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How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams This Year (and Every Year) Online shopping has become a daily habit for millions of people, but the convenience comes with a growing risk. According to the FBI’s most recent Internet Crime Report, reported losses from online shopping fraud reached billions of dollars in 2024 alone, and the numbers keep climbing. The Federal Trade Commission has also noted a sharp rise in complaints involving fake websites, phishing emails, and counterfeit goods. These scams don’t just appear during the holiday season—they happen year-round, targeting shoppers of all ages and backgrounds. ...

Update Your Privacy Tools Now: AI Is Changing the Cyber Threat Landscape If you haven’t reviewed your privacy tools in the past year, now is the time. Artificial intelligence is not just transforming how we work and create—it’s also giving cybercriminals new ways to break into accounts, steal data, and impersonate people. The World Economic Forum recently highlighted that AI is making cybercrime faster and more efficient, exposing vulnerabilities in tools that once felt adequate. For everyday internet users, this means that updating your VPN, password manager, two-factor authentication, and other privacy tools is no longer optional. Here’s what’s changed and what you can do about it. ...

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. ...

1 in 3 Americans Has Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s How to Avoid It A recent survey from the Pew Research Center reveals that roughly one in three Americans has experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a startling figure—especially if you shop online regularly, as most of us do. The study, published in November 2025, found that about a third of Americans say they’ve had an online shopping scam happen to them, and younger adults are particularly likely to encounter scams through social media ads and influencer promotions. ...