Phishing

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams: Tips from VA Online shopping is a convenience most of us rely on, but it also opens the door to scammers. Veterans and military families are often targeted because fraudsters assume they have steady benefits or may be less familiar with digital threats. VA News has published multiple guides on this topic, including a recent article that outlines exactly how to watch out for scams and stay safe while online shopping. The advice is straightforward and worth reviewing before your next purchase. ...

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Have Been Scammed While Shopping Online – Here’s What to Watch For A new survey from the Pew Research Center puts a number on something many of us have suspected: online shopping scams are alarmingly common. According to the study, published November 19, 2025, about 32% of U.S. adults – roughly one in three – say they have personally experienced an online shopping scam. With the holiday shopping season upon us, that figure is likely to climb. Here’s what the data shows and how you can avoid becoming a statistic. ...

8.3 Billion Email Threats in Q1 2026: What Microsoft’s Report Means for Your Inbox If you’ve noticed more suspicious emails lately, you’re not imagining it. Microsoft’s latest threat intelligence report for the first quarter of 2026 reveals that the company detected 8.3 billion email-based phishing threats worldwide in just three months. That’s roughly 92 million phishing attempts per day. ...

Microsoft reports 8.3 billion email phishing threats in Q1 2026: What you need to know Microsoft’s latest email threat report for the first quarter of 2026 paints a stark picture: attackers are sending more phishing emails than ever, and they’re using AI and QR codes to slip past traditional filters. The company detected 8.3 billion phishing attempts in Q1 2026 alone — a figure that’s hard to wrap your head around, but one that directly affects anyone who uses email for work or personal life. ...

8.3 Billion Phishing Attacks in Q1 2026: What Microsoft’s Report Means for Your Inbox Every few months, Microsoft publishes a look at the threat data it sees across its email services. The latest report for the first quarter of 2026 contains a headline figure that is hard to ignore: more than 8.3 billion phishing threats were detected in that three-month period. That is roughly 90 million phishing attempts per day. ...

1 in 3 Americans Have Been Hit by an Online Shopping Scam – Here’s How to Spot One If you’ve ever bought something online that never arrived, or clicked a too-good-to-be-true deal that turned out to be fake, you’re not alone. A new study from the Pew Research Center, released in November 2025, found that about one in three U.S. adults say they have experienced an online shopping scam. That’s a staggering number, and it comes at a time when holiday shopping peaks and scam attempts surge. ...

How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams Targeting Veterans Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers who know that veterans and military families are often targeted for benefit fraud and identity theft. The Department of Veterans Affairs has published several alerts over the past year warning about fake websites, phishing emails, and counterfeit goods that impersonate the VA or promise discounts to veterans. The risk is highest around holidays and benefit payment dates, but the same tactics are used year-round. ...

How to Spot a Malicious Chrome Extension: Protect Your Accounts and Data Browser extensions promise convenience: grammar checkers, tab managers, coupon finders, screenshot tools. Over the past few years, however, security researchers have documented a growing trend in which seemingly harmless productivity extensions are being used as backdoors into corporate networks and personal accounts. In March 2026, Security Boulevard reported on the “Chrome Extension Backdoor” phenomenon, detailing how attackers compromise legitimate extensions or create fake ones that eventually steal credentials, exfiltrate data, or bypass two-factor authentication. Separately, the FBI began investigating a breach of its own surveillance system that investigators believe may have involved malicious extensions. While these incidents target large enterprises, the same tactics affect everyday users. ...

Protect Yourself from Malicious Chrome Extensions: A Practical Guide A recent Security Boulevard report (March 2026) highlighted how seemingly harmless productivity tools inside the Chrome Web Store have become a vector for sophisticated attacks. At the same time, the FBI is investigating a breach of its own surveillance system that appears to involve malicious browser extensions. For everyday users—especially those who rely on Chrome at work—this is not just a headline. It is a real risk that can be reduced with a few straightforward habits. ...

Don’t Get Tricked: How to Spot Online Shopping Scams Before You Pay Online shopping is convenient, but it also attracts scammers looking to steal your money or personal information. According to recent alerts from VA News (.gov), fraudulent websites, phishing emails, and fake social media ads remain persistent threats. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that online shopping scams consistently rank among the top consumer complaints, with losses reaching hundreds of millions of dollars each year. The good news is that most scams share common warning signs. Learning to spot them can keep your purchases safe. ...