Technology

Avoid public Wi-Fi by using your iPhone as a hot spot

Published

2 years ago

February 29, 2024

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Avoid public Wi-Fi by using your iPhone as a hot spot

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Have you ever been tempted to connect to a public Wi-Fi network when you’re out and about? Maybe you want to check your email, browse social media or stream some music.

But before you do that, you should know that public Wi-Fi can be risky and expose your personal information to hackers and cybercriminals.

That’s why you should avoid suspicious public Wi-Fi and use your iPhone’s hot spot instead. A hot spot is a feature that lets you share your iPhone’s cellular data with other devices, such as your laptop or tablet.

This way, you can enjoy a secure and private internet connection wherever you go. Before we get to how to set up a hot spot, you may want to check out Cellphone boosters vs. mobile hot spots: What’s the difference and how do you choose?

CLICK TO GET KURT’S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK VIDEO TIPS, TECH REVIEWS AND EASY HOW-TO’S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER

Woman on a cellphone using a hot spot (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to set up a hot spot on your iPhone

Setting up a hot spot on your iPhone is easy and quick. Just follow these simple steps:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone
Select Personal Hot Spot
Toggle on next to where it says Allow Others to Join and update the password, if necessary
Note that devices logged into the same iCloud account won’t require a password to join your iPhone’s Personal Hot Spot

Steps to set up a hot spot on your iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Optionally, you can also select Family Sharing if you have other family members you want to allow joining your Personal Hot Spot without requiring a password. Tap on Family Sharing.
Then toggle on Family Sharing.
The names of family members will appear below it. You can set each family member to either be able to join automatically or Ask for Approval from you before they can connect. Just click on their name and then select either Automatic or Ask for Approval.

Steps to allow other users or devices to use your iPhone hot spot (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

If you’re trying to connect from older Wi-Fi devices and your iPhone’s Wi-Fi network doesn’t appear, or they fail to get a connection, you may also need to toggle on Maximize Compatibility.

CLEVER TRICK TO MAKE A CONNECTION FASTER ON YOUR WI-FI NETWORK

Do this by going to Settings. Tapping Personal Hot Spot and then scrolling down next to Maximize Compatibility, toggle it on.

Maximize Compatiblity toggle on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

By default, the name of your iPhone’s hot spot is called the same name as your iPhone. You can change the name of your iPhone by following the steps below:

Head to Settings
Tap General
Click About
Tap Name
Change the name of your iPhone by typing it in the box
Tap Done

Steps to change the name of your iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MORE: BEST PORTABLE PHONE CHARGERS OF 2024

How to connect another device to your iPhone hot spot

Go to the System Settings on the other device. In this instance, we are using a MacBook Pro.
Scroll down, tap Wi-Fi on that device, look for your hot spot name and tap it. Enter the password if requested and you’re good to go.

Steps to connect another device to your iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Note that the hot spot feature can be hidden or disabled by your carrier, so if you don’t see it or can’t turn it on, you’ll need to reach out and make sure your plan includes the ability to use your device as a hot spot.

MORE: 5 BEST CELLPHONE BOOSTERS

Keep an eye on how much data you use with your iPhone hot spot

Using a hot spot can be a great way to stay connected and safe online. But remember, it uses your iPhone’s cellular data, so you should keep an eye on how much you use. Here’s how to check your data usage:

Go to Settings
Tap on Cellular
Scroll down to see how much data you’ve used in the current period

How to keep an eye on your data on your iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

If you have a limited data plan, you may want to limit your hot spot usage to avoid extra charges. You can also turn off your hot spot when you’re not using it to save battery life. To do that, follow these steps:

Go back to Settings
Tap on Personal Hot Spot
Turn off the switch next to Allow Others to Join

MORE: BEST ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR PHONE

How to secure your hot spot privacy and security with a VPN

Hot spots suffer from the same risks that any public Wi-Fi connection does, such as data breaches or misuse by hackers and other nefarious actors. However, there is a way to keep yourself protected when using your iPhone hot spot, and that’s by using a Virtual Private Network or VPN.

It adds an extra layer of security and can keep you safe online. If you do decide to create and use a personal hot spot, remember to always make sure it’s password-protected. We’ll take you through the benefits of using a VPN with a hot spot and show you step-by-step how to set up a VPN by clicking here.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Using your iPhone as a hot spot can be a convenient and secure way to access the internet on the go. You can share your cellular data with other devices, control who can join your hot spot and customize your hot spot name and password. However, you should also be mindful of your data usage and battery life, and use a VPN to protect your privacy and security online.

What are some situations where using an iPhone hot spot would be helpful to you? 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.

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Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

Technology

Mark Zuckerberg is taking the stand as social media goes on trial

Published

3 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Press Room

Mark Zuckerberg is taking the stand as social media goes on trial

Lori Schott didn’t care what it took to haul her way from her small town in Eastern Colorado to show up to a Los Angeles courtroom where Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify Wednesday. “I don’t care if I had to hire a pack mule to get me here, I was going to be here,” she told The Verge outside the courthouse Tuesday.

Schott’s daughter Annalee died by suicide at age 18 in 2020, after struggling with body image issues that her mother says were heightened by social media. After her death, Schott found journal entries where Annalee disparaged her own looks and compared herself to other girls’ profiles. “I was so worried about what my child was putting out online, I didn’t realize what she was receiving,” Schott said.

The way that Meta and Google-owned YouTube designed their products — allegedly luring users into a nonstop loop of taps and scrolling — is at the heart of this month’s bellwether social media trial, which sets the stage for thousands of similar lawsuits. The companies have generally denied the claims. Schott and several other self-described survivor parents have made it their mission to be in the courtroom during the several-week trial in downtown LA.

“I was so worried about what my child was putting out online, I didn’t realize what she was receiving.”

Last week, the parents heard from Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, who used his time to carve a distinction between clinical addiction to social media and what he called “problematic use.” On the stand, Mosseri testified that using Instagram “too much” is a relative thing that can vary person-to-person, and he wouldn’t use the term addiction for using social media up to 16 hours a day. Mosseri explained why Meta had modified a prior ban on image filters that altered users’ appearance, after previously discussing their potential negative mental health effects. While the plaintiff has argued Meta is motivated by profits and engagement at the expense of users’ safety, Mosseri said that the two are aligned. “In general, we should be focused on the protection of minors, but I believe protecting minors over the long run is good for business and for profit,” he said, according to CNBC.

Several parents camped out overnight in the rain to make sure that they would get spots behind Mosseri while he took the stand. One of them was Julianna Arnold, whose daughter Coco died of fentanyl poisoning at 17 after allegedly meeting a dealer on Instagram she believed had sold her Percocet. The parents wore rain ponchos, played cards, drank coffee, and told stories throughout the night. “Everyone was like, you’re crazy,” she said. “But it didn’t feel like we were crazy, because we were so determined to have survivor parents in the courtroom.”

For Schott, who also stayed overnight to see Mosseri’s testimony, the reality of being in the room quickly became overwhelming. “I really hoped in my heart that it wasn’t as bad as it was,” said Schott, who left the testimony early after hearing the Instagram CEO discuss documents about engagement, profits, and internal research about girls’ mental health. “It is that bad.”

“I want him to see my face, because my face is Anna’s face.”

On Wednesday, Zuckerberg will likely expand on Mosseri’s testimony and explain the company’s choices. While Mosseri is in charge of the product at the center of the trial, Zuckerberg’s role as founder and CEO means that the plaintiff’s lawyers will likely ask him to account for choices they allege harmed young users. Zuckerberg will likely be asked about how and why his company made various design decisions, and research it conducted on user safety. But at least as important as what Zuckerberg will say, for many, is that he’ll get to see their faces. “I’d love to look him in the eye,” Schott says. “I want him to see my face, because my face is Anna’s face.”

Zuckerberg’s testimony will likely be referenced at future trials and legislative hearings. Thousands of social media cases behind this one similarly argue that products like Instagram caused various personal injuries, and that companies should be made to pay damages and change their products to make them safer.

Arnold isn’t sure whether she’ll get one of the limited, lottery-assigned seats inside the courthouse. Either way, “I want to see a row of survivor parents in the front row. That he has to testify to our faces, to parents of kids that died because of his lack of care and lack of accountability — that’s why it’s really important that we’re here.”

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Lauren Feiner

Technology

Don’t ignore Apple’s urgent security update

Published

3 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Press Room

Don’t ignore Apple’s urgent security update

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If you use an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch or Apple TV, listen up. Apple has released a major security update to fix a zero-day vulnerability, which is a security hole that hackers discover and exploit before the company has a chance to fix it.

Attackers were already using it in targeted attacks. In other words, this was not just a possibility. It was happening.

The flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-20700, affects multiple Apple operating systems. If you have delayed updates lately, this is one you should not ignore.

If you own an Android or Windows PC, this is also a good reminder to check for updates.

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APPLE PATCHES TWO ZERO-DAY FLAWS USED IN TARGETED ATTACKS

Apple’s latest security updates affect iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV, so now is the time to check every device you own. (iStock)

What is CVE-2026-20700 and why it matters

CVE-2026-20700 is a memory corruption vulnerability affecting:

iOS 26.3
iPadOS 26.3
macOS Tahoe 26.3
watchOS 26.3
tvOS 26.3
visionOS 26.3

In simple terms, this bug could allow an attacker to run arbitrary code on your device. That opens the door to spyware, hidden backdoors or silent takeovers without obvious warning signs. Apple says this vulnerability was used as part of an infection chain combined with two previously patched flaws against devices running older versions of iOS. Those earlier bugs were fixed in December 2025. Devices that skipped those updates remained exposed. This is how many real attacks unfold. Hackers chain vulnerabilities together and quietly move in.

Which devices need updating?

Here is a breakdown of the available updates:

iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 for iPhone 11 and later, plus newer iPads
iOS 18.7.5 and iPadOS 18.7.5 for iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and iPad 7th generation
macOS Tahoe 26.3, Sequoia 15.7.4, Sonoma 14.8.4
tvOS 26.3 for Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K
watchOS 26.3 for Apple Watch Series 6 and later
visionOS 26.3 for Apple Vision Pro
Safari 26.3 for supported macOS versions

If your device qualifies, update it as soon as possible.

Why this update deserves attention

Security updates can feel routine. Many of us see the notification and decide to deal with it later. This time is different. Apple confirmed the flaw was actively exploited. That means attackers already know how to use it. Running older software gives them a window of opportunity. Updating closes that window.

How to update your iPhone or iPad

Updating takes only a few minutes.

Go to Settings
Tap General
Tap Software Update
If an update appears, tap Download and Install
Turn on Automatic Updates so you do not miss future fixes

Keep your device connected to Wi-Fi and power during the process.

APPLE WARNS MILLIONS OF IPHONES ARE EXPOSED TO ATTACK

Once you reach this screen on your iPhone, tap Update Now to install Apple’s latest security fix immediately. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to update your Mac

Click the Apple menu in the upper left corner
Choose System Settings or System Preferences
Select General
Click Software Update
If an update appears, select Restart Now or Update Tonight

Your Mac may restart during the process. Keep it plugged in and connected to the internet until the update finishes.

Mac users will see options like Update Tonight or Restart Now, and installing this update closes a flaw already exploited in attacks. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to update Apple Watch

Keep your Watch on its charger and near your iPhone
Open the Watch app on your iPhone
Tap General
Tap Software Update
Tap Download and Install if available

Your Watch will restart during the update.

Your Apple Watch also receives critical security fixes, so keep it on the charger and update it just like your iPhone. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to update Apple TV

Open Settings on Apple TV
Go to System
Select Software Updates
Choose Update Software
Select Download and Install

Stay connected to power and Wi Fi until the update completes.

How to update Safari

Safari updates are included with macOS updates.

Go to the Apple menu
Click System Settings
Select General
Click Software Update

If Safari appears separately, click Update Now and restart your Mac.

How to update your Apple Vision Pro

Put on your Vision Pro and open the Settings app.
Select General from the sidebar.
Tap Software Update.
If an update appears for visionOS 26.3, choose Download and Install.
Make sure your Vision Pro stays charged and connected to Wi-Fi until the update completes.

MALICIOUS MAC EXTENSIONS STEAL CRYPTO WALLETS AND PASSWORDS

Ways to stay safe

Installing this update is the most important step. Still, there are additional habits that strengthen your protection.

Turn on automatic updates for every Apple device
Restart devices regularly to clear temporary processes
Avoid clicking unsolicited links or attachments, and use strong antivirus software. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
Remember, Apple threat notifications will never ask for passwords or verification codes
Be cautious when viewing HTML-formatted emails in Apple Mail
Consider enabling Lockdown Mode if you face a higher risk

Cybercriminals rely on hesitation. They count on us assuming we will get to the update later.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Apple moved fast to fix this vulnerability, and that is reassuring. Now it is up to us to do our part. I get it. Updates interrupt your day. They force a restart. They rarely feel urgent. But here is the thing. Installing updates is still the simplest and most effective way to protect your device from active threats. A few minutes now can prevent a serious security problem later.

What is your biggest reason for delaying updates, and has it ever cost you? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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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

Meta’s new deal with Nvidia buys up millions of AI chips

Published

15 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Press Room

Meta’s new deal with Nvidia buys up millions of AI chips

Meta has struck a multiyear deal to expand its data centers with millions of Nvidia’s Grace and Vera CPUs and Blackwell and Rubin GPUs. While Meta has long been using Nvidia’s hardware for its AI products, this deal “represents the first large-scale Nvidia Grace-only deployment,” which Nvidia says will deliver “significant performance-per-watt improvements in [Meta’s] data centers.” The deal also includes plans to add Nvidia’s next-generation Vera CPUs to Meta’s data centers in 2027.

Meta is also working on its own in-house chips for running AI models, but according to the Financial Times, it has run into “technical challenges and rollout delays” with its chip strategy. Nvidia is also dealing with concerns about depreciation and chip-back loans used to finance AI buildouts, as well as the pressure of competition. CNBC notes that Nvidia’s stock dropped four percent after a November report about Meta considering using Google’s Tensor chips for AI, and late last year, AMD announced chip arrangements with both OpenAI and Oracle.

Nvidia and Meta did not disclose how much the deal cost, but this year’s AI spending from Meta, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon is estimated to cost more than the entire Apollo space program.