the existence of OpenAI’s artificial intelligence-based chatbot service is also under threat, especially in a number of developed countries, one of which is Italy. Following Italy, Germany is also rumored to be soon blocking the existence of ChatGPT.

Germany will Block ChatGPT

A Reuters report, originally attributed to the Handelsblatt newspaper, quoted Germany’s commissioner for data protection as saying the country may ban viral AI chatbots due to data security concerns.

Referring to the ChatGPT ban in Italy, Ulrich Kelber said,

“In principle, such an action is also possible in Germany.”
Kelber further said that this would fall under the jurisdiction of the state and did not exactly divulge details on such a plan.

Not quite up there, Germany is also reported to have asked Italy to share further information about the basis for the ChatGPT ban.

In fact, other countries such as France and Ireland are also considering a ChatGPT ban, which Italy has already done and wants to hold a meeting between the countries soon.

“We are following up with the Italian regulators to understand the basis for their action and we will be coordinating with all EU data protection authorities on this matter,” a spokesman for the Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) said.

ChatGPT Blocked from Italy

The Italian government recently banned ChatGPT for a while, citing privacy concerns.

OpenAI , the parent company of ChatGPT, was asked to restrict chatbot access to users in Italy after the country’s data protection authority accused it of not having a proper age verification system and of ‘unlawfully collecting personal data from users’.

The Italian government watchdog also cited the ChatGPT data breach that occurred on March 20. The breach was also acknowledged by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and he has apologized for the same.

OpenAI has been given 20 days to demonstrate material that may be finalized while the Italian government makes a final decision on the fate of the chatbot’s AI in the country.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also reacted to the ban via Twitter and named Italy as one of his favorite countries in the world.

he wrote,

“We are of course subject to the Italian government and have stopped offering ChatGPT in Italy (although we think we follow all privacy laws). Italy is one of my favorite countries and I look forward to visiting again soon.”

Securing your home network is essential to protect your personal information and devices from cyber threats like hacking, malware, and viruses. In this guide, we will go over some easy steps to improve your home network’s security and keep your data safe.

1. Change the default login credentials

The first step in securing your home network is to change the default login credentials for your router. Most routers come with a default username and password that are easy for hackers to guess. By changing the login credentials to a unique and strong combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, you can make it much harder for hackers to gain access to your network.

To change the login credentials for your router, log into the router’s web interface using the default login credentials. Once you are logged in, look for the “admin” or “security” settings and change the username and password to something unique and hard to guess.

2. Enable WPA2 encryption

Another essential step in securing your home network is to enable WPA2 encryption. WPA2 is the strongest encryption standard currently available for wireless networks and provides an extra layer of security to protect your data from hackers.

To enable WPA2 encryption, log into your router’s web interface and look for the “wireless” settings. Once you are in the wireless settings, look for the option to enable WPA2 encryption and enter a strong password to secure your network.

3. Disable Remote Management

Many routers come with the option to remotely manage the router settings. While this can be convenient, it also poses a security risk as hackers can gain access to your router settings from outside your home.

To disable remote management, log into your router’s web interface and look for the “admin” or “security” settings. Once you are in these settings, look for the option to disable remote management and turn it off.

4. Keep your router firmware up to date

Keeping your router firmware up to date is an important step in securing your home network. Router manufacturers often release updates that fix known security vulnerabilities, so it is important to install these updates as soon as they become available.

To check for updates to your router firmware, log into your router’s web interface and look for the “admin” or “security” settings. Once you are in these settings, look for the option to check for firmware updates and install any updates that are available.

5. Use a VPN

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a great way to secure your home network and protect your personal information from hackers. A VPN encrypts all of the data that is sent and received over your network, making it much harder for hackers to intercept your data.

To use a VPN, you will need to sign up for a VPN service and install the VPN software on your devices. Once you have the VPN software installed, you can connect to a VPN server and all of the data that is sent and received over your network will be encrypted.

6. Use a Firewall

A firewall is a security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic. A firewall can help to protect your home network from hackers and malware by blocking incoming traffic that is known to be malicious.

To use a firewall, you can either install a software firewall on your devices or purchase a hardware firewall that can be connected to your router. Once the firewall is set up, it will monitor all incoming and outgoing network traffic and block any traffic that is known to be malicious.

7. Use an Antivirus

An antivirus is a software that can detect and remove malware and viruses from your computer. It can also help to prevent malware and virus.