Almost a million people around the world have fallen victim to a highly organized fraud campaign, which scammed them out of some $50 million in the past couple of years.
According to a report from SRLabs, a group of cyber-criminals, supported by a wider network of affiliates, were organized into a crime ring dubbed BogusBazaar. This ring automated the creation and rotation of thousands of fake shopping websites – 22,500 domains, to be exact.
Through these shopping sites, the criminals did two things – steal credit card and other payment data, and steal money.
Well-organized group
Stealing credit card information is as straightforward as one can imagine with fake shopping sites – a person would try to purchase something off the site, they would submit their payment information, and never get the item they ordered. PayPal and Stripe data was stolen from the victims in the same manner.
Stealing money worked in a somewhat different way. Some of the victims actually received an item, albeit not the one they ordered, but rather a cheap copy, or a knock-off.
“The operation of fraudulent webshops is a seemingly small but well-organized crime,” Matthias Marx, a security consultant at SRLabs, told The Register. “As each fraud case has a relatively low volume, the fraudsters seem to have managed to evade the attention of the law enforcement authorities despite earning millions.”
The majority of the victims were located in Western Europe, Australia, and America.
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
The worst part is that the campaign is still ongoing, and is decentralized and automated in a way that makes it difficult for law enforcement to fully eliminate. As soon as one website gets taken down, another one takes its place. The attackers often use expired domains with good standing, making spotting fraud even harder at start.
The majority of the fraudsters seem to be operating out of China.
The internet is filled with scammers and fraudsters, looking to steal people’s money and sensitive information. The best way to stay safe is to always make sure you’re buying from trusted sources and official websites. If you know the shop’s website, type the address in the bar instead of searching for it on Google or other search engines.
If you are being redirected to a website, double check the address and make sure it doesn’t have any weird typos or strange-looking characters.
And finally, always use common sense. If something is too good to be true, it most likely is.
Cows are milked on a farm in New York State.Credit: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty
The outbreak of avian influenza in US dairy cattle shows no signs of slowing. Over the past three weeks, the number of states where cows infected with bird flu have been detected has risen from six to eight. A preprint1 posted on 16 April reported the discovery of the virus in raw milk from infected cows, and US federal authorities said on Wednesday that the virus had been found in lung tissue collected from a seemingly healthy cow.
Also on Wednesday, US officials confirmed at a media briefing that genomic material from the H5N1 strain, which is causing the outbreak, had been detected in milk sold in shops.
Detection of viral particles in milk sold to consumers suggests that avian flu in cows could “be more widespread than initially thought”, says food scientist Diego Diel at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. “Increased surveillance and testing in dairies should be an important part of control measures going forward.” Nature looks at the implications for human health and the future of the outbreak.
What does it mean that H5N1 is in retail milk?
It’s still unclear how many milk samples the FDA has tested or where the samples were collected. The agency said that it would release more information in the coming days and weeks.
After it leaves the farm and before it hits the shelves, milk is pasteurized to inactivate pathogens. To detect H5N1, the FDA used a test called quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), which picks up viral RNA. Because it detects fragments of the viral genome, the test cannot distinguish between living virus and the remnants of dead virus, says dairy scientist Nicole Martin at Cornell University.
Bird flu outbreak in mink sparks concern about spread in people
“The detection of viral RNA does not itself pose a health risk to consumers, and we expect to find this residual genetic material if the virus was there in the raw milk and was inactivated by pasteurization,” she says.
The presence of viral material in commercially available milk does have broader implications, however. There are several possible explanations, says virologist Brian Wasik, also at Cornell University. It could be that the outbreak is more pervasive than farmers realized, and that milk from infected animals is entering the commercial supply. Another possibility, he says, is that “asymptomatic cows that we are not testing are shedding virus into milk”. But it’s also possible that both scenarios are true.
US federal rules require milk from infected cows to be discarded, but it’s not yet clear whether cows often start shedding the virus before they look sick or produce abnormal milk. The 16 April preprint, which has not yet been peer reviewed, includes reports that milk from infected cows is thicker and more yellow than typical milk and that infected animals eat less and produce less milk than usual.
Is milk with traces of H5N1 in it a threat to humans?
There is no definitive evidence that pasteurization kills H5N1, but the method kills viruses that multiply in the gut, which are hardier than flu viruses, says Wasik. “Influenza virus is relatively unstable,” he says, “and is very susceptible to heat.” Pasteurization of eggs, which is done at a lower temperature than pasteurization of milk, does kill H5N1.
It’s possible that pasteurization would be less effective at killing relatively high viral concentrations in milk, says Wasik. Finding out whether this is the case requires experimental data. In the absence of a definitive answer, keeping milk from infected cows out of the commercial supply is extremely important.
When Nature asked when to expect more evidence on whether pasteurization kills H5N1, Janell Goodwin, public-affairs specialist at the FDA in Silver Spring, Maryland, said that the agency and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) “are working closely to collect and evaluate additional data and information specific to” H5N1.
Is milk spreading bird flu among cows?
USDA researchers have tested nasal swabs, tissue and milk samples of cows from affected dairy herds and have found that milk contained the highest viral concentrations. This indicates that the virus could be spreading through milk droplets.
If so, milking equipment could be involved. “The teat cups of a milking machine could transfer remnants of H5N1-containing milk from one cow to the teats of the next cow being milked,” says virologist Thijs Kuiken at Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. “Even if they are washed and disinfected, the levels of virus in the milk of infected cattle are so high that one could not exclude the possibility of infectious virus being transferred from cow to cow by this route.” In fact, in some equipment set-ups, workers spray down milking machines with high-pressure hoses to clean them, which would aerosolize any infected milk, says Wasik.
The USDA website concurs that viral spread is “likely through mechanical means”.
Is enough being done to stop the spread?
The FDA announced on Wednesday that cows must test negative for bird flu before they can be moved across state lines. That might help to stem the outbreak, scientists say. Animals in the US dairy industry move around a lot, Wasik says. Calves are moved to be raised into milk cows, cows are moved when they stop producing milk and farmers sell the animals. Such movement is probably “a main driver” of the outbreak, Wasik says.
Diel would like to see surveillance of bulk milk samples at farms. Wastewater testing and environmental sampling could be useful, too, Wasik says, particularly around farms near outbreaks or farms where cows have been moved. He also advocates for a quarantine or observation period of 24 or 48 hours when cattle are moved to a new farm.
Such surveillance measures “could really buy us time, slow down the outbreak”, says Wasik, so researchers and agencies can “get a better handle on it. Because time is what’s of the essence.”
Google has been emailing Android users about an update to the Play Store allowing you to enable biometric verification for purchases. We got the message over the weekend buried in our inbox. It states users can set fingerprint or facial recognition on the digital storefront as long as they have a mobile device that supports the technology. Once set up, “you’ll be asked to verify it’s you with biometrics” every time you buy something on the platform.
We can confirm the update is live as it appeared on our phone. To turn it on, open the Play Store app then tap Settings near the bottom. Expand Purchase Verification and toggle the switch to activate Biometric Verification. The storefront will then ask you to type in your password to confirm the setting change.
It’s important to mention that the final step will change within the coming weeks. According to the email, Google will let users use biometrics instead of requiring them to enter their account password.
The purpose of this feature is to seemingly provide an extra layer of safety to protect yourself against unauthorized transactions in case your phone is ever compromised. You don’t have to use a password anymore, although you will always have the option.
(Image credit: Future)
Minor, yet important detrails
There are a few minor details you should know regarding the feature.
At a glance, it seems the biometric verification will primarily live on the Play Store. We attempted to purchase an ebook and were met with a fingerprint reader to authenticate our identity before checkout. Then we discovered the security feature will appear on third-party apps, but its presence on them varies.
We purchased items for the game Arknights on our Android phone to see if a biometric verification reader popped up. It didn’t. The checkout went through without any hindrance. However, when we signed up for a three-month trial on Amazon Music, a Play Store message showed up asking if we would like to enable biometrics for future purchases.
Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.
This leads us to believe that some apps will support the new verification method while others won’t. It may depend on whether or not a developer decides to support the security fixture on their product.
Do note this has been our personal experience with the tool. It may operate differently for you. Google didn’t provide much information in their email or Play Store Help page. Of course, we reached out to the tech giant for clarification and will update the story if we learn anything new.
Billed as a commercially safe AI image generator, iStock released its AI photo platform back in January 2024 – and during a live demo of the latest update, we spoke to Chief Product Officer Grant Farhall and Bill Bon, Director of Editing, about creative efficiencies, business-first AI, and what makes a good AI text-to-image prompt.
Famed for its stock media library, the company, owned by Getty Images, has been focused of late on creating a good, usable AI tool that’s accessible at pretty much every level of an organization. And a commercially safe one, too, untrained on copyrighted materials that might bring down unnecessary lawsuits on businesses big and small.
The latest additions to the toolkit, Refine and Expand, add an extra layer of creativity. We took a look at how they worked while discussing iStock’s AI future.
You can check out the iStock Ai generator by clicking here
Finding creative efficiencies
Business may be the order of the day, but Farhall told us that iStock has made sure the tool was fun to use. Fun. It’s a word that’s repeated often during the live demo, feeling like a byword for simple, accessible, engaging. And it’s hard to deny that using certain AI art generators can feel like a slog, especially professional tools with their unintuitive or overly complex interfaces. In contrast, iStock is trying to balance exciting capabilities with usability – a factor the company feels gets overlooked in the rush for AI-everything. “It’s all about making lives easier,” said Farhall, “Letting users create in an elevated way.”
That’s evidenced from the start, with the platform employing a helpful prompt builder that guides you through the key information needed to generate AI images. Better prompts means better results.
Refine and Expand, the platform’s latest tools, are another example of this. The former lets users highlight areas of AI-generated images, then prompting the tool to add objects and people, or tweak elements of the image. In one example, we’re shown how easy it is to add a scarf to a photorealistic image of a man, just by selecting the neck area and telling the AI what to add. In another, a tiger was added to a jungle scene.
Expand, a tool favoured by designer Bon, intelligently adds to the background. Streets become longer, more populated, woods thicker – and, Bon explained, those expansions should make contextual sense. The social media advantages for time-poor designers and non-designers, where every platform demands different image dimensions, are clear.
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
The focus is on the ability to “expand what’s possible”, said Farhall, “finding creative efficiencies”. With AI, anything is possible.
Well, almost anything.
It’s rare in a live demo that we’re intentionally shown the limitations of a product. Here, what the tool can’t do is announced with the sort of fanfare usually reserved for massive updates, new features. The iStock AI Generator is, effectively, a safe – commercially safe – sandbox. In part the goal, said Farhall, was to prove you don’t need a mass dataset culled from every corner of the internet to train an AI; that it’s possible to provide a transparent process where creators are compensated and businesses can feel confident using the platform.
The AI generator can’t, for instance, generate existing logos or celebrities or copyrighted images. Nike swooshes, Taylor Swift, Mickey Mouse, the golden arches of McDonalds – as far as the iStock AI is concerned, these things simply do not exist. They’re not part of the training model, they’ll never be generated. Nor will a company’s AI generations get cycled back into the model. It’s a creative silo for businesses.
Since unveiling its tool, iStock has gone hard on legal business protections. From the beginning, it offered the same $10K legal coverage enjoyed by users of its pre-shot media library. The company hopes this will allow for seamless use between its AI and the stock media platforms.
That’s essential, Farhall explained, since the real issue with AI is that it’s always “looking back.” He cited the pandemic as an example, where photographers could be commissioned to get current images. Users, then, should get the best of both worlds. Expect closer integration between the two worlds, too. We’re told the ability to use the AI tool to edit and refine pre-shot is in the pipeline, and users will also soon be able to fine-tune AI images to create branded generations in May.
Before wrapping up, we ask veteran prompt writer Bon the secret behind what makes a good text-to-image prompt? He explained that it’s experimentation, but a good AI text prompt places important details at start. Make it long, 30-40 words using cinematic language, like whimsical and spooky, and include specifics like subjects and lighting style. And use image filters to make photoreal images more filmic. So, now we know.
Another major WordPress plugin was found vulnerable to a high-severity flaw which allowed malicious actors to steal sensitive information from the website, including password hashes.
LayerSlider has published a new security advisory, saying the product is now in version 7.10.1, but adding, “This update includes important security fixes.”
While the announcement does not detail the vulnerability fixed, The Hacker News reported that the project fixed an SQL injection vulnerability impacting versions 7.9.11 through 7.10.0. This vulnerability is now tracked as CVE-2024-2879, and has a severity score of 9.8 (critical).
Targeting WordPress
On its website, LayerSlider describes itself as a “visual web content editor, a graphic design software, and a digital visual effects application all in one”. It also claims to be used by “millions” of people worldwide. LayerSlider is a commercial WordPress plugin, with annual license packages ranging from $26 to $159.
Being the world’s most popular website builder, and used by roughly half of all the websites in existence, WordPress is a major target for cybercriminals everywhere. However, with the platform generally considered safe, hackers have turned their attention to third-party themes and plugins, as these are rarely as secure as the platform itself.
There are thousands of themes and plugins for WordPress, all of which build upon and improve the WordPress experience. Some are free to use, but commercial ones usually have a dedicated team that works on improvements and security. As a result, most of the time, hackers will go for free-to-use themes and plugins – many have millions of users, but have been abandoned by their developers and contain vulnerabilities that are never (or rarely) addressed.
To remain secure, admins should only install themes and plugins they intend on using, and make sure they are always updated to the latest version.
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Farhana Sultana approaches research on environmental harms and social inequities in tandem.Credit: Wainwright Photos
FARHANA SULTANA: Collaborate to advance water justice
Throughout my childhood in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the frantic call ‘Pani chole jaitese!’ (‘The water is running out!’) prompted my family, along with the entire neighbourhood, to scramble to fill pots and buckets with water before the taps ran dry. I witnessed women and girls walk long distances to secure this basic necessity for their families, long before water governance became central to my academic career. Amid water insecurity, the opposite extreme was just as familiar — going to school through devastating floods and experiencing the fall-out from disastrous cyclones and storm surges.
Municipal water services in Dhaka also struggled to meet the growing demands of a rapidly urbanizing and unequal megacity. Access to electricity — needed to run water pumps — was sporadic, and there weren’t enough treatment plants to ensure clean water for millions of residents.
These early experiences fuelled my dedication to tackling water injustices. Today, as an interdisciplinary human geographer with expertise in Earth sciences, and with policy experience gained at the United Nations, I approach environmental harms and social inequities in tandem — the root causes that connect both must be addressed for a just and sustainable future. My research also encompasses climate justice, which is inextricably linked with water justice. Climate change intensifies water-security concerns by worsening the unpredictability and severity of hazards, from floods and droughts to sea-level rise and water pollution.
Such events hit marginalized communities the hardest, yet these groups are often excluded from planning and policymaking processes. This is true at the international level — in which a legacy of colonialism shapes geopolitics and limits the influence of many countries in the global south on water and climate issues — and at the national level.
However, collaborative work between affected communities, activists, scholars, journalists and policymakers can change this, as demonstrated by the international loss-and-damage fund set up last year to help vulnerable countries respond to the most serious effects of climate-related disasters. The product of decades of globally concerted efforts, this fund prioritizes compensation for low-income countries, which contribute the least to climate change but often bear the brunt of the disasters.
I also witnessed the value of collaboration and partnership in my research in Dhaka. Community-based groups, non-profit organizations and activists worked with the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority to bring supplies of drinking water at subsidized prices to marginalized neighbourhoods, such as Korail, where public infrastructure was missing.
Globally, safe water access for all can be achieved only by involving Indigenous and local communities in water governance and climate planning. People are not voiceless, they simply remain unheard. The way forward is through listening.
Tara McAllister is exploring the interface between Mātauranga Māori (Māori Knowledge) and non-Indigenous science.Credit: Royal Society of New Zealand
TARA MCALLISTER: Let Māori people manage New Zealand’s water
I have always been fascinated by wai (water) and all the creatures that live in it. Similar to many Indigenous peoples around the world, Māori people have a close relationship with nature. Our connection is governed by geneaology and a concept more akin to stewardship rights than to ownership. This enables us to interact with our environment in a sustainable manner, maintaining or improving its state for future generations.
I was privileged to go to university, where I studied marine biology. I then moved to the tribal lands of Ngāi Tahu on Te Waipounamu, the South Island of New Zealand, which triggered my passion for freshwater ecosystems. Intensive agriculture is placing undue pressure on the whenua (land) and rivers there. Urgent work was required. Undertaking a PhD in freshwater ecology, I studied the causes of toxic benthic algal blooms in rivers. For me, there is no better way to work than spending my days outside, with my feet in the water.
A worker fills people’s water containers from a tanker in Kolkata, India.Credit: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters
Having just started a research position at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, a Māori-led tertiary educational institution, I am now exploring the interface between Mātauranga Māori (Māori Knowledge) and non-Indigenous science, and how these two systems can be used alongside each other in water research. I have also been working on nurturing relationships with mana whenua, the community that has genealogical links to the area where I live, so that I can eventually work in the community’s rivers and help to answer scientific questions that its members are interested in.
Despite a perception that Aotearoa (New Zealand) is ‘clean and green’, many of its freshwater ecosystems are in a dire state. Only about 10% of wetlands remain, and only about half of rivers are suitable for swimming. Water resource management is challenging, because of a change this year to a more right-wing government. The current government seems intent on revoking the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, established in 2020.
This policy has been crucial in improving the country’s management of freshwater resources. Although not perfect, it does include Te Mana o te Wai — a concept that posits that the health and well-being of water bodies and ecosystems must be the first priority in such management. It is now in danger of being repealed.
I think that, ultimately, our government’s inability to divulge control and power to Māori people to manage our own whenua and wai is what limits water resource management. More than any change in policy, I would like to see our stolen lands and waters returned.
Suparana Katyaini calls for more policy support for Indigenous-led water management.Credit: Milan George Jacob
SUPARANA KATYAINI: Consider water, food and land together
Growing up in New Delhi, I always had easy access to drinking water — until the summer of 2004, when a weak monsoon triggered a water crisis and the city had to rely on water tankers. I realized then that good management of water resources supports our daily lives in ways we take for granted until we experience scarcity.
My professional journey in research and teaching has been motivated by this experience. During my environmental studies of water poverty in India, I noticed that the field relied largely on quantitative data over qualitative insights — the degree of water-resources availability, access and use are typically assessed through metrics such as the water-availability index or the water-demand index. But in many places, Indigenous and local communities, including farmers and women in any occupation, have collectively developed skills to weather periods of water scarcity. Paying attention to these skills would lead to better water management. For example, the issue of food and nutritional insecurity in water-scarce areas in the state of Odisha, India, is being solved by Bonda people through revival of the crop millet, using varieties that are nutritious, water-efficient and climate-resilient.
But these efforts need more policy support. My current work at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water explores how water, food and land systems are interlinked in India, and how better understanding of these relationships can inform policies. I am looking to identify similarities and differences in objectives of national and regional policies in each sector, as well as exploring whom they affect and their intended impacts. The aim is to move towards unifying water, food and land governance.
Michael Blackstock examines climate change from a water-centred perspective.Credit: Mike Bednar
MICHAEL BLACKSTOCK: Shift attitudes towards water
In 2000, I conducted an ethnographic interview with Indigenous Elder Millie Michell from the Siska Nation in British Columbia, Canada, that transformed my interest in water from intellectual curiosity to passion. She passed a torch to me that fateful day. During our conversation for my research about the Indigenous spiritual and ecological perspective on water, she asked me: “Now that I shared my teachings and worries about water, what are you going to do about it?” She died of a stroke a few hours later.
As an independent Indigenous scholar, I went on to examine climate change from a water-centred perspective — drying rivers, downpours, floods and melting ice caps are all water. This approach, for which I coined the term ‘blue ecology’, interweaves Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of thinking. It acknowledges water’s essential role in generating, sustaining, receiving and, ultimately, unifying life on Mother Earth. This means changing our collective attitude towards water.
In 2021, I co-founded the Blue Ecology Institute Foundation in Pavilion Lake, Canada, which teaches young people in particular to acknowledge the spiritual role of water in nature and in our lives, instead of taking it for granted as a commodity or ecosystem service. Giving back to nature with gratitude is also crucial. Such restrained consumption — taking only what is needed — would give abused ecosystems time to heal.
A focus on keeping water healthy can help to guide societies towards more sustainable environmental policies and climate-change resilience — and ensure that future generations will survive with dignity. Critics say, ‘Blue ecology is kinda out there.’ In my view, however, ‘here’ is not working.
WhatsApp is currently testing a new in-app label letting you know whether or not a chat room has end-to-end encryption (E2EE).
WABetaInfo discovered the caption in the latest Android beta. According to the publication, it’ll appear underneath the contact and group name but only if the conversation is encrypted by the company’s “Signal Protocol” (Not to be confused with the Signal messaging app; the two are different.) The line is meant to serve as a “visual confirmation” informing everyone that outside forces cannot read what they’re talking about or listen to phone calls. WABetaInfo adds that the text will disappear after a few seconds, allowing the Last Seen indicator to take its place. At this moment, it’s unknown if the two lines will change back and forth or if Last Seen will permanently take the E2EE label’s place.
This may not seem like a big deal since it’s just four words with a lock icon. However, this small change is important because it indicates Meta is willing to embrace third-party interoperability.
📝 WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.6.11: what’s new?WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to indicate when chats are end-to-end encrypted, and it’s available to some beta testers!Some users can get this feature by installing the previous updates.https://t.co/g2i5S7d9R1 pic.twitter.com/KsTa13z0BOMarch 9, 2024
See more
Third-party compatibility
On March 6, the tech giant published a report on its Engineering at Meta blog detailing how interoperability will work in Europe. The EU passed the Digital Markets Act in 2022 which, among other things, implemented new rules forcing major messaging platforms to let users communicate with third-party services.
Meta’s post gets into the weeds explaining how interoperability will work. The main takeaway is the company wants partners to use their Signal Protocol. The standard serves as the basis for E2EE on WhatsApp and Messenger, so they want everyone to be on the same playing field.
Other services don’t have to use Signal. They can use their compatible protocols, although they must demonstrate they offer “the same security guarantees”.
The wording here is pretty cut and dry: if a service doesn’t have the same level of protection, then WhatsApp won’t communicate with it. However, the beta suggests Meta is willing to be flexible. They may not completely shut out non-Signal-compliant platforms. At the very least, the company will inform its users that certain chat rooms may not be as well protected as the ones with E2EE enabled.
Interested Android owners can install the update from the Google Play Beta Program although there is a chance you may not receive the feature. WABetaInfo states it’s only available to a handful of testers. No word if WhatsApp on iOS will see the same patch.
Landmark study contradicts misinformation about brain development and conditions like autism in children.
The COVID vaccine is safe to administer during pregnancy, reports UC San Francisco in an important finding on the safety of the vaccine in infants — despite widespread fear and misinformation.
The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, is the first scientific inquiry into whether infants are at increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairments as a result of maternal vaccination.
The landmark study of more than 2,200 infants from across the country found that in utero exposure to the vaccine caused no abnormal delays when the infants were tested at 12 months and again at 18 months.
“This is a very reassuring finding — pregnant women have been facing unanswered questions around COVID vaccinations for several years,” said first author Eleni Jaswa, MD, MSc, a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist at UCSF Health, noting the investigation started in April 2020. She is also an assistant professor in the UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences.
First meaningful evidence of maternal vaccination safety during pregnancy
Although pregnant women are considered at increased risk of severe illness with COVID-19, some chose not to get the COVID vaccine due to safety concerns around potential risks to their unborn children.
Some 34% of the participants in the study were vaccinated in the first trimester, about 45% in the second trimester, and nearly 21% in the third trimester. They were asked to complete a 30-item questionnaire assessing whether their infants performed expected milestones.
After adjusting for such factors as maternal age, race, ethnicity, education, income and maternal depression, the researchers found no difference in the risk of infant neurodevelopment at either 12 months or 18 months. They noted an increased risk of delay among male infants at 12 months but the difference was not observed at 18 months.
The study is ongoing.
“Understandably, there’s been concern about the potential impact of maternal vaccination on offspring,” said senior author Heather Huddleston, MD, a UCSF Health reproductive endocrinologist and director of the UCSF Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Clinic (PCOS).
“Despite early safety data as well as recommendations from physicians and health organizations, vaccine hesitancy is still preventing universal use,” she said. “To this day, misinformation continues to abound. People are concerned about such issues as brain development and conditions like autism in children. This is the first meaningful evidence into the safety of vaccination from the standpoint of early offspring neurodevelopment.”
Co-authors: All from UCSF, the paper’s co-authors are Marcelle Cedars, MD; Karla Lindquist, PhD; Somer Bishop, PhD; Young-Shin Kim, MD, MPH, PhD; Amy Kaing, MD; Mary Prahl, MD; Stephanie Gaw, MD, PhD; Jamie Corley, BS; Elena Hoskin, MS; Yoon Jae Cho, MD; and Elizabeth Rogers, MD.
According to recent studies, America is home to at least 60 species of spiders that can bite people.
While a spider bite may seem like your worst nightmare, it’s not just you who needs to watch out for fanged critters-your pet may be at risk, too.
But, fear not. With a little preparedness and knowledge, you can enjoy walks without worrying about what’s lurking in the grass. In this article, we’ll discuss one of the most common arachnids in America: the wolf spider.
So, are wolf spiders poisonous to dogs? Read on to find out more.
What is a Wolf Spider?
Wolf spiders are large arachnids that are often mistaken for tarantulas due to their robust, hairy bodies. These spiders are agile hunters, primarily active at night, and are known for their excellent eyesight.
The wolf spiders you and your dog are likely to encounter belong to an incredibly diverse group, with over 2,300 species identified worldwide. They have adapted to a wide range of environments, from temperate forests to arid deserts and everything in between. You can even find them in your backyard.
If you’ve been noticing these unwanted guests around your home or garden, check out this info on getting rid of wolf spiders.
Are Wolf Spiders Dangerous?
Wolf spiders possess large jaws and venomous bites which they use to hunt insects and other arachnids. Wolf spider venom is toxic, working fast to paralyze or immobilize its prey, making it easier for the spider to subdue and consume them.
However, the venom is not potent enough to pose a threat to larger mammals like humans or dogs. Moreover, they are more inclined to retreat or flee when faced with a perceived threat rather than resorting to biting.
Are Wolf Spiders Poisonous to Dogs?
Now, let’s address the question at hand: Can wolf spider venom harm your beloved canine companion?
In short: No… at least not seriously.
While wolf spider bites can be painful for dogs, they are very rarely life-threatening. The severity of the bite’s effects depends on the individual dog’s size, sensitivity, and existing health conditions. Here are some common symptoms of wolf spider bites in dogs:
Localized swelling around the bite
Signs of pain and discomfort
Licking or scratching the bite
Redness and Inflammation
Lethargic behavior
Your furry friend’s well-being is a top priority. If you suspect your dog has been bitten, always consult your veterinarian for guidance and prompt wolf spider bite treatment.
Wolf Spider Bites on Dogs Explained
So, are wolf spiders poisonous to dogs? Generally, these creatures do not pose a severe threat to dogs. However, if you live in an area where they’re common, understanding the risks can help ensure that your beloved pet remains safe from wolf spider venom.
Remember that vigilance and prompt action can go a long way in protecting your furry companion. If you suspect a spider bite, it is always a good idea to consult with a vet for advice and treatment if needed.
Relief Factor is a dietary supplement created by Promedev to alleviate joint pain. According to Relief Factor, its anti-inflammatory properties target the root cause of the problem. They can help reduce or eliminate pain without using harmful drugs.
Each serving of Relief Factor contains two soft gels and two capsules, and it is marketed as a product that provides significant pain relief, smoothing everyday physical activities. How do dietary supplements alleviate pain? Is it feasible to delay muscle and joint damage and avoid pain in old age? This dietary supplement may change your life. Read on to find out.
What is Relief Factor?
Relief Factor by Promedev is a dietary blend of herbal ingredients that relieves pain. It’s important to note that this product isn’t a pain medication but addresses the underlying issue causing the pain. Relief Factor comes in a small packet that contains soft gels and capsules. Daily use can help reduce inflammation, improve joint mobility, and alleviate stiffness.
Relief Factor Active Ingredient
Relief Factor contains a combination of ingredients that are believed to have pain-relieving properties. It constitutes:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), are critical for overall health and have been associated with inflammation reduction.
Turmeric Phospholipid: Turmeric is a plant extract rich in curcumin, a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used for generations in traditional medicine to maintain healthy joints, reduce inflammation, and boost the efficiency of other antioxidants.
Epimedium: Epimedium, commonly known as horny goat weed, is a plant that has traditionally been utilized in Chinese medicine. It contains icariin, a flavonoid with aphrodisiac qualities and the potential to aid with inflammation and oxidative stress.
Japanese Fleeceflower: Japanese fleeceflower, sometimes known as Japanese knotweed, contains resveratrol, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecule.
Relief Factor Review: Pros and Cons
Pros:
Many of the Relief Factor ingredients are proven to relieve pain and treat joint issues.
Free of wheat and gluten
Supports a healthy immune system.
Cons:
Clinical tests demonstrate that the majority of the proven substances are present in dosages that are insufficient to make Relief Factor operate.
There have been no clinical trials to establish that some of the chemicals in Relief Factor actually function in humans.
There have been several consumer complaints concerning side effects, lack of efficacy, bad customer service and business tactics, and even that it may aggravate already severe pain.
The Relief Factor cost is quite high.
Best Relief Factor Alternatives
FlexAgain – The Best Alternative Overall: FlexAgain is now the leading joint pain supplement on the market, outperforming Relief Factor in effectiveness. It not only contains higher doses of the therapeutic substances found in Relief Factor, but it also includes even more compounds with high-quality alternatives scientifically proven to assist joint health.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3 fatty acids, which are present in fish oil, flaxseed oil, and hazelnuts, have been demonstrated to reduce inflammation and promote joint health.
Turmeric/Curcumin: Curcumin, which is found in turmeric, possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties. Incorporating turmeric into meals or consuming turmeric supplements can be a more cost-effective substitute for Relief Factor.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin: Glucosamine and chondroitin are natural chemicals widely researched for their potential advantages for joint health. These supplements are less expensive than Relief Factor and may assist with joint pain and inflammation, especially in people with osteoarthritis.
Is Relief Factor Legit Or Fake?
Despite its popularity in the supplement industry, Relief Factor has few products available. The online sharing of information is limited, and there are few user reviews. It claims to help with inflammation and pain, affecting mobility, but its constituents must be more diverse to support these claims.
Although Relief Factor appears to be a risk-free option with no known adverse effects, exercising caution before purchasing it is prudent. Determine whether you require this product and whether your body can receive and tolerate its constituents. Then, evaluate its efficacy in light of your routine, diet, and lifestyle, and use this product only if you genuinely require it.
Conclusion
Relief Factor is marketed as an ideal therapeutic agent for individuals with joint pain, and it is claimed that a month’s supply is all you will need to resume your previous lifestyle. Unfortunately, our Relief Factor review should have made it abundantly evident that the manufacturer’s lofty claims must be more accurate. Our findings and customer reviews make it clear that Relief Factor is a supplement you should avoid at all costs due to low ingredient dosages, unproven ingredients, a comparatively high price tag, lackluster efficacy, and appalling customer service.
