Information Technology

Apple / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETYour mobile phone is a treasure trove of personal and confidential information. That’s why it’s a prime target for hackers who want to compromise or steal your data. Through malicious apps and websites, phishing attacks, and other threats, an attacker can gain control of your device through spyware. But how can you tell if your phone has been hacked or tapped?Also: Biometrics vs. passcodes: What lawyers recommend if you’re worried about warrantless phone searchesAmy Clark, managing editor of consumer reviews site Techreport, has put together a helpful guide on the threat of phone hacking. The guide shares advice on how to tell if your phone may have been hacked and how to fight back against the hacker.Warning signs of a phone hack1. Battery drains more quickly than usual. Any spyware installed on your phone is constantly running to snoop on your activity and send the data to the hacker. This means that your battery is going to drain faster than usual. Be aware of any unusual drops in your battery charge. Check your phone’s battery settings to see if the level is falling more dramatically.2. Your phone is running more slowly. Does your phone feel more sluggish than usual, or are apps crashing or freezing? Those could be signs that someone has hacked into your device. Keep track of how long it takes to launch apps or carry out other actions to gauge if the performance is lagging. More

rob dobi/Getty Images Several government security agencies worldwide are warning people about spyware that’s been snooping on mobile phone users’ private data. An advisory from the various agencies issued on Wednesday reveals that the spyware variants have been targeting users connected to Taiwanese independence and similar movements. Known as Badbazaar and Moonshine, the two spyware strains have […] More

Andrew Brookes/Getty Images Are you worried that giant corporations and government agencies are indiscriminately collecting your personal data and then using it inappropriately? You’re not alone. Also: 9 ways to delete yourself from the internet In a report released today, security firm Malwarebytes published the results from a survey of 1500 readers of its newsletter. Here’s […] More

DragonImages/Getty Images When I grew up, we didn’t have smart devices. TVs, bulbs, and even telephones were simple analog devices. If you’d told my grandmother that she had to update her TV or lightbulb, she’d have thought you were asking to buy a new, replacement device — not download a software update. But today, almost […] More

Meta / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETIf you’re concerned about keeping your kids safe on social media but still want to keep them connected, Meta is introducing a new type of Facebook and Messenger account just for teens under 16.Available soonThese special teen accounts, which are not available yet but will be “soon,” will have built-in protections that restrict who can contact them and what kind of content they can see, plus safeguards to make sure time is well spent. Teens are automatically enrolled at sign-up, and they need a parent’s consent to change any settings. Also: How to delete Facebook, Messenger, or Instagram – if you want Meta out of your lifeAt present, Meta requires people to be 13 years old to sign up for a Facebook or Instagram account. Meta’s announcement did not dive into specifics, but a company representative speaking to TechCrunch revealed some details. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETI love March Madness, at least until Louisville gets knocked out in the first round. Then, I just sit back, free of stress, and enjoy watching other teams play their hearts out like everything is on the line — because it is. While NCAA basketball continues to be broadcast in standard HD, the games can look clear, bright, and beautiful on most modern TVs. Part of that appeal, though, is owed to your TV’s motion-smoothing capabilities. Also: Your TV’s USB port is seriously underrated: 5 benefits you’re not taking advantage ofFor many people, motion smoothing is only appropriate for gaming and watching live sports; enthusiasts typically prefer turning off the feature to watch anything else because it can detract from the filmmaker’s original intent, making on-screen images seem artificial or hyper-realistic. This is what’s called the “soap opera effect.” It’s a perfectly descriptive metaphor that probably requires no explanation. You can see it all too well: the cinematic film should not look like a daytime soap; you shouldn’t feel like you’re on the set with the actors. But it is appealing to feel like you’re in the stadium watching your team with thousands of fans. The soap opera effect makes sense for live sporting event broadcasts. More

LagartoFilm/Getty Images It’s a jungle out there. And by “out there,” I mean in the online world, where scams, data breaches, and outright thievery are depressing facts of life. For those with a reasonable technical background, spotting the markers of an online attack is usually easy. But if you’re like me, you probably have a […] More

Roland W. Kunz/Getty Images LONDON — When I met up with my open-source buddy Dustin Kirkland, VP of engineering at Chainguard, at KubeCon Europe, he said he had me to thank for his company’s new Linux distribution, Chainguard OS.  Why? In my May 2024 story about kernel security, I’d said all distros had been doing […] More