You know to wipe your devices before tossing them or giving them away. Your phone and computer contain lots of data that can be used against you. But what if you don’t have a chance to reset them? Here’s how to remotely wipe the data from your phone and computer.

Your router is not just a dumb box that connects you to a network. It stores information to manage the network, and you should take the same precautions as you would with all your connected devices.

Click here to read full story.

My brother’s computer was hacked. My sister-in-law got a link to PayPal and opened it. The guy who sent it convinced my brother to give up access to his computer. He cleaned out an IRA account and sold a trading account. That’s $450,000 gone. What can I tell my brother to do?

— Phylis in Florida

Click here to read full story.

]]> 895940 https://www.komando.com/security-privacy/data-breach-warning/894251/ Tue, 26 Sep 2023 23:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=894251

Sometimes, we share alerts about one major hack you need to know about — and other times, there’s enough going on that I need to pack a lot in. Sorry, friends, but this is one of those days. I’ll tell you about the data breaches and what you must do.

Have a PlayStation or Sony account?

Sony was hacked by a group with connections to the Dark Web. They accessed Sony’s internal data, including confidential internal testing information and a document repository containing over 6,000 files. 

Click here to read full story.

]]> 894251 https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/steps-to-block-hackers/741835/ Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=741835

Hackers may have already compromised your network. Tap or click here for a free test to see if your router has been hacked. Keep reading for ways to protect your system from hackers.

This tip is brought to you by our sponsor, ExpressVPN. Protect your privacy. Get three months free when you sign up for one year at ExpressVPN.com/Kim.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 741835 https://www.komando.com/security-privacy/scareware-101/852668/ Mon, 28 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=852668

Spam is unavoidable: It clutters your phone call history and chokes your email inbox. Like spam, scareware is another annoyance that seems to go hand-in-hand with internet access. It’s why you should never click pop-ups that say your system is at risk.

Most cybersecurity experts say scareware has been around since 1990, when Patrick Evans designed a program called NightMare to attack computers. A creepy image of a bloody skull took over victims’ screens — and an echoing shriek assaulted the ears.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 852668 https://www.komando.com/kims-column/hackers-targeting-cars/882819/ Wed, 23 Aug 2023 18:30:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=882819

The right software can turn your smartphone into a spy device that watches everything you do. Scary, I know. Here’s how to check if your phone is infected. While at it, check your computer. These are the signs that stalkerware is hard at work tracking your web activity, searches and even the passwords you type in.

Shockingly, your car isn’t immune. With the proper electronics and software techniques, a determined hacker can intercept or block your key fob signal, infiltrate your car’s software and even remotely control your vehicle.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 882819 https://www.komando.com/technology/hackers-using-ai-chatbots/891593/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=891593

You: “Sweet! ChatGPT just wrote that email to my landlord for me.” 

A hacker: “Sweet! ChatGPT just wrote some phishing emails for me.”

Click here to read full story.

]]> 891593 https://www.komando.com/privacy/signs-of-hacked-webcam/891137/ Sat, 22 Jul 2023 10:30:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=891137

You look at your PC or Mac and notice the webcam light is on. But wait, you haven’t even opened your camera.

Hackers or even some creepy admins in a chat room can remotely take over webcams. Terrifying.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 891137 https://www.komando.com/security-privacy/hackers-targeting-evs/891154/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=891154

Car theft looks a lot different in today’s tech-powered world. Instead of bashing your window in old-school style, modern hackers have found a much sneakier way to access your car. If you have an electric vehicle (EV), you’re the most at risk.

If your ride has a computer chip and remote connectivity, it’s vulnerable to thieves. Read on to find out what the hackers are up to and how to protect your vehicle. 

Click here to read full story.

]]> 891154 https://www.komando.com/security-privacy/hackers-stealing-your-voice/889692/ Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=889692

By now, you’ve probably seen a deepfake video or two come across your social media feed (hey, that deepfake Tom Cruise is pretty convincing). Did you know that deepfake audio is even easier to mimic? 

To show how flawed voice authentication can be, computer scientists figured out a way to fool the technology in just six tries. Keep reading to learn more about how they did it and how to safeguard yourself.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 889692 https://www.komando.com/security-privacy/most-common-antivirus-mistakes/855468/ Wed, 28 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=855468

Computer viruses are much like real viruses in that an infection can ruin everything. Systems that once worked well grind to a halt as your computer struggles to recover. That’s why antivirus programs are non-negotiable: They keep your digital life safe if you avoid the most common mistakes.

One of the most common misconceptions about antivirus software is thinking that anything will do. They download the first free program they can find, thinking it will work just as well as a paid product from a legitimate company. In reality, using free antivirus software could cost you dearly.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 855468 https://www.komando.com/security-privacy/most-hacked-passwords-2023/889145/ Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=889145

Passwords keep your online accounts safe from hackers, but not if they’re easy to guess. Today’s cybercriminals study the latest trends and know what it takes to crack your code. 

Curious as to how your passwords measure up? Read on to see if yours made the naughty list and learn how to protect yourself from hackers.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 889145 https://www.komando.com/privacy/protect-your-ip-address/815714/ Mon, 19 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=815714&preview=true&preview_id=815714

Using the internet is a complicated affair. It may not feel like that to you as a user. You click on your browser and get on with your day — it’s as easy as pie.

Behind the scenes, though, is a whole different story. It’s full of numbers like your Internet Protocol (IP) address, basically your digital home address. This numeric label distinguishes your phone or computer from other devices worldwide.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 815714 https://www.komando.com/kims-column/tech-questions-answered/888412/ Sat, 10 Jun 2023 11:30:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=888412

As a national radio host, I’ve heard all the tech questions over the years. “Is Facebook always listening to me?” They don’t need to — since they collect so much info about you.

“How do I know if someone is snooping on my computer?” Not all snoops realize they leave tech breadcrumbs. You can outsmart them.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 888412 https://www.komando.com/privacy/are-your-passwords-being-sold-online/842782/ Tue, 06 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=842782&preview=true&preview_id=842782

It's very possible that your passwords are being sold on the Dark Web.

Hackers can make a ton of money by selling your private information on underground forums. It’s possible that your passwords are being sold on the Dark Web right now. That’s why you should run a cybersecurity check now and then.

Sadly, no amount of prevention can save you from a security breach. Hackers could breach a company you have an account with, exposing millions of private records. Tap or click here for a survival guide to follow after hackers compromise your data.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 842782 https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/signs-your-phone-or-computer-is-infected-with-a-virus-or-keylogger/456930/ Mon, 29 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?post_type=columns&p=456930

No matter your device, a hacker with enough gumption and know-how can break in.

Here are surefire ways to know if your system has been hacked and what you can do to fix or prevent it, brought to you by sponsor TotalAV. Your best defense against viruses, keyloggers and other malware? A solid security suite.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 456930 https://www.komando.com/safety-security-reviews/signs-your-security-camera-was-hacked/843951/ Sat, 20 May 2023 10:30:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=843951&preview=true&preview_id=843951

When setting up a home security system, you must password-protect your Wi-Fi and set up two-factor authentication (2FA). Hackers could take over your home network if you don’t take these precautions.

Safeguards like these can help stop a digital home invasion. Hackers are increasingly breaking into home security cameras, taunting and extorting people. A security oversight on your part could open the floodgates for a criminal to launch a reign of terror on you and your family.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 843951 https://www.komando.com/security-privacy/job-scam-to-avoid/885857/ Fri, 05 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=885857

Though many companies are calling employees back to the office, plenty of remote job opportunities exist. Tap or click for companies offering work-from-home positions right now.

An online company that promises high-paying jobs with the United States Postal Service (USPS) was recently hacked. Security researchers found leaked data on 900,000 customers, including complete credit card records. 

Click here to read full story.

]]> 885857 https://www.komando.com/news/operation-cookie-monster/883168/ Fri, 07 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=883168

Scammers never run out of tricks, and this one’s a doozy: They’re using AI to impersonate you. Here’s why you need to change your voicemail setting right now.

Getting ahold of your voice is one thing, but once a hacker gets into your computer, they can wreak all sorts of havoc and truly ruin your life.

Click here to read full story.

]]> 883168 https://www.komando.com/security-privacy/android-no-click-flaw/881159/ Wed, 22 Mar 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=881159

Researchers recently discovered that certain mobile phones suffer from a severe flaw where no user interaction is required to be hacked. These are called no-click hacks, and often the criminal only needs to know the target’s phone number.

Read on to see how these attacks work and what you can do to stay safe.

Click here to read full story.

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