Information Technology

ZDNETThe ill-fated March Pixel update has apparently introduced yet another problem.When Google released its Pixel Feature Drop earlier this month, it introduced several new features, including real-time alerts for suspicious texts and the ability to share your location through Find My Device. Unfortunately, it also introduced several frustrating problems, including a screen-dimming issue, a strange haptic feedback change, and a glitch with EQ audio.Also: Google is trying to fix Messages – but it needs your helpNow there’s another issue to add to the list — problems with the fingerprint scanner. Mostly affecting Pixel 9 phonesA post on the GrapheneOS Discussion Forum highlights a problem that’s affecting mostly Pixel 9 phones (but there have been scattered reports on other Pixel devices). After the recent update, the post says, the phone’s fingerprint scanner has stopped working. What’s most strange is that the phone acts like the scanner doesn’t even exist, as it has disappeared from the settings menu too. If this were several years ago and the fingerprint scanner were only used to unlock the phone, this would be a minor annoyance. But since so many apps today use biometric login, this could be a very frustrating problem. Also: 12 Android phone settings you should change to dramatically increase battery lifeThe issue seems to be fairly rare, but it was reportedly seen in the earlier Android 15 QPR2 Beta releases. It’s likely still appearing because it doesn’t happen enough for developers to replicate and track down the issue. A report from Android Authority last summer uncovered code in an Android 15 beta that indicated your phone would be able to tell if your face or fingerprint login wasn’t working and delete that credential, requiring you to create a new one. There’s no indication this issue is tied to that feature, but the timing is suspicious. More

ebrublue10/Getty Images Cybercriminals are weaponizing artificial intelligence (AI) across every attack phase. Large language models (LLMs) craft hyper-personalized phishing emails by scraping targets’ social media profiles and professional networks. Generative adversarial networks (GAN) produce deepfake audio and video to bypass multi-factor authentication. Automated tools like WormGPT enable script kiddies to launch polymorphic malware that evolves […] More

ZDNETI’ve lost count of how many web browsers I’ve tested and used over the years. From text-based to the weird and wonderful, I’ve tried them all. Knowing how many web browsers are available, it never ceases to amaze me that some languish in the shadows of obscurity — even those that are superior to the ones most people use.I believe that many of those alternative browsers aren’t more widely used because most people simply don’t know about them. Also: I speed-tested 11 browsers – and the fastest might surprise youLet’s fix that. Below are five web browsers worth your time to test and compare to your current default.Let’s dig in. 1. Arc More

oxygen/Getty Images AI voice cloning technology has made remarkable advances in the last few years, reaching the ability to create realistic-sounding audio from just a few seconds of a sample. Although this has many positive applications — such as audiobooks, marketing materials, and more — the technology can also be exploited for elaborate scams, fraud, […] More

Anthropic Anthropic appears to have removed Biden-era commitments to creating safe AI from its website.  Originally flagged by an AI watchdog called The Midas Project, the language was removed last week from Anthropic’s transparency hub, where the company lists its “voluntary commitments” related to responsible AI development. Though not binding, the deleted language promised to […] More

ZDNETIt’s tax season again. And that means it’s time not only to file your taxes, but also to watch out for scammers looking to con tax-paying citizens. In a new report out today, McAfee highlights the most popular tax-related scams and offers advice on how to protect yourself against them.Also: 5 ways AI can help you do your taxes – and 10 tax tasks you shouldn’t trust it withBased on a new 2025 tax season survey conducted by McAfee, about 48% of people revealed that they, or someone they know, were contacted by a person claiming to be from the IRS or a state tax agency. The scammers used a variety of methods to target potential victims, including social media posts, emails, text messages, and phone calls. People ages 18 to 24 reported the highest number of successful scams, with 40% of them saying that they, or someone they know, had been scammed. But older adults ages 65 to 74 suffered the greatest financial losses. Among the people in that group who lost money in a tax-related scam, 40% said they were out between $751 and $1,000. The highest losses were found among those in the 45 to 54 age range, with 10% reporting that they had lost more than $10,000. Today’s cybercriminals also know how to use the latest sophisticated techniques. With deepfake audios, scammers can sound like actual IRS agents. And with AI-generated phishing emails, they can duplicate actual messages from legitimate tax preparation services. Also: What is vishing? Voice phishing is surging – expert tips on how to spot it and stop itMore than half of the people surveyed said they think that tax-related scam attempts have become more realistic, with most of them worried that AI is making the scams more difficult to detect. How tax scams workIn its report, McAfee illustrated how one type of tax scam might work. You receive an urgent text or email claiming that your refund was rejected or that you owe back taxes. Looking like a real notice you might get from the IRS, the message typically includes a link for you to click or a phone number for you to call. If you take the bait, the scammer will often tell you that they need your Social Security number, bank account details, or credit card information to help you. Give them what they want, and now the criminals have easy access to your money or your identity. Also: Got a suspicious E-ZPass text? It’s a trap – how to spot the scamBased on the survey results, scammers like to try different variations on a familiar theme:Fake IRS messages – Almost half of those polled by McAfee have received messages from someone posing as an IRS official.Impersonating tax services – One-third of the respondents said that they, or someone they know, was targeted by scammers pretending to be from TurboTax, H&R Block, or another tax provider.Baiting victims with fake refunds – More than a third of those surveyed said they’ve gotten suspicious messages that promised tax refunds and included malicious links.Cryptocurrency scams – Based on the survey, men are three times more likely than women to be hit by phony cryptocurrency tax payment schemes. More

ZDNETA new “smishing scam” is targeting people for their personal information under the guise of unpaid tolls.Scammers, purporting to be from E-ZPass or other toll providers (like SunPass, Peach Pass, or EZDriveMA), are sending fraudulent text messages asking for toll payments and urging recipients to click a link to settle their bills. Also: Why I use virtual cards for online purchases – and you should tooThe messages usually threaten that if the person does not pay their balance, they will face consequences such as incurred fines or losing their license entirely. More

Leonid Korchenko/Getty Images If you find your personal information online, like your phone number, address, or email, Google just made it easier to make sure it doesn’t show up again. Several years ago, Google introduced a “Results about you” tool that lets you track your personal information online and remove it from search results. It […] More