# Cyber Safe Center > Cyber Safety Starts Here ## Posts - [Tech support pop-up scam](https://cybersafecenter.com/tech-support-pop-up-scam/): I know many people who have been online and have suddenly seen a giant flashing warning that says “Your computer is infected! Call this number now!”. If you’ve seen this, you have likely run into a tech support popup scam. These popups are designed to scare you. They often take over your whole screen. They might beep loudly. Some even pretend to “scan” your computer and show a long list of fake problems. The message usually claims to be from a well known company like Microsoft or Apple. The logo looks real. The wording sounds urgent. That is exactly the […] - [USB charger malware](https://cybersafecenter.com/usb-charger-malware/): This morning I jumped into a rideshare on the way to the airport. It was one of those early trips where you are half awake, juggling bags, and checking your phone for the which airport terminal you will be using. I had an almost-fully charged phone battery, but I was going to be traveling all day. Right there in the back seat was a neat little charging station. Multiple cables. Lightning, USB-C, even an older connector. A small sign said, “Free charging for passengers.” It was thoughtful. Convenient. Exactly what some rideshare customers need. And I did not plug in. […] - [How to use Authenticator apps](https://cybersafecenter.com/how-to-use-authenticator-apps/): Have you had a bank or other important account ask you if you want to use an authenticator application? An authenticator application is a small app on your phone that helps prove you are really you when you sign in to an account. Apps like Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator are popular choices (I have both on my phone). They are free and easy to set up. Most websites walk you through it with simple instructions and a QR code you scan with your phone. An authenticator app adds a second step, like a second lock on a door. After […] - [Fake Chrome extensions](https://cybersafecenter.com/fake-chrome-extensions/): I mainly use the Google Chrome browser and I’ve installed a few browser “extensions” which are special programs that work inside my browser. The extensions I use are only from well-known companies and their solutions that I trust, such as the Keeper password management system, Adobe Acrobat, and Google Translate. Browser extensions can be genuinely useful, so it’s no surprise scammers are abusing that trust. A fast growing trick is the malicious “AI assistant” extension: it looks like a helpful productivity add-on in the Chrome Web Store, but its real job is to quietly grab your sensitive data. Many of […] - ["reply STOP to unsubscribe"](https://cybersafecenter.com/reply-stop-to-unsubscribe/): This hasn’t happened to me yet, but I wanted to warn you of a new phone text risk. If you get a random text message that ends with “reply STOP to unsubscribe,” don’t assume it’s a legitimate business. If you don’t recognize the sender, replying at all can make things worse. Here’s why: scammers send bulk texts to huge lists of phone numbers, many of which are old, recycled, or simply guessed. Their first goal is not always to trick you into clicking a link. Often, it’s to find out which numbers belong to real people. When you reply “STOP,” […] - [Car buying scams](https://cybersafecenter.com/car-buying-scams/): Buying a car is stressful enough without someone trying to trick you. Unfortunately, scams show up in every corner of the process: online listings, private sellers, and even “helpful” middlemen who claim they can handle paperwork for you. We recently sold a car to Carvana because I didn’t want to risk getting scammed as a seller. But what’s worse is when the person trying to buy a car gets scammed, because they’re often stretching their budget, relying on that car for work or family, and they can lose thousands in minutes. Here are the most common car buying scams and […] - [Recovery scams](https://cybersafecenter.com/recovery-scams/): After someone loses money to a scam, the damage is not always over. A growing number of people are being targeted by a second scam, fake “scam recovery” services that claim they can get stolen money back. I have had many people tell me their scam stories in person. That is absolutely fine and honestly important. Warning your friends and family helps others avoid the same traps. The problem starts when those stories become visible to the wrong audience online. Scammers actively look for victims who admit they were scammed. They monitor Facebook scam groups, comment threads, and public posts […] - [D-Link end-of-life routers being attacked](https://cybersafecenter.com/d-link-eol-routers/): A recent warning shows that hackers are actively attacking older D-Link routers that no longer receive security updates. These routers are considered “end of life,” which means the manufacturer has stopped fixing security problems. Even though the device still turns on and provides internet, it is no longer protected. I wrote an article previously about other routers that had gone end of life, because you may have a different one that is no longer supported. First, what is a router? A router is the small box in your home that connects all your devices to the internet. Your phone, laptop, […] - [More tax scams](https://cybersafecenter.com/more-tax-scams/): My first blog post ever was to warn the first edition newsletter subscribers about the “fake refund” tax scam (make sure to re-read it). As a reminder, that is when a scammer pretends that they have a refund especially for you. And if you are owed a refund, file early before a scammer files a tax return in your name! This time I want to tell you about two more damaging tax scams that target people directly through phone calls and through fake tax preparers who seem helpful at first glance. IRS Imposter Calls One of the most common tax […] - [Critical iOS upgrade - install now!](https://cybersafecenter.com/critical-ios-upgrade/): When I visited my 101-year-old grandpa a few weeks ago, he wanted me to help him with a few things on his three phones. One of the phones is an iPhone, and when I went to the Settings screen, I saw he had not upgraded to the latest operating system version. I told him there were some very important security fixes in the latest version and I initiated the upgrade process for him. Security researchers recently warned that a critical iOS vulnerability was being actively exploited, meaning attackers were already using it against real people, not just testing it in […] - [Breached passwords](https://cybersafecenter.com/breached-passwords/): My husband’s CreditKarma account was taken over a few weeks ago. We had each set up our accounts years ago when we wanted to see our credit history before purchasing a house. My husband used a password that he frequently used on multiple sites. One of those other websites had a security breach where the email addresses and passwords were stolen. Hackers have automated tools that try those emails and passwords across thousands of sites in order to break in. They were successful logging in to CreditKarma with one of his email addresses and a password he used in multiple […] - [Instagram clarifies password resets](https://cybersafecenter.com/instagram-clarifies-password-resets/): Did you get an Instagram password reset email this week? If yes, it might have been the real thing. Recently, many Instagram users were surprised to find password reset emails in their inboxes even though they had not asked for one. This unexpected surge of messages sparked widespread concern that the platform might have suffered a data breach or compromise. However, Instagram has now issued clear guidance to help users understand what happened and how to respond safely. According to Instagram’s latest update, receiving a reset email does not mean that your account has been hacked. The company says that […] - [Subscription renewal scams](https://cybersafecenter.com/subscription-renewal-scams/): I’m not sure how many digital and streaming subscriptions we have, but it’s a lot. I know we have Disney+, Paramount, YouTube, Netflix, and my family could list at least five more. January has become prime time for a specific kind of scam that preys on distraction, financial fatigue, and the chaos that follows the holidays. After weeks of gift buying, travel, and temporary subscriptions, many people are less certain about what they signed up for. Scammers know this and are taking advantage of it. The result is what I call the post-holiday subscription scam. How the scam works: You […] - [New Year health scams](https://cybersafecenter.com/new-year-health-scams/): Every January, myself and millions of people set personal goals to lose weight, get healthier, or simply feel better than they did the year before. Scammers know this. And they are increasingly exploiting that motivation with fake health endorsements for pills, powders, drops, and miracle cures that promise fast results with almost no effort. These scams often appear as slick videos on Instagram or Facebook. They look polished, professional, and emotionally convincing. A well known celebrity appears to share a personal story about struggling with weight or health and discovering a product that changed everything. Comments are filled with glowing […] - [Church Pastor Text Scam (this one is personal)](https://cybersafecenter.com/church-pastor-text-scam-this-one-is-personal/): This week, more than a dozen people from our church received a disturbing text message. It appeared to come from my husband (the pastor) and it asked for “assistance.” The message was polite, familiar, and signed with his full name. It claimed he was in a meeting and needed someone to urgently buy gift cards for women battling cancer. He promised reimbursement later. It was not him. This was a scam. A classic gift card scam, but one that felt especially cruel. What made this incident worse was how personal it was. The scammers clearly knew who to target. They […] - ["Perfect Voice" Scam](https://cybersafecenter.com/perfect-voice-scam/): During a long holiday drive to see family, a familiar topic came up with one of our adult children. We revisited the family “safe word” we created when she was little. Back then, it was meant to confirm identity if a stranger ever claimed to be sent by us. Today, that same idea matters more than ever, but for a very different reason. AI-powered voice scams, often called vishing, are evolving fast. Criminals can now clone a person’s voice using just a few seconds of audio pulled from social media videos like Instagram, voicemail greetings, or even short clips posted […] - [Return label phishing scam](https://cybersafecenter.com/return-label-phish-scam/): I buy things from social media ads, especially when something looks useful in my feed. That is exactly why the “Return Label Phish” scam, which started showing up this holiday season, is so effective. It targets people right after a purchase, when you are already frustrated and just want a refund. The scenario feels normal. You buy an item you found on a social media ad, often from platforms like Instagram or TikTok. The product arrives late, does not work, or looks nothing like the photos. You email customer support to return it, and they send back a “pre-paid return […] - ["Nomani" investment scam](https://cybersafecenter.com/nomani-investment-scam/): In a previous article, I wrote about fake ads on Facebook and how scammers abuse trusted social media platforms to push fraud at scale. The “Nomani” investment scam shows just how far that problem has progressed, driven by AI-generated deepfake technology. The Nomani campaign first surged in December 2024 and expanded rapidly in late 2025. Fraudsters created realistic video testimonials using AI to impersonate well-known public figures. Reports and takedowns tied to this campaign have included deepfake videos portraying figures such as Elon Musk and Martin Lewis, among other recognizable business and finance personalities. In these videos, the fake spokesperson […] - [USSD code call forwarding scam](https://cybersafecenter.com/ussd-code-scam/): A dangerous phone scam is making the rounds again, and it is one that too many people still have not heard about. It is known as the USSD code call forwarding scam, and it is particularly effective because it does not involve hacking your phone, stealing your password, or swapping your SIM card. The scam usually starts with a convincing message or phone call. You might get a text claiming to be from a delivery company like FedEx or UPS, saying there was a problem delivering a package. Other versions pretend to be from your mobile carrier and warn about […] - [WhatsApp's hidden privacy risk](https://cybersafecenter.com/whatsapps-privacy-risk/): I use WhatsApp every single day. It is how I talk to talk to my colleagues, coordinate schedules, share photos, and keep up with people across time zones. For most of us, it feels like a safe and familiar application. That is why this new activity tracking threat caught my attention. This is not about reading your messages. Your chats are still end-to-end encrypted which means nobody but you and the other person can read your messages. The real issue is something called “metadata”. This is the information at a higher level that describes things about you or the messages. […] - [Fake DocuSign billing emails](https://cybersafecenter.com/fake-docusign-billing-emails/): Scammers are now exploiting DocuSign, a trusted service that lets people securely sign and send documents online. Many businesses use DocuSign for contracts, agreements, and legal paperwork, so most of us recognize the format and feel comfortable opening these messages. That familiarity is exactly what scammers are using against us. I often receive legitimate DocuSign messages, but always from someone I expect. A growing scam involves fake DocuSign notices that appear to contain billing receipts from Apple, Netflix, or other well known companies. The email claims a subscription was charged to your account and includes a phone number to call […] - ["Lifetime" access scams](https://cybersafecenter.com/lifetime-access-scams/): I’ve been setting up a new laptop for our church which means I’ve been needing to purchase security software and Microsoft Office. Luckily I know that it’s possible to buy Microsoft Office 2024 without a subscription, though it’s getting harder to find on their website. The security software, however, will be a subscription that someone will need to continue paying for after I set it up. Subscription fatigue has become a real problem. Many people search online for ways to reduce recurring charges, which is exactly why scammers are pushing fake “lifetime access” deals for popular services. These offers look […] - [Stay safe online with a VPN](https://cybersafecenter.com/stay-safe-with-a-vpn/): Using a virtual private network (VPN) service has become one of the simplest ways to protect your online activity, especially when you are away from your home network. A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel (see image below) between your device (phone or computer) and the internet, which prevents outside parties from seeing the sites you visit or collecting your data. It also shields you from common threats on public Wi-Fi such as snooping, data harvesting, and malicious hotspots that try to imitate legitimate networks. I use a VPN every time I connect to any network that is not my trusted […] - [Fake sellers at Walmart](https://cybersafecenter.com/fake-sellers-at-walmart/): Walmart Marketplace has grown into one of the largest online shopping platforms in the country, but that rapid growth came with a hidden cost. A CNBC investigation revealed that the company’s previous seller approval process was too easy to bypass. Fraudulent businesses were able to pose as real brands, list counterfeit products, and ship low quality or unsafe goods to customers. The report sparked concern among industry experts and shoppers alike, especially in high risk categories such as beauty, supplements, and personal care. Since that investigation, Walmart has started tightening its rules. Sellers in sensitive categories must now prove that […] - [Venmo payment scam](https://cybersafecenter.com/venmo-payment-scam/): Mobile payment apps make it easy to split a dinner bill or send money to family, but they also create new opportunities for scammers. A rising scheme is targeting people who use Venmo and PayPal, and the trick starts with one small detail. The two services can now send money to each other. That convenience also makes it possible for someone on PayPal to look you up on Venmo by using your phone number. Criminals take advantage of this by sending a payment to a stranger, then messaging, “Oops, wrong person, can you send it back?” It sounds innocent, but […] - [Spotting fake gift cards](https://cybersafecenter.com/fake-gift-card/): I am not great at picking out gifts for other people, so gift cards feel like the perfect present. They are simple to buy, easy to give, and widely accepted by stores. That convenience is also what makes them attractive to criminals. Gift card scams steal billions of dollars from consumers every year, and once the money is gone, it is almost impossible to recover. For years I’ve been listening to the radio show (now podcast) of Clark Howard, who has warned for a long time not to trust the gift cards purchased off the racks at pharmacies, grocery stores, […] - [Unlimited streaming scams](https://cybersafecenter.com/streaming-scams/): Our household have more streaming accounts than I can count (e.g., Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, etc.) totaling over a hundred dollars every month. Many people buy modified Amazon Fire TV sticks or cheap smart gadgets because they promise unlimited shows at a low price. What most do not realize is that these devices often come with something much more costly. They can quietly steal credit card numbers, passwords, and personal information the moment you plug them in. Various research shows that two in five people who used illegal streaming devices in the UK were financially hacked in one year. […] - [New twist on credit card fraud](https://cybersafecenter.com/credit-card-fraud-twist/): As a follow-up to last week’s article on phantom credit card charges, here’s a new way scammers are stealing your money. Instead of placing tiny test charges, criminals are posting real amounts on credit card statements. The charges can look like purchases from small shops, online services, or subscription companies you might not remember using. What makes this scam more dangerous is that the transaction often includes a customer service phone number that looks completely legitimate. I’ve included an image below of a valid credit card charge we made at Steve’s Hallmark store showing their 510 area code phone number: […] - ["Phantom" credit card charges](https://cybersafecenter.com/phantom-charges/): I quickly scan my credit card bills and bank accounts on the 15th of each month, sometimes to the dismay of my husband when I start to question purchases. About once a year I find something that doesn’t “look right” but it usually turns out to be nothing. Most people do not study their bank or credit card statements unless something big jumps out. Criminals know this and often start by slipping through tiny transactions that look harmless. These small tests are called “phantom” charges. They are often the earliest sign that someone is checking whether they can use your […] - [Fake invoices target everyone](https://cybersafecenter.com/fake-invoices/): My spam filter is doing better at identifying fake invoices, but these fakes are still showing up in mailboxes, inboxes, and text messages more than ever, and they are not only aimed at businesses. Every day people are receiving convincing bills for services they never used, products they never ordered, or subscriptions they never signed up for. These scams work because they look like ordinary paperwork that someone might accidentally overlook and pay. Scammers understand that most people are busy. They hope you will see a familiar logo or a professional looking document and quickly assume it is something you […] - [Phone SIM swap scam](https://cybersafecenter.com/phone-sim-swap/): Almost every adult in America owns a cell phone. (I own two!) That also means almost everyone is a potential target for one of the fastest growing scams today, SIM card swapping. A SIM card in your phone can be a unique electronic record, a tiny little card, or your phone may allow both options. A SIM swap scam happens when a criminal tricks your phone company into transferring your phone number to a SIM card they control. Once they have your number, they can receive your text messages and calls, including the verification codes you use for online banking, […] - [Don't trust AI browsers](https://cybersafecenter.com/ai-browser-risks/): Artificial intelligence is being built into many new browsers, such as Perplexity’s Comet, OpenAI’s Atlas, and Opera Neon. I’ve even downloaded Comet, but decided not to risk using it yet. These AI browsers act like personal assistants that can summarize web pages, book appointments, or even send emails. While this sounds futuristic and helpful, these new browsers introduce major privacy and security risks. Traditional browsers like Chrome, Internet Explorer, Edge, or Safari are designed with strict separation between sites so that one cannot access another’s data. AI browsers break that rule. They allow an integrated AI system to view your […] - [How to delete Google data](https://cybersafecenter.com/delete-google-data/): When I type something in the Google search bar, I see previous searches that I’ve done on my computer or phone. In today’s digital world, every click, search, and location check leaves a trail. Google, one of the biggest data collectors on the planet, stores this information to personalize your experience. But if you’d rather keep your private activity private, there are simple ways to take back control. Google now gives users clear tools to manage and erase their personal data. Whether you’re cleaning up your digital footprint or reducing how much Google knows about your habits, here are three […] - [Fraudsters target virtual funerals](https://cybersafecenter.com/virtual-funerals-fraud/): When a best friend from high school lost her parents at different times a few years ago, I wasn’t able to fly across country to attend the funerals. Instead I asked if the funeral home had virtual streaming and she sent me the link so I could attend. Streaming funeral services has become a common activity during and after the pandemic. Unfortunately, scammers have been taking advantage of the grieving by using fake funeral live streams and donation pages. These scams typically begin with fraudsters scanning public funeral notices and social media posts. They then create fake Facebook profiles pretending […] - [Universe Browser: a trap, not a tool](https://cybersafecenter.com/universe-browser-trap/): If you see something online called the Universe Browser, don’t download it! It may look like a cool, fast, and private web browser, but it’s actually very risky. Experts found that Universe Browser secretly sends your internet activity through servers in China and collects information about your computer and location. It even tries to hide what it’s doing, which is a big warning sign. The biggest concern is what happens after it’s installed. It can record what you type (also called a keylogger), take screenshots of your screen, and turn off normal security protections. That means someone could be watching […] - [Apple iPhone's new call screening](https://cybersafecenter.com/iphone-call-screening/): New features on my iPhone rarely impress me, but my work iPhone automatically updated to iOS version 26 and I’m loving the new call screening feature. Because 99% of the calls to my work phone are from sales people, I turned on the new “silence unknown calls” feature and now every call has been going straight to voicemail. Android users might recognize a similar tool with Google’s “Call Screen”. But now Apple users can enjoy this built-in protection without downloading a third-party app. I checked why I haven’t seen this update on my personal iPhone and it’s because Apple isn’t […] - [Is this Settlement Notice real?](https://cybersafecenter.com/settlements/): If you’ve ever opened an email or letter about a class action settlement, your first thought might be that it is a scam. That reaction is understandable because so many fake offers circulate online today. But the truth is, many legitimate class action settlements exist, and some could mean real money for you if you qualify. Here is an example I’ve received in email this year for a lab test I ordered in the past. The class member ID (which I blocked out) is a unique alphanumeric number assigned to an individual who is part of a legal case, such […] - [Amazon Prime's $2.5B Settlement](https://cybersafecenter.com/amazon-settlement/): My household has been an Amazon Prime member for a very long time, but not everyone has or wants Amazon’s premiere service for shipping and videos. For those that didn’t want it or couldn’t easily cancel it, you should be getting some money back soon. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on September 25 that Amazon agreed to pay $1.5 billion in refunds to around 35 million customers who were enrolled in Prime without their clear consent. The company will also pay an additional $1 billion in penalties for deceptive practices. The government found that Amazon used “dark patterns” to […] - [Work-from-home scams](https://cybersafecenter.com/work-from-home-scam/): Every week I get a text on my cell phone for a work-from home-scam. They claim I can make thousands a month “posting ads,” “rating products,” or “processing data” but these offers are pure scams designed to drain someone’s wallet or steal personal information. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that business and job opportunity scams cost Americans more than $367 million in 2022, with a median loss of $2,000. The fraudsters count on you being tempted by low-effort, high-pay jobs that sound too good to pass up. The pattern is familiar: you’re told you’ll earn great money doing simple […] - [Medicare open enrollment scams](https://cybersafecenter.com/medicare-open-enrollment-scams/): Every year from October 15 to December 7, Medicare open enrollment gives seniors a chance to review and change their health or prescription drug plans. Unfortunately, it’s also prime time for scammers pretending to be Medicare representatives. Here’s how the scam works: you might get a call, text, email, or even an in-person visit from someone claiming to represent Medicare or an insurance company. They might sound official, know your name, and even show a fake ID. Their goal? To get your Medicare, Social Security, or banking information. You’ll often hear scare tactics like “act now or lose your benefits” […] - [October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month](https://cybersafecenter.com/oct2025-cybersecurity-month/): Each October you probably receive emails from your financial institutions providing you with great tips on how to stay cyber safe. I’d love to take this opportunity to highlight some of my previous articles that you might have missed. If these don’t resonate with you, I have a complete list of all of my articles here. Here are 3 things to focus on this month: Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect time to take one simple step each week toward better protection. Re-read these posts, put the tips into action, and share them with family and friends who could use […] - [Debt relief scams](https://cybersafecenter.com/debt-relief-scams/): When I was 20 years old I moved back home with a mountain of debt. ($7,000 in the late 1980s was a lot.) Thankfully my parents paid off my credit cards and I paid my parents back a couple of decades later. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have someone that can help. Instead, someone may search the internet for “debt relief” or “how to file bankruptcy”. Unfortunately, scammers know this too and they love to prey on people when they’re most stressed. A typical debt relief scam starts with a call, email, or flashy ad promising to wipe away […] - [Scammers used my email for credit card fraud!](https://cybersafecenter.com/credit-card-fraud/): Let me start right away with stating my email itself was not hacked. However, one of my email addresses was definitely used by a criminal and I’m not happy about it. Here’s what happened. Saturday afternoon I was working on my computer and went to check my email. I received an email around 1:30 pm saying “Welcome to Walmart!”. This was in my very private email account that I never use for purchases and only use for personal communications. My email also said I placed an order and then canceled it right away. This wasn’t me. When I saw the […] - [Scammers spoofing the FBI IC3 website](https://cybersafecenter.com/spoof-fbi-website/): You’d think scammers would steer clear of impersonating the FBI, right? Not a chance. The FBI recently issued a warning that cybercriminals are spoofing the FBI’s own Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) website—the very place people are supposed to go to report scams. The irony writes itself. I’ve written multiple articles that link to the FBI IC3 website so it’s important that you know what is real and what is not. Here’s how it works: scammers set up a fake site (known as spoofing) that looks almost identical to the real IC3.gov page. From there, they trick visitors into sharing […] - [Hang up on bank scams](https://cybersafecenter.com/bank-scams/): A few years ago my husband received a phone call from someone claiming to be from our credit union fraud department. It was late at night, and I heard my husband talking so I went into the living room. I spoke to the person who kept saying that they needed to verify our information to be able to confirm the fraud. Finally I said that I am in cybersecurity, that I didn’t see anything improper showing on our account, and that I’ll call my credit union directly since I have the phone number memorized. The scammer hung up. You too […] - [Don't bet on it: Fake online casinos](https://cybersafecenter.com/fake-casinos/): I stay at casino hotels when I go to conferences, but I never spend more than $20. I’ve never tried any of the online casinos which are popping up everywhere, but not all of them are what they seem. A growing number of fake ads are appearing on social media, luring people into depositing money on casinos that don’t actually exist. These scams often mimic real casinos or even state regulators, making them especially tricky to spot. Take Michigan as an example. The Michigan Gaming Control Board recently warned that scammers were creating ads pretending to be from Detroit’s MotorCity […] - [Sneaky calendar scam](https://cybersafecenter.com/calendar-scams/): Most people rely on their digital calendars to keep life on track—doctor appointments, birthdays, work meetings, you name it. But did you know scammers have figured out how to sneak into your calendar too? It’s called the calendar scam, and it’s a clever way for cybercriminals to trick you. My husband received one of these recently, and I said to delete it. Don’t click Yes, No, Decline, Accept, etc. Just delete it. You don’t want the scammers to know they reached a “live” target. Here’s how it works: scammers send an invite through Google Calendar, Outlook, Apple, or another calendar […] - [Affirm scammers: what to watch out for](https://cybersafecenter.com/affirm-scams/): “Buy Now, Pay Later” services like Affirm are everywhere now. They make it easy to split a purchase into smaller chunks instead of paying everything upfront. Convenient? Definitely. But scammers love anything involving money and personal details—and Affirm is no exception. First, the good news: Affirm itself uses strong protections. They encrypt your data, monitor accounts for suspicious logins, and offer multi-factor authentication. The problem is that scammers don’t go after Affirm’s servers—they go after you. Here are a few ways they may try to take advantage: So how do you stay safe? A few simple habits help: Affirm works […] - [Fake Google Support calls](https://cybersafecenter.com/fake-google-support/): Scammers are getting sneaky—and now they’re even making their calls look like they’re coming from a real Google Support phone number. When the caller ID shows “Google,” it feels legit, right? That’s exactly what they’re counting on. These scammers usually spin up some urgent story: your Google account is at risk, your business profile is about to be taken down, or there’s a security problem they need to “fix” right away. Then comes the ask—your password, remote access to your computer, or even your credit card info to pay for fake “support.” Here’s the deal: Google will never call you […] - [Romance scams will break your heart](https://cybersafecenter.com/romance-scams/): My husband and I met through the Yahoo! Personals ads nearly 25 years ago. And my first online date was 40 years ago with someone I met on a bulletin board system (BBS) which I connected to using a modem. Back then there were real people on the other side, but people still had to be cautious. I always met the guys in a public place and never gave out my home address. I also didn’t give them any money, except for one guy who I leant money to pay his utility bill but I kept his guitar in exchange. […] - [FBI warning: Phantom Hacker Scam](https://cybersafecenter.com/fbi-phantom-hacker-scam/): The FBI reissued a warning this week about a scary scam known as “Phantom Hacker”. There are three phases to the scam and it’s very easy to get caught up into the web of lies the scammers put together. Many people have lost their life savings, so please do everything you can to protect yourself and your family. Here are the three phases where they pose as imposters: I haven’t heard of anyone that was a victim to all three phases, but each one on it’s own is an existing scam that is stealing BILLIONS of dollars each year. No […] - [2.5B Gmail accounts information exposed](https://cybersafecenter.com/gmail-accounts-exposed/): If you use Gmail (I have several accounts), here’s some a major risk you should be aware of concerning your accounts. Google recently confirmed a massive data incident that could potentially affect up to 2.5 billion accounts. Before you panic—no, hackers didn’t break into your inbox and read your emails. But what happened is still serious enough to warrant a password change. The situation started when cybercriminals tricked a Google employee into handing over access to a Salesforce database. This wasn’t Gmail itself being hacked, but the database contained contact details, email addresses, and other account information tied to Google […] - [Hidden dangers of QR codes](https://cybersafecenter.com/qr-code-dangers/): When restaurants reopened after the COVID quarantines, many places transitioned to QR codes in order to reduce the transmission of germs and staff needed to clean the menus. At a restaurant we just went to, the laminated QR code (picture below) was not in good condition. I miss having a real menu but more importantly I am cautious because of the risk from QR codes. Criminals have figured out that most people trust QR codes without a second thought. They can replace a real QR code with a fake one, leading you to a malicious site that steals your personal […] - [Windows 10 ends October 2025](https://cybersafecenter.com/windows-10-eos/): If you’re still running Windows 10 on your computer, now is a good time to think about upgrading. Microsoft has announced that support for Windows 10 will officially end on October 14, 2025. That might sound far away, but in the world of technology, it’s right around the corner. So, what does “end of support” actually mean? Basically, Microsoft will stop sending out updates for Windows 10. No more security patches, no more bug fixes, and no new features. Without those updates, your computer becomes vulnerable to viruses, hackers, and other online threats. Think of it like driving a car […] - [Credit and Dark Web monitoring - worth it?](https://cybersafecenter.com/credit-monitoring/): A friend asked about credit monitoring services because she had received some emails that her social security number and other information was found on the web. She wanted to know what to do about it. I’ve been thinking about it since she asked. I don’t have one of the paid credit monitoring services because I have my credit “frozen” (as should you) which I wrote about it this article. But since the 2017 Equifax data breach of 147 million people’s information, and the data breaches that happen everyday, you must assume that your information is out on the “dark web”. […] - [Privacy in AI systems constantly change](https://cybersafecenter.com/privacy-in-ai/): In today’s world of AI and the internet, privacy of your information is more important than ever. As I wrote in my ChatGPT article, usually whatever you enter into search can be used for training the AI system unless you tell it otherwise. More than ever before, you have to be extremely careful because companies change their data privacy settings and rules which means you have to remain diligent. I just received an email from Google Gemini AI Apps platform about “important updates”. The subject line didn’t mention that it was concerning data privacy! I had played around with Google’s […] - [Risks of using browser password managers](https://cybersafecenter.com/browser-password-managers/): I know. You probably have tons of passwords saved directly in your browser, but I want you to be aware of some security risks with using the “save password in browser” feature. Saving passwords in your browser might feel super convenient—you log in once, and it remembers everything for you. But that convenience can come with a big downside. If someone gets their hands on your laptop or phone, they might not need your password at all. If your browser is already open and logged in, they could just click and get into your accounts. Browsers are also a favorite […] - [Fake recruiters on the rise](https://cybersafecenter.com/fake-recruiters/): A human resources (HR) leader that I worked with twenty years ago posted on LinkedIn that criminals were imitating her LinkedIn account and using her name in emails and direct messages. I personally received two emails this week from fake recruiters as shown in the following image. Notice the gmail account and that the last name doesn’t match (a sure sign of generative artificial intelligence or a foreign actor). I checked LinkedIn and Debbie Wexler is a real recruiter but I know this email isn’t from her. Here’s how it usually works: someone reaches out on LinkedIn, email, or even […] - [Secure your Apple ID](https://cybersafecenter.com/secure-your-apple-id/): For anyone in the Apple ecosystem like my family and me, it’s extremely important to set up multi-factor authentication (MFA or sometimes called two-factor authentication) on your Apple ID. It only take a minute to make sure it’s turned on. If someone logs into your Apple ID without your permission, they can potentially access your personal information and control your devices. They could view your contacts, messages, photos, and other data. They could also make purchases on your behalf, send messages or emails from your account, and even lock you out of your devices by placing them in Lost Mode.  In Apple’s Settings […] - [Freeze your credit to prevent identify theft](https://cybersafecenter.com/freeze-your-credit/): Having your identity stolen is one of the worst things that can happen to someone. You could be arrested because a criminal has committed fraud in your name, or at a minimum you spend hours and hours trying to resolve the disaster it makes of your credit and identity. You may have heard of the suggestion to “freeze your credit”, but if this is the first time you are hearing about it, or you haven’t gotten around to doing so, please read this article and take action. I’ve had my credit frozen for years, and it has gotten easier and […] - [Apple vs Google: Which build-in password manager is best?](https://cybersafecenter.com/build-in-password-managers/): I’ve talked about having strong passwords in previous articles (passwords discussed here and passkeys discussed here), but remembering them all can be a challenge. That’s where password managers come in. If you’re already using Apple or Google services, you may not need a third-party app. Each company offers a built-in password manager solution, and here’s how Apple iCloud Keychain and Google Password Manager compare. 1. Availability 2. Ease of Use 3. Advanced Features Final Verdict I’ll cover third-party commercial solutions in a future article, but the one we’ve been using for many years is Keeper Security. - [Stay safe on Android with Google Play Protect](https://cybersafecenter.com/google-play-protect/): If you use an Android phone, keeping your applications and data safe is important — and luckily, the built-in Google Play Protect helps do just that. Every time you download an app from the Google Play Store (which is the only safe way to download Android apps), Play Protect works in the background just like anti-virus software to check for anything suspicious. It’s like having someone inspect an Amazon box before you open it, just to make sure there’s nothing harmful inside. Even after you’ve installed the app, Play Protect keeps scanning your phone daily to make sure everything is […] - [Fake shopping sites](https://cybersafecenter.com/fake-shopping-sites/): Following a lead tweeted by a journalist in Mexico, another large set of fake shopping sites has been uncovered by cybersecurity company Silent Push. The English and Spanish websites have been traced back to China. Everyday, thousands of website domains are registered, and a large majority of them are intended for scams. The cybersecurity firm identified several brand names, such as Apple, Harbor Freight Tools, Michael Kors, REI, Wayfair, Wrangler Jeans, Brooks Brothers, Jos. A. Bank, Nordstrom, Guitar Center, Tommy Hilfiger, and Tumi being targeted with copycat sites. If you see a shopping advertisement on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Google, or […] - [23andMe data sold to non-profit](https://cybersafecenter.com/23andme-data/): If you are one of the 15-million 23andMe genetic DNA testing customers, and one of the 80% who have allowed their data to be used for research (like me), then you can breathe a sigh of relief. (Well, if you ignore the fact that 7 million of us were affected by their data breach in 2023.) There were many customers and privacy groups who were extremely worried when 23andMe went into bankruptcy. The worst case scenario is that our genetic data would be sold to the highest bidder and a new owner would be allowed to do anything they wanted […] - [Getting spam from yourself?](https://cybersafecenter.com/getting-spam-from-yourself/): If you’ve ever received a spam email that looks like it came from your own email address, you’re not alone and your email has not been hacked. Spammers often fake the “From” email address to trick people into opening them. This is called “email spoofing,” and it’s surprisingly easy for scammers to do. I get spoofed emails in my own Spam folder every day. For example, I see spam emails where the From email address is Cassie Crossley. But of course I didn’t send myself emails about Microsoft software renewals, McAfee virus scanner subscriptions, or PayPal payments. Sometimes I do […] - [McDonald's exposed 64M hiring records](https://cybersafecenter.com/mcdonalds-employee-breach/): “Would you like a side of fries with that data exposure?” I want to bring attention to this data exposure (which is different than a data breach where data is stolen) to highlight that companies are often not properly testing systems with employee data and that puts you, your friends, and your families at risk. In this case, McDonald’s uses hiring software, more specifically an AI chatbot called “Olivia”, to screen applicants. Cybersecurity researchers identified a default login and an unsecure password (“123456”) to easily access McDonald’s hiring software. Luckily these researchers found the problems before a criminal. The researchers […] - [FBI warning: Criminals posing as health insurers / authorities](https://cybersafecenter.com/criminals-posing-as-insurers/): All the data breaches from health insurance companies and doctors’ offices have given criminals a lot of information about patients and the services they have received. The FBI has issued a new warning that criminals are now using information to pose as legitimate health insurers and fraud investigators to scam and threaten you. The warning states: “These criminals are sending emails and text messages to patients and health care providers, disguising them as legitimate communications from trusted health care authorities. The messages are designed to pressure victims into disclosing protected health information, medical records, personal financial details, or providing reimbursements […] - [6 million Qantas Airlines customers data breach](https://cybersafecenter.com/qantas-breach/): Another very large data breach has occurred, this time in the land down under. If you have a Qantas Airline frequent flyer number, your data has been stolen along with 6 million other customers. The personal information accessed included names, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, and frequent flyer numbers. Luckily no credit card details, financial information, or passport data were accessed. Potential risks to Qantas customers: I guess I’m fortunate that I didn’t have any data loss from this breach because I’ve never flown Qantas, but unfortunate that I haven’t had the opportunity yet to visit Australia. Keep safe! - [Never trust "verified" accounts](https://cybersafecenter.com/never-trust-verified-accounts/): I knew it was a criminal’s phishing email. I could tell because the email was a picture instead of actual text. But my Yahoo email program said “This message is verified & sent securely by a trusted sender.” That part was true. The email shows it was from groupupdates@facebookmail.com. I checked Facebook and the domain “facebookmail.com” is a real domain they own even though it seems fake. So I did something I never expect you to have to do. I looked at the raw email message. I wanted to see if there was a way that I could show you […] - [External attack possible in 700+ Brother printer models](https://cybersafecenter.com/brother-printer-vulnerability/): Remember the puzzles in a newspaper or puzzle book where you figure out the letters that correspond with the code, as in A=1, B=2, and Z=26? Of course the number and letter combinations were more complicated, but you would look through the puzzle to find the numbers that might be E’s, I’s, and S’s. This technique is a simple form of code breaking and is one of the foundations for cybersecurity. Now imagine a printer has the serial number 12345 and the password for that printer is ABCDE. You could easily guess that the serial number 23456 would have a […] - [Passkey or Password?](https://cybersafecenter.com/passkey-or-password/): On certain websites or applications, are you being asked if you want to create a passkey? In this article I’ll explain what it is and when you may want to use a passkey. To make it shorter, everywhere I say “website”, I really mean any website or application. Passkeys are not the same as passwords, so please read my article titled “184 million passwords data breach” to understand why you should protect your passwords and what a strong password looks like. Let’s talk about passwords first before describing passkeys. In most situations, you get to create your own password when […] - [Secure sharing with Apple's AirDrop](https://cybersafecenter.com/secure-apple-airdrop/): You may be using the Apple’s Airdrop feature to share pictures or files with other iPhones, iPads, or Macs. Airdrop works quicker than text messages, especially if you have several pictures to send. Airdrop works when you are in the same location as someone with Airdrop turned on. It’s a great feature but there have been security issues with this feature over time, before Apple set the airdrop feature to turn off automatically after 10 minutes. To check if you have AirDrop on: I rarely switch it to the option “Everyone for 10 Minutes” unless I’m at an event and […] - [184 million passwords data breach](https://cybersafecenter.com/184m-data-breach/): Every single day there is a new data breach where confidential information is lost. Data breaches have happened at Equifax, Yahoo, Facebook, LinkedIn, and many more. A few weeks ago a security researcher found a treasure trove of 184 million emails, logins, and passwords stored on the internet. The information was associated with Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, the US government, and financial services accounts. Unfortunately there is no way to know how many people have copies of this data. I know it’s not easy to remember hundreds of passwords, but these are some important tips to keep you secure: Criminals […] - [Ad scams on Facebook and Instagram](https://cybersafecenter.com/ad-scams/): Never trust an advertisement on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok to buy products. You’ll get more than you bargained for. I wrote an article a few weeks ago about ads being using to lure people to fake AI video generation websites. In that case malicious software is being installed on your computer when you download the files. But the real money is in the con game. If I wanted to, I could copy a real ad, create a new shopping website, and set up payment collection in less than a few minutes. It’s very easy and everyone is doing it. Everyone […] - [FBI warning: BADBOX 2.0 botnet on your IoT home devices](https://cybersafecenter.com/fbi-badbox-botnet/): Do you want to help criminals? No, I didn’t think so. But if you have compromised Internet of Things (IoT) devices on your home network such as smart TVs, that’s exactly what you are doing. This week the FBI issued a warning for the something called BADBOX 2.0. Yes, there was a version 1.0 and now the criminals have improved on it. BADBOX is a botnet. A botnet is when different computer programs work together to do something. For example, your smart TV can be infected with malicious software (malware) that forces it to act as a “bot” (like a […] - [Toll fee scam: What you can learn from it](https://cybersafecenter.com/toll-fee-scam/): I think everyone who has a cell phone has probably gotten the Toll Pass scam, but I still wanted to talk about it just in case. It also gives me an opportunity to show how to identify scams. Here is a screen capture of a very long text I received where I supposedly did not pay my tolls. The first obvious scam indicator is the +63 country code. Why would I be getting a notice about tolls from a Philippines area code? If the toll systems even had my phone number (which they don’t!), I’m sure the text would come […] - [Travel website scams](https://cybersafecenter.com/travel-website-scams/): Vacation season is heating up and so are the scammers. You might not even know it until your credit card is compromised or you show up for your flight, hotel, car rental, or tour and there is no reservation for you. It often starts when you use Google or other search engines to do your travel planning. Scam travel sites are prolific in the search results and they use ads to rank higher in the searches. Scammers take advantage of searches such as “cheap hotels in …” and “cheap car rentals.” They offer great prices to lure you in. Everything […] - [Malicious software on AI video websites](https://cybersafecenter.com/malware-ai-videos/): Using AI to generate art, writings, and even videos has exploded across the internet in the last few years. Most of the websites are harmless, but a new threat comes from AI-generated video websites that include malicious software in the files downloaded from the site. For over a year, criminals having been creating dangerous websites mimicking legitimate tools such as Canva AI, Luma AI, and Kling AI. Criminals are using advertisements and posts on Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn to lure people to their fake websites. On these fake websites, unsuspecting users upload images they want to turn to video. It […] - [Carriers can't stop scam texts on iPhones](https://cybersafecenter.com/scams-on-iphones/): Android owners have a number of security issues on their own phones, but here’s one just for the iPhone owners. The iPhone-to-iPhone text messaging, called iMessage, helped Apple advance their market by allowing people to text when only on Wi-Fi or from email message directly to iPhone user text message. That’s great and innovative, but there is an iPhone security feature allowing scammers to take advantage of iPhone users. It’s called end-to-end encryption and this means that only the sender’s software can encrypt (scramble) the message and only the receiver’s software can decrypt (unscramble) the message. (It’s more complicated than […] - [Ad tracking through ultrasonic eavesdropping](https://cybersafecenter.com/ultrasonic-eavesdropping/): “Papa, can you hear me?” sang Barbra Streisand in the movie Yentl. Well, if she was playing on a Smart TV or near a phone with Apple Siri or Google Assistant active, the answer is YES. But there are dozens of other devices that are also listening. It’s true that there are listening devices using small microphones in so many things now: fire and CO2 alarms, TVs, Google Nest thermostats, ovens, refrigerators, smart speakers, smart watches, robot vacuums, and even air fryers. The microphones would be harmless if it was just to control your air fryer, but it doesn’t stop […] - [SuperCard X scam on Android](https://cybersafecenter.com/supercard-x-malware/): Beware: a single tap of a credit card or bank card to your Android phone can drain your account. It’s a little more complicated than that, but if you’ve downloaded an app that has the SuperCard X malware, you could lose a lot of money. Here’s how the scam works: Please be careful when installing any application on your phone. In the future I’ll write an article on Android virus scanning apps that help to detect malware like SuperCard X. - [How to spot fake email addresses](https://cybersafecenter.com/fake-email-address/): As promised in last week’s article about spam, I wanted to show you how to view and spot fake email addresses in case something is not caught by your email provider’s spam filters. It’s possible that a legitimate company’s email system has been hacked by a criminal to send out scam emails. Because the email domain is valid, the spam filter may not have picked up the hack. I also received an email from a criminal that tricked my Yahoo email platform into believing it was from a real Facebook account. Read that article here. If you receive a fake […] - [Spam spam spam spam](https://cybersafecenter.com/spam/): Vikings (starting to chant): Spam spam spam spam… Recognize that? It’s from a skit by Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Little did we know how the wonderful can of spam would become the nemesis to our email inbox. Spam is an unsolicited message (such as emails, text messages, or Internet postings) sent to a large number of recipients or posted in a large number of places. How do we get rid of spam in our email? The answer is not simple or easy. Hopefully you have two main emails: If you have one email that is a combination of both, you […] - [FBI alert for home internet routers](https://cybersafecenter.com/eol-routers/): First let me explain that a router connects to other devices (your TV, computer, phone, etc.) and allows the devices to communicate with each other and the internet. Usually you call it your home “wifi”. In the following picture you can see the router and a modem. The modem is a device that directly connects to your phone line, cable service, or satellite to move the data back and forth to the internet. Sometimes the router and a modem are the same device/equipment (mine is an Xfinity Gateway). This is often the case if you rent your Wi-Fi device from […] - [Phone passcodes - is yours easy to guess?](https://cybersafecenter.com/phone-passcodes/): I saw someone’s passcode was set to one of the top easy-to-guess passcodes in the world so I promised the person I would provide instructions on how to update both the Android and iPhone passcodes in one of my articles. The most common four-digit phone passcodes are simple, easy-to-remember patterns that are also easy for attackers to guess. The top passcodes include 1234, 0000, 1111, 1212, and 7777. If you have a six-digit passcode, the same concerns apply if you are using any patterns that repeat digits, use sequential numbers, or follow patterns along the number pad. For iPhone: If you want […] - [The GUARD Act](https://cybersafecenter.com/guard-act/): Most of the cyber policy work in governments is bipartisan. It doesn’t matter if you are liberal or conversative–the ultimate goal is to stop cyber threats. This week three U.S. House of Representatives introduced the Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception (GUARD) Act which is a bill to do the following: Every day we are targeted in financial schemes and this bill will benefit us all. In a previous article I provided details of the FBI’s annual Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) report which found that people over 60 filed 147,127 financial fraud complaints in 2024. This is a 46% jump […] - [ChatGPT doesn't need to know everything about you](https://cybersafecenter.com/chatgpt-doesnt-need-to-know-everything-about-you/): In corporations we are being trained on what information we can and cannot tell different AI platforms. For example, confidential business information should not be loaded up to the internet or ChatGPT. But in our private lives there are things that we don’t want even our friends or family to know yet we are typing it into internet websites, search engines, and now AI platforms such as ChatGPT. I get it. It’s extremely helpful to ask it questions or analyze our data. For example, I could (but won’t) upload all my credit card and banking transactions into ChatGPT for it […] - [$19,372 average lost via internet crimes in 2024](https://cybersafecenter.com/19372-average-lost-via-internet-crimes-in-2024/): Can you afford to lose $19,372 or more to scammers? Of course not! This is exactly the reason I started the Cyber Safe Center newsletter. I don’t want you to be a victim to any scammers or digital threat. Even $1 would be too much. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released it’s Internet Crime Report 2024 from their Internet Crime Complaint Center. In 2024 they received 859,532 complaints. I’m sure this is a small percentage of people who have actually been scammed; there are likely tens of millions of internet crimes that go unreported each year. For example, […] - [Nissan Leaf car hack - read if you drive any vehicle](https://cybersafecenter.com/nissan-leaf-car-hack-read-if-you-drive-any-vehicle/): This article provides a real example of how cars today are hackable through the software and connectivity built into them. I’m personally worried about the cars I own now and will buy in the future. So much so that I plan to have at least one car from a pre-digital era without connectivity to the internet. I’m very surprised I didn’t see this article about the Nissan Leaf hack in the regular news (here it is in Security Week). During a hacking competition in April 2025, the 2020 Nissan Leaf was remotely hacked through the infotainment system’s Bluetooth capability. The […] - ["Hello" texts are not from your friends!](https://cybersafecenter.com/hello-texts-are-not-from-your-friends/): One or two times each week I receive a text from a random phone number. The texts says “Hello” or something similar, just like in the picture I include here. You probably already know to NEVER respond to them. These texts are bait used to lure you into a conversation of some kind. OR something like this… But why are they doing this? Here’s the main things that can happen if you engage in conversation: And there are many other text scams which I will highlight in future newsletters. Here are a few: - [Dangers at airports](https://cybersafecenter.com/dangers-at-airports/): I’m at airports nearly every week and I have to remain ultra-aware of the risks lurking in every airport. Here are a few things to be vigilant about so your phone or financials aren’t compromised. - [Tax refund scams abound!](https://cybersafecenter.com/tax-refund-scams-abound/): Tax season is here along with the scammers trying to take your money! There are many ways they are doing this, so please read all the different approaches they are using and then forward this newsletter on to your family and friends for them to take precautions too. For those of you with a refund coming, file early! For those of you that owe taxes, you are off the hook this year but there are thousands of other scams and threats out there for me to tell you about each week so read each newsletter carefully. Emails and text messages […] ## Pages - [Personal Data Breaches](https://cybersafecenter.com/personal-data-breaches/): Here are links to personal data breaches that affect the individuals, consumers, patients, and employees. This is not a complete list. New or updated breach notifications are mentioned in my weekly newsletter and then added to this list. Here’s a good list of active healthcare breaches: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – Office for Civil Rights - [Glossary](https://cybersafecenter.com/glossary/): A short description is provided below with more detailed available by clicking of the definition name. This will take you to sites that have a more detailed description of the term. Domain: A web or email domain is the unique name or address of a website on the internet, like “cybersafecenter.com.” It’s what we type into our browser to access a specific website (https://www.cybersafecenter.com) or as part of an email name (somebody@gmail.com). Encryption: The process of protecting information or data by using mathematical models to scramble it in such a way that only the parties who have the key can unscramble it.  […] - [Contact](https://cybersafecenter.com/contact/) - [All Posts](https://cybersafecenter.com/posts/): All the Cyber Safe Center Posts in reverse chronological order. You can also use the website search to look for specific words. February 8, 2026: “reply STOP to unsubscribe” February 8, 2026: Car buying scams February 1, 2026: Recovery scams February 1, 2026: D-Link end-of-life routers being attacked January 26, 2026: More tax scams January 26, 2026: Critical iOS upgrade – install now! January 18, 2026: Breached passwords January 18, 2026: Instagram clarifies password resets January 11, 2026: Breached passwords January 11, 2026: Instagram clarifies password resets January 11, 2026: Subscription renewal scams January 11, 2026: New Year health scams […] - [Why Cyber Safe Starts Here](https://cybersafecenter.com/why-cyber-safe-starts-here/): Cybersecurity and online safety is critical to everyone, yet only a small number work in the field and usually their jobs are to protect commercial organizations. I want to democratize cyber safety by bringing tips, answers, and knowledge to every person. We can’t solely depend on tools to keep us secure. We must be aware of all the threats and scams out there before they reach us. Everyone should have the resources available to understand the threats and be given information to protect themselves. I’ll be doing this by providing a weekly newsletter to share what I know in order […] - [Disclaimer](https://cybersafecenter.com/disclaimer/) - [Imprint](https://cybersafecenter.com/imprint/) - [Privacy Statement (BR)](https://cybersafecenter.com/privacy-statement-br/) - [Cookie Policy (BR)](https://cybersafecenter.com/cookie-policy-br/) - [Privacy Statement (ZA)](https://cybersafecenter.com/privacy-statement-za/) - [Cookie Policy (ZA)](https://cybersafecenter.com/cookie-policy-za/) - [Privacy Statement (AU)](https://cybersafecenter.com/privacy-statement-au/) - [Cookie Policy (AU)](https://cybersafecenter.com/cookie-policy-au/) - [Privacy Statement (CA)](https://cybersafecenter.com/privacy-statement-ca/) - [Cookie Policy (CA)](https://cybersafecenter.com/cookie-policy-ca/) - [Privacy Statement (US)](https://cybersafecenter.com/privacy-statement-us/) - [Opt-out preferences](https://cybersafecenter.com/opt-out-preferences/) - [Privacy Statement (UK)](https://cybersafecenter.com/privacy-statement-uk/) - [Cookie Policy (UK)](https://cybersafecenter.com/cookie-policy-uk/) - [Privacy Statement (EU)](https://cybersafecenter.com/privacy-statement-eu/) - [Cookie Policy (EU)](https://cybersafecenter.com/cookie-policy-eu/) - [Privacy Policy](https://cybersafecenter.com/privacy-policy/): Who we are Suggested text: Our website address is: cybersafecenter.com. Comments When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection. An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment. Media If you upload […] ## Optional - [Agent (MCP protocol)](websites-agents.hostinger.com/cybersafecenter.com/mcp) [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)