There’s a lot of news about the powerful spyware named Pegasus. And it is some nasty stuff, being able to infect a phone without anyone clicking anything! You can read about some basics about Pegasus here. Unfortunately, this is one of those news topics where the media can be more inciteful than insightful. For example, … Read more
You can call it misinformation, false news, alternative facts or misleading journalism. The internet is home to countless lies & fraudulent stories, promoted by real people and bot accounts, alike. It’s awful out there, folks. And it’s not just the news. Forwarded emails of photos and videos dupe people into believing inaccurate science. Ads and … Read more
Smartphones are pretty well-defended against viruses, but there are a few ways to abuse them that avoid detection. One of the ways that iPhones get hijacked is through “Profiles”. The Profiles part of the iOS is typically only used by employers or schools on iPhones that they assign to their staff. For some companies, there … Read more
Are you selling items on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist? Then watch out for the Google Voice Verification scam! The Setup A potential buyer contacts you and asks for your cellphone number. Once you share your contact info, a text comes in from Google Voice. It contains a 6-digit verification code, and your would-be buyer quickly … Read more
The Trend Micro company has come out with a new tool that I want to recommend. Trend Micro Check is a free browser extension that you can install in Google Chrome (or Microsoft Edge) that will protect you as you surf the web. Specifically, Trend Micro Check blocks ads and trackers (like AdBlockPlus), warns you … Read more
Is Facetime Coming to Windows? The answer to this is a bit dicey. Or nuanced. But the explanation is worth it for your safety. The Basics Facetime is an Apple-owned iOS app that allows you to video chat with people on their iPhones and iPads,. To date, Facetime has only been able to connect you … Read more
If you receive a letter hiring you to be a “secret shopper” at a big-name store, please understand it is almost certainly a scam. The letter may be extremely detailed, and it may be accompanied by a cashable bank check. But both are illegitimate and you stand to lose a lot of money if you … Read more
A modern boarding pass (plane ticket) has a QR or Bar Code on it. Quickly scanning that code makes it easy for an airport employee to check you in and get you on your plane. But some people warn about those QR codes and their security. USA Today and other news stories have been circulating … Read more
This is a pretty scary topic, but let’s go through the scope of this problem. It may not affect you at all, but if it does, I’ve got some advice for you. Reformatted from Afar Yesterday it was reported that some people’s Western Digital external hard drives were erased! And the attack is not the … Read more
At least, not with some copy-and-paste wodge of text. So if you see this kind of post, don’t bother with it: It is not harmful to post this sort of thing. And you may truly see more posts from long-lost FB Friends afterwards. But that’s because Facebook shows you more of the people you interact … Read more