Romance scams target unsuspecting users by fooling them into a relationship with their false identity. They often solicit money from their victims via blackmail, extortion or manipulation. Avoid being scammed by reverse image searching their profile photos. This can give you an indication that their photos are either legitimate or stolen.

This might seem like unexpected advice but think about it: If someone finds key details about you online, that information may help answer the security questions for accessing an important account. Consider not being completely truthful on purpose to deceive would-be attackers. Another option is to select opinion-based questions like “What is your favorite color?”

While online sports betting is slowly legalized throughout the United States, bettors are jumping at the opportunity to make a wager. To protect your bets — but more importantly, your personal and financial data — make sure you’re only signing up for a verified sportsbook. Assess an operator’s track record before placing bets, including available […]

It’s easy for text messages, like emails, to pile up. Long after you’ve read them, texts can still lay dormant on your phone. If you have old text threads, it’s a good idea to delete them as soon as possible. They may contain private information that could compromise your safety if they fell into the […]

The benefits of accepting permissions or cookies are relatively few for the average consumer. Yes, your ad experience may be more relevant and your mobile experience may be more efficient, but your private information may also be at risk. When you land on a site you don’t often visit — or have no plans of […]

Somebody looking up your name on a search engine like Google might find results related to your previous jobs and addresses, along with information about your relatives. This data could be used against you, for example in determining the answers to security questions. Fortunately, Google does offer a remove outdated content tool for requesting takedowns […]