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Canadians’ online behaviour can put them at moderate to high risk of cyber attacks: RBC Cyber Safety Index

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Using public Wi-Fi, reusing passwords, and providing personal information are the top three risks Canadians take online

TORONTO, Oct. 1, 2024 /CNW/ – Despite awareness of cyber best practices, many Canadians are still putting themselves at risk online, according to a new RBC survey, which found that two-in-five Canadians (38%) qualify as moderate to high-risk potential for becoming victims of cyber-attacks.

RBC’s new Cyber Safety Index reviewed how often Canadians engage in certain behaviours online. While the majority practice at least some good cyber hygiene, less than half say they always use all of the recommended online safety behaviours, which include keeping their software and operating systems updated (71%), using two-factor authentication/verification on online banking accounts (67%), enabling privacy and security settings on all devices (65%) and limiting who follows them on social media (63%). Less than a third (30%) always or often use virtual private networks (VPN) when surfing public Wi-Fi; or password generators to create secure, random passwords for online accounts (28%), leaving considerable room to improve across the board.

“The responses to our Cyber Safety Index show that while many Canadians are aware of things they can do to be safer online, there’s still opportunities for them to change behaviours and close that risk gap,” said Adam Evans, chief information security officer at RBC. “At RBC, we’re focused on providing Canadians with the practical tips and education they need to take control of their online safety and mitigate risks in an ever-evolving digital world.”

Canadians still taking cyber risks

On the flip side, many Canadians are also participating in risky online activities that could further increase the potential of exposure to cyber-attacks. Within the past year, over three-quarters (77%) have knowingly or accidentally engaged in at least one risky online behaviour, with the most commonly reported being using public Wi-Fi (49%). Others include consenting to share their personal information when asked (27%), clicking on pop-up ads (19%), visiting unsecure websites (18%) and ignoring privacy settings on social media platforms (13%).

Furthermore, over a third (35%) agree they have used the same password(s) across multiple platforms, and nearly as many are more concerned about missing out on exclusive events/activities than disclosing personal information online (32%), and/or have interacted with unsolicited texts or social media messages (31%).

Top safety concerns 

Despite these results, the vast majority of Canadians said they are concerned about being victimized by online fraud (80%), identity theft (84%), corporate data breaches (79%), being hacked (84%), and/or experiencing unauthorized access to their online accounts (87%), in line with last year. However, significantly fewer feel safe engaging in social media activities (69%; -7 pts) compared to 2023.

Fortunately, a growing proportion of Canadians (85%; +3 points) say they are comfortable learning new ways to protect their online information compared to last year, underscoring the importance of ongoing education and support to help them navigate the digital landscape safely and effectively.

RBC has articles and guides for Canadians on its Be Cyber Aware website, including the following tips:

Limit the information you share on social platforms. Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know, and even if the privacy settings on your accounts are enabled, try to limit what you share online to avoid scams like spear-phishing.Keep your financial information safe. Never log in to online banking using a link sent through email, text message, or social media. Instead, type the address into your browser. Clear your browser’s memory cache regularly to improve security.Be vigilant when shopping online. Look for the little padlock icon to the left of the URL bar and ensure the website you’re visiting has an address that begins with “https.” Read reviews before you buy to ensure they’re legitimate and trustworthy businesses.Create long, strong passwords. Always use the maximum password length allowed and aim for at least 16 characters. Longer is better, like “passphrases” made of randomly chosen words, that can be easy to remember and hard for someone else to guess.

To learn more, visit rbc.com/cyber.

About the RBC Study
These are the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of RBC. The survey was conducted in English and French. A sample of 1,894 Canadians over 18 was surveyed online via the Ipsos I-Say panel from May 3 to 7, 2024.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 100,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 18 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/peopleandplanet.

For more information, please contact:
Kiara Famularo, Communications, RBC, 437-217-7044

SOURCE RBC

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Appy Pie’s No-Code AI Design Platform Simplifies Holiday Creations for Christmas Posters and Avatars

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December 21, 2024

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NEW DELHI, Dec. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Appy Pie Design, a leading No-code AI Design Platform, offers businesses and individuals an easy way to create Christmas posters and avatars for this upcoming holiday season. With its enhanced suite of AI-powered tools, the platform allows users to design festive visuals effortlessly, making it a go-to choice for creative holiday solutions.

Also, users can create unique, seasonally-themed avatars to showcase their holiday spirit across social media and professional platforms. These Christmas avatars can be used to personalize social media profiles, email signatures, or even professional platforms, spreading holiday cheer in both casual and formal settings.

“Our platform is designed to make the holidays easier and more joyful for everyone,” said Abhinav Girdhar, CEO of Appy Pie. “By providing accessible and creative solutions, we aim to help users connect meaningfully during this festive season.”

The AI Animation Generator enables users to bring their holiday ideas to life with engaging and dynamic visuals. The platform provides flexibility and convenience, making it an indispensable tool for celebrating the holiday season creatively and efficiently.

For those looking to turn static visuals into dynamic content, the Image to Video AI tool transforms still images into alluring videos. This functionality adds a new dimension to holiday designs, making them more interactive and impactful.

About Appy Pie
Appy Pie, a Trademark of Appy Pie LLP, is a leading global platform offering a suite of no-code, AI-powered tools, including an app builder, website builder, workflow automation platform, graphic design software, chatbot builder, help desk software, and live chat software, to help businesses and individuals design, build, and automate. With a user-friendly interface and a wide range of customizable templates, Appy Pie empowers users to create professional-grade applications, websites, and automation without coding expertise. Appy Pie caters to diverse needs from entrepreneurs to established enterprises by providing innovative solutions for various industries.

Media Contact
Abhinav Girdhar
sales@appypie.com
+1 888 322 7617

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/appy-pies-no-code-ai-design-platform-simplifies-holiday-creations-for-christmas-posters-and-avatars-302337846.html

SOURCE Appy Pie

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The Art of Lightness: ASUS to Unveil World’s Lightest Copilot+ PC

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December 21, 2024

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LAS VEGAS, Dec. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ASUS is set to debut the world’s lightest Copilot+ PC during the AIways Incredible launch event on January 7, 2025. This groundbreaking laptop redefines ultra-light, AI-powered performance and will kick off CES 2025 with a live global stream.

Join the AIways Incredible Launch Event Online:

Date: January 7 at 9:00 AM PST

Event Page: https://asus.click/ces25_teaser

Teaser Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLgFyI5jnbQ 

This latest solution will be part of the ASUS Zenbook series of laptops and offers several innovative aspects to look forward to.

The Art of Lightness Meets Next-Gen Technology

The ultra-light design of the world’s lightest Copilot+ PC is set to redefine possibilities for mobility on AI devices, offering a portable partner and collaborator for the modern user. It is the perfect blend of elegance and functionality, offering a seamless experience for professionals, creators, and everyday users alike. Inspired by minimalism and nature, the design philosophy celebrates quiet luxury without sacrificing innovation.

Intelligent Innovation with Copilot+ AI

The new Zenbook is more than a laptop—it is a smart partner designed to revolutionize productivity. Powered by Copilot+ AI, it delivers intuitive, adaptive workflows, seamless collaboration, and smarter performance tailored to user needs.

Performance Without Compromise

Despite its ultra-light design, the laptop boasts robust performance and an impressive 32-hour battery life, offering continuous productivity that makes it ideal for travelling, remote work, and on-the-go productivity. Full specs, including details of the cutting-edge processor, will be unveiled during the event.

AIways Incredible at CES 2025

The launch marks a key milestone for ASUS in shaping the AI era. Viewers around the world will discover the complete AI-powered capabilities of the revolutionary Zenbook, redefining the future of computing.

Tune in on January 7 to experience AIways Incredible for yourself: https://asus.click/ces25_teaser

About ASUS
ASUS is a global technology leader that provides the world’s most innovative and intuitive devices, components, and solutions to deliver incredible experiences that enhance the lives of people everywhere. With its team of 5,000 in-house R&D experts, ASUS is world-renowned for continuously reimagining today’s technologies for tomorrow, garners more than 11 awards every day for quality, innovation, and design, and is ranked among Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-art-of-lightness-asus-to-unveil-worlds-lightest-copilot-pc-302337417.html

SOURCE ASUSTek Computer INC.

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IGF 2024 Concludes 19th Edition, Calling for Enhanced Digital Cooperation and Sustainable Development

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2 hours ago

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December 21, 2024

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) successfully concluded its 19th edition, hosted in Riyadh at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center from December 15 to 19, 2024. Organized by the United Nations, the event featured over 100 experts, specialists, officials, and stakeholders from 160 countries, alongside more than 1,000 international speakers.

The forum served as a distinguished platform for global digital transformation experts, fostering discussions on artificial intelligence and digital innovation. It provided an opportunity for the exchange of experiences, information, and best practices, while addressing emerging digital challenges and collaboratively identifying solutions across governments, private enterprises, and non-profit sectors.

This year’s edition was held under the theme “Building Our Multistakeholder Digital Future” and centered around four key sub-themes: Harnessing Innovation and Balancing Risks in the Digital Space; Enhancing Digital Contribution to Peace, Development and Sustainability; Advancing Human Empowerment and Inclusiveness in the Digital Age; and Improving Digital Governance for the Internet We Want.

Discussions focused on achieving a shared understanding of how to maximize the global internet’s potential, mitigate risks, and address challenges to support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key topics included leveraging digital innovation while addressing associated challenges, supporting strategic digital government initiatives, and promoting global peace and sustainability through digital tools.

His Excellency the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Alswaha, expressed his great pride in the forum’s success, saying, “This year’s edition of the forum is the largest to date in terms of participants and working sessions, as confirmed by the United Nations. As one of the fastest-growing countries in the digital sector, Saudi Arabia is committed not only to facilitating internet access and harnessing technological developments to drive progress and sustainable development, but also to enhancing digital cooperation to achieve the SDGs.”

The forum’s activities featured a strong presence from public and private sector institutions and international entities dedicated to enabling digital transformation and fostering innovation. Success stories were showcased, demonstrating how these entities have accelerated digital government services for the benefit of society. Sessions and workshops addressed critical digital challenges, transformative applications of digital innovations, and opportunities for adopting and expanding access to digital technology and governance.

Participants engaged enthusiastically in interactive sessions with experts who shed light on diverse aspects of internet governance and digital collaboration, responding to inquiries and providing valuable insights. These interactions offered Saudi national cadres and emerging talents an exceptional opportunity to expand their knowledge and expertise.

The forum was an opportunity to showcase the Kingdom’s great capabilities in communications and information technology, the tremendous digital developments and achievements in e-commerce, banking, healthcare services, and official government transactions.

The forum also served as a platform to highlight Saudi Arabia’s remarkable advancements in communications and information technology, including progress in e-commerce, banking, healthcare services, and official government transactions. It reaffirmed the Kingdom’s rapid strides in building a thriving digital economy, its leadership in promoting digital inclusion, and its efforts to bridge the global digital divide in alignment with the UN’s SDGs.

By hosting the 19th edition of IGF, Riyadh reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to solidifying its position as a global leader in digital innovation, international cooperation, and shaping the future of internet governance.

For more information about the Internet Governance Forum, please visit: https://www.intgovforum.org/en

For more information about the Digital Government Authority, please visit: https://dga.gov.sa/en

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/igf-2024-concludes-19th-edition-calling-for-enhanced-digital-cooperation-and-sustainable-development-302337853.html

SOURCE Internet Governance Forum

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