Latest news with #FTC
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Pause': Kaiser stops gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 19
( — Kaiser Permanente has announced it will be pausing gender-affirming surgeries for patients who are under the age of 19. Kaiser became the latest health care provider to change its gender-affirming care policy starting August 29, in response to efforts by the Trump administration to restrict access. 'After significant deliberation and consultation with internal and external experts, including our physicians, we've made the difficult decision to pause surgical treatment for patients under the age of 19 in our hospitals and surgical centers,' a Kaiser spokesperson told 'All other gender-affirming care treatment remains available.' Kaiser says there has been a huge focus by the federal government on gender-affirming care, especially for those who are under the age of 19. Ring app users report unauthorized access to their accounts 'We continue to meet with regulators as well as our clinicians, patients, their families, and the community with the goal of identifying a responsible path forward,' Kaiser officials said. According to the hospital, this includes an executive order that instructs federal agencies to take actions to reduce access and restrict funding for gender-affirming care, and hospital inquiries by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and changes to coverage and border federal agencies review, which includes the Federal Trade Commission. A recent subpoena has also been issued by the U.S. Department of Justice to doctors and clinics that provided care to minors. 'We recognize that this is an extremely challenging and stressful time for our patients seeking care, as well as for our clinicians whose mission is to care for them,' Kaiser said. 'We will work closely with each patient to support their care journey.' State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) stated this is 'straight up denial of care' to those who are under the care of a physician and parents who have permitted the treatments. 'Trump has declared war on trans people and trans kids and their families in particular,' Wiener said. 'Now is the time to have these kids' and these families' backs, not to fold under pressure from the most homophobic and transphobic Administration in modern history — an Administration that won't stop until LGBTQ people are entirely erased from public life.' reached out to some Republican senators and congressmen, but did not hear back in time for this article. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
13 hours ago
- Health
- Axios
FTC probes trans care claims and risks
The Federal Trade Commission on Monday launched an inquiry into whether health providers are failing to disclose risks connected with gender-affirming care or are making false claims about its benefits. Why it matters: The action could help make the case for using unfair competition laws to crack down on health providers, by asserting gender-affirming care involves deceptive claims, legal analysts say. Driving the news: The FTC solicited public comment through Sept. 26 from consumers who "may have been exposed to false or unsupported claims about 'gender-affirming care,' especially as it relates to minors." The move followed a public workshop the FTC held in early July to "gauge the harms consumers may be experiencing" surrounding gender-affirming care for minors that featured prominent critics of youth gender-affirming care. The agency justified its involvement by saying its role is to assess whether medical professionals have violated parts of the FTC Act by failing to disclose risks connected with gender-affirming care or making false or unsubstantiated claims about its benefits or effectiveness. Reality check: Gender-affirming care for minors is supported by major medical organizations including the American Medical Association. Drugs like puberty blockers and hormone therapy are prescribed based on individuals' needs and surgeries for minors are rare. Most people who accessed transition-related care as adolescents are happy with that decision as adults, research shows. Zoom out: The Trump administration has used threats of federal funding cutoffs and law enforcement against providers of gender-affirming care, especially to minors.
Tom's Guide
16 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
Millions hit in quishing attacks as malicious QR codes surge — how to stay safe
If you're one of the 73% of Americans who has scanned a QR code without verification, you've opened yourself up to malicious behavior and potentially to getting hacked. As reported by CNBC, millions of people have been victimized by quishing as more and more bad QR codes have appeared in public places. According to security researchers at NordVPN, more than 26 million people have been directed to malicious websites through illegitimate QR codes. Likewise, earlier this year the FTC issued a warning about QR codes appearing on unexpected or unwanted packages that – when scanned – would lead the recipients to phishing websites that steal personal information like usernames and passwords and even credit card numbers. These websites could also potentially download malware onto your phone or give cybercriminals control over your device. Other places have issued similar warnings: The New York City Department of Transportation warned against QR codes appearing on parking meters that had fake payment links, and Hawaii Electric also warned customers about scammers that were trying to steal payments through QR codes. A study done by the cybersecurity platform KeepNet Labs found that 26% of all malicious links are now sent via QR code; this may be because the use of QR codes is now more widespread as they're accepted in more places and because there are better protections in place for traditional email phishing campaigns. Posters, billboards, flyers and official documents that contain legitimate QR codes can very easily be compromised by threat actors and switched to malicious ones by being pasted over. Think of this like scammers putting a fake keypad over an ATM or gas pump using credit card skimmers. It can also be quite difficult for most people to determine if a QR code has been tampered with in this manner. Since QR codes were designed for convenience and not security, they're ideal targets for hackers and scammers. In fact, their creator, who originally designed them to keep track of auto parts, never meant for them to be used the way they are today. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. More dangerous than a traditional phishing email, QR codes make it difficult for users to read the encoded web address – indeed the human readable text can often be modified. This is why QR codes have been used more frequently by threat actors to infiltrate critical networks and accounts of military personnel as well as to distribute RATs (remote access trojans) which can give hackers access to targeted devices and networks. As with all phishing-style scams, the aim is to rely on victims being in a hurry or rushing to correct a problem which means that the best way to protect yourself is to remain calm, aware and vigilant. Just like you wouldn't click on an unexpected link or attachment in an email or text, you shouldn't scan on any QR code you see pasted on a street sign, poster or advertisement. For instance, if the QR code is on the bottom of a poster or advertisement, search for that instead and then go to a company or an event's website directly. If you do scan a QR code and get taken to a page, you wan to avoid filling out any forms asking for your persona information. Likewise, you also want to inspect that site's URL for any suspicious signs. Does the website use a top-level domain like ".com" that you're familiar with? Or is it using one like ".TV" or one you haven't heard of before? This could be a sign that you're on a phishing page and not a legitimate website. If you have an Android device, you can add an extra layer of protection with one of the best Android antivirus apps that can help provide protection against both malware and phishing attacks. At the same time, if you're really worried about getting scammed or hacked, you might want to invest in one of the best identity theft protection services as not only can they help you get your identity back but they can also aid you in recovering any funds lost to fraud. Now that QR codes and scanning them to access menus and other info has become commonplace, this threat likely isn't going away anytime soon In fact, it might actually get worse as cybercriminals devise new ways to use QR codes in their attacks. That's why it's up to you to be extra cautious whenever you interact with a QR code as failing to do so could have serious implications. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Building a wealth creating mindset
To create wealth the first step is Building a wealth-creating mindset. How to create that mindset? Building a wealth-creating mindset involves cultivating habits, attitudes, and strategies that prioritise long-term financial growth. Here are practical steps to develop this mindset, tailored to be concise yet comprehensive: 1. Adopt a growth mindset: Believe wealth is achievable through learning and effort. Study successful investors like Warren Buffett or entrepreneurs like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani to understand their decision-making. Read books like Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill or The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley to reframe your thinking. 2. Set clear financial goals: Define specific, measurable objectives, like saving Rs.1,000,000 in 10 years or generating Rs.50,000 in passive income annually. Break these into actionable steps, such as saving Rs.5000 monthly or investing 10% of your income. 3. Prioritise financial education: Learn about budgeting, investing, and debt management. Start with basics like compound interest and diversification. Use free resources like Investopedia, podcasts, or follow credible X accounts for tips. Given your past interest in saving versus investing, focus on understanding how disciplined saving fuels investment opportunities. If you are investing in Equities for the first time in your family, ensure that they understand standard deviation of equity investing! 4. Embrace delayed gratification: Shift from short-term spending to long-term gains. For example, instead of buying a Rs.10,000 gadget, invest that money in a low-cost index fund. Historically, the Index averages 12-15% annual returns! 5. Build multiple income streams: Relying solely on a salary limits wealth. Explore side hustles, real estate, or dividend-paying stocks. For instance, renting out a property can generate steady cash flow, as seen in markets like Bengaluru, where rental yields average 3-5%. However, understand that risks are hidden in all wealth creating transactions. 6. Manage risk wisely: Wealth creation involves calculated risks. Diversify investments across stocks, bonds, and real estate to mitigate losses. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes; scams cost Americans Rs.3.7 billion in 2022, per the FTC. There is no such figure available for India. 7. Surround yourself with like-minded people: Join financial discussion groups on X or local investment clubs. Engaging with others who share wealth-building goals, as you've shown interest in topics like retirement planning, reinforces discipline. 8. Track and optimise spending: Use apps or simple excel sheets to monitor expenses. Cut unnecessary costs, which can save Rs.20,000-Rs.30,000 annually for reinvestment. 9. Stay disciplined and patient: Wealth builds over time. Automate savings and investments to avoid emotional decisions. For example, setting up a monthly SIP in a mutual fund ensures consistency. You also won't need to think about investing every month. This reduces fatigue. 10. Cultivate resilience: Market downturns or setbacks are inevitable. Learn from mistakes, like over-leveraging in stocks, and adjust strategies. The 2008 financial crisis showed that long-term investors who stayed the course recovered losses by 2013. Reflecting on your interest in saving and retirement planning, a wealth-creating mindset starts with valuing small, consistent actions—like maximizing retirement contributions—while balancing cultural or family obligations.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Forbes
Amazon Warns Attacks Underway—Update Your Account Now
Don't leave it too late — update now. Amazon has confirmed its users are now under attack. Fraudulent emails that seem to come from Amazon actually open 'a fake Amazon login page.' This steals your username and password, enabling attackers to gain access to your account. Those emails, Amazon warns, claim 'Amazon Prime subscriptions will automatically renew at an unexpected price,' and have been personalized with stolen data 'to appear legitimate.' The warning was issued to more than 200 million customers. If that's not worrying enough, the security at team at Guardio has also just warned that a separate attack is also surging — up 5000% in just two weeks. This time its texts instead of emails, and fake refunds instead of fake price increases. But the result is the same — a fake login page stealing your credentials to access your account. Amazon says it has taken down '55,000 phishing websites and 12,000 phone numbers' in the last year, 'as part of impersonation schemes.' But still the attacks come. Amazon has now issued '6 practical tips to help you stay safe and avoid impersonation scams.' America's FTC warns 'scammers are pretending to be Amazon again. This time, they're sending texts claiming there's a problem with something you bought.' But there is no refund. 'Instead, it's a phishing scam to steal your money or personal information.' Amazon is keen to stress that it invests heavily to prevent users falling victim to these attacks. Its responsiveness to these latest attacks is impressive. But the reality is that the only way for account holders to stay safe is to update the security on their accounts. You should do two things to secure your account and you should do both today. First, ensure you have 'two-step verification (2SV)' enabled from within the 'Login & Security' settings, which you can find when you click on 'Accounts & Lists.' The default option is to use your primary mobile number to send one-time passcodes by SMS. This is the worst form of 2SV. Instead you should use an authenticator app from a major provider — Apple's Passwords or Google's Authenticator for example. If you already have SMS 2SV enabled, 'you'll need to clear your two-step verification settings' to use an app instead. 'To do so, tap or click disable, then tick the box next to 'Also clear my two-step verification settings' on the window that appears. Lastly, re-enable two-step verification using your authenticator app as your preferred method.' With that done, your account is much safer. But there's still a chance an attacker can trick you into sharing a one-time passcode through a fraudulent sign-in page. So you should also add a passkey to your account and use that as your default. Passkeys are 'phishing resistant.' They link your Amazon sign-in to your physical device's security — for example, the biometrics or PIN on your phone. There is no 2SV code to steal or bypass or trick a user into sharing. You can find instructions on adding an Amazon passkey here. If you make these changes, it's not possible for an attacker to steal your username and password and gain access to your account. At a minimum they would need you to open your authenticator app and share the code. They will not know you're using an app. Passkeys are still better. And if you make a rule to never use anything but your passkey on one of your trusted devices, you cannot be compromised. Change those settings today, given that attacks are underway. Don't leave it too late.
