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Is Your Favorite Chrome Extension a Security Risk? How to Spot and Stop Malicious Tools Browser extensions promise convenience: grammar checkers, coupon finders, password managers, note-taking assistants. But a growing number of these tools are quietly turning into backdoors. Recent attacks have shown that even widely used extensions can be hijacked after passing Chrome Web Store review, giving attackers access to your browsing data, passwords, and even corporate accounts. ...

Watch Out for Scams and Stay Safe While Online Shopping: Advice from the VA and FDIC Online shopping has become routine for most of us, but it also attracts fraudsters looking to steal money or personal information. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation have published multiple warnings about these threats. Whether you’re a veteran, a family member, or just someone who buys things on the internet, understanding the common tactics and how to protect yourself is worth a few minutes of attention. ...

Chrome Silently Drops Its On-Device AI Privacy Promise: What You Need to Do Now On May 7, 2026, multiple outlets including Decrypt and Yahoo Tech reported that Google quietly removed a key privacy assurance from Chrome’s documentation for its on-device artificial intelligence features. The change is subtle but significant: the company no longer promises that data processed by Chrome’s AI stays entirely on your device. If you use Chrome and care about keeping your browsing data private, this matters—and there are steps you can take right now. ...

Chrome Extension Security: How to Tell If a ‘Productivity’ Tool Is Actually Malware Intro If you use Chrome extensions to help you manage tasks, take notes, or organize emails, you are not alone. Millions of people install these small tools each day, trusting that they are safe. But a growing body of evidence shows that some extensions are not what they seem. Attackers have learned to disguise malicious code inside seemingly helpful productivity tools, turning your browser into a backdoor they can use to steal data, hijack accounts, or move deeper into a network. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Experienced an Online Shopping Scam: How to Stay Safe If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or paid for an item through a payment app only to realize the seller was fake, you’re far from alone. New data from the Pew Research Center, published in November 2025, shows that about a third of American adults say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. That figure is a stark reminder that scam attempts are now a routine part of buying things on the internet. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Tips from Government Agencies Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers looking to steal your money or personal information. Government agencies such as the VA and the FDIC regularly issue alerts to help consumers recognize the warning signs. This article distills their guidance into practical steps you can take right now. ...

Chrome Quietly Removes Privacy Promise for On-Device AI: What You Need to Know If you’ve been relying on Chrome’s on-device AI features because Google promised your data would never leave your computer, you may want to double check that assumption. In early May 2026, the company deleted its own written assurance that those AI tools would process everything locally. The change went entirely unannounced. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams: Official Tips from Government Agencies Online shopping scams are not new, but they keep evolving. Fake websites, phishing emails, and bogus banks appear regularly, targeting anyone who shops or manages money online. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) have published recent guidance to help consumers recognize these threats and protect themselves. Below is a practical summary of what they advise, drawn directly from official sources. ...

BBB Warns of Mother’s Day Shopping Scams: What to Watch For With Mother’s Day just a few days away, many of us are finishing up gift shopping online. The Better Business Bureau has issued an alert this week warning that scammers are taking advantage of the rush. While the holiday is meant to show appreciation, it’s also become a peak period for fake websites, phishing messages, and gift card tricks. ...

Chrome Quietly Dropped a Privacy Promise for On-Device AI — What It Means for You If you use Google Chrome’s built-in AI features, you may want to check your settings. On May 7, 2026, news broke that Google quietly removed a privacy FAQ page that had stated on-device AI in Chrome does not send data back to its servers. No announcement, no explanation — just a deletion. Here is what happened, why it matters, and what you can do about it. ...