Cybersecurity

Chrome Extension Warning: How to Spot and Stop Malicious Productivity Tools If you’ve ever installed a Chrome extension to take notes, check grammar, or block ads, you’re not alone. Millions of us trust these small add-ons to make our browsing faster and easier. But recent security reports show that some productivity extensions have a hidden purpose: stealing your data, recording your keystrokes, and even passing your online activity to attackers. ...

Is Your Chrome Extension Spying on You? How to Spot a Backdoored Tool Productivity extensions are among the most popular items in the Chrome Web Store. A grammar checker, a note‑taking helper, a tab manager—they seem harmless and convenient. But a growing number of these tools have been found hiding backdoors that let attackers steal data, inject ads, or even take over accounts. A recent report by Security Boulevard (March 2026) details how some of these extensions turned into enterprise‑level attack vectors. ...

Stop Using Risky Chrome Extensions: How to Spot a Backdoor Before It’s Too Late Browser extensions are one of those features that seem harmless. You install a grammar checker, a coupon finder, or a tab manager, and it quietly runs in the background. But over the past year, security researchers have documented a sharp increase in attacks where legitimate-looking Chrome extensions are used as entry points into personal and corporate networks. A March 2026 report from Security Boulevard detailed how so-called productivity tools have become a preferred vector for attackers, especially in enterprise environments. The problem isn’t new, but it is getting worse. ...

Is That Chrome Extension Spying on You? How to Spot a Backdoor You probably have a handful of Chrome extensions installed—maybe a grammar checker, a coupon finder, or a tab manager. They make life easier. But a recent report from Security Boulevard (March 6, 2026) detailed something unsettling: attackers have been turning “productivity” extensions into backdoors, especially in enterprise settings. While the report focused on businesses, the same risks apply to anyone who uses extensions on a personal device. ...

Pig Butchering Scams: What the New York Attorney General’s Warning Means for You If you’ve ever received an unprompted message from a stranger who seems too charming, too interested in your life, and too eager to discuss investment opportunities, you might be in the early stages of a “pig butchering” scam. The name is deliberately dehumanizing—the fraudster “fattening up” a victim with trust and affection before extracting as much money as possible. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Gift Card Scams: Warning Signs and What to Do Scammers have a simple, effective playbook: they ask you to pay with gift cards. It works because gift cards are nearly impossible to trace, and once you hand over the code on the back, the money is gone. In December 2025, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an alert warning District residents about a surge in these scams. The alert is a good reminder for all of us: gift cards are for gifts, not for paying bills, taxes, or fines. ...

Gift Card Scams Are Still Everywhere: How to Spot Them and What to Do Introduction If you receive an unexpected phone call demanding payment by gift card, hang up. That is the simplest advice, yet thousands of people lose money to gift card scams every year. The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia recently issued a consumer alert about this persistent fraud. While the warning targets Washington, D.C. residents, the tactics and protections apply to anyone, anywhere. ...

NCPW 2026: What to Keep from the Campaign After the Week Is Over National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2026 wrapped up in early March, but the advice the Federal Trade Commission promoted during that week is meant to last all year. If you missed the campaign or only caught parts of it, here’s a rundown of what was covered and—more importantly—what you can still do with that information today. ...

New Lloyds Bank Scam Warning: How to Spot and Stop These Fraud Attempts Lloyds Bank has recently issued a customer alert about a surge in fraudulent schemes targeting UK account holders. The warning, published in April 2026, comes amid a broader rise in impersonation scams and so‑called “pay by bank” fraud, where criminals trick people into making payments directly from their accounts. If you hold an account with Lloyds – or any UK bank – understanding these tactics and knowing how to respond is essential. ...

UK Bank Scam Warning: How to Spot and Stop Fraudulent Account Alerts If you received a text or email this week claiming to be from Lloyds Bank about suspicious activity on your account, you are not alone. The bank recently issued a customer alert about an ongoing wave of scams designed to trick people into handing over login details, one-time passcodes, or approving fraudulent payments. Similar warnings have been issued by other UK banks and cybersecurity experts, and the timing is especially critical because some payment methods now carry reduced protection. ...