According to a highly critical article recently published by TechCrunch, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), President Trump’s advisory board headed by Elon Musk, has “taken control of top federal departments and datasets” and has access to “sensitive data of millions of Americans and the nation’s closest allies.” The author calls this “the biggest
Privacy Tips
Privacy Tip #430 – GrubHub Confirms Security Incident Through Third Party Vendor
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
If you are a GrubHub customer, read carefully. The app has confirmed a security incident involving a third-party vendor that allowed an unauthorized threat actor to access user contact information, including some customer names, email addresses, telephone numbers, and partial payment information for a subset of campus diners.
GrubHub’s response states, “The unauthorized party also…
Privacy Tip #429 – Threat Actors Continue to Use QR Codes For Fraudulent Purposes
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
We have repeatedly warned our readers about malicious QR codes and their use by threat actors.
Threat actors are now using these codes to disguise packages as gifts. Upon opening the package, recipients find a note with instructions to scan a QR code to identify the sender. The code launches a website that asks for…
Privacy Tip #428 – Getting Text Messages From E-ZPass or Toll Road Operators? They’re Scams Coming from China
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
This week, I received a fake text message (a smish) saying my E-ZPass account was overdue and that I urgently needed to pay it. That’s a new one and, apparently, quite effective. Luckily, I knew it was a scam, but others were victimized.
According to the website Krebs on Security, security researchers “say the…
Privacy Tip #427 – Ahead of the TikTok Ban, Users are Turning to Another Chinese App with Similar Privacy Concerns – What you Should Know
By Kathryn Rattigan & Daniel Lass on
Posted in Privacy Tips
TikTok users are seeking alternate platforms to share and view content as the U.S. is set to ban the popular social media app on January 19, 2025. Instead of turning to U.S.-based companies like Facebook or Instagram, users are flocking to another Chinese app called Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote. The app, which previously…
Privacy Tip #426 – CyberArk Report Confirms Employees Bypass Cybersecurity Policies
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
- A majority of employees have access to sensitive information;
- Employees commonly reuse passwords;
Privacy Tip #425 – Late Shoppers: Beware of Scammers Sending You to Fake Websites
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
Scammers prey on us at our most vulnerable. Although some of us are early holiday shoppers, others wait until the last minute. Scammers know this and are lurking to find late shoppers scrambling for gifts. Many late shoppers feel a bit desperate, so they are at risk of falling for scams that divert them to…
Privacy Tip #424 – Recent Big Win for Law Enforcement Over Cybercriminals
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
I often get asked whether law enforcement is making any headway in catching cybercriminals. Although it is a challenging task, a recent example of a big win for law enforcement deserves celebration.
Authorities from 40 countries, territories, and regions came together to assist INTERPOL with a recent global cybercrime initiative known as Operation HAECHI-V. The…
Privacy Tip #423 – FTC Files Complaint Against Mobilewalla for Selling Consumers’ Precise Location Data
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
Many people do not understand how their geolocation data can be collected and used about them, or how massive the amount of precise location data collected from our devices.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently filed a complaint against Mobilewalla, Inc., alleging that it violated Section 5 of the FTC Act by selling consumers’…
Privacy Tip #422 – Youville: For You and Your Kids Aged 8-12
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
The Federal Trade Commission provides consumers with tips and advice, including online privacy. Its Scam Alerts are helpful and timely.
Continuing its mission, the FTC has launched Youville, an online learning platform targeted to kids aged 8-12. According to the FTC, Youville contains educational materials and tools to use at home and in the…