Technology
Hacked, scammed, exposed: Why you're 1 step away from disaster online
‘CyberGuy’: Springtime backup
Safeguarding your digital life with a reliable physical backup isn’t just a precaution, it’s a necessity. Kurt Knutsson provides the essential backup checklist.
Chances are, you are a lot closer to an online security disaster than you think. Information about you is spread out far and wide online, and losing control of this digital identity can be incredibly embarrassing at best and financially devastating or personally dangerous at worst.
While it may initially seem overwhelming, we’re here to help you stay protected online. We’ve created a list of all the steps to stay safe online. Since there is a lot of information, we suggest you work through it at your own pace.
GET SECURITY ALERTS, EXPERT TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT’S NEWSLETTER – THE CYBERGUY REPORT HERE
A woman stressed about an online disaster (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Step 1 – Enable automatic updates
Keeping your software up to date is one of the easiest ways to keep yourself safe online. Whether you are using a Windows machine, a Mac, an iPhone or an Android smartphone, all these devices are routinely updated with new security fixes. It’s a good idea to double-check and ensure your device’s automatic updates are turned on. Here’s how:
Windows 10 automatic updates
From the start menu, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. From the Windows Update section, you’ll see a range of options for updating Windows. Here you can set up your “active hours” to make sure that Windows reboots and installs automatic updates outside of your waking or working hours.
Windows 11 automatic updates
Windows 11 users will click the Windows icon and proceed to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options. From here, you can control when Windows Update will run, similar to the “active hours” control in Windows 10.
macOS
Mac users can open System Preferences > Software Update and click the “Advanced” button. While in the “Advanced” section, make sure every box is checked, as this will ensure they receive timely OS updates.
iOS
If you want to turn on automatic updates with an iPhone, open Settings > General > Software Update and make sure that Automatic Updates is turned on.
Android
If you have an Android device, open Settings > System > Advanced > System Update and ensure the System Update setting is turned on.
AUTO PARTS GIANT EXPOSED: 2.3 CUSTOMERS AT RISK IN MASSIVE DATA BREACH
Step 2 – Use strong passwords
Reusing the same password on multiple websites or applications is one of the most common cybersecurity mistakes. If you use the same password for multiple things, it only takes one service breach to expose your other accounts. Using a password manager is an easy solution to creating strong passwords for multiple accounts.
Illustration of securing your device (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
WORLD’S LARGEST STOLEN PASSWORD DATABASE UPLOADED TO CRIMINAL FORUM
Step 3 – Set up and use two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication is a great way to add an extra layer of security to your online accounts. Enabling two-factor authentication makes it harder for hackers to access your account, as your account will require a one-time code in addition to the password to log in.
Two-factor authentication being displayed on Apple devices (Apple) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Step 4 – Encrypt your computer’s storage
If you were to lose your laptop, tablet or phone, all of the personal information on those devices may be accessible to whoever finds it. An easy way to keep yourself safe in this scenario is to have your devices encrypted beforehand. Encryption makes the data hard for hackers to read, and while it sounds complicated, the actual process is easy to set up.
Illustration of data on a computer screen (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Step 5 – Locate or erase a lost device
If you’ve lost your device before you could encrypt it, there’s no need to worry too much. It’s easier than ever to locate a lost smartphone or to wipe it remotely. We have a great guide on what to do if you’ve lost your phone for both Androids and iPhones.
You can also use a similar process to locate a lost Windows laptop or MacBook. As operating systems have moved to storing information in the cloud, it’s easy to wipe a lost laptop. If you lose a laptop in public, we recommend remotely wiping it as soon as possible to ensure your data isn’t taken by a malicious actor.
Step 6 – Have strong antivirus software
The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may get access to your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
Step 7 – Secure your web browser
We use our web browsers daily. Whether from a laptop, a desktop or a smartphone, you probably use your web browser more than most other apps. Taking a few minutes to regularly update your browser to the latest version, being cautious about the websites you visit and avoiding suspicious downloads are all crucial practices that complement your browser’s security features.
By implementing these security measures, you’re protecting your browser, personal information, financial data and overall digital identity from being exposed to a security risk by potential hackers and cybercriminals.
Step 8 – Secure your smartphone
Smartphones now act as extensions of our personal lives, used for everything from banking to scheduling doctor appointments. It’s more important than ever to keep your smartphone secure, and fortunately, both Android and iOS feature a wide range of built-in features to help protect your personal information.
To enhance your iPhone or Android’s security, start by enabling a strong lock screen method such as a complex passcode, fingerprint recognition or facial recognition. Exercise caution when using public Wi-Fi networks and consider using a VPN for added security.
A person holding an Android phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
10 SIMPLE STEPS TO IMPROVE YOUR SMARTPHONE’S SECURITY AND PRIVACY
Step 9 – Protect your wireless network
Your home Wi-Fi network can power your smart home devices, but it can also leave you vulnerable to hackers. Luckily, it’s easy to tweak your home wireless settings to keep yourself more protected. Similar to our previous steps, you’ll want to make sure your router has the most recent updated firmware and that you use two-factor authentication and a strong password for your wireless connection.
People on their computers using a wireless network (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Step 10 – Regularly back up your data
Regularly backing up your data protects your digital life from hardware failures, theft or cyberattacks. Choose a reliable backup method that suits your needs, such as cloud storage or external hard drives. Set up automatic backups to run consistently, ensuring all your devices, including smartphones and tablets, are covered. Secure your backups by using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication for cloud storage or encrypting physical backups.
Periodically, test your backups by restoring files to ensure the system works correctly. Remember, a solid backup strategy is an essential component of your overall cybersecurity plan, providing both protection and peace of mind.
Step 11 – Invest in personal data removal services
In today’s digital landscape, your personal information can end up in numerous online databases and people search sites without your knowledge or consent. These data aggregators collect and sell your information, potentially exposing you to privacy risks and unwanted solicitations. Using a data removal service can help mitigate these risks by systematically removing your personal information from these databases.
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.
By reducing your digital footprint, you decrease the chances of your personal information being misused for identity theft, targeted advertising or other privacy-invading practices. While it’s challenging to completely erase your online presence, using a data removal service is an effective step towards regaining control over your personal information and enhancing your overall online privacy and security. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Protecting your online presence might seem daunting, but remember, it’s all about taking small, consistent steps. Think of it as building a digital fortress: each measure you implement is another brick in your wall of cybersecurity. Don’t feel pressured to tackle everything at once. Start with the basics, like enabling automatic updates and using strong passwords, then gradually work your way through the more steps. The digital world is constantly evolving and so should our security practices.
How has your approach to online security changed over the years and what prompted those changes? 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.
Follow Kurt on his social channels:
Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:
Copyright 2024 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
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
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.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.
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.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.
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.”
-
World2 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts2 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Montana1 week ago2026 MHSA Montana Wrestling State Championship Brackets And Results – FloWrestling
-
Oklahoma1 week agoWildfires rage in Oklahoma as thousands urged to evacuate a small city
-
Louisiana4 days agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Technology6 days agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Denver, CO2 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Technology6 days agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making