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spaced0lphin · 2 years

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My Fanfiction Crimes: WayfaringJedi

I run a SW focused sideblog, called wayfaringjedi, where I post art and fics and stuff.

Earlier this month, I found a list of “headcanons” about a Star Wars character, posted publicly, here on Tumblr. Looking to blow off some steam, I wrote a six thousand word narrative incorporating some of them. I credited/tagged the person who posted the list in the first place – I was hoping to make a fandom friend, and start a conversation. In my experience, that tends to be what happens when two enthusiastic creatives interact after one inspires the other.

For the past eight days, I have stayed silent as the grave on this issue, as one is supposed to when someone on the Internet decides to engage in behaviour like what this author has done.

I have been accused of plagiarism, ablism, and abuse. This author has publicly and on numerous occasions solicited their followers to bother me and attempt to disrupt my work. They are now engaging in malicious reporting, attempting to get my blogs flagged as Spam, and my accounts shadowbanned, or worse.

So, I am writing this. I find addressing all of this publicly to be an exercise in disappointment and exasperation; I had hoped for this incident to blow over and be nothing more than an embarrassing footnote in an otherwise enjoyable fandom experience. Yet, here I am, reduced to talking about this as if the complaints had any merit. However, at this juncture, I don’t want their voice as the only one dictating the narrative.

It all started when the author reblogged my original post sharing my work with them, essentially stating they felt I’d stolen from them. They explained they didn’t want to write in their story anymore, and threatened to stop writing in general, because of me. (I’m paraphrasing, the post was deleted.) My initial response was shock and dismay – no one had ever reacted in this way to me before, and the last thing I want to do is hurt anybody. As I’m quite a shy person and often seek to minimise myself, I apologised and deleted the work from Tumblr. The author blocked me without further comment.

I wasn’t able to get on Ao3, as I was out at the time, and busy. When I sat down at the computer several hours later, this author and their followers had run rampant with comments all over my work. Accusing me of being disingenuous, an “idea thief,” a plagiarist, and of being deliberately malicious and insulting by daring to have my work up.

My one and only statement was this thorough comment I left on my own work. (This version of my comment has the author’s username redacted, to protect them from any abuse.)

I enabled comment moderation to stop the arguments. I deleted most of the comments, particularly more inflammatory ones, and ones including mention of the author’s first name. I have acted to protect this person and I will continue to; their username will not be mentioned here, and all trace of them has been removed from my work as it remains on Ao3. It will certainly be possible to find out who this person is, but I will not assist in this, and ask that nobody name them, either.

Shortly after posting this comment, the author unblocked me on Tumblr and we had a brief, unproductive discussion. In it, I restated my points and confirmed that I would not be removing my work. The author expressed to me what I felt were unreasonable demands (to remove, or significantly alter the work by removing entire themes, etc) and whilst for the most part civil, their comments towards me descended into ad hominem (‘You’re not a nice person,’ etc.) once it became clear that I would not obey. Much noise was made about being neurodivergent – I am too, it’s a non-starter with me.

I explained in these messages that neither of us own the fictional character in question, nor do we own certain general themes and/or ideas, to which the author responded by calling me ‘cruel.’

They insisted I take personal responsibility and account for some 27 anonymous hate messages they claimed to have received. I asked for proof of them.

Initially, the author refused to provide me with any, on account of my own refusal to delete my work for them first – a line of reasoning I couldn’t understand, personally, but I’ll get to that in a moment.

They then disappeared for about an hour or so, and came back with screenshots of some anonymous messages.

Firstly, no one should be bombarded with messages like that, and given that I only had 10 followers at the time of this incident, their existence is shocking to the point of inspiring awe.

For several reasons, mainly contextually based – I believe this author wrote and sent these anonymous messages to themself, to screenshot and use as “evidence” against me.

I certainly did not send them, and I’m sure if Tumblr’s admin side looks into the IP addresses these anonymous messages originate from, they will be the same as the author’s. I would, at this point, be willing to bet money on it.

I received some messages as well, and in response, I turned off anonymous messaging. Then, I received messages from what I believe is one of the author’s sockpuppets, complaining that I had turned off anonymous messages. I received multiple messages per day. Initially, I didn’t block this account – I was intent on giving this person no satisfaction whatsoever, not even a block.

These messages run the gamut from goofy Internet rage, to vaguely threatening:

I find it extremely difficult to believe that a random friend of this author would continue to be angry enough about this to message me multiple times a day for an entire week – I think it’s much more likely that this is the author themself. Given this, there are certain unusual turns of phrase that this account and at least one other uses in common. “Have the day you deserve.” That’s all over the place in the initial Ao3 bombardment. (I'm unconcerned with censoring the username for the following two comments as they belong to a sock.)

The saddest thing I have found about this entire debacle is that the messages I believe this author wrote to abuse themself with are so much more scathing than anything they wrote to me – their supposed enemy in all this. In fact, the things they’ve said betray an immense insecurity about themselves and their work that breaks my heart. They don’t deserve to feel this way about themselves or their work, and I think they are using this incident as a catalyst for validation of some kind. During the discussion with me, they put themselves down a lot, and it is my honest belief that this person feels so aggrieved because, somehow, they think they can’t do ‘better’ than what I wrote. To be clear, that is a nonsense fear. They are an incredibly strong writer with their own style and sense of direction very distinct from my own. Even with some similar themes, our stories would never be the same.

One thing this author – or one of their sockpuppets – asked that I would like to answer is the question of whether or not I would ‘fight for it,’ were the situation reversed. The answer, friend or sockpuppet, is no. Other writers can, do, and have used my personal ideas, plots, and interpretations of characters freely in their own works, without asking. I have loved reading them. Illustrators have traced my drawings and my 3D models. Power to them. If someone else would like to write a story or make a mod with the same subject matter as any of mine, I would love to see and support it.

The author expressed to me insecurity about feeling that if they finished their story now, they would be accused of copying me. I assured them then, just as I do now, no reasonable person would think that, and if they did, I would be the first in line to tell this hypothetical gobshite where to stick it.

Further, they expressed interest in reporting my story to Ao3 administrators. I suggested if they really felt this way, they ought to. I requested they not delete the original post of theirs that I cited in my credit to them, so that the administrators could be fair to us both in reviewing all information in context, and comparing our works. The author explained they had already deleted it. I retain a full backup of the post, as well as my comments section in full before I made any deletions. I forwarded these to Ao3 myself in my initial report.

“Headcanons” have been put up by fan creators for other fan creators to build off of since time immemorial. It’s good to tag and credit where you found ideas – sharing is caring, and caring is fun. The crux of this author’s complaint seems to be that I didn’t ask them first. This is simply not how publicly posted ideas for fanfiction have worked in my twenty-odd years of writing it. Whilst I respect this person’s upset, I will not capitulate. My story is mine, I have interpreted these ideas in my own way, and I have stolen nothing.

The idea that a fanfiction author is attempting to take another to task with claims about intellectual property is a line of argument I find baffling, to say the least.

As an interesting point of fact, I have been made aware of what this author has said in the body of one of their messages reporting me to Tumblr. In it, they claim to have been in contact with Ao3 site administrators, who have “already agreed to ban” me, on the basis of “evidence” they have sent in. Also, they claim to have law enforcement involved in this situation, as ‘what I am doing to them’ constitutes a “crime.”

I can assure everyone that I have heard from no police, and my account is in good standing with Ao3. This author is attempting to strengthen their argument against me to Tumblr with fully disprovable lies, which at this point, seems to be a pattern.

Whether or not you personally agree with this author’s sentiment that I have violated some social norm, the fact remains that this escalatory, dishonest behaviour is unacceptable, and I will not negotiate with it. One only has to look briefly at my history of engaging with fandom on this site – whatever blog it happens to be from – to see that I am not the kind of person who behaves in the way this author is alleging. I have never in my life sent anonymous hate messages to anyone.

The author has explained to me that they have deleted their entire body of works related to this story that they were writing. They appear to want me to emotionally account in some way for this action, and I will not. This author’s actions and responses to this situation – every last one – are their own, and they alone are responsible for them.

Let me be clear in saying that when this is dealt with by administrators, it is likelier than not that this other author will fully lose their account due to their documented goofiness over this. I personally do not want that outcome for them. I want the same thing that I have wanted throughout this entire stupid mess; to write stories for fun, in peace, and share them with others.

I am very sure that the author will read this, or parts of it at least, as they have a fixation on me at the moment. I am sure they will have something to say about it.

I am not interested in hearing it, and I will not entertain one word of it. Everything I have said is true, I have documented it, I have saved it, and I have given it to whom it concerns.

At best, I have done absolutely nothing wrong. At worst, I have a genuinely different experience with fandom ethos. Either way, this entire business is utter nonsense.

#putting words in specific orders #i quietly released chapter 3 this week #chapter 4 is on the way #if you are here on my blog because of this thing #then this is for you #wayfaringjedi

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zumurruds · 6 months

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Choose violence ask game: 3, 4 & 9… for tic

3. screenshot or description of the worst take you've seen on tumblr

oh god there are so many, and it's been a while...

people who label eragon as "creepy" for his pursuit of arya, often overlooking the context of his actions.

yes, the writing was cringy as hell, but his attempts at courting arya were not predatory or malicious; they stemmed from him being a sixteen year old with genuine affection and a desire to express his feelings. his interactions with arya were limited, including a simple compliment in a garden and an incident where oromis exposed his feelings through a magical fairth without his consent and without eragon meaning to create it. additionally, eragon's behavior while intoxicated with magic during the agaetí blödhren was not representative of his normal self, and he later expressed regret for his actions. arya not only accepted his apologies but also continued their friendship.

people who argue that arya only sees eragon as a friend and deny any romantic subtext in their relationship, failing to grasp its nuances.

people who misrepresent arya and eragon's age gap.

eragon is considered an adult in his medieval human society at sixteen, where individuals of his age were already taking on adult responsibilities such as marriage, parenthood, and ruling. arya, despite being older, is still considered a child by elven standards. elves mature at a slower rate than humans, so making direct comparisons between their ages is inaccurate and misleading. arya isn't a 100 year old human woman, she's a rebellious teenage elf. comparing their ages to those of different species, like dogs and cats versus humans, helps illustrate this disparity more accurately.

it's important to remember the unique context of their ages within their respective races. by the conclusion of the series, eragon has significantly caught up to arya in terms of experience and maturity. his journey, encompassing growing up amidst war, undergoing a transformation into an elf-human hybrid, living as a fugitive, and delving into the politics of various nations, has profoundly shaped him. through his travels to diverse regions and exposure to different cultures, as well as inheriting the collective memory of the dragons, eragon has undergone immense personal growth and development. this growth has closed the gap between himself and arya in terms of life experience and maturity, establishing them as equals, as paolini intended.

sympathizing with morzan and painting selena as the abusive figure in their relationship. (yes, i have seen this, and it was awful.)

people disagreeing with paolini's statement that eragon inherited his mother's instinct to constantly debate the morality of her actions, but have no issues with comparisons made between brom and eragon, even though eragon wasn't raised by him either. just say you hate selena and go!

depicting faolin as arya's first love or mate. paolini said they had a relationship of convenience, and that neither faolin or arya shared their true name with each other in the twenty years they were together, indicating a lack of mutual trust and intimacy. paolini also said arya didn't give faolin her true name because he wasn't soulmate material, implying eragon was. sis couldn't even say she loved faolin in brisingr, she skirted around the issue and called him a friend, so it strikes me as funny that people think faolin was the great love of her life when in reality he was a warm body in an otherwise foreign war-torn country.

i don't think tic is revolutionary or doing anything particularly amazing in terms of representation, be it poc representation or female representation, and gets far more credit than it deserves.

4. what was the last straw that made you block that annoying person

it was a few people who had particularly bad takes about characters i liked, and kept spamming the tag with asks and long posts that weren't hidden behind cuts or tagged for tumblr savior.

9. worst part of canon

the writing.

arya being allowed to become both rider and queen.

the omission of selena's significance from the narrative and her portrayal as a mere prize for brom's actions.

katrina being a non-character who exists only to fuel roran's story and character.

the lack of planning and outlining of arya and eragon's relationship was evident, resulting in a clumsy, unsatisfying, and poorly executed romance that spanned four books yet ultimately led nowhere.

the lack of onscreen development for all romances: roran and katrina's relationship feels static, as it predates the events of the books and receives little exploration. murtagh and nasuada's romance is entirely offscreen, leaving readers disconnected from their dynamic. as for arya and eragon, their relationship suffers from inconsistent writing and execution, fluctuating unpredictably throughout the series. overall, the lack of onscreen development for these romances undermines their depth and leaves much to be desired in terms of emotional investment from the audience.

disappointment with the one-dimensional portrayal of galbatorix, morzan, and the forsworn despite paolini's saying he doesn't write cardboard villains.

wanting more exploration of murtagh and eragon's relationship and closure, especially regarding their parents.

lack of scenes or details on elva and eragon's training and bonding in tftwtw which was prime material for their ongoing rocky relationship arc.

paolini's tendency to prioritize action over character study and relationship depth.

writing arya as a stereotypical "strong, independent woman" who must sacrifice love for duty, and cannot have both.

#the inheritance cycle #eragon #choose violence game

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hotsugarbyglassanimals · 8 months

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i think beastars would've worked way better if the desire to eat the meat of herbivores by hunting them down and killing them wasn't inherent to all carnivores and wasn't this like... weird uncontrollable urge. as a story that muses on what would happen if an animal society with parallels to ours existed, its an interesting concept but it falls apart -really- fast when people attempt to compare it to the racial dynamics of our reality (the author heavily advises against this, but I think it's a significant issue if people continue to think of it this way regardless of her intent). and it also falls apart when considering something like harm reduction and rehabilitation. with the latter point i would chalk that up to an issue of execution and lack of understanding on the author's part

god this post is so much longer than I thought it'd be uhhh

carnivores viewing herbivores as a potential food source is something that's considered inherent to being a carnivore. Not the craving for meat or adequate sustenance, but viewing another sentient living being as food which i think is a significant difference. It's treated as a matter of fact within the text and isn't disputed in any real way. In fact, a lot of the really ... "questionable" (understatement) societal dynamics are presented as like. just being the way things are with characters accepting it without any real heavy objection to it in some instances (there is a specific story in beast complex I'm thinking about right now). Haven't even touched upon the gender bioessentialism but maybe I'll get to that in another post

There's a strange sort of Both Ways dynamic between carnivores and herbivores where herbivores have the significant disadvantage in physical strength but outnumber carnivores by a large margin. Herbivores are also significantly more represented in some career prospects while carnivores have to follow social rules to be as non-threatening as possible. (As a note female carnivores are presented as straight up not being as dangerous or aggressive as the male ones. and while there are ones that predated on herbivores they're portrayed as mentally unwell or manipulative, or in some cases their predation has a twinge of sexuality to it... male carnivores generally are portrayed with a bout maliciousness in their predator instincts until they receive treatment and "go back to normal")

Let me summarize what I think wouldve been far more interesting to consider: how punitive justice doesn't work to prevent crime and doesn't stop people from repeating crimes, how people who lack resources are driven to desperation and how that can enable them to commit violent acts, how oppression isn't born out of fear of the oppressed group but rather a means of seeking domination over the oppressed group.

I really hesitate to put carnivores in the role of an oppressed group and with what i can gather from beastars I'm starting to think that was avoided on purpose, but I'd have to reread it in order to give a better analysis

I think it'd be interesting overall if the issue was that carnivores aren't getting enough sustenance and in turn are quite malnourished. Maybe they didn't eat meat of herbivores but instead the meat of non-sentient fish, but that was viewed as a slippery slope that leads to eating herbivores. Stuff like synthetic meat or anything resembling meat (and like the manga, stuff like bugs not counting) was banned. So even though fish meat would be a worthwhile option to consider, it is still illegal due to moral views despite the illegality causing far more damage to society as a whole. This could Still be like, not ideal in a story sense I feel like but as beastars exist right now it's much more concerning

I've read the entire manga and yes I know fish meat was considered a solution at the end but the whole thing was so fuckin flimsy that it felt like a bandaid solution to the problems that were portrayed in the beginning

#this post is severely incomplete in terms of my thought process behind it but i really really need to do homework so I can't just sit here-#-and write a beastars essay lol #also the whole herbivore blood being sold as drugs was fucking weird now that i remember that #beastars is fucking weird as hell and not in a 'oh its so out there' but more like 'what are you trying to say here'#in hindsight i do not blame people who avoided it like the plague #i have no idea how i tolerated the heavy bioessentialism (not just gender) within the text cause it's so GLARING #i did read it with a critical eye and there was a lot irt societal dynamics and bioessentialism i disliked but it just hit me how bad it is #i will give it one thing and that the characterization for about 60% of the whole thing was really engaging (with some .. flaws yeah.)#i'll be fair to myself and recognize i read it from maybe like age 19 to 21 or smth. hated the ending #if this turns into a video essay dont be surprised ok? heart emoji <3

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trainer-blue · 2 years

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Subtle Antisemitism in MTMTE.

TWs include:

the holocaust, wwii, antisemitism, genocide, racial purity

so i was thinking abt what im going to write abt the canon jewish names in hogwarts legacy & got reminded of ANOTHER solomon (or rather, solomus) that im not sure if i’ve ever talked about in an actual post.

First off, im not the first jewish person to talk abt solomus. this issue was brought to my attention by another poster, so big thanks to that person (& i’ll try to find that post to credit later!)

but basically, it’s a little “:|” that jro gave a jewish-based name to a character that is canonly and VERY clearly genocidal, and comparable to a racial purist.

“solomus” is tyrest’s previous, godly name. in and of itself it’s hilarious to me in a “ha, ha :|” way that jro took a jewish name & gave it a latin ending “-us” to match the other latin-rooted names of primus & mortilus. latin, the language of romans who very famously destroyed the Temple, looted it, were not Very Big Fans of jewish ppl, etc

more significantly, however, is the way jro uses jewish suffering in his works. Grindcore is pretty much a scene ripped from the holocaust, except with robot aliens instead of jewish children and families etc. likewise, in his fan novel that helped get him to the position of official TF writer, jro focuses a lot on similar themes.

it is not possible imo that jro did NOT intentionally name solomus after the jewish figure solomon. the jewish figure is literally the first thing that comes up if you search “solomon,” and the tf wiki itself draws this connection

Someone who is as good a writer as jro could not possibly have done this unintentionally. therefore, he could not possibly have NOT known the connections he was drawing when he made this character the face of genocide of fellow transformers based on the circumstances of their creation

I do not think this is malicious anti-semitism. however, when one draws heavily from real-world jewish suffering for inspiration for one’s fictional work, one could probably do the bare minimum of not giving a genocidal character a FAMOUSLY jewish name. Yeah

#mtmte #tyrest #tw holocaust #tw antisemitism #tw genocide #ask to tag

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rabidpomeranians · 2 years

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I posted 4,387 times in 2022

16 posts created (0%)

4,371 posts reblogged (100%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@domicileensnared

@mouthface

@regalvoid

@dumbass-extraordinaire

@kammyclues

I tagged 60 of my posts in 2022

#homestuck - 13 posts

#sprite edit - 6 posts

#heinoustuck - 5 posts

#body horror - 4 posts

#dirk strider - 2 posts

#''you can sleep wvith this fish anytime grand highbabe'' - 2 posts

#op probably wanted bad jokes instead of this uhhh - 2 posts

#when he cant even manage that then its time for the half off special - 2 posts

#like ghb already knows this guy is only playing nice to get something - 2 posts

#jane crocker - 2 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#and the sign comment at least partially comes from it being a hardly stylized pair of handcuffs used in... hold on what would that be called

My Top Posts in 2022:

Another sprite edit done! This one finished way faster than I expected. I guess my editing techniques are getting sharper now that I’m 5 in. The cheek spots and marionette strings are an extra touch that I thought would be nice additions.

beta kids [X] | roxy [X]

24 notes - Posted June 20, 2022

AI Jane replacement theory

[Image text: ARQUIUSPRITE: Miss Crocker is now a vessel for a cunning, malicious artificial intelligence whose neural netronix and ontology buffers and stuff like that have somehow managed to far surpass even my own -end text]

Arquius says this as an advanced AI that's been fused with a fully cognizant person through the medium of an (at least) semi-intelligent kernelsprite.

You can argue Hal wasn’t that advanced to begin with since there are obvious exploitable flaws in the programming, which in turn (ironically) drags down Arquius’ overall standing as a complex AI. But. Hal was produced by a 13 year old from a single snapshot of his brain. It’s no small feat, until you see how it stands up to a lifetime of Crocker Corp research and surveillance.

See the full post

24 notes - Posted May 31, 2022

Outside of her ram horns, Aradia’s lusus/animal theming is so blink and you’ll miss it that I only just realized something.

one of the conditions for the trolls timeline to be successful is that Aradia has to be dead before the start of the game.

She’s set up to be a sacrificial lamb.

25 notes - Posted May 27, 2022

Another sprite edit finished just in time for 4/13! I’m excited to do more of these but I’m running out of og heinoustuck designs to pull from. I guess jane or vriska would be next.

69 notes - Posted April 13, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I love the idea that tavros had pyrokinesis but never used it outside of a personal gag. Like he either considered it too dangerous to mess around with, and/or he realized the nightmare and a half it would be if vriska caught wind.

The images flash in his mind of her adding a mind controlled dash of arson to her latest scheme. Absolute best case scenario: nobody burns to death.

He promptly commits to being significantly more useless and takes his secret to the grave

155 notes - Posted February 28, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review #did not expect that to be my top post but it makes sence

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jcmarchi · 4 months

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Deceptive AI: Exploiting Generative Models in Criminal Schemes

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/deceptive-ai-exploiting-generative-models-in-criminal-schemes/

Deceptive AI: Exploiting Generative Models in Criminal Schemes

Generative AI, a subset of Artificial Intelligence, has rapidly gained prominence due to its remarkable ability to generate various forms of content, including human-like text, realistic images, and audio, from vast datasets. Models such as GPT-3, DALL-E, and Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have demonstrated exceptional capabilities in this regard.

A Deloitte report highlights the dual nature of Generative AI and stresses the need for vigilance against Deceptive AI. While AI advancements aid in crime prevention, they also empower malicious actors. Despite legitimate applications, these potent tools are increasingly exploited by cybercriminals, fraudsters, and state-affiliated actors, leading to a surge in complex and deceptive schemes.

The Rise of Generative AI in Criminal Activities

The rise of Generative AI has led to an increase in deceptive activities affecting both cyberspace and daily life. Phishing, a technique for tricking individuals into disclosing sensitive information, now utilizes Generative AI to make phishing emails highly convincing. As ChatGPT becomes more popular, phishing emails have increased, with criminals using it to create personalized messages that look like legitimate communications.

These emails, such as fake bank alerts or enticing offers, take advantage of human psychology to trick recipients into giving away sensitive data. Although OpenAI prohibits illegal use of its models, enforcing this is not easy. Innocent prompts can easily turn into malicious schemes, requiring both human reviewers and automated systems to detect and prevent misuse.

Similarly, financial fraud has also increased with the advancements in AI. Generative AI fuels scams, creating content that deceives investors and manipulates market sentiment. Imagine encountering a chatbot, apparently human yet designed solely for deception. Generative AI powers these bots, engaging users in seemingly genuine conversations while extracting sensitive information. Generative models also enhance social engineering attacks by crafting personalized messages that exploit trust, empathy, and urgency. Victims fall prey to requests for money, confidential data, or access credentials.

Doxxing, which involves revealing personal information about individuals, is another area where Generative AI assists criminals. Whether unmasking anonymous online personas or exposing private details, AI amplifies the impact, leading to real-world consequences like identity theft and harassment.

And then there are deepfakes, AI-generated lifelike videos, audio clips, or images. These digital look-alikes blur reality, posing risks from political manipulation to character assassination.

Notable Deepfake Incidents with Critical Impacts

The misuse of Generative AI has led to a series of unusual incidents, highlighting the profound risks and challenges posed by this technology when it falls into the wrong hands. Deepfake technology, in particular, blurs the lines between reality and fiction. Resulting from a union of GANs and creative malevolence, deepfakes blend real and fabricated elements. GANs consist of two neural networks: the generator and the discriminator. The generator creates increasingly realistic content, such as faces, while the discriminator tries to spot the fakes.

Notable incidents involving deepfakes have already occurred. For instance, Dessa utilized an AI model to create a convincing voice clone of Joe Rogan, demonstrating the capability of AI to produce realistic fake voices. Deepfakes have also significantly impacted politics, as seen in various examples. For example, a robocall impersonating U.S. President Joe Biden misled New Hampshire voters, while AI-generated audio recordings in Slovakia impersonated a liberal candidate to influence election outcomes. Several similar incidents have been reported impacting the politics of many countries.

Financial scams have also utilized deepfakes. A British engineering firm named Arup fell victim to a £20 million deepfake scam, in which a finance worker was deceived into transferring funds during a video call with fraudsters using AI-generated voices and images to impersonate company executives. This highlights AI’s potential for financial fraud.

Cybercriminals have increasingly exploited Generative AI tools like WormGPT and FraudGPT to enhance their attacks, creating a significant cybersecurity threat. WormGPT, based on the GPT-J model, facilitates malicious activities without ethical restrictions. Researchers from SlashNext used it to craft a highly persuasive fraudulent invoice email. FraudGPT, circulating on Telegram Channels, is designed for complex attacks and can generate malicious code, create convincing phishing pages, and identify system vulnerabilities. The rise of these tools highlights the growing sophistication of cyber threats and the urgent need for enhanced security measures.

Legal and Ethical Implications

The legal and ethical implications of AI-driven deception present a formidable task amidst rapid advancements in generative models. Currently, AI operates within a regulatory gray zone, with policymakers needing help to keep pace with technological developments. Robust frameworks are urgently required to limit misuse and protect the public from AI-driven scams and fraudulent activities.

Moreover, AI creators bear ethical responsibility. Transparency, disclosure, and adherence to guidelines are essential aspects of responsible AI development. Developers must anticipate potential misuse and devise measures for their AI models to mitigate risks effectively.

Maintaining a balance between innovation and security is important in addressing the challenges posed by AI-driven fraud. Overregulation may restrain progress, while relaxed oversight invites chaos. Therefore, regulations that promote innovation without compromising safety are imperative for sustainable development.

Additionally, AI models should be designed with security and ethics in mind. Incorporating features such as bias detection, robustness testing, and adversarial training can enhance resilience against malicious exploitation. This is particularly important given the rising sophistication of AI-driven scams, emphasizing the need for ethical foresight and regulatory agility to safeguard against the deceptive potential of generative AI models.

Mitigation Strategies

Mitigation strategies for addressing the deceptive use of AI-driven generative models require a multi-faceted approach involving improved safety measures and collaboration among stakeholders. Organizations must employ human reviewers to assess AI-generated content, using their expertise to identify misuse patterns and refine models. Automated systems equipped with advanced algorithms can scan for red flags associated with scams, malicious activities, or misinformation, serving as early warning systems against fraudulent actions.

Moreover, collaboration between tech companies, law enforcement agencies, and policymakers is vital in detecting and preventing AI-driven deceptions. Tech giants must share insights, best practices, and threat intelligence, while law enforcement agencies work closely with AI experts to stay ahead of criminals. Policymakers need to engage with tech companies, researchers, and civil society to create effective regulations, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in combating AI-driven deceptions.

Looking ahead, the future of Generative AI and crime prevention is characterized by both challenges and opportunities. As Generative AI evolves, so will criminal tactics, with advancements in quantum AI, edge computing, and decentralized models shaping the field. Therefore, education on ethical AI development is becoming increasingly fundamental, with schools and universities urged to make ethics courses mandatory for AI practitioners.

The Bottom Line

Generative AI presents both immense benefits and significant risks, highlighting the urgent need for robust regulatory frameworks and ethical AI development. As cybercriminals exploit advanced tools, effective mitigation strategies, such as human oversight, advanced detection algorithms, and international cooperation, are essential.

By balancing innovation with security, promoting transparency, and designing AI models with built-in safeguards, we can effectively combat the growing threat of AI-driven deception and ensure a safer technological environment for the future.

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vinceleemiller · 4 months

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Who Is Shaping Your Story? | 1 Samuel 1:3

Ready to break free from those negative influences?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

We are in a new series on 1 Samuel and are currently in chapter one. The theme of chapter one is the six people who influenced Samuel's life: So far, we have identified Elkanah, Peninnah, Hannah, Eli, and today Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas.

I will read a single verse today that quickly references these two men. It's verse three.

Now [Elkanah] used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. — 1 Samuel 1:3

Hophni and Phinehas remain obscure in this text but become essential to Samuel's backstory. We will learn more about these two malicious, devious, and worthless sons when we get into chapter two. When you discover their character, you will see a contrast between the fathers (Eli & Elkanah) and their sons (Hophni, Phinehas, and Samuel).

As expected, social and parental influences significantly shape the sons mentioned in this story. Samuel's spiritual trajectory is much different than that of Hophni and Phinehas. But as Samuel grows, we will see his tender heart toward God and his willingness to listen to God shape his leadership and life more and more.

Today, this made me think of all the parents and people who have influenced my life—some good, some bad, some spiritual, some secular. But as I have matured, I have also learned that I bear a burden. It is a burden to listen to the right parents and the right people. The best part is that it's easy to learn who to listen to because I have a Father. He is the best Father because he is the Father of all mankind. If I listen to this Father, I will find the most fulfillment and purpose in this life. That's the difference between the two fathers and the sons in this story.

So, who are you listening to today? Are you listening to pop culture, popular media, posts on your socials, or to the Father who gives the best advice because he has your best interests in mind?

#InfluenceMatters #ListenToTheFather #SpiritualTrajectory

ASK THIS:

Reflecting on your own life, who are the significant influencers shaping your spiritual journey? How can you discern which voices to listen to and which ones to filter out?

Consider the contrast between the characters of Samuel and the sons of Eli. In what ways can you emulate Samuel's tender heart toward God and his willingness to listen despite the influences around you?

DO THIS: Listen to your Father!

PRAY THIS: Father, help me to discern Your voice amidst the multitude of influences in my life, guiding me toward fulfillment and purpose. Grant me the wisdom to listen to Your guidance above all others, shaping me into the person You desire me to be. Amen.

PLAY THIS: I'm Listening.

Check out this episode!

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viral-web · 1 year

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[ad_1] Protecting your personal information online has become more crucial in today’s digital age. With the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber attacks, having a strong and secure password is one of the first lines of defense against potential threats. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of choosing safe passwords and the key reasons why it should be a top priority for everyone. Protect Your Digital Life There are a few crucial points that a user must take into consideration while choosing passwords. Look at the following and protect your digital life by choosing secure passwords. The Risks of Weak Passwords Making the error of using weak passwords is one of the most common mistakes. Weak passwords are simple to guess or crack, making it easier for hackers to access your accounts without authorization. Common examples of weak passwords include using simple and easily guessable words, such as “password” or “123456,” using personal information like birth dates or names, or using repetitive patterns like “aaaaaa” or “qwerty.” Using such weak passwords puts your personal and financial information at risk, including your emails, social media accounts, online banking, and other sensitive data. The Dangers of Password Reuse Another risky practice is password reuse. Many people use the same password across multiple accounts, thinking it is convenient and easy to remember. However, this is a dangerous habit that can have severe consequences. If one account with a weak password is compromised, it can open the door for hackers to access other accounts that use the same password. This could lead to a domino effect, giving hackers access to your personal and financial information across various platforms and causing irreparable damage. The Importance of Long and Complex Passwords Choosing a long and complex password is the first step in protecting your online accounts. It’s recommended that a strong password be between 12 and 15 characters long and contain a mix of capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using phrases or information that is simple to guess, such as your name or birthday. Instead, opt for random combinations of characters and use a passphrase, which is a series of words or phrases combined to create a strong password. Safeguarding Your Accounts with Two-Factor Authentication In addition to choosing strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. 2FA requires users to provide two different forms of identification, typically a password and a verification code sent to a mobile device, before gaining access to an account. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even if someone manages to crack your password. Many online platforms and services offer 2FA as an option, and it is highly recommended to enable it wherever possible to further safeguard your accounts. Protecting Your Privacy and Preventing Identity Theft Protecting your privacy and preventing identity theft are critical reasons to choose secure passwords. Hackers and cybercriminals constantly seek vulnerabilities to steal personal information for malicious purposes, such as identity theft, financial fraud, and other nefarious activities. By choosing a strong and unique password for each of your accounts, you minimize the risk of your personal information falling into the wrong hands and protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft. How ONPASSIVE’s O-Mail helps in securing passwords? ONPASSIVE’s O-Mail, a cutting-edge email service, goes above and beyond to ensure the security and privacy of its users. One of the notable features that contribute to password security is the Folder Lock feature.

With Folder Lock, users can create password-protected folders within their O-Mail account, adding an extra layer of security to their sensitive information. This feature allows users to store important emails, documents, and files in a designated folder that can only be accessed with a password. This prevents unauthorized access and safeguards private data from prying eyes. Moreover, ONPASSIVE’s O-Mail encourages users to create strong and unique passwords when setting up their email accounts. It provides guidelines for creating passwords that are difficult to crack, including using a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. This ensures that users have robust passwords, which are less susceptible to being compromised. Wrap Up In today’s interconnected world, where almost every aspect of our lives is digitized, protecting our personal information is paramount. The importance of choosing secure passwords cannot be overstated. Weak passwords and password reuse are significant risks that can lead to devastating consequences, including unauthorized access to your accounts, identity theft, and financial loss. Taking time to create strong, complex passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being vigilant about password security practices are essential steps in protecting your digital life. It is crucial to prioritize password security as a fundamental aspect of your online security strategy. ONPASSIVE’s O-Mail prioritizes the security and privacy of its user information. O-Mail provides users with a secure email service that assures confidence and peace of mind, knowing their information is safe and secure. So, make it a priority to choose strong passwords and take control of your online security today! Visit www.onpassive.com to get free access to O-Mail. [ad_2] onpassive.com

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hostcheaper · 1 year

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presssection · 1 year

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“Compromised Passwords and the Risks to Digital Identities”

In today's digital age, passwords are an essential part of our online lives. We use them to access our email, social media accounts, online banking, and many other services. However, compromised passwords can pose a significant risk to our digital identities and online security.

Passwords protect our personal and sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands. However, weak passwords are vulnerable to attacks and can compromise our data security. According to a study conducted by Splash Data, some of the most used passwords are "123456," "password," "qwerty," and "123456789." These passwords are easy to guess and make it easy for hackers to access our accounts.

A compromised password is one that has been exposed to unauthorized individuals or cybercriminals. This can happen due to various reasons, such as a data breach, phishing scams, or weak password practices. When a password is compromised, cybercriminals can use it to access our accounts, steal personal information, or engage in fraudulent activities.

The risks of compromised passwords to our digital identities are significant. Cybercriminals can use a compromised password to steal our identity and access sensitive information such as our social security number, home address, and credit card information. They can use this information to engage in fraudulent activities or sell it on the dark web. Compromised passwords can also lead to financial loss.

Cybercriminals can use our compromised passwords to access our bank accounts, credit card information, and other financial services. They can transfer funds, make unauthorized purchases, and engage in other fraudulent activities. A compromised password can also harm our reputation. Cybercriminals can use our accounts to post inappropriate content, send spam messages, or engage in other malicious activities that can damage our reputation.

To protect our digital identities from the risks of compromised passwords, we need to take proactive measures. We should use strong and unique passwords by mixing of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using personal information such as your name, birthdate, or address. Use a unique password for each account. Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. It requires you to enter a code or use a biometric identifier in addition to your password to access your account.

Cybercriminals often use phishing scams to trick users into revealing their passwords. Be cautious of suspicious emails, messages, or links. Avoid clicking on links from unknown senders. Keep your devices and software up to date with the latest security patches. This can help prevent cybercriminals from exploiting vulnerabilities in your system. A password manager can help you generate and store strong passwords securely. It can also alert you if any of your accounts have been compromised and prompt you to change your password.

To raise awareness about the importance of strong passwords and online security, World Password Day is celebrated annually today i.e. on the first Thursday of May. It was first observed in 2013 and has since then gained more popularity and recognition worldwide.

In conclusion, compromised passwords pose a significant risk to our digital identities and online security. By adopting good password practices and taking other steps to protect our accounts, we can significantly improve our online security and protect our personal information from cyber threats.

Asia Rahman Khan Lodhi [Consul Press at the Consulate General of Pakistan, Hong Kong (SAR) & Macau (SAR)]

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madscientist008 · 1 year

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Shielding Your Digital Fortress: Cybersecurity Best Practices for Data Protection in the Digital Age

Introduction: In today's interconnected world, where data breaches and cyber threats are prevalent, safeguarding your personal and sensitive information has become more crucial than ever. Implementing robust cybersecurity measures is essential to protect your data from unauthorized access and potential breaches. In this blog post, we will delve into effective cybersecurity best practices that can help you fortify your digital fortress and ensure the safety of your valuable information in the digital age.

Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication: Creating strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts is a fundamental step in cybersecurity. Use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters, and avoid easily guessable information. Additionally, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible to add an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification.

Regular Software Updates and Patches: Keeping your software, operating systems, and applications up to date is critical. Developers regularly release updates and patches to address vulnerabilities and strengthen security. Enable automatic updates or regularly check for updates to ensure you have the latest security enhancements installed.

Secure Network Practices: Secure your Wi-Fi network with a strong password and encryption protocols such as WPA2 or WPA3. Change default router settings and network names to avoid easy identification. Additionally, consider using a virtual private network (VPN) when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks to encrypt your internet traffic and protect against eavesdropping.

Phishing Awareness and Email Security: Exercise caution when handling emails and be vigilant about phishing attempts. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or opening attachments from unknown sources. Verify the authenticity of emails and be wary of any requests for personal information or login credentials. Implement spam filters and use email encryption tools when transmitting sensitive information.

Data Backup and Recovery: Regularly back up your important data to an external hard drive, cloud storage, or a combination of both. In the event of a data breach or system failure, having backups ensures you can recover your valuable information. Encrypt your backups for an added layer of protection.

Use Antivirus and Anti-Malware Software: Install reputable antivirus and anti-malware software on all your devices, including computers, smartphones, and tablets. Regularly update the software and run scans to detect and remove any malicious software that may compromise your data security.

Employee Awareness and Training: Educate yourself and your employees about cybersecurity best practices. Provide training on topics such as password hygiene, safe browsing habits, and recognizing social engineering techniques. Foster a culture of security awareness and encourage reporting of suspicious activities or potential security breaches.

Secure Cloud Storage and Data Sharing: When using cloud storage services, choose reputable providers that prioritize data security and encryption. Enable two-factor authentication for cloud accounts and carefully manage access permissions. Be cautious when sharing sensitive data and ensure that shared links and files are properly protected.

Conclusion: Maintaining robust cybersecurity practices is an ongoing effort in the face of evolving threats. By implementing these best practices, including using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, staying updated with software patches, and fostering security awareness, you can significantly enhance your data protection and safeguard against cyber threats. Remember, investing in cybersecurity is an investment in the safety and integrity of your digital presence. Stay proactive, stay vigilant, and fortify your digital fortress against potential breaches.

#Cybersecurity #DataProtection #DigitalPrivacy #OnlineSafety #CyberThreats #DataSecurity #PasswordSecurity #TwoFactorAuthentication #PhishingAwareness #SoftwareUpdates #NetworkSecurity #DataBackup #AntivirusSoftware #EmployeeTraining #CloudSecurity #news #newspaper #madscientistwriting

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sword-dad-fukuzawa · 3 years

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So glad to find your blog....just see your answers...I'm excited to found another kunikida/dazai shipper.....I love chuuya, but also love kunikida......Thoughts on the different dynamics of both ships (chuuya/dazai and kunikida/dazai)?

Hiya, fellow KuniDazai truther! It's nice to see another person suffering in rarepair hell with me >:D

And I have many many thoughts, thank you for asking about them.

Lemme preface this by saying that I'm not a fan of soukoku. I understand why people ship it, but I started the series apathetic towards skk and now that I've watched the fandom grow and change, I'm veering hard into disliking it completely. Mostly because--and this is the hottest of takes--I find it boring at best, unforgivably OOC at worst.

Obviously, if you ship skk/love skk with your whole ass heart/think skk is the best thing since sliced bread, that's great! You're valid /gen

It's just very much not for me and I'm hoping I don't get flamed for this lmao. Especially since skk is such a popular ship...I'm pretty sick of seeing it on my feed and I really cannot emphasize enough how little I care about Nakahara Chuuya.

But that aside, let's get into my actual response: my thoughts on the dynamics.

I think skk has the fairly standard enemies to lovers energy. It's got the formula down pat: a combative personal dynamic, deep-rooted trust untouched by time and conflict, oppositional juxtaposition as to their organizations/abilities/color schemes/personalities, betrayals for spice, the potential for forgiveness, a long and burdensome history with each other...you know. The works.

But something I've never quite been able to shake is that Chuuya doesn't make Dazai better. And Dazai doesn't make him better either, both within the narrative and in the greater context of how they're written. I tend to enjoy stories where the people who are in love with each other inspire personal growth and change, whether that's for better or worse. But when Chuuya and Dazai are together, I see regression instead.

I've made a lot of posts about how much I dislike Dazai from midway through s2 onwards. I think the best parts of him--his willingness to become a better person, his sense of humor, his determination to make Oda proud--get watered down as BSD trudges on. This is my main quibble with the later half of the series: how hard Dazai gets shunted into a plot device. So when skk comes on screen, as badass and entertaining as they are, Dazai reverts to someone closer to who he was in the mafia. Into someone younger, darker, and...less fun, I dunno. I dislike it.

And this isn't even touching on how much I dislike fanon Dazai and the tendency to woobify him.

NOW ON THE OTHER HAND!

KunikiDazai is built off a lot more mutual respect and trust than skk is. It's the kind of relationship that makes Dazai and Kunikida both better people, and it facilitates character growth (from a writing perspective) far better than skk does. Sure, Dazai likes to torment Kunikida the same way he liked to torment Chuuya--but there's less baggage there. There isn't the heaviness of contempt and genuinely malicious intent. Dazai tells Chuuya to go die in Dead Apple, but this is not something he would say to Kunikida.

And it's obvious that Dazai respects Kunikida in a way he never respected Chuuya. He agrees that Kunikida is going to be the next ADA leader, and he follows his orders when they're in the field. I think it's a shame that the only time we really get to see their teamwork is the Azure Messenger arc, but I think what little we did see is indicative of two people who know each other's strengths and weaknesses, and who trust the other to cover their back.

And another point--Kunikida and Dazai don't have the weight of all the history between skk. Kunikida has only ever known post-Oda-and-timeskip Dazai, who is a significantly better person than Mafia era Dazai ever was. He can appreciate Dazai for who he's worked to become rather than who he was, and that's significant.

Because I just don't think Kunikida could ever love Mafia era Dazai, and neither could Chuuya--but the Dazai of the present? I think...I think that Dazai has a chance at a healthy relationship, and with happiness in another person, and it's why I love KuniDazai so much. It's about hope, and change, and growth, and it's founded on a mutual respect that makes them compelling.

Plus, you know. I like the buddy cop coworker dynamic.

#thanks for giving me a chance to ramble anon!!#kunikidazai #bsd

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rayofsunas · 4 years

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s/o has a mental/nervous breakdown.

A/n: hello everyone! I hope your day is going alright, and that you’re doing well 🥰 I recently hit 300+ folllwers, like Sunday morning, and omg, that was the best thing to wake up too 🥺❤️ thank you those new and old for following and taking a chance with my account and sometimes trashy works 🙃 I’m gonna make a longer post at some point saying my thanks and discuss what I plan to do to celebrate 300 followers. It would really mean a lot to me if you guys chimed in if you have any ideas, after all, this is a thanks to you and I want you all to be involved! also, if you saw my recent rambles about how a draft was deleted, it’s referring to this post... what I had written got deleted TWICE in the span of FIVE MINUTES. gosh I was so pissed, I almost screamed. mobile tumblr is not it 😔 but here we are. I hope you like this. I tried to write this three times.... 🤡 also, since I am not a doctor or anything, I put a link to possible symptoms/what a “mental breakdown” is, that’s in the warnings, just click the link, it helped with my accuracy.

Summary: s/o has a mental/nervous breakdown.

Parings: Xiao/Reader, Scaramouche/Reader, Albedo/Reader, Childe/Reader (all fem reader)

Warnings: angst, mental breakdown (panic attacks, stress, anxiety, ptsd, hallucinations, insomnia) fluff, swearing, mentions of death, mentions of injury

Word count: 3.5k (whew after tumblr DELETING this draft twice here we are folks ;-;)

requested by @mintyhuening

Xiao

he knew you weren’t okay at all

Xiao knew the moment you locked yourself in your house

at first he thought maybe you were just temporarily feeling this way, but as the weeks passed and you hadn’t come out, he decided maybe not

coming from someone who enjoyed silence and solitude he could understand the distancing part, but it had been weeks, and even he needed socialization, so why hadn’t you come out?

you spoke to him through the door a few times, letting him know you were alright

he didn’t believe that though, sure you were alive, but not alright, he was mainly checking for confirmation to see if you were still alive while he thought of a good way to approach the situation

he didn’t want to invade your privacy, but he also hated the fact that you wouldn’t come out, not even to see him

it was lonely without you, he concluded

even for someone who enjoy solitude

you were a careful creature, but never this careful and cautious...

were humans always like this?

eventually, he couldn’t stand it, and did find other ways to get into your house

he grew antsy after pacing outside your door for days

he found you huddled in your bed, a heap of pillows and blankets surrounding you

you were shocked to see him when he’d sat down on the foot of the bed, causing it to dip significantly

“How did you get in?” You snapped once you saw who it was.

“I have my ways.” He said raspily. With a huff of annoyance, you were back to facing the wall, away from the Adepti.

“It’s dark in here.” He announced matter a factly, looking around the nearly pitch-black room, windows and doors covered by sheets and hefty duty curtains. “It’s how I like it.”

“It’s not healthy.”

“I don’t care, go away.”

Xiao was starting to grow impatient surprisingly, he truly just wanted to help, why couldn't you see that?

“Being passive is not going to help the situation, please tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing, I’m just tired.”

He worried. If he said the wrong, would you push him away even further? If he said the right thing, would you even care? Did you want help?

Xiao moved closer to you, hand going to touch your leg, although it was underneath the blankets, you felt it and did have to admit the affection was comforting.

“Don’t do this to yourself,” Xiao said. “Your friends miss you, I miss you as well.”

Maybe if you weren’t cooped up here anymore, you would start to come around. The room and house all together were very stuffy, dark, and depressing, he despised it.

“It’s beautiful outside, come with me,” he'd whispered. “At least if you don’t want to be around people, could you allow me to take you to a secluded area?”

“The fresh air will do you good.”

You were thinking about it, you had to of been if you still cared.

“Fine, mother.” He watched with hope in his eyes as you slowly rose from the bed, and began

The outside world was very very bright at first, enough to induce a headache. But you became used to it the more you were out.

Xiao stayed true to his word like you knew he would unless you wouldn’t have come. You were taken to a very secluded area, there wasn’t even a path or road to it, just green luscious grass, and crystal core everywhere, beautiful blue and orange ones; Anemo and Geo respectively. You weren’t sure where you were, somewhere between Mondstadt and Liyue, you assumed.

The fresh air did wonders, Xiao had noticed. You seemed to open up. Telling him a little of the problem. You had told him about how life was just stressful right now, you hadn’t taken any commissions in weeks, spoken to any of your friends Mondstadt, hence why they had come to him, accusing him of kidnapping and brainwashing you. He was offended, nonetheless let them know that wasn’t the case.

The ever so secluded Xiao would take you out more, slowly introducing you to crowds of people, and would still take you on daily walks to that secret place you now called your special spot.

It would take a while, he knew that, and you wouldn’t be comfortable doing everything that others around you did, maybe not for a while. He could respect that, as long as you allowed him to help and encourage you.

Scaramouche

being a harbinger was HARD, Scaramouche knew that, even if he didn’t admit it

admitting it was challenging, could lead to always being doubted or seen as incompetent. therefore, no one mentions how hard it is

he had been off doing his duties when he got news that you had lashed out at a few lower rank fatui on your team, resulting in you being called in to meet with The Tsaritsa... let's just say she went easy on you because you were one of her highest ranking soldiers, if not, she would've severely punished you

you were forced back to your sleeping quarters immediately to calm down, told to stay put until you could stop “lashing out like a child” as she had put it

you weren’t one to argue against The Tsaritsa, everyone knew that was common rule... so you walked back as calmly as you could without snapping at anyone else

when Scaramouche had heard how you acted, he was annoyed

the always so calm and calculated Y/n, lashing out at her fellow members? he couldn’t help but be annoyed, despite it being completely out of character of you

he had finished his duties relatively quick, wondering why you were acting so out of character

when he got back, he found you in your sleeping quarters, pacing in front of the large windows near the furthest end of your room

you were still wearing your typical combat gear, though your hair disheveled and body language looking extremely anxious, he hoped it was not yours...

“What did you do this time?” Had asked the violet-eyed man, carelessly throwing his hat on your bed, lean arms folding across his chest.

No response.

“Excuse me, I believe I asked you a question.”

A loud irritable huff.

“Be quiet for once in your life, Scaramouche.” You hissed, anxiously biting at your nails. “Sorry- I’m just trying to calm down, but my heart can’t stop racing.”

Scaramouche wasn’t the most in-touch person with his feelings, and out of all the harbingers, he was one of the more difficult ones to deal with.

Surprisingly, he had shut up, despite finding it difficult to hold his malicious comment back.

“What’s wrong?” Your lover asked, more softly this time.

“My mission today was... hard. I know you said it’s important for missions to just be a one and done; no hard feelings. And you know I’ve always been that way. But this one was different.” His eyebrows furrowed, his forehead creasing in annoyance.

“I can’t help but think about what they did.”

“Did you get what you went for? I heard you sought after information regarding that Knight, Aether.”

“Yes, but-”

“I’d call that a successful mission,” He stared intensely, casually moving to sit on the comfort of your bed. Of course, he wouldn’t take this seriously. “Any casualties?”

“None of our men, but-”

“I don’t see the problem.”

“There were children, three little children, and those idiots just slaughtered them.”

“Ah... I see.”

Despite stating he understood, he really couldn’t sympathize with what you were saying. Those children were enemies as long as they worked against The Tsaritsa.

Your voice suddenly cut through the silence, staring directly into his eyes, “What if those were our children?”

“They weren’t.” Your eyes rolled at his comment.

“But what if!” He rolled his eyes, mocking your previous action.

“But they weren’t.” He mocked for a second time.

“You’re not helping, Scaramouche!”

“You’ll never understand, unless you see what I saw,” He knew you were right to some degree, but even then would he feel bad? A mission was a mission after all.

“They were begging me to protect them, and the youngest, she would not let go of my arm and then the next thing I knew, they were dead.” You continued, left hand going to grip your right, he assumed to show him where and how the said girl had gripped you. You were still shaking, this time being closer, he noticed how bad it was.

“They were pleading, I told them I would try my best, and then-” He had long ago stood, making himself present in front of you. His warm hands had grabbed your shaking ones harshly, ceasing the trembling momentarily.

“Please, be quiet,” The sixth harbinger snipped. “I don’t like seeing you upset.” Although it sounded harsh, he was trying his best to make it sound how he felt, even if those feelings were minuscule towards this specific topic.

“Although, I don’t agree with you about this particular concern of yours- I will do whatever you need to help you.”

Albedo

now, he may just be an alchemist, but trust me, Albedo sees the signs before anyone, he has some sort of familiarity with them due to his incessant reading

and it may have taken him longer to see the signs because of how busy he was, but he saw them

he was no fool to the likes of insomnia, in fact he knew it very well, often staying up very late into the night and morning, sometimes for days at a time

he was cooped up in his lab and it wasn’t as if his body wasn’t tired, cause hell he was, there was just s much more to learn and discover, his brain WOULD not stop,

Albedo hadn’t known how long this had been going on for, but he was seeing signs now

ngl, he didn’t notice that you hadn’t been sleeping properly until one night he decided to accompany you in bed earlier than usual (It was three a.m, yikes), and found that you were awake still

you were lying still on your side of the bed, and if it hadn’t been for the fact that he reached over to kiss your cheek, only to see your eyes open, he would’ve assumed you were alright and asleep

“You’re awake?” The ashy-blonde man asked, sliding into bed next to you.

“Can’t sleep.” You shrugged nonchalantly, scooting closer to him, seeking his warmth and comfort.

“You should’ve come to get me, I would’ve come to bed earlier with you.”

“It’s alright, I peeked in to see if you were still alive,” You joked, he chuckled. “You seemed very busy.”

“Yes, but, I thought I told you to remind me when you need attention, I often get sidetracked and enamored with my work.”

“It’s quite alright, Albedo. As long as you’re sleeping.”

He hummed, whispering tired words of adoration in your ear. That carried on for a while, as long as talking about the day's work and whatnot, until you eventually questioned, “Can I play with your hair?” The gesture was sweet, and that did sound amazing right about now since he was on the brink of sleep, but just needed that little push. But weren’t you tired?

“Aren’t you tired?”

You sat up, climbing behind Albedo, gently placing his head in your lap. “I’ll go after you.” A soft smile adorned your beautiful face. “You need sleep, you stay up for Archon knows how long.”

He selfishly allowed his eyes to close and waited for sleep to accompany him while you began untangling his two braids and ponytail. You played with and braided his hair until he’d fallen asleep as you said. You stayed up the rest of the morning though.

Eventually, probably out of boredom, you fell asleep for an hour or two around five a.m. Though, unfortunately, you were back up before six. You busied yourself while Albedo slept, starting with cleaning his lab. Albedo often did not like people touching his books, paperwork, and findings, but after instructing you how to properly take care of his stuff, he welcomed your help with open arms, seeing as though his lab was ALWAYS in shambles from not having enough time to take care of things himself.

Albedo surprisingly woke up around nine, wavy hair surrounding him like a lion, you chuckled to yourself at the sight. “How did you sleep?”

“Alright, considering my sleep schedule is nonexistent a lot of the time.” You nodded, bumping shoulders teasingly. “How about you?”

“Okay,” You said, immediately changing the subject. “I woke up early, so I cleaned your lab, I hope it’s to your likings, Kreideprinz.” You teased, bowing at the waist.

The alchemist waved you off, with a smile. “We’ll see about your organizational skills after you eat.”

How had he known?

“You haven’t eaten yet, have you?” Albedo asked, heading in the direction of the kitchen.

“That obvious.” You wondered trailing after him.

“You always wait for me, darling.”

“You look exhausted.” Albedo’s concerned voice cut in through the smooth Mondstadt breeze. You had been so distracted with the discovery in front of you, you hadn’t realized your boyfriend was staring directly at you. “When was the last time you slept?” He glanced back down at the discovery, still listening, but if you didn’t speak soon he’d be lost in his world again.

“A day or two, but-” Albedo probably got whiplash from how hard he’d snapped his head to face you, but now he was staring at you with features reading nothing but shock, cerulean eyes blown wide.

“I think your bad sleeping schedule is contagious.” You joked, trying to make the situation lighter-hearted. He didn’t laugh.

Albedo was more serious this time, proving it when he faced you completely. “What’s been going on?” His voice was soft, but he was extremely worried.

Nervousness built up in his lover's body. “Nothing! I just-” You sighed. Might as well tell him the truth, he’d coerce the answer from you no matter what it took. “It’s been harder to sleep after my injury from that ruin guard. When it hit me, I banged my head against the concrete, and ever since I guess it’s been hard to sleep.”

“You could've told me sooner. I would have stopped everything and anything for you.” Yes, that was true, that was the problem though. You didn’t want to be coddled like a baby

“I know, I’m not sure why I didn’t... Naturally, I don’t want to worry you.”

He moved closer to you so he could cradle your face in his hands. “You can always tell me anything you know that.”

“I understand that. You’re a busy man so-”

“From this moment on, my work will be dedicated to finding a cure for you.”

You panicked, not wanting to stop his work for the likes of what you were dealing with. “What? Wait no-”

“You can’t stop me, darling. You take precedence over everything.”

Albedo made it his goal to do whatever possible to help you. Whether it be spending days in his lab making concoctions in hopes of creating something that could safely aid you with sleep. Or he’s in the libraries, reading all the books on the wellness and health of humans. He’s already on top of it the minute you expressed your concerns. In the meantime, he’s going to make sure he goes to bed with you much earlier, and won’t go until you do, to ensure you’re resting.

We love sweet caretaker Albedo.

(I understand insomnia can have other causes, not just a mental or nervous breakdown, but it’s kind of implied when reader hurt her head that she’s not well.)

Childe

Childe is simply not going to know your not well, he just won’t, it’s not that he doesn’t care, it’s more so the fact that he has a hard time paying attention to anything other than his missions and duties, he does not want to slow down

you have to show signs or tell him to realize

he decided to take a break though, seeing as he did promise you dinner tonight. he told you it would be his treat, since he did have a bunch of Mora lying around that he simply had no other use for

he figured a nice dinner and trip to one of the nicer cities with more to offer would be nice, he would buy you anything you desired

it was nearing the time for dinner though, and the reservations had already been made, so when he was left waiting, let's just say he was irked...

if you didn’t want to show up, you would’ve told him, so maybe you forgot? he concluded that couldn’t be it

the last time he’d brought it up, two days ago, you had been so excited you couldn’t sit still nor stop talking about it

asking a few people around town if you had been spotted anywhere, some said you had wandered off to Luhua Pool, something about there being a myth about special healing properties within the water

now he was even more confused

one, you NEVER went to Luhua Pool, there was never a need to do so

two, special healing properties? why would you need that? were you hurt in his absence?

you were his family, and he loved his family more than anything, so if something was wrong, he’d do whatever it took to help you

he traveled from Snezhnaya to Luhua Pool in record speed

he did find you eventually, the sun was setting, but thanks to the glowing water he could make your form out easily

you were hunched over, in what looked like to be some simple greenish cloth dress, he couldn’t see what you were doing, and called out your name

no answer

“Hey, what’re you doing here?” The orange-haired teen asked, crouching down beside his lover to see what was wrong.

“Cleaning.” You had said. That’s when his dull blue eyes traveled to what you were doing, watching with a confused stare as you scrubbed at what seemed to be clean hands.

“Hmm, I see...” He couldn’t tell if this was a prank or not, you usually played along with his teasing nature. “Are you ready for dinner?”

“Was that really today?” Your head lifted, leaving your hands to momentarily hanging in the air, water droplets dripping off into the pool.

Okay... so you did forget it seemed, which did shock him seeing as though you were over the moon, less than seventy-two hours ago.

“Uh, yeah, did you really forget? That’s unlike you! I’ve learned women don’t forget anything.” He teased, hand going to his chin. You hummed, turning back to do whatever it was you had been previously.

The harbinger frowned. “Do you still want to go? We can make it if we’re fast.” You sounded like a robot, much like a ruin guard, he concluded.

“I’m sorry, not today, I’m dirty...”

Childe couldn’t help but chuckle, “Dirty? Sweetheart, you’re cleaner than most people I’ve seen, what’re you on about-”

“The blood, it’s stained my hands, can’t you see?” Even after holding your hands to show him, he saw nothing resembling blood.

“Are you playing games with me? Sure, it would’ve been funny any other day, not today though-”

“You don’t believe me?” You sounded hurt, but whatever was going on, he wouldn’t feed into these... false hallucinations. “The townspeople said the same thing, they called me crazy...” You scrubbed even harder at your hands, letting out a frustrated huff.

“I don’t see anything, I’m really sorry,” He said gently, reaching into the water to grasp your warm hands in his, “But if you continue to do that...I will see the blood.”

Childe was not sure what was going on, maybe some sort of PTSD? Although, he wasn’t sure where it could’ve come from... you’re not a harbinger or fatui, or anyone that is engaged in battle, etc. so it didn’t make sense. Unless something happened that decided to resurface now.

He immediately took you home, hand in his to keep you from further scratching your hands. On the journey, you often asked, “Why are you even touching me? There’s a lot of blood.”

He didn’t want to have to feed into whatever was going on, worried he’d damage you somehow, and he didn’t want to make you sound crazy, so instead he said, “Because I love you.”

When you both arrived home, he’d immediately laid you in bed, saying you appeared tired before going to search for a doctor.

Child will see every and all doctors in Teyvat and will pay whatever amount necessary to figure out what’s wrong, that’s for sure. Doesn’t take orders from the harbingers (not like he was anyways) and opts to stay close to you at all times.

He decided to keep his teasing to a minimum, though he found that sometimes things slipped out accidentally, he’d do anything in his power to help you.

1.18.21, rayofsunas

#rayofsunas #genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact imagines #scaramouche #scaramouche x reader #albedo #albedo x reader #childe #childe x reader #tartagalia #xiao #xiao x reader

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dieinct · 3 years

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don't reblog this because im still articulating my thoughts and am basically just thinking out loud

this is the last thing i have to say about this really but i do think it's disingenuous and bad-faith to compare what i would characterize as significant missteps within a good faith attempt to later refusals to listen leading to active and/or malicious bigotry. like, while the goblins are fucked up, im not going to say that some lady writing fantasy and leaning on fairly standard tropes for the genre is doing anything THAT much worse than tolkien making his dwarfs semitic and gold-greedy, especially when she fully did also give harry a jewish classmate. like, it's not GREAT, but it's not intrinsic proof that she was always going to turn out evil or that her books are beyond redemption or whatever. they definitely got worse over time - but also before all the books came out people didn't KNOW what was going to be in them (obviously) but like. im not sure exactly how to express this. i guess my point is, the books were kind of milquetoast representation; it was a good faith but profoundly insufficient attempt. it's easy to point back to OBVIOUS missteps now that we've seen her double down to make further mistakes in sequel and bonus content, and radicalize, but frankly if she hadn't turned out to be a TERF attempting to leverage her social capital for bigotry, i genuinely doubt that so much attention would be paid to her earlier missteps.

it's just like. people are trying to find clues that could justify her later turning, and certainly i can find some; frankly, i find her fat phobia significantly more galling and revealing of a sort of fundamental biological essentialism than, for example, the goblins. like. there are issues of antisemitism in hp, it's just that i really genuinely don't think it's the goblins. certainly before DH (which i only read once, on release day, did not enjoy, and have never returned to). i have way more issues with hermetic / alchemic magic as history, cooption of actual history and historic antisemites as culture heroes while erasing jewish history, similarly: holocaust narratives with no jewish characters, and representations of various human characters who fall into antisemitic tropes as proof of their supposed evil. but people aren't interested in doing any sort of deeper analysis of ... issues in HP other than "a fantasy author ineffectually used clumsy metaphors for social issues" which like. welcome to reading fantasy. she is not outstandingly terrible with respect to that! the thing that makes her terrible is NOT that she did a bunch of stuff that is bad but not exceptional, the thing that makes her terrible is that she unilaterally refused to learn or apologize, and then on top of that went and became a terf.

was only talking about antisemitism in this post bc that's what's relevant to me and because it makes me sooo frustrated to see the goblins trotted out as convenient proof that hp was always irredeemable when what it's guilty of is "clumsy genre fiction metaphors" and not "virulent bigotry". i just think it's genuinely irresponsible (and frankly not a little insulting!) to conflate the two.

similarly i guess there's a LOT of latent / internalized (?) sexism in hp, which does not get discussed in fandom contexts, even though it was the thing i DID notice when i was reading these as a little kid with no awareness of like... stuff like this in books. which is so weird to me! because you'd think it would be as relevant to her understanding of hashtag what feminism is as anything else is.

and just to be clear im saying this as someone who hasn't spent money on hp stuff since i would guess 2008 and who has been reading multiple fan fictions since before '08 that have at this point been running for longer than jkr spent publishing the original series. i am not interested in pottermore, any bonus content, or future works, like at all, and haven't paid any attention to them beyond knowing they're not really anything id be interested in in the first place and then later hearing secondhand how like stupid and racist and terrible they were and having absolutely no interest in pursuing it further.

again don't reblog this im just thinking

#it's just so insane to me that people will fully sit down like she is inherently and immutably evil at all points in her personal timeline #the books are just books. they're NOT perfect and have many issues but that is definitely not what people are doing here #they are JUST books.#they're literally just books. they are not a mechanism for hate speech.

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jcmarchi · 11 months

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Enhancing Gaming Security with AI and Blockchain Integration

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/enhancing-gaming-security-with-ai-and-blockchain-integration/

Enhancing Gaming Security with AI and Blockchain Integration

Online gaming has evolved immensely, transitioning from simple entertainment to a digital universe bustling with activity and transactions. However, with this growth comes the heightened risk of fraud. Understanding and resolving gaming security problems is crucial for maintaining trust and integrity within this virtual ecosystem.

Understanding Gaming Fraud

Gaming fraud encompasses a variety of deceptive practices, significantly impacting both players and developers. Below are the most common types of fraud found in the gaming world:

Credit Card Theft and Fraudulent Transactions

Fraudsters often use stolen credit card information to purchase in-game currency, items, or even full games. A typical scenario involves a thief using a stolen credit card to purchase virtual currency in an online game, which is then sold at a reduced price for real money. This leads to financial losses for the cardholder and also results in chargebacks for the game developers, affecting their revenue and reputation.

Account Hacking and Identity Theft

More and more attackers try to gain unauthorized access to players’ gaming accounts. Once inside, they can resell the account or your data or use the hijacked account for other malicious activities. For example, a hacker might breach an account to steal valuable items or characters, selling them for profit on third-party websites.

In-Game Asset Manipulation and Exploits

In-game asset manipulation involves exploiting game vulnerabilities to create, duplicate, or modify virtual items or currencies illegally. Duplicate rare items can flood the market, devaluing items and impacting the game’s economic balance.

Botting and Farming

Botting refers to using automated scripts or “bots” to perform game tasks that would otherwise require human intervention. For example, bots might be programmed to fight and collect rare resources automatically, creating an unfair advantage. Farming, often linked with botting, involves accumulating game resources to sell for real-world money. This practice not only skews the game balance but also ruins the gaming experience for others.

Fake Giveaways and Phishing Scams

Phishing and scams often occur outside the game environment, where fraudsters lure players with fake giveaways, game keys, or other rewards. Once players click on ads or malicious links in social media, they may unknowingly download malware. They may also inadvertently disclose sensitive information while registering for a bogus tournament.

Match-Fixing and Cheating

Match-fixing in competitive gaming, particularly in eSports, is another form of fraud. Players or teams might be bribed to lose or perform specific actions in competitive matches. Similarly, cheating through unauthorized software gives players unfair advantages, affecting the game’s integrity. For instance, a player might use aim-assist software in a first-person shooter game to gain an undue advantage over other players.

The repercussions of fraud in gaming are extensive. Players face personal and financial losses, while developers deal with diminished game integrity, leading to potential revenue and reputation damages.

The Role of AI in Gaming Security

The utilization of Artificial Intelligence in gaming security marks a significant stride in the fight against fraud. AI algorithms are adept at learning and recognizing normal player behavior patterns within a game. By continuously analyzing these patterns – such as login frequencies, in-game transactions, and play styles – the AI establishes a baseline of typical, legitimate player activity.

Once AI understands normal behavior patterns, it can instantly detect deviations from these patterns. Suppose a player who usually plays moderately suddenly starts acquiring and spending in-game currency at an unrealistic rate. AI can identify this sudden change as an anomaly, possibly signaling credit card fraud or exploitation of a game’s economic system.

Another example – if a player usually logs in from the same location and suddenly starts logging in from a different country, the AI can flag this as unusual, potentially indicating account hijacking or sharing.

Fraudulent tactics are constantly evolving, making static security measures ineffective over time. AI systems employing deep learning can adapt to new threats by learning from new data. For example, if cheaters start using a new method to exploit the game’s economy, the AI can learn this new pattern and detect it across other accounts.

Beyond just reacting to fraud, AI can also be used predictively to anticipate and prevent fraudulent activities before they happen. By analyzing trends and patterns in data, AI can predict potential vulnerabilities and inform developers and security teams. This preemptive approach can be crucial in stopping fraudsters constantly seeking new ways to exploit systems.

One of the key advantages of using AI in gaming security is its capability to process and analyze vast quantities of data quickly and accurately. In a large multiplayer game, where millions of transactions may occur daily, it would be impossible for human teams to monitor every activity. AI can scrutinize these massive datasets in real time, spotting irregularities that might indicate fraud. AI can analyze the trading patterns between accounts and identify if a group of accounts is used to launder money within the game.

Integrating Blockchain for Enhanced Security

Blockchain technology offers a decentralized ledger system, ensuring transparent and immutable record-keeping. In gaming, this can mean secure, verifiable transactions and ownership of digital assets.

It is not easy for hackers or fraudsters to manipulate or corrupt such a system. In a blockchain-based game, the ownership and transfer of digital assets (like weapons in CS2 cases, skins, or characters) are recorded on a blockchain, making any fraudulent claim of ownership easily verifiable and thus preventable.

Blockchain’s immutability ensures that once a transaction has been recorded, it cannot be altered or deleted. This is particularly beneficial for tracking the ownership and transfer history of in-game items, providing a clear audit trail.

Moreover, on blockchain networks, transactions are visible to anyone on the network. This transparency leads to a more trustworthy gaming environment, as players and developers can verify transactions independently.

Additionally, in blockchain gaming, smart contracts can automatically ensure that an item is only transferred to another player’s account after confirming the payment, thus eliminating the risk of scams and enabling transactions without intermediaries.

Finally, with blockchain, player data is secured through advanced cryptography, significantly reducing the risk of data breaches and hacking. Given the decentralized nature of blockchain, compromising player data would require breaching multiple nodes simultaneously, which is considerably more difficult than attacking a single central server.

Challenges and Considerations

While integrating AI and blockchain into gaming brings numerous security benefits, it also comes with its share of technical challenges. Addressing these challenges is crucial to harness the full potential of these technologies in enhancing gaming security and user experience.

Scalability

Blockchain networks, especially those using Proof of Work (PoW) mechanisms, can struggle with processing large volumes of transactions quickly and cost-effectively. For example, a popular online game implementing blockchain to manage in-game assets might find that the transaction times and costs become high as the number of players grows, potentially leading to delays and a diminished gaming experience.

Integration

Games traditionally not designed with AI and blockchain technologies in mind might need significant overhauls, requiring substantial time and resources.

AI, particularly machine learning and deep learning models requires additional computational power for training and inference. Similarly, blockchain nodes require computing power to validate and record transactions. Games are already resource-intensive, and implementing AI and blockchain within a gaming context could require even more advanced hardware and robust servers. This might potentially limit the game’s accessibility to players with less powerful devices.

Conclusion

The integration of AI and blockchain in gaming introduces a new era of security. AI’s predictive capabilities, combined with blockchain’s tamper-proof records, create a robust defense against various security risks. Imagine a scenario where AI detects a suspicious transaction and blockchain technology is used to secure the involved assets, effectively preventing fraudulent activities in real time. With the advent of advanced AI algorithms and more robust blockchain networks, the future of gaming security looks promising. These technologies are expected to become more sophisticated, providing even stronger safeguards against cyber threats.

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