In the category of how technology can be fun, yet dangerous, a 19 year old college student alleges that the dating app Meete took a video she innocently posted on TikTok of her high school graduation, then “overlayed it with graphics advertising the app, and added a voiceover to make it appear she was saying
Phishing Now Top Method for Initial Unauthorized Network Access
According to Cisco Talus researchers, phishing is the primary method threat actors use to gain unauthorized access to networks, accounting for more than one-third of all incidents in the first quarter of 2026. This increase is attributed to threat actors using legitimate AI tools to enhance phishing campaigns, particularly against health care and government sectors.
Tempus AI Faces Class Action Cases for Collection of Genetic Information in Acquisition
Multiple class action cases have been filed against Tempus AI alleging that, during its acquisition of Ambry Genetics, the company improperly collected and disclosed genetic information without obtaining prior written consent from individuals during its acquisition of Ambry. Tempus acquired Ambry, a genetic testing firm, in February 2025 for $600 million. The acquisition included the
Privacy Tip #489 – Social Media Scams #1 in 2025
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently reported that, in 2025, social media scams were the costliest of all scams against consumers, with a whopping $2.1 billion lost. Thirty percent of those who reported losing funds in 2025 indicated that the scam started over social media.
The number of 2025 scams beginning on social media increased
DOJ’s Big Win in North Korean IT Worker Fraud Scheme
On April 15, 2026, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that two U.S. nationals, Kejia Wang and Zhenxing Wang, were sentenced for facilitating a North Korean IT worker scheme that compromised over 80 U.S. identities, with sentences of 108 and 92 months respectively, supervised release, and forfeiture orders.
The scheme involved the defendants operating “laptop
Privacy Tip #488 – Account Change Phishing Alerts from “Apple” Are Tricking Users
A new, yet old, scheme has been quite successful and users should beware. If you get an account change message from Apple, be on high alert that it is fake and malicious.
According to Bleeping Computer, the scheme involves a threat actor using an Apple support email (e.g., appleid@id.apple.com) to send phishing emails to
Social Engineering Schemes Target C-Suite Executives
March was a busy month for former Black Basta affiliates who are using old social engineering techniques to target executives in the manufacturing, professional, scientific, and technical services industries. According to Reliaquest, the activity of the threat actors indicates that these sectors “were likely direct targets.”
According to its report, “Attackers are using automation
Privacy Tip #487 – Eurail Notifies 300,000+ Individuals of Data Breach
I have very fond memories of using a Eurail pass back in the day while backpacking through Europe as a student. I was saddened to see that Eurail was the victim of a data breach in December 2025 when attackers obtained access to travelers’ full names and contact information, including email addresses, passport details, ID
Joint Advisory Warns of Iran Cyber Actors Attacking U.S. Critical Infrastructure
Iran has always been a formidable cyber threat to the United States, but after the war in Iran commenced, the attacks are coming frequently and in full force. According to the Joint Cybersecurity Advisory issued on April 7, 2026, by the FBI, CISA, NSA, EPA, DOE, and Cyber Command, Iranian-based hackers are targeting operational technology
Water Treatment Facility Downed with Ransomware Attack
Critical infrastructure operators at the water treatment plant in Minot, North Dakota, were forced to resort to manual processes when its Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system became inoperable as a result of a March 14, 2026, ransomware attack. The attackers are unidentified, but it comes in the wake of the war in Iran