There are positive benefits to be obtained from being connected to others via social media, but there is a downside as well. We will examine the negative effects that may be experienced by both adults and children from exposure to social media and the unrealistic expectations that can develop. Expert:…
On June 15, 2021, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) released its 2020 Elder Fraud Report. According to the report, IC3 received a total of 791,790 complaints in 2020, with reported losses exceeding $4.1 billion. About 28% of the total fraud losses were sustained by victims over the age…
Even if you spot the scam and don’t fall for it, being on the receiving end of a scam attempt can be infuriating. It can make you mad enough to want revenge against the scammer. That is usually a very bad idea. There are people, though, who love to mess…
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is currently seeking feedback on proposed regulations to prevent SIM swapping and port-out fraud. These scams allow criminals to take over a victim’s mobile phone number and even hijack their online identity. According to the FCC, SIM (subscriber identity module) swapping takes place when a…
Clearing old data and unused apps from your phone can not only help your device run faster, it can help you focus on what is really important and get rid of the apps that are, as a writer for Popular Mechanics said, “the software equivalent of the jeans I refuse…
One thing that seems to be uniting Republicans and Democrats is their concern for the effects of social media on children. Both Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and Representative Bill Johnson (R-OH) have compared big tech services to big tobacco. “Instagram is that first childhood cigarette meant to get teens hooked…
Today, people are carrying less cash than ever before. So what can you do when you want to split the cost of dinner, pay back the $50 you borrowed from a friend or make good on the $20 bet you lost to your brother-in-law? That’s where peer-to-peer (P2P) payment services…
Smile, you’re on facial recognition camera! A number of retail businesses are now using facial recognition technology, and others are considering it. In July 2021, digital rights non-profit Fight for the Future launched an initiative to document which retailers are using facial recognition, and which have committed to not employ…
As more of us are heading out on trips after extended stay-cations due to the pandemic, we need to remember how to keep our personal information private. The scammers are heading out, too, but they are not on vacation. They are working at getting your money and personal information. Before…
Does keeping yourself safe online seem like an overwhelming task? It seems that there are so many things you have to remember and do. But what if you could master cybersecurity in simple steps? In this episode we will share some tiny changes you can make to greatly increase your…
