How to make your Zoom meetings more secure
Coronavirus has brought on a Zoom boom, making the videoconferencing software a more attractive hacking target. As the company plugs holes, we can adjust our meeting settings.
How To
How to protect your Ring from hackers (and Amazon partners)
Amazon’s Ring says its connected-doorbell devices are building “safer neighborhoods.” Follow these steps to better protect the data (and video) they collect from hackers and partners.
Set your iPhone up as a Google 2FA key in 5 steps
Google has made it possible to use your iPhone as a two-factor authentication key for account log-ins, just as it did last year for Android phones. Follow these steps to set it up.
Stuck with Windows 7? Here’s a security game plan
Microsoft is no longer supporting Windows 7. Everyone should have long since left it behind for a more secure operating system. But for some, upgrading isn’t an easy option.
How to stop calendar spam
Ever come across a jarringly unfamiliar event like ““$$$ Playmate Wanted $$$” in your online calendar? It’s time to report calendar spam and update your calendar settings.
How to read a privacy policy
Before using an app, privacy experts advise searching its fine print for keywords that may highlight the company’s data collection, retention, protection, and sharing practices. Here’s how.
How to balance safety and privacy with a car tracker
By tracking location, speed, and sudden braking, these devices can help people keep tabs on where and how their cars are being driven. But privacy experts advise taking precautions.
How to securely send your personal information
You know that on its own, email is not secure for sending credit card or passport numbers. But you still need to send some personal information over the Internet. Here’s how.
How to protect your smart TV from hackers
As smart TVs with very little built-in security features become ubiquitous, consumers can take basic steps to better secure their network access, microphones, and cameras.
How to move your two-factor authentication app to a new device
Do you use a code-generating app from Google, Microsoft, LastPass, or Authy that supports multiple services? Migrating it to your new Android or iOS device requires a few steps.
Primer: What’s a fileless attack?
While traditional malware infects a system via a file that requires execution, fileless malware can infect a device’s memory via an instruction set hiding in an email attachment.
What to do when Customs asks for your social-media account info
There isn’t yet a one-size-fits-all way to prepare for or respond to social-media search demands—or device searches—at the border. But there are guidelines.
Suspect a hidden camera in your Airbnb or hotel? Here’s how to tell
Before booking a stay, read the home description for a required camera disclosure. And after checking in, you can take these steps to find a hidden camera and protect your privacy.
How to use your Android as a 2FA key
Google’s move to turn Android devices—the ones already in consumers’ hands—into the physical keys needed to unlock accounts is a “game changer.” Here’s why, and how to do it.
How to wipe location data from mapping apps
Limiting the location data that mapping apps store about you doesn’t mean abandoning location services. Here’s how to better control or delete the data your movements generate.
Done with Signal? Not so fast
Because Signal ties its app to phone numbers, it intercepts text messages between former and current users. That is, unless former users properly deregister their numbers. Here’s how.
Primer: When (and how) to dump your Internet provider’s DNS service
Outages and privacy policies are among valid reasons to switch to a free third-party DNS service like Cloudflare, Google Public DNS, or Cisco OpenDNS. But there are caveats.
How much personalization is too much?
If you'd rather not get personalized offers from brands—or at least have more control over the sensitive data used to generate them—your options are pretty limited.
How to delete your DNA from popular genetics sites
How easy is it to destroy the DNA samples held at genetic-testing labs, or delete the resulting genealogical profile? We compare some of the most popular services’ policies.
How to talk to tech support about malware (and other hacks)
Even when we’ve exposed our bank log-in credentials through a phishing attack, we need to cap our emotions and respect the rep on the line. Here’s how to get efficient help on the call.
Primer: How to lock your online accounts with a security key
Major sites and browser vendors are increasingly supporting physical two-step authentication keys, known as U2F keys. Could they remedy your account security anxiety?
Will this app track my child? Here’s how to tell
Monitoring the apps your kids use—and knowing the difference between ones that respect and exploit their privacy—can be an overwhelming responsibility. Here’s how to approach it.
Primer: 4 ways to protect your devices from botnets
A device’s unwitting participation in a malicious robot network, or botnet, is practically detectable only through a forensic examination, experts tell us. But we can take steps to protect our devices.
How to tell you’re part of the 30 million user Facebook breach
The massive data breach Facebook reported at the end of September isn’t quite as big as the company thought it might be. That might sound good, but it isn’t lik... Read More...
How to check whether a link is safe
As endless studies show, the first lesson in stopping a phishing attempt is to be skeptical of links in emails, text messages, or anything appearing to be a personal, private communication.
How to recover from a health care data breach
You can’t personally prevent a data breach, nor someone from attempting to defraud your insurance provider. But you can take steps to minimize how much a breach can affect you.
How to settle your loved one’s digital estate
Many social-media companies and email providers have services to help executors settle a decedent’s digital assets, and some have services to help users prepare for their own death.
Harassed or stalked online? Follow these 5 steps
Need to lock down your accounts, block a harasser, and move on with your digital life? Follow these five steps, from documenting and reporting to adding two-factor authentication.
Why (and how) bosses set up devices to ‘supervise’
Even if your boss isn't actively surveilling you—or you think you have nothing to hide—you should know how blurring the line between personal and professional puts your privacy at risk.
Parallax Primer: What’s a watering-hole attack?
Watering-hole attacks use predator tactics to improve attackers’ odds of infiltrating large organizations. They’re hard to detect or defend—and they can have devastating effects.
3 tips to secure your connected home
As Google reveals a Duplex power boost to its Assistant, security experts weigh in on the risks. In the smart home, added conveniences and insights come with a wider “attack surface.”
How to protect what your car knows about you
Connected car data could be worth $750 billion by 2030. That’s great, if you’re a car company. But if you’re a consumer, you’ll want to be able to weigh the benefits against the risks.
Primer: How to dodge a spear-phishing attack
Spear phishing differs from its more prevalent counterpart, phishing, in that it casts a smaller, more targeted net. Its tactics are also much more sophisticated.
Primer: What’s in an APT
“No one is immune” to advanced persistent threats, or APTs, which hackers use to surreptitiously gain access to a network and stay undetected for a long period of time.
How to guard your data like it’s an Olympic sport
Heading to the Winter Olympics in South Korea or another major public event? Don’t let yourself get so carried away with excitement that you forget that the bad guys are just waiting for you to slip up.
Primer: Why (and how) to stop cryptojacking
Combine its nefarious applications with its inherent stealthiness and rapid proliferation, and it’s easy to see why cryptojacking has become a hot new topics in security circles.
How to keep tabs on the secret companies that know everything about you
Beyond the big three credit-reporting bureaus, a universe of secret companies can make or break your ability to get a job, insurance, home, or even a seat at a poker table. Take note.
How to wipe personal data from work laptops and phones
New year, new job? Getting a fresh start means ensuring that you don’t leave any personal data baggage behind. Here’s how to clean up your company-issued devices before turning them in.
Make a resolution to clean up your digital act? Here’s how
Channel those feelings you have about getting hacked in 2017. To better secure your digital life in 2018, make a resolution to follow these seven steps, garnered from how-tos we’ve published this year.
How to address Apple’s severe High Sierra ‘root’ flaw
To gain unrestricted access to Macs running High Sierra prior to patching, someone could simply enter the word “root” as the username. Apple’s major misstep isn’t isolated, experts say.
What’s the safest way to digitally pay?
From peer-to-peer apps to debit cards at retail, security experts sort through the myriad ways to make holiday purchases—and explain why Pay apps are the most secure.
After Equifax breach, credit monitoring simply isn’t enough
A free year of a service like Equifax’s TrustID might feel like adequate identity theft protection. But experts say breach victims need much more than just credit monitoring, “indefinitely.”
5 Twitter do’s and don’ts
From verifying link destinations to being cautious about what you share, social-media privacy expert Hayley Kaplan outlines how to safely use President Trump’s favorite pulpit.
Why hackers love your Wi-Fi (and how to protect it)
Using Wi-Fi with proper precautions can prevent hacks of your devices, as well as exposure of the sites you browse to the apps you rely on.
Parallax Primer: What’s in a banking Trojan?
Like the Trojan horse of Greek mythology, malware like Kronos carries a destructive payload, helping criminals steal hundreds of millions of dollars. Here’s what to look out for.
Parallax Primer: How to protect your payment apps
You might be protected against credit card fraud, but your payment apps are still susceptible to attacks intended to take over your accounts, or steal your credentials and use them elsewhere.
Primer: What’s in a ‘crime kit’
Crime kits are automated, self-contained tools that cybercriminals of any skill level can deploy to exploit a vulnerability. Protecting their proliferation requires a multipronged approach.
Parallax Primer: What you need to know about worms
Worms autonomously spread through system vulnerabilities, not actions like opening an email attachment. Nevertheless, there are ways to protect your technology against infections.
What to do when your password gets reset
With phishing attacks spoofing password reset emails on the rise, experts advise, above all else, manually going to the site to log in rather than clicking on any links within the email.
Before strapping on that fitness device, check out the privacy policy
While fitness apps and devices could help you improve your physical health, they could also jeopardize your personal privacy, career, or insurance rates. Here’s what to look out for.
How to transition from consumer to small-business computer security
Is there a difference between computer security in your home versus in a small business? Absolutely, says the founder of Townsquared. But it’s not as big as you might think.
How to keep your software up-to-date
Old, unpatched software poses security risks to computers. It’s safer to ditch apps you don’t use and update the rest to keep them current.
Looking to hide your traffic from ISPs? Not all VPNs are equal
Interest in the software has skyrocketed as Trump rolls back consumer protections from Internet providers. But choosing a good VPN can require a little digging. Here’s what to look for.
4 ways to protect your data when using Google Home and Amazon Echo
Although you can’t necessarily increase how much privacy and security these voice-controlled personal-assistant devices provide, you can limit the info they collect and store. Here’s how.
Give smart: 4 tips to avoid charity scams
Scammers are looking to capitalize on the spike in “rage donations.” Here are four ways to ensure that your personal data and funds reach an intended legitimate charity—and nobody else.
How to protect your data when traveling internationally
Trump’s travel ban accompanied increased scrutiny of travelers’ electronic devices and social-media activity. Here are a few steps you can take to minimize your exposure at country borders.
5 security tips to keep in 2017
Given predicted threats to your personal data and security this year, it’s more important than ever to break your bad online habits. Here’s a quick checklist.
Simple ways to protect your app data
We asked security experts how to better control the personal data that mobile apps, including those of Facebook and Google, expose about us. Here’s their advice.
10 secure apps to try in 2017
Making a new year’s resolution to clean up your digital-security act? Here are 10 secure apps to consider, from ad blockers and password managers to private browsers and secure messaging apps.
Swipe safe: Tips and tricks for dating online
Believe it or not, you can arm yourself against scammers lurking on dating sites and apps—and ensure that they’re doing right by you and your quest to not die alone. Here’s how.
5 holiday scams to avoid
Holiday chaos, combined with increases in online gift shopping and charitable giving, form a perfect storm for scammers to strike. From email scams to fake charities, here’s what to look out for.
How to recover from a Tumblr hack
The Yahoo microblogging service acknowledges that millions of its users’ account credentials have been compromised in recent years. Here’s how to regain control of and further secure yours.
How to dump your Yahoo, Flickr, and Tumblr accounts
Moving away from Yahoo isn’t trivial. But in light of recent security revelations, experts have decided that it’s time. Here’s how to back up, migrate away from, and shutter your accounts.
How to be a graciously secure Airbnb host
Security experts worry that short-term rentals like Airbnb will attract casual hackers looking to steal credentials, infect machines, or even spy on browsing patterns. Here’s how to protect your home.
Primer: Are password managers safe to use?
Creating and remembering a plethora of strong, unique passwords can be a challenge, even for security experts. Here’s why they say a password manager can help keep you safe.
How to wipe your phone (or tablet) for resale
Planning to resell your old iPhone or Android device to offset the cost of a new one? Ensure that you’ve properly wiped it first, following these step-by-step directions.
What you need to know about WhatsApp’s new terms of service
End-to-end encryption can’t mask message metadata, which WhatsApp is now sharing with other Facebook companies. Here’s why—and how security experts advise responding.
5 ways to prepare your kid for social media
Conversations with your aspiring Snapchatter about social-media safety should resemble those you’ve already had about “being safe at the park and at the movies,” experts say.
6 security add-ons to protect your browser
Hidden trackers and malicious ads can respectively threaten your privacy and security while on the Web. To augment your browser settings, experts recommend installing these extensions.
Change these 5 settings to improve browser security
More and more of your data is getting distributed through the browser. To prevent it from getting compromised, experts recommend taking these five simple steps.
How to send money securely
It seems like every day there are more and more options for sending and receiving money online. Here’s six tips for staying safe for handling money on your computer and phone.
Before buying an IoT device, ask these 5 questions
Billions of connected devices gaining in popularity don’t adequately address experts’ privacy and security concerns. Here’s a quick checklist to get through before purchasing one.
How to dodge facial recognition on the Web
It’s a quixotic journey at best, PR guru Jonathan Hirshon says. Nevertheless, it’s one he’s successfully navigated for years to “educate people” about privacy, if nothing else. Here’s how.
How to get more out of election apps than you give
As you install any app, be cautious about the data you share with its publishers and might expose to eavesdroppers. Here’s what to look out for this election season and beyond.
How to block Facebook (and others) from your microphone
The social network says it isn’t listening to users’ conversations to better target ads. For good measure, here are several ways to limit app access to your voice and online interactions.
So you’re caught in a data breach. Now what?
You’re not helpless. Here are five steps you can take when notified that your information has been involved in a breach to prevent further harm and protect yourself.
What to watch for in fake LinkedIn profiles
Protecting yourself from phishing scams and malware on the network starts with accepting invitations to connect with caution. Here’s what to look out for and how to report fraudsters.
7 ways to boost your Facebook privacy
As the social network’s settings and policies evolve, users need to stay on top of what they are sharing with Facebook and others. Take these steps, and you’ll feel more secure.
How to avoid phishing scams
With the credentials you enter in response, phishers generally hope to access (and wreak havoc) on your financial accounts. Here’s what to look for—and how to deal, if you fall victim.
How to recover from a Twitter hack
This one’s for you, Laremy Tunsil. Twitter hacks can create a social-media mess, but the cleanup could be as simple as changing your passwords and running a virus scan.
How to avoid ransomware—or remove it
You can dodge attacks with “good security hygiene.” And if you do get infected, you can take steps to regain control phone or laptop. Here’s a rundown.
How to block mobile ads
Advertisements on your phone do more than just tax your battery and make it hard to see your already small screen. They’re also used to deliver malicious software. Here’s how to block them.
How to clean up (or delete) data brokers’ profiles of you
Ask data brokers why your information is important to them, and they’ll tell you that it helps their partners provide you with more personalized services.As... Read More...
Primer: Who’s tracking your location? Just about everybody
From your wireless carrier to your favorite retailer, hundreds of businesses could be following your movements. Here’s how and why—and what they could be doing with your location information.
How to protect yourself when using airplane Wi-Fi
Even at 30,000 feet, you’re not necessarily safe from hackers. Our pre-flight safety demonstration includes four steps you can take to protect yourself when using airline Wi-Fi.
How to FBI-proof your Android
The iPhone isn’t the only popular device you can essentially lock government agencies and hackers out of. Here are seven ways to strengthen the walls around your Android.
How to FBI-proof your iPhone
Worried about the government (or anybody else) getting access to your iPhone? Here are five key ways you can protect it from prying eyes—and two more, for good measure.
Primer: Why are Androids less secure than iPhones?
Google’s massively popular Android operating system powers billions of phones and tablets around the world, but it’s also far easier for hackers to infiltrate than Apple’s iPhones. Here’s why.
12 social-network settings to lock down
Here's 12 settings you can change to make your social networks more protective of your privacy.
4 ways to identify a Facebook scam
Malicious spam takes form in a variety of ways on the social network. Here are common tactics that cybercriminals use to entice you to click and reveal your personal info.
How to secure your home Wi-Fi
Follow these steps to protect your home Wi-Fi devices and personal data from hackers.
How to recover from a Facebook hack
When your account gets hacked, you may feel as if your best online connection to friends has been shattered. Here’s how you get back to normal—and prevent another attack.
Want end-to-end encryption? Use these apps
How private your mobile communications are depends on which devices you use and which apps you’ve installed. These apps can help keep your private messages from going public.
4 ways to boost Google privacy
The Parallax offers you a few simple steps you can take to improve your privacy when using Google’s plethora of services.
How to set up two-factor authentication
Use two-factor authentication to better protect your online accounts from hackers. Here's how you get started with better account login security.
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