Ask ten people what the Metaverse is, and each will have a different answer. And each answer will be correct in its own way, because today there is no true interpretation of this new world for us.
“To me, the Metaverse is a concept that describes a virtual reality that goes beyond our understanding of the real world. It is more than just the world or the Universe we know. It may include various dimensions, alternative realities, or even forms of existence that we cannot yet imagine,” Vladimir Okhotnikov sees the Metaverse in his own way, in accordance with his own beliefs, experience and perception.
Vladimir is one of the first to encounter virtual reality technology, when most people had not yet paid attention to it. His unique ability to see the potential in new technologies and anticipate their impact on the future opened the door for him to the world of blockchain.
He is actively working on implementing his ideas, striving to create something unique and significant in the field of blockchain. His work and findings could fundamentally change the current field, and he prefers to keep the details secret for now in order to maintain a competitive advantage.
Vladimir Okhotnikov agreed to talk on the topic of Metaverses and future technologies in general. Let's find out whether a different reality will help defeat poverty and eradicate the rich.
A small country with big ambitions
If you haven't heard of Liberland, then nothing surprising. This is a small microstate that declared its independence in April 2015 in the territory between Croatia and Serbia.
The country's ideology is libertarian-oriented, which means protecting individual freedoms and supporting a free market economy. Liberland strives to create a unique space where limited government intervention is a priority.
Vit Jedlicka, a founder of Liberland, reflected the spirit of the American Revolution by combining republican, democratic and meritocratic principles.
“We have created an innovative state, and it is managed through blockchain. All areas of activity, from the justice system to voting, including the right of veto, are available to every citizen. For example, you can actively participate in the distribution of the country's budget. You can see where, how much and why certain amounts are spent,” Jedlicka commented on a system that works and does not fail, and, moreover, performs the same functions as traditional states, but with a more modern and liberal approach.
“In Liberland, taxes are voluntary and citizens are rewarded for paying them. This sounds like a utopia, but while others are talking about it, we are really making government processes transparent and efficient,” summed up the founder of Liberland.
Vladimir Okhotnikov: Vit Jedlicka is the first who decided to overcome poverty
The Metaverse, as a concept that combines various technologies, is a tool that can be used for various purposes. In this context, it does not in itself position itself as a solution to eradicate poverty or create a level playing field.
For the Metaverse to have an impact on poverty, equal access to technology is important to ensure social justice. Vit Jedlicka says, “If the possibilities provided by virtual reality are limited, it will reinforce existing social and economic inequalities. Without attention to social justice issues, the Metaverse will lead to a widening gap between rich and poor. Therefore, Liberland paid attention to access to technology so that virtual reality does not divide society into classes, but becomes a universal tool for social development.”
Liberland shows a completely different approach to organizing society. The fundamental difference is the use of meritocracy, where the merits of citizens are taken into account not only in voting, but also in the judicial system.
Merits accumulated by citizens can be exchanged or frozen as part of the staking system. This mechanism not only determines their influence, but also gives citizens the status of co-authors of justice. This becomes a kind of capital, reflecting the degree of individual involvement in social processes.
Abandoning mandatory taxation in favor of voluntary contributions is a really good idea. Citizens, contributing their money in this way demonstrate responsibility and interest in the well-being of the country. At the same time, the government focuses only on ensuring security and resolving diplomatic issues, which precisely fits into the ideals of Liberland.
Vit Jedlicka: Liberland is destroyed, but not broken
Liberland is a project that does not isolate citizens from participating in the life of the state, but rather encourages them to do so.
However, not everyone shares Vit Jedlicka’s desire to make the state the way it should really be. Against this backdrop, Croatian authorities invaded Liberland in mid-September. A group of police and forestry representatives confiscated the personal property of citizens.
As a result of the incident, all buildings were completely destroyed, including the security building in Liberland. Witnesses talk about the unacceptability of such treatment and complain that their personal belongings were illegally confiscated.
Representatives of Liberland appealed to the international community and the Croatian authorities to stop illegal actions against citizens, describing all this as “unnecessary violence.” They stressed that this violates their borders and sovereignty.
Despite this incident, Liberland plans to continue its path to an innovative future. Vit Jedlicka noted that the country intends to continue moving in the same direction, and also announced the launch of two new projects - the construction of a hotel and the creation of a huge Adventure Park in the very center of the country.
Conclusion
Regardless of the circumstances, one thing is clear: with the rise of the Metaverses, we are entering a new era where traditional ideas about work and the role of government are changing, and value is determined solely by skills transferred to virtual reality.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).