It’s that time of year again – tax season – and, unfortunately, it’s also a peak time for phishing scams. Cybercriminals know that people are more likely to be filing their taxes and sharing sensitive information online, so they increase…
Tag: blog.avast.com EN
Watch out! There are hidden dangers lurking your PDFs
PDFs have become synonymous with convenience and reliability, serving as the backbone for our document-sharing needs. Whether for work, school, or personal use, their ability to maintain formatting across various platforms has made them indispensable. This article has been…
Why one in 20 people fall for dating scams – and how to not be one of them
Imagine, for a moment, you’re deep into the world of online dating, trying to find “The One”—or at least “a One.” You wouldn’t be alone: Online dating is one of the most popular ways for people to meet their match,…
Here are all the red flags Charlotte Cowles missed in that viral NY Mag article
Last week, Charlotte Cowles—a seasoned journalist with a notable tenure at the New York Times and a seven-year streak of writing a personal finance column at The Cut—published a piece about how she’d fallen for a wild scam. It began…
Unveiling the truth behind AI relationship chatbots
AI romantic partners have been a thing in popular culture since at least the 1960s. From full-on android robots like “Rhoda Miller” in My Living Doll to the disembodied voice played by Scarlett Johansson in 2013’s Her, we’ve been collectively…
Show your digital devices some love this Valentine’s Day
As Valentine’s Day approaches, we might find ourselves in the mood for warmth and affection. However, this sentiment should be reserved for our loved ones, not our digital devices. Just as building a strong relationship requires care and attention, so…
A Valentine’s warning about heartbreak hackers
Ah, Valentine’s Day—the time when love is in the air, and scam artists are ready to swoop in with their own version of a love story. Imagine this: you’re swiping through a dating app, hoping to find the yin to…
Malicious PDFs, deepfakes, and romance scams were just some of the 10 billion cyber attacks we saw last year
If you’ve been hoping that cyber attacks were on the decline, brace yourself for a reality check: 2023 was an unprecedented year in cyber threats. We witnessed more than 10 billion attacks , shattering previous records. This isn’t just another…
How to spot the bad actors this awards season
Lights, camera, action! Award season is a time to celebrate the shows, the crews, and, of course, the performers. But for these actors, their stage is the world of cybersecurity, where they put on the most thrilling performances of the…
The Taylor Swift deepfake porn is nothing new – but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be concerned
In a recent unsettling turn of events, AI-generated explicit images of the renowned singer Taylor Swift have flooded X (formerly Twitter), illustrating the darker side of AI capabilities. These images, believed to be created using Microsoft Designer, garnered widespread attention…
That new X cryptocurrency? It’s a scam.
In the dynamic landscape of online scams, our Avast team has identified a new and bold scam, using the likeness of Elon Musk. This quarter, we uncovered advertisements featuring Musk to promote a supposed new cryptocurrency. The irony is striking…
Uncovering the hidden superpowers of your smartphone
Picture this: You’ve just dashed out of your favorite café, already late for a meeting, when that heart-sinking realization hits you: your phone isn’t in your pocket where it should be. Panic kicks in. Or maybe you’re entering your card…
Your data is under siege. Here’s how to win the war.
I consider myself pretty savvy when it comes to protecting my personal data. But last year I nearly fell for a phone scam from someone purporting to be an IRS agent. In my own defense, it was an impressively creative…
The hidden costs of pirated software: A cautionary tale for small businesses
By Luis Corrons (Avast Security Evangelist) and Matěj Krčma (Avast Malware Analyst) In today’s economy, small businesses face an array of challenges, from managing costs to staying competitive. As they navigate these waters, some are tempted to take shortcuts that…
Safeguard your heart and personal info this cuffing season
You may be searching for your soulmate, a low-risk situationship (we don’t judge), or just a suitable date to the wedding you’re invited to next month. Whatever the reason, many of us are on the lookout for love this time…
Avast researchers detect a surge in fake e-shops following holidays
As the festive season wraps up, a new challenge emerges for online shoppers: the rise of over 4,000 counterfeit e-shops. These fraudulent sites, cunningly designed to mimic popular brands, exploit the post-Christmas shopping enthusiasm. Their realistic appearances make them nearly…
Is your ID badge giving away too much about you?
It seemed like an innocuous thing to do. Before flying home to Australia from Japan, Tony Abbott posted a photo of his boarding pass on Instagram with a message thanking the Qantas Airlines crew. But the well-intentioned gesture triggered a…
Twas the day after Christmas, and this family was smart…
Twas the day after Christmas, when all through the place, not a box was unopened, joy filled every face. This article has been indexed from blog.avast.com EN Read the original article: Twas the day after Christmas, and this family was smart…
This year’s resolution: remove nosey apps from your device
Last year, a thoughtful friend gifted me a gimbal for my phone. A gimbal is a special handle with a gyroscopic motor that takes your mobile filming to the next…you know what, it’s not important. Here’s what upset me: After…
The Avast Phishing Awards: Trickiest email headlines of 2023
2023 has been filled with many ups, downs, and scams. As we navigate the treacherous waters of the digital realm, let’s take a moment and make note of the tactics behind the phishing emails that graced millions of inboxes across…