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๐Ÿ‘€๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿฒ ๐—ข๐—ป๐—น๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐—•๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐—œ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜€ ๐—ฌ๐—ผ๐˜‚ ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜ ๐—ฅ๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ต๐˜ ๐—ก๐—ผ๐˜„๐Ÿ’ฏโœ…
๐Ÿง ๐—›๐—ผ๐˜„ ๐—ง๐—ผ ๐—š๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—ง๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐˜†๐Ÿ˜
January 07, 2024
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โ“๐——๐—ผ๐—ป'๐˜ ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ธ๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ, ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป๐Ÿ‘‚ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜€๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ? ๐—›๐—ถ๐˜ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ โ–ถ๏ธ๐—ฃ๐—Ÿ๐—”๐—ฌ ๐—ฏ๐˜‚๐˜๐˜๐—ผ๐—ป!

Remember, when starting an online business, it's crucial to do thorough research, understand your target audience, and create a solid business plan. Additionally, staying updated on industry trends and continuously adapting to the changing market landscape is essential for long-term success.

Choose a business idea that aligns with your skills, interests, and resources. Building an online business takes time and effort, but with dedication and the right approach, you can turn your passion into a profitable venture.

Open a T-Shirt Online Shop

Platforms like Printful and Shopify have made it insanely simple to start an online t-shirt business for anyone with a speck of imagination and an eye for design. But it doesnโ€™t need to be an online t-shirt shop; you can set up an ecommerce shop selling anything. The key here is to learn about print on demand, which forms the base for such businesses.

Dropshipping Business

Dropshipping is the easiest option to start an ecommerce business without having to buy any products in advance. Use dropshipping apps to find thousands of products from suppliers to sell online. Then sell to customers across the world while building and promoting your own brand, all without needing to invest in warehousing or manufacturing costs. You donโ€™t need to pay for inventory until itโ€™s sold to an actual customer.

Kickstarter/Indiegogo Advisor

Grabbing the attention of curious browsers on the most popular crowdsourcing platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo is a tough job. If youโ€™re inventive and know how to tap into human emotion, then this is a niche worth exploring. Many aspiring entrepreneurs look for personalized advice to carry their campaigns to the finish line, so try offering action-oriented eBooks or online courses targeted at this particular audience.

SEO Expert

One of the online worldโ€™s hottest professions at the moment, this business is a gold mine for the tech-savvy entrepreneurs. While everyoneโ€™s slightly obsessed with getting their sites SEO optimized, not many people can actually wrap their heads around this topic. If you decide to go into this field, you can think about offering link building, content creation, ecommerce SEO optimization, and similar one-off packages.

Selling Online Courses

Nicholas McIntosh has built a really strong personal brand. Heโ€™s the founder of a software and business training company called The Founders Hub and makes a LOT of money teaching people how to sell what they know best. And what he knows best is how to sell. If youโ€™ve got some serious expertise, start making money out of it by selling online courses or simply teaching online.

Bug Testing

Bug testing is a service that no software company can ignore. If you can build a platform to crowdsource expert skills and resources to tackle this area, then you have solid chances of turning a profit. One of the most unique online business ideas, providing bug testing resources can be a lucrative way to boost your income. To find relevant jobs, go through the listings on ZipRecruiter and Indeed.

Video Producer

YouTube is the second largest site in the world, so thereโ€™s no surprise that video is becoming one of the main communication mediums for businesses of all types and sizes. If you have video filming or editing knowledge, it wonโ€™t take you long to build your clientele. Everything from video production workshops and video editing services to soundtrack libraries and DIY tutorials can appeal to the business world. Producing a video might be one of the most attractive online business ideas with lots of creativity and challenges.

Graphic Designer

Graphic designers are always in demand from small businesses to large multinationals. Starting a graphic design business can allow you to tap into this great opportunity. Showcasing your experience with your past portfolio can help you gain customers without aggressive outreach.

Website Developer

In the same vein as graphic design, website development is in constant demand as businesses are always trying to upgrade and improve their websites to get more sales. This means that you can work on new and existing websites concurrently, and get to try new things all the time. If being constantly challenged is what you are looking for, website development could be the best online business for you.

App Development

Apps are an amazing lucrative market, so it is not surprising that more and more companies are investing in them. This means that there is a growing need for app developers to create their applications. Offering app development is a great opportunity as you can work on vastly different applications on a daily basis.

Theme Designer

Just like a website developer, a theme designer is working with websites but in a different way. Choosing theme designer as your side hustle idea means building new website themes for business to use for their website. This could mean researching popular themes, identifying their shortcomings, and creating a theme that solves these pain points while remaining true to the popularity of the previous theme. If you are an expert in a certain industry, creating themes for this industry could see you reap much success.

Translator

If you are gifted with more than one language but have no interest in teaching others, try translating. Many companies need their website and collateral translated when they move into a different market. You can help them achieve it, while also keeping active in more than one language. Keep in mind the most common way of billing is cost per word, so price wisely to make smart money from this great online business idea.

Social Media Manager

Social media is an integral part of any business but itโ€™s time-consuming and ever-changing โ€“ so really quite difficult to keep up with and, more importantly, capitalize on. Many business owners are willing to outsource this time-intensive task, so itโ€™s a great opportunity for social media fanatics. Bundle together a few interesting offers, such as โ€œStartup social media kitโ€ or โ€œSmall Business Social Media Starter Kitโ€ that encompass everything from social media graphics to analytics reports and the seamless experience will bring you more clients than you expect.

Remote Customer Service Agent

If you enjoy helping people but donโ€™t want to be stuck in a call center or office all day, become a remote customer service agent and help people from the comfort of your own home. Choose between helping people via chat, email, phone, video, or other ways and save the day for people every day. This may not make you your first million, but it feels great to help people.

Virtual Assistant

This is one of the best online business ideas to pursue from home. As a virtual assistant, you would be answering emails, writing content, and doing other tasks on behalf of businesses The role can mean anything from a data entry person to a researcher, so, be open to trying new things and uncover new skills while getting paid.

Remote Sales Team

As more and more companies take on the lean, mean approach to business, outsourcing cold calling and telesales functions becomes a sort of standard in the startup and small business environment. Whether you want to sell highly-targeted sales pitches or customer data, such as phone numbers and email addresses, the potential is vast.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is where a person promotes a product that another merchant sells. Using advertising, social media, blogging, and more, an affiliate marketer can attract customers to their landing page. When customers click a link to buy the product they will then be brought to the merchantโ€™s store to buy the product. As an internet business idea, this is great for anyone no matter their previous experience.

Lead Generation Service Provider

Most businesses are chasing customers and looking for ways to increase conversion rates. This means investing in activities like lead generation that could be time-consuming. Because of this, many companies outsource the task to a lead generation service provider. If you are good on the phone and enjoy researching and doing outreach to strangers, then this is your calling!

Become an Influencer

An influencer is someone with a large follower base on social media who is seen as an expert in a particular area, like makeup or fitness. These people keep busy by posting regularly about their lives and promote products which they feel are good to possess. What is great about this internet business idea is that you can get paid to promote a business to your following, similar to affiliate marketing. Influencer marketing is a huge online business trend right now that you can capitalize on. Try your hand at Vlogging and starting a Podcast, which are under-utilized channels of communication for influencers right now.

Handmade Goods Shop

It can take you less than a day to build a storefront to showcase your work and connect with customers on platforms like Amazon and Etsy. If youโ€™re into crafts and DIY, itโ€™s definitely a viable business option to consider. You can make the goods yourself or source them from suppliers in Hong Kong and China. If youโ€™re in a country that has ePacket shipping, sourcing products is likely to be a better and more cost-effective option.

Become a Private Chef

If cooking is one of your personal passions, there are dozens of opportunities to turn it into a decent business venture. You can start by setting up a catering website, experimenting with pop-up food stalls and local food markets, or joining platforms that encourage cooking enthusiasts to squeeze some money out of their passion. And if youโ€™re not camera-shy, you can teach people how to cook special meals by selling online classes.

Nutritionist

The trend of healthy eating is here to say. Yet with so much contradictory advice online about what is good for us and what is not, more and more people turn to professional nutritionists for specialist tips and guidance. You can easily find free online courses to learn the fundamentals of this profession and start offering personalized nutrition plans online.

Get Baking!

From freshly baked butter croissants to colorful macaroons and pillow-soft morning bagels โ€“ the world of the great bake-off is a rich and ever-growing place. The beautiful thing about the online world is that a great passion can be turned into a great business almost overnight. You can start an online bakery or move your existing bakeshop online. Platforms like Shopify make it easy to sell baked goods online.

Natural & Organic Beauty Shop

Online shoppers are getting more and more conscientious about their choices, and especially so when it comes to beauty products. Running a beauty shop thatโ€™s built on strong ethos and values that resonate with nature and animal lovers is one of the hottest online business ideas right now. Tropic Skin Care seems to be doing a great job connecting with these shoppers.

Womenโ€™s Sportswear

With LuluLemon spearheading the way, online sportswear shops for women are quickly climbing to the top of the most popular idea amongst ecommerce entrepreneurs. Since yoga pants are clearly here to stay, itโ€™s safe to say that the athleisure trend is one of the best and, perhaps, the least explored niches in ecommerce right now.

3D-Printed Products

One of the biggest technological breakthroughs of this age, 3D printing is dictating a new strategy in the ecommerce world. Some of the best selling 3D-printed products include jewelry, home accessories, bicycle parts, tech accessories and more. For some beautiful examples check out 3DigitalCooks, and DanitPeleg.

Ethical Fashion Brand

One thing is clear โ€“ clothes and accessories will always be one of the super-profitable online business ideas for an ecommerce site. However, with so many boutiques and fashion online stores in existence, rising above the noise is extremely difficult. Yet, one promising idea that savvy entrepreneurs have probably already noticed is the booming trend of โ€œethical fashionโ€. Brands, such as Pachacuti, People Tree, Sea Salt, and Matt & Nat have successfully crafted their brands around the concept of organic, ethical production of fashion items and are riding the trend to the top of the strongest brands list.

Mystery Objects Shop

If you have an eye for quirky stuff, maybe running a mystery object shop could help you combine the desire for unusual business ideas with a steady source of income. Muddy Creatures are nailing the concept of a surprise purchase that taps into the explorer instinct many of us possess. Thereโ€™s no exact science or skill fueling this business idea โ€“ let your imagination go wildโ€ฆ

Online Researcher

Although it sounds like a too-good-to-be-true idea, some people are successfully earning a living off their skill to find information online. From data research for infographics to market research for budding startups, talented researchers know that you can put a price tag on knowledge.

Proofreader

If you love reading, becoming a proofreader could be your calling. Have other people send you their manuscripts for books, research papers, or whatever else you are interested in reading about, and give them honest feedback before they publish their works of art. This job requires attention to detail and expertise in the area to ensure that everything is ready to print.

CV Writing

Banging out a winning CV is a mission impossible for many. If youโ€™re good with words and know how to highlight peopleโ€™s best qualities, CV writing could be a pretty sweet place to start a business. Additionally, you can sell slick CV templates that will help job hunters to get noticed faster and yield better results.

Speechwriting

Giving speeches is a terrifying experience. Giving bad speechesโ€ฆ Well, no one wants to be in that situation. Wordsmiths have a hugely valuable skill to win people over using nothing else but the power of well-strung sentences. If you can write, cash in on this skill by crafting speeches that make birthdays, weddings, award ceremonies, or political debates a more memorable experience.

Self-Published Author

If you have the next Harry Potter manuscript sitting in your drawer and the publishing industry hasnโ€™t been kind to you, try self-publishing. Using tools like Amazonโ€™s direct publishing or working with dedicated consultants like I_Am. You not only get the satisfaction of pushing your work out there, but also an opportunity to earn residual income.Donโ€™t think you can write a good novel? Then stick to what you know โ€“ self-help is a money-making genre!

Ghostwriter

If writing is your thing but you are lacking a topic to write about, become a ghostwriter for someone else. If normally requires you to write about someone or something in a lot of detail. It can take time and much research to finish this type of project so be sure to have a few months free to give to it.

Content Curation

The German Economist Schumpeter once said that there are โ€œno original ideasโ€, only new combinations of old ones. Curation of curiosity-fueling content is an intriguing and little-known business model. One of the best success stories out there is The Founders Hub โ€“ a platform that describes itself as โ€œan inventory of cross-disciplinary interestingness, spanning web development, writing, marketing, social media, psychology, philosophy, and moreโ€The subscription-based model and successful utilization of affiliate links have turned the blog into a self-sustaining business.

Foreign Language Teacher

Everyone knows that the quickest way to learn a new language is to mingle with native speakers. If you were lucky enough to be born in an English, Spanish, French, or any other predominantly spoken language country, then missing out on the opportunity to cash in on the skills you take for granted is exactly that โ€“ missing out! Use online communication tools, such as Skype or Zoom, to connect with learners and leverage your privileges. Time is usually money on the internet, and this can be a great way to earn some while helping others.

Conclusion

In the dynamic landscape of online business, the opportunities are boundless, catering to a wide range of skills, passions, and market demands. The 36 online business ideas presented here offer a diverse array of options for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Whether you are drawn to the world of e-commerce, digital services, or creative endeavors, each idea comes with its unique potential for success. The ever-expanding digital realm allows for global reach, making it possible to transform a personal passion into a thriving online venture.

Starting an online business demands careful planning, market research, and a clear understanding of your target audience. As you embark on this journey, consider your strengths, interests, and the current trends in the online sphere. Tailor your approach to meet the needs of your chosen market, and stay adaptable to the evolving demands of the digital landscape.

With the right mindset, dedication, and a well-executed strategy, you can carve a niche for yourself in the vast world of online entrepreneurship. The key lies not only in choosing a business idea that aligns with your skills but also in your ability to provide value to your audience and adapt to the ever-changing dynamics of the online business environment.

Now armed with a comprehensive list of online business ideas and insights into the diverse possibilities that the digital realm offers, take the next step towards turning your entrepreneurial dreams into a reality. Whether you're considering e-commerce, digital services, or creative pursuits, the online world awaits your innovative ideas and dedication to make a mark in the digital marketplace.

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Iโ€™m an AI specialist and content strategist with a background in psychology. I help small and medium-sized businesses use AI to save time and resources. With experience as a job consultant and educator, I combine technology and human insight to create valuable solutions โ€” always with a practical approach and a touch of humor.

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5 Common Mistakes That Make You Vulnerable to Scammers
How to prevent your bank account being cleaned out by scammers and hackers

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The threat of scams has become increasingly prevalent. As technology advances, so do the tactics employed by scammers to deceive and exploit unsuspecting individuals. While these scams can take various forms, from phishing emails to fake tech support calls, they often rely on exploiting common mistakes made by their targets. By understanding and avoiding these mistakes, you can significantly reduce your vulnerability to scammers and protect yourself from potential harm.

Key Takeaway: Recognizing and addressing the five common mistakes discussed in this article can help you stay vigilant and safeguard your personal and financial information from the ever-evolving tactics of scammers.

Sharing Personal Information

One of the most common mistakes that make individuals vulnerable to scams is sharing personal information with untrusted sources. Scammers often employ tactics such as online contests, fake surveys, or impersonating legitimate organizations to trick people into divulging sensitive details like addresses, phone numbers, or financial information.

Why Sharing Personal Information Is Risky

Sharing personal information can have severe consequences, as it can be used for identity theft, financial fraud, or other malicious activities. For instance, a scammer might use your personal details to open fraudulent accounts or make unauthorized purchases in your name. Real-life scenarios have shown how individuals have been duped into sharing sensitive information, leading to significant financial losses and emotional distress.

How to Protect Your Personal Information

To protect your personal information, it's crucial to verify the legitimacy of websites and online services before providing any details. Look for signs of authenticity, such as secure connections (HTTPS) and trusted third-party certifications. Additionally, be cautious about sharing personal information on social media platforms, as this information can be easily accessed by scammers.

If you suspect that your personal information has been compromised, act quickly. Contact your financial institutions, credit bureaus, and relevant authorities to report the incident and take necessary steps to mitigate potential damage.

Giving Remote Access to Untrusted Sources

Another mistake that can leave you vulnerable to scammers is granting remote access to your computer or device to untrusted sources. Scammers often impersonate tech support personnel or other trusted entities to trick individuals into allowing them to remotely control their devices.

Risks of Granting Remote Access

By gaining remote access, scammers can potentially access sensitive information stored on your device, install malware, or even hold your data for ransom. Common scams involving remote access include fake tech support calls or phishing emails claiming to be from legitimate companies and requesting remote access to "fix" a non-existent issue.

Scammers use a variety of software tools to gain access to victims' computers and steal banking details. Here are some of the most common ones:

Remote Access Tools (RATs)

These allow scammers to control your computer remotely:

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Keyloggers

These record your keystrokes to steal login details:

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  • Spyrix Free Keylogger
  • Phoenix Keylogger

Info Stealers & Banking Trojans

These extract stored passwords and banking details:

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Phishing & Fake Apps

Scammers also use fake banking apps and phishing sites to trick victims into entering their details.

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How to Protect Yourself

  • Never give remote access to your computer unless you trust the source.
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Verifying Legitimacy Before Granting Access

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Key Takeaway: In today's digital landscape, businesses of all sizes face an ever-increasing risk of cyber attacks, which can result in devastating financial losses, data breaches, and reputational damage. Implementing robust cybersecurity measures is no longer an option but a necessity for safeguarding your business assets and ensuring long-term success.

The Rising Tide of Cybercrime

The cybersecurity threat landscape is constantly evolving, with cybercriminals employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The financial impact of cyber attacks on businesses is staggering, with SMBs losing an average of $25,000 per incident and spending anywhere between $826 and $653,587 to recover from cybersecurity breaches. Moreover, when remote work is a factor in causing a data breach, the average cost per breach is a whopping $173,074 higher.

To combat these threats and protect your business from the devastating consequences of cyber attacks, it is crucial to implement a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. This guide will outline ten essential steps to help you safeguard your business assets and mitigate the risks posed by cyber threats.

1. Education and Awareness

The first line of defense against cyber attacks is a well-informed and vigilant workforce. Human error is a significant contributing factor, with a staggering 95% of cybersecurity breaches attributed to human mistakes. Therefore, it is imperative to prioritize cybersecurity education and awareness within your organization.

Train Employees in Security Principles

Establish clear security policies and guidelines, and ensure that all employees receive comprehensive training on cybersecurity best practices. This should include guidelines for creating strong passwords, recognizing and avoiding phishing attempts, and appropriate internet usage. Regular training sessions and refresher courses can help reinforce these principles and keep employees up-to-date with the latest threats and countermeasures.

Establish a Cybersecurity Culture

Fostering a culture of cybersecurity within your organization is crucial. Encourage open communication and transparency about potential threats, and empower employees to report any suspicious activities or concerns without fear of repercussions. Promote a mindset of shared responsibility, where every individual understands their role in protecting the company's digital assets.

Reporting Suspicious Activity

Develop clear protocols for reporting suspicious activities, such as potential phishing attempts, unauthorized access attempts, or any other security incidents. Ensure that employees are aware of these protocols and feel comfortable reporting any concerns promptly. Quick reporting and response can help mitigate the impact of a cyber attack and prevent further damage.

2. Secure Authentication and Access

Implementing robust authentication and access control measures is essential to protect sensitive data and systems from unauthorized access.

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Strategies to Prevent Generating Low-Quality or Inaccurate Content

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Key Takeaway Summary: The rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) has revolutionized the way we interact with and process information. However, this powerful technology also presents significant risks, including the potential for generating low-quality or inaccurate content, data privacy breaches, and malicious exploitation by cybercriminals. This comprehensive article delves into the pitfalls of LLM systems, exploring the malicious use of LLMs for phishing, malware creation, and deepfakes, as well as the challenges posed by prompt injection, hallucinations, and regulatory gaps. To mitigate these risks, the article provides strategies for robust training and validation, enhanced security measures, regulatory compliance, fact-checking, prompt crafting, post-processing, and model auditing. By addressing these concerns proactively, we can harness the immense potential of LLMs while safeguarding against their misuse and unintended consequences.

Introduction

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), Large Language Models (LLMs) have emerged as a game-changing technology, revolutionizing the way we interact with and process information. These powerful AI systems, capable of understanding and generating human-like text with remarkable fluency and coherence, have opened up a world of possibilities across various industries, from content creation to customer service and beyond.

However, as with any groundbreaking innovation, the rise of LLMs has also unveiled a darker side โ€“ one that poses significant risks and challenges if not addressed properly. As these models become more advanced and accessible, malicious actors have started to exploit their capabilities for nefarious purposes, raising concerns about security, privacy, and the potential for generating low-quality or inaccurate content.

Potential Pitfalls of LLM Systems

Malicious Use

One of the most concerning aspects of the malicious use of LLMs is their potential for creating sophisticated phishing campaigns and malware. Cybercriminals have already begun leveraging LLMs to generate highly realistic and personalized phishing emails, making it increasingly difficult for victims to discern fraudulent communications from legitimate ones. Tools like FraudGPT and DarkBard, identified on the dark web, are prime examples of how LLMs are being weaponized for cybercrime.

Furthermore, LLMs can be used to write code for malware, automating its distribution and increasing the speed and scale of attacks. This poses a significant threat to individuals and organizations alike, as traditional security measures may struggle to keep up with the rapidly evolving nature of these AI-generated threats.

Another concerning aspect of malicious LLM use is their role in creating and enhancing deepfakes. Deepfakes are synthetic media, such as videos or audio recordings, that have been manipulated to depict events or statements that never occurred. LLMs can be employed to generate highly convincing text or audio components for these deepfakes, making them even more realistic and harder to detect.

These deepfakes can then be used in various social engineering attacks, such as CEO fraud, business email compromise (BEC), and extortion schemes. By impersonating high-level executives or public figures, malicious actors can manipulate individuals into divulging sensitive information or transferring funds, causing significant financial and reputational damage.

Hallucinations and Inaccurate Content

While LLMs have demonstrated remarkable capabilities in generating human-like text, they are also prone to a phenomenon known as "hallucinations." Hallucinations are inaccuracies or inconsistencies in the model's responses, which can be caused by various factors, including inherent sampling randomness, imperfect decoding mechanisms, and the presence of misinformation or biases in the training data.

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