Technology

From TikTok to trouble: How your online data can be weaponized against you

Published

1 year ago

September 18, 2024

From TikTok to trouble: How your online data can be weaponized against you

Let’s talk about something that’s becoming a real headache these days: your online presence and how it can come back to bite you. A stark example of this occurred when 20 teachers from Great Valley Middle School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, fell victim to student impersonations on TikTok using information found online. Yikes. It’s time we face the music: Sharing our lives online, especially on social media, is riskier than ever.

Social media platforms have become an integral part of our personal and professional lives. However, they also expose us to various risks that can have serious consequences. Sure, you can’t stop someone from trying to mess with your reputation, but you can make it a whole lot harder for them.

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Image of social media apps on the home screen of a cellphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How your online data can sabotage your reputation and safety

Having your online reputation damaged can hurt your chances of something as small as making friends in a new neighborhood, to something much more serious, like landing the job you’ve always dreamed of.

According to a Career Builder study, every two out of three hiring managers screen candidates’ social profiles before hiring. But it gets worse. Other statistics reveal that more than half of recruiters rejected a candidate because of what they found on their social media. However, the risks of having your personal data online don’t stop there. The list includes:

Identity theft and fraud
Stalking and harassment
Doxxing and swatting
Scams and phishing attempts
Data breaches

These issues are more common than you might think. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) estimates that around 10% of Americans were victims of identity theft within the year prior to their research. For 1 in 5, it has happened at some point in their lifetime. A recent data breach at National Public Data – a data broker – might have exposed the Social Security numbers of every American. BJS further reports that 3.4 million Americans were stalked in one year and 69% of those cases involved the use of technology. And that only includes reported incidents. The FBI confirms that cyberstalking is on the rise. Being anonymous online isn’t just about comfort. It’s about safety. Fortunately, you can take steps to protect your personal information on the web.

A woman scrolling on social media on her phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

HACKED, SCAMMED, EXPOSED: WHY YOU’RE 1 STEP AWAY FROM DISASTER ONLINE

Erase your digital footprint and protect your privacy

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Once you put something on the internet, it’s there forever.” But that’s not entirely true. Disappearing from the internet is possible, though it’s not easy, especially if you try to do it on your own. Fortunately, some professional services can help. These services not only assist in deleting your existing data but also help prevent new information from resurfacing online. Here’s what you can do to remove your digital footprint from the web.

1) Remove yourself from people search sites

If you want to take on the task yourself, you’ll need to be prepared to put in some work. Most of your data is stored on what’s called people search sites. These are large databases of personal information, with some containing more than 300 million individual records.

People search sites publish highly private information, starting with your contact details and extending to your family, colleagues and even your sexual orientation. That data is often used by scammers. And the less your information is out there, the more difficult it is for bad actors to exploit you. The good news is that you can request the removal of your personal data from these sites. Each site has its own process, but they generally follow a similar pattern:

Visit the people search site, e.g., Whitepages
Look for an opt-out form (often found in the site’s footer)
Search for your personal information and select your profile
Confirm your identity and wait for the data to be removed

2) Invest in professional data removal services

It’s best not to leave anything to chance. While opting out from data brokers yourself is technically possible, the sheer number of brokers makes this a monumental task.

Moreover, protecting your privacy online isn’t a one-time effort. It requires continuous monitoring and frequent opt-out requests, as data brokers are constantly collecting personal information. Even if you successfully remove your profile, it could reappear later. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.

A woman scrolling on social media on her phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

PHARMA GIANT’S DATA BREACH EXPOSES PATIENTS’ SENSITIVE INFORMATION

3) Remove yourself from Google search results

However, to fully protect yourself from cyberstalking, you also need to address the images associated with your online identity. If someone wants to hurt your reputation, knowing your name and home address might only be part of the puzzle. The other piece could be finding your images. Using personal details like your childhood home address, school or past employers, stalkers can unearth potentially damaging content and use it to harm your online reputation. But images aren’t the only thing you should address. If you want to leave no trace on Google, make sure to:

Remove your personal information and images from Google
Modify social media settings to be more private and delete old accounts (they will appear in search results)
Delete your trail of website comments
Blur your house on Google and Apple Maps

Unfortunately, you can’t remove content from Google search results directly. You can submit a removal request, but Google must approve it first. For more details, refer to my previous post on how to remove yourself from Google searches. If your request is denied, you’ll need to contact the site owner and ask them to take it down. However, your options here are limited. Once bad actors get hold of your data, it’s difficult to regain control. That’s why it’s so important to stop stalkers from accessing your information in the first place.

Additional tips to safeguard your online reputation

1) Be cautious about sharing personal information on social media. Adjust privacy settings to limit what’s publicly visible.

2) Monitor your digital footprint regularly. Set up Google Alerts for your name to stay informed about new mentions online.

3) Strengthen your passwords and enable two-factor authentication on all accounts to prevent unauthorized access. Also, consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.

4) Exercise caution with links and attachments. Don’t click on suspicious links in social media posts, emails or messages as they may lead to phishing sites or malware downloads. Verify the source before opening any attachments, especially from unknown senders. When in doubt, contact the purported sender through a separate, trusted channel to confirm the legitimacy of the link or attachment. Additionally, use strong antivirus software and keep it updated to provide an extra layer of protection against potential threats.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

TAKE BACK YOUR PRIVACY WITH THIS IPHONE SAFETY FEATURE

Kurt’s key takeaways

From fake TikTok profiles to data breaches, it seems like our online presence is constantly under siege. But here’s the thing: While we can’t stop every bad actor out there, we can definitely make their job a lot harder. It’s all about taking control of your digital footprint. Whether it’s scrubbing yourself from people search sites, investing in professional data removal services or being more mindful of what we share online, there are steps we can take to protect ourselves. Remember, your online reputation isn’t just about social media likes; it can impact everything from job prospects to personal safety. So, maybe it’s time we all took a good hard look at our online presence and asked ourselves: Is it really serving us or is it leaving us vulnerable?

What role do you think social media platforms should play in protecting your privacy and preventing impersonation or harassment? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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

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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

300,000 Chrome users hit by fake AI extensions

Published

22 minutes ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

300,000 Chrome users hit by fake AI extensions

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Your web browser may feel like a safe place, especially when you install helpful tools that promise to make your life easier. But security researchers have uncovered a dangerous campaign in which more than 300,000 people installed Chrome extensions pretending to be artificial intelligence (AI) assistants. Instead of helping, these fake tools secretly collect sensitive information like your emails, passwords and browsing activity.

They used familiar names like ChatGPT, Gemini and AI Assistant. If you use Chrome and have installed any AI-related extension, your personal information may already be exposed. Even worse, some of these malicious extensions are still available today, putting more people at risk without their knowing.

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More than 300,000 Chrome users installed fake AI extensions that secretly harvested sensitive data. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What you need to know about fake AI extensions

Security researchers at browser security company LayerX discovered a large campaign involving 30 malicious Chrome extensions disguised as AI-powered assistants (via BleepingComputer). Together, these extensions were installed more than 300,000 times by unsuspecting users.

Some of the most popular extensions included names like AI Sidebar with 70,000 users, AI Assistant with 60,000 users, ChatGPT Translate with 30,000 users, and Google Gemini with 10,000 users. Another extension called Gemini AI Sidebar had 80,000 users before it was removed.

These extensions were distributed through the official Chrome Web Store, which made them appear legitimate and trustworthy. Even more concerning, researchers found that many of these extensions were connected to the same malicious server, showing they were part of a coordinated effort.

While some extensions have since been removed, others remain available. This means new users could still unknowingly install them and expose their personal data. Here’s the list of the affected extensions:

AI Assistant
Llama
Gemini AI Sidebar
AI Sidebar
ChatGPT Sidebar
Grok
Asking ChatGPT
ChatGBT
Chat Bot GPT
Grok Chatbot
Chat With Gemini
XAI
Google Gemini
Ask Gemini
AI Letter Generator
AI Message Generator
AI Translator
AI For Translation
AI Cover Letter Generator
AI Image Generator ChatGPT
Ai Wallpaper Generator
Ai Picture Generator
DeepSeek Download
AI Email Writer
Email Generator AI
DeepSeek Chat
ChatGPT Picture Generator
ChatGPT Translate
AI GPT
ChatGPT Translation
ChatGPT for Gmail

FAKE AI CHAT RESULTS ARE SPREADING DANGEROUS MAC MALWARE

These malicious tools were listed in the official Chrome Web Store, making them appear legitimate and trustworthy. (LayerX)

How the fake AI Chrome extension attack works

These fake extensions pretend to offer helpful AI features, such as translating text, summarizing emails, or acting as an AI assistant. But behind the scenes, they quietly monitor what you are doing online.

Once installed, the extension gains permission to view and interact with the websites you visit. This allows it to read the contents of web pages, including login screens where you enter your username and password.

In some cases, the extensions specifically targeted Gmail. They could read your email messages directly from your browser, including emails you received and even drafts you were still writing. This means attackers could access private conversations, financial information and sensitive personal details.

The extensions then sent this information to servers controlled by the attackers. Because they loaded content remotely, the attackers could change their behavior at any time without needing to update the extension.

Some versions could also activate voice features through your browser. This could potentially capture spoken conversations near your device and send transcripts back to the attackers.

If you installed one of these extensions, attackers may already have access to extremely sensitive information. This includes your email content, login credentials, browsing habits and possibly even voice recordings.

We reached out to Google for comment, and a spokesperson told CyberGuy that the company “can confirm that the extensions from this report have all been removed from the Google Web Store.”

BROWSER EXTENSION MALWARE INFECTED 8.8M USERS IN DARKSPECTRE ATTACK

Once installed, the extensions could read emails, capture passwords, monitor browsing activity and send the data to attacker-controlled servers. (Bildquelle/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

7 ways you can protect yourself from malicious Chrome extensions

If you have ever installed an AI-related Chrome extension, taking a few simple precautions now can help protect your accounts and prevent further damage.

1) Remove any suspicious or unused browser extensions

On a Windows PC or Mac, open Chrome and type chrome://extensions into the address bar. Review every extension listed. If you see anything unfamiliar, especially AI assistants you don’t remember installing, click “Remove” immediately. Malicious extensions depend on going unnoticed. Removing them stops further data collection and cuts off the attacker’s access to your information.

2) Change your passwords

If you installed any suspicious extension, assume your passwords may be compromised. Start by changing your email password first, since email controls access to most other accounts. Then update passwords for banking, shopping and social media accounts. This prevents attackers from using stolen credentials to break into your accounts.

3) Use a password manager to create and protect strong passwords

A password manager generates unique, complex passwords for each account and stores them securely. This prevents attackers from accessing multiple accounts if one password is stolen. Password managers also alert you if your login credentials appear in known data breaches, helping you respond quickly and protect your identity. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.

4) Install strong antivirus software and keep it active

Good antivirus software can detect malicious browser extensions, spyware, and other hidden threats. It scans your system for suspicious activity and blocks harmful programs before they can steal your information. This adds an important layer of protection that works continuously in the background to keep your device safe. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

5) Use an identity theft protection service

Identity theft protection services monitor your personal data, including email addresses, financial accounts, and Social Security numbers, for signs of misuse. If criminals try to open accounts or commit fraud using your information, you receive alerts quickly. Early detection allows you to act fast and limit financial and personal damage. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com.

6) Keep your browser and computer fully updated

Software updates fix security vulnerabilities that attackers exploit. Enable automatic updates for Chrome and your operating system so you always have the latest protections. These updates strengthen your defenses against malicious extensions and prevent attackers from taking advantage of known weaknesses.

7) Use a personal data removal service

Personal data removal services scan data broker websites that collect and sell your personal information. They help remove your data from these sites, reducing what attackers can find and use against you. Less exposed information means fewer opportunities for criminals to target you with scams, identity theft or phishing attacks.

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 takeaway

Even tools designed to make your life easier can become tools for cybercriminals. Malicious extensions often hide behind trusted names and convincing features, making them difficult to spot. You can significantly reduce your risk by reviewing your browser extensions regularly, removing anything suspicious and using protective tools like password managers and strong antivirus software.

Have you checked your browser extensions recently? Let us know your thoughts by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Technology

Anthropic refuses Pentagon’s new terms, standing firm on lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillance

Published

12 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Anthropic refuses Pentagon’s new terms, standing firm on lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillance

Less than 24 hours before the deadline in an ultimatum issued by the Pentagon, Anthropic has refused the Department of Defense’s demands for unrestricted access to its AI.

It’s the culmination of a dramatic exchange of public statements, social media posts, and behind-the-scenes negotiations, coming down to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s desire to renegotiate all AI labs’ current contracts with the military. But Anthropic, so far, has refused to back down from its two current red lines: no mass surveillance of Americans, and no lethal autonomous weapons (or weapons with license to kill targets with no human oversight whatsoever). OpenAI and xAI had reportedly already agreed to the new terms, while Anthropic’s refusal had led to CEO Dario Amodei being summoned to the White House this week for a meeting with Hegseth himself, in which the Secretary reportedly issued an ultimatum to the CEO to back down by the end of business day on Friday or else.

In a statement late Thursday, Amodei wrote, “I believe deeply in the existential importance of using AI to defend the United States and other democracies, and to defeat our autocratic adversaries. Anthropic has therefore worked proactively to deploy our models to the Department of War and the intelligence community.”

He added that the company has “never raised objections to particular military operations nor attempted to limit use of our technology in an ad hoc manner” but that in a “narrow set of cases, we believe AI can undermine, rather than defend, democratic values” — going on to specifically mention mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. (Amodei mentioned that “partial autonomous weapons … are vital to the defense of democracy” and that fully autonomous weapons may eventually “prove critical for our national defense,” but that “today, frontier AI systems are simply not reliable enough to power fully autonomous weapons.” He did not rule out Anthropic acquiescing to the military’s use of fully autonomous weapons in the future but mentioned that they were not ready now.)

The Pentagon had already reportedly asked major defense contractors to assess their dependence on Anthropic’s Claude, which could be seen as the first step to designating the company a “supply chain risk” – a public threat that the Pentagon had made recently (and a classification usually reserved for threats to national security). The Pentagon was also reportedly considering invoking the Defense Production Act to make Anthropic comply.

Amodei wrote in his statement that the Pentagon’s “threats do not change our position: we cannot in good conscience accede to their request.” He also wrote that “should the Department choose to offboard Anthropic, we will work to enable a smooth transition to another provider, avoiding any disruption to ongoing military planning, operations, or other critical missions. Our models will be available on the expansive terms we have proposed for as long as required.”

Technology

Amazon shelves Blue Jay warehouse robot

Published

12 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

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Amazon made a lot of noise in October when it unveiled Blue Jay, a multi-armed warehouse robot built to speed up same-day deliveries. Just months later, the company quietly ended the program.

The robot’s core technology will live on in other projects. Still, Blue Jay itself is done.

That sudden shift raises an important question. If one of the world’s most advanced logistics companies cannot make a high-profile robot work at scale, what does that say about the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in the real world?

Blue Jay was designed as a ceiling-mounted robot that could sort and handle multiple packages at once to speed up same-day delivery. (Amazon)

What Blue Jay was supposed to do

Blue Jay was not a simple conveyor belt upgrade. It was a ceiling-mounted system designed to recognize and sort multiple packages at once. Using AI-powered perception models, the robot could:

Identify packages in motion
Coordinate several arms at the same time
Manipulate items with speed and precision

Amazon said it developed the system in under a year. That pace alone was impressive. The goal was clear: move more packages faster while reducing strain on workers in same-day fulfillment centers. On paper, that sounds like a win for everyone.

Why Blue Jay ran into trouble

Despite the hype, Blue Jay faced steep engineering and cost challenges. First, the robot was mounted to the ceiling. That design required complex installation and tight integration into Amazon’s Local Vending Machine warehouses. Those facilities operate as massive, single structures with automation baked into the building itself.

There was little room to reconfigure hardware once installed. That rigidity likely became a liability. In software, AI can pivot overnight with a code update. In the physical world, changing course means retooling steel beams, motors and entire layouts. That takes time and serious money. Several employees who worked on Blue Jay have already moved to other robotics projects.

The company reportedly continues to experiment and improve its warehouse systems. The technology behind Blue Jay will, in fact, inform future designs. In other words, the robot failed. The ideas did not.

WAYMO’S CHEAPER ROBOTAXI TECH COULD HELP EXPAND RIDES FAST

Engineering complexity and high installation costs limited how easily Blue Jay could scale inside Amazon’s tightly integrated warehouse system. (Amazon)

From LVM to Orbital: A strategic shift

Amazon’s next move centers on a new warehouse architecture called Orbital. Unlike the older Local Vending Machine model, Orbital is modular. It can be built from smaller units and deployed faster in different layouts.

That flexibility matters. Retail is fragmenting. Customers expect same-day delivery from urban hubs, local stores and even grocery locations. Orbital could allow Amazon to place micro-fulfillment centers behind retail stores, including Whole Foods locations. That would help it compete more directly with Walmart, which already has a strong grocery footprint.

Alongside Orbital, Amazon is developing a new robotics system called Flex Cell. Unlike Blue Jay’s ceiling mount, Flex Cell is expected to sit on the floor.

That small design change signals something bigger. Amazon appears to be moving from massive centralized automation to smaller, adaptable systems built for the unpredictable realities of local retail.

What this means for your deliveries

If you order from Amazon regularly, you might wonder whether this affects you. In the short term, probably not. Your packages will still show up. Same-day and next-day delivery remain core priorities. However, the long-term story is more interesting. Amazon’s robotics strategy shapes how fast your order arrives, how much you pay and how local warehouses operate in your community.

If Orbital works, you could see:

Faster delivery from smaller neighborhood hubs
Better handling of chilled and perishable items
More automation in retail backrooms

If it struggles, same-day expansion could slow or become more expensive. That tension reflects a broader truth about AI. Writing code is one thing. Teaching a robot to lift boxes in a real warehouse without breaking down is another.

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After only a few months, Amazon discontinued the Blue Jay program while continuing to reuse parts of its underlying robotics technology. (Amazon)

The gap between AI hype and hardware reality

Blue Jay highlights a growing divide in the tech world. AI in software is moving at lightning speed. Chatbots, image tools and predictive systems evolve weekly.

Hardware is different. Robots must deal with gravity, friction, heat and unpredictable human environments. Every mistake has a physical cost.

Amazon’s course correction shows that even tech giants hit limits when translating AI breakthroughs into moving metal. That does not mean automation is slowing down. It means the path is bumpier than the headlines suggest.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Amazon shelving Blue Jay is not a retreat from robotics. It is a recalibration. The company is betting that modular, flexible systems will win over massive, tightly integrated machines. That shift could define the next era of e-commerce logistics. For you, the promise remains the same: faster delivery, better availability and more local convenience. But behind that promise is a complicated dance between AI ambition and real-world constraints.

If even Amazon struggles to make advanced robots work at scale, how much of the AI revolution is still more vision than reality? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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