Cybercrime costs are expected to hit 8 trillion dollars this year. Here’s how you can fight back, in one minute.
6 holiday scams you need to know about
Whoa, we blinked and it’s mid-November! The days are shorter, your to-do list is longer, and scammers are ready to catch you off guard. Luckily, you’ve got me on your side with the top holiday scams.
📲 ‘Hi, I’m calling from Amazon’
Criminals and AI voice bots are calling, emailing and texting, claiming to be Amazon employees. Oh, no, your account is on hold! Or there’s been suspicious activity you need to deal with now. They’ll ask you for your payment info — that’s a glaring red flag.
Stay safe: Only put payment details for Amazon directly into the website or the official app. If you get one of those calls, hang up and Google the phone number. I bet you’ll see reports from others who got the same call.
💻 An offer you can’t refuse
There’s an email in your inbox from Macy’s, and whoa! Everything is 50% to 70% off! Click the link, head to the site and all looks normal. Once you check out, though, you’re in big trouble.
Scammers use real brand assets (like logos, fonts and photos) to make you think Macy’s or another big retailer is having a major holiday sale. Then, they direct you to a site that looks like the real thing … but it’s not.
Stay safe: Always, always triple-check the URL. If you’re not sure of a retailer’s website, search in your browser, but don’t click any sponsored results. Type in the address yourself if you know it.
📦 Your package can’t be delivered
You receive a text or email saying your order is stuck at a shipping center. With all the online shopping we do, you probably don’t remember every purchase. Click on the link they sent you and you’re well on your way to a phishing scam.
Stay safe: FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service will never text you from an unknown number. If you’re worried about a delivery, call the shipping company directly. In emails, watch out for any subtle misspellings in the email address or the sender’s name. Block and report anything fishy.
🤑 The fake seasonal job
Booking a flight? Scammers clever trick to con even the savviest travelers
Every new season, occasion, holiday, natural disaster, you name it, scammers work hard. Vacation seasons are one of their favorite times to pounce.
Some in-person criminals might spy that you’re away and break in. Take steps to make sure your home isn’t a target.
15% annual increases in cybercrime
That will lead to $13.8 trillion in losses by 2028. The U.S. GDP — the largest economy in the world — is $25.5 trillion. (It’s followed by China at $17.9 trillion and Japan at $4.2 trillion.) Cybercrime is now a world economic leader. That’s just a bad phish-cal policy.
This tricky ransomware uses your insurance company against you
Cybercriminals have a new twist on ransomware that takes a strange turn. They infect victims’ devices with HardBit 2.0 malware that encrypts critical files. To get access back to those files, you must pay a fee. Here’s the twist. They try getting information from you that would make your insurance company pay the ransom.
7 things to do after a hacker breaks into your computer
I always feel sympathy when I hear about hackers breaking into someone’s computer. I felt terrible when Phillis from Orlando Beach, FL, called the show and said hackers stole $150,000 from her brother’s PC. If you’ve ever been hacked, you know how scary it is.
Using AI against us: Hackers can weaponize chatbots to write phishing campaigns
Artificial intelligence has received a lot of attention over the last few weeks. Several platforms have become viral hits for using AI to create art with a one-word prompt or transforming selfies into magical portraits.
The greatest gift: Fix your family's tech this holiday season
We’re well into the holiday season and you’re probably planning lots of get-togethers. Want to be the star of the party? Bring along some beautiful memories, but leave the projector behind. Tap or click here to convert old VHS tapes to digital in time for the holidays.
Received a Dropbox link via email? Read this before you click
Phishing is among the most common forms of cybercrime. Scammers send countless messages via email, text or phone calls, hoping for a bite.
How do you know if a message is legitimate? It’s not always obvious, but there are ways to suss out the scams. Tap or click here for five subtle clues that email is really a clever phishing scam.
5 ways to think like a hacker to protect your money
You’re never 100% safe from cybercrime, but that doesn’t mean you should roll over and let it happen. You can take steps to reduce your chances of falling victim to hacks.
Cyberattacks are a constant threat. The more we rely on our devices, the more vulnerable we are. Think about how much sensitive information you have stored in your smartphone. Scary, huh? Tap or click here for three ways to secure it from hackers.
Work in one of these 10 fields? Scammers are targeting you
Scammers often have preferred targets. Whether a susceptible senior or someone who left their account exposed, they usually have the tools to rip them off.
But it’s not always about age or how tech-savvy you are. Sometimes working in a specific industry could put a target on your back.
This dangerous, password-stealing malware spreads through bad apps
You must always be vigilant against online threats. For all the good that a connected society has brought to the world, there will always be criminals that ruin it for everyone.
And often, the criminals don’t stop developing their tricks or scams. So if one method is successful, you can be sure that it will get a few tweaks to make it even more dangerous. For example, the ERMAC banking Trojan targeted 378 applications a year ago.
5 dangerous cybersecurity mistakes you’re probably making
The FBI’s latest Internet Cybercrime Report paints a bleak picture. Last year, Americans lost more than $6.9 billion to cyber crooks.
Don’t think you’re too smart to fall for their tricks. Even savvy people can get conned out of money before realizing what happened. Tap or click five simple, effective ways to secure your smartphone.
Answering this call can hack your bank account - Here's how it works
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is one of the best ways to prevent criminals from breaching your accounts. For platforms like Google, you are often required to enter the 2FA code when signing into a new device. Tap or click here to see how your texts could be hijacked.
Half a million VPN passwords leaked - Has your info been compromised?
We all know the dangers of data breaches. When large caches of information are leaked, victims are at risk of many serious issues, including identity theft and other costly and frustrating cybercrime. Tap or click here for details on a recent breach that hit a wireless carrier.
The big reason the spam in your inbox is about to get a lot more convincing
Phishing scams involve gaining a user’s trust by imitating a known company or service. A scam can target you with a phony email from your streaming service provider, for example. They’ll ask for your login credentials or payment for a bill that doesn’t exist.
Suspect someone of hacking the US government? There's $10M in reward money on the line
Hackers are a persistent threat to anyone with an internet connection, but some widen their scope to target companies, militaries and governments. When this happens the risk spreads to anyone connected to that network and beyond.
5 free downloads to keep your PC or Mac secure
The FBI has seen a significant spike in cybercrime reports since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hackers, scammers, and snoops are having a field day. Be sure to check for any updates to your gear.
A bug has been found in 79 different popular router models that let hackers remotely take over your devices. Tap or click here for the complete list of affected routers and how to protect your network. Phones are targets, too. Tap or click here for a specialized app that will tell you if your iPhone has been hacked.
Worried about malware? Don't make these mistakes with your iPhone or iPad
When it comes to mobile devices, it’s Apple vs. everyone else. The iOS-powered iPhone and iPad are produced by the same company, while you can get an Android device from many manufacturers. The debate is one for the ages, but Apple fans have always had one key argument in their favor: malware and virus protection.
Password managers: Are they safe to use?
We get it. It is easy to remember a password based on your favorite pizza topping. You can wield it across your accounts without the need for a reminder. However, this ease of use poses a security risk as dark forces look to pick up on your culinary tastes and get access to your data.