Malware alert: Skip the free file converters. You know those handy PDF-to-DOC or WebP-to-JPEG tools? Hackers are stuffing them with malware to steal your personal and financial info. They’re showing up in search results and ads. Play it safe: Stick to Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Office instead.
Stop your devices from listening
What’s the obvious downside for always-on devices that constantly listen for commands? They’re always listening. Voice-activated tech uses microphones that listen for wake words, meaning they can hear personal conversations you don’t want them to hear. Don’t worry, you can stop it.
The tech you can’t see
“Ultrasonic” refers to radio waves humans can’t hear. It’s like a secret language for your smart devices. And guess what? Apps are using this tech to listen in.
Sneaky apps listen for “beacons” to determine where you shop and what you buy. They then pair browser cookies to your device to track you. The good news is you can outsmart this technology, and it’s as simple as flipping a switch (well, almost).
Turn off microphone access for apps without a logical reason to use it. Think flashlights and other apps that don’t need to listen.
Note: The steps may vary depending on your device’s model and operating system version.
On iOS:
- Open the Settings app, then scroll and tap Privacy & Security.
- Locate the menu labeled Microphone and tap it.
- Find the app you want to turn off the mic for and toggle the green switch to the off position.
On Android:
- Open the Settings app, then scroll and tap Security & Privacy.
- Tap Privacy, followed by Permission manager.
- Tap Microphone and locate the app you want to turn the mic off for.
- Toggle the slider to the off position.
Stopping voice assistants
Now, let’s tackle those helpful (yet sometimes nosy) virtual assistants.
5 text scams going around right now
It’s not just clingy exes popping into your messages out of the blue. Scammers are ramping up phony texts across the country. You can make the texts stop (more below). Here are the latest ones making the rounds and the red flags to watch for:
82%
K-12 schools hit by cybercriminals from July 2023 to December 2024. That’s over 9,300 incidents. Most happened when staff fell for phishing scams. But they didn’t just lose data. Some attacks forced schools to close and affected meals and special education services.
Selling your car? Do this first
© Iuliia Lisitsyna | Dreamstime.com
New cars are computers on wheels, tracking just as much about you as your phone does. Before you sell your car or return a lease, you need to take the time to wipe all that data.
Otherwise, you’re handing over a digital diary of your life to anyone who knows where to look. Your car tracks where you’ve been, how fast you got there, your contacts and text messages and what radio stations you listen to most. Don’t let that info go along for the ride!
Watch out for this Coinbase email: If you have a Coinbase account, do not fall for the “Migrate to Coinbase Wallet” email. You’re told to switch to a self-custodial wallet and get a fake recovery phrase. It links to Coinbase’s real site, but the phrase lets hackers take over your wallet.
⚡Elon Musk fake electricity scam: Fraudsters are sending out messages promising to cut your electric bill by 90% with a special gadget “invented by Elon Musk.” The phony message might even include your real name to seem legit and links to a sketchy site with domains like “esavrr, gimelove or eaelon” to buy it. Please don’t.
📨 Inbox under attack: Beware if you use Microsoft 365. Hackers are putting phishing links in emails sent from Microsoft addresses. Yep, even those from “.onmicrosoft.com” can be fake. This is getting around security checks. Be extra careful about clicking on links. Search the email address in your inbox to see if it’s familiar.
💸 Scammers are posing as Fidelity, Morgan Stanley and other financial giants: Remember, they’ll never call or text asking for your password, one-time code, money transfers or remote access to your computer. If something feels off, stop and contact them directly. Stay sharp!
Feeling left behind? Download NetSuite’s free knowledge drop, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.” No matter what you do, you should know more about AI. It’s not going anywhere.
Get your refund: The FTC is sending $25.5 million worth of payments to 736,375 scam victims. Restoro and Reimage tricked folks with fake pop-ups and ads into thinking their computers were infected when they weren’t. Check your PayPal if that’s you.
😱 This is horrifying: A mom says she’ll never let her daughter go to another sleepover again. Why? Her 11-year-old found cameras in her friend’s bedroom. The parents said they were “for security” but turned off. Except … the light was on. So she covered them with a shirt. The parents came in, removed it and that’s when she called her mom to pick her up.
Move over Kia Boys, the Nissan Boys are here: Steps outlining how to steal a Nissan are all over social media. Thieves use special hardware to intercept a Nissan’s key signal, which lets them unlock the doors and start the engine. To stop your key’s signal from transmitting, wrap it in tinfoil (Yup, that trick again!) when you’re at home or place it in a metal box. Expect an upgrade from Nissan soon.
$21 million
Stolen from victims of a grandparent scam ring. Good news: Police caught the bad guys. Scammers called, pretending to be a teenager or adult grandkid who was in a car crash, arrested and needed money for bail.
📬 Ransomware by snail mail? It’s happening. Cybercriminals are now sending ransom demands through postal mail. The letters warn folks that their networks have been compromised and sensitive info stolen. The price to keep it private? $250,000 to $350,000 in bitcoin, due in 10 days. And because they’re oh-so-considerate, they include a QR code so you can send the crypto right to their wallet.
1 million+ infected with malware: You know those cheap Android-based streaming boxes, tablets or used car infotainment systems? Bad news. They’re being used as a botnet by the Badbox 2.0 hacking group. The top targets are TV boxes with the generic names “TV98” and “X96.” Don’t risk it to save a few bucks.
🚨 YouTube creators, don’t fall for this: Scammers are using an AI video of CEO Neal Mohan to trick you into giving up sensitive info. They’ll send it privately, claiming YouTube is changing its monetization policy. It’s your credentials they’re after. Reminder: YouTube will never contact you or share updates through a private video.
🚨 Word of the day: Info-stealer. Malware that sneaks in and grabs your personal data, especially credit and debit card details. Over 26 million devices were hit, with 2 million bank cards stolen and for sale on the Dark Web. Watch for small charges on your statements because that’s how hackers test if your card is still good.
📱 Ring, ring, it’s not IT: If you get a call from your help desk or IT asking for a password reset, check if it’s legit. Scammers are getting good at tricking people over the phone to sneak into their systems. CrowdStrike found voice vishing scams (that’s voice phishing) jumped 442% last year.