CyberGuy Live

The article outlines a scam text test to help users identify and avoid fraudulent messages. It highlights red flags like urgency, vague greetings, and suspicious links, advising verification through official channels. A free online class, 'Sick of Spam?', offers additional spam-stopping strategies.

A data breach at Paidwork, a microtask platform, exposed over 23 million user records, including personal details like names, addresses, bank account numbers, and passwords stored as bcrypt hashes. The breach, confirmed by Have I Been Pwned, occurred when hackers leaked nearly 11 GB of data in July 2026, prompting Paidwork to investigate and notify users.

Fake election websites using campaign-like naming conventions to collect donations and personal information have surged since September 2025, with 13,645 domains resembling campaign sites tracked by WhoisXML API. These sites often hide registrant identities and use short registration terms, posing risks to users through deceptive merchandise sales and donation-style payments.

Sweepstakes entry data can be shared with third parties like marketing partners and data brokers, increasing privacy risks. This information may be combined into detailed profiles for targeted advertising or used in fraudulent campaigns. The FTC warns that sweepstakes promoters might sell entry data, leading to spam, telemarketing calls, and junk mail.

The article discusses methods for sharing vacation photos on larger screens like TVs, projectors, or laptops using technologies such as AirPlay, Chromecast, or screen mirroring. It highlights solutions for both iPhone and Android users and mentions a free CyberGuy Live class on reducing spam.

Smart devices like Samsung refrigerators and Windows 11 computers display ads through software updates, frustrating users who paid for the products. Samsung states users can disable ads in settings, though most have not done so.

The article highlights security risks of default settings on new smart devices, such as automatic data sharing and remote access, which can expose users to hackers and data brokers. It advises manually configuring privacy settings before connecting devices to a home network.