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How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Protect Your Wallet Online shopping has become a routine part of most people’s lives, but it also attracts fraudsters looking to take advantage of unsuspecting buyers. Scams that start with a fake website, a tempting email offer, or a social media ad can lead to lost money, stolen personal information, or both. This article covers the most common scams and what you can do to avoid them, drawing on guidance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the FBI, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). ...

6 Ways to Update Your Privacy Tools for the AI Era (and Cut Cyber Risk) AI is changing how cybercriminals operate. Phishing emails now read like they were written by a colleague. Voice cloning can fool family members. Automated tools probe for weak spots faster than any human could. For the average internet user, the old security playbook needs a refresh. The good news: you don’t need to become a cybersecurity expert. A few practical updates to your existing habits and tools can make a real difference. ...

Time to update your privacy tools? New AI threats mean you probably need to A few years ago, a strong password and a decent antivirus program were enough for most people. That’s no longer the case. AI is making cyberattacks faster, more convincing, and harder to block. The same tools that used to protect you—VPNs, password managers, browser extensions—need to be updated in how you configure and use them. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: 1 in 3 Americans Have Been Hit If you shop online—and most of us do—there’s a good chance you’ve encountered a scam attempt. A recent survey from the Pew Research Center found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. That’s not a fringe problem; it’s a mainstream risk that touches millions of households. ...

Nearly One in Three Americans Has Experienced an Online Shopping Scam: What to Know If you’ve ever clicked a too-good-to-be-true deal on social media or gotten a suspicious email about a package delivery, you’re not alone. A new study from the Pew Research Center found that roughly a third of U.S. adults say they’ve personally experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a lot of people—and the number is likely still growing as more of us shop from our phones and laptops. While the convenience of buying online isn’t going away, it pays to know how these scams work and how to steer clear. ...

How to Update Your Privacy Tools to Stay Safe from AI-Powered Threats Artificial intelligence is changing cybersecurity faster than most people realize. It’s not just about chatbots or image generators anymore. Attackers now use AI to craft convincing phishing emails, automate password cracking, and even mimic your voice. The result: old privacy habits and outdated tools won’t cut it. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam — How to Avoid Being Next A recent report from Pew Research Center found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them. The data, released in November 2025, covers a range of fraudulent experiences — from fake store websites to phishing emails that impersonate well-known retailers. With holiday shopping in full swing and online transactions becoming routine, understanding how these scams work is more than a privacy concern; it’s a practical necessity. ...

Don’t Get Tricked: How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before You Buy Online shopping has become second nature for most of us. A few clicks, a payment, and a package arrives days later. But that convenience also creates openings for scammers. Fake websites, phishing emails, and too-good-to-be-true deals are more common than many shoppers realize. According to the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report, online shopping fraud continues to climb, especially after holiday seasons and major sales events. The good news is that most scams can be avoided with a few simple checks before you hit “buy.” ...

What Microsoft’s year-long email security benchmark reveals about protecting your inbox Microsoft recently published a year’s worth of email security benchmarking data from its Defender for Office 365 platform. The report aggregates telemetry from millions of organizations, offering a broad view of the threats hitting inboxes and the configuration gaps that leave them vulnerable. For IT teams and business decision-makers, the numbers are a useful reality check — and a starting point for making practical improvements. ...

Online Shopping Scams: How to Spot Them and Stay Safe Introduction Online shopping has become a routine part of life for most Americans, but it also comes with risks. According to a recent alert from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, scammers increasingly target shoppers through fake websites, phishing emails, and social media ads that mimic legitimate retailers. The FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, released in May 2025, shows that shopping-related fraud continues to rise, with losses totaling hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Whether you’re buying holiday gifts, everyday essentials, or services as a military family using VA benefits, understanding how these scams work is the first line of defense. ...