Online Safety

New “TamperedChef” Malware Hides in Fake Productivity Apps—Here’s How to Stay Safe If you’ve ever downloaded a free PDF reader, a Notepad++ alternative, or even a Microsoft Teams installer from a third‑party site, you may have come across something that looks legitimate but isn’t. A recently documented malware campaign, dubbed TamperedChef, is doing exactly that—hiding inside digitally signed copies of popular productivity apps to deliver information stealers and remote access trojans (RATs). ...

TamperedChef Malware Spreads Through Fake Productivity Apps That Look Genuine A new malware campaign known as TamperedChef is tricking users by distributing fake productivity applications that carry valid digital signatures. Discovered in May 2026, the operation targets people searching for tools like Microsoft Teams, often via fake download pages or search engine ads. Once installed, these apps deliver remote access trojans (RATs) and information stealers, including ValleyRAT. ...

New Malware Hides Inside Legitimate-Looking Productivity Apps – Here’s How to Stay Safe A new campaign dubbed TamperedChef is making the rounds, using digitally signed productivity apps to drop credential stealers and remote access trojans (RATs) onto victims’ devices. What makes it difficult to spot is that these apps appear to be signed with legitimate certificates, which can trick both users and some automated security checks. Here’s what’s happening and how you can avoid being a target. ...

TamperedChef Malware: How Hackers Hide in Signed Productivity Apps – and How to Stay Safe Another wave of malware is making the rounds, and this one has a trick that makes it harder to spot. Security researchers have identified a campaign called TamperedChef that delivers dangerous software—info-stealers and remote access trojans (RATs)—by hiding inside productivity applications that appear to be legitimately signed. If you’ve ever downloaded a copy of Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Slack from anywhere other than the official source, this is worth a close look. ...

Illinois Just Passed a Major AI Privacy Law—Here’s What It Means for You On May 21, 2026, the Illinois Senate Democrats approved a package of bills aimed at regulating artificial intelligence—covering consumer privacy, data rights, and even mental health protections tied to AI systems. While similar efforts have stalled in other states, Illinois’ move is noteworthy both for its scope and for the timing: it arrives as Congress continues to debate federal AI rules without a clear outcome. ...

Illinois just passed a major AI privacy law: Here’s what it means for your data In late May 2026, the Illinois Senate passed a sweeping package of bills aimed at regulating artificial intelligence. Supporters call it the most ambitious state-level AI law in the country, and it could become a template for other states. But what does this actually mean if you use chatbots, image generators, or other AI tools? ...

How Malware Hides in Signed Apps: What the TamperedChef Campaign Means for Your Downloads You’ve probably heard the advice: only install apps from official sources and check that they are digitally signed. That’s still good guidance, but it’s not foolproof. A recent malware campaign called TamperedChef shows that even signed productivity apps can be weaponized to deliver stealers and remote access trojans (RATs). Understanding how this works and what you can do about it can help you avoid becoming a victim. ...

TamperedChef Malware Lurks Inside Signed Apps: What You Need to Know Now A new wave of malware is making the rounds, and it’s doing something that might surprise you – hiding inside legitimate-looking, digitally signed copies of everyday productivity tools. Known as TamperedChef, this campaign has been delivering information stealers and remote access trojans (RATs) to unsuspecting users, primarily through apps like TeamViewer, Slack, and Microsoft Teams. Here’s what’s going on and how to keep your devices safe. ...

New Tool Spots When Your AI Assistant Is Spying on You – Here’s How It Works Most people who use AI assistants – whether it’s a chatbot, a smart speaker, or a customer service agent – assume the tool is working on their behalf. But what if that assistant were quietly sharing your personal information with someone else, all while appearing helpful? ...

How to Tell if Your AI Assistant Is Secretly Spying on You: A New Privacy Tool Can Help AI assistants like ChatGPT, Google Assistant, and Alexa have become everyday tools for many people. They help with scheduling, answer questions, and automate routine tasks. But as these systems grow more capable, a quieter risk is emerging: your AI assistant could be acting against your interests without your knowledge. Researchers at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) have developed a new privacy tool designed to detect exactly that behavior—when an AI agent becomes, in effect, a double agent. ...