The National Security Agency (NSA) is one of the most secretive and powerful intelligence agencies in the world. Its mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate information that is relevant to the national security of the United States and its allies. However, in recent years, the NSA has come under scrutiny for its controversial and intrusive surveillance programs that have allegedly violated the privacy and civil liberties of millions of Americans and foreigners.
One of these programs is the bulk collection of internet browsing records, also known as metadata, from internet service providers (ISPs) and other online platforms. Metadata is data about data, such as the time, date, duration, source, destination, and type of online communication or activity. For example, metadata can reveal who you emailed, what websites you visited, what apps you used, what files you downloaded, and more. Metadata does not include the content of the communication or activity, such as the text of an email or the video of a streaming service.
The NSA claims that collecting metadata is essential for its counterterrorism and cybersecurity operations, as it can help identify and track potential threats, uncover hidden networks, and discover new targets. The NSA also asserts that it follows strict legal and oversight mechanisms to protect the privacy and civil rights of Americans and that it only accesses metadata when it has a reasonable suspicion that it is related to a foreign intelligence or terrorism investigation.
However, critics argue that collecting metadata is a massive invasion of privacy and a violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. They contend that metadata can reveal a lot of sensitive and personal information about a person’s habits, preferences, relationships, beliefs, and activities. They also question the effectiveness and necessity of metadata collection, as it has not been proven to prevent any terrorist attacks or cyberattacks. Moreover, they point out that the legal and oversight mechanisms are inadequate and opaque, as they rely on secret courts, secret interpretations of laws, and secret policies.
So why is the NSA buying Americans’ internet browsing records? The answer is not clear, as the NSA does not disclose much information about its operations or its budget. However, some possible reasons are:
The NSA wants to expand its metadata collection capabilities and access more sources of online data that are not covered by existing laws or programs.
The NSA wants to circumvent the legal and oversight restrictions that limit its metadata collection authority and scope.
The NSA wants to compensate for the loss of metadata collection capabilities due to encryption technologies or public backlash.
The NSA wants to leverage the private sector’s expertise and resources in collecting and analyzing online data.
Whatever the reason, the NSA’s purchase of Americans’ internet browsing records raises serious concerns about the privacy and security of online users. It also highlights the need for more transparency and accountability in the intelligence community and more public debate and awareness about the implications and consequences of mass surveillance.
We’ve watched as the gambling industry has swept across the United States, picking up millions of new bettors as it breezes from coast to coast. There has never been anything quite like it, as the leading betting websites from Europe and Las Vegas do battle.
The aim is to grab a sizeable share of the goldmine uncovered when White House officials voted to lift the nation’s long-running and profoundly unpopular ban on betting in 2018. What followed was a stampede of bookies.
Picture the scene. You’re the head of a significant gambling app in the United Kingdom with generations worth of experience giving customers the best treatment. Then the United States invited bookies to trade and attract the business of millions of sports fans.
These followers of the NFL, NBA, and NHL have been starved of the chance to use their sporting knowledge to target a profit or enjoy the thrill of betting on their favorite team to win.
An aggressive approach
The sportsbooks that acted swiftly and aggressively made the best possible start, signing up the first wave of bettors. Things slowed during the pandemic when no sporting action was shown live on TV, and fans were banned from attending stadiums. But the industry is now back to full speed, and the race is on to impress. But how does a bookie become successful in the face of so much competition?
We chose to analyze that question in this article to learn a thing or two. The gambling industry is as competitive as any other you’ll see in business, and clever marketing is often the difference between attracting customers and losing clients to rival apps. Just like the sports they cover, the lines between success and failure are fine, almost invisible. Keep reading as we discuss the three takeaways from how major bookmakers have secured success in their chosen industry. These are hints, tricks, and tips you can use on your website or that of your employers. There’s nothing out of the ordinary here and no software that will cost you a fortune. These simple marketing methods have been tried and tested over the last 100 years.
Welcome bonus
The essential thing bookies do to attract new customers and persuade others to move from the competition is incentivizing the sign-up. This is known in the industry as a welcome bonus, and it gives all new registrations a free bet equal to their first deposit and wager. Sign up, deposit $50, and get a $50 free bet.
The deposit-matched welcome bonus isn’t the other offer – others include enhanced odds and risk-free bets – but it is the most popular. It works for both the bookie and the customer as the app gets a new follower while the player collects a free bet. The more generous the bonus, the more attention it attracts on social media and in registrations.
Free bets encourage new players to register, but that incentive could be anything you wish to offer. It could be stock, days out, prizes, vacations, or just free stuff. Be more generous than the competition, and your business will reap the rewards.
Closely monitor the competition
You must know precisely what they are up to beat the competition and do it better. Whether your website is for a car garage, window cleaning, or luxury spas, it doesn’t matter. You must work harder if you’re not the best in your field.
Don’t just look at competitor sites and pick the flaws in them. Look for what they do well and ask yourself, could I do it any better? Track their offers and prices, and contact the customer service team. Buy an item and rate the service. You want to pick up the good points from your rivals and work on where you believe they can improve.
The top bookies are big fans of the competition but would never admit it to customers. Check and compare two more sports betting apps today, and you’ll find there is little difference between the look and feel of the site as well as how it operates.
User-friendly site
Above all else, your website and the mobile app must be user-friendly, fast, and stylish. The aim of any e-commerce site is to make a sale. The longer a customer is on your page without making a purchase, the more likely they are to leave. Keep everything clear and basic, allowing your product to do the talking.
Are you new to the trading world and ready to make the transition from a demo account to a real live account? Like many beginners, the question is how much money will I need to start the journey. This post will go straight to the point and give you an idea of what to know.
Before you start trading it is important to focus on learning, learning more and practising the skill. Next, put in hours and hours of practice with a demo account till you feel you have a strategy and are profitable. Being profitable is having a streak of more wins than losses consistently for a long duration. So let’s say you have done this and are ready to move on to the next stage. That’s moving on from using a demo account to a real and live trading account. It will be advisable to use an amount that doesn’t mean much to you, one you are willing to lose. This amount will vary per person but if you can lose one hundred dollars ($100) or equivalent start with that. For someone else, this amount could be less or more.
Trading a 0.01 lot size to grow your account
Start with one hundred dollars and use the 0.01 lot size. Doing this prevents you from blowing your live trading account with one trade. Practise taking out trades and sticking to your plan. Yes, you need a plan and you’ll need to stick to it. Trading is said to be a get-rich slow method, doing otherwise can lead to not sticking to plan and over trading, which will lead to losing everything.
You really need to have a plan and a strategy to prevent you from jumping into every trade. When you have a plan, you wait for your setup and stick to your risk management. This will help you build consistency, and master your psychology and emotions.
When you are doing this and everything is going well, meaning you have grown the account from about one hundred to two hundred, you can now add more or just keep growing it. Just don’t go crazy and throw your whole life savings in there.
Losses are part of trading so don’t be afraid of failing, let failure teach you a lesson and don’t give up. Go back to the drawing board, backtest and learn more. All the best in your trading journey.
[jetpack_subscription_form show_subscribers_total=”false” button_on_newline=”false” submit_button_text=”Subscribe to get updates right in your inbox” custom_font_size=”16px” custom_border_radius=”0″ custom_border_weight=”1″ custom_padding=”15″ custom_spacing=”10″ submit_button_classes=”” email_field_classes=”” show_only_email_and_button=”true” success_message=”Success! An email was just sent to confirm your subscription. Please find the email now and click 'Confirm Follow' to start subscribing.”]