Technology

How to update your PIN or password on your Android

Published

2 years ago

April 9, 2024

Press Room

How to update your PIN or password on your Android

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The security of our personal devices is more important than ever. Donna, a resident of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reached out with a distressing situation that many of us might find all too relatable. Her story is a stark reminder of how quickly technology can turn from a tool into a tormentor when in the wrong hands – even if those hands belong to someone we trust.

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A person holding an Android phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The unwanted hacker

Donna watched in disbelief as her son, armed with a computer science degree and a disregard for boundaries, hacked into her Android. A simple, innocuous-looking message popped up, a common enough occurrence in our daily digital lives, which led to a series of unfortunate events. This message asked her to re-sign into some apps, a gateway her son exploited to wreak havoc.

As Donna describes it, her ability to use her Android dwindled rapidly. Text messaging became an ordeal, her phone’s battery life plummeted, and her pleas for him to stop fell on deaf ears. The situation highlights a grim reality: the people with the capacity to harm us the most might not always be strangers from the digital void but those within our own homes. And while the “how” of her son’s actions became painfully clear, the “why” remained a mystery, leaving Donna grappling with questions that had no easy answers.

MORE: 5 BEST PORTABLE PHONE CHARGERS

Taking back control

Feeling violated and helpless, Donna sought our help, desperate for a solution. Our advice is straightforward yet powerful: change the device’s password. This simple act is often the first defense against unauthorized access, yet many overlook its significance.

For those in Donna’s shoes, particularly Android users, changing your password or screen lock method is a breeze. Here’s how to do it.

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Swipe down from the main page of your Android screen and tap the settings icon.
Scroll down and select Lock screen.
Then tap Screen lock type.
To make changes, you’ll have to input your current security measure. Then tap Done.

Steps to change lock screen security measure (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Once you input your current security measure, select whatever security measure you want to change.
You can select a new PIN, Password, Pattern or Swipe method. I don’t recommend Swipe, though. The more elaborate your choice generally means it will make your Android more secure and harder to crack.
Whatever you choose, follow the onscreen prompts to change it to whatever you want, then select Continue.
Then, enter it one more time to finalize it. Then tap Next.

Steps to change lock screen security measure (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

As far as password security is concerned, consider using a password manager to store and generate complex passwords securely. It will help you create unique, difficult-to-crack passwords that a hacker could never guess. Second, it also keeps track of all your passwords in one place and fills in passwords for you when you’re logging into an account so that you never have to remember them yourself. The fewer passwords you remember, the less likely you will be to reuse them for your accounts.

MORE: BEST ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR ANDROID

Beyond the password change

What if the breach goes beyond a simple lock screen compromise? Donna’s story sheds light on the potential for deeper issues, such as phishing attempts and malware. Here are additional steps to consider:

Review your apps: Uninstall any apps that don’t look familiar or that you don’t remember installing.

Update your phone: Always keep your software up to date to benefit from the latest security patches.

Run a security scan: Use reputable antivirus software to check for malware. 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 & iOS devices.

Consider a factory reset: If all else fails, backing up your data and restoring your phone to its factory settings can be a clean slate.

If these steps don’t resolve the issue, you may want to contact your Android device manufacturer’s customer support for further assistance.

MORE: 5 TIPS YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU CAN DO ON AN ANDROID

Kurt’s key takeaways

Securing our devices is as much about protecting ourselves from external threats as it is about drawing boundaries that those close to us should respect. Technology is a powerful tool but can become a weapon in the wrong hands.

Have you ever experienced a breach of trust or privacy involving personal technology within your own home? If so, what happened? 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.

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

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Technology

The RAM crunch could kill products and even entire companies, memory exec admits

Published

26 minutes ago

February 18, 2026

Press Room

The RAM crunch could kill products and even entire companies, memory exec admits

Phison is one of the leading makers of controller chips for SSDs and other flash memory devices — and CEO Pua Khein-Seng has now become a leading voice for just how bad the RAM shortage might get.

Companies may need to cut back their product lines in the second half of 2026, and some companies will even die if they can’t get the components they need, he agreed, in a televised interview with Ningguan Chen of Taiwanese broadcaster Next TV.

While the interview’s entirely in Chinese, friends of The Verge stepped forward to confirm parts of a machine-translated summary that’s been making headlines. They also note, importantly, that it’s the interviewer asking whether companies might shut down or product lines might discontinue. Khein-Seng largely just agreed and clarified that it’ll happen if these companies cannot secure enough RAM.

He also adds that he expects people will start fixing products more often when they break, instead of throwing them in the trash, over the next couple years.

It’s genuinely possible that some companies won’t be able to secure enough RAM. AI data centers are gobbling up the vast majority of the world’s memory supply as part of a global buildout, creating an unprecedented imbalance in supply and demand that’s seen RAM prices triple, quadruple, or even sextuple over the past handful of months. Even Nvidia might skip shipping a gaming GPU for the first time in 30 years. Even Apple may have trouble securing enough RAM now, not to mention memory chips for SSDs, and other vital components.

The RAM shortage may affect everything that computing touches over the next several years, as only three companies control 93 percent of the entire DRAM market, and while those three companies are building more facilities, they don’t want to build too fast. All three have decided to prioritize profits instead of risking overproduction that could lose them money later.

Tomorrow, February 19th, I’ll have a report on The Verge about how “RAMageddon” will affect you, even if you’d never think to buy a stick of memory yourself.

Technology

5 trendy tech words shaping today’s internet culture

Published

57 minutes ago

February 18, 2026

Press Room

5 trendy tech words shaping today’s internet culture

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If your social media feed feels noisier, stranger or more manipulated than it used to, you’re not alone. The internet runs on its own language now, and those buzzwords quietly shape what you see, what you don’t see and how companies target you. From viral “slop” content to shadowbans and targeted ads, these terms influence how information spreads and how platforms treat your account.

Let’s break down five key phrases so you can understand what’s really happening behind your screen and stay in control of your digital life.

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CLEAN UP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEED AND CUT THE NOISE

If your social media feed feels louder and more chaotic, algorithm-driven trends like “slop” and shadowbanning may be shaping what you see. (Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images)

1) Slop

The flood of low-quality content that is taking over your social media feed

“Slop” refers to mass-produced, low-effort digital content, often generated quickly by AI or churned out purely for clicks and engagement. This includes spammy articles, recycled videos, misleading thumbnails and content created without real value.

While slop may seem harmless, it can crowd out reliable information, spread misinformation and overwhelm your feed with noise instead of useful content. Platforms often struggle to control it because slop is designed to game algorithms.

Why this matters:

Low-quality content can drown out trustworthy sources
Slop is often designed to manipulate clicks and attention
AI-generated misinformation can spread faster than ever
Curating your feed helps reduce exposure to low-value content

The good news is you can take back control by curating your feed and cutting the noise.

2) Burner account

The hidden identity behind anonymous profiles

A burner account is a secondary or anonymous social media account used to hide a person’s real identity. Some people use burner accounts for privacy, while others use them for trolling, harassment, spying or secretly viewing content.

Because burner accounts are difficult to trace, they are often linked to online harassment, fake engagement or manipulation of public conversations. Platforms attempt to detect suspicious behavior, but many burner accounts still slip through the cracks.

Why this matters:

Anonymous accounts can spread misinformation or harassment
Burners are often used to manipulate comments and engagement
They make it harder to verify who is behind the content

Being cautious with unknown accounts protects your safety.

3) Shadowban

When platforms quietly decide what you don’t see

A shadowban doesn’t only affect creators; it can affect what you see as a user. Platforms sometimes limit the visibility of certain accounts, topics, or types of content without telling you. This means posts may be hidden, pushed lower in your feed or never shown to you at all, even if you follow the account.

This type of filtering is often driven by algorithms designed to reduce spam, harmful content or policy violations, but it can also shape what information reaches you without you realizing it. Over time, this can subtly influence your perception of what’s popular, trending or widely discussed.

Why this matters:

You may not see all content from accounts you follow
Algorithms quietly filter what appears in your feed
Your view of trends and conversations can be shaped
Platform controls influence what information reaches you

YOUR PHONE SHARES DATA AT NIGHT: HERE’S HOW TO STOP IT

From burner accounts to clickbait, online buzzwords influence how information spreads and how users are targeted. (Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

4) Clickbait

Headlines designed to make you click, not inform you

Clickbait uses exaggerated, misleading or emotionally charged headlines to attract attention and drive clicks. While some clickbait is harmless, it often leads to low-quality or misleading content that doesn’t deliver on its promise.

Clickbait works because it exploits curiosity, fear or surprise, powerful emotional triggers that drive engagement. It’s a core tactic used by low-quality publishers and viral content farms.

Why this matters

Clickbait can spread misinformation or distort facts
It’s designed to manipulate attention rather than inform
Recognizing it helps you avoid low-value content
Trustworthy sources focus on clarity, not shock value

5) Targeted ads

Why the internet seems to know what you want

Targeted ads use data about your behavior, searches, location and interests to deliver personalized advertisements. This is why you might see ads related to something you recently searched, clicked or even talked about near your phone.

Advertisers build detailed profiles based on browsing activity, app usage and online behavior to predict what you are most likely to buy or engage with.

What this does:

Shows ads based on your interests and behavior
Uses browsing history, location and app activity
Builds advertising profiles over time
Drives highly personalized marketing

One more thing to know: Targeted advertising relies heavily on data collection. Adjusting privacy settings, limiting ad tracking and regularly reviewing app permissions can reduce how much data advertisers use to profile you.

Pro Tip: Control the data that fuels the system

If targeted ads feel a little too accurate, it’s because data brokers are constantly collecting and selling your information. Beyond adjusting privacy settings, consider removing your personal data from broker sites to shrink the profile advertisers build around you.

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.

Stay tuned for more in this series as we decode the internet’s most talked-about terms and answer the top questions we hear from readers like you.

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com.

SUPER BOWL SCAMS SURGE IN FEBRUARY AND TARGET YOUR DATA

Understanding digital terms like “slop” and clickbait can help users take back control of their feeds. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Kurt’s key takeaways

The modern internet runs on more than just technology; it runs on attention, algorithms and influence. Understanding terms like slop, shadowban and targeted ads helps you recognize how platforms shape your experience and how companies compete for your clicks. The more you understand these trends, the easier it becomes to filter noise, protect your privacy and stay in control of what you see online.

Confused by a trending internet term or want something explained? 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

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

Published

13 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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