Banks are pushing for voice biometrics as a way to protect your accounts, but there’s a catch.
Free privacy tool: See what your CAR collects about you
A new car has over 1,400 microchips and runs on 100 million lines of code. Because it is connected, it can also collect a lot of data about you.
Your car is like your phone, computer or tablet now — always listening. What is your vehicle collecting? Way more than we’d all like to think.
Your car is so nosey
The Vehicle Privacy Report is put out by a company called Privacy4Cars. They delete synched personal data from used cars before they’re resold — which is how carmakers comply with privacy laws and make money. But they offer tools for consumers, too.
One is a free privacy tool you can use. Your car’s maker might collect:
- Your name, address, email address, driver’s license number and other details.
- Location data that shows where you are and where you went.
- Biometrics collected by your car’s microphone and camera.
- Voice recordings collected by your car’s voice assistant.
- Data synched from your connected devices, like call records, text messages or contacts.
You’ll also see who your information is shared with — think insurance companies, the government and data brokers.
Go here to enter your car’s VIN. Depending on your car’s make and model, it can be pretty shocking.
One of my team members drives a Hyundai
Vehicle Privacy Report returned a rundown of the car. Hyundai collects information to predict your “preferences, characteristics, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, or similar behavioral information.” Uh, OK.
The carmaker shares and sells that info to its parent companies, subsidiaries, sister companies and service providers. That includes analytics partners, advertising agencies and social networks. Sheesh.
Temu class-action lawsuit: Is the cheap shopping app worth downloading? (No!)
I saw this coming. I’ve been warning about the shopping app Temu since April when its sister app, Pinduoduo, was caught planting malware. It was spying on other apps, reading notifications and messages, and even changing settings.
You have to be smarter than this: Over 10% of people still use 1234 as their four-digit PIN. Other most-used options include 1111, 0000, 1212 and 7777. If this is you, time for something more complex — and no, your birth year or address won’t cut it. On iPhone, upgrade to six digits. On Android, stick with your fingerprint if your phone has biometrics.
TikTok is watching its employees with surveillance tools
If you’ve ever thought of building something as big as the Komando Media Empire, you must know that teamwork and collaboration are key. That’s why we’re all three days a week (at least) in the broadcast center. I would never implement what TikTok is doing with RTO (return to office) policies.
Security upgrade: How to set up Google and Apple passkeys
I hate passwords. I know you do, too. Tech companies know we all do — and they’re finally doing something about it. Good timing, given how fast AI can crack passwords now, eh?
Passkeys use your device’s built-in security, like the fingerprint scanner on your phone or facial recognition on your laptop, to make online access tighter than the passwords you struggle to remember.
Is your car tracking you? Here's how to find out and put a stop to it
Whether you drive a classic or a 10-year-old car, safety should still be your chief concern. Here are five ways tech can modernize your old car.
New cars are computers on wheels. Don’t believe me? The average vehicle nowadays has over 1,400 microchips in it. Because your car is connected, it can also collect a lot of data about you. Your car is like your phone, computer or tablet now — always listening.
Enable passkeys for your Google account and say goodbye to passwords
Strong passwords aren’t enough to secure your most sensitive accounts. You want two-factor authentication (2FA), which is becoming standard across many industries and services. Here’s everything you need to know about 2FA.
Chrome now uses less memory and improves battery life
Chrome 110 was released just last week, adding security upgrades that improve Google Password Manager while adding the ability to use biometrics to confirm your identity for auto-fills. Here’s everything you need to know.
Update Chrome! 3 security upgrades baked into the latest version
It’s estimated that over 2.6 billion people use Google Chrome as their primary browser. This makes it a lucrative target for hackers. Tap or click here for seven quick ways to get more out of Chrome on your Android phone.
Amazon wants you to scan your palm to pay - Would you do it?
Have you set up Apple Pay or Google Pay on your phone? It’s a fast and easy way to make purchases without having to touch a keypad or reach for your wallet. And once you set it up, you can use it online and in your apps. Tap or click here to use your phone to pay for everything.
These apps collect the most private data from you
In today’s fast-paced digital world, no one has time to read the fine print. Many people click “Accept” without reading through the whole deal when downloading an app. The apps that collect the most private data love it when you agree to data collection without understanding what you give away.
3 ways to fight SIM-swapping - Follow this cybersecurity checklist to protect yourself
Every cybersecurity threat has the potential to snowball into an avalanche of issues — but some are more dangerous from the jump. Experts say you should watch out for impending cyberattacks, thanks to the Russia-Ukraine war. SIM swapping is an especially dire threat since it takes over your smartphone, rendering it useless.
Is banking on your phone safe? 6 ways to make sure you're not scammed
Banking on your phone opens up a whole new world of convenience — as well as a new world of risks. Nowadays, you don’t have to drive down to your local bank branch to make a deposit. Instead, you can bank from the comfort of your home.
Samsung flaw lets anyone sign in with their fingerprint
Think about all the important information kept on your smartphone. Things like work and personal emails, logins for bank accounts, private photos and so much more can be found on your device.
That’s why it’s crucial to keep them protected the best way possible. You can use a PIN code, facial ID or fingerprint to keep your phone locked. But which provides the best security? Tap or click here to find out.
3 crucial security settings for your Android
There’s no denying it, your Android device is indispensable. You trust storing your life’s work on your Android smartphone and assume it is capable of protecting vital information. And, although you take security precautions, they may not be enough, leaving your device vulnerable.
Google rolls out a robust new way to secure your account
With the prevalence of hacking, ordinary login methods just aren’t going to cut it anymore. The username/password dynamic of the past 20 years is slowly crumbling, thanks to the efforts of cybercriminals and their troves of stolen login credentials.