Your Privacy Tools Need an AI-Era Update: Here’s What to Do

Cybercriminals are using AI to find new ways into your accounts and data. The good news? Updating a few key privacy settings can make a big difference. Here’s a practical guide to protecting yourself now.

What’s changing with AI and cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence isn’t just a tool for chatbots and image generators. It’s increasingly being used by attackers to automate and improve their methods. Recent reporting from the World Economic Forum highlights that AI speeds up cybercrime by exposing software flaws and social engineering weaknesses faster than ever before. Phishing emails that once had obvious spelling errors are now grammatically perfect and personalized. Voice cloning and deepfake videos are becoming more convincing. In short, the threat landscape is shifting, and the old set-it-and-forget-it approach to privacy no longer works.

Why it matters for everyday consumers

You might think that advanced AI attacks only target big companies or political figures. But the tools are cheap and widely available. A scammer can use a free AI service to craft a believable email that looks like it comes from your bank, or to generate a fake phone call that sounds like a family member. The risk isn’t theoretical — it’s here now. According to multiple analyses cited by the World Economic Forum, the combination of AI and accessible personal data makes for a dangerous mix. Updating your privacy tools is one of the few direct actions you can take to lower your risk.

What you can do: a practical checklist

You don’t need to buy expensive software or become a security expert. Most of the steps below take ten minutes or less. Work through them this week.

1. Review and strengthen your passwords

Use a password manager if you don’t already. It generates unique, random passwords for each site and stores them securely. If you’re reusing passwords anywhere, change those accounts first — a credential-stuffing attack (where an AI tries stolen passwords across many sites) can compromise multiple accounts in seconds. The key is uniqueness, not complexity.

2. Enable two-factor authentication everywhere it’s offered

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second step — usually a code from an app or a hardware key — after your password. AI can guess or phish a password, but it’s much harder to get that second factor unless the attacker has physical access to your device. Start with email and banking, then work through social media and shopping accounts. App-based authenticators (like Google Authenticator or Authy) are more secure than SMS codes, but SMS is still far better than nothing.

3. Audit app permissions on your phone

Go through the apps on your phone and check what they’re allowed to access. Many apps request permissions they don’t need — for example, a flashlight app asking for your location or contacts. Revoke anything that isn’t essential. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy; on Android, Settings > Privacy or Apps. Pay special attention to microphone, camera, and location access.

4. Tighten social media and browser privacy

Social platforms use your data to train AI models and to target ads. It’s prudent to limit what you share publicly. On Facebook, set your profile to “Friends only” and review past posts. On LinkedIn, restrict your visibility if you’re not job hunting. For browsers, install an ad blocker (like uBlock Origin) and consider using privacy-focused browsers (Firefox with privacy settings, or Brave). Also, turn off cross-site tracking in your browser settings.

5. Be skeptical of unexpected communications

AI has made phishing far more convincing. If you receive an email, text, or call that asks you to click a link, download a file, or provide personal information, stop and verify through a separate channel. Call the company directly using a number you know is real. Check the sender’s address carefully — minor misspellings are common. Deepfake voice calls are harder to spot, so consider setting a code word with family members for urgent requests.

6. Keep software and devices updated

Patching vulnerabilities is still one of the best defenses. AI-powered malware can exploit known flaws within hours of a patch being released, so delaying updates gives attackers an advantage. Enable automatic updates on your phone, computer, and smart home devices. This includes router firmware, which is often forgotten.

7. Consider a passwordless future

Some services now support passkeys (biometrics or device-based authentication) instead of passwords. Passkeys are resistant to phishing and don’t rely on a secret you have to remember. If your email provider or bank offers it, give it a try. It’s still early, but the technology is promising.

Sources

• World Economic Forum, “How to update data privacy tools to cut cybersecurity risk in the AI era” (June 2026)
• World Economic Forum, “AI speeds cybercrime by exposing flaws, and other cybersecurity news” (June 2026)
• World Economic Forum, “Anthropic’s Mythos moment: How frontier AI is redefining cybersecurity” (April 2026)
• World Economic Forum, “5 emerging technologies to watch in 2025” (June 2026)

Note: Cybersecurity is a fast-moving field. The advice here reflects the best available information as of mid-2026. Specific threats and tool recommendations may evolve. When in doubt, consult your device or service provider’s official help pages.