Technology
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)
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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)
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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.
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Technology
Discord accidentally banned over 8,000 people for posting grids and other ‘benign’ images
Stanislav Vishnevskiy, Discord co-founder and chief technology officer, writes that the bug impacted around 200 users who posted “grid-like” pictures, in addition to about 8,000 people who posted “other benign images” since May 2026. “Everyone affected has now been unbanned,” Vishnevskiy says.
In a thread on X, Discord writes that its safety system is designed to flag content by “matching it against known harmful material.” This system can produce “false positives,” Discord explains, which is when an employee would step in to review the flagged content. But instead of just temporarily preventing the account from uploading content during the review, a glitch led its system to ban users entirely.
“When our staff reviewed and cleared those accounts, the same bug prevented the ban from being lifted automatically, so it just stayed in place,” Discord says.
Technology
Hoto’s PixelDrive screwdriver is down to $60, matching its best price
If your Prime Day purchases included a new desk, TV stand, bookshelf, or other furniture you still haven’t assembled, Hoto’s PixelDrive cordless screwdriver can help speed up the process. It’s currently on sale for $59.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, matching its best price to date.
From tightening loose screws on furniture to repairing electronics, the PixelDrive is designed to handle a wide range of household projects. Hoto includes 30 screwdriver bits that cover many of the most common screw types, all neatly organized in a small cylindrical case. It also offers six adjustable torque settings, allowing you to use less power when working with fragile electronics or increase it when putting together a desk, bookshelf, TV stand, or other furniture. You can also switch between a slower 80RPM mode for more precise work and a faster 200RPM mode with the press of a button.
Hoto also added several features that make assembling projects a little easier. A built-in display lets you quickly check your current torque setting and remaining battery life, while an integrated LED light helps illuminate dim spaces, whether you’re working under a desk or inside a cabinet. The rechargeable 2,000mAh battery also charges over USB-C, so you won’t need to keep buying disposable batteries.
Technology
Starship delivery robots leave campuses for cities
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Those little white robots that once rolled across college sidewalks with lattes, fries and late-night snacks are getting a new assignment. Starship Technologies recently announced that it will wind down its U.S. university campus operations and redeploy more than 1,200 robots toward grocery chains and hot food delivery in cities across the United States and Europe.
If you have ever watched one of these robots patiently wait at a crosswalk like a polite cooler on wheels, you know why students got attached. They became part campus convenience, part mascot. Now, the company is moving from a controlled campus setting into a much tougher public test.
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That raises the bigger question: will these cute campus robots be just as welcome when they start sharing crowded city sidewalks with you?
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Starship is winding down U.S. campus robot operations as it expands grocery delivery in the U.S. and Europe. (Starship)
Why Starship is pulling robots from college campuses
Starship says the decision comes down to focus. The company says its grocery delivery operations are on a 10x growth trajectory over the next two years, driven by demand from major retailers in the United States and Europe.
In Finland, Starship says its robots already complete roughly one in five grocery deliveries. That gives the company a real-world model it wants to repeat elsewhere. To support that expansion, more than 1,200 robots from U.S. campus fleets will be moved into grocery delivery. For Starship, that is a major pivot. Campuses helped the company build its brand in the U.S. They also gave the robots a place to learn.
Why college campuses were the perfect robot testing ground
Starship made a big U.S. splash at George Mason University in 2019, when the school became the first U.S. university to offer autonomous robot deliveries from Starship. From there, the robots spread to dozens of campuses. That made sense. College students are often hungry at odd hours. Many live without a full kitchen. They also tend to be open to new tech, especially when it brings food to the dorm without small talk.
During the pandemic, contactless delivery became even more appealing. A robot that could roll up with lunch while limiting person-to-person contact suddenly felt useful in a very different way.
The campus pullback will not happen overnight
Starship says it has worked with its university campuses and industry partners to keep service running through the 2026–2027 back-to-school season, with transition plans in place to reduce disruption. So, this does not appear to be an instant shutdown where every campus robot disappears at once. Instead, the company is moving away from the university model while preparing its fleet for a bigger push into grocery and restaurant delivery.
For students who loved the bots, it may still feel like the end of an era. For Starship, though, it is a move toward the market where the company believes the economics are stronger. Starship CEO and co-founder Ahti Heinla says the company’s robots can deliver groceries at a cost $3-$4 lower per delivery than traditional courier fulfillment. That is the kind of claim that gets the attention of retailers trying to make last-mile delivery less expensive.
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Why city sidewalks could be a tougher test
The next phase could get messy. Delivery robots have to share sidewalks with people who are walking, pushing strollers, using wheelchairs, carrying groceries or trying to catch a bus. That means every design choice matters. A robot that blocks a curb ramp can create a real problem. A robot that pauses in the wrong spot can turn from cute to irritating fast. If one reverses unexpectedly or gets stuck near a crosswalk, the novelty wears off even faster.
There have already been warning signs. Reports have described delivery robots bumping into people, getting stuck in odd places and raising accessibility concerns. Chicago has also seen local pushback and safety concerns around sidewalk delivery robots, which shows Starship still has work to do if it wants city residents to embrace them. That is the challenge Starship now faces. The same robot that felt charming on a campus may feel like clutter on a narrow sidewalk.
Starship Technologies is shifting more than 1,200 campus delivery robots to grocery and restaurant deliveries in cities. (Starship)
What grocery delivery changes
Grocery delivery is a different business from campus food delivery. A college order might be a sandwich, a soda or a late-night snack. A grocery run can involve heavier items, more frequent routes and customers who expect reliability every time. If Starship can make that work, the payoff could be huge. Grocery stores want cheaper local delivery. Customers want speed without sky-high fees. Cities want fewer cars clogging short delivery routes.
Starship says the global food delivery market is now worth $650 billion and needs delivery systems with higher autonomy levels. The company also says it has completed more than 10 million deliveries, which gives it a sizable head start in the sidewalk robot category.
However, the public will need convincing. People may welcome a robot bringing milk and eggs on a rainy night. They may also get annoyed if that same robot blocks a sidewalk during the morning rush. That will all decide whether sidewalk robots become normal or face more local limits.
Why Estonia still matters to Starship
Starship was founded in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2014 by Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis. Estonia remains home to the company’s core engineering and AI development team. That is important because this shift is not only about where the robots operate.
The big question for robot delivery
Starship’s move shows where the delivery robot business is headed. College campuses helped make the robots likable. Grocery delivery may determine whether they become profitable. Still, the sidewalks belong to the public. That means companies need more than clever machines. They need trust, clear rules and designs that respect people who move through cities in different ways.
A delivery robot should never make a sidewalk harder to use for someone with a cane, stroller or wheelchair. It should not turn public space into an obstacle course. If companies want these robots to feel normal, they need to prove they can operate without making daily life more frustrating.
ARE HUMANOID ROBOTS NOW COMING FOR RETAIL JOBS?
Starship says grocery delivery demand is pushing its robot fleet from college campuses into urban neighborhoods. (Starship)
What this means to you
You may start seeing more delivery robots near grocery stores, restaurants and apartment-heavy neighborhoods. If that happens, pay attention to how they behave in your area. Look for whether they yield to pedestrians, avoid curb ramps and handle crowded sidewalks well. Also, check whether your city has rules for personal delivery devices. Some places allow pilot programs, while others limit where these robots can operate.
If a robot causes a problem, document it safely. Take a photo or video, note the location and report it to your city or the delivery company. That is important because local officials need real examples, not vague frustration, when they decide what rules should apply. There is also a privacy angle. These robots use sensors and cameras to navigate. Companies may say the data supports safe operation, but you still deserve clear answers about what gets collected, how long it is kept and whether law enforcement can request it.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Starship’s campus exit feels like the end of a quirky era, especially for students who got used to seeing the little robots rolling around campus. But this shift also tells us something bigger about where autonomous delivery is going. The next battle will happen on city sidewalks, not college campuses. If these robots save money and reduce short car trips, they could become very useful. But if they crowd walkways or create safety headaches, people will push back hard. To me, the real test is pretty clear. Robot delivery needs to work for everyone on the sidewalk, including people who never ordered anything.
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Would you be ok with a delivery robot on your block, or would you rather keep your sidewalks robot-free? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
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