Cybersecurity

4 clever ways to prevent spying and 1 way to spy

Cyber-security is much like driving a car: one accident can change everything, sending ripples of misfortune through every aspect of your life. Protecting your devices may seem excessive, even silly. Do you really need two-factor identification? Aren’t all those complicated passwords just a little annoying? Isn’t public Wi-Fi use acceptable in small doses?

Then someone drains your bank account. Or your identity is stolen. Or your credit score plummets, and you have no idea why. You would do anything to go back in time. Here are five spy hacks to do now before it’s too late.

On paper, the smart TV is a thrilling idea: Combine the best parts of a computer and television into one super-machine. These are the two devices that dominate most our conscious lives, and the interface of a computer can radically boost your entertainment experience.

But the risks are serious – and they have made smart TVs extremely controversial. It’s now common knowledge that the technology is susceptible to ransomware. In addition, certain models are susceptible to hacking, allowing cybercriminals to remotely monitor your activities in real time, using a microphone and possibly a camera in the busiest room in your home.

It may seriously hamper your enjoyment, but you’ll sleep better knowing that your TV isn’t doubling as surveillance equipment.

Click here for step-by-step instructions for switching off the snoops in your smart TV.

2. See all the information Google has on you

Most people are aware that Google compiles an enormous amount of personal information. We entrust Google with our passwords, our documents, and our photographs, but the company also absorbs types of data that you may not have considered...