Technology

6 things to do right now to boost your security, privacy before it’s too late

Published

2 years ago

April 15, 2024

6 things to do right now to boost your security, privacy before it’s too late

There are so many things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones by stepping up your privacy and security. All the things you can do, however, can be overwhelming. Below are six simple steps you can take right now that will help make your life safer and more secure immediately.

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Security icon on the computer (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

1. Turn on ‘Find My’ on your iPhone

While it seems like a basic step, “Find My” is not on by default on your iPhone. If you own an Apple device or are fully immersed in the Apple ecosystem, it is worth it to make sure to turn on Find My.

If you lose or have your Apple device stolen, and it is linked to Find My and turned on, you can use the app or sign into your iCloud account to track your device. For the Find My app to be effective, the device that is lost or stolen needs to be powered on and usually connected to the internet or data network.

Apple offers another feature known as Find My Network. This allows for tracking Apple devices even when they are not connected to the internet. However, it’s important to note that for this feature to be effective, Find My must be enabled on the device before it is lost or stolen.

Now, let’s discuss the steps to follow for Android. Install the Find My Device app to be prepared to use one Android phone or tablet to find another. Click here to learn how to find, lock or erase your Android device.

Find My iPhone feature (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MORE: 8 WAYS TO LOCK UP YOUR IPHONE’S PRIVATE STUFF

2. Activate ‘Stolen Device Protection’

iPhones are not only expensive, but they usually contain important personal and professional information. This makes having your iPhone stolen a complete nightmare. Turning on this “Stolen Device Protection” feature on your iPhone can give you an extra layer of protection. This feature gives you an additional layer of protection when your iPhone leaves a familiar location, such as work or home.

If you have this feature on, and your device is away from your familiar locations, it will require Face ID or Touch ID for biometric authentication to access certain features of your iPhone, such as accessing passwords or credit card information.

Additionally, a security delay is activated, so outside your familiar locations, there is an hour delay to take security actions such as changing your Apple ID password and then a Face ID or Touch ID authentication.

Stolen Device Protection on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

3. Secure your social media accounts before they get hijacked

While it can be easy to dismiss social media accounts as a nonessential aspect of your digital security or privacy, it can be the gateway for danger if you aren’t proactive. Once your social media accounts are hacked, not only can hackers and scammers target your information to wreak havoc in other aspects of your life, but they can use it to target your social or professional networks.

If inappropriate materials are posted on your social media accounts, it can damage not only your social reputation but also your professional one. To avoid this, take several steps right away, including changing your passwords or turning on two-factor authentication. Also, consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.

In addition, here’s how to change your privacy settings on Facebook, Instagram and X.

A person reaching to pull out their wallet (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MORE: HOW IMPOSTERS ARE TRYING TO EXPLOIT YOUR GRIEF AND WALLET IN A NEW FUNERAL SCAM

4. Empty your wallet of these items

Sometimes it isn’t your devices that can put you at risk from scammers and criminals. It might be as simple as what you carry in your wallet. Because you’re usually carrying your wallet when you’re operating in the world, it has the potential to leave you more vulnerable than certain devices, such as your desktop.

Carrying items such as all your credit and debit cards in your wallet puts all your accounts at risk as opposed to only carrying the cards you most commonly use. If your wallet gets stolen, you still have alternative cards to use while you freeze or replace your cards. For other items to remove from your wallet immediately, read “Why you should never carry these things in your wallet.”

5. Back up your devices

Because hackers have become more sophisticated and resilient, it has caused consumers to return equal force with more sophisticated efforts to maintain their security and privacy. An old-school step, however, that gets lost in the shuffle of this effort is backing up your devices. Data, whether it be photos or contacts, is sometimes irreplaceable. Though devices can be expensive to replace, data, if lost, can be incredibly hard to recover.

Regularly backing up your devices can give you an advantage over any breaches in security. If you have the option to remotely delete information on your device if it gets stolen, you can do so with definitive ease. If your device crashes or breaks, you don’t have to spend costly amounts of money to try to recover data.

A woman typing on laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MORE: WINDOWS DEFENDER VS ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE: FREE PROTECTION FALLS SHORT

6. Have good antivirus software on all your devices

Viruses or malware can not only make your device a nightmare to use, they can also make it your worst enemy by being a wealth of personal and professional information that can be used against you. If the problem is bad enough, you may be required to reset your device to its factory setting, which means you can lose all your data.

The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may get access to your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams.

By simply installing and turning on an antivirus service, you can catch viruses and malware before they completely infect and infiltrate your device. See expert reviews of the best antivirus protection for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

Kurt’s key takeaways

In a more complicated world with a variety of devices that can leave you more vulnerable to criminals, it may seem easier to bury your head in the sand. If you take or have taken any of the simple steps above, you have already made your life safer.

Have you ever lost or had your device stolen? Have you ever lost your wallet and experienced identity theft or fraud as a result? What behavioral or physical changes have you had to make to adjust to the changing landscape of modern life? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Want to link from Google’s app store to your app? That’ll be $2–4 per install

Published

8 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Want to link from Google’s app store to your app? That’ll be –4 per install

Today was the deadline for Google to reveal how it’s complying with Judge James Donato’s order to crack open Android for third-party app stores, stop illegally tying its Google Play Billing system to its app store, and let developers link to ways to download their apps outside the Play Store in the US.

But Google isn’t just letting app developers do things however and whenever they’d like. The company’s quietly updated its support pages with a January 28th deadline to enroll in specific Google programs for “alternative billing” and “external content links” — and these programs will come with large alternative fees of their own, assuming Judge Donato doesn’t opt for Epic and Google’s proposed settlement instead.

While it isn’t collecting fees yet, Google says it will charge developers $2.85 for every app and $3.65 for every game a user installs within 24 hours of clicking a link that takes you outside Google’s app store to download them outside the Google ecosystem.

Plus, it’ll take a 20 percent cut of any in-app purchases and 10 percent of any auto-renewing subscriptions. Apps still need to be submitted to Google for review, use a Google API to track them, and developers have to report all transactions (including $0 free trials) if they want to participate.

Google’s service fees for external links.

Image: Google

Meanwhile, developers who want to offer their own billing solutions will only get a 5 percent discount compared to Google’s current fees, likely making it not worth the effort to try alternative billing at all. Google will charge 25 percent for in-app purchases and 10 percent for auto-renewing subscriptions there; devs will need to integrate a Google API to track those, and report all transactions within 24 hours.

The company will cap some of these fees at 10 percent of a developer’s first $1 million of earnings, making it a bit easier for small developers, but perhaps no easier than it is currently. Google already offers a similar cap at 15 percent, so this too is a 5 percent discount.

How will Judge James Donato react? When Apple told Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers it would require a 27 percent fee for external payments in the parallel Epic v. Apple case, she found Apple in contempt of court, and an appeals court backed up that decision just days ago. However, the appeals court did suggest that Apple may be able to collect some fee, writing that:

Apple should be able to charge a commission on linked-out purchases based on the costs that are genuinely and reasonably necessary for its coordination of external links for linked-out purchases, but no more.

Google currently claims that “the fees associated with the external content links program reflect the value provided by Android and Play and support our continued investments across Android and Play.”

But Google also says it won’t collect any fees quite yet, writing:

In the future, Google intends to apply a service fee on successful transactions and downloads completed via external content links. At this time, however, Google is not assessing these fees and is therefore not requiring developers in this program to report these transactions or downloads to Google.

In their joint progress report today, Epic and Google’s lawyers write that while Epic agrees with the January 28th deadline and other requirements, “Epic has indicated that it opposes the service fees that Google announced it may implement in the future and that Epic will challenge these fees if they come into effect.”

Of course, none of this will come to pass if Judge Donato accepts Google and Epic’s proposed settlement instead, which would generally apply worldwide (instead of just in the US) and comes with lower standard transaction fees.

But Google signaled that settlement, too, would come with fees on alternative billing and external app downloads, and Judge Donato seemed skeptical of the settlement in November. He’s ordered an evidentiary hearing on January 22nd before he makes a decision.

Since Google’s support pages seem to be fluid as Epic v. Google continues, we’ve archived copies of their current text below.

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.

Sean Hollister

Technology

Holiday deliveries and fake tracking texts: How scammers track you

Published

8 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Holiday deliveries and fake tracking texts: How scammers track you

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As we head into the last stretch of December (and last-minute gift shopping), your doorstep is probably busier than ever. And if you’re anything like me, you’re probably also juggling shipping updates, tracking numbers, and “out for delivery” alerts from half a dozen retailers.

Unfortunately, scammers know this too, and they’ve likely been preparing for it all year. Like clockwork, I’ve already started seeing the usual wave of fake tracking texts hitting people’s phones. They look legit, they show up right when you’re expecting a package, and they rely on one inescapable truth: during the holiday rush, most of us are too overwhelmed to notice when something feels off.

No need to panic, though. You can still come out ahead of the scammers. I’ll show you what to look out for and how you can prevent being targeted in the first place.

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THE FAKE REFUND SCAM: WHY SCAMMERS LOVE HOLIDAY SHOPPERS

Holiday shoppers are being hit with a surge of fake delivery texts designed to steal personal information and account logins. (Photo by Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Images)

What fake delivery text messages look like

Most of these fake shipping texts include a “tracking link” that looks close enough to the real thing that you might tap without thinking twice about it. In some cases, like one Maryland woman found out, you may even receive fake deliveries with a QR code that works in a similar way.

These links usually lead to a spoofed tracking page that looks almost identical to the real thing. It’ll ask you to “confirm” your login or enter your delivery details. The moment you type anything in, scammers capture it and use it to access your real accounts.

Even worse, the “tracking link” may contain malware or spyware, triggering silent installs that can steal passwords, monitor keystrokes, or give scammers remote access to your device.

Red flags that reveal fake shipping and tracking messages

So how can you distinguish between a legitimate message for a delivery you’re actually waiting for and one of these scams? Here are the red flags I look for:

Weird or slightly altered URLs. Scammers use domains that look almost right. Except there’s usually one extra letter, a swapped character, or a completely unfamiliar extension.
Requests for additional payment. Real carriers don’t ask you to pay a “small fee” to release a package. That’s an instant giveaway.
A package you’re not expecting. If the text is vague or you can’t match it to a recent order, pause before you tap anything.
Delivery attempts at odd hours. “Missed delivery at 6:12 AM” or “late-night attempt” messages are usually fake. Carriers don’t normally operate like that.
Updates that don’t match what you see in the retailer’s app or email. If Amazon says your package is arriving tomorrow, but a random text says it’s delayed or stuck, trust Amazon, not the text.
Language that is designed to rush you. Anything screaming “immediate action required!” is designed to make you stop thinking and start tapping.

If a text triggers any one of these, I delete it on the spot. When in doubt, always check directly with the delivery service provider first before opening any links.

WHY YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING DATA NEEDS A CLEANUP NOW

Scammers are sending deceptive tracking links that mimic real carriers, hoping rushed shoppers won’t notice red flags. (Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images)

How scammers know your address, phone number, and shopping habits

Scammers don’t magically know where you live or what you’ve ordered — they buy that information. There’s actually an entire industry of data brokers built on collecting and selling personal data. This can include your:

Phone number
Home address
Email
Purchase history
Browsing patterns
Retailers accounts and apps
Loyalty programs
Even preferred delivery times.

These data brokers can sell profiles containing hundreds of data points on you. And they aren’t always discerning about who they sell to. In fact, some of them have been caught intentionally selling data to scammers.

Once scammers have those details, creating a convincing delivery scam is no problem.

But scammers can’t target what they can’t find

I’ve been very vocal about the importance of keeping personal information under lock and key. And this is just one of the reasons why.

Criminals rely on your personal information to target you with these types of scams. They also need at least a phone number or email address to reach you in the first place.

So your best bet to avoid delivery scams (and, honestly, most other scams year-round) is removing your info from data brokers and people search sites. Doing this will keep your details out of circulation online and out of the wrong hands.

FBI WARNS EMAIL USERS AS HOLIDAY SCAMS SURGE

Fraudsters use spoofed shipping pages and malware to capture passwords and gain access to victims’ devices. (Martin Ollman/Getty Images)

How to remove your personal information from scammers’ reach

You can start by looking yourself up online. Searching for different combinations of your name, address, email, and phone number should bring up a bunch of people search sites. Just visit the “opt-out” page on each site to request removal of your data.

Private-database data brokers are a bit trickier. They sell data in bulk, usually to marketers and other third parties. So you won’t be able to check if they have your information. But if you look into which data brokers operate in your area, you can just send opt-out requests to them all. There’s a good chance they’ll have your information.

You can also turn to a data removal service. They completely remove the headache from this process and just automatically keep your personal info off data broker sites. If, like me, you don’t have the time to keep manually checking data broker sites and sending removal requests every few months (because your data will keep reappearing), a personal data removal service is the way to go.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Holiday delivery scams work because they blend perfectly into the chaos of December shopping. A well-timed text and a familiar tracking link are often all it takes to lower your guard. By slowing down, checking messages directly with retailers, and reducing how much of your personal data is circulating online, you can take away the advantage scammers rely on. A little caution now can save you a major headache later.

Have you received a suspicious delivery text or tracking message this holiday season? If so, tell us what it looked like and how you handled it by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Technology

Brendan Carr is a dummy

Published

20 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

All year on The Vergecast, we’ve been tracking the many bizarre and problematic actions of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. There has been a lot to discuss! Then, this week, ahead of one of our last episodes of the year, Carr appeared in front of the Senate Commerce Committee and spent three hours explaining how he thinks about his job, the FCC, and the state of online communication and entertainment. It was a lot.

On this episode of The Vergecast, we begin with a dissection of Carr’s testimony, his threats against broadcasters, and the ways in which he’s using old ideas about content delivery to get his political way. Nilay and David walk through some of Carr’s most important quotes, explain the history of broadband regulation, and look ahead to how Carr might bring these same tactics to internet regulation next year.

Also, an important housekeeping note: The Vergecast will be live at CES! We’ll be at the Brooklyn Bowl in Las Vegas, at 3:30PM on Wednesday, January 7th. There will be podcasting, and hanging out, and bowling. It’s going to be great, and if you’re going to be in Vegas we’d love to see you there.

Until then, if you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started, first on Brendan Carr:

And in the streaming wars:

And in the lightning round: