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Showing posts with the label spyware

Sneaky Browser Extension - (Explained by the Avast Bears!)

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https://youtube.com/shorts/ujpKsn1yE1o 🧸🧸 Not every helpful browser add-on is really helping. Sometimes the smallest download can quietly watch everything you do online. The Avast Bears uncover one of the internet’s sneakiest tricks. Subscribe to @bob3160 for more simple tech tips and cybersecurity advice. I used ChatGPT and Sora2 to help me create this Avast Cybersecurity Teddy-tip. You'll find all the videos featuring the Avast Bears at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1_9cbkt8g21PhSulGJ3MwRYEJazFNcWa&si=dtL0wKWETI6iyl_1  

Bob The Cyber-Guy’s Cyber Safety Tip #128

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The 3-Second Test to Spot Dangerous Browser Extensions Browser extensions can be helpful—but some exist for reasons that have nothing to do with helping you. The good news? You can spot most risky extensions in seconds using this simple 3-point test. 🚩 Red Flag #1: It Wants to Change Your Search Engine If an extension mentions: Custom search Enhanced search Switching your search provider Stop and think. Search equals advertising revenue. Many extensions exist primarily to redirect your searches—not improve your experience. 🚩 Red Flag #2: It Requests Permission to Read and Change All Your Data This permission allows the extension to: 👁️ See what you type 📖 Read what you view ✏️ Modify websites If the permission doesn’t match the purpose, don’t install it. 🚩 Red Flag #3: Unknown or Unproven Developer Before installing, check: 👤 Who created it 👥 Number of users ⭐ Reviews and complaints Trust must be earned—not assumed.  🧠 Bob’s Golden Rule Before ...

Apple iPhone 17 and iPhone Air - A19 Chips and Spyware-Resistant Memory Safety

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Apple has just raised the security stakes with its latest iPhone 17 and iPhone Air , both powered by the new A19 chips. These aren’t just faster processors; they come with a feature called Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE) that’s designed to make spyware attacks far harder to pull off. In plain terms, Apple has re-engineered how memory is managed, and the result is a system that’s much tougher to exploit without sacrificing performance. What’s New with Memory Integrity Enforcement? Apple claims MIE is “the most significant upgrade to memory safety in the history of consumer operating systems.” That’s not just marketing hype—it’s a big deal. Here’s why: Always-on protection - MIE is enabled by default across the kernel and more than 70 user-level processes. Advanced tech under the hood - It uses Enhanced Memory Tagging Extension (EMTE), secure typed allocators, and Tag Confidentiality Enforcement to block side-channel tricks like TikTag. Near-zero performance hit - Unlike many security...

From Pet Cams to Security Chaos - Are Your IoT Devices Spying on You

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This information is also available on my  YouTube Channel  at:  https://youtu.be/Z7IK2zHIc2k If you prefer, you can also listen to this information on  my  Podcast  at:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/0a0FlbUoApaABKke5VuIGU?si=rggegwYHSLSRF6BEQWuubw Welcome to the wild world of the Internet of Things (IoT) , where even your toaster might be plotting world domination—or at least mining Bitcoin. Devices like smart speakers, routers, pet cams, digital picture frames, and smart feeders are convenient, but too often they’re engineered faster than they’re secured. Ready? Let’s dig in. Why Should You Care? As of mid-2025, there are nearly 19 billion IoT devices in use—and attacks targeting them have surged. One in three data breaches now involves an IoT device. Yes, truly serious stuff. What Can Be Hijacked - (Pretty Much Everything) Your pet camera - Smart feeder - Router.  Even innocuous gadgets like digital picture frames have been coerced into botn...

3 Red Flags to Watch Out for in Fake AI Tools

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This information is also available on my  YouTube Channel  at:  https://youtu.be/ElWCNSUxBec      If you prefer, you can also listen to this information on my  Podcast  at:  https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/norbert-gostischa/episodes/3-Red-Flags-to-Watch-Out-for-in-Fake-AI-Tools-e341vf0 AI tools are everywhere—but when they’re fake , they can nuke your device faster than your grandma clicks a phishing link.  Here are 3 red flags that scream ‘fake AI tool’—avoid them at all costs! 🚩Red Flag #1 - Too-good-to-be-true free AI tools 🤖 Those “free for a year” jaw-droppers for ChatGPT, CapCut AI, InVideo AI, NovaLeads AI? Guess what—they often pack ransomware or info‑stealers instead. One fake ChatGPT installer hid the Lucky_Gh0$t ransomware; another zipped CyberLock ransomware in a .NET loader—yikes!  They hit your top results with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tricks and shady ads purporting “free” AI magic. If it sounds too go...