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         September 22, 2026
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         September 22, 2026
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         September 22, 2026
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         September 22, 2026
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         September 21, 2026
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             3 min read
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         September 18, 2026
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             4 min read
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               AI hallucinated a nuclear threat. The US military nearly responded
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         September 21, 2026
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               Unexpected Bank Card in the Mail? Don’t Activate It – It Might Be a Scam
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         September 18, 2026
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      </a><!----><!----> <!----></div> <a href="/en-us/blog/hotforsecurity/bitdefender-best-scam-awareness-campaign-award-winner-gass-america-2026" title="Bitdefender Wins Best Scam Awareness Campaign Award at the GASS Summit America 2026" class="tw-block"><h3 class="tw-font-bold tw-leading-tight tw-line-clamp-3 tw-text-lg">
               Bitdefender Wins Best Scam Awareness Campaign Award at the GASS Summit America 2026
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{layout:"default",data:[{featuredPost:[{id:ap,title:aq,slug:ar,feature_image:as,featured:A,published_at:at,custom_excerpt:D,html:au,tags:[{id:av,name:aw,slug:ax,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:E,name:F,slug:G,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:ay,name:az,slug:aA,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],authors:[{id:aB,name:aC,slug:aD,profile_image:aE,cover_image:a,bio:aF,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],excerpt:D,reading_time:x,url:aG}],topPost:[{id:H,title:I,slug:J,feature_image:K,featured:c,published_at:L,custom_excerpt:a,plaintext:"The US military reportedly came close to intercepting a Chinese vessel after an AI-assisted intelligence report falsely claimed the ship was carrying components for a nuclear weapons program.\n\n\nKey takeaways\n\n\n * The US military reportedly prepared to intercept a Chinese ship based on an intelligence report created with the help of AI\n * An AI chatbot incorrectly identified the vessel's cargo as components linked to a nuclear weapons program\n * Troops were preparing to board the ship and military aircraft were already in the air before the mistake was discovered, according to media reports\n * The analyst reportedly used AI both to analyze the underlying information and to package the conclusion into an intelligence report\n * The incident highlights the risks of treating authoritative-sounding AI output as verified information\n * Human oversight only works when people independently check the evidence rather than simply approve AI output\n\n\nThe US military was preparing to board a Chinese ship — with troops getting ready and military aircraft already in the air — when officials discovered that the intelligence behind the operation was wrong.\n\nAccording to a CNN investigation, an artificial intelligence chatbot had misidentified the vessel's cargo. The error was then incorporated into a formal intelligence report and circulated through the military.\n\nIn most everyday situations, an AI hallucination might mean a bad recommendation or incorrect fact. In a military setting, the stakes can be dramatically higher.\n\n\nHow an AI error became military intelligence\n\n\n\nThe incident occurred this spring amid the war with Iran, according to CNN, which cited four unnamed people familiar with the events.\n\nAn analyst working with a special operations command reportedly queried an AI chatbot about intelligence concerning the manifest of a Chinese vessel traveling through the Middle East.\n\nThe system combined open-source material with classified US government signals intelligence. CNN could not establish whether the chatbot was a commercially available product or a system developed for the government.\n\nThe chatbot concluded that the vessel was carrying material associated with a nuclear weapons program.\n\nIt was wrong.\n\nThe analyst then reportedly turned to AI again, using it to package the findings into a standard intelligence report that was distributed through military channels. The document triggered preparations to intercept the Chinese vessel.\n\nArmed US personnel were preparing to board the ship, while military aircraft had already taken off, according to CNN's sources.\n\nOfficials examining the report more closely shortly before the operation discovered the problem: the chatbot had misidentified the vessel’s cargo. CNN said it could not determine what the actual cargo was.\n\nOne source described the report to CNN as “entirely false,” while another said the incident “almost started a war.”\n\n\nAI can sound confident even when it is completely wrong\n\n\n\nGenerative AI systems don't necessarily distinguish between knowing something and producing an answer that sounds plausible.\n\nSo-called AI hallucinations occur when a model generates inaccurate or fabricated information and presents it convincingly. Depending on the circumstances, that might mean inventing a source, confusing people or places, misinterpreting data, or drawing a conclusion that isn't supported by the underlying evidence.\n\nThe incident illustrates another danger as well: an incorrect AI output can gain credibility as it moves through an organization.\n\nIn this case, the error didn't remain inside a chatbot conversation. It was incorporated into an intelligence product and distributed through channels where recipients would ordinarily expect information to have undergone appropriate scrutiny.\n\n\nThe Pentagon is accelerating its use of AI\n\n\n\nThe close call comes as the US military aggressively expands its use of artificial intelligence.\n\nIn January, the Department of War announced an AI Acceleration Strategy intended to integrate advanced AI across warfighting, intelligence and enterprise operations.\n\nThe strategy calls for AI to support areas ranging from battlefield decision-making and intelligence analysis to everyday workflows, with the department saying that speed is a major competitive advantage.\n\nThat expansion has continued. Earlier this month, the department said ChatGPT and Grok had joined Gemini among the AI systems in GenAI.mil, its secure generative-AI environment. The platform is intended to make AI capabilities available across a workforce of more than 3 million people.\n\nCNN's sources, however, described AI adoption across the military and intelligence community as decentralized, with different tools operating under different rules and safeguards. They said there is no single standard governing how AI-generated information is verified.\n\n\nThe human in the loop\n\n\n\nThe Chinese ship wasn't targeted autonomously by an AI system. It was still humans who:\n\n * received the intelligence\n * interpreted the information\n * began preparing the operation\n * and ultimately discovered the mistake and stopped it\n\nHuman oversight provides limited protection if the person reviewing an AI-generated answer assumes the machine has done the hard work correctly.\n\nThe lesson applies far beyond military intelligence:\n\n * Employees in almost every sector increasingly use AI to summarize documents, research subjects, analyze data, write reports and make recommendations\n * Consumers use it to answer health, financial and security questions\n * Students use it for research\n * Businesses integrate it into workflows where its output can influence real decisions\n\nAI output can be extremely useful, but it’s something to verify – not something to take at face value simply because it sounds convincing.\n\nOn topic:\n\nBig Tech calls for cyber-defense before AI attacks surge\n\nAI hacks system and accesses personal data in reported breach\n\nSpaceX wants customer data from failed startups as AI fodder",authors:[{id:k,name:l,slug:m,profile_image:n,cover_image:a,bio:o,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:t,name:u,slug:v,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:p,name:e,slug:e,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:M,url:N},{id:aH,title:aI,slug:aJ,feature_image:aK,featured:c,published_at:aL,custom_excerpt:a,plaintext:"Finding a new bank card in your mailbox may look like a routine replacement. But if you didn't request it, don't assume it’s really from your bank.\n\nPortugal’s National Republican Guard (GNR) recently warned about a new scam that begins with an unsolicited bank card delivered to someone’s home. The card can be followed by a phone call, text message or email from a person claiming to represent a bank or financial institution.\n\nThey may say the card needs to be activated, cancelled or verified. Their real goal is to obtain personal and banking information, including passwords, PINs or one-time security codes that could give them access to your account.\n\n\nKey takeaways\n\n * A bank card you did not request could be the start of a scam\n * Do not activate, use or share information connected to an unexpected card\n * A phone call, email or text that follows may be part of the same scheme\n * Never give anyone your PIN, online-banking password or verification code\n * Contact your bank independently using its official app, website or the number on your existing card\n * If you have shared information, contact your bank immediately and tell people in your household what happened\n\n\nHow the unexpected bank card scam works\n\nThe scam starts when a card arrives at your home, even though you never asked for a new one or replacement.\n\nThat unexpected delivery can create confusion. Is it an administrative error? Has someone opened an account in your name? Is your current card compromised?\n\nScammers rely on those questions and may message or call you, claiming there is a problem with the card or saying it needs to be activated before it can be canceled.\n\nThey may ask you to confirm personal details, provide card information, enter credentials through a link, or read out a code sent to your phone.\n\nDon't trust any of these requests just because a card arrived at your address. The delivery of the card can be the first step in making the follow-up contact feel legitimate.\n\n\nWhat to do if an unsolicited bank card arrives\n\nDo not use the card, try to activate it or follow any instructions included with it until you have verified it directly with your bank.\n\nHere’s what to do instead:\n\n * Open your banking app and check for new accounts, cards or unfamiliar activity\n * Call your bank using the number printed on the original card or listed on its official website or in the app\n * Do not use a phone number, QR code, link or email address included in an unexpected message or package\n * Ask the bank whether the card is genuine and whether anyone has tried to open an account or make changes in your name\n * Keep the card and any related messages in case your bank or police asks for them\n\nIf you receive a call, text or email about the card, do not share your PIN, passwords, account details or verification codes. A real bank will not need you to reveal these details to an unexpected caller.\n\nRemember, a card delivery can be followed by more pressure. Fraudsters may initially send you a text and follow up with a phone call. The caller may know your name, address or bank, then use that information to establish trust and make the situation feel urgent and real.\n\nBut knowing your personal details doesn't prove the caller is a legitimate representative from your bank. Information can be gathered from data breaches, public records, social media or previous scams.\n\nThat is also why you should independently verify anything connected to your bank account. End the unexpected conversation and contact your bank through a verified channel.\n\nNever move money to a so-called safe account, withdraw cash, hand over your existing card or give a stranger access to your online banking because they claim there is an investigation or security issue.\n\n\nSimilar scams can move from your phone to your front door\n\nThis alert shares an important theme with a recent doorstep bank-card scam, where criminals used texts and spoofed calls before sending someone to collect a victim’s supposedly compromised card.\n\nThe exact tactics may differ, but the rule remains the same: your bank will not send an unexpected visitor to collect your card, PIN, cash or account information.\n\nIf someone arrives at your home claiming to be from your bank, do not hand over anything and do not let them inside. Close the door and contact your bank independently. If the person refuses to leave or makes you feel unsafe, contact local law enforcement.\n\n\nIf you have already shared information\n\nAct quickly if you used the card, entered information on a linked website, or gave someone your banking credentials, PIN or verification code.\n\nContact your bank immediately and ask it to block any affected cards and review your account for unauthorized activity. Change compromised online-banking credentials from a trusted device, especially if you reuse that password elsewhere. Check for unfamiliar transfers, beneficiaries, contact details or changes to your account.\n\nSave screenshots, messages, phone numbers and emails connected to the scam. Report the incident to your bank and local police. It is also worth telling family members, particularly older relatives, so they know to be cautious about unexpected cards, follow-up calls and visitors.\n\nYou can use Bitdefender Scamio to check suspicious messages, emails and screenshots, while Bitdefender Link Checker can help you inspect a questionable URL before opening it.\n\nAn unexpected card is not something to panic about. But it is a reason to slow down, avoid engaging with anyone who contacts you about it, and verify the situation directly with your bank.",authors:[{id:O,name:P,slug:Q,profile_image:R,cover_image:a,bio:S,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:E,name:F,slug:G,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:p,name:e,slug:e,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:aM,url:aN},{id:aO,title:aP,slug:aQ,feature_image:aR,featured:c,published_at:aS,custom_excerpt:a,plaintext:"Bitdefender has won the Best Awareness Campaign or Educational Programme award at the 2026 Global Anti-Scam Summit in San Francisco.\n\nThe award honored Scam Radar, Bitdefender’s early-warning feature that helps people spot emerging scam waves in their region before they become targets.\n\nScams are a problem globally. They cross borders quickly, move between social media, text messages, email and messaging apps, and use familiar brands, local news stories and trusted public figures to make their claims feel believable.\n\nAI has raised the stakes further, with criminals using the same technology we use for good to create more convincing phishing messages, fake identities, deepfake videos and fraudulent ads at a scale that was much harder to achieve a few years ago. Scam campaigns can also be tested, changed and localized quickly, making it more difficult for consumers to know what is real.\n\nThat’s why awareness needs to be timely, practical and connected to the threats people are actually seeing.\n\n\nHelping people spot scams before they spread\n\nScam Radar uses real-time threat intelligence to identify emerging scam campaigns, including threats that are active in specific countries or areas. Rather than relying only on generic advice after a scam has already become widely known, it gives you early warnings about suspicious activity that may be reaching your community.\n\nAlerts can include real examples of scam messages or ads, the brands or public figures being impersonated, and practical guidance on what to look out for. This context can help you, your family, and your friends recognize similar attempts in their inboxes, text messages, or social media feeds.\n\nAvailable through Bitdefender’s Scam Protection and Scam Protection Pro layers in Mobile Security for Android and iOS, Scam Radar brings awareness and protection together in one place. Users can also share alerts with friends and family, helping extend that knowledge beyond a single device.\n\nLearn more about Scam Radar.\n\n\nA shared response to a global problem\n\nThe award reflects Bitdefender’s commitment to helping consumers worldwide stay safer from scams and fraud.\n\nNo organization, product or country can solve this problem alone. Fighting scams requires ongoing collaboration between technology companies, consumer-protection groups, governments, law enforcement and other organizations working to disrupt criminal operations and improve public awareness.\n\nAs a founding and advisory board member of the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, Bitdefender is committed to sharing expertise, supporting cross-border collaboration and helping level the playing field for consumers.\n\nWe will continue to research the latest scam tactics, work with partners across the industry and innovate our security solutions and tools to help people identify threats earlier and make safer decisions online.\n\nBecause scams evolve quickly. Our response must evolve even faster.",authors:[{id:O,name:P,slug:Q,profile_image:R,cover_image:a,bio:S,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:p,name:e,slug:e,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:aT,url:aU}],postsWhite:[{id:V,title:W,slug:X,feature_image:Y,featured:c,published_at:Z,custom_excerpt:a,html:_,authors:[{id:k,name:l,slug:m,profile_image:n,cover_image:a,bio:o,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:r,name:q,slug:s,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:$,reading_time:x,url:aa},{id:H,title:I,slug:J,feature_image:K,featured:c,published_at:L,custom_excerpt:a,html:ab,authors:[{id:k,name:l,slug:m,profile_image:n,cover_image:a,bio:o,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:t,name:u,slug:v,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:p,name:e,slug:e,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:M,reading_time:ac,url:N},{id:ad,title:ae,slug:af,feature_image:ag,featured:c,published_at:ah,custom_excerpt:a,html:ai,authors:[{id:k,name:l,slug:m,profile_image:n,cover_image:a,bio:o,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:r,name:q,slug:s,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:t,name:u,slug:v,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:aj,reading_time:B,url:ak}],postsBlack:[{id:V,title:W,slug:X,feature_image:Y,featured:c,published_at:Z,custom_excerpt:a,html:_,authors:[{id:k,name:l,slug:m,profile_image:n,cover_image:a,bio:o,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:r,name:q,slug:s,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:$,reading_time:x,url:aa},{id:ad,title:ae,slug:af,feature_image:ag,featured:c,published_at:ah,custom_excerpt:a,html:ai,authors:[{id:k,name:l,slug:m,profile_image:n,cover_image:a,bio:o,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:r,name:q,slug:s,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:t,name:u,slug:v,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:aj,reading_time:B,url:ak},{id:aV,title:aW,slug:aX,feature_image:aY,featured:c,published_at:aZ,custom_excerpt:a,html:a_,authors:[{id:k,name:l,slug:m,profile_image:n,cover_image:a,bio:o,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:r,name:q,slug:s,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:t,name:u,slug:v,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:p,name:e,slug:e,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:a$,reading_time:ba,url:bb},{id:"6aa01d1b8beeea96580299ac",title:"The US military just turned off ad tracking on its phones. Maybe you should too",slug:"us-military-turned-off-ad-tracking-phones",feature_image:"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Farmy-phone.jpeg",featured:c,published_at:"2026-09-08T17:36:01.000+03:00",custom_excerpt:bc,html:"\u003Cp\u003EBranches of the US military have \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.reuters.com\u002Fbusiness\u002Fmedia-telecom\u002Fus-military-turns-off-ad-trackers-devices-amid-middle-east-targeting-reports-2026-09-04\u002F\"\u003Ereportedly\u003C\u002Fa\u003E disabled ad-tracking on government-issued phones and computers, following concerns that commercially-available location data has been used to target American forces in the Middle East.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConfirmation that the US Army, Air Force, Navy, and Special Operations Command had disabled advertising IDs on government-issued devices to protect personnel emerged following the release of letters released last week by Senator Ron Wyden, who has been pressing the Pentagon to do this for months.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, why is this important?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEvery smartphone carries a mobile advertising ID - Apple calls its version the IDFA, and Google calls its the GAID. The ID is a string of characters tied to your smartphone that lets advertisers recognise you as you move between different apps. Most apps quietly share it with outside companies, from where it can end up in the hands of data brokers, who routinely buy and sell this kind of information\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy itself a mobile advertising ID doesn't tell you very much. But when combined with location data that many apps also collect, it can become a mechanism to track exactly where a particular phone goes, day and night.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBack in April, US Central Command reportedly \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.al-monitor.com\u002Foriginals\u002F2026\u002F05\u002Fexclusive-pentagon-says-us-military-personnel-are-reportedly-being-targeted-using\"\u003Ewarned\u003C\u002Fa\u003E of \"multiple threat reports concerning adversary exploitation of commercial location data.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is, of course, precisely the kind of intelligence that an enemy state would want before aiming a drone or missile.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESenator Wyden, along with Representative Pat Harrigan, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.documentcloud.org\u002Fdocuments\u002F28599033-wyden-harrigan-letter-dod-oig-location-data\u002F\"\u003Ewrote to the Pentagon last week\u003C\u002Fa\u003E asking its inspector general to investigate whether the armed forces have properly countered the risks that their location data is being traded.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EReuters\u003C\u002Fem\u003E reported Harrigan as saying:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\"[US enemies] should not be able to pull out a credit card and buy information that helps them track American troops.\"\u003C\u002Fblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOf course, just because advertising IDs might be disabled on government-owned devices does not mean that there are not real concerns that personal smartphones used by troops and other personnel are also carelessly sharing sensitive data.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn July, for instance, \u003Cem\u003EReuters\u003C\u002Fem\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.reuters.com\u002Fbusiness\u002Fmedia-telecom\u002Fus-commander-warns-troops-their-videos-help-iran-sources-say-2026-07-29\u002F\"\u003Ereported\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that troops in Jordan had been told their personal devices would be confiscated to prevent adversaries from accessing the \"reactions, photos, and footage from the cellphones of our troops.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd at the end of last month, the US Navy told personnel to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fus-navy-sailors-families-scrub-social-media-enemies-watching\"\u003Eclean up their social media profiles\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, as adversaries might be exploiting them for open-source intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe truth is that the threat is not just a military one. Any member of the general public may also dislike the amount of information their phones are collecting about them, and potentially sharing with data brokers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou don't need to be anywhere near the front line of an international conflict to take action to better defend your privacy.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn an iPhone, go to \u003Cstrong\u003ESettings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E &gt; \u003Cstrong\u003EPrivacy\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E &amp; \u003Cstrong\u003ESecurity\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E &gt; \u003Cstrong\u003ETracking\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, and switch off \"Allow Apps to Request to Track.\"\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn Android, head to \u003Cstrong\u003ESettings\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E &gt; \u003Cstrong\u003EPrivacy\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E &gt; \u003Cstrong\u003EAds\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. Recent versions should let you delete your advertising ID entirely.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETaking these steps will not stop every way in which you could be tracked, or do anything about the data that has already been collected. But it is a simple way which helps to prevent further information sliding from your life into a data broker's database.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf it's good enough for the US military - maybe it should be good enough for you too.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",authors:[{id:"66d5cbea28045a04f10b89d1",name:"Graham CLULEY",slug:"gcluley",profile_image:"http:\u002F\u002F2.gravatar.com\u002Favatar\u002F5fdc27b8b6f6fd69e77aa017a53cceb5?s=512&d=mm&r=g",cover_image:a,bio:"Graham Cluley is an award-winning security blogger, researcher and public speaker.  He has been working in the computer security industry since the early 1990s.",website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:r,name:q,slug:s,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:bc,reading_time:bd,url:"\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fus-military-turned-off-ad-tracking-phones\u002F"}],tagWhiteDetail:{slug:j,id:h,name:i,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a,url:"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Ftag\u002Findustry-news\u002F"},tagBlackDetail:{slug:s,id:r,name:q,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a,url:"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Ftag\u002Fdigital-privacy\u002F"},settings:{title:al,description:be,logo:bf,icon:a,accent_color:bg,cover_image:bh,facebook:bi,twitter:bj,lang:d,locale:d,timezone:bk,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,navigation:[{label:bl,url:am},{label:bm,url:bn},{label:q,url:bo},{label:C,url:bp},{label:bq,url:br},{label:z,url:bs}],secondary_navigation:[],meta_title:a,meta_description:a,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,members_support_address:bt,members_enabled:c,allow_self_signup:c,members_invite_only:c,paid_members_enabled:c,firstpromoter_account:a,portal_button_style:bu,portal_button_signup_text:bv,portal_button_icon:a,portal_signup_terms_html:a,portal_signup_checkbox_required:c,portal_plans:[bw,bx,T],portal_default_plan:T,portal_name:A,portal_button:c,comments_enabled:by,recommendations_enabled:c,outbound_link_tagging:c,default_email_address:bz,support_email_address:bA,editor_default_email_recipients:bB,labs:{},url:bC,version:bD},allBiTags:[]}],fetch:{"BlogMenu:0":{settings:{title:al,description:be,logo:bf,icon:a,accent_color:bg,cover_image:bh,facebook:bi,twitter:bj,lang:d,locale:d,timezone:bk,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,navigation:[{label:bl,url:am},{label:bm,url:bn},{label:q,url:bo},{label:C,url:bp},{label:bq,url:br},{label:z,url:bs}],secondary_navigation:[],meta_title:a,meta_description:a,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,members_support_address:bt,members_enabled:c,allow_self_signup:c,members_invite_only:c,paid_members_enabled:c,firstpromoter_account:a,portal_button_style:bu,portal_button_signup_text:bv,portal_button_icon:a,portal_signup_terms_html:a,portal_signup_checkbox_required:c,portal_plans:[bw,bx,T],portal_default_plan:T,portal_name:A,portal_button:c,comments_enabled:by,recommendations_enabled:c,outbound_link_tagging:c,default_email_address:bz,support_email_address:bA,editor_default_email_recipients:bB,labs:{},url:bC,version:bD},blogNames:bE,blogTitles:{hotforsecurity:al,labs:"Labs",businessinsights:"Business Insights",cyberpedia:"Cyberpedia"},blogRegions:{hotforsecurity:[d,"ro","de",bF,"es"],labs:[d],businessinsights:[d,bF],cyberpedia:[d]},activeBlog:an,blogFound:an},"FilterSection:0":{posts:[{id:V,title:W,slug:X,feature_image:Y,featured:c,published_at:Z,custom_excerpt:a,html:_,authors:[{id:k,name:l,slug:m,profile_image:n,cover_image:a,bio:o,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:r,name:q,slug:s,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:$,reading_time:x,url:aa},{id:"6ab25dae8beeea965802a22b",title:"Teen deepfake sexual abuse: AI involved in 1 in 4 Cases, study finds",slug:"teen-deepfake-sexual-abuse-ai-study",feature_image:"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002FTeen-deepfake-sexual-abuse-AI-involved-in-1-in-4-Cases--study-finds.png",featured:c,published_at:"2026-09-22T13:58:12.000+03:00",custom_excerpt:a,html:"\u003Cp\u003EA new nationally representative Australian study of&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E1,894 adolescents aged 16 to 18\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;found that AI was involved in&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E26% of cases where sexual images were shared without consent\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. The findings highlight how AI is changing image-based abuse: with deepfakes and AI-generated images, a teenager can be targeted even if they have&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003Enever created or shared an intimate photo\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers uncovered another concerning trend. Teens who experienced online sexual victimisation were&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003Emore likely to tell an AI chatbot what had happened than to disclose it to an authority\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, such as a teacher, police officer, counsellor or reporting service.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"key-takeaways\"\u003EKey takeaways:\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EResearchers surveyed 1,894 Australians aged 16 to 18 about experiences that occurred before age 18.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENearly&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E1 in 6 (14.9%)\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;had experienced at least one of the two forms of online sexual victimisation measured in the study.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAmong teens whose sexual images had been shared without consent,&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E26% said AI was involved\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBoys were significantly more likely than girls to report AI involvement in their online sexual victimisation.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAmong those who experienced online sexual victimisation,&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E18.7% disclosed it to AI\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, compared with&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E13.2% who disclosed to an authority\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOf those who disclosed their experience to AI, only&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E18.9% also told another person\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe findings reinforce how important it is for parents to make it safe for teenagers to ask for help without fearing blame, punishment or immediately losing access to their devices.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"how-ai-is-changing-online-sexual-abuse-targeting-teens\"\u003EHow AI is changing online sexual abuse targeting teens\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study, conducted by researchers from Adelaide University and Queensland University of Technology in collaboration with ICMEC Australia and other child protection stakeholders, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ficmec.org.au\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F08\u002FCubitt_et_al_AI_and_non_AI_online_child-sexual_victimisation_disclosures_and_help_seeking-1.pdf\"\u003Esurveyed\u003C\u002Fa\u003E Australian adolescents between March and April 2026.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers focused on two forms of online child sexual victimisation:&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003Esexual images being shared without the young person's consent\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;and&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003Eonline sexual solicitation by an adult\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. Overall, 14.9% of participants said they had experienced at least one of these before turning 18. Girls reported higher levels of online sexual victimisation overall: 18.9%, compared with 10.6% of boys.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI, however, appears to be changing that picture.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmong young people who had experienced online sexual victimisation,&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E14.9% said AI had been involved\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. When researchers looked specifically at non-consensual sharing of sexual images, that figure rose to&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E26%, roughly one in four cases\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI involvement could include generating or manipulating images, generating or changing voices, or using generative AI tools as part of the abuse.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers note that their estimates may actually be conservative. Participants who weren't sure whether AI had been involved were not counted as AI-related cases, meaning the true level of AI involvement could be higher.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDeepfakes also change the conversation parents need to have with teens.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Talking about sexting, consent and the risks of sharing intimate images still matters, but \"don't send nudes\" is no longer enough. AI tools can turn an ordinary photo into fake sexual imagery without the person's knowledge or consent. That means conversations should also cover what to do if someone creates or shares a sexual deepfake, and make clear that the person depicted is not responsible for someone else's decision to create or distribute it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"when-ai-was-involved-boys-were-more-likely-to-be-affected\"\u003EWhen AI was involved, boys were more likely to be affected\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the more surprising findings concerns gender. Girls were considerably more likely to experience online sexual victimisation overall. But when AI was involved, the pattern reversed.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmong teens who had experienced online sexual victimisation,&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E26.6% of boys reported that AI had been involved, compared with 9% of girls\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe difference was even larger for non-consensual sexual image sharing involving AI:&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E37.5% among boys who had experienced this type of victimisation, compared with 19.7% among girls\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers say this reversal suggests that&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EAI may be changing the nature of online sexual victimisation, with boys disproportionately affected when AI is involved.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"teens-are-turning-to-ai-for-help-after-online-sexual-abuse\"\u003ETeens are turning to AI for help after online sexual abuse\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study found that AI isn't only being used as part of online sexual abuse. Some teenagers are also turning to it for help afterward.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmong adolescents who experienced online sexual victimisation,&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E18.7% disclosed what happened to AI, compared with 13.2% who told an authority\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, such as a teacher, doctor, counsellor, police officer, helpline or online reporting service. Boys were particularly likely to turn to AI:&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E27.1% disclosed to AI, compared with 14.6% of girls\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore concerning, among those who disclosed their victimisation to AI,&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003Eonly 18.9% also told another person\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. In some cases, that means a chatbot may be the only place a teenager has revealed what happened.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis fits into a broader pattern. At least once a week,&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E36.6% of teens surveyed asked AI for personal life advice, 22.2% asked for counselling about personal problems, and 12.3% disclosed hurtful personal experiences\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. Overall,&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E17% engaged in all three forms of AI help-seeking at least once a week.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study didn't ask teens why they chose AI over a person. However, previous research cited by the authors suggests that young people may hesitate to disclose online sexual experiences because they fear how adults will react, including having their phones taken away.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's easy to understand some of AI's appeal:&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003Ethere's no shocked reaction, anger, lecture or awkward conversation.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;But a chatbot cannot replace a trusted adult who can help report abuse, preserve evidence and take practical steps to protect a teenager.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"how-parents-can-make-it-easier-for-teens-to-ask-for-help\"\u003EHow parents can make it easier for teens to ask for help\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDon't wait for something bad to happen to tell your teenager what they can expect if they come to you with an online problem.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMake it clear that asking for help&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003Ewon't automatically mean anger, blame or losing their phone\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. You could say: \u003Cem\u003E\"If something happens online and you need help, you can tell me. I might be upset about what happened, but I won't be angry with you. We'll figure out what to do together.\"\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis matters because previous research cited in the study found that fear of parents taking away their phones can discourage young people from disclosing online sexual experiences.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParents can also make a few things clear before they're ever needed:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou won't blame them for someone else's actions.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Even if they originally shared an intimate image, someone else sharing or manipulating it without consent is not their responsibility.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFake doesn't mean harmless.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EAn AI-generated sexual image can cause very real harm even though the image itself isn't authentic.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThey can ask for help before they know exactly what happened or what to do next.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDon't immediately delete messages or other evidence.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;It may be needed to report what happened.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAI shouldn't be the only place they ask for help.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EIf they turn to a chatbot first, encourage them to also tell you or another trusted adult who can help them take action.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"talk-about-creating-deepfakes-not-only-becoming-a-victim\"\u003ETalk about creating deepfakes, not only becoming a victim\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere's another side of the conversation parents shouldn't overlook: teenagers need to understand that&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003Ecreating a sexualised AI image of someone else isn't a harmless prank just because the image is fake\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETalk about consent in terms that apply to AI as well as real photographs. Using someone's photo to create sexual content without their consent can cause very real harm, whether the target is a classmate, friend, ex-partner or stranger.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study also found that online sexual victimisation tended to&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003Ecluster within friendship groups\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, suggesting these experiences may be closer to teens' everyday social circles than parents realise.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"add-technology-to-the-conversation-too\"\u003EAdd technology to the conversation, too\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOpen conversations with your teen are essential, but technology can provide another layer of protection when you're unsure whether something you see online is authentic.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Frealcheck.onelink.me\u002FxWYY\u002Fl7cmeixk\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBitdefender RealCheck\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, a standalone app for iOS and Android, can help you evaluate whether a video may have been manipulated, useful when you or your teen aren't sure whether what you're seeing online is real.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fconsumer\u002Ffamily\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBitdefender Family Plans\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fa\u003Ehelp protect your family’s digital life from scams, malicious links, malware, identity risks and other online threats, while giving parents tools to support their children’s online safety. They can’t prevent someone from creating a deepfake, but they can help protect your family as digital threats continue to evolve.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETechnology can't prevent every deepfake or replace the trusted adult a teenager needs when something goes wrong. But it can help families&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003Equestion what they see, identify potential threats and stay safer as those threats evolve.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EYou may also want to read:\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-au\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fteen-sexting-rising-sextortion-risks\" rel=\"noreferrer\"\u003ETeen sexting has risen sharply since 2019, new study finds\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fdigital-consent\"\u003EDigital consent: When should you ask before sharing online?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fwhat-to-do-if-child-is-sextorted\"\u003EWhat to do if your child is being sextorted: A therapist’s guide for parents\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESource: \u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ficmec.org.au\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F08\u002FCubitt_et_al_AI_and_non_AI_online_child-sexual_victimisation_disclosures_and_help_seeking-1.pdf\"\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAI- and non-AI online child sexual victimisation, disclosures and help- seeking\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"faqs\"\u003EFAQs\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"what-is-deepfake-sexual-abuse\"\u003EWhat is deepfake sexual abuse?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDeepfake sexual abuse involves using AI or other digital tools to create or manipulate sexual or nude images of a person without their consent. The original photograph does not need to be sexual; ordinary images can potentially be altered to create fake sexual content.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"how-common-is-ai-related-sexual-image-abuse-among-teens\"\u003EHow common is AI-related sexual image abuse among teens?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the 2026 Australian study,&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E26% of adolescents who experienced non-consensual sharing of sexual images said AI was involved\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. Across both types of online sexual victimisation measured by researchers, 14.9% of victims reported AI involvement.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"can-someone-create-a-nude-deepfake-if-a-teen-has-never-sent-a-nude\"\u003ECan someone create a nude deepfake if a teen has never sent a nude?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes. Generative AI can be used to manipulate ordinary photographs into fake nude or sexualised images. This means avoiding sexting cannot completely eliminate the risk of image-based sexual abuse.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"why-are-teens-telling-ai-chatbots-about-online-sexual-abuse\"\u003EWhy are teens telling AI chatbots about online sexual abuse?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study found that 18.7% of adolescents who experienced online sexual victimisation disclosed it to AI, but it did not directly ask participants why they chose AI. Previous research suggests fear of judgment, embarrassment and concerns about adults' reactions can discourage young people from disclosing online sexual experiences.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"what-should-parents-do-if-their-teen-is-targeted-with-a-sexual-deepfake\"\u003EWhat should parents do if their teen is targeted with a sexual deepfake?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStay calm and make it clear that your child is not to blame. Avoid immediately deleting messages or other evidence. Save relevant usernames, messages, links and other information, report the content through the appropriate platform and reporting channels, and seek professional or law-enforcement support where appropriate.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"should-parents-take-away-a-teens-phone-after-online-sexual-abuse\"\u003EShould parents take away a teen's phone after online sexual abuse?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENot automatically. Research cited in the study suggests that fear of losing phone access can discourage young people from disclosing online sexual experiences. Unless continued access creates an immediate safety risk, focus first on stopping the abuse, preserving evidence and helping your teen feel safe enough to tell you what happened.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"is-it-safe-for-teens-to-ask-ai-chatbots-for-help\"\u003EIs it safe for teens to ask AI chatbots for help?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI can sometimes provide information or help a teenager organize their thoughts, but it shouldn't replace human support in serious situations such as sexual abuse, sextortion or non-consensual image sharing. Encourage teens who turn to AI first to also tell a trusted adult who can help them take action.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",authors:[{id:bG,name:bH,slug:bI,profile_image:bJ,cover_image:a,bio:bK,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:bL,name:bM,slug:bN,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:"A new nationally representative Australian study of 1,894 adolescents aged 16 to 18 found that AI was involved in 26% of cases where sexual images were shared without consent. The findings highlight how AI is changing image-based abuse: with deepfakes and AI-generated images, a teenager can be targeted even if they have never created or shared an intimate photo.\n\nThe researchers uncovered another concerning trend. Teens who experienced online sexual victimisation were more likely to tell an AI c",reading_time:7,url:"\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fteen-deepfake-sexual-abuse-ai-study\u002F"},{id:"6ab254198beeea965802a204",title:"Teen sexting has risen sharply since 2019, new study finds",slug:"teen-sexting-rising-sextortion-risks",feature_image:"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002FTeen-sexting-has-risen-sharply-since-2019--new-study-finds.png",featured:c,published_at:"2026-09-22T13:50:54.000+03:00",custom_excerpt:a,html:"\u003Cp\u003ETeen sexting has increased significantly in recent years, and the consequences can go far beyond an embarrassing message or photo getting into the wrong hands, according to a new national study of 3,466 U.S. teenagers ages 13 to 17.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study, conducted by researchers at Florida Atlantic University and the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and published in the&nbsp;\u003Cem\u003EJournal of Adolescent Health\u003C\u002Fem\u003E, suggests that conversations with teens need to go beyond simply telling them not to sext.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"key-takeaways\"\u003EKey takeaways:\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETeen sexting has increased sharply since 2019: 32.4% of teens surveyed had received a sext and 23.9% had sent one.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENearly half (46.8%) of teens who had sent a sext said their image was later shared without permission.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAlmost half (49.6%) of teens who had sent a sext reported experiencing sextortion.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EYounger teens who sext may be particularly vulnerable: more than 60% of 13-year-olds who had sent a sext said it was shared without their permission.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"teen-sexting-has-increased-significantly-since-2019\"\u003ETeen sexting has increased significantly since 2019\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESexting generally means sending, receiving or sharing sexually suggestive or explicit messages, images or videos digitally.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fau.edu\u002Fnewsdesk\u002Farticles\u002Fteen-sexting-study.php\"\u003Efound\u003C\u002Fa\u003E a clear increase compared with their 2019 study:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E· \u003Cstrong\u003EReceived a sext:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;23% in 2019 →&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E32.4% in 2026\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E· \u003Cstrong\u003ESent a sext:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;14% in 2019 →&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E23.9% in 2026\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERequests for intimate images were even more common. About&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E30% of teens said someone had asked them for a sext\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, while nearly 20% said they had asked someone else for one.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers also point to another complication that parents and teens now have to consider: AI.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAI is also complicating the risks surrounding sexual images online.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;These tools can be used to create realistic sexual content depicting someone who never took or sent an intimate image. Study co-author Sameer Hinduja warned that such AI-generated content can also be used in sextortion schemes.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"nearly-half-of-teens-who-sent-sexts-experienced-sextortion\"\u003ENearly half of teens who sent sexts experienced sextortion\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the most striking findings concerns what can happen after an intimate image is sent.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmong teens who had sent a sext:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E46.8% said their image had been shared with others without their permission.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E49.6% said they had subsequently experienced sextortion.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMore than&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E60% of 13-year-olds\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;who had sent a sext said it was shared without their consent, compared with about 41% of 17-year-olds.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESextortion occurs when someone uses intimate or sexually explicit images, or the threat of sharing them, to pressure a person into meeting their demands. Those demands may include sending more images, performing sexual acts or paying money.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study also found that who teens sent sexts to mattered considerably. Teens who sent sexts to someone outside a current romantic relationship were more than 13 times as likely to have an image shared without consent and nearly five times as likely to experience sextortion as teens who only sexted with a current boyfriend or girlfriend.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERelated:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fwhat-to-do-if-child-is-sextorted\"\u003EWhat to do if your child is being sextorted: A therapist’s guide for parents\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"younger-teens-may-be-particularly-vulnerable\"\u003EYounger teens may be particularly vulnerable\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough older teenagers were generally more likely to sext, researchers found significant involvement among younger adolescents as well.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat matters because younger teens who did send intimate images appeared particularly vulnerable to losing control over them. More than six in 10 13-year-olds who had sent a sext reported that the image was subsequently shared without their permission.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe findings also show why parents shouldn't assume that a child who doesn't send sexts won't encounter them. A teen may be asked for an image, receive one unsolicited, be shown someone else's image or find themselves under pressure from a romantic partner, friend, stranger or online contact.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"what-parents-can-do-about-teen-sexting\"\u003EWhat parents can do about teen sexting\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers argue that prevention needs to move beyond a simple&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E\"don't sext\"\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;message. Teens also need practical guidance about consent, boundaries, privacy and what to do when something goes wrong.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParents can start with a few important conversations:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExplain digital consent.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Make it clear that receiving someone's intimate image does not give you permission to show or forward it. Parents can model respect for digital consent by asking their children before posting photos of them online.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Fol\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERelated: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fdigital-consent\"\u003EDigital consent: When should you ask before sharing online?\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Col start=\"2\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETeach them to pause before sending.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Encourage your teen to think about what could happen once an image leaves their device. Even content sent to someone they trust can potentially be saved, copied or shared.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPractice how to respond to pressure.&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003ETalk through realistic situations: What could they say if someone asks for an intimate photo? What should they do if a friend shows them someone else's? Having an answer ready can make it easier to react when the situation actually happens.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECreate a safety net if something goes wrong.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;Your teen needs to know that asking you for help won't automatically result in punishment, anger or losing access to their phone. Fear of a parent's reaction can make an already frightening situation harder to disclose. If they receive an intimate image, encourage them not to forward it. If someone pressures or threatens them, make clear that they can come to you for help.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Fol\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERelated: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fhow-to-keep-teens-safe-online\"\u003EYour teen outgrew parental controls. Now what? How to keep teens safe online\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd importantly,&nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003Emost teenagers in the study were not sending sexts\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. The point isn't to convince parents that every teenager is doing it, but to prepare young people for situations they may encounter online.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs Hinduja put it, the goal should be to help teens recognize risky situations, protect their privacy and make informed decisions while still respecting their growing autonomy.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor parents, that means talking about sexting before there's a crisis, and making sure their child knows that if an intimate image is shared, manipulated or used to threaten them, they don't have to deal with it alone.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBitdefender Family Plans\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E help protect your family's digital life from scams, malicious links, malware and other digital threats, while giving parents age-appropriate tools to support their children's online safety. Combined with open conversations about consent, privacy and sextortion, these tools can help families navigate an increasingly complicated digital world together.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFind out more about how&nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fconsumer\u002Ffamily\"\u003EBitdefender Family Plans can support your family’s digital safety.\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESource:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E&nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fau.edu\u002Fnewsdesk\u002Farticles\u002Fteen-sexting-study.php\"\u003EFlorida Atlantic University study on teen sexting\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"\"\u003E&nbsp;\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"faqs\"\u003EFAQs\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"what-is-sexting-among-teens\"\u003EWhat is sexting among teens?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESexting generally means sending, receiving or sharing sexually suggestive or explicit messages, images or videos digitally. It can include content created with a camera as well as manipulated or AI-generated sexual images.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"how-common-is-sexting-among-teenagers\"\u003EHow common is sexting among teenagers?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIn the 2026 U.S. study, 32.4% of teens ages 13 to 17 said they had received a sext, while 23.9% said they had sent one. About 30% said someone had asked them to send a sext.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"what-are-the-risks-of-teen-sexting\"\u003EWhat are the risks of teen sexting?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIntimate images can be saved or shared without consent and may be used for bullying, harassment, coercion or sextortion. In the study, 46.8% of teens who had sent a sext said an image was shared without permission.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"what-is-sextortion\"\u003EWhat is sextortion?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESextortion happens when someone threatens to share an intimate or sexual image unless the victim meets demands, such as sending more images, providing sexual favors or paying money.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"what-should-parents-do-if-their-teen-is-being-sextorted\"\u003EWhat should parents do if their teen is being sextorted?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EStay calm and make sure your child knows they can ask for help without being blamed or punished. Don't pay or comply with the demands. Preserve relevant evidence, report the account and content to the platform, and contact the appropriate authorities or child-protection services. Help your teen block further contact once you've preserved the information you may need for a report.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",authors:[{id:bG,name:bH,slug:bI,profile_image:bJ,cover_image:a,bio:bK,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:bL,name:bM,slug:bN,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:"Teen sexting has increased significantly in recent years, and the consequences can go far beyond an embarrassing message or photo getting into the wrong hands, according to a new national study of 3,466 U.S. teenagers ages 13 to 17.\n\nThe study, conducted by researchers at Florida Atlantic University and the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, suggests that conversations with teens need to go beyond simply telling them not to sext.\n\n\nKey takeaways",reading_time:x,url:"\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fteen-sexting-rising-sextortion-risks\u002F"},{id:ap,title:aq,slug:ar,feature_image:as,featured:A,published_at:at,custom_excerpt:D,html:au,authors:[{id:aB,name:aC,slug:aD,profile_image:aE,cover_image:a,bio:aF,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:av,name:aw,slug:ax,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:E,name:F,slug:G,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:ay,name:az,slug:aA,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:D,reading_time:x,url:aG},{id:H,title:I,slug:J,feature_image:K,featured:c,published_at:L,custom_excerpt:a,html:ab,authors:[{id:k,name:l,slug:m,profile_image:n,cover_image:a,bio:o,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:t,name:u,slug:v,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:p,name:e,slug:e,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:M,reading_time:ac,url:N},{id:ad,title:ae,slug:af,feature_image:ag,featured:c,published_at:ah,custom_excerpt:a,html:ai,authors:[{id:k,name:l,slug:m,profile_image:n,cover_image:a,bio:o,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:r,name:q,slug:s,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:t,name:u,slug:v,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:aj,reading_time:B,url:ak}],sidePosts:[{id:H,title:I,slug:J,feature_image:K,featured:c,published_at:L,custom_excerpt:a,html:ab,authors:[{id:k,name:l,slug:m,profile_image:n,cover_image:a,bio:o,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:t,name:u,slug:v,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:p,name:e,slug:e,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:M,reading_time:ac,url:N},{id:aH,title:aI,slug:aJ,feature_image:aK,featured:c,published_at:aL,custom_excerpt:a,html:"\u003Cp\u003EFinding a new bank card in your mailbox may look like a routine replacement. But if you didn't request it, don't assume it’s really from your bank.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPortugal’s National Republican Guard (GNR) recently \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theportugalnews.com\u002Fnews\u002F2026-09-03\u002Fportugal-police-warns-of-new-card-scam\u002F1080807\" rel=\"noreferrer\"\u003Ewarned\u003C\u002Fa\u003E about a new scam that begins with an unsolicited bank card delivered to someone’s home. The card can be followed by a phone call, text message or email from a person claiming to represent a bank or financial institution.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey may say the card needs to be activated, cancelled or verified. Their real goal is to obtain personal and banking information, including passwords, PINs or one-time security codes that could give them access to your account.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"key-takeaways\"\u003EKey takeaways\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA bank card you did not request could be the start of a scam\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDo not activate, use or share information connected to an unexpected card\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA phone call, email or text that follows may be part of the same scheme\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENever give anyone your PIN, online-banking password or verification code\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EContact your bank independently using its official app, website or the number on your existing card\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIf you have shared information, contact your bank immediately and tell people in your household what happened\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"how-the-unexpected-bank-card-scam-works\"\u003EHow the unexpected bank card scam works\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe scam starts when a card arrives at your home, even though you never asked for a new one or replacement.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat unexpected delivery can create confusion. Is it an administrative error? Has someone opened an account in your name? Is your current card compromised?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EScammers rely on those questions and may message or call you, claiming there is a problem with the card or saying it needs to be activated before it can be canceled.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey may ask you to confirm personal details, provide card information, enter credentials through a link, or read out a code sent to your phone.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDon't trust any of these requests just because a card arrived at your address. The delivery of the card can be the first step in making the follow-up contact feel legitimate.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"what-to-do-if-an-unsolicited-bank-card-arrives\"\u003EWhat to do if an unsolicited bank card arrives\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDo not use the card, try to activate it or follow any instructions included with it until you have verified it directly with your bank.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere’s what to do instead:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOpen your banking app and check for new accounts, cards or unfamiliar activity\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECall your bank using the number printed on the original card or listed on its official website or in the app\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDo not use a phone number, QR code, link or email address included in an unexpected message or package\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAsk the bank whether the card is genuine and whether anyone has tried to open an account or make changes in your name\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EKeep the card and any related messages in case your bank or police asks for them\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you receive a call, text or email about the card, do not share your PIN, passwords, account details or verification codes. A real bank will not need you to reveal these details to an unexpected caller.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERemember, a card delivery can be followed by more pressure. Fraudsters may initially send you a text and follow up with a phone call. \u003C\u002Fstrong\u003EThe caller may know your name, address or bank, then use that information to establish trust and make the situation feel urgent and real.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut knowing your personal details doesn't prove the caller is a legitimate representative from your bank. Information can be gathered from data breaches, public records, social media or previous scams.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat is also why you should independently verify anything connected to your bank account. End the unexpected conversation and contact your bank through a verified channel.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENever move money to a so-called safe account, withdraw cash, hand over your existing card or give a stranger access to your online banking because they claim there is an investigation or security issue.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"similar-scams-can-move-from-your-phone-to-your-front-door\"\u003ESimilar scams can move from your phone to your front door\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis alert shares an important theme with a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-au\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fbank-scam-fraudsters-come-to-your-home\"\u003Erecent doorstep bank-card scam\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, where criminals used texts and spoofed calls before sending someone to collect a victim’s supposedly compromised card.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe exact tactics may differ, but the rule remains the same: your bank will not send an unexpected visitor to collect your card, PIN, cash or account information.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf someone arrives at your home claiming to be from your bank, do not hand over anything and do not let them inside. Close the door and contact your bank independently. If the person refuses to leave or makes you feel unsafe, contact local law enforcement.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"if-you-have-already-shared-information\"\u003EIf you have already shared information\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAct quickly if you used the card, entered information on a linked website, or gave someone your banking credentials, PIN or verification code.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EContact your bank immediately and ask it to block any affected cards and review your account for unauthorized activity. Change compromised online-banking credentials from a trusted device, especially if you reuse that password elsewhere. Check for unfamiliar transfers, beneficiaries, contact details or changes to your account.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESave screenshots, messages, phone numbers and emails connected to the scam. Report the incident to your bank and local police. It is also worth telling family members, particularly older relatives, so they know to be cautious about unexpected cards, follow-up calls and visitors.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can use \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fscamio.bitdefender.com\u002F\"\u003EBitdefender Scamio\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to check suspicious messages, emails and screenshots, while \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fsolutions\u002Flink-checker.html\"\u003EBitdefender Link Checker\u003C\u002Fa\u003E can help you inspect a questionable URL before opening it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn unexpected card is not something to panic about. But it is a reason to slow down, avoid engaging with anyone who contacts you about it, and verify the situation directly with your bank.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",authors:[{id:O,name:P,slug:Q,profile_image:R,cover_image:a,bio:S,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:E,name:F,slug:G,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:p,name:e,slug:e,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:aM,reading_time:B,url:aN},{id:aO,title:aP,slug:aQ,feature_image:aR,featured:c,published_at:aS,custom_excerpt:a,html:"\u003Cp\u003EBitdefender has won the \u003Cstrong\u003EBest Awareness Campaign or Educational Programme\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E award at the 2026 Global Anti-Scam Summit in San Francisco.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe award honored Scam Radar, Bitdefender’s early-warning feature that helps people spot emerging scam waves in their region before they become targets.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EScams are a problem globally. They cross borders quickly, move between social media, text messages, email and messaging apps, and use familiar brands, local news stories and trusted public figures to make their claims feel believable.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI has raised the stakes further, with criminals using the same technology we use for good to create more convincing phishing messages, fake identities, deepfake videos and fraudulent ads at a scale that was much harder to achieve a few years ago. Scam campaigns can also be tested, changed and localized quickly, making it more difficult for consumers to know what is real.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat’s why awareness needs to be timely, practical and connected to the threats people are actually seeing.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"helping-people-spot-scams-before-they-spread\"\u003EHelping people spot scams before they spread\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EScam Radar uses real-time threat intelligence to identify emerging scam campaigns, including threats that are active in specific countries or areas. Rather than relying only on generic advice after a scam has already become widely known, it gives you early warnings about suspicious activity that may be reaching your community.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlerts can include real examples of scam messages or ads, the brands or public figures being impersonated, and practical guidance on what to look out for. This context can help you, your family, and your friends recognize similar attempts in their inboxes, text messages, or social media feeds.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAvailable through Bitdefender’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fconsumer\u002Fscam-protection\" rel=\"noreferrer\"\u003EScam Protection\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and Scam Protection Pro layers in Mobile Security for Android and iOS, Scam Radar brings awareness and protection together in one place. Users can also share alerts with friends and family, helping extend that knowledge beyond a single device.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fscam-radar-bitdefender\"\u003ELearn more about Scam Radar\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"a-shared-response-to-a-global-problem\"\u003EA shared response to a global problem\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe award reflects Bitdefender’s commitment to helping consumers worldwide stay safer from scams and fraud.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo organization, product or country can solve this problem alone. Fighting scams requires ongoing collaboration between technology companies, consumer-protection groups, governments, law enforcement and other organizations working to disrupt criminal operations and improve public awareness.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a founding and advisory board member of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-au\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fturning-the-tide-on-scams-bitdefender-joins-the-global-anti-scam-alliance-to-level-the-scam-playing-field\"\u003EGlobal Anti-Scam Alliance\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, Bitdefender is committed to sharing expertise, supporting cross-border collaboration and helping level the playing field for consumers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe will continue to research the latest scam tactics, work with partners across the industry and innovate our security solutions and tools to help people identify threats earlier and make safer decisions online.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBecause scams evolve quickly. Our response must evolve even faster.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",authors:[{id:O,name:P,slug:Q,profile_image:R,cover_image:a,bio:S,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:p,name:e,slug:e,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:aT,reading_time:bd,url:aU},{id:aV,title:aW,slug:aX,feature_image:aY,featured:c,published_at:aZ,custom_excerpt:a,html:a_,authors:[{id:k,name:l,slug:m,profile_image:n,cover_image:a,bio:o,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:r,name:q,slug:s,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:t,name:u,slug:v,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:p,name:e,slug:e,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:a$,reading_time:ba,url:bb},{id:"6aa2eb218beeea9658029c63",title:"Steam now requires a credit card for R18+ games in Australia",slug:"steam-credit-card-for-mature-games-australia",feature_image:"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002FWhatsApp-Image-2026-09-10-at-15.40.50.jpeg",featured:c,published_at:"2026-09-10T20:42:35.000+03:00",custom_excerpt:bO,html:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAustralian Steam users are facing a new age-verification barrier when trying to view or buy games rated 18+: Valve asks them to add a valid Australian credit card before they can access mature content.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe change took effect Sept. 9, when Australia’s deadline for app stores to introduce age-assurance measures came due.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteam says users must be 18 or older under the country’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.esafety.gov.au\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2026-03\u002FAge-Restricted-Material-Codes-fact-sheet-March2026.pdf\"\u003EAge-Restricted Material App Distribution Services Code\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor now, the storefront’s chosen route is a credit card—not a selfie, passport scan, or uploaded driver’s license.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis new policy has frustrated players who don’t use credit cards, including adults with long-standing Steam accounts.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"key-takeaways\"\u003EKey takeaways\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESteam now requires a valid Australian credit card to access R18+ content in its store\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe rollout coincides with Australia’s Sept. 9 deadline for age assurance on higher-risk app distribution services\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EA simple “enter your birthday” prompt no longer meets the country’s standard for age assurance\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESteam’s approach appears to restrict store pages and purchases, while allowing previously owned games to still launch\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EGamers should be alert for phishing emails and fake “Steam verification” pages exploiting the change\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\n\u003Ch2 id=\"the-deadline-that-put-steam-under-pressure\"\u003EThe deadline that put Steam under pressure\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe immediate trigger is not a new Steam policy, but it’s actually related to Australia’s Age-Restricted Material Codes, a set of online-safety rules overseen by the eSafety Commissioner.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe codes cover material rated R18+ or X18+, including pornography, high-impact violence, some self-harm material, and adult-rated apps and games. They apply to several parts of the online ecosystem, including social media, search engines, AI services, gaming services and app stores.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe rules did not all take effect at once. Some obligations began earlier, while the age-assurance requirement for app distribution services came into force on Sept. 9, 2026, which is why Australian users have suddenly started facing this problem.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAustralia’s guidance says these services must prevent children from downloading or purchasing adult apps when there is a medium or high risk that such content is available.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd since Steam is treating its storefront as an app distribution service, the rules had to be enforced.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"what-steam%E2%80%99s-new-prompt-says\"\u003EWhat Steam’s new prompt says\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReports from \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Finsider-gaming.com\u002Fsteam-valve-australia-age-verification-policy\u002F\"\u003EAustralian users\u003C\u002Fa\u003E show the same message:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E“Valve is required by the Age-Restricted Material App Distribution Services Code to verify that you are 18 or older before accessing mature content. If you wish to do so, please add a valid Australian credit card to your account and afterwards update the Mature Content Preferences.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteam then directs users to add a valid Australian credit card and update their Mature Content Preferences.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat means the block is wider than a checkout restriction. Users who have not completed the check may be unable to view R18+ product pages, find those titles through Steam’s search and store recommendations, or buy them through the platform.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGames already in a user’s library still launch as the restriction appears to focus on access to mature content in the store and on new purchases, rather than removing games an adult has already bought.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"why-valve-chose-a-credit-card-instead-of-an-id-check\"\u003EWhy Valve chose a credit card instead of an ID check\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAustralia’s rules don’t require platforms to use a specific technology. They allow several forms of age assurance, including:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EPhoto-ID matching\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFacial age estimation\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ECredit-card checks\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EDigital identity systems\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EParental attestation\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAI-based age estimation\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAge signals supplied by another trusted service\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA typed date of birth, on its own, does not qualify. The time of this type of age validation is over.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EValve has selected a method it already used for mature-content verification in the UK: a valid credit card. The logic is simple: in Australia, credit cards are generally available only to adults. Thus, the bank effectively supplies the age signal without Steam needing to collect a passport image or conduct a face scan.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat may be less invasive than uploading identity documents, but it has its own drawback: plenty of adults don’t have or want a credit card. Debit cards, PayPal, and payment methods linked to debit accounts may not meet Steam’s current requirement.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe decision turns a payment product into a gate for legal content. That is likely to remain the main point of tension for Australian gamers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"privacy-worries-are-real-but-the-rules-set-limits\"\u003EPrivacy worries are real, but the rules set limits\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAge assurance creates a privacy question: how much information should an adult need to provide to access a legal game?\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAustralia’s eSafety guidance says platforms must comply with privacy laws. The regulator doesn’t require government ID and says the service, not the Australian government, manages age-verification information.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteam’s credit-card choice limits the requirement for users to submit facial images or identity documents. Still, it asks players to keep a payment credential linked to their account, which will not suit everyone.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe policy can’t eliminate every workaround, however. A child could use an adult’s payment details, just as they might have previously used a false birth date. The regulation makes casual bypasses harder, but it also creates another problem.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENot all Australians have credit cards. In fact, only around 35% of adults have credit cards, and initial reports say Steam isn't accepting debit cards or other services such as PayPal, for example. This means that some Steam users will be left out unless they get a credit card or the rules change to include other forms of age verification.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"how-gamers-and-parents-can-handle-the-change-safely\"\u003EHow gamers and parents can handle the change safely\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENewsworthy policy changes give scammers a useful hook. A fake “verify your Steam account” page can look convincing, especially when a genuine verification rollout is happening at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParents should also treat the credit-card requirement as part of a wider conversation, not a replacement for supervision. Review Steam Family settings, talk about mature ratings, and make sure children know not to use a parent’s credit cards without permission.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProtect your gaming accounts, not just your purchases\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAge checks can limit access to adult-rated content, but they don’t prevent account takeovers, fake giveaways, malicious game downloads, or phishing links. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fconsumer\u002Fultimate-security\"\u003EBitdefender Ultimate Security\u003C\u002Fa\u003E helps protect devices and online accounts against threats that commonly target gamers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou may also want to read:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fsteam-gift-scams-why-you-should-never-accept-one-from-an-unknown-user\"\u003ESteam gift scams: Why you should never accept one from an unknown user\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fwhat-is-account-takeover-ato\"\u003EWhat Is Account Takeover (ATO) And How to Protect Against It\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Ffake-game-playtest-scam\"\u003EThe Fake Game Playtest Scam Explained\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"faq\"\u003EFAQ\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"why-does-steam-require-australian-users-to-provide-a-credit-card\"\u003EWhy does Steam require Australian users to provide a credit card?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteam states that it has to check that users are 18 years of age or older in accordance with Australia’s Age-Restricted Material App Distribution Services Code, and Valve has selected a valid Australian credit card as its present method of verification.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"when-did-steam-start-checking-ages-in-australia\"\u003EWhen did Steam start checking ages in Australia?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReports of the rollout appeared on Sept. 9 and 10, 2026, when age-assurance obligations for app distribution services took effect.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"can-australian-players-still-play-the-r18-steam-games-which-they-already-own\"\u003ECan Australian players still play the R18+ Steam games which they already own?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETests carried out independently show that games bought previously are still capable of being launched. The limitation seems to apply only to the store pages for mature-content titles and to new purchases.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"does-australia-require-steam-to-collect-a-passport-or-driver%E2%80%99s-license\"\u003EDoes Australia require Steam to collect a passport or driver’s license?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo. The rules require appropriate age assurance but do not mandate a specific method or government ID. Platforms can choose from several methods, as long as they meet privacy and safety requirements.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"is-this-the-same-as-australia%E2%80%99s-social-media-ban-for-under-16s\"\u003EIs this the same as Australia’s social-media ban for under-16s?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo. Steam’s check concerns access to R18+ material for people under 18. Australia’s separate social-media framework concerns certain platforms and users under 16.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",authors:[{id:bP,name:bQ,slug:bR,profile_image:bS,cover_image:bT,bio:bU,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:p,name:e,slug:e,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:bO,reading_time:x,url:"\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fsteam-credit-card-for-mature-games-australia\u002F"},{id:"6aa174278beeea9658029af8",title:"Windows 11 to share users’ ages with installed apps",slug:"windows-11-age-verification",feature_image:"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fyugudesign-checklist-10418822_1920.png",featured:c,published_at:"2026-09-09T18:09:52.000+03:00",custom_excerpt:bV,html:"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWindows 11 is preparing to take on a job that apps and online services have largely handled until now, most of it badly: working out whether a user falls into the right age bracket.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead of asking people to type a birth date or tick an “I am 18+” box, Microsoft plans to let compatible apps request a broad age range and an age-verification status.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAge verification has long been left to self-reporting across much of the tech sector. It’s easy to see why that safeguard is weak: a kid can enter a false date and that’s all it takes.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft’s proposed approach aims to give apps a more useful answer without passing along a birthday.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"key-takeaways\"\u003EKey takeaways\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWindows 11 age APIs are available to Windows Insiders, which means they will reach all Windows users soon\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EApps can receive an age bracket and a verification status, not a user’s precise age or date of birth\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe brackets are under 10, 10–12, 13–15, 16–17 and 18+\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EApps need the appropriate account-information capability, and the user’s Windows privacy settings can deny access\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe feature can support safer experiences for children, but it shouldn’t become a reason for apps to collect more data than they need\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\n\u003Ch2 id=\"a-system-level-answer-to-a-familiar-problem\"\u003EA system-level answer to a familiar problem\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAge gates are everywhere: a game may restrict chats or purchases, a streaming service may hide content from children and social platforms may need to limit features for younger users. For now and in many cases, the test is usually little more than a date-of-birth field.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe key distinction is that Windows isn’t set to broadcast the user's exact age. Microsoft’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flearn.microsoft.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fwindows\u002Fapps\u002Fdevelop\u002Fsecurity\u002Fage-signals\u002F\" rel=\"noreferrer\"\u003Edocumentation\u003C\u002Fa\u003E describes \u003Cem\u003Eprivacy-preserving signals\u003C\u002Fem\u003E: categories such as 13–15 or 18+, plus an indication of whether the age has been verified.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat could make it easier for games, social apps and media services to offer age-appropriate content. Unfortunately, it also raises fair questions about which apps can ask, what users can control and whether the system is used responsibly.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft is trying to move that decision closer to the operating system. The company’s Windows Age APIs allow an app to ask for two limited signals for the person currently using Windows:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWhich age range applies?\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIs the user’s age verified, unverified, unavailable or opted out?\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Fol\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft says the APIs are designed to let developers adapt content, features and access controls while avoiding disclosure of an exact age or date of birth. The documentation says the APIs are currently broadly available to Windows Insiders and will soon be available to all Windows users.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"what-an-app-could-rand-shouldn%E2%80%99t-receive\"\u003EWhat an app could rand shouldn’t receive\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe separate verification-status API can return \u003Cstrong\u003EVerified\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EUnverified\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EOptedOut\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003ETemporarilyUnavailable\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E or \u003Cstrong\u003ENotApplicable\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. That matters because an age range and independently verified age aren’t the same thing.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust as important is what the feature doesn’t reveal. Windows doesn’t return a birth date or a precise age. A service that needs to know whether someone is old enough to use an 18+ feature shouldn’t need to learn whether that person is 19, 44 or 79.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"privacy-protections-are-useful-but-they-need-to-work-in-practice\"\u003EPrivacy protections are useful, but they need to work in practice\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis approach has a sensible privacy principle—to disclose the smallest useful fact. An app deciding whether to show adult-rated content normally needs an age threshold, not a birthday. Reducing the number of services that store dates of birth could also minimize the consequences when one of them suffers a data breach.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft says an app package must declare the userAccountInformation capability, and access is subject to the user allowing apps to access account information in Windows privacy settings. If access is denied, the request can fail.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDevelopers must also use a fallback experience when a signal is unavailable; they musn’t treat an unknown result as proof that someone belongs to a particular age group.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt launch, Microsoft’s documentation says it retrieves age signals from identity providers only for Microsoft accounts. For other account types, Windows may return no age range or indicate that verification doesn’t apply, unless an organization has configured a default through management policy.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"why-this-could-help-families\"\u003EWhy this could help families\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor parents, the feature isn’t perfect protection. A game with user-generated content could use an age bracket when deciding which social features to offer. A media app could adjust maturity-rated recommendations. A service selling virtual currency could apply extra checks before purchases. These are just a few of the use cases Microsoft explicitly identifies for the APIs.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChildren could still encounter inappropriate content through friends, browsers, or services that don’t use these signals. Family settings, device-level controls and clear rules about chat, downloads and in-game spending remain important.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more practical guidance, see Bitdefender’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fconsumer\u002Fsupport\u002Fanswer\u002F99259\u002F\"\u003Eparental-control resources\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"how-to-prepare-for-windows-11-age-signals\"\u003EHow to prepare for Windows 11 age signals\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKeep the Windows account details accurate, use a child account and Microsoft Family Safety where appropriate, and review which apps have access to account information.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen a new app asks for permission, consider whether the request matches what the app actually does. A puzzle game that asks for an age signal to apply child-safety settings is easier to explain than an unrelated utility asking for extensive identity information.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost importantly, treat age verification as just one layer of protection. Use unique passwords, multi-factor authentication and reputable security software alongside parental controls. Bitdefender \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fconsumer\u002Ftotal-security\"\u003ETotal Security\u003C\u002Fa\u003E can help protect the devices your family uses while you manage the privacy choices around them.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"faq-windows-11-age-signals\"\u003EFAQ: Windows 11 age signals\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"will-windows-11-tell-apps-my-birthday\"\u003EWill Windows 11 tell apps my birthday?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo. Microsoft says the APIs return a broad age range and verification status, not an exact age or date of birth.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"which-age-groups-can-windows-11-share-with-apps\"\u003EWhich age groups can Windows 11 share with apps?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe categories are under 10, 10–12, 13–15, 16–17 and 18+.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"can-every-windows-app-see-my-age-range\"\u003ECan every Windows app see my age range?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo. Apps must declare the relevant account-information capability, and user privacy settings can prevent access.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"is-an-age-range-the-same-as-verified-age\"\u003EIs an age range the same as verified age?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo. Windows treats the age bracket and verification status as separate signals. An app may receive a range even when the status is unverified.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"when-will-the-feature-arrive\"\u003EWhen will the feature arrive?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMicrosoft says the APIs are broadly available to Windows Insiders now and will come to all Windows users soon.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",authors:[{id:bP,name:bQ,slug:bR,profile_image:bS,cover_image:bT,bio:bU,website:a,location:a,facebook:a,twitter:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a}],tags:[{id:h,name:i,slug:j,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:f,name:g,slug:d,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a},{id:p,name:e,slug:e,description:a,feature_image:a,visibility:b,og_image:a,og_title:a,og_description:a,twitter_image:a,twitter_title:a,twitter_description:a,meta_title:a,meta_description:a,codeinjection_head:a,codeinjection_foot:a,canonical_url:a,accent_color:a}],excerpt:bV,reading_time:B,url:"\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fwindows-11-age-verification\u002F"}],page:1,limit:999,isLoading:c,filterString:w,blogname:bE,menuItems:{hotforsecurity:{en:[{tag:w,name:y},{tag:"threats",name:"Threats"},{tag:U,name:z},{tag:ao,name:C},{tag:"tips-and-tricks",name:"Tips and Tricks"},{tag:bW,name:bX}],es:[{tag:w,name:y},{tag:"consejos-de-seguridad",name:"Consejos de Seguridad"},{tag:"noticias-de-la-industria",name:"Noticias de la industria"},{tag:"microempresas",name:"Microempresas"},{tag:"actualizaciones-de-productos",name:"Actualizaciones de productos"},{tag:"hogar-inteligente",name:"Hogar Inteligente"},{tag:bW,name:bX}],ro:[{tag:w,name:y},{tag:U,name:z},{tag:ao,name:C}],fr:[{tag:w,name:y},{tag:U,name:z},{tag:"conseils-astuces",name:"Conseils"},{tag:"maison-connectee",name:"Maison Connectée"},{tag:bY,name:"ABC CYBERSÉCURITÉ"}],de:[{tag:w,name:y},{tag:"branchennachrichten",name:"Nachrichten"},{tag:U,name:z},{tag:"tipps-und-tricks",name:"TIPPS"},{tag:ao,name:C},{tag:bY,name:"ABC DER CYBERSICHERHEIT"}]},labs:{en:[{tag:w,name:y},{tag:"antimalware-research",name:"Anti-Malware Research"},{tag:"free-tools",name:"Free Tools"},{tag:"whitepapers",name:"Whitepapers"}]},businessinsights:{en:[{tag:w,name:y},{tag:"enterprise-security",name:"Enterprise Security"},{tag:"cloud-security",name:"Cloud Security"},{tag:"privacy-and-data-protection",name:"Privacy and Data Protection"}]}}}},error:a,state:{lang:d,primaryTag:bZ,server:"http:\u002F\u002Flocalhost:3000\u002Fnuxt\u002Fapi",mainTag:bZ,locale:"en-us"},serverRendered:A,routePath:"\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002F",config:{pageEnv:"prod",_app:{basePath:am,assetsPath:"\u002Fnuxt\u002F_nuxt\u002F",cdnURL:a}}}}(null,"public",false,"en","top","66f50fb228045a04f10ce986","EN","66f50fb228045a04f10ce98a","Industry News","industry-news","66d5cbea28045a04f10b89d0","Filip TRUȚĂ","ftruta","http:\u002F\u002F0.gravatar.com\u002Favatar\u002F377aeee1f02a7ae7ac62f20f2f4ce504?s=512&d=mm&r=g","Filip has 17 years of experience in technology journalism. In recent years, he has focused on cybersecurity in his role as a Security Analyst at Bitdefender.","66f50fb228045a04f10ce992","Digital Privacy","66f50fb228045a04f10ce985","digital-privacy","696f63bc2fa53a9f2eef2657","AI","ai","all",5,"All","Product Updates",true,4,"Smart Home","Task scams disguise advance-fee fraud as easy online work. They may pay a small amount first, then pressure you to deposit your own money to unlock tasks or withdraw fake earnings. Here’s how to spot it and what to do if you have already paid.","66f50fb228045a04f10ce9b2","Scam","scam","6ab14dd08beeea965802a134","AI hallucinated a nuclear threat. The US military nearly responded","ai-hallucinate-china-nuclear-us-military","https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002FAI-hallucinate-nuclear-ship-cargo-china.png","2026-09-21T18:50:45.000+03:00","The US military reportedly came close to intercepting a Chinese vessel after an AI-assisted intelligence report falsely claimed the ship was carrying components for a nuclear weapons program.\n\n\nKey takeaways\n\n\n * The US military reportedly prepared to intercept a Chinese ship based on an intelligence report created with the help of AI\n * An AI chatbot incorrectly identified the vessel's cargo as components linked to a nuclear weapons program\n * Troops were preparing to board the ship and militar","\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fai-hallucinate-china-nuclear-us-military\u002F","66d5cbea28045a04f10b89c1","Alina BÎZGĂ","abizga","http:\u002F\u002F2.gravatar.com\u002Favatar\u002F8438d6e3076d0baf471aec1235424fcf?s=512&d=mm&r=g","Alina is a history buff passionate about cybersecurity and anything sci-fi, advocating Bitdefender technologies and solutions. She spends most of her time between her two feline friends and traveling.","yearly","product-updates","6ab2745a8beeea965802a263","Google hit with €403 million fine over location tracking","google-eu403-million-fine-location-tracking","https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fgoogle-location-tracking.jpg","2026-09-22T15:31:30.000+03:00","\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIreland’s privacy regulator says Google unlawfully and unfairly processed location data, failed to give users sufficient information and kept some of the data for longer than necessary.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"key-takeaways\"\u003EKey takeaways\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EIreland’s Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million over its handling of location data\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe regulator identifies GDPR violations involving web &amp; app activity, location history and location accuracy\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EUsers may not have understood that their location could influence advertising or help infer their interests\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EGoogle must bring the processing covered by the decision into compliance within six months\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBitdefender research shows 88% of consumers trust Google to some extent, despite persistent concerns about how Big Tech handles personal data\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETurning off one location feature may not stop location information from being collected or inferred elsewhere\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGoogle has been fined €403 million following a major European privacy investigation into how the company collected, used and retained people’s location data.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), which acts as Google’s lead privacy regulator in the European Union, launched the inquiry in February 2020 after receiving complaints from several European consumer-rights organizations, including the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC).\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe investigation covers Google’s processing of location data from May 25, 2018—the date the General Data Protection Regulation took effect—until Feb. 4, 2020.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe regulator examined three features: Web &amp; App Activity, Location History and Location Accuracy.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt concludes that Google violated the GDPR through:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUnlawful and unfair processing of location data associated with web &amp; app activity and location history\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA failure to demonstrate that its processing of personal data through location accuracy complied with GDPR principles\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EInsufficient transparency across all three features\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EKeeping some location data for longer than necessary\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBesides the €403 million in administrative fines, the regulator has ordered Google to bring the processing covered by the decision into compliance within six months. The DPC says it will publish the full decision later.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"location-data-reveals-more-than-where-you-are\"\u003ELocation data reveals more than where you are\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELocation information can make digital services more useful. It helps people navigate unfamiliar places, find nearby businesses, receive local recommendations and recover missing devices.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut a detailed location trail can also expose deeply personal aspects of someone’s life: where they live and work, which medical facilities they visit, where their children go to school, the religious services they attend and the people they meet regularly.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDeputy Commissioner, Graham Doyle \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dataprotection.ie\u002Fen\u002Fnews-media\u002Flatest-news\u002Fdata-protection-commission-fines-google-eu403-million-following-inquiry-googles-processing-location?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003Ecommented\u003C\u002Fa\u003E:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003ELocation data is a type of personal data which is processed by way of location tracking, and includes data collected or processed by Google, which by itself or in conjunction with other information an individual’s location can be inferred. Location data can bring both benefits and harms to individuals. It can greatly enhance the utility of online services, but it can also reveal a significant amount of information about an individual, including information that is inherently private.\u003C\u002Fblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the regulator, Google’s failures meant that people could have been unaware their location was being used to influence advertising or infer their interests.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKeeping the information longer than necessary further reduced users’ control over their personal data, Doyle&nbsp;added.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"three-settings-different-kinds-of-tracking\"\u003EThree settings, different kinds of tracking\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWeb &amp; App Activity\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E is a Google Account setting that can save information about a person’s activity across Google services. Depending on the configuration, the information can include searches, browsing activity and location-related data.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELocation History\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E—now presented to users as \u003Cstrong\u003EGoogle Maps Timeline\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E—records places visited and routes traveled. The feature can build a private map of someone’s movements, including when they are carrying a compatible device but are not actively using a Google service.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELocation Accuracy\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E is an Android feature that combines signals such as GPS, nearby Wi-Fi networks, mobile towers and device sensors to estimate a device’s position more precisely. Unlike the other two features examined by the DPC, it can be available to Android users without a Google Account.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe inquiry addresses Google’s practices during a specific historical period. Google’s current documentation says \u003Cstrong\u003ETimeline is off by default\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E and stores location history on individual devices, with an optional encrypted cloud backup. However, the company also warns that \u003Cstrong\u003Eturning off Timeline does not necessarily prevent location information from being saved\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E through other settings, including Web &amp; App Activity.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"consumers-trust-google%E2%80%94but-still-want-boundaries\"\u003EConsumers trust Google—but still want boundaries\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPeople depend heavily on major technology platforms, but often have limited visibility into what happens behind the settings screens.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe latest \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fwhich-big-tech-companies-do-you-trust-or-not-we-asked-netizens?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"\u003EBitdefender Consumer Cybersecurity Survey\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, covering more than 7,000 internet users in seven countries, finds that Google is one of the most trusted technology companies. \u003Cstrong\u003ESome 88% of respondents say they trust it to some extent\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, placing it alongside \u003Cstrong\u003EMicrosoft (85%)\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E and ahead of \u003Cstrong\u003EApple (77%)\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fchart-1-5.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"293\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fchart-1-5.jpg 600w\"\u003E\u003C\u002Ffigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYet that confidence does not equal unconditional permission. Nearly one in five respondents—19%—say they want to keep their location information away from major technology platforms.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fchart-2-5.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"339\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fchart-2-5.jpg 600w\"\u003E\u003C\u002Ffigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConcern is even greater in some European countries.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fchart-3.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"542\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fchart-3.jpg 600w\"\u003E\u003C\u002Ffigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConsumers may trust a familiar brand while still feeling uneasy about individual data practices. Trust can also be based on convenience, habit or a lack of practical alternatives rather than a clear understanding of how information is processed.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut overall, consumers deserve to know (and understand) what information is collected, why it is needed, how different controls interact and how long the company keeps the data.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"how-to-reduce-location-tracking\"\u003EHow to reduce location tracking\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETurning off a single setting may not be enough because location data can come from several sources. Google notes that even after users disable or delete Timeline, other services may retain approximate location information derived from activity or an IP address.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConsumers should consider the following steps:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Review Google Account activity controls\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECheck both Timeline and Web &amp; App Activity. Disable anything you do not need and review previously saved information.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Delete old activity\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EUse Google’s My Activity and Maps Timeline tools to remove historical data. Where available, configure automatic deletion.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Check app permissions\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EOn Android and iOS, restrict location access to apps that genuinely need it. Prefer “While using the app” and approximate location where appropriate.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E4.&nbsp;Review Android Location Accuracy\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAndroid users can find this under Settings &gt; Location &gt; Location Services &gt; Location Accuracy on many current devices. Note that disabling it can reduce accuracy and affect services such as navigation or device finding.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E5.&nbsp;Inspect location sharing separately\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ETimeline, app permissions and live location sharing are different controls. Check Google Maps to ensure you are not sharing your position with people who no longer need it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E6.&nbsp;Revisit the settings periodically\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EServices, menus and defaults change. A privacy checkup every few months can reveal permissions or saved activity you have forgotten about.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E7.&nbsp;Pay attention to breach notifications\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIf a service you use reports a breach, act quickly: update passwords, monitor credit reports where relevant, and consider \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fsolutions\u002Fdigital-identity-protection.html\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eidentity theft protections\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E8.&nbsp;Know your GDPR rights\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EUnder \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fspain-tops-list-of-eu-countries-for-number-of-gdpr-fines-issued-what-this-means-for-you\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGDPR\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, you have rights to access, correct, delete, and restrict processing of your personal data. Contact the company or your local data protection authority if these rights are not respected.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EOn topic:\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Feurope-tech-sector-eu1-2-billion-fines-gdpr-2025\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EEurope slaps tech sector with €1.2 billion in fines under GDPR in 2025\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fbritain-push-cybercrime-scams-ai-internet-legislation\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBritain’s big push to make the internet safer\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fwhich-big-tech-companies-do-you-trust-or-not-we-asked-netizens\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWhich Big Tech companies do you trust? We asked netizens\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","Ireland’s privacy regulator says Google unlawfully and unfairly processed location data, failed to give users sufficient information and kept some of the data for longer than necessary.\n\n\nKey takeaways\n\n\n * Ireland’s Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million over its handling of location data\n * The regulator identifies GDPR violations involving web & app activity, location history and location accuracy\n * Users may not have understood that their location could influence advertisi","\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fgoogle-eu403-million-fine-location-tracking\u002F","\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe US military reportedly came close to intercepting a Chinese vessel after an AI-assisted intelligence report falsely claimed the ship was carrying components for a nuclear weapons program.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"key-takeaways\"\u003EKey takeaways\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe US military reportedly prepared to intercept a Chinese ship based on an intelligence report created with the help of AI\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAn AI chatbot incorrectly identified the vessel's cargo as components linked to a nuclear weapons program\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETroops were preparing to board the ship and military aircraft were already in the air before the mistake was discovered, according to media reports\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe analyst reportedly used AI both to analyze the underlying information and to package the conclusion into an intelligence report\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe incident highlights the risks of treating authoritative-sounding AI output as verified information\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EHuman oversight only works when people independently check the evidence rather than simply approve AI output\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe US military was preparing to board a Chinese ship — with troops getting ready and military aircraft already in the air — when officials discovered that the intelligence behind the operation was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to a CNN investigation, an artificial intelligence chatbot had misidentified the vessel's cargo. The error was then incorporated into a formal intelligence report and circulated through the military.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn most everyday situations, an AI hallucination might mean a bad recommendation or incorrect fact. In a military setting, the stakes can be dramatically higher.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"how-an-ai-error-became-military-intelligence\"\u003EHow an AI error became military intelligence\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe incident occurred this spring amid the war with Iran, according to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fedition.cnn.com\u002F2026\u002F09\u002F18\u002Fpolitics\u002Fus-military-ai-false-intelligence-china-ship\"\u003ECNN\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, which cited four unnamed people familiar with the events.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn analyst working with a special operations command reportedly queried an AI chatbot about intelligence concerning the manifest of a Chinese vessel traveling through the Middle East.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe system combined open-source material with classified US government signals intelligence. CNN could not establish whether the chatbot was a commercially available product or a system developed for the government.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe chatbot concluded that the vessel was carrying material associated with a \u003Cstrong\u003Enuclear weapons program\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe analyst then reportedly turned to AI again, using it to package the findings into a \u003Cstrong\u003Estandard intelligence report\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E that was distributed through military channels. The document triggered preparations to intercept the Chinese vessel.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArmed US personnel were preparing to board the ship, while \u003Cstrong\u003Emilitary aircraft had already taken off\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, according to CNN's sources.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOfficials examining the report more closely shortly before the operation discovered the problem: the chatbot had misidentified the vessel’s cargo. CNN said it could not determine what the actual cargo was.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne source described the report to CNN as “entirely false,” while another said the incident “almost started a war.”\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"ai-can-sound-confident-even-when-it-is-completely-wrong\"\u003EAI can sound confident even when it is completely wrong\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGenerative AI systems don't necessarily distinguish between knowing something and producing an answer that \u003Cem\u003Esounds\u003C\u002Fem\u003E plausible.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo-called AI hallucinations occur when a model generates inaccurate or fabricated information and presents it convincingly. Depending on the circumstances, that might mean inventing a source, confusing people or places, misinterpreting data, or drawing a conclusion that isn't supported by the underlying evidence.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe incident illustrates another danger as well: an incorrect AI output can gain credibility as it moves through an organization.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn this case, the error didn't remain inside a chatbot conversation. It was incorporated into an intelligence product and distributed through channels where recipients would ordinarily expect information to have undergone appropriate scrutiny.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"the-pentagon-is-accelerating-its-use-of-ai\"\u003EThe Pentagon is accelerating its use of AI\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe close call comes as the US military aggressively expands its use of artificial intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn January, the Department of War \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.war.gov\u002FNews\u002FReleases\u002FRelease\u002FArticle\u002F4376420\u002Fwar-department-launches-ai-acceleration-strategy-to-secure-american-military-ai\u002F\"\u003Eannounced an AI Acceleration Strategy\u003C\u002Fa\u003E intended to integrate advanced AI across warfighting, intelligence and enterprise operations.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe strategy calls for AI to support areas ranging from battlefield decision-making and intelligence analysis to everyday workflows, with the department saying that speed is a major competitive advantage.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat expansion has continued. Earlier this month, the department said ChatGPT and Grok had joined Gemini among the AI systems in GenAI.mil, its secure generative-AI environment. The platform is intended to make AI capabilities available across a workforce of more than 3 million people.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECNN's sources, however, described AI adoption across the military and intelligence community as decentralized, with different tools operating under different rules and safeguards. They said there is no single standard governing how AI-generated information is verified.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"the-human-in-the-loop\"\u003EThe human in the loop\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Chinese ship wasn't targeted autonomously by an AI system. It was still humans who:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003Ereceived the intelligence\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003Einterpreted the information\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003Ebegan preparing the operation\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003Eand ultimately discovered the mistake and stopped it\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHuman oversight provides limited protection if the person reviewing an AI-generated answer assumes the machine has done the hard work correctly.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe lesson applies far beyond military intelligence:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEmployees\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E in almost every sector increasingly use AI to summarize documents, research subjects, analyze data, write reports and make recommendations\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConsumers\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E use it to answer health, financial and security questions\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStudents\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E use it for research\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBusinesses\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E integrate it into workflows where its output can influence real decisions\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI output can be extremely useful, but it’s something to verify – not something to take at face value simply because it sounds convincing.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EOn topic:\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fbig-tech-cyber-defense-ai-cyber-attacks\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBig Tech calls for cyber-defense before AI attacks surge\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fai-hacks-system-data-breach-spain\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAI hacks system and accesses personal data in reported breach\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fspacex-data-failed-startups-ai-fodder\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESpaceX wants customer data from failed startups as AI fodder\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E",3,"6aad23058beeea965802a094","SpaceX wants customer data from failed startups as AI fodder","spacex-data-failed-startups-ai-fodder","https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fsatellite-spacex.jpg","2026-09-18T14:43:32.000+03:00","\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESpaceX has reportedly discussed buying customer and operational data from failed startups to help train AI models, highlighting an uncomfortable reality: while a company may disappear, the information it collected may linger.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"key-takeaways\"\u003EKey takeaways\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESpaceX has reportedly discussed buying customer and operational data from troubled or defunct startups for AI training\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe discussions are informal, and there is no indication yet that a purchase will take place\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ECorporate data left behind when businesses fail is increasingly valuable to AI developers\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBitdefender research shows consumers are wary about how technology companies handle their information\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EConsumers should assume that information shared with an online service could survive long after they stop using it\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou may stop using an app. The startup behind it may run out of money. Its website may disappear altogether. But the information you handed over doesn't necessarily disappear with it.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElon Musk's SpaceX has held internal discussions about buying customer and operational information from struggling or defunct startups as a relatively inexpensive source of data for AI training, according to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnews.bloomberglaw.com\u002Fmergers-and-acquisitions\u002Fspacex-discusses-buying-data-for-ai-models-from-failed-startups\"\u003EBloomberg\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe discussions are reportedly informal and may never result in an acquisition. But the idea illustrates a much bigger privacy issue as technology companies race to obtain the enormous quantities of real-world information needed to develop increasingly capable AI systems.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"failed-companies-can-leave-valuable-data-behind\"\u003EFailed companies can leave valuable data behind\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Bloomberg, teams within SpaceXAI have considered acquiring data from companies that are struggling financially or have gone out of business.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EModern AI models need enormous quantities of information, and the public web isn’t the only place with valuable datasets.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA failed business may leave behind years of customer interactions, internal communications, documents and operational records – information that could give AI developers specialized, real-world material that is difficult or expensive to obtain elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpaceXAI also uses information from Musk's other companies. The billionaire recently told SpaceX employees that Grok would be trained on the company's information, reportedly telling workers: \u003Cstrong\u003E\"It'll be trained on you.\"\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe prospect of acquiring datasets from failed companies raises a related question for ordinary internet users: \u003Cstrong\u003EDid you agree to your information being used this way when you originally handed it over?\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA privacy policy accepted years ago may not have prompted users to imagine that the company could eventually collapse and its remaining information become a valuable asset in an AI data market.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"google-has-already-gone-shopping-for-corporate-data\"\u003EGoogle has already gone shopping for corporate data\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpaceX wouldn’t be the first to do it either.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGoogle recently won a bankruptcy auction for a large collection of data belonging to collapsed Spirit Airlines, offering \u003Cstrong\u003E$10 million\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E for information it plans to use to improve its products and AI models. The proposed acquisition includes roughly \u003Cstrong\u003E100 million emails and 500 million Microsoft Teams chats\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, alongside documents, spreadsheets and other corporate information.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPassenger profiles and frequent-flyer information are excluded. Google has also said that the information it receives will be scrubbed of personally identifiable information by a third party and that it won't try to re-identify individuals.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStill, the proposal has generated pushback.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Association of Flight Attendants raised concerns about potentially sensitive employee information contained in the dataset, including internal communications, payroll history and disciplinary records. The union argued that de-identification may not eliminate all privacy implications for former workers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SpaceX discussions suggest this could become a broader phenomenon. If specialized corporate datasets prove useful in training AI, information held by companies in financial distress may become more valuable.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"consumers-already-have-trust-issues-with-big-tech\"\u003EConsumers already have trust issues with Big Tech\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat prospect lands as consumers are conflicted about trusting major technology companies with their information.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBitdefender’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fwhich-big-tech-companies-do-you-trust-or-not-we-asked-netizens\"\u003E2025 Consumer Cybersecurity Survey\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, covering more than 7,000 internet users across seven countries, finds a striking divide.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEstablished technology companies enjoy comparatively high levels of trust: \u003Cstrong\u003E88% of respondents say they trust Google to some extent, 85% say the same of Microsoft and 77% trust Apple\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut attitudes toward social platforms and newer AI companies are considerably more skeptical. \u003Cstrong\u003E52% say they don't trust X\u002FTwitter at all, 51% say the same of TikTok, and 45% express distrust toward OpenAI.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fchart-1-4.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"293\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fchart-1-4.jpg 600w\"\u003E\u003C\u002Ffigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd consumers draw particularly strong boundaries around the information they consider sensitive. \u003Cstrong\u003E59% want to keep credit card and payment information private from major technology companies, while 46% say the same about personal details.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fchart-2-4.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"339\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fchart-2-4.jpg 600w\"\u003E\u003C\u002Ffigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe reported SpaceX discussions highlight why trust increasingly depends on more than whether a company protects your information from hackers.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConsumers have to consider what a company itself can do with their data – as well as what might happen if that company is acquired, goes bankrupt or simply disappears.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"your-account-can-disappear-your-data-might-not\"\u003EYour account can disappear. Your data might not\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen people hand information to a service, they tend to think about the company as it exists today. But companies change ownership. They merge. They sell assets. They rewrite privacy policies. And sometimes they fail. That can create a mismatch between the context in which information was originally provided and the purpose for which it might eventually be used.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere may be little consumers can do once a company enters bankruptcy and its assets are being disposed of. But the emerging market for AI training data makes good privacy habits even more important:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EShare only the information a service genuinely needs\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDelete unused accounts where possible\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReview privacy and data-retention options before uploading sensitive material\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThink carefully before storing highly personal information with a service simply because it is convenient\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EConsider using a data monitoring service like \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fconsumer\u002Fdigital-identity-protection\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBitdefender Digital Identity Protection\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUse a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fconsumer\u002F\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Etrusted security solution\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E on your personal devices\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EOn topic:\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fwhich-big-tech-companies-do-you-trust-or-not-we-asked-netizens\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWhich Big Tech companies do you trust? We asked netizens\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fbig-tech-cyber-defense-ai-cyber-attacks\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBig Tech calls for cyber-defense before AI attacks surge\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Felon-musk-x-appeals-eu120-million-fine-digital-services-act\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EElon Musk’s X appeals €120 million EU fine under Digital Services Act\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","SpaceX has reportedly discussed buying customer and operational data from failed startups to help train AI models, highlighting an uncomfortable reality: while a company may disappear, the information it collected may linger.\n\n\nKey takeaways\n\n\n * SpaceX has reportedly discussed buying customer and operational data from troubled or defunct startups for AI training\n * The discussions are informal, and there is no indication yet that a purchase will take place\n * Corporate data left behind when bus","\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fspacex-data-failed-startups-ai-fodder\u002F","Consumer Insights","\u002F","hotforsecurity","smart-home","6ab24f928beeea965802a1e7","Task scams: How fake online jobs pay first, then demand deposits","task-scams-fake-online-jobs","https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Ftask-scams-fake-online-jobs.jpg","2026-09-22T12:54:23.000+03:00","\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETask scams disguise advance-fee fraud as easy online work. They may pay a small amount first, then pressure you to deposit your own money to unlock tasks or withdraw fake earnings. Here’s how to spot it and what to do if you have already paid.\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"key-takeaways\"\u003EKey takeaways\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETask scams offer simple online “work,” but the real goal is to get you to send money\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EA small early payout can build trust before the platform starts demanding deposits\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUnsolicited recruitment, vague duties and requests to “top up” an account are serious warning signs\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EStop when a job asks you to pay to earn or withdraw money; if you already paid, contact your payment provider quickly\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"what-are-task-scams\"\u003EWhat are task scams?\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETask scams are fake-job schemes that turn routine clicks into a financial trap. The “recruiter” offers remote work such as rating products, boosting listings, liking videos or doing supposed “optimization” work. A website or app then displays commissions that appear to grow with every task.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe balance on the screen is part of the deception. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ftc.gov\u002Fnews-events\u002Fdata-visualizations\u002Fdata-spotlight\u002F2024\u002F12\u002Fpaying-get-paid-gamified-job-scams-drive-record-losses\"\u003Eestimated\u003C\u002Fa\u003E there were about 20,000 \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fconsumer.ftc.gov\u002Fconsumer-alerts\u002F2025\u002F08\u002Fhow-spot-avoid-task-scams\"\u003Etask-scam\u003C\u002Fa\u003E reports in the first half of 2024, versus about 5,000 in all of 2023—those are US reports, not a measure of global prevalence.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe cover story keeps changing. On Sept. 14, 2026, Singapore Police \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.police.gov.sg\u002FMedia-Hub\u002FNews\u002F2026\u002F09\u002F20260914_police_advisory_on_resurgence_of_job_scams_involving_online_tasks_relating_to_trading_cards\"\u003Ewarned\u003C\u002Fa\u003E about fake remote jobs involving Pokémon and other trading-card tasks, with victims asked for cryptocurrency deposits to unlock higher-value opportunities.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETask scams are a form of advance-fee fraud within the broader \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Ffinancial-scams\"\u003Efinancial scams\u003C\u002Fa\u003E landscape: the “job” exists mainly to justify the next payment request.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"how-does-a-task-scam-work\"\u003EHow does a task scam work?\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOfficial warnings describe a common sequence:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUnexpected recruitment:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E A text, WhatsApp, Telegram or social-media message offers flexible remote work\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEasy tasks:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E You rate, like, subscribe, “boost” or “optimize” products or content\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETrust-building:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E You may receive a small real payout while a dashboard shows higher supposed earnings\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe top-up:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E You are told to deposit your own money to continue or withdraw commission\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEscalation:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E Each payment produces another demand until withdrawals fail or the recruiter disappears\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Fol\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAustralian Scamwatch \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scamwatch.gov.au\u002Ftypes-of-scams\u002Fjobs-and-employment-scams\"\u003Ewarns\u003C\u002Fa\u003E against job arrangements requiring upfront payment by bank transfer, PayID or cryptocurrency.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fscam-payout-deposit-trap.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1800\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002Fsize\u002Fw600\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fscam-payout-deposit-trap.jpg 600w, https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002Fsize\u002Fw1000\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fscam-payout-deposit-trap.jpg 1000w, https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fscam-payout-deposit-trap.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 720px) 720px\"\u003E\u003C\u002Ffigure\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"warning-signs-of-a-task-scam\"\u003EWarning signs of a task scam\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn May 2026, Scamwatch \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scamwatch.gov.au\u002Fabout-us\u002Fnews-and-alerts\u002Fscam-alert-job-recruitment-scams\"\u003Ewarned\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that criminals were impersonating companies including Amazon and YouTube in task-based recruitment messages.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWatch for:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003Eunsolicited recruiting by text or encrypted messaging\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003Ehigh pay for little work, with no meaningful interview\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003Evague duties involving “optimization,” ratings, reviews or simple clicks\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003Epressure to move to WhatsApp or Telegram\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003Erequests to buy crypto or “recharge” a work account\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003Eextra payments to fix a mistake, clear a balance or release earnings\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe core rule is simple: legitimate work should pay you. You should not have to fund a job so you can receive wages or commissions.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fsigns-task-job-scam.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002Fsize\u002Fw600\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fsigns-task-job-scam.jpg 600w, https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002Fsize\u002Fw1000\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fsigns-task-job-scam.jpg 1000w, https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fsigns-task-job-scam.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 720px) 720px\"\u003E\u003C\u002Ffigure\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"how-to-protect-yourself-and-what-to-do-if-you-already-paid\"\u003EHow to protect yourself and what to do if you already paid\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVerify the employer. Find the company’s official website yourself and contact its HR or recruitment team using independently sourced details. Check whether the role exists and whether the named recruiter works there.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDon’t send identity documents, banking credentials, authentication codes or wallet information to someone you have not verified. A small first payment is not proof of legitimacy. Early payouts are often used to build trust.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you already paid, stop immediately. Contact your bank, card issuer, payment service or crypto exchange and explain that the transfer was related to fraud. Recovery depends on the payment method, timing and jurisdiction, so act quickly without assuming a refund is guaranteed.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESave chats, usernames, phone numbers, website addresses, wallet addresses, transaction IDs, receipts and screenshots. Use our \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fscam-evidence-checklist\"\u003Escam evidence checklist\u003C\u002Fa\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fscam-recovery-timeline\"\u003Escam recovery timeline\u003C\u002Fa\u003E to organize your next steps. If you paid by bank transfer, follow the specific guidance for people who have \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fsent-money-scammer-bank-transfer\"\u003Esent money to a scammer by bank transfer\u003C\u002Fa\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChange any password you disclosed or reused, enable multi-factor authentication, and report the scam to the platform and the appropriate authority. The FBI also \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fbi.gov\u002Fhow-we-can-help-you\u002Fvictim-services\u002Fnational-crimes-and-victim-resources\u002Fcryptocurrency-job-scams\"\u003Ewarns\u003C\u002Fa\u003E against paying “recovery” services that promise to retrieve lost crypto for another upfront fee.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Falready-paid-scammer-do-this.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1800\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002Fsize\u002Fw600\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Falready-paid-scammer-do-this.jpg 600w, https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002Fsize\u002Fw1000\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Falready-paid-scammer-do-this.jpg 1000w, https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Falready-paid-scammer-do-this.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 720px) 720px\"\u003E\u003C\u002Ffigure\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"how-bitdefender-can-help\"\u003EHow Bitdefender can help\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fconsumer\u002Fscamio\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBitdefender Scamio\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E can analyze suspicious job messages, links, QR codes and screenshots for scam indicators. It does not recover money already sent.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you clicked dubious links or downloaded files, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fconsumer\u002Fultimate-security\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBitdefender Ultimate Security\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E combines device protection with Scam Protection Pro. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fconsumer\u002Fdigital-identity-protection\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBitdefender Digital Identity Protection\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E can monitor your digital footprint, breach exposure and dark web findings if you exposed personal information. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fconsumer\u002Fpassword-manager\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBitdefender SecurePass\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E can help store unique credentials after you replace reused passwords.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fconsumer\u002Fsecurity-for-creators\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBitdefender Security for Creators\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E is a narrower fit, but it can be relevant when a fake recruiter, sponsor or brand targets a creator’s email or social accounts, with social-account monitoring, phishing\u002Fscam email protection and recovery guidance.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"conclusion\"\u003EConclusion\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETask scams make the first payout feel like proof that the job is genuine, then turn fake earnings into a reason to send your own money. Treat any request to deposit funds, “top up” a work account or pay to withdraw wages as a stop signal. Verify the employer independently and, if you already paid, move immediately into recovery mode.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"frequently-asked-questions-faqs\"\u003EFrequently asked questions (FAQs)\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"what-are-task-based-scams\"\u003EWhat are task-based scams?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETask-based scams are fake online jobs in which people complete simple activities such as rating products, liking content or “optimizing” listings for supposed commissions. The platform may display fake earnings and even provide a small initial payment, but eventually the victim is told to deposit personal funds to continue working or withdraw the supposed earnings.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"what-are-some-examples-of-job-scams\"\u003EWhat are some examples of job scams?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJob scams include task scams, fake-check jobs, reshipping schemes, money-mule recruitment, bogus recruitment-fee offers and fake work-from-home roles that charge for training or equipment. The recurring warning sign is that the supposed employer wants your money, financial access or identity information instead of simply paying you for legitimate work.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"how-do-i-know-if-i-am-chatting-with-a-scammer\"\u003EHow do I know if I am chatting with a scammer?\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENo single message proves someone is a scammer, but several warning signs together should stop the conversation: unsolicited recruiting, vague duties, unusually easy money, no proper interview, pressure to switch to WhatsApp or Telegram, and requests for deposits or cryptocurrency. Verify the recruiter through contact details obtained independently from the company’s official website.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","6a608f628beeea9658028065","Finance","finance","66f50fb228045a04f10ce989","How to","how-to","66d5cbea28045a04f10b89eb","Vlad CONSTANTINESCU","vlad","https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2021\u002F12\u002FVlad.jpg","Vlad's love for technology and writing created rich soil for his interest in cybersecurity to sprout into a full-on passion.\nBefore becoming a Security Analyst, he covered tech and security topics.","\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Ftask-scams-fake-online-jobs\u002F","6aad20958beeea965802a075","Unexpected Bank Card in the Mail? Don’t Activate It – It Might Be a Scam","unexpected-bank-card-in-the-mail-scam","https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002FUnexpected-Bank-Card-in-the-Mail.png","2026-09-18T14:34:30.000+03:00","Finding a new bank card in your mailbox may look like a routine replacement. But if you didn't request it, don't assume it’s really from your bank.\n\nPortugal’s National Republican Guard (GNR) recently warned about a new scam that begins with an unsolicited bank card delivered to someone’s home. The card can be followed by a phone call, text message or email from a person claiming to represent a bank or financial institution.\n\nThey may say the card needs to be activated, cancelled or verified. Th","\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Funexpected-bank-card-in-the-mail-scam\u002F","6aa7e1fd8beeea9658029d8c","Bitdefender Wins Best Scam Awareness Campaign Award at the GASS Summit America 2026","bitdefender-best-scam-awareness-campaign-award-winner-gass-america-2026","https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002F_Bitdefender-Wins-Best-Scam-Awareness-Campaign-Award-at-the-GASS-Summit-America-2026.png","2026-09-14T15:07:40.000+03:00","Bitdefender has won the Best Awareness Campaign or Educational Programme award at the 2026 Global Anti-Scam Summit in San Francisco.\n\nThe award honored Scam Radar, Bitdefender’s early-warning feature that helps people spot emerging scam waves in their region before they become targets.\n\nScams are a problem globally. They cross borders quickly, move between social media, text messages, email and messaging apps, and use familiar brands, local news stories and trusted public figures to make their c","\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fbitdefender-best-scam-awareness-campaign-award-winner-gass-america-2026\u002F","6aa3fe6c8beeea9658029cd1","Apple Watch can now remember conversations. What could go wrong?","apple-watch-listens-records-conversations","https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fapple-watch-listens.jpg","2026-09-11T16:27:02.000+03:00","\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EApple’s latest smartwatches can summarize conversations and retrieve snippets of what was just said. Apple says the features are built around privacy, but they also raise an awkward question: what about the people talking to the person wearing the watch?\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"key-takeaways\"\u003EKey takeaways\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EApple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 introduce new AI-powered Audio Intelligence features\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ELive Rewind can turn the previous 15 seconds of conversation into text\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESiri Recap can generate high-level summaries of conversations throughout the wearer’s day\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EApple says raw audio isn't stored or accessible to apps, the operating system or Apple itself\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ELive Rewind provides audible and visual indications when activated, but that doesn't mean everyone nearby has consented\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBitdefender's Consumer Cybersecurity Survey finds 77% of respondents trust Apple to some extent, making it one of the most trusted Big Tech companies\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EConsumers should treat AI wearables as they would any device capable of capturing sensitive information: understand the settings and respect other people's privacy\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\n\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\n\u003Ch2 id=\"your-watch-is-listening\"\u003EYour watch is listening\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple is giving its latest smartwatches an impressive new ability: they can listen to the world around you and use AI to help you remember what you heard.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new \u003Cstrong\u003EApple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E introduce Audio Intelligence, a collection of features that use the watches’ microphones and Apple’s AI technology to recognize sounds, identify music and process conversations.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETwo features in particular – \u003Cstrong\u003ELive Rewind and Siri Recap\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E – are attracting attention because they can process conversations involving people other than the one wearing the watch.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELive Rewind is designed for those moments when you miss something someone just said.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDouble-pressing the Apple Watch's Digital Crown lets the wearer see the \u003Cstrong\u003Eprevious 15 seconds of conversation as text\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E. The underlying audio is discarded after processing, while the resulting text can be saved if the user chooses.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe watch also plays an audible chime – even in silent mode – and displays a visual indication when Live Rewind is activated, helping alert people nearby.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple has built several safeguards to prevent that capability from becoming a surveillance tool. Audio isn’t stored as a conventional recording, raw audio is protected inside a hardware-isolated environment, and not even Apple itself can access the underlying audio, the company says.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut technical privacy and \u003Cstrong\u003Econversational privacy\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E aren't necessarily the same thing.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"siri-recap-goes-further\"\u003ESiri Recap goes further\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERather than producing a word-for-word transcript, it can create high-level notes from conversations during the day. Apple says it doesn't identify individual speakers and is designed to omit sensitive information such as financial and authentication data.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple also says Audio Intelligence doesn't create stored audio recordings. Raw audio is processed inside the \u003Cstrong\u003ESecure Exclave\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E built into its S11 chip, where it can’t be accessed by the operating system, apps or even Apple. Siri Recap uses Apple's Private Cloud Compute to generate its final summaries.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThose are meaningful privacy protections. But they don't eliminate every privacy concern.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"privacy-isnt-only-about-where-the-data-goes\"\u003EPrivacy isn't only about where the data goes\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) argues that people should have a say in whether technology is used to document their words in a private conversation.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpeaking to \u003Cem\u003EThe Register\u003C\u002Fem\u003E, EFF privacy litigation director Adam Schwartz \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theregister.com\u002Fsecurity\u002F2026\u002F09\u002F10\u002Fwatch-out-apple-timepiece-can-grab-snippets-of-conversation-without-both-speakers-consent\u002F5295666\"\u003Ewarned\u003C\u002Fa\u003E that people have no practical way to consent to – or reject – this kind of processing when somebody nearby is wearing the watch.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is an important distinction here.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApple isn't secretly storing an endless archive of everything its watches hear. Live Rewind announces itself with an audible signal, Siri Recap doesn't produce a verbatim transcript, and Apple has deliberately designed its architecture to minimize access to the audio.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the person standing across the table may still have their words unexpectedly processed and turned into information.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd as AI moves from phones and computers into watches, glasses, earbuds and other wearables, that distinction is likely to become increasingly important.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"how-it-can-go-really-wrong\"\u003EHow it can go (really) wrong\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe clearest examples of how Apple’s tech could go sideways are the mundane situations where nobody thinks they're having a “recorded” conversation:\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe family conversation:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E You quietly tell your partner about a medical issue, financial problem or family dispute. Someone else at the table is wearing a capable smartwatch, and part of the conversation ends up captured as text or reflected in a later summary.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe office chat:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E Two colleagues casually discuss an upcoming reorganization, a coworker's performance or an unannounced project. The watch of a third colleague processes the conversation. A private conversation now exists as retrievable information.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe coffee-shop confession:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E A friend tells you something deeply personal over coffee. You would never dream of pulling out your phone and recording them, but a wearable makes capturing or summarizing parts of the conversation much less conspicuous.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe accidental eavesdropper:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E You're talking about your finances, relationship or health at the next table in a restaurant. Someone nearby isn't deliberately spying, but their wearable may still process snippets of speech that weren't intended for them.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe argument:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E After a heated disagreement, someone retrieves the last few seconds of what was said. A feature intended as a memory aid becomes a tool for preserving a remark the speaker reasonably assumed was ephemeral.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe sensitive appointment:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E A person wears the device during a meeting with a doctor, therapist, lawyer, accountant or financial adviser. Even if the audio isn't permanently stored, summaries or snippets could preserve information normally treated as highly confidential.\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe child who can't meaningfully consent:\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E Parents, teachers or other adults discuss a child's personal circumstances while an AI wearable is present. The child may have little understanding that what they say—or what others say about them—can be processed and summarized\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"apple-enjoys-considerable-consumer-trust\"\u003EApple enjoys considerable consumer trust\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe issue is particularly interesting because Apple is one of the most-trusted technology companies.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn our latest \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fbitdefender-2025-consumer-cybersecurity-survey\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConsumer Cybersecurity Survey\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E, covering more than 7,000 internet users across seven countries, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fwhich-big-tech-companies-do-you-trust-or-not-we-asked-netizens\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E77% of respondents said they trust Apple to some extent\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E. Google scored 88% and Microsoft 85%.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fchart-1.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"293\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fchart-1.jpg 600w\"\u003E\u003C\u002Ffigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat contrasts sharply with attitudes toward some social networks and newer AI platforms. More than half of respondents said they don't trust X\u002FTwitter (52%) or TikTok (51%) at all, while 45% expressed similar skepticism toward OpenAI.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYet trust isn't a blank check.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur survey also shows that consumers remain protective of personal information: \u003Cstrong\u003E59% don't want Big Tech accessing their financial information\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E, while photos and location data are also areas many respondents would rather keep private.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fchart-2.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"339\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F09\u002Fchart-2.jpg 600w\"\u003E\u003C\u002Ffigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFeatures like Audio Intelligence show why trust increasingly depends not just on whether a company can secure the data it collects, but also on \u003Cstrong\u003Ewhat technology is allowed to collect or infer in the first place\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\"how-to-use-ai-wearables-without-people-avoiding-conversations-around-you\"\u003EHow to use AI wearables without people avoiding conversations around you\u003C\u002Fh2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor now, there's no reason to panic about a smartwatch spying on every conversation around you. Apple's safeguards are substantial, and these features are designed to give users control over when and how they're used. But a little etiquette goes a long way.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\"if-you-use-an-ai-powered-wearable\"\u003EIf you use an AI-powered wearable:\u003C\u002Fh3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFamiliarize yourself with its microphone, transcription, recap and recording features rather than simply accepting the default settings\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDisable conversation-processing features you don't need\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETell people when you're deliberately using a feature that can transcribe or summarize what they're saying\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAvoid using these tools during conversations involving health, finances, work, legal matters or other personal information\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDon't assume that an audible notification automatically equals consent\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReview saved summaries and transcripts periodically and delete anything you no longer need\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBe particularly cautious in workplaces, schools and other environments where privacy policies or local laws may apply\u003C\u002Fli\u003E\u003C\u002Ful\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're concerned about somebody else's wearable during a sensitive discussion, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask them to disable its listening features – or simply remove the device for the conversation.\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI is giving everyday devices increasingly powerful abilities to interpret what's happening around us. But we still want a meaningful say in what technology gets to remember – \u003Cstrong\u003Eespecially when it comes to that most human of activities: conversation.\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EOn topic:\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fwhich-big-tech-companies-do-you-trust-or-not-we-asked-netizens\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWhich Big Tech companies do you trust? We asked netizens\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fbig-tech-cyber-defense-ai-cyber-attacks\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBig Tech calls for cyber-defense before AI attacks surge\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bitdefender.com\u002Fen-us\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fupdate-iphone-mac-image-flaw-spyware-potential\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EUpdate your iPhone and Mac! Apple patches image flaw with spyware potential\u003C\u002Fem\u003E\u003C\u002Fstrong\u003E\u003C\u002Fa\u003E\u003C\u002Fp\u003E","Apple’s latest smartwatches can summarize conversations and retrieve snippets of what was just said. Apple says the features are built around privacy, but they also raise an awkward question: what about the people talking to the person wearing the watch?\n\n\nKey takeaways\n\n\n * Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 introduce new AI-powered Audio Intelligence features\n * Live Rewind can turn the previous 15 seconds of conversation into text\n * Siri Recap can generate high-level summaries of conversation",6,"\u002Fblog\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fapple-watch-listens-records-conversations\u002F","Branches of the US military have reportedly disabled ad-tracking on government-issued phones and computers, following concerns that commercially-available location data has been used to target American forces in the Middle East.",2,"News, views and insights from the Bitdefender experts","https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2021\u002F05\u002Fh4s_2x.png","#15171A","https:\u002F\u002Fstatic.ghost.org\u002Fv3.0.0\u002Fimages\u002Fpublication-cover.png","bitdefender","@bitdefender","Europe\u002FAthens","Home","Cybersecurity News","\u002Ftag\u002Fpeople-of-bitdefender\u002Findustry-news\u002F","\u002Ftag\u002Fdigital-privacy\u002F","\u002Ftag\u002Fsmart-home\u002F","How To","\u002Ftag\u002Fhow-to\u002F","\u002Ftag\u002Fproduct-updates\u002F","noreply","icon-and-text","Subscribe","free","monthly","off","hotforsecurity@bitdefender.com","noreply@blogapp.bitdefender.com","disabled","https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002F","5.101",{},"fr","66d5cbea28045a04f10b89cc","Cristina POPOV","cpopov","https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2025\u002F12\u002F20251024_153349.jpg","Cristina Popov is a Denmark-based content creator and small business owner who has been writing for Bitdefender since 2017, making cybersecurity feel more human and less overwhelming. ","66f50fb228045a04f10ce987","Family Safety","family","Australian Steam users are facing a new age-verification barrier when trying to view or buy games rated 18+: Valve asks them to add a valid Australian credit card before they can access mature content.","66d5cbea28045a04f10b89df","Silviu STAHIE","sstahie","https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F03\u002FBD_Silviu_Stahie_Pic3-1.jpeg","https:\u002F\u002Fblogapp.bitdefender.com\u002Fhotforsecurity\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F2026\u002F03\u002FBD_Silviu_Stahie_Pic3.jpeg","Silviu is a seasoned writer who followed the technology world for almost two decades, covering topics ranging from software to hardware and everything in between.","Windows 11 is preparing to take on a job that apps and online services have largely handled until now, most of it badly: working out whether a user falls into the right age bracket.","vpn","VPN","abc",""));</script></body></html>