Upgrade some computer hardware (Windows 11is coming) by December 31 and take advantage of this business tax relief

When you buy new IT equipment you can deduct the full purchase price from your gross income this year, rather than depreciate it over a few years.

But you must have purchased the equipment and put […]

LastPass warns of fake support centers trying to steal customer data

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LastPass is warning about an ongoing campaign where scammers are writing reviews for its Chrome extension to promote a fake customer support phone number. However, this phone number is part of […]

As if reality isn’t confusing enough…..

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The United States’ Special Operations Command is looking for companies to help create deepfake internet users so convincing that neither humans nor computers will be able to detect they are fake.

The […]

NPD (National Public Data) files for bankruptcy

We talked about this breach when it became public knowledge on August 12, 2024. (https://actsmartit.com/data-breach-national-public-data/) The breach occurred in December 2023 and exposed approximately 2.9 billion records.

Last Wednesday, The Register reported […]

NIST Recommends New Guidelines For Password Security

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommended changing passwords only when there is a known compromise or every 365 days. NIST no longer recommends requiring users to change their passwords regularly because it can lead […]

Password reset phishing emails

I’ve been receiving an increasing number of this type of email scam lately so I have to assume that many others are as well. I get emails supposedly from Microsoft to reset my Office 365 […]

Grok AI and Your Privacy

What You Need to Know About Grok AI and Your Privacy

In 2015, Elon Musk and Sam Altman cofounded OpenAI based on a seemingly ethical ethos: to develop AI technology that benefits humanity, rather than […]

It’s GlowTime !!!

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Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event has just come to a close. While the iPhone 16 was the headliner of yesterday’s showcase, Apple had several other announcements to share, including some exciting new […]

How to Restore an MFA Authenticator App

We are huge fans of authenticator apps to do multi-factor authentication (MFA)! They’re safer than other MFA methods, like using a one-time code texted to your phone number, and we think they make MFA easier […]

5 Things You Must Not Share With AI Chatbots

Conversations with chatbots may feel intimate, but you’re really sharing every word with a private company.

The Risks Involved in Using AI Chatbots

AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Bard, […]

Warning – Chinese sending texts to lure you into scams

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Security researchers have identified a new wave of fraudulent activity committed by the Chinese cybercriminal organization known as the “Smishing Triad” gang. The group targets people by using fraudulent SMS messages […]

Microsoft Pulls Windows 11 24H2 Release Preview Build Amid Recall Controversy

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The Release Preview version of Windows 11 24H2 was the first version where the Recall feature could be enabled.

Recall is a new feature of Windows that continuously takes […]

Microsoft Introduces a New Security Challenge!

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Microsoft is launching Recall for Copilot Plus PCs, a new Windows 11 tool that keeps track of everything you see and do on your computer and, in return, […]

Get ready for the May 7 Apple ‘Let Loose’ livestream

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After what seems like forever, Apple is finally holding an iPad-focused press event. The “Let Loose” event is scheduled for today, May 7. The last iPad release was […]

Protect Yourself from “Accidental” Deposit Scams

Unintentional deposit scams are on the rise, particularly due to the popularity of mobile payment apps such as Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App. Let’s dive into the details:

What Are Accidental Deposit Scams?
In an accidental […]

Fighting back against potentially harmful voice cloning

If a call sounds like your boss (asking for bank account numbers) or your family member (begging for help in an emergency), you’re more likely to act. That’s why scammers use voice cloning to make […]

Google’s Chrome browser – private or not?

If you still hold any notion that Google Chrome’s “Incognito mode” is a good way to protect your privacy online, now’s a good time to stop. Those of us using Chrome’s Incognito Mode were more […]

Keeping Remote Workers Safe and Secure

Imagine taking someone from 2003 and showing them how work is done today. It’s not just about better technology; our work environment has changed drastically.

Instead of commuting to a traditional office, many of us work […]

Welcome to the Valley of the Creepy AI Dolls

Social robots for older adults might not be new, but now they’re recording, listening—and even talking back.

Last week at MWC (Mobile World Congress) the winner’s prize for bonkers went to a Korean company called Hyodol, […]

Insurance companies are using drones to monitor our homes

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Over the past decade, insurance companies such as Allstate, Nationwide, and Liberty Mutual have been using satellite imagery to gather data on their policyholders with homeowner’s insurance.

Why are insurers using these technologies?
Opting to […]

The Attack of the Electric Toothbrushes!

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In early February, a widely reported story that 3 million smart, electric toothbrushes were hacked with malware to conduct distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.

A Swiss news site published a story […]