Alok Chakraborty

Whether you are a pro gamer, streamer, casual gamer, or just a fashion buff, gaming glasses are the new accessories that are gaining popularity among other gaming gadgets. Gaming glasses are a tool every gamer craves for. Be it hours of hours on Minecraft or strategies over strategies for Valorant, the only thing that can sustain your gaming habits are these gaming glasses! But do they really work? And does it improve your gaming efficiency? Let’s find out. What are gaming glasses? You must have seen a pair of yellow glasses every streamer fashioning beneath their headsets. And yes, it is quite cool and looks fab. Not to forget paid collaborations and sponsorships for the streamers to promote them. But is it all about style? Apparently not! These yellow-tinged lenses with anti-reflective (AR) coating have their usability. These gaming glasses are targeted at gamers and are often paired with headsets. These gaming glasses are designed to prolong gaming hours and sustain your gaming career by reducing the strain on your eyes. But what causes the strain? How do gaming glasses work? All electronic devices including monitors, TVs, and phones emit ultraviolet light. This wavelength often causes strain and disrupts sleep cycles. Gaming glasses filter the UV light. And while there is no direct evidence to support that gaming glasses help protect your eye, but anecdotal research like wearing blue light-blocking glasses for a few hours before sleep can reduce melatonin suppression induced by light to improve the sleep cycle. Because the blue light from artificial light sources has a bad rep, marketers often target this aspect to claim by blocking blue light you can improve your eyesight and overall gaming performance in the long run. While there may be some science behind improving eyesight, there is absolutely no science behind gaming glasses improving gaming efficiency. Do Gaming Glasses work to help reduce strain on your eye? Given the exposure to screentime, the youths are putting themselves, after hours of a raid in World of Warcraft, your eyes probably start to water, you seem to lose focus, and even may itch or pain. Coupled with the usage of mobile, tv, and other electronic gadgets, we are bombarded with UV emissions from every device all the time. And albeit low, these glasses do provide a certain amount of magnification in view and reduction in blue light which is beneficial for the eyes. There are some prescription standard blue light-blocking glasses as well. It will be difficult to quantify to what degree these glasses protect the eye, but it certainly does to an extent. Benefits of Gaming Glasses Three main functionalities of gaming glasses are: Anti-Reflective properties: Apart from enhancing color contrast and focus, the AR coating in the gaming glasses reduces the glares from the monitors which can reduce the strain caused in your eye. Magnification: A mild magnification in the glasses will reduce squinting. Protection from Blue Light: Yellow or amber-tinted gaming glasses can help reduce eye fatigue and improve sleep cycles. How to choose the right gaming glasses? Lens tint: The darker the tints, the lesser the exposure, and the better the protection. Darker tints block a higher percentage of blue light. Black tints compromise the brightness and hence the visibility. Material: The gaming glasses are designed to be compatible with your headset and hence are needed to be lightweight and flexible, resistant to damage. Materials like nylon and acetate are often considered prime. Size of the Frame: Comfort is key hence always pick the glasses as per your fit. Coating: The gaming glasses should reduce glare from the screen and should be resistant to scratches. Hence, they should be coated with compatible films. Portability: Minimal and easy-to-carry gaming glasses are the most desirable ones. The Final Verdict: Should you as a gamer go for Gaming Glasses? As a pro gamer or a streamer, you will be spending hours and hours in front of the screen. That too for a considerable amount of time in your life. Even if you are a casual gamer, the extent of UV emissions we are subjected to is unprecedented. In these scenarios, we should use every measure possible to reduce the strain on our eyes and improve sleep cycles. And even if you are not gaming or not even an avid gamer, you can use these glasses throughout the day as they are versatile, funky, and adds a swagger. So, no harm in using them. However, these gaming glasses will not help you achieve a higher score in the game you are invested in.

Voice phishing, also known as vishing, is a type of fraud that involves the use of phone calls or voice messages to trick victims into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card details. This form of cybercrime involves using the telephone to trick individuals into giving out sensitive information such as bank account numbers and passwords. Vishing scams are often carried out by attackers who use automated voice recordings or live operators to impersonate legitimate organizations, such as banks or government agencies, in order to gain the trust of their victims. Voice phishing is also a type of social engineering attack that aims to steal sensitive information from individuals through the use of phone calls. This technique is often used by scammers to obtain personal information such as credit card numbers, bank account information, and login credentials. How does Voice Phishing work? The process of voice phishing typically begins with the attacker calling the victim and pretending to be a legitimate representative of a company or organization. The attacker may claim that the victim’s account has been compromised or that there is a problem with their account that needs to be resolved. The attacker will then try to convince the victim to provide sensitive information, such as their password or credit card details, by using various tactics such as creating a sense of urgency or making the victim believe that they are in danger if they do not provide the information. Once the victim has provided the sensitive information, the attacker can use it to gain access to the victim’s accounts or steal their money. Voice phishing can be difficult to detect because the attackers often use sophisticated technology to mask their phone numbers and make it appear as if they are calling from a legitimate organization. However, there are some signs that can help victims identify voice phishing attempts, such as being contacted out of the blue by someone claiming to be from a company or organization, being asked to provide sensitive information over the phone, or being pressured to make a decision quickly. Other Voice Phishing Techniques One common vishing scam involves an attacker calling a victim and claiming to be a representative of their bank. The attacker will then ask the victim to provide their account information and password in order to “verify their identity” or “prevent fraudulent activity.” In reality, the attacker is using this information to access the victim’s bank account and steal their money. Another type of vishing scam involves attackers pretending to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The attacker will tell the victim that they owe back taxes and must make a payment immediately or face legal consequences. The victim is then instructed to provide their bank account information or credit card number in order to make the payment. Vishing attacks can be difficult to detect, as the attackers often use advanced technology to make their voices sound legitimate and to hide their true identities. In addition, many vishing scams use caller ID spoofing, which allows the attacker to display a fake phone number on the victim’s caller ID. This can make it appear as though the call is coming from a trusted organization, further increasing the likelihood that the victim will fall for the scam. They use techniques like ID spoofing to mask their caller IDs and hence it becomes difficult for users to gauge the credibility. From a promise of reward to converting loyalty points into hard cash, and from loan repayments to social security threats, vishing comes in all forms. The more you know about it, the better! How to identify Vishing Scams? The process of voice phishing typically begins with the attacker placing a phone call to a potential victim. The caller may claim to be a representative from a legitimate organization, such as a bank or a government agency, and may use a variety of tactics to convince the victim to disclose sensitive information. One common tactic used by attackers is to create a sense of urgency. The caller may claim that there is a problem with the victim’s account and that immediate action is needed to prevent it from being compromised. This can be especially effective if the caller uses technical language and provides a phone number for the victim to call back, further increasing the sense of legitimacy. Another tactic used by attackers is to use social engineering techniques to build trust with the victim. This can include asking personal questions and using the information provided to create a more personalized and convincing pitch. For example, the caller may mention the victim’s name, address, or other personal details in an attempt to gain their trust. Once the attacker has established a sense of trust and urgency, they will typically try to obtain sensitive information from the victim. This can include asking for credit card numbers, bank account information, or login credentials for various accounts. In some cases, the attacker may even try to convince the victim to transfer money directly to a bank account under their control. How to protect yourself from Voice Phishing scams? To protect yourself from vishing attacks, it is important to be cautious when providing sensitive information over the phone. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from your bank or the IRS, do not provide any personal information. Instead, hang up and call the organization back using the phone number listed on their official website. This will ensure that you are speaking with a legitimate representative. It is also a good idea to use security software, such as a firewall or antivirus program, to protect your computer and personal information from being accessed by attackers. And be sure to regularly update your software and operating system to stay ahead of the latest threats. It is important for individuals to be aware of voice phishing and to be cautious when receiving phone calls from unknown numbers. If you receive a call from someone claiming

The recent upsurge of cryptocurrency brought forth prominent players & investors. This inadvertently also led to the rise of fake investors & crypto exchanges. But as of 2022, the market revenue of crypto has plummeted significantly. And the main reason for this is the crypto scam plaguing investors. Because cryptocurrencies are relatively new in the market, inexperienced investors are often falling prey to such swindles amidst its nonchalant hype and promise of quick & easy returns. It was only in 2021 that a Singapore-based blockchain data platform got robbed out of a record $14 billion, whereas Axie Infinity got hacked and was robbed out of a whopping $615 million. With a little bit of research and googling about Crypto frauds, you will come across hundreds of other such reported cases of crypto scams. The most infamous crypto scam so far has been the Squid Game token. Crypto has created the Fear of Missing Out syndrome among gullible investors who invest in these speculative schemes and are left with nothing. The reason is mainly because of a lack of regulation in the crypto market. Does that mean should we stop investing in cryptocurrencies? No! There are many genuine crypto platforms where you can invest safely. We just need to be more cautious and learn how to differentiate between a fake and a genuine crypto project! This guide will help you navigate the same. To start with, let us understand what the methodology of a fraud cryptocurrency is: The whole saga starts usually with a launch of a new cryptocurrency platform with exaggerated and promising returns. Then an Initial Coin Offering is held to procure money from a pool of investors. This is followed by halting the operations. And finally, the individuals holding the ICOs vanish in thin air leaving the investors high and dry. Usually, the scammers conceal their identity, conduct business in a decentralized and anonymous virtual currency environment, and make it difficult for individuals to track and trace. This charade continues if investors keep falling for these without proper background checks and research. So, how to identify fake crypto projects from a real one? 1. Documentation (White Papers) A white paper is easily one of the sure-shot ways to differentiate a fake crypto project from a genuine one. It is a critical marketing document that pitches the idea to prospects and potential investors. A white paper will have all the details and fundamentals of the token you are about to purchase. The white paper will also cover the blockchain design, the name of the token, the address of the creator, the contact source, and other minute details. If any of these details are missing, it can serve as a red flag, raising questions about the legitimacy and transparency of the crypto. But here is the deal: Having a white paper does not on its own justify the legitimacy of the currency. For example, Bitconnect’s Ponzi scheme did not have any white paper that extracted $2.6 billion as project value. Whereas Plexcoin, on the other hand, had very convincing white papers and yet managed to swindle $15 million. Hence, we need other checks to ensure the crypto we are investing in is genuine. 2. Detailed Road Map Peer into the intricate details of the crypto you are planning to invest in. Learn about the purpose, method, USPs, and utilities of the crypto you are interested in. If you come across a project that does not specify solving a definite problem, you can skip that one. 3. Exaggerated Promises, Ludicrous Claims The niche term is “Rug-Pull”. A scheme where scammers launch a new coin, promote it aggressively with the promise of high returns and as soon as investors spend their money, the platform dissolves and its participants go AWOL. Phishing emails and social media handles are targeted to trap gullible first timers. Patience is the key and anyone promising easy and high return should raise suspicions. And hence, to be avoided. 4. Tracking the Team: Gather as much information as you can about the creators and the team managing it. From websites to social handles, dig deep into the background of the creators to authenticate. Scammers often leverage the name of a celebrity and create fake accounts. Always keep an eye out for the responses on these posts. Another way of doing this is to keep a tab on their mutuals and connection and reach out to other people who are following them. Also, cross-refer with your friends, family, or any expert to corroborate. 5. Token Sales: Most fraud companies will hide the token sale progress from the investors. By doing so, they create a sense of urgency as investors have no clue when the deal is going to close. This lack of transparency is a tell-tale sign, something is not right. Usually, for any new projects, ICOs have a large audience on social handles, creating a platform for transparent and open discussions. Without such transparency and real-time updates on token sales, investors must be cautious to avoid these. 6. Marketing Strategy: Usually, a genuine project would adopt long-term methodologies. However, a fake crypto project will aggressively push its products with quick returns and no long-term planning. Do consult among your friends and experts before committing to a project. 7. Be Cautious: Swindlers will create fake accounts, use fake videos with prominent faces and lead the investors astray. If such is the case, make sure to trace the information to its source to establish credibility. 8. Fraudulent URLs: Most hoaxes start with a fraudulent website. If the website is not secured and lacks the “lock icon” in its URL, chances are the website is unsafe and the project is an outright scam. Also, ensure the new coin is trading on popular exchanges. Vigilance is the key to avoiding getting scammed. While scammers and fraudsters are always looking for new ways to swindle people of their money, investors should leverage digital platforms and the incessant information access to effective use. Before