DrAfter123/Getty Images On Wednesday, Anthropic released a report detailing how Claude was recently misused. It revealed some surprising and novel trends in how threat actors and chatbot abuse are evolving and the increasing risks that generative AI poses, even with proper safety testing. Security concerns In one case, Anthropic found that a “sophisticated actor” had […] More
JennaWagner/Getty Images Out of the blue, I received a text from my father asking me, “What’s the difference between a password and a passkey?” Somewhere, in his daily online journey, he was prompted by a website or application — a “relying party” in authentication lingo — to create a passkey. But the benefit wasn’t clear […] More
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETMacOS is a solid operating system. But it doesn’t matter how secure an operating system is; it’s vulnerable if connected to a network. As for privacy, if you get online, your privacy is at stake, so you must never assume that you’re safe just because you’re using Apple’s OS.You can always do things to improve the chances that your privacy will not be infringed upon. What are those things?Let’s jump in.1. Use a VPNA VPN is always a good idea. Why? A VPN not only anonymizes your IP address (so it’s much harder to track you), but it will also encrypt your traffic. Individually, those things can help. Together, they are a powerful weapon against those who would disrupt your privacy. There are plenty of VPNs you can use (such as Proton VPN or Nord VPN), but it’s important that you use one that integrates with the operating system, so all of your outgoing traffic is anonymized and encrypted. If you use only a browser extension, then only the traffic leaving your web browser is altered. To get the most security and the fastest speeds, use a paid option. Most free VPNs tend to slow down your network traffic, which negatively impacts your browser’s speed.Also: The best VPN for Mac: Expert tested and reviewed2. Use strong passwordsThis should go without saying, but strong passwords are the easiest method of protecting your accounts (starting with your MacOS user account). If you use weak passwords, someone could break into your desktop and wreak havoc on your privacy.You should also be using a password manager (such as Bitwarden). Not only do password managers do a great job of securing your login credentials, but they also include random password generators capable of creating very strong passwords. If your MacOS account is secured with a weak password, change it immediately in Settings > Login Password.Also: The best password manager for Mac3. Use encrypted storageYour MacOS drive is most likely encrypted, which will protect you if someone steals your computer. With the storage encrypted, they’ll have a harder time accessing the data. But that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from using encryption tools.Out of the box, your MacOS machine uses FileVault — enabled by default — to secure the data on your disk. However, you might want to take this a step further by encrypting specific folders in your home directory to give them an extra layer of protection. You can use tools like VeraCrypt (available for free) that feature drag-and-drop AES-256 encryption for files and folders and easy sharing with Windows. More
Flip phones are officially making a comeback–especially with companies like Google and Android releasing multiple quality models like the recent Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Google Pixel 9 Pixel Pro Fold. If you hopped on the trend by purchasing the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, it may be wise to invest in a quality case to make your device last. Samsung makes official Galaxy cases More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Ozlo Sleepbuds, created by three Bose engineers, launched last fall, and they are the most useful sleep earbuds I’ve tested so far The sound is perfect for masking environmental annoyances that keep you awake, and the fit is comfortable and secure. The sleep tracking feature hasn’t hit the earbuds yet, […] More
Aly Windsor / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETGoogle AI Overviews are at it again. About a year after going viral for suggesting recipes like glue pizza and gasoline spaghetti, Google’s AI-powered search summaries (which you can avoid, by the way) are in the news again. Also: Google’s AI Overviews will decimate your business – here’s what you need to doThis time, users are pushing Google’s AI past its limits by creating fake idioms. How it worksGo to Google and search for a fake idiom. Don’t ask for an explanation, and don’t ask for a backstory. Just simply search something like “A barking cat can’t put out a fire,” “You can’t make grape jelly from an avocado,” or “Never give your pig a dictionary.” It may help if you add “meaning” at the end of your fake idiom when searching. Also: Google Search just got an AI upgrade that you might actually find useful – and it’s freeGoogle will not only confirm that what you’ve entered is a real saying, but it will also make up a definition and an origin story. The results can be pretty absurd. More
The Kindle Paperwhite pictured with Strapsicle’s Kindle straps. Kayla Solino/ZDNETNeed a beach read? Scoop up Emily Henry’s novel of the same name on sale during Amazon’s Book Sale More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Suriv Spray Case for iPhone has a built-in liquid sprayer for $40. It comes with everything you need to fill and empty the spray compartment, and is surprisingly functional. The Suriv case does add some bulk to the back of your phone, and it can impede features like MagSafe. –> […] More
