Shopping scams are getting nastier: One victim in Maryland was tricked into paying a fake $0.99 “redelivery fee” and ended up losing $400. USPS and other shipping companies won’t add a shipping charge after the fact. These scams usually come via text, so watch out.
Every parent should read this
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This topic hits me personally, and I don’t like to discuss it at all. You never know who’s a child predator. I was molested by a trusted family friend when I was 6 years old. I told my parents, and they took immediate action — well, not the action my Dad wanted, which was to cut off the guy’s hands.
The predator did the same thing for many years, even after police involvement, and he continued to do so until he died a horrible death from cancer.
Today, these sickos are online and their prey is everywhere. That’s why I wanted to talk to Roo Powell. She was working at a tech company and wanted to expose just how many predators lurk online, looking for kids to target. She and her colleagues created a profile for a fake teenage girl.
“The volume and speed of the abusive messages were staggering,” she told me. It was so much worse than they’d anticipated. Their experiment, though, ended with a federal sex abuse case.
That was five years ago. Powell went on to found the nonprofit SOSA, short for Safe from Online Sex Abuse, and she’s the force behind two seasons of “Undercover Underage,” streaming on Max. SOSA’s work has put at least 70 predators behind bars.
This is such an important topic and one you should be aware of, whether you have kids at home or not.
No parent wants to think their child is a target
But it can happen to any kid from any family, with any economic background, any gender or sexuality. “Kids are targeted just for being kids online,” Roo says.
In one case, she pretended to traffic an 11-year-old online. A man showed up with a McDonald’s Happy Meal and was quickly arrested. Horrifying, I know.
In TV shows and movies, child predators look like monsters. In reality, they could be anyone. “We’ve had high school teachers, medical professionals, a Department of Children and Family Services worker.”
Two things these people have in common? They’re manipulative and practiced. One study says the average perpetrator has 50 to 150 victims in their lifetime. Can you believe that?
The tactics vary
It’s not just bogus calls and emails
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Imagine getting a call from what looks like your bank’s number, warning you about suspicious activity on your account. The caller knows just enough to make you trust them. It’s all a lie, and you’re screwed if you don’t realize that soon enough.
Scammers are targeting teens – Warn your Gen Zer about these tricks
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I told you about the 14-year-old who committed suicide after following the advice of an AI chatbot. Another family is suing the same one — Character AI — after it told an autistic 14-year-old to kill his parents. It also exposed an 11-year-old to sexual content.
Your IP address: What it is and why you need to protect yours if you care about privacy
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Using the internet is a complicated affair. It may not feel like that to you as a user. You click on your browser and get on with your day — it’s as easy as pie.
Behind the scenes, though, is a whole different story. It’s full of numbers like your Internet Protocol (IP) address, basically your digital home address. This numeric label distinguishes your phone or computer from other devices worldwide.
How to install antivirus and scan your computer
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If you’re online, you’re at risk, plain and simple. There’s more out there after your info and wallet than you realize, from phishing scams to ransomware and malicious apps to malware.
That’s why it’s critical to protect your personal and business devices correctly. When it comes to your computer, tablet and phone, you need a robust security suite.
5 clever tricks holiday scammers use
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JD in Dallas emailed me with a story. He and his wife were at the mall and stopped for a Christmas selfie. Two young men walking by offered to take the pic for them — and one kept wiping the phone’s lens inside his jacket.
Set up your Wi-Fi for easy sharing with guests
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You’ve got a turkey in the oven, presents need to be wrapped, and your cousin’s kid screams (again), “What’s the Wi-Fi password?” You’re juggling a hundred things at once, and the last thing you want to do is to spell out your password.
🔒 Friendly reminder: Browser extensions lose support and change developers. Take a minute to review what’s installed and ditch anything you don’t use. On Chrome, tap the three dots near your profile icon, hover over Extensions, then select Manage Extensions. On Safari, go to Preferences > Extensions.
Security tip: Next time you stay at a hotel, turn on your VPN
Did you know the average American spends more than 24 hours each week online? That is a considerable chunk of time.
If you’re one of many with multiple devices regularly accessing the internet, you probably know you need a secure connection to protect sensitive data. A virtual private network or VPN is the best way to do this.
Why you can’t access some sites while you’re on a VPN and what to do
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Let’s say you’re browsing the web with a VPN. You’re protecting privacy, so you’re confident hackers and advertisers can’t track you. Then you try to go to a site, and it just won’t load.
This can throw a wrench into productivity when working. Or it can ruin your mood when trying to have fun online.
Antivirus comparison: Which option is best for your PC or Mac?
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If you browse the internet regularly, you can’t get around the fact that you need antivirus software. Viruses can pop up in unexpected places, and you want your device to be able to fight one off if it appears.
Dangerous malware making the rounds is what makes having antivirus software protecting you so critical. But what’s the best antivirus software for a Mac or Windows computer? Keep reading to see the best options.
Malware warning: Red flags your computer is under attack
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It’s Computer Security Day, and there’s no better time to remind you malware is lurking everywhere. From phishing emails to unsuspecting ads, just one wrong click can compromise your personal info or infect your devices.
These passwords take 1 second to crack
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Here’s a wild stat: 78% of the world’s most common passwords can be cracked in less than a second. The most-used password in the world, “123456,” has been leaked more than 3 million times. And get this: 1.2 million of those were corporate passwords.
Security tip: 3 dumb mistakes putting you at risk online
There are countless cybersecurity threats you need to watch out for. The AV-TEST Institute says it detects over 450,000 new malicious programs every day.
We’ve compiled some easy mistakes you could be making right now. You may discover a weakness that puts your digital life in danger. Thanks to our sponsor, TotalAV, you can scroll down to stay safe!
Yes, you can add a VPN to your TV - Here are a few reasons you should
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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.
Protect all your devices with the best antivirus software
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When it comes to antivirus software, there’s no better choice than our sponsor, TotalAV. For one, it’s available for your phone and computer, so all your devices are protected.
This security suite protects all your devices from the scariest online threats, such as ransomware, spyware, adware and (of course) malware. Its WebShield browser extension provides advanced protection against malicious websites and even blocks bad guys from stealing your data.
My top password manager pick has an A+ security feature built in
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But there’s a smarter way to protect your online accounts — using a trusted password manager like NordPass.
Remembering complex, unique passwords for every single account is practically impossible. If you’re like most people, you probably end up reusing passwords or writing them down somewhere, which isn’t your best bet if you value security.
Protect up to 5 devices from malware, viruses and more - Just $20 for an entire year
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There’s nothing wrong with looking for ways to save money. Cutting back on things like your cable or electric bill is just good business. But you need to be smart about where to cut corners. Protecting your devices and critical files should not be skimped with all the cybercriminals and digital threats lurking.
Best way to stop spam texts for good
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“Official notice from USPS. Your delivery is on hold.” I wonder why …
“Hi, how are you?” Who could this be?