Technology

How to protect a loved one’s identity after death

Published

1 month ago

February 7, 2026

How to protect a loved one’s identity after death

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When someone you love dies, the to-do list can feel endless. There are legal steps, financial paperwork and emotional weight all happening at once. What many families do not realize is that identity protection rarely makes those lists, even though it should.

Scammers actively target the identities of people who have died. They rely on delays, data gaps and the assumption that someone else is handling it. Janet from Indiana recently reached out with a question many families quietly worry about but rarely ask.

My husband just passed away in December. There are lists upon lists of things to do to wrap up his estate, but nothing that tells me how to lock down his identity now that he’s gone so that fraudsters cannot use it. Maybe our government is efficient enough to report to all of the credit bureaus that he is deceased, but I don’t want to bet my financial security on it. We both have our credit frozen with all three agencies, but is there more that I should do? Thank you.
— Janet in Indiana

Janet’s instincts are exactly right. The system often does not work as cleanly as people expect.

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MICROSOFT CROSSES PRIVACY LINE FEW EXPECTED

Scammers often look for recently deceased names because they know systems do not update instantly and families are overwhelmed. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What the government and credit bureaus do and don’t do

When someone dies, Social Security is usually notified by the funeral home. That step helps, but it does not automatically secure a person’s financial identity.

Here is what often surprises families:

Credit bureaus are not synchronized in real time
A death notice does not instantly stop fraud attempts
Scammers specifically target recently deceased individuals
Gaps between systems create opportunities for misuse

In short, relying on automation alone leaves room for problems.

AI DEEPFAKE ROMANCE SCAM STEALS WOMAN’S HOME AND LIFE SAVINGS

Credit freezes and alerts help, but they do not stop every attempt to misuse personal information after a death. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What you’ve already done right

Before adding more steps, it matters to acknowledge what Janet already did correctly.

Credit freezes with all three bureaus
Early awareness of identity risks
Taking action before fraud appears

When speed matters, credit locks — different from freezes — give you instant on/off control. That combination puts someone well ahead of most families.

Steps to protect a loved one’s identity after death

Once the immediate paperwork is underway, these practical steps help close the gaps scammers look for. None of them is super complicated, but together they create a much stronger layer of protection.

1) Add a deceased flag to credit files

Even with a credit freeze in place, this step adds another layer of protection that lenders see immediately.

Contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion and ask them to mark the credit file as deceased. Each bureau may request:

A copy of the death certificate

Proof that you are the surviving spouse or executor

Once the flag is added, fraudulent applications become much harder to process because lenders are alerted upfront. A credit lock provides the same blocking effect, but with real-time control; this can matter when you’re managing a deceased estate or responding quickly to lender requests.

2) Monitor identity activity while you manage everything else

This is where many checklists fall short. Credit freezes and deceased flags help, but identity misuse can still surface in other ways.

Fraud attempts may appear as:

Account takeovers
Unauthorized credit inquiries
Use of personal data outside traditional credit

That is why ongoing monitoring still matters.

Why identity theft protection helps at this stage

Identity theft protection focuses on identity protection rather than just credit scores, which makes it especially useful after a loss.

Monitors for misuse tied to your loved one’s information
Sends alerts if something suspicious appears
Includes fraud support if action is needed
Reduces the burden of constant manual checks

One of the best parts of my pick for top identity theft service is its all-in-one approach to safeguarding your personal and financial life. It includes identity theft insurance of up to $1 million per adult to cover eligible losses and legal fees, plus 24/7 U.S.-based fraud resolution support with dedicated case managers ready to help restore your identity fast. It also combines three-bureau credit monitoring with an instant credit lock that lets you quickly lock down your Experian file right from the app.

See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com.

3) Secure sensitive documents during estate administration

Estate administration often requires sharing paperwork, which is where identity leaks can happen.

Lock down and limit access to:

Death certificate copies
Social Security numbers
Old tax returns
Insurance and pension records

Only share what is required and keep track of where documents go.

MILLIONS OF AI CHAT MESSAGES EXPOSED IN APP DATA LEAK

A man types on a laptop. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

4) Watch mail and phone calls for warning signs

Small signals often reveal fraud attempts early.

Pay close attention to:

Bills or collection notices in their name
Credit card or loan offers
Bank or government letters you did not expect
Calls asking to verify personal information

If something feels off, pause before responding and verify the source independently.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Protecting a loved one’s identity after death is one more responsibility no one prepares you for. It is not about mistrusting the system. It is about protecting yourself during a time when you are already carrying enough. Janet’s question reflects what many families experience quietly. Identity protection does not end when life does, and scammers know that grief creates gaps. Taking a few extra steps now can spare you months or even years of stress later. You are not being overly cautious. You are being careful at a moment when the system does not always move fast enough to keep up with real life.

If you have handled an estate or are planning ahead, have you taken steps to protect a loved one’s identity after death, or is this something you are just learning about now? 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.

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Technology

Sotomayor’s Wabi Sabi is the funnest record of 2026

Published

1 hour ago

March 15, 2026

Press Room

Sotomayor’s Wabi Sabi is the funnest record of 2026

Shout out to subscriber N_Gorski for today’s pick. They popped into the comments on last week’s recommendation to ask what I thought of the new Sotomayor record. Well, I hadn’t actually heard it yet, but now I’m obsessed.

The group consists of siblings Raul and Paulina Sotomayor from Mexico City. Wabi Sabi is their first record since 2020’s Origenes, and it is pure joy. You can look back through everything I’ve recommended over the last several months, and “fun” is not how you’d describe most of it. But that’s what Wabi Sabi is — it’s fun, chaotic, and dancey as hell.

I was only familiar with Sotomayor before this because of a short documentary about Raul’s various projects made by Ableton. In that video, he discusses how his approach to making music has changed over the years. How he used to try to make things sound “proper” and “clean,” but now it’s about “how much can we distort it” or “how much can we stretch it.”

You can certainly hear that in the music. The first track, “Me dejo llevar,” opens with a synth arpeggio that has clearly been timestretched to within an inch of its life. It’s loaded with digital artifacts. The whole track has a light crust, as if everything is clipping just ever so slightly. “Who’s there” similarly bristles as the edges, sounding like a dance floor constantly on the verge of erupting into a riot.

The vintage electronic drum hits, droning bass, and reverb-drenched noise stabs never reach full catharsis, but simmer beautifully into album highlight “Vida.” Here, Paulina finds a sultry gear as she croons over a UK garage-inflected track that eventually erupts into an afrohouse club banger.

Wabi Sabi ricochets between genres with infectious abandon. Afrobeat, cumbia, electro pop, R&B, and more all collide in what is easily the most fun album of 2026 so far. What makes it all the more impressive is that, for all its unconventional sounds (a donkey jaw?) and stylistic excursions, Sotomayor still has a distinct vision that holds the record together.

At no point does the chaos threaten to overwhelm. Never does it feel like the duo are simply throwing things at the wall to see what sticks; everything is a carefully made decision in service of the party. The gently meandering guitar of “Yo se todo de ti,” the classic house of “Todo se derrumba,” and the dancehall of “Prende la palma” all feel unified by Paulina’s undeniable charisma on the mic and Raul’s uninhibited sonic curiosity.

Technology

Smart glasses detector app warns if you’re being recorded

Published

2 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Press Room

Smart glasses detector app warns if you’re being recorded

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Smart glasses are built to blend in. Most of the time, they look just like a normal pair of glasses. The difference is that some models can quietly take photos or record video without anyone nearby realizing it.

As these wearable cameras start showing up in everyday places, more people are wondering when they might be on camera. That concern helped inspire a new Android app called Nearby Glasses, which lets you check whether smart glasses may be nearby.

The idea behind the app is simple. If a nearby device is broadcasting a Bluetooth signal linked to smart glasses, the app tries to detect it. For people worried about hidden cameras in public spaces, even a small warning could help them stay more aware of their surroundings.

META SMART GLASSES PRIVACY CONCERNS GROW

Mark Zuckerberg sported a pair of Meta Ray-Ban Display AI glasses while speaking at the Meta Connect event in Menlo Park, California, on Sept. 17, 2025. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Why smart glasses are raising privacy concerns

Smart glasses are designed to blend in. Unlike a phone or camera, they often look identical to regular eyewear. That means someone could be filming without anyone around them realizing it.

Modern versions of these devices can capture photos, record video and even livestream. Some models also connect to AI tools that can analyze what the wearer sees. Privacy advocates say the biggest problem is visibility. When someone pulls out a phone to record, people usually notice.

With smart glasses, the camera may be hidden in plain sight. As a result, conversations about consent and privacy are becoming more urgent as wearable cameras spread.

How the nearby glasses app works

Nearby Glasses works by scanning for Bluetooth signals that devices broadcast to connect with phones and other hardware. Each manufacturer uses unique Bluetooth identifiers. The app listens for those signals and compares them to known identifiers from companies that produce wearable devices. If the app detects one of those signals, it alerts the user.

Here is how the process works:

The app scans nearby Bluetooth devices in real time
It checks each signal against known manufacturer identifiers
If a match appears, the user receives an alert

The app currently focuses on devices made by companies such as Meta and Snap. Users can also add additional Bluetooth identifiers to expand what the app detects. That allows the tool to flag more types of wearable tech. To keep scanning continuously, users must enable a foreground service in the app and press Start Scanning. A debug log then displays the scanning activity while the app runs.

Why the developer created the app

The app was developed by software creator Yves Jeanrenaud, who says he built it after seeing how wearable cameras were being used. On the project page, Jeanrenaud described smart glasses as a major privacy concern. He believes the devices could open the door to more recording without consent.

He also pointed to reports about smart glasses appearing in sensitive situations. Those examples include cases where wearable cameras were allegedly used during immigration enforcement or in situations where people were filmed without permission.

According to Jeanrenaud, the app represents what he calls a form of technological resistance. In other words, using technology to push back against technology. Still, even he admits it may only address part of the problem.

As smart glasses become more common in public places, tools like the Nearby Glasses app aim to help people stay aware of possible hidden recording devices. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The app is helpful but not perfect

Like any detection tool, Nearby Glasses has limitations. Bluetooth signals do not always reveal exactly what device is nearby. For example, a device made by the same manufacturer could trigger an alert. That means a headset or other gadget might appear as a possible pair of smart glasses.

False positives are possible. However, those alerts still give users more awareness of nearby devices that could be capturing data. Right now, the app is available only for Android. The developer has said an iPhone version could happen in the future, depending on time and demand.

Ways to stay safe around smart glasses

Smart glasses are becoming more common. While tools like Nearby Glasses can help, awareness is still the best defense. Here are several ways to protect your privacy.

Pay attention to visible camera indicators

Some smart glasses include small LED lights that turn on while recording. If you notice a light on someone’s frames, they may be filming.

Speak up if you feel uncomfortable

If you suspect someone is recording you in a private setting, you can ask them directly. Many people stop when confronted.

Avoid sensitive conversations in crowded areas

Wearable cameras thrive in public environments where people are distracted. Avoid discussing personal information in places where recording could occur.

Disable Bluetooth visibility on your own devices

Limiting the signals your devices broadcast can reduce how easily others track or scan your hardware.

WORLD’S THINNEST AI GLASSES FEATURE BUILT-IN AI ASSISTANT

Stay informed about wearable tech

Smart glasses are evolving quickly. Learning how they work helps you recognize when someone might be using one nearby.

Mark Zuckerberg wears the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses while speaking at the company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California, on Sept. 17, 2025. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Smart glasses represent a strange moment in the evolution of technology. On one hand, they promise convenience. People can capture moments hands-free or access digital information instantly. On the other hand, they blur the line between everyday life and constant surveillance. Apps like Nearby Glasses show that some people are already pushing back. They want tools that reveal when hidden cameras might be nearby. However, technology alone will not settle the debate. The real question is how society decides to balance innovation with basic expectations of privacy.

And that leads to a bigger question. If cameras can hide in ordinary glasses, should people be required to reveal when they are recording you? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Technology

Trump administration is allegedly collecting $10 billion on the TikTok deal

Published

14 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Press Room

Trump administration is allegedly collecting billion on the TikTok deal

In September, Donald Trump claimed that “the United States is getting a tremendous fee” for brokering the TikTok deal. Now sources tell the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times that fee is expected to be in the range of $10 billion. The money is supposedly being paid by new investors, including Oracle and Silver Lake. Reports are that $2.5 billion was already paid to the Treasury when the deal closed on January 22nd. The rest will be paid out in installments.

This is the latest example of the Trump administration inserting itself into private business in unprecedented ways, including taking on a 10-percent stake in Intel last August, a “golden share” in US Steel, and a 20-percent cut in chip sales from Nvidia to China. In this instance, the deal also involves one of Trump’s biggest supporters and fundraisers, Larry Ellison, co-founder and CTO of Oracle.

If the reporting is accurate, the fee would represent over 70 percent of the deal’s value, which saw a group of investors take a majority stake in TikTok for $14 billion.