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Shopping for Father’s Day and Prime Day? Here’s How to Avoid Scams and Keep More of Your Money By the time you read this, you’ve probably seen the ads, the countdown clocks, and the email subject lines promising “unmissable” deals. Father’s Day and Prime Day fall close together this year, and retailers are expecting record spending. But so are scammers. Every major shopping event brings a predictable surge in fake websites, phishing emails, and social-media posts that look like incredible bargains—until you check your bank account. ...

Your Privacy Tools Might Not Stop AI-Powered Cyberattacks. Here’s What to Update Introduction Artificial intelligence is changing more than just chatbots and image generators. It’s also giving cybercriminals new ways to break into accounts, steal credentials, and trick people into giving up sensitive information. The same technology that powers useful tools can be turned around to automate phishing, find software flaws faster, and create convincing fake voices or messages. For the average person, this means that the privacy and security tools you set up a few years ago may no longer be enough. The good news is that updating them doesn’t require a technical degree—just a few targeted changes to your browser settings, password manager, VPN, and monitoring services. ...

How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Protect Your Finances The convenience of buying almost anything online has made e-commerce a part of daily life for most Americans. But that same convenience has also made online shoppers a prime target for fraud. Government agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have reported a steady increase in online shopping scams over the past several years. In 2024 alone, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 880,000 complaints, with total losses exceeding $12.5 billion—a record high. A significant portion of those complaints involved online shopping fraud. ...

How to Update Your Privacy Tools for AI-Powered Cyber Threats AI is making cyber attacks faster, more convincing, and harder to detect. Automated phishing, deepfake voice or video scams, and AI-generated malware are no longer hypothetical — they are already in the wild. According to the World Economic Forum, AI-powered cyber attacks increased by more than 30% in the past year. For the average person, that means the privacy tools and habits that worked a few years ago may no longer be enough. Here is what has changed and how you can adjust. ...

Don’t Get Tricked: How to Spot Online Shopping Scams and Shop Safely Online shopping has become a daily habit for many of us. Convenience, a wider selection, and often better prices make it hard to resist. But scammers know this too. Every year, thousands of people lose money to fake websites, phony deals, and payment fraud. The 2024 FBI Internet Crime Report (released in 2025) noted that losses from online shopping scams continued to climb, and the VA regularly warns veterans and their families to stay vigilant. Whether you’re buying a gift, a household item, or a service, learning the red flags can save you time and money. ...

Update Your Privacy Tools for the AI Era: A Practical Guide Intro If you’re still relying on the same privacy setup from a few years ago, you may soon find it inadequate. Artificial intelligence is reshaping how cybercriminals operate, making older defenses less effective. Phishing emails are more convincing, data scraping is more aggressive, and deepfakes are blurring the line between real and fake. The World Economic Forum has highlighted that AI is accelerating cybercrime by exposing flaws in existing security practices. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: A Practical Guide Based on Official Advice Online shopping has become second nature for most of us. A few clicks and a package arrives at your door within days. But that convenience also attracts scammers who are constantly refining their tactics. The good news is that federal agencies—including the VA, the Federal Trade Commission, and the FBI—regularly publish clear guidance on how to recognize and avoid these scams. This article pulls together their latest advice, with special attention to veterans and military families, though the tips apply to everyone. ...

How to Update Your Privacy Tools for the AI Era (and Cut Cyber Risk) The way cybercriminals operate has changed. Over the past year, attackers have started using artificial intelligence to craft more convincing phishing emails, mimic voices in phone scams, and probe for weaknesses faster than any human could. A June 2026 report from the World Economic Forum underscored how AI is accelerating cybercrime, often by revealing flaws that traditional security tools miss. For the average person, this means the privacy tools you relied on two years ago may no longer be enough. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Tips from VA, FTC, and FBI Online shopping has become a routine part of life for most people, but it also comes with a growing risk of fraud. According to the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, released in May 2025, cybercrime losses in the United States reached into the billions last year. A significant portion of those losses involve online shopping scams—phony stores, phishing messages, and deals that seem too good to be true. Veterans and military families are often targeted, partly because scammers know they may have steady benefits or pensions. ...

Your privacy tools are outdated – here’s how to fix them for the AI era If you’re still relying on the same privacy settings and security tools you set up two or three years ago, you may be more exposed than you realise. AI is changing how cybercriminals operate, and many of the defences that used to work well are no longer enough. ...