Experimental AI F-16: That’s a lot of scary letters and numbers. Last week, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall flew over 550 mph in an F-16 piloted completely by AI. After the hourlong flight, Kendall said he’d seen enough to trust AI to launch weapons in war. Big words and he says, it’s a security risk not to use this tech.
Trying to hide private details in a photo? This is the WORST way (but we'll show you the best)
Social media was made for sharing. Family and friends from far away can check out your wedding photos or that delicious steak you had last night. Post pictures of your trip to Bora Bora and let your loved ones live vicariously through you.
You do need to be careful about oversharing. While it’s safe to post a picture of the beachside hut you rented, you should resist the urge to post flight details or boarding passes. All that personal information (and even the barcode) invites hackers and scammers to come after you. Tap or click here to see how much damage a crook can do with just a screenshot of your boarding pass.
You may think it’s OK to share screenshots containing sensitive information as long as you mark them up with editing software. Well, it turns out that people can see through your scribbles and reveal what you’re trying to cover up.
Your photos can reveal more than you realize
It’s always good practice to keep your sensitive information hidden online. Even a seemingly-innocent screenshot could contain personal details.
The virtual equivalent of redacting information is to open the image in your iPhone’s editing app and drag a marker over the text you want to hide. On the surface, that might seem like a job well done.
But as a TikTok user recently demonstrated, that can easily be reversed. Any blacked-out image sent from one iPhone to another can be edited to reveal the details underneath.
A video posted by TikTok user lifehack.america shows how an image that was edited with the iPhone’s Markup tool can be manipulated to reveal its secrets. The video has more than 4 million views:
As you can see, part of the text message was blacked out. But by turning up the Exposure and Brilliance settings for the image, any alterations made with the editing app’s marker or pen utility fade away. And that’s all there is to it.
Here’s the right way to redact private info
It’s worth saying: If you feel the need to censor information in any photo, you should reconsider sharing it.
Update Google Chrome ASAP - 3.2 billion users at risk
Google rarely releases an update with a single change, but you know the flaw must be monumental when it does. Google recently discovered a significant security risk in Google Chrome that hackers are already exploiting. Luckily, it patched the problem, so you need to update Google Chrome ASAP.
Use an Android? Make this quick change now to secure your phone
While some corners of the country are vehemently debating the dangers of 5G mobile technology, a much older mobile signal poses an actual threat to Android and iOS phones.
As technology moves ahead with better delivery, coverage and download speeds, the spectrum will inevitably become too crowded or outdated to accommodate them all. Before 5G, 4G, and LTE, the most common mobile connections were 3G and its predecessor, 2G.
Malware exposes passwords saved in browsers - Check your data now
There are plenty of passwords we need to remember for online accounts, but too many people make the mistake of using the same one for multiple sites. If one site is breached, your other accounts are also at risk.
There are a few options to make remembering account credentials easier. One of the most convenient ways is using your browser’s ability to store them for you.
Your webcam could be listening to you and you wouldn't even know it
Working from home has ushered in a new era of essential office supplies, with webcams enjoying more prominence than ever before. It’s the one piece of equipment that you need for Zoom or Skype meetings, and you can even change the background to whatever you wish.
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.
Adobe Flash is officially dead - Here's how to remove it from your computer
Adobe’s Flash Player has been a staple of web development for decades, somewhat integral to websites running smoothly. But over the last few years, companies like Google and Microsoft have moved away from Flash.
Google said in 2017 that it would no longer support the technology in its Chrome browser, and Microsoft’s Edge browser removed Flash functionality. That’s why some of your favorite websites and video games will be changing how they function or go away forever. Tap or click here for details on the end of one viral game.
5 ways to lock down all your internet-connected devices
There is a joke in the technology industry that if you want to 100% secure a device, never connect it to the internet. Obviously, that isn’t practical today, as so many things we use are wholly dependant on a secure connection.
Clever new ransomware locks down your phone so you can't get in
Mobile malware is on the rise, and more smartphone users are getting infected every day. In fact, a study from the University of Cambridge found that 87% of all Android phones are exposed to at least one critical security risk — which is why it’s so important to browse the web with safety in mind.
This simple iPhone task could expose your personal data
Modern phones often come with built-in features we all take for granted. Things like voicemail, caller ID and notifications are so commonplace it can be hard to imagine phones without them.
But one unsung feature found on every phone, tablet and even computers has had a huge impact on users: copy and paste.
If you absolutely have to keep using Windows 7, here's how to stay safe
Are you still using Windows 7? In case you haven’t heard, Microsoft recently ended support and now it’s a huge security risk that’s practically begging hackers to take advantage of it.
Since Microsoft won’t be releasing any further security updates, you’re risking hacks, malware and viruses by staying on the outdated operating system. Tap or click here for more about Windows 7 security risks.