You sit down at the breakfast table with your coffee. As the yawns squeeze out of you and you wipe the sleep from your eyes, you pull out your phone to catch up on your emails.
Just routine stuff… spam, spam, free offer, Amazon invoice – wait, what’s this? Your cuteandreallycuddlyfluffypuppies.com account has been compromised and needs your immediate attention! 😱 You click the link to reset your password, glad you caught this email before it was too late.
You follow the prompts on the next screen and fill out your new password… little do you know, your cuteandreallycuddlyfluffypuppies.com account has been compromised. By you. Right now. That was a fake link from a fake address, and they got exactly what they wanted out of you!
Sound familiar? This is one of the most common tales of how scammers find their way into someone’s defenses. As digital security continues to improve, there is still one glaring vulnerability to even the best system – the human behind it!
Welcome back to The Guardian Papers, where digital heroes can get the base training they need to thwart villains’ underhanded attacks against them across the web3 world.
Email is often where scammers have a chance at getting directly to you. One miscalculation or momentary lapse of attention to detail could cause you a lot of hassle, so you’ve got to know how to keep yourself safe.
Miss a previous edition of The Guardian Papers? Catch up below!
First off, we definitely don’t want to imply that email is inherently insecure – many email providers have excellent security protocols put in place, and there are tons of tools out there for anyone who wants to beef up the actual protections in their email. The problem with email security is the person behind the keyboard… and it’s a vulnerability that isn’t going away.
Your email is a direct line to you. No matter your security infrastructure, if you’re getting a scammer’s email in front of you, you’re probably going to read the words they wrote. This direct access is the dream of all those fake Discord admins and help desks. They want that direct line so they can exploit your trust… because your security systems work for you. If they convince you, your security isn’t an issue.
For most people, email is the height of routine. When you are checking emails, you’re performing the same ritual you’ve done thousands of times. You may have many email accounts, only adding to the volume and frequency of your email checking ritual. When you do something day in and day out, over and over, you eventually become less attentive to the process overall.
As something becomes part of your routine, you eventually sort of automate it in your mind. How many things do you automatically do throughout the day without any real conscious thought? It’s the same for email. While the part of your brain that reads and parses the information in the emails may be present, other parts of your mind have moved on to other tasks.
This leads to some easy wins for scammers that would never work on your while at full attention.
How Did They Find Me!?
Honestly, how wouldn’t they find you? It’s important to remember that our data is everywhere, and we don’t typically consider email addresses private data. If it’s ever been out there, it’s still out there probably.
Let’s say Billy has a private, personal email address that he typically only shares with family and close friends, then he has another that he uses for work. Billy’s dad is fond of forwarding emails on occasion, and so drops a long chain email forward into Billy’s inbox once in a while. Billy’s friend Sally CCs him into a monthly newsletter that she sends out for their Karaoke Club. One day, Billy starts seeing large amounts of spam coming into his personal email account! 😨
What happened? Well you see, Tyrone from Karaoke Club was trying to get his friend Trevor to come to last month’s championship, so he forwarded him the newsletter. Trevor’s email account was compromised and the inbox contained Tyrone’s address, along with the CCd address of every other member of Karaoke club. Welcome to a list, Billy.
Let’s be honest though, it’s probably not the first time Billy has gotten scam emails at that address. He used to have it visible in his Facebook about section for years, and it’s still listed on an ancient and forgotten DeviantArt portfolio along with his real name. Also, he’s had this account for a long time and emailed lots of people. Each of those is a chain that connects to his email address. If any one link is discovered by the bad guys, the whole chain is in the open.
After that they can do a surprising amount to learn your behaviors. With a full-feature email service, they can theoretically tell exactly when you open the email, your operating system, your geolocation… all sorts of stuff that isn’t exactly secret, but gives you the shivers that they could know. Once they have this, it’s not hard to generalize demographics and predict who would be receptive to what scams.
Wolves Dressed as Sheep
Many of the ways people will attack you through your email fall right in line with our previous discussion about The Impersonator. In your email they know they have you in a format that you’re likely to overlook small details. If they know they can get past your spam filter, then they know there’s a good chance that you’ll at least click on their email.
They’ll try to mimic emails that you are likely to be receiving. There are lots of ways they could get an idea about what email lists you may be on, and not all of them are data breaches. A tracker in your browser could be feeding info about your behavior without necessarily doing anything nefarious to be flagged as malware by your safeguards.
Remember, legitimate businesses and individuals assign cookies and trackers all the time without any ill intent. We all click “Accept All Cookies” once in a while. Even if there’s just a .01% chance that any of those you click on has something harmful coming across, it’s just a matter of time.
Also consider that people are quite predictable with a large enough sample size. For every well-timed scam email you’ve ever received that seemed like they must be actually watching you, you’ve probably received two dozen weird ones that seemed to come out of left field. It’s just a numbers game. They’ll get it right sometimes.
If they’ve identified your email and the most likely services and addresses that can trick you, it’s only a matter of seeing what they can slide by.
In the case of this above example, the fake may seem obvious. After all, we’re here stretching our brains and thinking about scammers, but when someone comes across this email they may be distracted or in a hurry. Then, they could feel panicked that their MetaMask wallet has been compromised.
Notice that they color the email to draw the eyes directly to what they want you to see. The large notice at the top, and the button to “update now”. While we didn’t click that link, a quick mouseover revealed the target to be a proxy site, with a slug pointing to a long string of characters for a dAPP command. This link almost surely goes to a fake service site where you will be immediately asked to connect your wallet.
Oh, and also –“MҽtaMask”? That’s not an E. That’s an Abkhazian Che, a Cyrillic character that is entirely different from the latin “e”. If you’re not paying close attention though… it may be enough to not get them flagged for impersonation, while your eyes simply autocorrect that to “MetaMask”.
Also, check out that XM over there. That’s called a BIMI or Brand Indicator for Message Identification. These are verified trademark spaces, so a brand can submit a BIMI that won’t be copied anywhere else. This is a relatively new system that only works with some email providers, so you may notice a difference between impersonators and the emails they’re impersonating based on their mark. This isn’t always the case though, as some brands have not yet adopted BIMI… our emails here at Gala, for instance, do not ever use a BIMI.
That verification check mark doesn’t mean anything, it’s just part of the display name – like we saw with fake help admins in our imposter profile.
The dead giveaway is the return email though. Even half redacted, it should be pretty easy to tell that’s not from MetaMask. Why would MetaMask not send emails from their domain that users know and trust?
Straight to the Source
The important part here is that your email usually has your attention. If they can slide into your inbox, half their work is done. If they send out 10000 emails, what do you suppose the chances are that no one is careless enough to click without thinking?
That’s the end goal for these scammers. They know that most people in the digital world are protected in some way from bad actors, but they also know that you hold the keys to your security mechanisms. The best defenses in the world don’t mean much if you willingly click to their site and give them your information.
This is why The Guardian Papers are here. These scammers know that there is always someone to prey on because people aren’t informed. If we all know what to look for, the fruit they’re looking for gets waaaaay higher in the tree. Maybe they’ll just go find another tree to climb.
Digital Guardians
No one is going to ensure your security on the web. You have to take matters into your own hands and change behaviors if you want to be safe. While it may seem overwhelming to think of all the ways the bad guys can get to you, it’s really not that hard. If you learn the ways that they come at you, before long it’ll be easy to spot the attackers long before they breach your walls.
We learn. We teach. If everyone is equipped to deal with them, digital villains don’t stand a chance.
That’ll do it for this week’s Guardian Papers! We’ll be back though as we dive into common ways people use Discord and other messaging apps to prey on the unaware!
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the advent of the internet revolutionized the world of poker, breathing fresh new life into an already beloved game played all over the world.
Online poker platforms emerged, offering players the opportunity to play from the comfort of their homes. Texas Hold ‘Em in particular, which was known casually in poker circles as “the Cadillac of poker,’ quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, attracting a whole new type of player to the game.
The early 2000s saw a significant boom in online poker, particularly after Chris Moneymaker, an amateur player who qualified through an online satellite tournament, won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in 2003. This victory inspired millions to try their hand at online poker, believing they too could win big.
By combining the streamlined appeal of video games with the thrill of gambling on well-known and trustworthy games of skill, online poker companies made billions of dollars, one $50 deposit at a time.
Despite the convenience and accessibility of online poker, there are elements of live poker that are typically missed by an online remote experience. There’s something special about sitting down at a green felt table for a game as exciting and historically rich as poker.
Physically Reading Players
In live poker, the ability to read physical tells and body language is a crucial skill and an intrinsic part of the game. Players can observe their opponents’ reactions, postures and facial expressions to gain insights into their typical behaviors with certain hands. On top of that, a player will typically spend a lot more time in a live game seat than an online one, giving opposing players more of an opportunity to draw conclusions about their patterns and behaviors.
Communication at the Table
Live poker provides a social atmosphere where players can engage in conversations, banter and psychological games. This social interaction adds a layer of depth to the experience. Sometimes live players will bond of a big pot hand in a way that can lead to a lifelong friendship, while you’ll seldom find a similar bonding experience in an online game. Even the most serious live poker players will tell you they enjoy conversations they have had at poker tables, or that they have kept in touch with people they met at memorable card games.
Even with its inherent connection to money and wagering, poker is a distinctly social game, and one of its most enjoyable aspects is the camaraderie of sitting around a table for hours, having refreshments and engaging in light conversation with other players. Some players even like to use this conversational aspect as an important dimension of strategy, allowing their friendliness or intimidation tactics to influence the ways their opponents act and react within hands.
The “Dealer” Experience
The presence of a human dealer who shuffles and deals the cards, manages the pot, and controls the pace of the game adds a tangible authenticity to the game. The dealer also acts as an impartial mediator, ensuring the rules are followed and calling out the action in a convenient way that makes the game easy for players to follow.
Even the physical game components themselves are a very enjoyable piece of what makes live poker such a popular game throughout the world. The shuffling, passing and holding of cards is extremely satisfying to the players. Playing cards are a timeless form of gaming and perhaps the most popular type of game in the world. There are hundreds and hundreds of card games that can be played with the standard deck alone, and over a hundred different games within the card game family we call Poker. Additionally, almost all board games have some kind of card element. People love playing with cards.
Even with all the magic of live poker, online poker offers several benefits that enhance the gaming experience in ways live poker cannot:
Easier to Find Players
Online platforms host millions of players from around the world, making it easy to find a game at any time. This vast pool of players ensures a diverse range of skill levels and game types. Whether you’re looking for a heads up showdown, a ring game or a large multi-table tournament, you can be almost certain that the type of game you’re looking for is somewhere on the internet, just waiting for you to take a seat.
Instant Access
Players can log in and start playing instantly without the need to travel to a physical location. This convenience is a major draw for many players. Even when you factor in things like creating an account, KYC procedures and jumping through deposit hoops, chances are that these obstacles will be far easier than traveling to the nearest casino game.
This aspect also makes it easier than with live games for players to get up and switch seats as often as they like. When you know there is another seat waiting for you at another table only 30 seconds away with a fresh set of players, you’ve got more options and you can play more freely.
Without the need for things like shuffling and physical dealing, online poker typically has faster gameplay, allowing players to play far more hands per hour compared to live poker. This can drastically influence play style for many players, usually resulting in tighter and more mathematical gameplay online. The more hands you play, the truer the statistics and the odds become and the less likely that there will be probability outliers.
I’ve known online players who will keep a game going for hours while barely paying attention to it, simply folding every hand until they see pocket Kings, pocket Aces or AK. This is an extremely tight mode of gameplay made possible by online poker, but even that method has its pitfalls– If you have to wait 60 hands to see that high pocket pair, then chances are you’ll expect to win once you get it, which could make you less likely to fold against someone else’s drawn straight or flush. You can still lose with good hole cards.
Less Patience Required
The pace of online poker means there is less waiting time between hands, catering to those who prefer a faster-paced game. The addition of buttons like “Fold to Any Bet” or “Check/Fold” have also given online players the ability to auto-select their coming action based on the action of those before them in the round. Thus, a great deal of strategic play in online poker has morphed into what I call “reaction time” strategy. If you have auto-selected your action and therefore act instantly, you’re indicating that you barely had to think about it. On the other hand, if you almost let your action timer run out before calling, checking or folding, you’re showing opponents that you were really thinking about this one.
Multiple Games at Once
This is one of those things that’s entirely impossible in the world of live poker and only became a reality because of online gameplay. Online platforms allow players to participate in multiple games simultaneously, significantly increasing the potential for winnings and providing a more engaging experience. In the heyday of online poker, I was often playing on 4 cash game tables at a time, and I remember speaking with skilled online players who would play more than that simultaneously.
One friend used to say that he’d always have a tilt table in play to ensure that he could play responsibly on the other ones. He’d use that table to make wild bets, play with rags and basically blow off steam whenever he was mad about the results of a hand from one of the more legit tables.
Evolution of Poker into the 21st Century
Both live and online poker have evolved to meet the demands of modern players, each bringing unique advancements to the game:
Live Play as a Spectator Sport
Professional poker has transformed into an exciting spectator sport, with live broadcasts showing players’ hands and featuring expert commentary. This transparency and analysis bring a new level of engagement and education for viewers. While professional players probably have mixed feelings about their gameplay becoming so transparent, aspiring players have been able to learn all sorts of new tactics from watching the pros. Overall, the adoption of poker as a spectator sport has elevated the game throughout the world.
In the same way that casinos have continued to enhance security and grow with the latest technologies, online poker platforms have continuously improved their security measures to combat cheating and bot usage. This has led to stronger, more secure platforms that provide a fair playing environment for all users.
The integrity of the game of poker is paramount to its enjoyability. If someone is rigging the system somehow, it’s good for the whole poker community when that person is discovered and removed from the game. In the Wild West, we may have had outlaws with aces up their sleeves, but the new outlaw can sometimes take the form of a hacker with a bot network up their sleeve.
Despite the differences, both online and live poker remain immortal games of chance, skill and strategy. Whether played on a phone, PC or at a live casino table, the core essence of poker endures, captivating players worldwide.
Join the Fun with Sweep It Poker
Experience the best of casual and free online poker with Gala’s first poker title, Sweep It Poker. Enjoy completely free gameplay, and earn more chips each day to accumulate entries in the Weekly Sweepstakes. Sweep It Poker is not gambling. It’s just a chance to play some cards with Gala players from around the world, sweetened with a weekly chance to win some $GALA.
Join the vibrant community of poker enthusiasts. See you at the tables, and we look forward to sharing some more poker content with you again soon!
So now that you’ve got all that land from the recent Plains Frontier sale or from May Mayhem– including a bunch of duplicates– You’re probably wondering what you can do with them…
What else? Smash them together to make even rarer land!
With the initial launch of Project Cerberus V1 (coming soon), all VOX landowners will have the ability to use this feature, merging and improving their collected land as they please.
For example, if you have 3 Common Plains, you can smash them together into 1 Uncommon Plains!
But you do need a piece of special VOXTech to achieve this.
The IsoCube
IsoCubes are what VOX use as a powersource. Need to run a teleporter? Use an Isocube. Power a starship? IsoCube. They are so powerful that they can help bind full parcels of land together and improve it! It is the purest form of a voxel cube in the universe.
There are different types of IsoCubes, from common ones that can be found in nature, to the super rare ones that can only be purchased from vendors, which are greatly coveted by all VOXkind.
Merge!
Ok, so you now have your IsoCube and your 3 identical parcels of land. What’s next?
Here’s a step-by-step:
Select 3 duplicate lands (same type, same rarity).
Add your IsoCube.
Hit the merge button and watch the planet-shaking creation magic happen!
The above image shows the merging of 3 Common Fantasy lands into an Uncommon Fantasy land. It includes all adjustments in terms of what resources can be collected and the number of workers allowed on the land.
Here’s the really cool part: This process actually creates (on the fly) a brand new land NFT.🤯
I know, right? It’s one of those smooth and convenient web3 gaming experiences we’ve all been waiting for: The ability to create and mint something in a game. No fuss, no muss. Easy peasy, geometreezy.
Just imagine the possibilities with that functionality in the future! It’s like our own real world IsoCube technological Power! Mwuahaahaa!! Seriously though, we’ll only use that power for good; in other words, to create fun game experiences that are adorable and addictive.
We are thrilled to announce that David Bianchi’s RZR, the premiere series of Gala Film, has made a significant mark in the entertainment industry with a Primetime Emmy® Award nomination!
Mena Suvari has been nominated for Outstanding Performer in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her stellar role as Detective Thompson in this groundbreaking series.
RZR IS OFFICIALLY NOMINATED FOR A PRIME TIME EMMY® 🏆🏆
Visionary creator David Bianchi, known for his deep appreciation for future dystopian science fiction, saw Gala Film as the perfect platform to launch RZR. As a web3 enthusiast, Bianchi was drawn to Gala Film’s innovative approach that aligns seamlessly with the technological themes explored in his series.
Gala Film’s decentralized platform, empowered by web3 technology, allowed Bianchi to deliver the gritty and compelling story of RZR in an authentic and engaging manner.
With Gala Film’s creatively empowering tools, such as unlockable Expansion content and a gamified Mystery Box reward system, Bianchi was able to craft a unique viewing experience. Additionally, fans of the show can support in a truly unique way, buying NFT “Moments” to unlock daily rewards. These web3 add-ons provided an interactive layer that takes fans deeper into the story, making the series not just a passive viewing experience but an immersive journey.
Mena Suvari’s Nomination
From the moment the Gala Film team witnessed Mena Suvari’s incredible performance as Detective Thompson, it was clear that an Emmy campaign was in order. The team’s unanimous decision to back Suvari’s performance has paid off with this prestigious nomination. We are elated to see her recognized for her exceptional talent and dedication to her role.
A Milestone for Web3
Congratulations to Mena Suvari, our Detective Thompson! We’re so thankful of the talented, hardworking RZR family, and our fans who helped us get here! 💪 We’re making history!
This nomination marks a monumental achievement for the web3 film industry that we are pioneering, being the first of its kind for a web3 film company. It signifies a new era where decentralized platforms like Gala Film are gaining recognition alongside traditional media giants.
This nomination is a testament to the high-quality production and performance that Gala Film is committed to delivering, and we’re just getting started.
Celebrating the Team
The success of RZR is a collaborative victory, perfectly exemplifying the extraordinary work of David Bianchi, Mena Suvari and the entire RZR team. Their dedication, creativity and hard work have set an incredibly high standard for future projects on the Gala Film platform.
Looking Ahead
We are honored to have RZR kick off our platform, setting a benchmark for production and performance quality. This nomination goes beyond highlighting extraordinary talent to showcase the potential of what’s to come as Gala Film continues to expand its catalog of films and series.
Congratulations to the RZR team on this groundbreaking achievement. We eagerly await the September 15th Primetime Emmy results and look forward to celebrating many more milestones with our growing community. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from Gala Film and continue to enjoy the captivating journey of RZR.
Join us in rooting for Mena Suvari and the entire RZR team as we celebrate this incredible achievement in the world of web3 cinema!For more information and to watch RZR, visit Gala Film.
Hip-hop has been buzzing about The God MC’s first solo studio album in 15 years. It’s finally here, with G.O.D.S. NETWORK REB7RTH landing on Friday, July 26th. To celebrate the release, Rakim has kicked off a partnership with Gala Music.
First, he dropped the “PENDULUM SWING” NFT on Gala Music a full three weeks before you could hear the song anywhere else. Digital reward enabled copies from the limited NFT run are still available while supplies last. Pick one up to access daily $MUSIC rewards.
Today the Hot Gala Summer continues with a special and indefinitely exclusive instrumental EP with choice tracks from the record. These 7 instrumental tracks won’t be found anywhere but Gala Music, and they’ve all just dropped as limited-supply NFTs.
This instrumental EP is sure to be a hit for hip-hop connoisseurs all over the world.
The 1st beat created for “GODS NETWORK REB7RTH” that went on to become the song “BE ILL” features Masta Killa of the Wu-Tang Clan nd Kurupt Young Gotti of Tha Dogg Pound. Official video for “BE ILL” is available worldwide online now.
This track takes the listener through a range of emotion highlighting everything GREAT about Hip-Hop culture and how a simple instrumental can guide our moods in a positive way. This instrumental ultimately became ”Now is the Time” where Rakim keeps his sword sharp amongst the likes of B.G, Hus Kingpin and Compton Menance. Welcome Home B.G.
One of the most beautiful pieces of music ever created, “Effect Mode” is truly a blessing to the culture. As it appears on “GODS NETWORK”, Rakim carefully crafted a masterpiece alongside a full orchestral choir and violin quartet to truly bring his production ideals to light. The late great Nipsey Hussle alongside Rakim, Planet Asia, Louis King, Snoop Dogg and more handle vocal duties herein thus providing for an unforgettable musical experience. “Love is the Message”
A fun, club-like anthem showcasing the versatile production chops of Rakim. In true unorthodox fashion, Rakim turned an otherwise club inspired anthem into a beautiful composition honoring our fallen comrades and the trials and tribulations that accompany all aspects of life from the perspective of the emcee. Rest in Peace DMX and Fred the Godson. “Gods Playground”
This 90’s inspired boom bap classic rendition was utilized to provide Rakim with his 1st ever full posse cut over the course of his 30+ year career. With an infectious loop reminiscent of the golden era 90’s sound, any Hip-Hop hear across the globe is sure to nod their heads to this absolute monster banger. Album wise, Rakim who handled rhymes, production and cuts is joined by Kxng Crooked, LA the Darkman, Canibus and Chino XL for “Pendulum Swing”.
This melodic banger utilizes keys, harps, drums, bass and more to take the listener on an electrifying ride through the psyche of Rakim’s illustrious Golden Era revival. Longtime “Who’s the Best Emcee?”, Kool G Rap joins Rakim in the duo’s 1st appearance together on the mic in over 20 years for the hit record “International”.
The infectious beat embodies everything great about Hip-Hop Culture. Driven by pulsating Drums and Bass, the listener is instantly taken back to the classic feel of early Jay-Z, Wu-Tang, Mobb Deep, Nas and more. Known as “Sign of Se7en”, the eerie rhymes of the late great Prodigy kick off the track backed by Method Man, Big Twins and X-Raided for a perfect ending to an otherwise flawless album dedicated to everything we have grown to love once again via Hip-Hop culture.
Unlock Rewards
When you collect Gala Music track NFTs, you’re also opening the door to daily rewards in the form of $MUSIC tokens. To start the flow, just host your tracks by pairing them with an active Jukebox Node at no additional cost.
You can unhost and trade NFT tracks any time you want– they’re yours. If you’re interested in leveling up your involvement in the future of music for even more daily $MUSIC rewards, consider running a Jukebox Node of your own. Each Node starts with room for 10 hosted NFT tracks, and running a node is easy in the background of your computer.
