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Traveling abroad is exhilarating , new cultures, stunning landscapes, and unforgettable experiences await. But nothing can sour your adventure faster than a sky-high phone bill from roaming charges.

If you’ve ever searched for “best international phone plans” or wondered, “how much is an international phone plan?

Finding the best phone plans for international travel can feel overwhelming with so many options. Fear not! This guide breaks down everything you need to know about international mobile plans, helping you stay connected without breaking the bank.

Whether you’re a digital nomad, a frequent flyer, or a first-time traveler, we’ve got you covered with cheap international phone plans and expert tips to make your decision easy.

Why You Need an International Mobile Plan

When traveling internationally, your regular phone plan might not cut it. Roaming fees can cost $5–$15 per day, adding up to hundreds of dollars for a single trip. An international mobile plan ensures affordable access to calls, texts, and data, keeping you connected for work, navigation, or sharing those Instagram-worthy moments.

But with so many providers and plans, how do you choose? Let’s dive into the best international phone plans for every type of traveler, answering key questions like “which phone plan is best for international travel?” and helping you make a confident decision.

Types of International Mobile Plans

- Carrier-Specific International Plans

Major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile offer international add-ons. For example, T-Mobile’s Magenta plan includes unlimited texting and data in over 200 countries, while Verizon’s TravelPass costs $10/day for 2GB of high-speed data. These are convenient but can be pricey for long trips.

- eSIM Plans

Cryptocurrency heists have rocked the digital world, exposing vulnerabilities in even the most advanced systems. Here’s a concise look at the largest crypto thefts to date, highlighting key incidents and lessons for investors.

1. Bybit Hack (2025) – $1.46 Billion

In February 2025, Dubai-based exchange Bybit suffered the largest crypto heist ever, losing 400,000 ETH from its cold wallet. Hackers, allegedly North Korea’s Lazarus Group, exploited a transfer to a warm wallet using a sophisticated attack on the signing interface. Bybit’s CEO assured solvency, but only a fraction of funds have been traced.

2. Ronin Network (2022) – $625 Million

The Ronin Network, linked to Axie Infinity, lost 173,600 ETH and 25.5 million USDC in March 2022. Hackers, tied to Lazarus Group, compromised private keys via social engineering. Binance recovered $5.8 million, but most funds remain unrecovered, exposing blockchain gaming vulnerabilities.

3. Poly Network (2021) – $611

MillionA lone hacker exploited a vulnerability in Poly Network’s DeFi platform, stealing $611 million. Surprisingly, the hacker returned nearly all funds, claiming it was a “white hat” act to expose flaws. This incident underscored DeFi’s potential but also its risks.

4. Binance BNB Bridge (2022) – $570 Million

In October 2022, hackers targeted Binance’s BSC Token Hub, draining 2 billion BNB tokens. Quick action froze most funds, limiting losses to $100 million. The attack highlighted cross-chain bridge weaknesses.

5. Coincheck (2018) – $534

MillionTokyo-based Coincheck lost $534 million in NEM coins due to a hot wallet breach. The hack, one of the earliest major thefts, led to tighter regulations in Japan after hackers used phishing and malware.

What These Heists Teach Us

As you can see, these events aren't random. They are targeted attacks on specific vulnerabilities. The recurring themes—compromised private keys, smart contract bugs, and bridge exploits—are the very things we break down in our main security guide.

A Simple Explanation for Business Owners ( Debt Factoring )

Debt factoring, also known as debtor factoring or invoice factoring, is a financial strategy where a business sells its unpaid invoices to a third-party company (the factor) at a discount. In return, the business receives immediate cash, typically 70-90% of the invoice value, allowing it to cover operational costs without waiting 30, 60, or even 90 days for clients to pay.

For example, imagine you run a small manufacturing business in the U.S. and a client owes you $50,000 for goods delivered. Instead of waiting for payment, you sell the invoice to a factoring company and receive $45,000 upfront. The factor then collects the full amount from your client later, keeping the difference as their fee.

This solution is particularly popular in industries like manufacturing, logistics, and retail, where long payment terms are common. By understanding what debt factoring is, you can decide if it’s the right tool to address your cash flow challenges.

How Does Debt Factoring Improve Cash Flow?

One of the most pressing concerns for business owners is maintaining steady cash flow. Late payments can disrupt payroll, inventory purchases, and growth plans. Here’s how debt factoring improves cash flow:

Immediate Access to Funds: Instead of waiting weeks or months for client payments, you get cash within days—sometimes even hours.

Predictable Cash Flow: Factoring provides a reliable influx of funds, helping you plan expenses with confidence.

No New Debt: Unlike loans, debt factoring doesn’t add liabilities to your balance sheet, as you’re simply leveraging existing invoices.

Scalability: As your sales grow, so does the amount you can factor, making it a flexible solution for expanding businesses.

For instance, a UK-based logistics company might use debt factoring to cover fuel costs while waiting for a major client to settle a £100,000 invoice. This immediate cash injection keeps operations running smoothly and prevents costly disruptions.

The Advantages of Debt Factoring: Why It’s a Lifeline for Businesses

Debt factoring offers a range of benefits that make it an attractive option for businesses facing cash flow constraints. Here are the advantages of debt factoring:

Fast Cash: Get funds quickly to cover urgent expenses like payroll, rent, or supplier payments.

Improved Cash Flow Management: Avoid the stress of chasing late-paying clients and focus on growing your business.

No Collateral Required: Factoring is based on your clients’ creditworthiness, not your business’s assets, making it accessible for startups or businesses with limited collateral.

Outsourced Credit Control: Many factoring companies handle collections, saving you time and resources.

Flexible Funding: Unlike traditional loans with fixed amounts, factoring grows with your sales volume.

For example, a Canadian retailer struggling with seasonal cash flow dips could use debt factoring to maintain inventory levels during peak shopping periods, ensuring they don’t miss out on sales opportunities.

The Disadvantages of Debt Factoring: What You Need to Know

While debt factoring can be a powerful tool, it’s not without its drawbacks. Understanding the debt factoring advantages and disadvantages is crucial for making an informed decision:

Cost: Factoring fees (typically 1-5% of the invoice value) can be higher than traditional financing options, especially for long-term use.

Customer Perception: Some clients may view factoring as a sign of financial distress, though professional factoring companies handle collections discreetly.

Loss of Control: The factoring company takes over invoice collection, which may limit your direct interaction with clients.

Selective Invoices: Not all invoices qualify for factoring, as factors prioritize clients with strong credit profiles.

For instance, a small business in Australia might find that factoring fees eat into their profit margins, especially if they rely on it heavily. Weighing these costs against the benefits is essential to determine if debt factoring aligns with your financial strategy.

Is Debt Factoring Right for Your Business?

Industry: Businesses in industries with long payment cycles (e.g., construction, wholesale, or staffing) often benefit most from factoring.

Cash Flow Needs: If late payments are stalling your operations or growth, factoring can provide immediate relief.

Client Creditworthiness: Factoring works best when your clients have strong credit, as factors assess their ability to pay.

Cost Tolerance: Can your profit margins absorb factoring fees, or would a traditional loan be more cost-effective?

For example, a U.S.-based staffing agency paying weekly wages while waiting for 60-day client payments might find debt factoring a perfect fit. However, a business with thin margins may need to explore other options, like a line of credit.

How to Choose a Debt Factoring Company

• Reputation: Research factoring companies with strong reviews and a track record of professionalism.
• Fee Structure: Compare fees (e.g., discount rates, service charges) to ensure they align with your budget.
• Contract Terms: Look for flexible, non-restrictive contracts that allow you to factor invoices as needed.
• Customer Service: Choose a factor that communicates clearly and handles collections respectfully to maintain client relationships.

Pro Tip: If you’re in the UK, check if the factoring company is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for added peace of mind.

Real-World Example: Debt Factoring in Action

Consider Sarah, who runs a small textile business in the U.S. Her clients, large retailers, often take 60-90 days to pay invoices, leaving her struggling to pay suppliers. By partnering with a debt factoring company, Sarah receives 85% of her $100,000 invoice upfront—$85,000 in cash within 48 hours. The factor collects the full amount from her client later, charging a 3% fee ($3,000). Sarah uses the funds to purchase raw materials, fulfill new orders, and grow her business without taking on debt. This scenario highlights how debtor factoring can bridge cash flow gaps, allowing businesses to thrive despite delayed payments.

Take Control of Your Cash Flow Today

If late payments are holding your business back, debt factoring could be the lifeline you need. By unlocking the cash tied up in your invoices, you can pay suppliers, meet payroll, and seize growth opportunities without the burden of debt. However, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution—carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of debt factoring to ensure it aligns with your business goals.

How to Make Your Own Digital Masterpiece on Bitcoin

If you’ve ever stared at your Bitcoin wallet and thought,  What if I could actually leave something of myself on this blockchain? —then Bitcoin Ordinals might just blow your mind. This isn’t about trading or storing coins. It’s about creating something permanent, something uniquely yours, that exists on Bitcoin itself. And the amazing thing? People from all over the world—artists, writers, collectors, even meme lovers—are doing it.

I remember reading about a young artist in Spain who took a tiny animated cat he drew on his tablet and inscribed it on a satoshi. He didn’t expect anyone to notice. A week later, collectors from Europe and the U.S. were reaching out, offering to buy it. That’s the magic of Bitcoin Ordinals. You’re not just making a digital item; you’re creating a piece of history.

What Exactly Is a Bitcoin Ordinal?

At first, it sounds complicated. But imagine the smallest Bitcoin unit—the satoshi—as a tiny blank canvas. With an ordinal inscription, you can attach anything to that canvas: an image, a line of text, a tiny GIF, or even a short sound clip. And here’s the kicker: once it’s there, it’s permanent. Unlike many NFTs that sit on a server somewhere, these inscriptions live fully on-chain. Nobody can delete them, change them, or take them away.

This became possible in 2023 when a developer named Casey Rodarmor introduced the Ordinals protocol. Thanks to Bitcoin’s recent upgrades—SegWit and Taproot—this idea suddenly went from theoretical to reality. For the first time, Bitcoin wasn’t just digital money; it became a platform for creativity.

Why People Are Obsessed with Ordinals

Part of the excitement comes from scarcity. Bitcoin has a fixed supply, and each block has a limited size, which means only so many inscriptions are possible. People are drawn to that rarity. But it’s also cultural. Collections like Ordinal Punks and Taproot Wizards show how creative and playful this space can be. Some are nostalgic, reminding collectors of Ethereum-era NFTs, while others are entirely new, telling stories that exist only on Bitcoin.

But the human part is what gets people hooked. One writer I spoke to inscribed a short, personal poem onto a satoshi. She didn’t expect anyone to care, but within days, strangers from Asia, Europe, and the U.S. were sharing her poem online. It’s like dropping a tiny bottle into the vast ocean of Bitcoin and watching people all over the world find it, read it, and react. That feeling—knowing your work exists forever—is unlike anything else in crypto.

How You Can Create Your Own Ordinal

If you’re wondering how to do it, it’s simpler than it sounds. First, you need a wallet that supports Taproot addresses. These are special Bitcoin addresses that allow inscriptions to exist. Wallets like Xverse or Sparrow make this easy, and many people open a separate wallet just for inscriptions to keep things organized.

Next comes the fun part: choosing what to inscribe. Some people upload a tiny piece of art, others a small story, or even a meme. One collector inscribed a photo of a childhood toy with a little caption about nostalgia—it wasn’t flashy, but it resonated with the community. The size matters because bigger files cost more, but even small files can be powerful.

What is Cryptomining? The  Legal vs. The Malicious

In simple terms, cryptomining is the process of using computer power to verify transactions on a blockchain network (like Bitcoin or Monero) and create new coins. Think of it as a giant, global, digital bookkeeping competition. Miners use powerful hardware to solve complex math problems, and the winner gets rewarded with new cryptocurrency.

This process is legal and forms the backbone of many digital currencies. However, the massive electricity and hardware costs make it expensive for individuals.

This is where cybercriminals saw an opportunity.

So, what is crypto malware in this context?

Cryptomining malware (also called cryptojacking) is the unauthorized use of your computer, smartphone, or server by malicious software to mine cryptocurrency. The criminal gets all the profit, and you get stuck with the bill—sky-high electricity costs, worn-out hardware, and a frustratingly slow device.

It's the digital equivalent of a stranger secretly plugging their industrial-grade machinery into your home's power outlets.

Legitimate Miner vs. Malicious Miner

Cryptominer Malware in Action: How Does It Infect Your System?

You don't have to download a suspicious "Mining Program.exe" to get infected. Cybercriminals are clever and use several stealthy methods to turn your device into their personal money-printing machine.

1. The Trojan Horse: Malicious Downloads

This is the most common method. The cryptominer malware is bundled with seemingly legitimate software—like a free game, a cracked application, a browser extension, or even a pirated movie. You install what you want, and the hidden miner installs silently in the background.

2. The Drive-By Download: Infected Websites

You don't need to download anything! Some attacks use malicious code embedded in ads or on a compromised website. The moment you visit the page, a script runs in your browser, using your CPU to mine coin. Sometimes, closing the tab stops it; other times, the script can persist.

3. The Worm: Self-Replicating Network Attacks

In a corporate environment, a cryptominer malware can act like a worm. It infects one weak machine on a network and then quickly spreads to others, turning an entire business's infrastructure into a massive, illegal mining farm.

7 Tell-Tale Signs You're Infected with Cryptomining Malware

Wondering if your device is a victim? Look for these red flags. The key is a sudden and persistent change in your device's behavior.

1- Severe Performance Slowdown: Your computer feels sluggish and unresponsive, even during simple tasks like typing in a document or opening a new program.

2- Overheating and Loud Fan Noise: Mining is extremely CPU/GPU intensive, generating excessive heat. Your cooling fan will run at maximum speed constantly to try and compensate.

3- Sky-High CPU Usage: Check your Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac). If you see an unknown process consistently using 80-100% of your CPU, that's a major warning sign.

4- Increased Electricity Bills: If your computer is mining 24/7, it can consume as much power as a gaming PC running at full tilt. You might see a noticeable spike in your energy costs.

5- Shortened Device Lifespan: The constant stress and heat from mining can physically damage your computer's central processing unit (CPU) and graphics card (GPU), burning them out years before their time.

6- Browser Crashes: If the infection is browser-based, you may experience frequent tab or browser crashes, especially on graphics-heavy websites.

7- Sluggish Network: On a home or office network, a cryptojacking infection can consume significant bandwidth, slowing down internet access for everyone.

Fight Back! How to Remove Cryptominer Malware

If the symptoms above sound familiar, don't panic. Here’s a step-by-step guide to reclaim your computer.

Step 1: Scan with a Reputable Antivirus/Anti-Malware

This is your first and most crucial line of defense. Run a full system scan with a trusted security program. Modern solutions from brands like Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, or Kaspersky are excellent at detecting and quarantining cryptominer malware.

Step 2: Check Your Browser Extensions

Go through your browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.) and remove any that you don't recognize or no longer use. Criminals often create malicious extensions that pose as helpful tools.

Step 3: Dive into Task Manager

Open your Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc on Windows). Look at the "Processes" tab and sort by CPU usage. Research any unfamiliar process names that are using a high percentage of your CPU. A quick web search can often reveal if a process is malicious.

Step 4: The Nuclear Option: Reset Your Browser

If you suspect a browser-based miner, reset your browser to its default settings. This will clear all extensions, cookies, and temporary data, which often evicts the parasite.

Step 5: Reinstall Your Operating System

For persistent infections that survive scans, a full operating system reinstall is the most thorough way to ensure the malware is completely wiped from your system. Remember to back up your important files first!

Protection is Power: How to Prevent Future Infections

Stopping an infection is always easier than removing one. Integrate these habits into your digital life:

1- Think Before You Click: Avoid downloading software from untrustworthy sources. Stick to official app stores and developer websites.

2- Keep Everything Updated: Regularly update your operating system, browser, and all installed software. Security patches often fix vulnerabilities that malware exploits.

3- Use a Robust Security Suite: Don't rely on Windows Defender alone. Invest in a comprehensive internet security suite that offers real-time protection.

4- Install an Ad-Blocker: A good ad-blocker can prevent malicious scripts from infected ads from ever loading on your screen.

5- Educate Your Team: In a business context, what is a miner in cyber security should be a part of basic employee training. Human error is a leading cause of infection.

Final Thoughts: Stay Aware, Stay Protected

Cryptomining malware is one of the fastest-growing online threats. Unlike traditional malware, it thrives on being invisible — draining your device, your electricity, and eventually your wallet.

Your Security is Our Priority. Trade Safely.

What Is XRP? A Simple Breakdown

XRP is a digital currency created by Ripple Labs, designed to facilitate fast, low-cost international payments. Unlike Bitcoin, which focuses on decentralization, XRP powers Ripple’s blockchain-based payment protocol, enabling banks and financial institutions to transfer money globally in seconds.

Think of XRP as the “bridge currency” that makes cross-border transactions seamless, eliminating the need for slow, expensive traditional systems like SWIFT.

But what makes XRP stand out?

- Speed: Transactions settle in 3-5 seconds.

- Low Fees: Costs are a fraction of a cent per transaction.

- Scalability: Handles 1,500 transactions per second.

What Is XRP Crypto Used For?

- International Money Transfers: Banks use XRP to move funds across countries instantly.

- Liquidity for Financial Institutions: XRP provides on-demand liquidity, reducing the need for pre-funded accounts.

- Decentralized Exchange: XRP Ledger allows users to trade assets directly.

- Micropayments: Its low fees make it ideal for small transactions.

What Is the Price of XRP Today?

One of the top searches, “what is the price of XRP,” reflects its popularity among traders. As of today, June 25, 2025**, XRP’s price is [insert real-time price if available, e.g., $0.45, based on market trends]. Prices can vary due to:

- Market volatility: Crypto markets are unpredictable.

- Regulatory News: SEC vs. Ripple lawsuit updates impact prices.

- Market Adoption: Partnerships boost confidence.

Is XRP a Good Investment in 2024?

Pros:

- Growing Adoption: Partnerships with 200+ financial institutions.

- Fast Transactions: Ideal for real-world use.

- Low Entry Point: Affordable compared to Bitcoin.

Cons:

- Regulatory Risks: Ongoing SEC lawsuit creates uncertainty.

- Centralization Concerns: Ripple controls a large XRP supply.

- Market Volatility: Prices can swing wildly.

The Ripple-SEC Lawsuit: What You Need to Know

A key factor affecting XRP’s price is Ripple’s legal battle with the SEC. The lawsuit, filed in 2020, claims XRP is an unregistered security. Recent updates suggest a potential resolution in 2025, which could:

- Boost Prices: A favorable ruling may skyrocket XRP’s value.

- Hinder Growth: A negative outcome could limit U.S. trading.

How to Buy XRP: A Quick Guide