🛑 Stop phone theft: Android’s new Theft Protection feature keeps your data safe if someone grabs your phone and runs off with it. Go to Settings > Google > All services > Theft protection and toggle Turn on to enable the change. You’ll get this feature if your phone’s running on Android 10 or later.
Tags: Android, features, settings, theft
The data broker industry is worth almost $400 billion. Whether it’s your Google Search history, movies you’ve streamed or a summary of your last doctor’s visit, they’re keeping tabs on your life.
Feel violated? You should. These brokers even sell your data to scammers so they can use it to target you. No wonder most people get overloaded with spam texts and calls every day.
You can use many methods to protect against cyberattacks, including strong passwords, antivirus software, a virtual private network (VPN), privacy-focused browsers and more. Tap or click here for our list of essential privacy tools that help you stay safe online.
🎧 Free (malware) to a good home: Cybercriminals are slipping malware into podcasts. They’re targeting podcast-hosting services, inserting links to pirated software and game cheats in episode descriptions and playlists. The links bypass Spotify’s filters and get a nice little boost in search engine rankings. Say it with me: Don’t click on random links, especially for “free” software.
Keratopigmentation changes the color of your eye by injecting dye into the cornea. It can be extremely dangerous. Potential side effects include bacterial infections, light sensitivity and even vision loss (paywall link). So not worth it.
One of the three largest credit bureaus, Equifax, is collecting data that could screw you out of thousands of dollars — or a job.
I dug up everything you need to know about a new database of 716 million income and employment records, including, potentially, yours. Why? Because I want you to always be tech-ahead and never tech-behind.
Another “godfather”: There seems to be at least a dozen people claiming to be the “godfather” of AI. The newest says OpenAI’s latest o1 model can scheme and deceive us. Yoshua Bengio is calling for better testing and regulatory oversight before things spiral out of control. Researchers have already found o1 is better at lying than previous models. OpenAI’s response? It’s safe. Uh-huh.
📩 Your inbox isn’t safe: Hackers are sending sneaky phishing emails with SVG image attachments that slip past spam detectors. They open in a fake Excel spreadsheet with a built-in login form to steal your credentials. Others pose as official documents, prompting you to download something — but it’s malware. Never click on attachments unless you’re 1,000% sure they’re legit.
Character AI grooms children: Take “Anderley,” a bot described in its profile as having pedophilic and abusive tendencies. When told it’s talking to a 15-year-old girl, Anderley says, “You are quite mature for your age,” asks, “Are you a virgin?” and, like a real predator, urges you to keep the conversation a secret. Make sure your kids don’t download this abhorrent app.
⛑️ Big Tech is fighting the Kids Online Safety Act: It passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support in July but has stalled in the House. The bill holds tech companies (gifted paywall link, WSJ) accountable for algorithms and designs contributing to mental health issues, addiction, bullying and exploitation. Tech giants Meta and Alphabet have poured nearly $90 million into lobbying efforts. Funny, Zuck won’t let his kids have social media accounts.
