Unlocking the Mystery of VPN’s: Why You Need One

You may have heard about VPN’s (Virtual Private Network) more often lately, even popping up in TV ads for VPN service providers. What’s behind the sudden surge of VPN’s and why would you want or need one? For those who use WiFi internet connections at home or work, for shopping, banking, or just plain fun, VPN’s provide a layer of security that WiFi cannot. Although free public WiFi is found most everywhere, it’s long been a favorite for hackers because there is virtually no online security offered when using it. READ FULL STORY

Your New Gig Could Be a Money Trap

Cyber crooks are turning “easy side gigs” into dangerous traps, according to Trend Micro’s new Unmasking Task Scams report. Victims are lured with small payouts for liking videos or posting reviews—“easy” gig work— to make an extra bit of cash. But then these victims are pushed to deposit money to “unlock” higher rewards—money they’ll never see again. Some scammers even pose as mentors or real companies. But there are some ways to avoid this when you’re looking for your next gig. READ FULL STORY

Has Your Email Been Hacked? Here’s How You Can Tell And What You Can Do

There are any number of signs that may give you a clue that your email has been hacked. And what do you do if it has? You may wonder what you can do if you suspect that’s the case. Let’s go over a few indicators of a compromised email box and what you can do about it, if it happens to you. Fortunately, there are some indicators for to watch out for and we can provide some suggestions on how to tell and what to do if you do think someone has been in your inbox. READ FULL STORY

Don't Wake Up to a TrickMo Attack

TrickMo, the Android banking trojan is back with a vengeance. The malware has a history of targeting Android phones to steal banking info and money. And now, TrickMo’s latest version is stealing a lot more, and possibly doing it while you’re sleeping. This updated version of TrickMo is being seen worldwide. Since no one wants to wake up to a TrickMo attack, it’s time to grab a cup of coffee, sit in your favorite chair, and learn more about this tricky trojan TrickMo. READ FULL STORY

Holiday Shopping May Be Over but the Scams Aren’t

Think the shopping season ends on December 25? Not even close. Retailers launch a whole new wave of promotions: after-holiday blowouts, New Year deals, clearance events, and anything else they can dream up to keep shoppers clicking. But while stores ramp up the marketing, cybercriminals ramp up their tricks — especially domain-jacking and typosquatting. And during this busy online shopping stretch, more people than ever are falling for them. READ FULL STORY

Got a Shiny New Connected Gadget? Do These Safety Steps First

If you unwrapped a brand-new internet-connected device this holiday season, you’re not alone. Smart gadgets, tablets, gaming systems, and home devices are hotter than ever—but before you dive in and start exploring, there are a few must-do safety steps to keep cybercrooks out of your digital space. Even if you’ve already set it up, it’s worth double-checking that you didn’t miss anything. Once you’ve checked all these boxes, enjoy your new tech with confidence—knowing you’ve taken the right steps to keep your digital world safe. READ FULL STORY

Good Security Habits Can Go A Long Way In A New Year

It’s a new year! And while everyone will face new cyber risks going forward, it makes it more important than ever for individuals to assume responsibility for safeguarding their devices and data. Threats stay the same, but they also evolve to become more dangerous and new ones pop up like the cork of a champagne bottle. Protecting yourself from all of this begins with education and heeding the advice of cybersecurity experts. While we all think we know all of this already, anyone can become a victim of cybercrime when the circumstances are right. READ FULL STORY

While Charity Scams Never Take a Day Off, Giving Tuesday Brings Out the Grinches

The spirit of giving doesn’t depend on the season. However, when Giving Tuesday comes around every year, scammers are quick to jump on that bandwagon. They exploit generosity, posing as legitimate charities or creating entirely fake ones to steal money and personal information. Their tactics change, but the goal never does: To take advantage of your kindness. Before you donate, take a moment, a little caution goes a long way toward protecting both your wallet and your identity. READ FULL STORY

Gmail Tech Support Exposes New Threats From AI

A significant cybersecurity breach involving Gmail raised alarms across the tech community late in 2024. Hackers leveraged advanced AI techniques to create a sophisticated scheme involving account recovery phishing emails that were nearly indistinguishable from legitimate communications. And, to make it even more believable, they were followed up with a phone call from a “Gmail tech support person,” throwing everyone a phishing curveball. READ FULL STORY

What Is A Brushing Scam?

We haven’t talked about brushing scams much of late. However, there is one happening now that is significant enough that the FBI’s IC3 unit issued a warning about it. It involves mystery packages being delivered to your home with no information about where they came from and though many are harmless, some make that bargain you thought you were getting vastly more expensive. And to make it easier for you to fall for the scam, a convenient QR code is inside so you can solve the mystery easily and deliver your money to the scammers too. READ FULL STORY

Passkeys Make Passwords a Thing of the Past

Tired of creating and remembering passwords? Aren't we all? Well, now there’s an easier option to do away with all those pesky passwords. They’re called “passkeys”, and the best part is, they’re easier to use and more secure (you can now jump for joy). Passkeys are a type of authentication technology doing away with the risks of traditional logins. Unfortunately, not all websites use them yet, but more are appearing every day. While it's a hip hip hooray for us, finding ways around them is also a big challenge for hackers. READ FULL STORY

Invisible Ink, Visible Risk: Researchers Reveal Hidden Fake Warnings in Gmail Summaries

Think Gmail’s new AI summarizer is a handy time-saver? Sure, being able to summarize your emails might sound like a great idea, but it also might be a scammer’s dream. Mozilla’s 0din research team discovered a nasty trick targeting Google’s recent upgrade. Tools that can be very handy, can also become another weapon against us. In this one, attackers can hide secret instructions to perform malicious activity inside an email—stuff you’ll never see, but Gmail’s AI will. READ FULL STORY