Information Technology

ZDNET/Jack WallenYour passwords are the keys to your various kingdoms. Without them, you’d struggle to log in to sites and services. Although you should be using a password manager to save your credentials securely, some people use the old-school method of allowing their web browsers and apps to save them.For people who still opt to go that route, it’s a good idea to back your passwords up regularly. After all, you never know when disaster could strike. Although MacOS is pretty good about syncing your data to your iCloud account, what happens if that process fails? In that situation, you’ll be glad you exported your passwords.Also: The best VPN services (and how to choose the right one for you)There’s one caveat to this process that you must consider carefully. When you export passwords from MacOS, the result is a plain-text file. Anyone who has access to that file could read it. That risk means you should consider saving the exported file in an encrypted folder (I’ll show you how). But first, we must export those passwords. More

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNETHow private are your conversations with ChatGPT? That’s a tricky question to answer. OpenAI says that no one can view your chats unless you specifically choose to share them. However, the company does store and maintain a history of your conversations and acknowledges that their content can be used for training.Also: The best AI chatbots of 2024: ChatGPT, Copilot and worthy alternativesIf you’re concerned about your privacy when using ChatGPT, there are a few measures you can take. Both options are available to free and paid users alike — here’s how they work.1. Use a temporary chatFirst, you can start a temporary chat for one-and-done conversations. These chats won’t be saved as part of your history or used for model training. Further, ChatGPT won’t remember anything you discussed. However, OpenAI may still store copies of your temporary chats for up to 30 days to monitor for any abuse. More

JK1991/Getty Images Singapore and the US are widening their collaboration on artificial intelligence (AI) to focus on building up talent among youth and women.  A new AI Talent Bridge initiative expands on the US-Singapore Women in Tech Partnership Program that the two countries introduced in 2022. The latest plan aims to bolster talent in emerging […] More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETIt’s a situation no one should ever be in, but in case of an emergency, Google today announced the availability of texting 911 with Rich Communication Services (RCS) in the US. The new feature, slated to roll out gradually this winter and made in partnership with emergency technology company RapidSOS, will allow Google Messages users (read: on any Android phone) to text their local emergency call centers via RCS. Also: How to record a phone call on Android in 3 easy waysThe communication technology should alleviate some of the pain points of today’s emergency responder call centers, including the inability to support texting and sharing pictures and videos.  More

Microsoft Microsoft has been touting its Windows Recall AI feature as a must-have for anyone who wants to remember an old webpage or message. But a new reveal suggests it may also come with its fair share of security problems. Ethical hacker Alex Hagenah has launched a tool, called TotalRecall, that shows how anyone with […] More

NurPhoto/Getty Images We all know that some perfectly good Windows 10 PCs can’t be upgraded to Windows 11. But did you know that Canalys Insights estimated there are 240 million Windows 10 PCs doomed to the trash heap because they can’t be upgraded to Windows 11 after Microsoft dumps Windows 10 support on October 14, […] More

Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images No operating system is 100% safe. As long as your computer is connected to a network, there is always the possibility that it can be compromised. These compromises can come by way of viruses, malware, or ransomware, each of which holds a particular danger.  Such a possibility is […] More

National Security AgencyThat pricey and precious smartphone you carry with you can be hit by a host of security threats, from phishing to malware to spyware. All it takes is one successful attack to clobber your phone and compromise your data and even steal your identity. So, how do you protect yourself?In a Mobile Device Best Practices report, the NSA serves up a variety of tips designed to thwart hackers and attackers from assaulting your mobile device. One method is as simple as turning your phone off and on.Also: How to find and remove spyware from your phoneSpearphishing attacks can target your phone to install malware, while zero-click exploits are able to infect your device without any interaction on your part. The NSA’s advice? Power your phone off and then back on again at least once a week. This simple action can make it more difficult for hackers to steal information from your phone, though the agency cautions that this will not always prevent an attack. More