Across the country, people are experiencing a sudden surge of anonymous messages that often begin with a simple “hello” or a similar greeting like “hi.” These unexpected communications can leave you feeling confused and even concerned about their origins. 

While this phenomenon is particularly prevalent on WhatsApp, it’s important to recognize that similar incidents are occurring with regular text messages as well.

Take Bruce from Lititz, Pennsylvania, for example. He wrote to us asking, “Why all of a sudden am I receiving anonymous ‘hello’ messages on my WhatsApp?”

Let’s explore the possible reasons behind these unsolicited messages, how they may have obtained your number and what steps you can take to protect yourself from potential scams.

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Why is this happening?

One of the primary reasons for these messages is the increasing prevalence of spam and scam attempts. Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their tactics, and a seemingly innocent “hello” could be their latest strategy. Sometimes, it’s as simple as someone mistyping a number. It’s easy for messages to end up in the wrong inbox.

However, more often than not, these messages are the first step in a more elaborate phishing scheme. Scammers often start with a friendly greeting to build trust before attempting to extract personal information.

A man texting on his phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How did they get your number in the first place?

Receiving unexpected messages from unknown contacts can leave you wondering how they obtained your number. There are several ways this can happen. One common method is through data breaches, where personal information, including phone numbers, is leaked online.

Scammers can also acquire numbers through social media platforms, where users often share their contact details publicly. Additionally, if you’ve ever participated in contests or giveaways, your information may have been sold to third parties without your consent.

Lastly, it’s possible that someone you know inadvertently shared your number, leading to these unsolicited messages. Understanding these avenues can help you take proactive steps to protect your privacy and reduce the likelihood of receiving unwanted communications in the future.

A man texting on his phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How to protect yourself

With the rise of anonymous messages, it’s essential to take steps to safeguard your personal information and avoid potential scams. Here are six crucial measures you can take:

1. Block and report suspicious contacts

Don’t respond to these text messages and block and report any suspicious messages. Here’s how to do it on different platforms:

On Android:

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer 

• Open the conversation with the suspicious contact
• Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner
• Select More or Details
• Click Block & report scam
• Tap OK to confirm your decision

On iPhone:

• Open the chat with the suspicious contact
• Tap the contact’s number at the top of the screen
• Then click the info menu
• Scroll down and select Block Caller
• Choose Block Contact 

On WhatsApp:

• Open the conversation and click the contact name
• Scroll down and select Block
• Click Block to confirm

2. Have strong antivirus software

Don’t click on any links within these text messages, as they may contain malicious software. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to install strong antivirus software 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.

3. Regularly update your passwords

Ensure your accounts are secure by using strong, unique passwords and updating them regularly. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. This can help protect your information in case of a data breach.

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4. Keep your devices updated

Regularly update your smartphone’s operating system and apps. These updates often include crucial security patches that protect against the latest threats.

5. Invest in personal data removal services

While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.

6. Be cautious with personal information

Refrain from posting your phone number on public forums, social media platforms or websites lacking robust privacy measures. Scammers often scour these platforms for personal information to target potential victims.

Also, only provide your contact information to reputable organizations and trusted individuals. Before entering your phone number on any website, ensure it is legitimate and secure. Look for signs such as HTTPS in the URL and read reviews or feedback from other users.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

The rise of anonymous messages can feel unsettling. While a simple “hello” might seem harmless, it often signals the start of more insidious tactics from scammers. By understanding how these messages arise and taking proactive steps to protect your personal information, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to scams.

Have you experienced receiving anonymous messages like these? Share your story with us and let us know how you handled it. 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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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

Valve’s new Steam Families feature is now available for everyone following a beta launch earlier this year. With Steam Families, parents are able to share games with their families, manage parental controls for their kids, and approve requests from their kids to buy Steam games.

The big improvement with Steam Families over Valve’s previous Family Sharing setup is that multiple people can play games from a shared library at one time. So if I’m playing Balatro, and my partner, who is part of my Steam Family, wants to play Arranger, we can both play those games at the same time. However, if my partner wants to play Balatro while I’m already playing it, she’ll need to buy an additional copy. With Steam Families, you can play shared games offline, too.

Valve says that Steam Families are “intended to contain your immediate family” and that they can include “up to 6 close family members.” Each member of a Steam Family will have their own save games and earn their own achievements. Adults can leave a Steam Family at any time, but if they do, they’ll have to wait a year before they can start or join a new Family. Children can only be removed by a Steam Family by an adult or with the help of Steam support.

In a video, Valve says that the old Family Sharing feature will be retired “eventually,” so if you’ve been using that, you might want to set up Steam Families instead.

You can start using Steam Families by updating Steam. The newest Steam client update has a handful of other updates, too, including a redesigned screenshots manager.

In a groundbreaking development, scientists have found a way to give robots a sense of touch without relying on expensive artificial skin. This innovation, spearheaded by a team from the German Aerospace Centre, could revolutionize human-robot interactions and make robots more adaptable and intuitive to use.

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The power of AI and internal sensors

Instead of using costly biometric skins and sensors, the researchers harnessed the power of artificial intelligence to interpret signals from a robot’s existing internal sensors. This clever approach allows robots to accurately detect external force and pressure, mimicking the human sense of touch.

The team’s concept includes virtual buttons, switches and slider bars that can be placed anywhere on the robot’s structure. This flexibility opens up new possibilities for human-robot interaction.

AI robot with internal sensors (German Aerospace Centre) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Impressive accuracy

The machine learning algorithms developed by the team are so accurate that the robot can even detect numbers traced on its surface. This capability could lead to entirely new ways for humans to communicate with robots.

AI robot with internal sensors (German Aerospace Centre) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Implications for human-robot interaction

The researchers believe this technology will enable a shift towards more adaptable, flexible and intuitive handling of robots. As they wrote in their study, “This opens up unexplored opportunities in terms of intuitive and flexible interaction between humans and robots.” The study, titled “Intrinsic sense of touch for intuitive physical human-robot interaction,” was published in the journal Science Robotics.

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AI robot with internal sensors (German Aerospace Centre) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Kurt’s key takeaways

By eliminating the need for expensive and complex external sensors, this technology could make advanced robots more accessible and practical for a wide range of applications. The ability to interact with robots through touch, just as we do with other humans, could transform fields ranging from health care to manufacturing, opening up exciting new possibilities for collaboration between humans and machines.

How do you feel about the idea of robots being able to “feel” and interact with us more naturally? 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.

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

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Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.