Technology

Is just reading that sketchy scammer’s email dangerous or do I have to click on a link to get in trouble?

Published

2 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Is just reading that sketchy scammer’s email dangerous or do I have to click on a link to get in trouble?

Are you worried about opening suspicious emails? You’re not alone. Many people are confused about the risks associated with spam and phishing emails.

That includes “Bill” from Groton, Connecticut, who wrote to us and asked, “Myself and my friends are unclear if we can get into trouble by clicking on a spam or hacker email…as long as we don’t open anything INSIDE the email … in other words … can we EVER get into trouble by simply reading any email ??? thank you if you can address this to your viewers … I think many are unclear about this.”

That’s a great question, Bill. Now let’s dive into this topic and clear up some common misconceptions.

I’M GIVING AWAY A $500 GIFT CARD FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Enter by signing up for my free newsletter!

Person checking emails on laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Common misconceptions

Opening emails can instantly infect your device: One common myth is that simply opening an email can automatically infect your device with malware. In reality, modern email systems (such as Gmail, Outlook, etc.) generally prevent this from happening. The real danger comes from interacting with the content inside the email, such as clicking on malicious links or downloading harmful attachments.

Plain text emails are always safe: While emails in plain text format are generally safer than HTML-based emails, they can still pose a risk if they contain malicious links. Phishing attacks can appear in plain text emails, luring you to dangerous websites.

Emails from known contacts are always safe: Even if an email appears to come from someone you know, that doesn’t always mean it’s safe. Attackers can spoof email addresses or hack accounts, so always be cautious about unexpected or unusual messages from known contacts, especially those containing links or attachments.

Spam filters catch all malicious emails: Spam filters are highly effective but not perfect. Some sophisticated phishing and malicious emails can bypass these filters and land in your inbox. This is why it’s important to stay vigilant, even with emails that seem to have passed your email service’s security checks.

Previewing emails is always safe: Most modern email clients use a “preview” pane for quick reading. While the risk of malware through previews is significantly reduced in up-to-date systems, embedded trackers or other forms of data collection can still occur, confirming your activity to the spammer. Always disable automatic image loading or other active content features in your email client’s settings to minimize exposure.

Person checking emails on laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

CONTROL SPAM – HOW TO CREATE A QUICK ALIAS EMAIL ADDRESS

What to watch out for

As mentioned already, generally, simply opening an email is not enough to cause harm. However, there are some important points to consider:

1) Embedded trackers: Some spam or phishing emails contain trackers that can notify the sender when the email is opened. This can confirm to the spammer that your email address is active, potentially leading to more spam.

2) Malicious links and attachments: The real danger lies in clicking on links or downloading attachments within the email. These can lead to malicious websites or download malware onto your device.

3) HTML emails: Emails that contain HTML content can sometimes execute scripts when opened. While modern email clients have protections against this, it’s still a potential risk.

4) Phishing attempts: Even if you don’t click on anything, phishing emails can be designed to look very convincing and may trick you into providing personal information if you respond.

Person checking emails on laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

WHY AM I GETTING SPAM FROM MY OWN EMAIL ADDRESS AND HOW TO STOP IT

How to stay safe from suspicious emails

If you’re worried about receiving sketchy emails, there are several steps you can take to stay safe and reduce your risk of encountering malware or falling for scams. Follow these guidelines to protect yourself:

1) Avoid clicking links or downloading attachments: Never click on links or download files from emails you don’t trust. Scammers often use these tactics to direct you to malicious websites or install malware on your device. 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.

2) Use a reputable email client: Choose an email provider that prioritizes security features like spam filtering and two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of protection for your account. Read more about secure and private email here.

3) Enable email filtering: Turn on spam filters to reduce the number of unsolicited or potentially dangerous emails reaching your inbox. This reduces your exposure to phishing attempts. Most email platforms these days automatically filter out what they assume to be “junk” into their own folder. If you notice the amount of spam getting through to your inbox increasing, you may want to consider a Spam Filter. There are free options for different email providers. For Gmail, try Mailwasher. For Outlook and Windows Mail, try Spam Bully, which costs an annual fee of $29.95.

4) Keep your software updated: Regularly update your email client and operating system to stay protected from the latest security vulnerabilities that hackers might exploit.

5) Consider data removal services: Use data removal services to ensure your personal information is less accessible to potential scammers. This reduces your risk of being targeted in the first place.

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 .

HOW TO BLOCK THOSE UNWANTED AND ANNOYING SPAM EMAILS

Kurt’s key takeaways

While opening spam emails isn’t typically dangerous, it’s always better to err on the side of caution. Be vigilant, trust your instincts, and when in doubt, delete suspicious emails without opening them.

What’s the most convincing spam email you’ve ever received, and how did you recognize it was fake? 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:

New from Kurt:

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

Take-Two is selling its indie games label Private Division

Published

2 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Press Room

Take-Two is selling its indie games label Private Division

Take-Two did not disclose the buyer of Private Division or how much they paid. In an emailed statement to The Verge, Take-Two spokesperson Alan Lewis wrote:

We recently made the strategic decision to sell our Private Division label to focus our resources on growing our core and mobile businesses for the long-term. As part of this transaction, the buyer purchased our rights to substantially all of Private Division’s live and unreleased titles.

Take-Two will continue to support No Rest for the Wicked, which launched in Early Access on PC in April. We are grateful for the contributions that the Private Division team has made to our company and are confident that they will continue to achieve success in their new home.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick told GamesIndustry.biz that the buyer would be named soon and said, “The team of Private Division did a great job supporting independent developers and, almost to a one, every project they supported did well. However, the scale of those projects was, candidly, on the smaller side, and we’re in the business of making great big hits,” like the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI.

Technology

What does Trump’s election mean for EVs, Tesla, and Elon Musk?

Published

10 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Press Room

What does Trump’s election mean for EVs, Tesla, and Elon Musk?

On the campaign trail, Donald Trump said a lot of things about electric vehicles. He said he would “end the electric vehicle mandate on day one,” that EVs “don’t work,” and that they benefit China and Mexico while hurting American autoworkers.

But he has also closely aligned himself with Elon Musk, who runs the biggest EV company in the US. And he will likely have Musk continuing to whisper in his ear on important policy matters moving forward, even going so far as to promise to appoint the mercurial billionaire to a role in his administration.

So now that he’s the president-elect, what will he actually do that will affect the auto industry and its tenuous shift to electric vehicles?

First off, he said he would “rescind all unspent funds” in President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which includes many of the administration’s efforts to incentivize EV production in the US. Trump is likely to kill these incentives, everything from the EV tax credit to incentives for battery factories and mining.

What will he actually do that will affect the auto industry and its tenuous shift to electric vehicles?

It could prove to be an unpopular move, as the tax credits have been shown to work. The Biden administration claims that the tax credits have been successful, saving car buyers $1 billion in 2024 alone. The credit can now be applied at the point of sale, meaning shoppers can accept a discount on their EV purchase directly from dealers. And EV sales are continuing to increase, growing 11 percent year over year in the third quarter of 2024, according to Cox Automotive.

Eliminating these tax credits and incentives will make EVs more expensive to buy for many Americans, which will likely result in fewer vehicles sold. Manufacturers will have to adjust their plans to account for the less generous tax environment. Any factory that has yet to break ground is in jeopardy.

But making cars is expensive, and development cycles last for years. Automakers will be lobbying hard for regulatory certainty — whether Trump pays heed is entirely up in the air.

“Depending on how much [the individual tax credit] would be changed, it could be very detrimental to the North American automotive industry,” Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions, told Automotive News. “A lot of the demand for EVs currently is driven by that incentive, and that incentive feeds the manufacturers.”

Trump could also kill the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program to install more EV chargers. However, at least 14 percent of NEVI funds have gone directly to Tesla, which is the largest provider of EV charging in the US. It’s unclear whether Trump would axe a program that benefits his new BFF. But Musk has spoken disparagingly of NEVI, so it’s certainly a possibility.

Some Tesla investors say that while the new Trump administration is likely to be a negative for the auto industry, it could end up working out for Musk, who famously went all in for Trump, spending over $119 million to support his campaign.

“Tesla has the scale and scope that is unmatched in the EV industry and this dynamic could give Musk and Tesla a clear competitive advantage in a non-EV subsidy environment,” said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, “coupled by likely higher China tariffs that would continue to push away cheaper Chinese EV players (BYD, Nio, etc.) from flooding the US market over the coming years.”

Eliminating these tax credits and incentives will make EVs more expensive to buy for many Americans

Trump is likely to attempt to roll back or weaken the Biden administration’s new tailpipe emission standards, which would slash greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2032. This is likely what he’s talking about when he rails against the “EV mandate.” Republicans have falsely portrayed the new standards as a ban on gas-powered cars. EVs would need to account for over half of new vehicle sales for automakers to meet these strict mandates.

If that happens, expect automakers to tap the brakes on EV production. That will likely result in Detroit’s Big Three — Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis — becoming less competitive globally, as the rest of the world continues to innovate and produce more EVs. It could also open the door for foreign automakers to come in and snap up the market. Tariffs could deter countries like China from flooding the US with cheap EVs, but that could be short-lived if China keeps making cheaper and cheaper EVs.

Trump’s plan to slap tariffs on a variety of imported goods, including foreign-made cars, could make many vehicles more expensive to buy. Shares in BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche all fell on Germany’s stock market on the news of Trump’s victory on Wednesday. Meanwhile, stock prices in the Big Three, as well as Tesla, surged in early trading.

California’s right under the Clean Air Act to enact stronger emission standards is also likely to fall in Trump’s crosshairs, as it did last time he was in office. This could become another rat’s nest of lawsuits and counter lawsuits. Trump will be spoiling for a fight.

Fighting — over tax credits, emission standards, federal spending, state’s rights, and more — will become a hallmark of this presidency and its approach to the auto industry, just as it was last time. But this time around, EVs are becoming mainstream, and a lot of the investments can’t just be unspooled. Climate change is a looming threat, and EVs are seen as an important tool to fighting it. This time, there’s just a lot more at stake.

Technology

My iPhone says I have 14 viruses. What should I do next?

Published

10 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Press Room

My iPhone says I have 14 viruses. What should I do next?

Although iPhones have robust security features, they are not entirely immune to threats. While they are generally safer from viruses and malware than Android devices, no device is completely invulnerable.

This point was reinforced by a strange experience that caught our attention when “Pam” of Mesa, Arizona, wrote to us, “My iPhone says I have 14 viruses. What program can I [install] to help with my phone? How can I [make] my phone safe?”

Well, Pam, we’re more than happy to explore why you are getting strange messages on your iPhone suggesting that there were 14 viruses on it. There are various reasons why you could be seeing these types of messages, and there are workarounds to make your phone safe again.

I’M GIVING AWAY A $500 GIFT CARD FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Enter the giveaway by signing up for my free newsletter.

Woman shocked about virus alerts on her phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Why am I getting virus or malware alerts?

The iPhone is less vulnerable to viruses and malware due to its closed-code design. This means that Apple doesn’t share all of its code information, which makes it harder for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities to take over a user’s apps or iPhone. It’s important to note that Apple will never send you an alert via pop-up, text or email that you have a virus on your device.

Warning on phone’s home screen (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR IPHONE & IPAD FROM MALWARE

Watch out for these fake virus alerts on your iPhone

Below are several reasons why you could get notifications on your iPhone about viruses, which you may or may not actually have.

1) Pop-up ads: You may not actually have any viruses or malware on your iPhone. Instead, it can be an ad that pops up from your mobile browser stating that you have viruses or malware on your iPhone. These can scam you in a couple of ways:

It causes you to click on the ad, which can cause you to download viruses or malware.
It sends you to another website that asks you for private information, such as payment, so you can pay to get rid of the virus or malware.

2) Fake apps: Some scammers have fake apps that display fake alerts about viruses or malware to scare people to download their apps or purchase their services to get rid of these fake problems.

3) Phishing scams: This alert about viruses can be a scam email or text message claiming you have viruses or malware that need to be eradicated from your device. Do not click on any links or call any numbers as it will likely transfer you to the actual scammer, who will likely hard sell you to buy their services, part with private and financial information or give them access to your iPhone.

Man scrolling on his iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

NEW CYBERATTACK TARGETS IPHONE AND APPLE IDS: HERE’S HOW TO STAY SAFE

How do I protect my iPhone?

Even though it is more difficult to penetrate the iPhone, it doesn’t mean it is impossible. In fact, some hackers watch for particular vulnerabilities in iOS to launch their attacks. If you see such warnings, it’s best to ignore them and avoid clicking on any links or downloading any suggested software. Below are several key steps you can take to secure your iPhone.

1) Keep your iPhone up to date: Occasionally, Apple releases new iOS updates to address known vulnerabilities. When possible, it is best to update the iOS so that your iPhone is safe from known vulnerabilities.

2) Install and run strong antivirus software: An antivirus software actively running on all of your devices can help keep them all safe, including your iPhone. With iPhones, strong antivirus software will prevent you from clicking on any malicious links that may then install malware onto your devices, which can potentially extract personal information from your device. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These can be phishing attempts designed to steal your personal information.

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.

3) Download apps only from the App Store: Stick to downloading apps from the official Apple App Store. Apps on the App Store are vetted by Apple for security, reducing the risk of downloading malicious software.

4) Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Adding an extra layer of security to your Apple ID can help protect your personal information. With 2FA, even if someone gets your password, they won’t be able to access your account without the second factor.

5) Use strong passwords: Ensure that your passwords are strong and unique for different accounts. Consider using a password manager to keep track of them.

6) Monitor app permissions: Regularly check the permissions granted to your apps and revoke any that seem unnecessary. This can help prevent apps from accessing more information than they need.

AVOID IPHONE PRIVACY DISASTERS WITH THESE 10 SMART TIPS

Kurt’s key takeaways

While most iPhone users rest easy knowing that the iOS keeps most common viruses and malware at bay, they are still susceptible to scammers trying to work around the closed code and scaring people into making bad choices that endanger their phones and data. Because Apple never sends out alerts about viruses or malware on your iPhone, it should be the first clue of a scam. Even if it looks official, iPhone users do not get alerts from Apple about viruses or malware. If you do install a good antivirus program, that will be the only program notifying you that there is anything amiss with your iPhone. Understanding these scams can go a long way in keeping you calm and your phone safe.

Have you ever received what looks like an official alert from Apple notifying you about viruses on your iPhone? Have you received pop-ups and other alerts trying to get you to buy services or forward you to random websites? What steps did you take to figure out if it was legitimate or not? 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:

New from Kurt: