Loose Lips Sink Chips: Beware What You Say to AI Chatbots

Loose Lips Sink Chips: Beware What You Say to AI Chatbots

Generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing/CoPilot, and Google’s Gemini are the vanguard of a significant advance in computing. They can be compelling tools for finding just the right word, drafting simple legal documents, starting awkward emails, and coding in unfamiliar languages. It is known thatAI chatbots “hallucinate,” making up plausible details that are entirely…

Changing Passwords Periodically Doesn’t Increase Security

Changing Passwords Periodically Doesn’t Increase Security

Does your organization or some financial website require you to create a new password periodically? This recommendation started long ago, but some organizations haven’t followed current recommendations that discourage such policies. If a password expiration policy binds you, you can use this article to encourage your IT department or financial institution to update its approach…

Help! My Account Has Been Hacked—What Should I Do?

Help! My Account Has Been Hacked—What Should I Do?

How would you realize that one or more of your Internet accounts—email, social media, financial—have been hacked? (Techs may also use the terms “compromised” or “breached.” Unfortunately, there’s no telltale warning sign because “hacked” could mean many things. Here are some possible indications: People you trust report receiving email that you didn’t send. Social media…

iOS 17.3’s Stolen Device Protection Reduces Harm from iPhone Passcode Thefts

iOS 17.3’s Stolen Device Protection Reduces Harm from iPhone Passcode Thefts

Last year, a series of articles by Wall Street Journal reporters Joanna Stern and Nicole Nguyen highlighted a troubling form of crime targeting iPhone users. A thief would discover the victim’s iPhone passcode, swipe the iPhone, and run. With just the passcode, the thief could quickly change the victim’s Apple ID password, lock them out…

After “Mother of All Breaches,” Update Passwords on Compromised Sites

After “Mother of All Breaches,” Update Passwords on Compromised Sites

January’s big security news was the Mother of All Breaches.    This was a release of a massive database containing 26 billion records built from previous breaches across numerous websites, including Adobe, Dropbox, LinkedIn, and Twitter. It’s unclear how much of the leaked data is new, but it’s a good reminder to update your passwords…