Update These Privacy Tools Now to Stay Safe in the AI Era

The same artificial intelligence that powers helpful assistants and content generators is now being used by attackers to speed up and refine cybercrime. According to a recent World Economic Forum article, the rapid evolution of AI is exposing security flaws faster than many users can adapt. While the headlines focus on enterprise risks, everyday consumers also need to adjust the privacy tools they already rely on. Here’s what you should update today.

What happened

Cybercriminals are using AI to automate phishing emails, craft convincing voice deepfakes, and discover vulnerabilities in software more quickly. The World Economic Forum’s 2026 cybersecurity trend report notes that AI is “speeding cybercrime by exposing flaws” and redefining risk in ways that older protections can’t fully address. At the same time, the privacy tools people commonly use—password managers, VPNs, and browser extensions—were not designed with AI-powered attacks in mind. Several WEF articles from the past year highlight the need to explicitly update these tools to match the current threat landscape.

Why it matters

Traditional settings like a strong master password or a VPN that simply geolocates your traffic are no longer sufficient. AI-assisted attacks can guess weaker credentials faster, bypass some VPN protections through traffic analysis, and scrape data from poorly configured AI assistant histories. Moreover, many AI services now collect extensive data for training, and if that data is exposed, your personal information could be used in targeted attacks. A routine audit of your privacy tools—and knowing exactly how to adjust them—can significantly cut your risk.

What readers can do

Here are the most impactful steps you can take, each aligned with a common privacy tool.

Review your password manager: enable passkeys and strong MFA

Most password managers now support passkeys, a phishing-resistant authentication method that replaces traditional passwords. Enable this feature where available. For sites that still require passwords, make sure your manager uses multi-factor authentication (MFA)—preferably using an authenticator app rather than SMS, as SIM-swapping attacks are also on the rise. Also, disable any “autofill on page load” setting to prevent AI-powered keyloggers from capturing credentials.

Update VPN settings for AI traffic

Not all VPNs route traffic from AI applications the same way. If you use a desktop AI client (like a chatbot or image generator), check your VPN’s split-tunneling settings. Ensure that the VPN is covering the AI application’s traffic, not bypassing it. Additionally, use a VPN provider that supports a kill switch and DNS leak protection; AI tools that operate over your real IP address can expose your location and browsing habits.

Adjust privacy settings in AI assistants

Services like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Google’s Gemini allow you to control how your conversations are used. Turn off data sharing for training purposes if that option is available. Delete conversation histories regularly—many assistants store them by default. For enterprise versions, ensure that your organization’s data retention policies are strict enough to prevent long-term storage of personal information.

Install browser extensions that block AI tracking

Several extensions now specifically target AI-generated trackers and fingerprinting scripts. Consider tools like Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin, or newer AI-focused blockers such as “AI Blocker” or “GPT Trace.” These can prevent websites from using AI models to analyze your behavior or build a profile without your consent. Review permissions carefully; only install extensions from reputable sources.

AI services are prime targets for data breaches. Sign up for a breach notification service like Have I Been Pwned or the one built into your password manager. If you receive an alert that your email appears in a breach linked to an AI tool (such as a chatbot platform), change your password immediately and revoke any API tokens. Consider using unique email aliases for each AI service to limit exposure.

Conduct a regular audit of app permissions

Many mobile and desktop apps now embed AI features. Go through your app permissions list and revoke access to camera, microphone, contacts, and location for any app that does not strictly need those features. Be especially thorough with apps that advertise “AI-powered” enhancements—they often request more data than necessary. Do this audit every few months.

Sources

  • “How to update data privacy tools to cut cybersecurity risk in the AI era” – World Economic Forum, June 2026.
  • “AI speeds cybercrime by exposing flaws, and other cybersecurity news” – World Economic Forum, June 2026.
  • “3 trends redefining cyber risk in 2026” – World Economic Forum, January 2026.

These articles provide the broader context for why updating your privacy tools is no longer optional. The specific recommendations above are based on current best practices from security researchers and the tools’ own documentation. As AI evolves, you may need to revisit these settings again in a few months.