Information Technology

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

Google/ZDNETCybercriminals have increasingly been using AI to scam their victims, often through text messages and phone calls. Now, Google is using a similar tactic to protect you from those scammers.Also: Did you get an E-ZPass text demanding payment? Don’t click – it’s a scamOn Tuesday, Google announced two AI-powered scam detection features for calls and text messages on Android devices. The goal is to thwart more complex and sophisticated attacks, especially those that may seem harmless at first but then devolve into riskier territory. 1. Scam detection for MessagesFirst up is scam detection for messages. Enhancing the existing spam protection in Google’s Messages app, the new scam detection is designed to look for a greater variety of threats. With this option enabled in Google Messages, the built-in AI uses real-time detection to determine if and when a text conversation seems suspicious. Let’s say you receive a text from a stranger that starts off innocently enough. But after a few back-and-forth messages, the conversation veers into an unexpected area. Once it detects a suspicious text, the on-device AI steps in to warn you that this is likely a scam. You’ll then be given the option to dismiss the warning or report and block the sender. By checking the ongoing conversation for any red flags, Google’s detection should prove more effective than other security tools that can only block or allow an initial text. The new detection works with SMS, MMS, and RCS messages, so you’re covered no matter which format is used.Turned on by default in MessagesScam detection for Google Messages is turned on by default, though you can turn it off at any time if you want to opt out. It also affects conversations only with people not in your contact list. Also: Why rebooting your phone daily is your best defense against zero-click attacksFurther, Google promises that your conversations will remain private. If you report a suspicious exchange, only the sender details and recent texts with that person are shared with Google and your mobile carrier. The new option is now rolling out in English across the US, UK, and Canada and will soon head to other countries. More