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TL;DR: This grade-A refurbished Apple MacBook Pro with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage is on sale for $329.99 (reg. $799).
Most people need a reliable laptop for work, school, or getting things done in their personal lives. However, finding a trustworthy and high-performing laptop that fits your budget can often be challenging. This refurbished Apple MacBook Pro 13.3" offers a compelling solution.
It comes from 2016 and has a grade A refurbished rating, which means it should arrive in near-mint condition with minimal to no cosmetic scuffing. This also makes the price easier on the budget at just $329.99 (reg. $799).
The MacBook Pro is an excellent choice for professionals who need a portable yet powerful machine, whether commuting, traveling for work, or moving between meetings. The Touch Bar adds a layer of convenience by offering quick access to tools and shortcuts that can streamline your workflow. It's located just above the keyboard and offers different shortcuts depending on what program you're in.
If you’re into more creative endeavors, the MacBook Pro’s Retina display with True Tone technology supports the DCI-P3 color spectrum. Its 2.9GHz Intel Core i5 processor can easily handle most creative software, and the 8GB of RAM allows for smooth multitasking while you work on multiple projects without significant lag.
Students can appreciate the MacBook Pro’s performance and portability. It’s ideal for taking notes in class, conducting research, and completing assignments. The 256GB SSD provides ample storage for documents, presentations, and media files.
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While it may not be suitable for high-end gaming or heavy-duty video editing, it does offer a robust set of features that cater to a wide array of everyday needs.
Get this grade-A refurbished Apple MacBook Pro for just $329.99 (reg. $799).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 13.3" MLH12LL/A (Touch Bar & Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports) 2.9GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD - Space Gray (Refurbished) Apple MacBook Pro 13.3" MLH12LL/A (Touch Bar & Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports) 2.9GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD - Space Gray (Refurbished) Apple MacBook Pro 13.3" MLH12LL/A (Touch Bar & Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports) 2.9GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD - Space Gray (Refurbished) Apple MacBook Pro 13.3" MLH12LL/A (Touch Bar & Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports) 2.9GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD - Space Gray (Refurbished) $329.99 at The Mashable ShopA space reconnaissance mission has returned unprecedented imagery of a metal hunk zooming around Earth.
The discarded three-ton rocket, a robust piece of space junk some 36 feet (11 meters) long, is the type of problematic debris agencies seek to remove from our planet's orbit. A future collision could spawn thousands more objects, posing threats to satellites and potentially the International Space Station. The Japanese satellite technology company Astroscale plans to remove this spent rocket stage, but is first gathering more information on the rocket's condition and motion.
Astroscale used its ADRAS-J spacecraft to carefully approach the metallic debris, coming within some 164 feet (50 meters) and capturing the detailed footage below.
"Hey space debris, we're watching you from every angle!" the company posted online. "ADRAS-J has completed not one, but TWO fly-arounds of the upper stage, confirming the planned capture point has no major damage. This milestone sets the stage for future removal and a sustainable space environment!"
SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.Operating in such close orbital proximity to another object is daunting. Many objects in Earth's lower orbit travel at some 7 to 8 kilometers per second (15,660 to 17,895 mph). The company first attempted a fly-around in June, but an anomaly prompted the satellite to abort. "ADRAS-J safely maneuvered away from the upper stage as designed, demonstrating the effectiveness of its on-board collision avoidance system in safely approaching a non-cooperative object," Astroscale said in a statement.
But as the imagery below shows, the next flybys on July 15 and 16 were successful.
Views of the large rocket debris orbiting Earth. Credit: Astroscale Tweet may have been deletedThe greater space debris removal mission is part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA, which is Japan's NASA counterpart) "Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration" project, which seeks a proven way to remove problematic space junk from Earth's orbit.
"We selected this target because it is a large piece of space debris and there are many similarly shaped (cylindrical) pieces on the [space debris] list," Yamamoto Toru, who leads Japan's commercial removal mission, said in a statement. "If we are successful, we expect to be able to apply these techniques to the removal of similarly shaped space debris."
With the reconnaissance now complete, Astroscale will next attempt to capture the debris (using a spacecraft currently under construction) with a robotic arm, and bring the rocket stage down to a lower orbit. Eventually, it will largely burn up in Earth's atmosphere. In the future, the hope among spacefaring nations and commercial space interests is to keep low Earth orbit (LEO) largely clear of threatening space debris — especially inert craft that can't maneuver on their own.
"LEO is an orbital space junk yard," NASA explains. "There are millions of pieces of space junk flying in LEO. Most orbital debris comprises human-generated objects, such as pieces of spacecraft, tiny flecks of paint from a spacecraft, parts of rockets, satellites that are no longer working, or explosions of objects in orbit flying around in space at high speeds."
Netflix has invested big in true crime. The streaming service not only boasts such popular documentaries as Making a Murderer, The Keepers, and Amanda Knox, but also gripping drama series based on real crimes, like The Watcher, When They See Us, and Mindhunter. So, it seemed a natural fit for Netflix to resurrect Unsolved Mysteries in 2020, even if it meant a radical reimagining.
While the series continues to cover everything from suspicious deaths to missing persons cases to paranormal activity, the rebooted Unsolved Mysteries ditched the anthology format. Instead of a series of segments about various mysteries, each episode focuses on one case. Gone too is the ominous yet resolute voiceover of the late Robert Stack, and it is sorely missed. Rewatching the episodes of the classic series, you can see how even the grimmest cases offered a moment of hope. As the segment concluded, you'd hold your breath waiting for Stack's husky timber to say firmly: "Update." Then, a racing synth score would play, laying out how the case has moved forward or even been solved.
With Stack having passed over 20 years ago, this wouldn't be the case even if Netflix's version solved the mysteries. (While Netflix's relaunch has led to some updates, they are typically announced over social media.) Still, never have I yearned for Stack's gruff but urgent "Update" more than at the conclusion of Unsolved Mysteries Volume 4, episode 2, "Body in the Basement."
Before you dive into Netflix's latest offering of true crime tales, take this as a warning: Do not watch this alone.
In "Body in the Basement," Unsolved Mysteries explores the case of Amanda Antoni's suspicious death. Amanda Antoni poses outside a van. Credit: NetflixVolume 1 began with this unsettling subset of Unsolved Mysteries, focusing on the bizarre demise of Rey Rivera, a beloved husband who raced out the door in flip-flops never to come home. He'd be found days later, fallen through the broken roof of a historic high-rise hotel. But the police's insistence that it was suicide didn't satisfy family and friends who pointed to various clues that just didn't add up. Did he fall or was he pushed? A similar and similarly troubling question arises in the fourth, and latest, volume of the series, with "Body in the Basement."
Directed by Gabe Torres, the second episode of Volume 4 begins like many a true-crime documentary, with the playing of a frantic 911 call. "There's so much blood." weeps the caller, Lee Antoni, who is detailing the scene he came home to after a weekend away from his wife, Amanda. Interviews with her brothers will set up who she was through warm memories and family photos. Then, they begin to paint a picture of Lee.
Lee Antoni and Amanda Antoni smile for the camera in a family photo shown on "Unsolved Mysteries" Volume 4. Credit: NetflixAs her spouse, he's naturally the police's first suspect after she's found dead in the basement of their house. But swiftly, the police and this episode move on from Lee as a suspect and instead regard him as a resource, as it seems he was on the phone with her when disaster struck. What made their pet Labrador, Ruby, bark in apparent alarm? Why did Amanda's call get abruptly cut off?
Was it a break-in? A murder? An accident? These are the possibilities that still haunt Amanda's loved ones. What forensics offer is that Amanda's head was cut open, causing her to bleed profusely and fatally as, over hours, she walked around the basement but didn't leave to seek aid. Her bare footsteps in the blood tell us this much. But how did her head come to be cut? Why didn't she leave the basement? And why — over the day and half that she was in the basement before discovery — did neither her dog or cat come down, disturbing the blood with their paw prints?
As a detective stands at the base of the stairs where Amanda's blood footprints stopped, the audience is left to wonder about these questions with no promise of resolution. Worse yet, we're left to wonder what to even root for, as all possibilities are bone-chilling.
I beg you: Do not watch this Unsolved Mysteries episode alone. A dog sits at the top of the basement stairs. Credit: NetflixI watch a lot of true crime, both for work and because I can't stop. "Body in the Basement" was the episode I turned on before my work day began. But it stopped me cold. I was unfit for morning chitchat. Coffee couldn't shake the shivers from my legs. Even now, thinking back on Amanda's story, my eyes sting, threatening tears, and my legs are covered in goosebumps. This episode didn't show footage of her remains at the scene. But it did show the blood, so much blood, that surrounded where her body laid before being removed by police. Worse still, it showed those footprints that sketch a story we cannot (yet?) understand.
I can't wrench loose the vivid image in my head of Amanda walking around her basement, bleeding, her loyal Labrador just up the stairs with no door to separate them, yet keeping her distance. What were those hours like for Amanda? And do I really want to know? All the speculation I can offer is fueled by fear, and none of it gives me solace.
Amanda Antoni Credit: NetflixVolume 4 delves into five new mysteries, among them a summary of the crimes of Jack the Ripper; the cold case of Sigrid Stevenson, who was murdered on the college stage on which she loved to perform; the curious incident of an embalmed head being found in Pennsylvania; and a look into the American cryptid most beloved by internet culture, the Mothman.
These stories are in turn shocking, sad, and maybe even at times outrageous. (The expert who points to the blue heron as a possible cause for Mothman hysteria is pretty amusing in his barely restrained cynicism about the cryptid's existence.) Yet nothing hits as hard as the mystery of Amanda Antoni. It's been days since I first learned her story, saw her home, heard her brothers' praise and saw her husband's tears. And I wish I had something profound to say about her or their loss. I wish I had something to offer beyond a warning.
Some true crime stories serve as cautionary tales. Some sing of justice, however long delayed. Some warn of the fatal flaws in our society. Some will break your heart to pieces. And some scar your psyche, cutting deep to the very root of fear and existential dread. "Body in the Basement" is the last two.
So brace yourself before hitting play. If you dare at all.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 31 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 31Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, July 31, 2024:
AcrossKeyboard key near the top leftThe answer is tab.
The answer is item.
The answer is feral.
The answer is furry.
The answer is space.
The answer is tiffs.
The answer is ateup.
The answer is Berra.
The answer is Marc.
The answer is lye.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 31 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 31If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Staying powerThe hint for the theme is that these words are binding
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThe answers are different types of sticky materials.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is StickyStuff.
NYT Strands word list for July 31Glue
Epoxy
Adhesive
StickyStuff
Bubblegum
Tape
Caramel
Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you're already playing – on Mashable's Games page.
TL;DR: Enjoy a lifetime subscription to HostVerge and get your secure websites up and running with unlimited storage and bandwidth — for life — for only £18.69 (reg. £116.07). Use the coupon code SAVE5 to take advantage of this pricing through Aug. 4.
Opens in a new window Credit: HostVerge HostVerge: Lifetime Subscription (Tier 1) £18.69 at the Mashable ShopHaving a website is a crucial part of running a business. Even if your business has a physical location or shop, it's your digital storefront that informs potential customers about you before they even walk inside. So if you're trying to get your new venture off the ground or bring your old one into 2024, you'll need fast and secure web hosting. Through Aug. 4, HostVerge has web hosting deals that let you create unlimited websites for life.
HostVerge offers top-tier hosting services, ideal for e-commerce businesses, entrepreneurs, and agencies alike, in one convenient spot. Right now, you can secure a Tier 1 subscription to host two websites for life for just £18.69 for a limited time. Be sure to use the coupon code SAVE5 to access this special pricing. And for entrepreneurs interested in unlimited website hosting for life, try the Tier 4 lifetime plan, discounted to £139.44 (reg. £544.54).
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This Tier 1 lifetime subscription includes support for two domains for life with a one-time purchase. There's also unlimited storage offered, so you can utilise as many files, databases, and media as you want in your site. 24/7 customer service and WordPress support is all included as well, so if you need any help it's just a few clicks away.
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TL;DR: Live stream USA vs. South Sudan at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Team USA are expected to win basketball gold at Paris 2024, which is a lot of weight on the shoulders of those players. But we're talking about the likes of Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry here, so they're not exactly new to pressure.
Next up for team USA is South Sudan. These sides met recently in a warm-up fixture that almost ended in a stunning win for South Sudan. Could they secure a shocking win this time around, or will USA show their class?
If you want to watch USA vs. South Sudan at Paris 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is USA vs. South Sudan at Paris 2024?USA vs. South Sudan at Paris 2024 takes place at 3 p.m. ET on July 31.
How to watch USA vs. South Sudan at Paris 2024 for freeUSA vs. South Sudan at Paris 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These are tools that hide your real IP address and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.
Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:
Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Live stream USA vs. South Sudan at Paris 2024 from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream USA vs. South Sudan (plus the rest of Paris 2024) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream USA vs. South Sudan at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream the women's 200m final at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
If you're looking to watch athletes run at seriously impressive speeds during Paris 2024, the women's 200m final promises to have excitement and drama in abundance.
The gold medallist from Tokyo 2020, Jamaican runner Elaine Thompson-Herah, is out injured, which means we're guaranteed to get a new champion. Fellow Jamaican runner Shericka Jackson is the favorite, having run the second fastest time ever in the 200m last year. But it's not a foregone conclusion. Jackson could find strong competition from U.S. runner Gabby Thomas and Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith.
If you want to watch the women's 200m final at Paris 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is the women's 200m final at Paris 2024?The women's 200m final at Paris 2024 takes place at 3:40 p.m. ET on Aug. 6. The event is hosted by the Stade de France.
How to watch the women's 200m final at Paris 2024 for freeThe women's 200m final at Paris 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but you can access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world by signing up to a VPN. A VPN can disguise your real IP address (digital location) while connecting you to a secure server in the UK, which will help you unblock free streaming platforms such as BBC iPlayer no matter where you're based around the globe.
Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:
Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Live stream the women's 200m final at Paris 2024 from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. Take advantage of these offers to unblock BBC iPlayer, and without parting with any cash in the long-run. This will give you time to stream the women's 200m final at Paris 2024 (plus all the events that follow) before recovering any investment.
What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free. That's an impressive 49% off for a limited time. For that price you'll also get a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream the women's 200m final at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for July 31's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 26 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Pasta.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter N appears twice.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
PENNE.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
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Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for July 31's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Tweet may have been deletedEach puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 29 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Throaty
Green: Pointy appendages
Blue: Varieties of traditional beer
Purple: French things
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Rapsy
Green: Fingers
Blue: Ale Styles
Purple: French___
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections #416 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayRaspy: GRUFF, HOARSE, HUSKY, ROUGH
Fingers: LITTLE, MIDDLE, POINTER, RING
Ale Styles: AMBER, PORTER, SOUR, STOUT
French___: BULLDOG, FRY, HORN, KISS
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.
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Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Some social media influencers on Facebook and Instagram are now dealing with a growing new problem on Meta-owned platforms: Extortion.
According to a new report from Bloomberg, scammers are now issuing copyright takedowns on Facebook and Instagram content that they do not own — and they're doing it with Meta's own rights management tool that is meant to help protect creators' work.
Malicious actors are seeking to coerce influencers out of thousands of dollars, sometimes demanding recurring payments, to prevent future illegitimate takedowns from occurring.
SEE ALSO: Crypto scam victims are being scammed double by fake law firms, FBI warns Extorting influencers with Meta's own toolsThe new report from Bloomberg focuses on social media influencers in the Middle East who are finding that their content is being taken down through Meta's rights management tool over nonexistent copyright issues. When these content creators reached out to the contact that issued the takedown through Meta's system, the scammer behind the copyright strike admitted that there was no actual copyright issue — and then attempted to extort them.
This fraudulent practice seems to be growing on social media platforms, so scammers are likely finding success in their fake copyright scheme.
One influencer from Iraq shared that the scammer offered to restore the content that they took down for $3,000. Furthermore, the scammer offered to stop issuing fraudulent takedown requests on his content for a recurring payment of $1,000 per month or an upfront payment of $7,000 per year.
Scammers have long attempted to weaponize copyright to extort money out of Facebook users. However, most attempts could often be ignored as they typically consisted of a phishing email pretending to be from the company.
However, more resourceful scammers are now gaining access to the Meta rights manager, a tool that requires approval from Meta, through black markets selling access. Using this tool, users aren't extorted with the threat of a copyright takedown; the takedown occurs, which presumably makes extortion much easier.
Fraudulent copyright takedowns are becoming a bigger issue across social mediaContent creators often have to deal with bad actors ripping their work from online platforms and uploading it as their own. Oftentimes, these individuals monetize this content, essentially stealing money from the original creators.
To help fight this, many platforms over the years have rolled out rights management and copyright tools for big content creators and companies. Essentially, these tools help creators take a proactive approach by establishing ownership over specific pieces of content. From there, these creators can issue takedowns when uploads of their content are detected on social media platforms.
However, scammers have discovered that they can utilize these tools, but uploading stolen content as their own, so the platform then wrongly establishes the thief as the legitimate owner.
And it's not only happening on Meta-owned platforms. This has unfortunately been a fairly common practice on YouTube through the platform's own copyright management tool for creators.
One specific incident regarding fake copyright claims on music on YouTube highlights how lucrative this scheme is becoming for these con artists. As Mashable reported in 2022, two scammers were able to steal more than $23 million by simply claiming songs that they had nothing to do with through YouTube's Content ID system.
With the incentive in place for scammers, this exposure to abuse may worsen until social media platforms get better at weeding these bad actors out of their copyright management tools.
Mashable has reached out to Meta for comment, and will update if we receive a response.
Brazil's bronze-winning women's gymnastics team made history on Tuesday, winning the nation's first-ever medal in the sport at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Fans at home and online were, of course, joyous. But the internet wasn't just obsessed with the impressive athletic feat of an underdog team. Many were also singing the praises of a now-viral scene: The badass look of a bandaged and bruised Flávia Saraiva hitting the bars and taking home her long-overdue medal.
SEE ALSO: Simone Biles' floor routine is a history-defining moment for the OlympicsDuring warm-ups for Brazil's uneven bars rotation on the day of the team finals, team member Saraiva injured herself after taking a frightening fall from the elevated bars, leaving her with a split-open eye that became a pseudo symbol for the Brazilian team's impressive showing. The 24-year-old veteran of the sport went straight into her routine following a quick med check, clinching crucial points for the all-around podium spot.
"Flavia hitting a full bar routine minutes after knocking her eye out +10000 AURA POINTS," wrote one X user.
The Brazilian team — which also includes Rebeca Andrade, Jade Barbosa, Lorrane Oliveira, and Julia Soares — ended with a total score of 164.497, around 6 points behind the gold-winning U.S. team led by Simone Biles. Saraiva, marking her third Olympic showing, beamed as she received the bronze.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedLed by the G.O.A.T. Simone Biles, Team USA's women's gymnastics team secured the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Tuesday. The U.S. dominated the competition, with no nation challenging their winning score.
It was a bit of redemption for the U.S., who came away with a relatively disappointing silver in the last games in Tokyo. This time it was all gold, all the way — the result was never really in doubt, especially with Russia barred from the games due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
SEE ALSO: How women’s gymnastics is scored at the Olympics, and how Simone Biles pushes those boundariesIt was great to see Biles back on top after having to withdraw from the prior Olympics due to health issues and a case of the "twisties," which is basically when a gymnast encounters a mental block. So, in more ways than one, it was a redemptive win. The internet was ablaze with celebrations and reactions to the big win for the U.S.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedIt was a big day for Team USA, and they look to add to their gold medal count during the women's all-around final, which will take place on Thursday.
The 2024 Paris Olympics saw the gymnastics arena light up with the thrilling women's gymnastics team final. Team USA, led by the phenomenal Simone Biles, aimed for gold—her floor routine was, without a doubt, a historic moment for Team USA and the Olympics.
SEE ALSO: How women’s gymnastics is scored at the Olympics, and how Simone Biles pushes those boundariesNBC assembled an amazing team led by seasoned play-by-play announcer Terry Gannon. Gymnasts Samantha Peszek and Tim Daggett joined Gannon and provided expert analysis.
However, who stole the show was the dynamic duo of Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez and Olympian Justin Spring who lent their analytical prowess, ensuring no detail went unnoticed. Hernandez, an Olympic gold medalist from the 2016 Rio Games, was shown some massive love on social media during the team finals.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedRich Lerner joined them on play-by-play duties, adding his seasoned voice to the mix.
On the ground, capturing the behind-the-scenes moments and athlete reactions, were John Roethlisberger and Zora Stephenson.
USA women's rugby won the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics — the first-ever podium for the U.S. in rugby — in what might be the most dramatic fashion imaginable. The team won on a wild, last-second, full-field run to clinch the victory.
It's hard to overstate how freaking cool the play was. I'm no rugby expert but it was basically the sport's version of a Hail Mary completion to win the game in football. Well, that combined with a powerful run right up the gut. The U.S.'s Spiff Sedrick just straight-up bulldozed through an entire team.
The win marked a huge upset over Australia and a bronze for one of the Olympics' online stars, Ilona Maher. Sports fans in the U.S. were pumped up over the huge win, even as the women's gymnastics competed to take home the gold at the same time.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedWhat an amazing moment, and the kind of thing that makes the Olympics so great. With just a few seconds on the game clock, the U.S. went from so close, to making history.
Simone Biles has stunned onlookers once again, as Team USA grabs the gold in the final round of the 2024 Paris Olympics gymnastic team competition. It's a stunning comeback moment for the G.O.A.T.
SEE ALSO: How women’s gymnastics is scored at the Olympics, and how Simone Biles pushes those boundariesThe floor event is routinely Team USA's shining moment in world competition — current team member Sunisa Lee won the all-around at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics — with Biles' routine featuring some of the most difficult tumbling passes ever seen in gymnastics history.
Tweet may have been deletedBiles' routine sets the highest difficulty scores of anyone else you'll see tumbling across the mat — and these are already some of history's greatest gymnasts. Her last pass (usually the lowest difficulty score out of a typical three- or four-pass routine) is scored nearly the same as other gymnasts' hardest tumbling efforts. It also features a skill named entirely after her.
Team USA, at large, showcases several powerhouse routines. However, nerves were high during the first qualification round. While Biles pulled in a huge 14.6 for her routine on Sunday, teammate and floor expert Carey stumbled into a major fall for the usually solid athlete. But in the finals, the entire team was on fire — and the podium seemed closer than ever for all three floor competitors.
Biles nearly nailed her history-defining passes, soaring through the air with only a few wobbles outside of bounds. But the minor slip-up was a trivial one: Biles got a 14.666. Lee brought in an impressive 13.533 herself, and Jordan Chiles — a known floor performer — nabbed a stunning 13.966 as she and her team were brought to tears on the mat.
Tweet may have been deletedDrew Afualo is ready to get vulnerable.
That’s one of the reasons the influencer and the internet's "Crusader for Women" decided to write a book. She already has a podcast, The Comment Section with Drew Afualo, and a platform on TikTok with more than 8 million followers. But something about the space on a page and the necessity of self-evaluation drew her to writing a memoir.
"I was pretty open and vulnerable considering how I typically am publicly," Afualo tells Mashable ahead of its release on July 30. "That's a big shift for me."
SEE ALSO: Why Delaney Rowe's cringe TikTok videos are so goodWriting a book wasn't always on her radar, though. In fact, when her team first pitched it, she was pretty uninterested.
"Initially, I didn't even think I could write a book because I didn't think anything I had said up until that point was worth a book," Afualo says, adding that her manager encouraged her to consider it anyway. She was worried that because she isn't an expert in a scientific field, she didn't have enough to say — then she decided to lean into a book that's part self-help, part memoir. It felt right to her. "I think it just fits my niche very well."
In her debut title, Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than The Life You Deserve, Afualo talks about feminism, racism, family, life online, and more. Afualo sat down (over Zoom) with Mashable to talk about her writing process, her career trajectory, and MySpace.
View this post on Instagram Opens in a new window Credit: Drew Afualo Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve by Drew Afualo $26.04 at BookShop.orgDrew Afualo: Typically, I like to say it's more in the self-help category. I think, more than anything, it's extremely anecdotal, as opposed to many self-help books. I feel like most self-help — at least the ones I've read — are very statistical. They're very scientific, which I love. Mine is more life experience.
I just didn't wanna write exclusively a memoir because I'm only 28, so I felt like I hadn't lived a life long enough yet to warrant that more. But I thought talking about my own lived experience and my journey through unpacking a lot of my internalized biases leans more toward self-help.
What do you feel like you can accomplish in a book that you can't on TikTok or on your podcast? Why write this book at all?Part of what I really was looking forward to accomplishing with the book was the fact that on TikTok and on my podcast, I'm also a comedian. I love to make silly jokes. I love to banter; I love entertaining as a whole. My platform has been wonderful in the sense that I've been able to almost put a pill in cheese and give it to my dog. Teach people about misogyny and patriarchy and bigotry as a whole in a way that's digestible and entertaining. And I think that's wonderful. If I'm their first intro to wanting to unpack it and learn more about it, I think that's wonderful.
Please don't stop at me. For the love of God, please don't stop at me. It goes so much deeper than me. The book is an opportunity for me to expand a lot more in a way that's a lot more erudite and driven by historical facts. It's driven by a lot of things that I feel like you should know.
Like what?For example, how fatphobia is so grossly intertwined into many different facets of bigotry, but it's also important that we diagnose it and recognize it and, more importantly, break it. That's what I talked about in the book, how I lean more towards body neutrality than body positivity. I think body neutrality just works a lot better for me, personally. I don't want to pull anything from my body other than gratefulness and thankfulness that it works and it keeps me alive.
The book was an opportunity for me to give [my audience] a lot more information that I can't really be as snappy and entertaining within 45 minutes of my show or in a two-minute TikTok.There is the attention span that you're fighting against when you're making content online. The book was just a way for me to expand a lot more and give people a much more nuanced understanding of why I think the things I do and why I believe the things I do.
You start the book with a quote from Nelson Mandela: "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart." Why did you choose this quote to start it off?I usually say that when speaking to your oppressor, you have to speak in a language they understand. A lot of times, it's violence. And I know for a fact I didn't make that up. I was trying to find who actually said it, and I couldn't. But there are a lot of Nelson Mandela quotes that I love.
When people fight oppression, it takes many different forms. And a lot of times, the only forms that are ever remembered in hindsight are nice ways or what people perceive to be nice. I really admire Nelson Mandela for many reasons. I thought this quote was perfect because it is exactly what I've been trying to communicate.
I usually say that when speaking to your oppressor, you have to speak in a language they understand. You write a lot about feminism, sexism, and misogyny in the book. Did you read anything — memoir or feminist theory — in preparation?I have read lots of feminist theories and books prior to having a platform. But when writing my book, I didn't read anything. The reason for that was intentional, and it was because I have a photographic memory, and I also have a sponge for a brain. So I feared that I would absorb things that were not mine and I would write them into my book. And so, to be very careful and cognizant of that, I haven't read anything for the last year and a half while I have been writing this book. That was intentional on purpose because the last thing I would ever want is for any unintentional plagiarism to happen.
What books would you recommend to people who read your book and are interested in delving into it more?bell hooks. Roxanne Gay. Jessica Valenti is also wonderful. I spoke with Jessica Valenti in the very early stages of [having] my platform. There are incredible intersectional feminist authors, all of whom are far and away much more of an expert than I ever will be. Brené Brown's books truly changed my life after I got fired. Not necessarily in the feminist vein, but more so in the mental health kind of vein, which I think go hand-in-hand in a lot of ways. Over the years, I've read so many wonderful authors that I was like, "Please don't ever think that I'm the one-stop shop for this." I am but a silly internet clown. That is who I am. So if mine is like, an intro, great. Please go read far more talented, far more informed authors other than myself.
I am but a silly internet clown. Tell me a bit about your writing process.I didn't write anything longhand. I did right before I started writing the book — I did an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times. And when I initially did the op-ed, I did hand-write it. That kickstarted me actually writing my own book. But it was in pieces. I wrote very out of order.
My team, my literary agents, and my publishing team were like, "Give me 20 topics that are related to what you talked about online but things that you would like to expand on or have stories from your personal life that drove why you believe what you do and why your convictions are so strong and steadfast."
From there, we whittled it down. Which ones seemed a little repetitive? Which ones needed their own chapter? Which ones could go inside another chapter? Once we had those topics lined out, my team would tell me, "Give me 3000 words on this," or "Give me 1800 words on this." That's how the writing process went. But before we even started writing, they just listened to me talk for hours. We just recorded so many hours of me talking on Zoom with my team just about my life, from the very beginning until now, and going through all my different life experiences and stories that solidified my beliefs in certain things. And that shaped my perception and my perspective on things.
After that, it was just writing, writing, writing, editing, writing, writing, writing, editing. It gets very tedious after the initial thing is finished. I feel like my writing process was relatively tame compared to other people's, whose books are probably harder to write.
I know that talking online is what you do, but that sounds exhausting.It was a lot. It's honestly quite boring in the sense of like, it's not very interesting to watch happen. You're just sitting and typing for hours. And as far as playlists go, I love listening to music when I write or when I'm reading. I like to listen to music. I like listening to music with lyrics. I know sometimes people don't like listening to music with lyrics because it can be distracting when they read. I personally like it. I just have a very tame flow in my playlist. So they're very soft songs. They're very melodic. They're very soothing. That's the kind of music I like to listen to when I write.
You write about the relationship between gender and race in Loud. We know that gender is a racial construct. How has being Samoan shaped the lens that you use to criticize the patriarchy?In multiple ways. The first one that I talk about a lot is that Samoan culture at its genesis, prior to being colonized, was matriarchal and is still very matriarchal in a lot of ways. Obviously, we are not immune to the effects of white supremacy and colonialism after it's already happened to us. So, in modern times, we struggle with things that many other ethnicities struggle with: white supremacy, misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia. But prior to being colonized, that was not the case for my people.
I was raised in a home where women are equals, men and women do the same things, and we have the same responsibilities, and it's a culture rooted in service. It's giving with no expectation of anything in return, and it's serving whether it's the lord or your elders. That's just where Samoan culture thrives; that's the very beating heart of it. That's how I was raised. That played a huge role in how I viewed respect and being treated like an equal.
It's very rare that I get attacked by a misogynist that is not also racist. It's a real hat on a hat, you know?I think another one is that Samoan people are genetically larger, whether that's taller, bigger, fatter, or whatever you want to call it. So, having grown up around a very different kind of body type that was desired both in men and women and anyone else who didn't adhere to a gender binary, that also plays a huge role because fatphobia is rooted in white supremacy and Eurocentric beauty standards. And so what's beautiful in my culture, what's desirable in my culture, is not what your beauty standards are.
Those are two huge things in my Samoan culture that have really informed my view on patriarchy and how white supremacy, misogyny, racism, homophobia, and transphobia are all so closely intertwined. It's very rare that I get attacked by a misogynist that is not also racist. It's a real hat on a hat, you know?
You're posting constantly, you've got a podcast, and you wrote this book, all while being constantly affronted by sexist, racist men. How do you not just quit?I'm stubborn. If anything is gonna make me quit, it is never gonna be a man.
Maybe that's just me being petty until the end. But I think more than anything, and I've gone over in explicit detail in the book, I've done a lot of work to unpack and let go of a lot of my internalized biases and prejudice, both towards myself and others. So because I've done so much unpacking prior to doing this for a living, it's done nothing but serve me. Letting go of male validation, specifically, almost makes me immune to having to hear that all the time. I do get an unbelievable amount of vitriol every single day of every single month of every single year. For the last three years, I've gotten some very violent hate consistently on all my platforms.
If anything is gonna make me quit, it is never gonna be a man, I'll tell you that much.So, I think unpacking all of that and letting go of male validation specifically doesn't hurt me. I don't draw any sort of strength or power from men who don't know me telling me that they're attracted to me. That makes me angry. That doesn't fire me up; it truly triggers my prey drive to the point where I get angry and violent. I seek and want nothing from them, so their hate means nothing to me.
Have the platforms done anything to protect you from that vitriol?I am lucky enough now that my platform is large enough that I have wonderful people who can help if things get out of hand on the different platforms. They are very aware of my niche and the kind of hate I get. They do everything they can to help me, and I'm very appreciative of that.
Unfortunately, that aspect of hate is something you just get used to with time. Even if I was the most PG, amazing, superficial creator ever, I would still get hate. It's unfortunately a reality of being an online person. That part I've just gotten used to, but I do have wonderful people who help me if something gets crazy.
Did you learn anything about yourself while you were writing this book?I learned that I struggled a lot more with being vulnerable than I thought I would. I think because I've been an online person for so long now, I feel like I've shared so much of myself — which I have, to an extent. But then I realized in writing the book that there were many parts of myself I hadn't really shared. I've shared that I can be mean. People got that part; they're up to speed on that. But being vulnerable and very open and honest about certain life experiences, like my sister's coming-out story and my thoughts on kids, those kinds of experiences that I detail in the book, were very hard for me.
But I have a wonderful team who gently, gently pushed me. They always assured me, "You don't have to share anything that you don't feel comfortable sharing, but if you give me a little bit more, if you really want to take me there, take me there." We struck a wonderful balance, but I did learn that I struggled with the vulnerability part, which was a little shocking for me.
We've got TikTok, we have a podcast, we have a book. What's next?Sleeping. [I] haven't done that in a while. I would say going on my book tour, which is very exciting. And definitely going to do more standup, which is also very exciting. I've only done a little baby five, but I'm definitely getting into that. Hopefully, more stuff in the TV and movie area. The sky's the limit. I'm gonna bleed into every platform and we're never gonna stop hearing about me.
What do you remember as the first place you spent a lot of time online? Was it Neopets or Club Penguin?I loved computer games when I was a kid. My sister and I liked My Scene. We loved Star Doll. As far as social media, the first social media I ever had was MySpace. I loved MySpace. I was so into MySpace.
Were you mean to men on MySpace?Honestly, no. I thought I was just the coolest alive on MySpace. I don't know why. Even though I was just copying everything my sister was doing when she learned how to code HTML.
Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve by Drew Afualo is out now via Auwa.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
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