Articles about online security

For many years now, Linux users looking to block ads have needed to piece together a mixture of browser extensions, DNS-based filtering, and network-wide tools (such as Pi-hole). While these solutions certainly help, none of them offer complete system-wide protection.

Yeah, with Windows and macOS users having access to various tools for years, Linux users have mostly had to rely on workarounds. That’s where AdGuard for Linux comes in! Yes, folks, we finally have a dedicated ad blocker that works across all browsers and applications!

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McAfee has released its “2024 Celebrity Hacker Hotlist,” highlighting the celebrities whose names are most exploited by cybercriminals. Leading this year’s list is Scarlett Johansson, an actress best known for her role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Johansson’s popularity makes her a prime target for hackers, who use her name to trick unsuspecting users into clicking malicious links or downloading harmful files.

McAfee’s report warns that searches involving popular celebrities like Johansson often lead consumers to unsafe sites. These sites can install malware or collect personal data, compromising users’ privacy, data, and identity. The rise of AI has made it easier to create convincing deepfakes, adding another layer of complexity to these scams. These AI-generated images, audio, and videos can be used to deceive fans into engaging with fraudulent content, damaging not only the victim’s finances but also the celebrity’s reputation.

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Fastmail has launched a new feature allowing users to create passkeys for their accounts, promising a faster and more secure authentication method compared to traditional passwords. Passkeys address the inherent weaknesses of passwords by using cryptographic keys that offer several advantages over conventional methods.

Passwords, the standard for online authentication, present challenges such as the difficulty in creating secure passwords and vulnerability to phishing attacks. In contrast, passkeys operate on public key cryptography, where a private key creates a signature and a public key that the website can verify. This method provides security benefits like replay resistance, where each login attempt involves a unique challenge from the website, making passkeys resistant to interception. They are also leak-resistant since only the public key can be compromised without being used to forge a login, and they are phishing-proof as passkeys are inherently tied to the website they were created for.

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In response to a dramatic 78 percent increase in data breaches from 2022 to 2023, Proton is launching Pass Monitor, a new security feature within its password manager designed to bolster the protection of user data. Last year alone, over 3,205 data breaches jeopardized the personal information of more than 353 million people, underscoring the need for enhanced security measures.

Pass Monitor aims to provide users with comprehensive security by notifying them of potential vulnerabilities and breaches that could affect their online accounts. This initiative reflects Proton's commitment to making security user-friendly and proactive.

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Proton Mail, the popular email service known for its strong focus on both privacy and security, has integrated hide-my-email alias features directly into its web and desktop platforms. This move gives users more control over their online identity, setting Proton Mail apart from other email providers like Gmail.

The hide-my-email alias feature allows users to generate unique, random email addresses for use with apps, websites, and other digital services. This means that users can keep their personal email addresses private, reducing the risk of being targeted by malware, spam, or online trackers. If an alias is ever compromised, it can be easily deactivated without affecting the user's primary email address.

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Ladies and gentlemen, hold onto your keyboards, because Surfshark is making waves in the world of online security. The highly acclaimed VPN app has officially landed on the Microsoft Store for Windows, and the internet community is buzzing with excitement.

Why did the folks at Surfshark decide to make this move? Well, it's all about accessibility, my friends. Surfshark is on a mission to make their product available to everyone, and what better way to achieve that than by offering their app on the Microsoft Store? Windows users can now easily experience the full power and potential of Surfshark's VPN services right at their fingertips.

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