Technology
5 social media safety tips to protect your privacy online
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Let’s face it: Social media can feel like a minefield. Between oversharing personal details, friend requests from strangers and sneaky scams sliding into your DMs, it’s easy to put yourself at risk without realizing it. But staying safe online doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few smart settings and habits, you can enjoy social media without giving away more than you mean to.
Settings and menus on social media platforms can change over time and may vary by device (iOS vs. Android vs. Web) or region. The steps below were accurate at the time of publishing, but you may see slightly different wording or paths depending on updates, app version or mobile device manufacturer.
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HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PERSONAL INFO FROM PEOPLE-SEARCH SITES
1) Turn off Location Sharing
Many apps automatically tag your posts with your location. That can let strangers know your routines or even your home address.
Scammers have a harder time learning about your life the less you share online. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How to turn off Location Sharing
On iPhone
- Go to Settings.
- Click Privacy & Security.
- Tap Location Services.
- Then pick the app.
- Set it to “Never” or “While Using the App.”
On Android
(Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.)
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Location.
- Click App permissions.
- Then select the app and toggle location off or select Don’t allow.
Note: Some apps may still have permission for “While using the app” or “Only this time.” So, you should check each app individually, especially camera and social-media apps, for location permissions.
Pro tip: Even turning off location for just your camera app helps keep photos from carrying hidden location data.
META TO ALLOW TEENS’ PARENTS TO DISABLE PRIVATE CHATS WITH AI AFTER BACKLASH OVER FLIRTY CHATBOTS
Parents — and even some teens — are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of social media use on young people. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)
2) Use a private account
A private account means only people you approve can see your posts and photos. Think of it like putting a lock on your front door.
How to set private accounts
- Go to Settings & Privacy.
- Tap Settings.
- Scroll to the Audience & Visibility (or Your Activity) section.
- Click Posts.
- Find “Who can see your future posts?” and set it to Friends.
- Tap your profile.
- Tap the menu (☰).
- Tap Account Privacy.
- Toggle on Private account.
TikTok
- Go to your Profile.
- Tap the menu (☰).
- Select Settings and privacy.
- Tap Privacy.
- Toggle on Private account.
X (formerly Twitter)
- Click on your profile icon in the top left of the screen.
- Open Settings and privacy.
- Select Privacy and safety.
- Tap Audience and tagging.
- Toggle Protect your posts (or Protect your Tweets).
- Once enabled, only approved followers can see your posts.
Snapchat
- Open Settings (gear icon).
- Scroll to Privacy Controls.
- Under “Who Can,” adjust options like Contact Me, View My Story and See Me in Quick Add to Friends only.
YouTube
- Go to your YouTube Studio (desktop or mobile app).
- When uploading, set visibility to Private or Unlisted.
- For existing videos, open the video’s settings and change visibility as needed.
Note: Entire channels cannot be made private, only individual videos.
- Tap your profile photo
- Settings.
- Go to Visibility.
- Under Profile viewing options, select Private mode.
- You can also control who sees your connections and activity under “Visibility of your LinkedIn activity.”
Identity theft has become so commonplace that it no longer shocks you to hear about the latest scam. (Cyberguy.com)
3) Report suspicious accounts
Fake profiles are everywhere. Scammers may pose as friends, celebrities or even customer service reps. Reporting them helps keep you (and others) safe.
How to report an account
- Go to the fake or impersonating profile.
- Tap the three-dot menu (Options).
- Select Find support or report profile.
- Choose a reason, such as pretending to be someone else.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to submit the report.
- Go to the profile.
- Tap the three-dot menu.
- Select Report.
- Choose a reason.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the report.
TikTok
- Open the profile.
- Tap the three-dot menu (or sometimes the Share icon).
- Select Report.
- Choose Report account.
- Select the reason.
- Submit the report.
X (formerly Twitter)
- Go to the account profile.
- Tap the three-dot or overflow icon.
- Select Report.
- Choose the type of issue.
- If you’re reporting an entire profile rather than a single post, select Report @username from the profile page.
YouTube
- Go to the channel page.
- Tap the About tab (on desktop) or the three-dot menu (on mobile).
- Select Report.
- Choose the reason.
- Submit the report.
Snapchat
- Go to the user’s profile.
- Tap the three-dot menu or gear icon.
- Select Report.
- Choose the reason.
- Submit the report.
- Visit the fake or suspicious profile.
- Tap the More button (or three dots).
- Select Report abuse.
- Select a reason and follow the prompts.
Pro tip: Don’t just block. Report alerts to the platform so they can remove the account for everyone.
With a few smart settings and habits, you can enjoy social media without giving away more than you mean to. (Thai Liang Lim/Getty Images)
4) Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
Even if someone steals your password, 2FA makes it harder for them to break in. It adds an extra step, like a code texted to your phone.
How to enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Go to the menu and select Settings & Privacy, then Settings.
- Tap Accounts Center.
- Then click Password and Security.
- Tap Two-factor authentication.
- It may ask you to choose an account to set up two-factor authentication.
- Choose your preferred method, such as an authentication app, text message or security key and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Go to your profile and open Settings.
- Click Accounts Center.
- Select Password and Security.
- Then Two-Factor Authentication.
- It may ask you to choose an account to set up two-factor authentication.
- Choose your preferred method, such as an authentication app, text message or security key and follow the on-screen instructions.
TikTok
- Go to your Profile.
- Then open the Menu.
- Select Settings and privacy.
- Then, Security and permissions.
- Tap 2-step verification.
- Choose one or more verification methods, such as text message, email or an authentication app.
- Click Turn On.
- Follow the prompts to finish setup.
X (formerly Twitter)
- Click on your profile on the upper left of the screen.
- Open Settings and privacy.
- Select Security and account access, then Security.
- Tap Two-factor authentication.
- Choose your preferred method, such as text message, authentication app or security key.
- Follow the steps to turn it on.
Note: Text message (SMS) verification on X may only be available for paid (Premium) users or in certain regions. If SMS isn’t available, you can still use an authentication app or a physical security key for two-factor authentication.
Pro tip: Use an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator or Authy) instead of text messages for stronger protection.
5) Check your photos before posting
Your photos may reveal more than you think — house numbers, car license plates or even vacation details that signal you’re away from home.
Quick fixes before posting
- Crop or blur backgrounds that show personal details.
- Avoid posting in real time while traveling. Wait until you’re back.
- Review old posts to make sure you’re not unintentionally sharing private info.
SOCIAL MEDIA VERIFICATION SYSTEMS LOSE POWER AS SCAMMERS PURCHASE CHECKMARKS TO APPEAR LEGITIMATE
Bonus tip: Keep personal info under wraps
Every time you post, share or comment online, you’re leaving small clues about your life, and scammers are great at putting those pieces together. The less information fraudsters can find about you, the weaker their scams become.
Many impersonators use public details like your hometown, workplace or family connections to build fake profiles that seem trustworthy. Even information like your email address or phone number can be exploited if it’s floating around the internet.
A personal data removal service can help reduce that risk by scrubbing your personal details from people search sites and data brokers. While no solution is perfect, minimizing your digital footprint makes you a much harder target for impersonation and social-engineering scams. These services actively monitor and systematically remove your information from hundreds of sites, saving you time and giving you peace of mind.
Protecting your privacy online isn’t just about what you share on social media; it’s also about controlling what’s out there already. Limiting that data means scammers can’t easily cross-reference your information with data from breaches or the dark web.
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
Staying safe on social media isn’t about deleting your accounts; it’s about taking control of your information. Turning off location sharing keeps your whereabouts private. Switching to a private account gives you more say over who sees your posts. Being cautious with friend requests and DMs helps you avoid scams. And double-checking your photos before posting prevents oversharing. With just a few quick settings and habits, you can enjoy social media with peace of mind.
Have you ever spotted a scam or fake account online? Tell us what happened by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Here’s your first look at Kratos in Amazon’s God of War show
Amazon has slowly been teasing out casting details for its live-action adaptation of God of War, and now we have our first look at the show. It’s a single image but a notable one showing protagonist Kratos and his son Atreus. The characters are played by Ryan Hurst and Callum Vinson, respectively, and they look relatively close to their video game counterparts.
There aren’t a lot of other details about the show just yet, but this is Amazon’s official description:
The God of War series storyline follows father and son Kratos and Atreus as they embark on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye. Through their adventures, Kratos tries to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human.
That sounds a lot like the recent soft reboot of the franchise, which started with 2018’s God of War and continued through Ragnarök in 2022. For the Amazon series, Ronald D. Moore, best-known for his work on For All Mankind and Battlestar Galactica, will serve as showrunner. The rest of the cast includes: Mandy Patinkin (Odin), Ed Skrein (Baldur), Max Parker (Heimdall), Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (Thor), Teresa Palmer (Sif), Alastair Duncan (Mimir), Jeff Gulka (Sindri), and Danny Woodburn (Brok).
While production is underway on the God of War series, there’s no word on when it might start streaming.
Technology
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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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
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.”
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