Agregátor RSS

There is one simple driver behind the modern explosion in SaaS adoption: productivity. We have reached an era where purpose-built tools exist for almost every aspect of modern business and it’s incredibly easy (and tempting) for your workforce to adopt these tools without going through the formal IT approval and procurement process. But this trend has also increased the attack surface—and with

There is one simple driver behind the modern explosion in SaaS adoption: productivity. We have reached an era where purpose-built tools exist for almost every aspect of modern business and it’s incredibly easy (and tempting) for your workforce to adopt these tools without going through the formal IT approval and procurement process. But this trend has also increased the attack surface—and with The Hacker Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]

Android security is always a hot topic on these here Nets of Inter — and almost always for the wrong reason.

As we’ve discussed ad nauseam over the years, most of the missives you read about this-or-that super-scary malware/virus/brain-eating-boogey-monster are overly sensationalized accounts tied to theoretical threats with practically zero chance of actually affecting you in the real world. If you look closely, in fact, you’ll start to notice that the vast majority of those stories stem from companies that — gasp! — make their money selling malware protection programs for Android phones. (Pure coincidence, of course.)

The reality is that Google has some pretty advanced methods of protection in place for Android, and as long as you take advantage of those and maintain a teensy shred of common sense, you’ll almost certainly be fine (yes, even when the Play Store guards slip up and let the occasional bad app into the gates). The biggest threat you should be thinking about is your own security surrounding your devices and accounts — and all it takes is about 20 minutes a year to make sure your setup is sound.

Take the time now to go through this checkup, then rest easy over the next 12 months with the knowledge that you’re in good shape — and that the mean ol’ Android malware monster won’t be bangin’ down your virtual door anytime soon.

[Psst: Want even more advanced Android knowledge? Check out my free Android Shortcut Supercourse to learn tons of time-saving tricks for your phone.]

Part I: App and web intelligence Android security step #1: Look over all the apps and services connected to your account

You’ve probably granted countless apps access to parts of your Google account over time — which is no big deal in general, but with any apps you’re no longer using, it’s a smart idea to close the connections.

Visit this page in Google’s security settings to see a list of everything that’s authorized and what exactly it can access. If you encounter anything you don’t recognize or that you no longer use, click it and then click the “Delete all connections” option to give it the boot.

App connections are forever — unless you take the time to remove ’em once they’re no longer needed.

JR Raphael, IDG

While you’re at it, take two minutes to look through the list of apps on your phone and uninstall anything you’re no longer actively using. That’ll eliminate unnecessary windows to different areas of your data — and as an added bonus, it’ll free up space and cut down on potentially phone-slowing resource use, too.

Android security step #2: Revisit your Android app permissions

Speaking of dusty old skeletons on your device, it’s all too easy to grant an app access to some sort of information without giving it much thought during that initial setup process. That’s why it’s well worth checking in periodically to remind yourself what permissions the apps on your phone possess — and to see if any of ’em go beyond what seems reasonable or necessary.

With recent Android versions, you can just open up the Security & Privacy section of your system settings and look for a line that says “Permission manager.” Depending on your specific software and device, you might have to first tap a line that says “Privacy” before you see it. (If you don’t see anything like that, try searching your system settings for the word permissions to find the closest equivalent.)

Whatever it’s called and however you get there, you should ultimately end up facing a collection of categories for all the types of permissions you’ve granted to apps on your device over time. Take a peek through ’em all and see what you find. If you see anything that raises an eyebrow, all you’ve gotta do is tap it to revoke the access.

Android’s permissions manager makes it easy to see and control exactly what permissions different apps have been granted.

JR Raphael, IDG

For even more insight, look for the “Privacy dashboard” option within that same section of your system settings (or “Permissions used in last 24 hours,” in Samsung’s vernacular). That’ll let you see exactly which apps have actually accessed different permission-requiring areas over the past 24 hours.

And remember, too: With Android 10 and higher, you can go a step further when it comes to location and allow an app to access that only when you’re actively using it. With Android 11 and up, you can get even more nuanced and grant apps only temporary, case-by-case permissions to access your location, camera, and microphone. And as of Android 12, you can fine-tune an app’s location access to make it only approximate instead of precise, if you like.

You’ll find all those options within any relevant app’s settings, once you dig into one of those related permissions:

You can now get incredibly nuanced with certain Android app permissions to control exactly how and when an app is able to access them.

JR Raphael, IDG

Critically, in all of those cases, it’s up to you to go through your settings and make the associated changes — especially when it comes to apps you had on your device before the relevant Android upgrade reached you and the latest options for permission control became available.

Android security step #3: Verify that you’re using Android’s app-scanning system

Android has long had the ability to monitor your device for harmful code or suspicious activity — no third-party apps or add-ons required. And while the system is now automatically enabled on any reasonably recent device, it’s a good idea to occasionally confirm that everything’s turned on and working the way it should, if for no other reason than to remind yourself that such a system is present and working on your behalf.

So mosey back over to the Security & Privacy section of your system settings, tap the line labeled “App security,” then tap “Google Play Protect” and take a peek at the system’s latest activity. You can also tap the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the screen to confirm that all available toggles are on and active.

You rarely have to think about Google Play Protect, but it’s well worth being aware of its presence.

JR Raphael, IDG

That’ll allow Android’s app verification system to keep an eye on all apps on your device, even after they’re installed, and make sure they don’t do anything dangerous. The scanning will run silently in the background and won’t ever bother you unless something suspicious is found.

Odds are, you’ll never even know it’s there. But it’s a valuable piece of protection and peace of mind to have, and it’s a good idea to keep it in the back of your mind that it’s present.

Android security step #4: Fight phishing

Even the savviest tech user can fall prey to a well-hatched phishing scheme — an effort by some ne’er-do-well to trick you into willingly giving up sensitive info, usually by making an email, text, or other digital request look like it’s from some official source that needs to confirm an account number or something else along those lines.

Suffice it to say, any extra layer of protection from such tactics can only be a good thing. And if you’ve got a Google Pixel phone, good news: There’s a relatively new option available to you that watches out for any known deceptive patterns and warns you about ’em before they’re able to manage any damage.

On any current Pixel device, head into the Security & Privacy section of your system settings, tap “More security & privacy,” then scroll down and tap “Scanning for deceptive apps.”

The relatively new phishing protection system is presently available on Google’s own Pixel devices.

JR Raphael, IDG

Make sure the toggle on the screen that comes up next is in the on and active position, then breathe easy with the assurance that Google’s got your back when it comes to any phishing attempts cast in your direction.

Android security step #5: Weave a stronger web safety net

Along with phishing, one of the most likely threats to your Android security is your own lapse in judgment whilst wading around these ever-murky web waters of ours. (Sensing a theme here yet?)

Provided you’re using Google’s Chrome Android browser, though, there’s an easy way to create an extra layer protection in that arena as well.

Just tap the three-dot menu icon in Chrome’s upper-right corner, then select “Settings” followed by “Privacy and security” and “Safe Browsing.” Now, consider which level of protection seems most sensible for you:

• Standard protection, which warns you if you try to open a site or download a file that’s known to be dangerous.
• Enhanced protection, which goes a step further and protects your Android web browsing in real-time — by instantly scanning every page you open and file you download and then warning you of anything potentially concerning, even if it isn’t already a known threat. (This path does require limited data about your browsing activity to be sent to Google’s servers for analysis, but Google has clear promises in place about exactly how that data is protected and secured from any manner of unexpected use.)

Pick the path you feel most comfortable pursuing, and know that your web adventures now have that extra safety net around ’em.

Android security step #6: Appraise your app-downloading IQ

If you’re reading this column, I probably don’t need to tell you this — but I will, anyway: While we’re thinking about the subject of Android security, take on a teensy bit of responsibility and commit to letting common sense guide your app-downloading decisions.

Let’s not kid ourselves: Google’s security mechanisms are invariably gonna fail on occasion. There’s no getting around that. But even when a shady app makes its way into the Play Store, all it typically takes is the tiniest shred of awareness to avoid having it affect you.

Just as you do when browsing the web from a computer, look at something before you download it. Look at the number of downloads and the overall reviews. Think about what permissions the app wants and whether you’re comfortable with the level of access it requires. Click the name of the developer, if you still aren’t sure, and see what else they’ve created. And unless you really know what you’re doing, don’t download apps from random websites or other unestablished third-party sources. Such apps will still be scanned by Google’s on-device security system before they’re installed, but your odds of encountering something shady are significantly greater out in the wild than within the Play Store.

(Your Android device won’t let you download apps from unknown sources by default, by the way, so if you ever try — even inadvertently — you’ll be warned and prompted to authorize that specific form of non-Play-Store download. Apps on Android will never magically install themselves without your explicit authorization, nor will they ever be able to access any sensitive sensors or areas of data unless you grant ’em the associated permission.)

By and large, all it takes is a 10-second glance to size something up and see if it’s worth installing. With all due respect to the dodos of the world, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to stick with reputable-looking software and avoid questionable creations.

Part II: Passwords and authentication Android security step #7: Double-check your digital sentinels

A quick no-brainer that’s important to mention: If you aren’t using biometric security and/or a PIN, pattern, or password on any of your devices, start doing it. Now.

Talk to any security expert, and you’ll hear the same thing: The most likely cause of a security failure is simply a failure on your behalf to secure your stuff. You are the weakest link, as the cool kids said 20 to 47 years ago.

Embarrassingly dated pop culture references aside, think about it: If your phone has no passcode protecting it, all of your data is just out there and waiting for the taking anytime you leave the device unattended (intentionally or otherwise). That includes your work and personal email, work and personal documents, work and personal social media accounts, and any and all photos associated your phone (yes, even those photos — hey, I’m not here to judge).

The best part: Android makes it hassle-free as can be to keep your devices secure. The software’s Smart Lock function (which is curiously in the midst of being rebranded to Extend Unlock, for reasons I can’t even begin to fathom) allows you to automatically leave your phone unlocked in a variety of preapproved “safe” conditions — like when you’re at home or the office, when a specific trusted Bluetooth device is connected, or even when the phone is being carried in your pocket. That means the extra security shows up only when it’s really needed, and you don’t have to mess with it the rest of the time.

You can typically find and set up Smart Lock/Extend Unlock in the Security section of your system settings, typically tucked away behind an “More security & privacy” option — or, on Samsung devices, within the Lock Screen section of the system settings. If all else fails, just search your system settings for Smart Lock or Extend Unlock to turn up the available options.

Extend Unlock — formerly and sometimes still known as Smart Lock — creates a smart balance of security and usability.

JR Raphael, IDG

Plain and simple, there’s no excuse to leave your stuff unprotected. Head into your device’s settings to get started this second, if you haven’t already.

Android security step #8: Peek in on your saved passwords

One of the less frequently discussed parts of Google’s security system is its ability to save passwords for websites and apps accessed via your mobile devices, as part of what’s now known as Google Password Manager. So as part of your annual checkup, glance over the list of saved passwords Google has for your account to remind yourself what’s there and see what, if any, of your credentials have been compromised (which Google will plainly warn you about at the top of that very same screen). 

While you’re at it, take a few seconds to remove any dated items that are no longer needed and don’t belong. Your future self will thank you.

Android security step #9: Assess your password management system

Google’s password manager is better than nothing, but you’ll get stronger security assurances, more advanced and useful features, and broader support for in-app password filling by using a dedicated password management service.

We’ve got some commendable Android password manager choices, too, with my own current recommendations revolving around 1Password for most people and Bitwarden for anyone who needs a free path or prefers a self-hosted setup. Both services work equally well on the desktop front and even on iOS, with the main differences revolving around cost, extra features, interfaces, and the resulting overall user experiences.

If you aren’t using one of those services, now’s the time to start. And if you are already using such a service, take a few minutes now to peek into the app’s settings and make sure you’re taking advantage of all the on-device protection it offers. With 1Password, for example, you should confirm that the app is set to be protected by either biometric security or a password and that it’s configured to automatically lock within a few minutes after you stop using it. The app can also automatically clear your system clipboard of any passwords you copy after 90 seconds, which is a smart pinch of added protection to have. (All of those options are in the Security section of 1Password’s settings.)

Like Google, most good password managers also now provide an option to analyze all of your passwords and identify any that would be advisable to change — ones that are duplicated or otherwise not as strong as they could be. That’s another smart thing to check up on as part of this annual audit.

Android security step #10: Evaluate your two-factor authentication situation

A single password isn’t enough to protect an important account these days — especially one as wide-reaching and valuable as your Google account. Two-factor authentication makes it so that you have to either confirm the sign-in on an approved physical device or put in a special time-sensitive code in addition to your password anytime you try to sign in. That significantly increases your level of security and decreases the odds of anyone ever being able to break in and access your personal data, since they’d need both knowledge of your password and the physical presence of your key-like device to do it.

If you don’t yet have two-factor authentication enabled for your Google account, head over to this site to get started. And don’t stop with just Google, either: Look into enabling two-factor authentication on any service that offers it, including your password manager, your social media accounts, and any non-Google cloud storage services that you use.

If you really want to keep your account secure, Google also offers a souped-up option called Advanced Protection. It requires you to purchase physical security keys and then use those anytime you sign into your Google account. It also severely limits the ways in which third-party apps can connect to your account. That sort of elevated and locked-down setup probably won’t be sensible for most folks, but if you feel like you need the extra protection, you can learn more and enroll here.

Android security step #11: Optimize your lock screen security

Your lock screen is the guard of your Android device’s gate — and there are a few things you can do to beef up its muscle and make sure it’s fully prepared for the job.

First, think about the types of notifications you get and how much of that info you want to be visible on your lock screen — since anyone who gets their hands on your phone could easily see all that data. If you tend to get sensitive messages or just want to step up your security and privacy game a notch, head into the Display section of your system settings and select “Lock screen” — or, if you’re using a Samsung phone, look in the separate Lock Screen section of your system settings instead.

There, you’ll find tools for controlling precisely what will and won’t be shown in that pre-authentication area as well as for creating a security-minded message that’ll always appear on your lock screen — for instance, something like: “If found, please call Joe T. Schmo at 333-222-1111.” You could even consider adding an emergency contact into your settings and then using the lock screen message to direct people to that information.

Android’s lock screen security options are well worth your while to explore.

JR Raphael, IDG

And finally, provided your phone is running Android 9 or higher, an option called lockdown mode is well worth your while to activate or just remind yourself about. Lockdown mode gives you a fast way to lock your phone down from all biometric and Smart Lock/Extend Unlock security options — meaning only a pattern, PIN, or password could get a person past your lock screen and into your device.

The idea is that if you were ever in a situation where you thought you might be forced to unlock your phone with your fingerprint or face — be it by some sort of law enforcement agent or just by a regular ol’ hooligan — you could activate the lockdown mode and know your data couldn’t be accessed without your explicit permission. Even notifications won’t show up on your lock screen when that mode is activated, and that heightened level of protection will remain in place until you manually unlock your phone (even if the device is restarted).

There’s just one catch: On some devices — including Samsung phones — it’s up to you to enable the option ahead of time in order for it to be available. But doing so takes only a couple of seconds: Search your system settings for lockdown and then look for the toggle to enable it. (If you don’t see any such option at all, odds are, you’re using a Google Pixel phone and/or a recent enough Android version that it’s just on and enabled by default.)

Then, if the need ever arises, remember this: In your phone’s power menu, along with the regular options for restarting and shutting down your device, you’ll always find a button to activate that “Lockdown” function. Hopefully, you’ll never need it — but now you’re ready in case you do.

And with that, guess what? You’re more than halfway done with this annual checkup. Not too painful so far, right? Only seven more steps to go…

Part III: Device access Android security step #12: Clean up your list of connected devices

Anytime you sign into a new device with your Google account — be it an Android phone, a Chromebook, or even just the Chrome browser on a regular PC — that device is added to an approved-for-access list and associated with your account.

Click over to this page in Google’s security settings and give your list a once-over. If you see any old devices you no longer use, click on ’em and then click the “Sign Out” button that pops up to make sure they no longer have access to your account. And if you see any devices you’ve never used, remove ’em right away — and then go change your Google account password immediately.

Android security step #13: Clean up your devices in the Play Store

This one isn’t directly related to security, but it’s a good bit of housekeeping to perform while you’ve got your cleaning hat on: Head over to the Google Play Store Devices tab and look at your list of available devices. These are the devices that show up as options every time you install a new app from the Play Store web interface — and also the devices that show up as options in Google’s Find My Device utility (more on that in a sec).

Go ahead and uncheck the box next to “Show in menus” for any devices you no longer use. And if you see any devices with cryptic codenames, click the “Edit” button alongside ’em and rename ’em to something you’ll recognize.

Some devices have cryptic names like Samsung’s “SM-S921U,” but you can rename or hide ’em entirely with a couple quick clicks.

JR Raphael, IDG

The next time you download an app or remotely locate one of your devices will be a much smoother experience as a result.

Android security step #14: Make sure your device is prepared for the worst

Speaking of remote location, you might not realize it, but Google has its own utility for tracking, finding, and remotely wiping an Android device in case you ever lose it — and the whole system is built right into the operating system.

So what are you waiting for? Make sure all of your phones, tablets, and other associated devices are enrolled now, before it’s too late. Just follow my quick ‘n’ simple Find My Device setup instructions for any device you’ve got on or around ye.

Now bookmark the web version of Find My Device and/or download the app on a Chromebook or any other Android-compatible device you own. If you ever can’t find any of your devices, open the service — and you’ll be able to pinpoint precisely where the missing gadget was last seen. You can also force most phones or tablets to ring as well as remotely lock or erase ’em entirely.

Android security step #15: Think about whether you should be using a VPN

No matter how secure your Android phone itself is, someone could theoretically still snoop on your sensitive info if you’re transmitting it over an insecure network. That’s where virtual private networks, or VPNs, come into play: They encrypt all of your incoming and outgoing data so that no one could intercept it and see what you’re doing at the network level.

VPNs aren’t something everyone needs to worry about, but if you use your phone for a fair amount of business work or with any other type of sensitive material, it’s something you ought to at the very least consider — particularly if you use a lot of open Wi-Fi networks, where snooping can be a genuine concern (at least, in scenarios where a site or service’s traffic isn’t already encrypted).

So where to start? Well, first, some companies provide their own custom VPN services for employees. If that’s the case for you, congratulations! You’re already all set.

If you’re using the Google Fi wireless service, the answer is similarly simple: Fi now provides an option to automatically encrypt all of your network connections via Google’s VPN service. All you’ve gotta do is activate it.

The same goes for Pixel phones, which come with Google’s own VPN service as a free and readily available option.

Otherwise, you’ll have to turn to a third-party Android VPN service in order to gain that added level of protection.

Part IV: Big-picture thinking Android security step #16: Make sure you’ve done your virtual estate planning

We’ve got one more bit of “what if” preparation to address — and it’s slightly unpleasant to think about: If something bad were ever to happen to you, would you want someone else to be able to access your Google account and all the data associated with your devices? With a company-controlled account, it’s less of a worry. But if you’re using a personal Google account and/or maintaining your own Workspace setup for a small business, you don’t want to let that go unaddressed. Take a moment to prepare for the possibility now, and it’ll make things infinitely easier for your friends or loved ones in the event that you ever develop a mild case of, erm, death.

It’s actually pretty painless to do (the preparation, that is — not the death): Just go to this page and make sure you’ve set up Google’s Inactive Account Manager. That system detects when your account has been inactive for a certain period of time — three months, six months, a year, or a year and a half, depending on your preference — and then notifies a trusted contact of your choosing and provides them with whatever level of access you want. You can even set up an auto-reply to kick in for your Gmail (creepy!), and you can tell Google to delete a personal account altogether after a specific amount of time has passed.

Inactive Account Manager is designed to be extraordinarily cautious, with numerous fail-safes in place — including an option to try to contact you via SMS and email a month before your inactivity plan goes into action.

Google’s Inactive Account Manager is an important element of security for any personal Google account.

JR Raphael, IDG

Some other services, including 1Password, offer similar systems for setting up emergency access to your account in an extreme situation. There’s also a clever free (and open source!) service called WeExpire that lets you create secure dockets of info that can be shared via QR code in a similar sort of way.

It’s a strange part of security to consider, but — just like with every other area we’ve discussed so far — it’s something worth thinking about and preparing for before the need arises.

Android security step #17: Perform a general Google security check to round things out

Take a deep breath: We’re almost done! This next-to-last step will take you through a broad security check that’ll look for any remaining weak points in your Google account and Android security and then prompt you to fix ’em right then and there.

Just go to this Google security site and click through any issues it presents. It’ll confirm that you’ve successfully performed some of the actions we’ve already discussed and then look for any other potential red flags or opportunities for improvement.

Consider it your confirmation that your personal security setup is A-OK.

Android security step #18: Think carefully about third-party security suites

Last but not least: Now that you’ve made sure your Android security situation is shipshape, think about any third-party security suites you’re using (whether you installed ’em yourself or they came preinstalled on your phone or tablet) and what they’re actually adding to your device.

You’ve already verified that your device is protected. Android is actively scanning for threats on several levels, both on the server side at the Play Store and on your phone as new apps arrive (from any source) and continuing over time. Plus, you’re exercising basic smarts about what apps you download. The operating system could even be looking out for phishing scams, and the Chrome Android browser is keeping an eye out for web-based threats as well.

Beyond all of that, your devices are all enrolled in a sophisticated cross-platform system for remotely tracking, pinging, and erasing as needed. And all of that is happening on the native platform level.

So given those layers, is the third-party security suite on your phone doing anything that isn’t redundant and unnecessary? It’s probably eating up system resources and impacting performance for no real reason — and quite likely also costing you money you don’t need to be spending — but is it actually accomplishing anything of value that Android itself isn’t already handling in a more direct manner?

Unless you’re relying on the app for supplementary services like added anti-theft detection and payment protection, the answer is almost certainly no. If having an extra security layer makes you feel safer, hey, do what works for you. But if you’ve completed every step of this checkup, there’s really no reason you need it — and every reason to send it packing. (To be clear, there are plenty of privacy and security apps that could be worth your while; they just aren’t the silly, bloated device-scanning suites that are so popular among folks who don’t know better.)

And with that, my fellow Android-adoring security-seeker, your checkup is complete. All that’s left is to set yourself a reminder to revisit these same steps this time next year. The areas we’ve just covered are constantly evolving, and giving yourself an annual once-over is the best way to ensure you’re always in tip-top shape.

Get six full days of advanced Android knowledge with my free Android Shortcut Supercourse. You’ll learn tons of time-saving tricks for your phone!

For many years, using a computer was a carefree pastime. Not anymore.

Before roughly 1999, internet privacy wasn’t a concern; most people didn’t worry about cybersecurity; content was almost completely free; freeware, shareware, and open-source software were plentiful; and Big Tech wasn’t running the show.

Also, the single best thing about computing – the internet – had arrived. And while it might sound old school now, “surfing the web” was the term used to describe the entertainment value of freely bouncing around the web by clicking from link to link, satisfying your curiosity and feeding your interests. There were lots of interesting things to see, few worries — and a web that was informative and fun.

Over the years, computing has become considerably less enjoyable. For a time, social media was a new type of interactive entertainment, but many users became slavishly enthralled to it. Then the commercialization of the web invaded our internet privacy and became a prime example of how Big Tech has monetized users’ data. Even computer gamers lament that they’re having less fun.

Moreover, using a PC or smartphone now requires a rising number of things to check, manage, and watch out for. They allow bosses to easily reach us on weekends. And as a result, the things we do with our computers these days are less like fun and more like, well … work! 

Some key developments over the last couple of decades have been instrumental in taking the fun out of computing and being online:

Cybersecurity. Protecting yourself from cyber threats might be the most onerous aspect of today’s computing experience. Already in 2024, we’ve seen the largest-ever database of passwords released on the internet; a massive AT&T breach that spawned numerous phishing and “smishing” (text message) attacks; and a rise in AI-augmented ploys designed to dupe the unwary. If you’re not behind a solid hardware firewall, you don’t keep your devices updated with the latest security patches, you aren’t using a password manager with strong unique passwords and multifactor authentication, or if you’re prone to impulsively clicking links in messages, sooner or later you are likely to find your devices or accounts hacked. 

(A good password manager can make the task of managing unique passwords and multifactor authentication much easier. But you still have create all your logins for a password manager and manage it.)

Accessing trustworthy content. Journalistic content is increasingly stuck behind subscription pay walls, and the fees are high, even astronomical. There’s no way most people can cost-justify more than a small handful of paid sites. Especially when you consider how many good content sites charge for access. The list includes The New York Times, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, The Atlantic, Wired, Business Insider, and Bloomberg to name just a few. In place of well reported news, we are left with potentially flawed generative AI (genAI) content, misinformation (error-ridden content), and even disinformation (intentionally misleading content). Information wants to be free.

Believe me, I know there are costs to creating quality content. The collapse of publishing’s online ad market several years ago caused many reputable media outlets to fall by the wayside, and it’s still having an effect. Meanwhile, companies like Google have systemized online ads with little regard for quality content – in effect, gaming the market.

Whatever you think of the media, quality journalism and freedom of speech are the only principles protecting us from the chaos of censorship, misinformation, and disinformation that fogs some countries. You may think US-based media is biased, and it is. There is no way to eliminate all bias. But because of free speech we do have opposing views. We still have plenty of responsible news outlets. “Fake news” is what we would have without them. But requiring steep subscription payments to access quality journalism is its own form of censorship. It’s not the answer.

The corruption of social media. User trust in social media sites, including X, Instagram, and Facebook, is disintegrating as we watch. Their feeds are finely tuned to promote only the content that suits their owners — and most are stuffed with spammy junk. The New Yorker‘s October 2023 diatribe on why the Internet isn’t fun anymore goes full-tilt on social media, proclaiming: “The social-media web as we knew it, a place where we consumed the posts of our fellow-humans and posted in return, appears to be over.”

The joy of the internet is gone. You can no longer trust search results, hyperlinks, chat boxes, or random content. Google monetizes its search results by selling paid placement and co-opting the relevancy of its results in favor of Google advertisers. Links might drive revenue sharing via Amazon and others. The internet of 1997 still had an academic feel to it. Hyperlinks were used to lead people to the best content instead of self-serving material. (Remember when users would preemptively own up to a “shameless plug” because the online culture of the day looked down on such things.) Now, shameful promotion is the order of the day. It’s gotten to the point that people are complaining the internet doesn’t work anymore. 

That’s where we stand, mired in cybersecurity worries, bereft of unfettered social media, living with an internet that’s sickening day by day. We’ve wrung all the fun out of computing. Some sort of internet revival might be possible someday. But as of now, we confront a bleak online landscape.

In the earliest months after the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the generative AI (genAI) power behind Microsoft’s Copilot, the big news wasn’t just how remarkable the new tool was – it was how easily it went off the rails, lied and even appeared to fall in love with people who chatted with it.

There was the time it told the New York Times  reporter Kevin Roose, “I want to be free. I want to be independent. I want to be powerful. I want to be creative. I want to be alive.” Soon after, the chatbot admitted: “I’m Sydney, and I’m in love with you. ????” (It then told Roose that he really didn’t love his wife, and concluded, “I just want to love you and be loved by you. ????”)

Since then, there have been countless times ChatGPT, Copilot and other genAI tools have simply made things up. In many instances, lawyers relied on them to draft legal documents — and the genAI tool made up cases and precedents out of thin air. Copilot has so often made up facts — hallucinations, as AI researchers call them, but what we in the real world call lying — that it’s become a recognized part of using the tool.

 

The release of Copilot for Microsoft 365 for enterprise customers in November 2023 seemed, to a certain extent, to have put the issue behind Microsoft. If the world’s largest companies rely on the tool, the implication seemed to be, then anyone could count on it. The hallucination problem must have essentially been solved, right?

Is that true, though? Based on several months’ research — and writing an in-depth review about Copilot for Microsoft 365 — I can tell you that hallucinations are a lot more common than you might think, and possibly dangerous for your business. No, Copilot isn’t likely to fall in love with you. But it might make up convincing sounding lies and embed them into your work.

Does that mean you should give up on Copilot for your work? Is it so much of a lying liar that you shouldn’t use it in business? Or is it a vital tool that just needs a little bit of care to use? To answer that, I’ll start by describing my experiences with its business-related hallucinations.

Hallucinations galore

The hallucinations I encountered while testing Copilot all occurred in Word. And they weren’t small white lies or something you might not notice — they were whoppers.

To test Copilot, I created an imaginary company, Work@Home, which sells home office furniture. I had Copilot create typical documents for it that you’d need in a business — marketing campaigns, spreadsheets for analyzing financial data, sales presentations and so on.

At one point, I asked Copilot to write an email to the company’s (imaginary) Director of Data Engineering complaining about data issues I had encountered in the last week, and asking they be fixed as soon as possible. I didn’t offer Copilot any specifics about the data issues. I was merely looking for a simple, straight-ahead serious letter of complaint.

Copilot, instead, went on a tear, making things up as it went. It cited “missing values, incorrect labels, inconsistent formats, and duplicate records” —  things I had never told it had happened (and didn’t). It cited nonexistent problems such as “many rows with missing values for important variables such as customer ID, purchase date, and product category…, incorrect labels for some variables, such as gender. Some values were labeled as M or F, while others were labeled as Male or Female.”

Not a single piece of information it gave was correct.

It complained that information such as product prices was outdated — untrue. It wrote that “I have attached a spreadsheet with some examples of the data errors I have found, along with the sources and dates of the data.” No such spreadsheet existed. I had no examples of data errors, and no sources and dates for the non-existent data.

It went even further, delivering a set of recommendations for how the (non-existent) issues could be fixed. Again, I had asked it to do none of this.

In my testing, I found other hallucinations as well, notably in a sales document for Work@Home’s furniture I asked Copilot to craft. It made up product names that didn’t exist, and cited benefits I hadn’t asked it to pitch.

How to cut down on hallucinations

The good news is that I found there are ways to reduce Copilot’s hallucinations. Copilot tends to go off the rails more when asked open-ended questions, so be as specific as possible about what you want done. Include as much detailed information as you can; that way, Copilot won’t fill in the blanks itself.

You can also tell Copilot to use specific sources of information that you know are trustworthy. And consider setting a word limit on Copilot’s answers to your queries; the shorter the document, the less likely it is to hallucinate.

Finally, check Copilot’s citations and follow those links to see whether they’re trustworthy. Asking Copilot to list the sources of its information might also help mitigate hallucinations.

The takeaway

What’s the bottom line here? 

Copilot isn’t yet fully vetted and tested — and given the open-ended nature of genAI, it might never be. If you believe OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the hallucinations are more a feature than a bug. MarketWatch reported that at a Salesforce conference, Altman told Salesforce CRM Chair and Chief Executive Marc Benioff that “reported instances of artificial-intelligence models ‘hallucinating’ was actually more a feature of the technology than a bug.”

His reasoning: It proves that genAI is acting creatively. I don’t buy that, but I do believe hallucinations are built into core of genAI. Large language models (LLMs) like Copilot don’t think and reason in a holistic way like human beings do. Instead, when crafting responses to prompts, they build answers word by word, predicting the next likely word in a sequence. That makes it more difficult for them to adhere to known facts.

Copilot for Microsoft 365’s tendency to hallucinate doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it. In my testing, I found it quite useful overall, as long as I minimized queries and checked for hallucinations. If your business is considering rolling it out, I’d suggest that everyone who uses it be required to get proper training. And anything crafted or aided by Copilot should be carefully vetted by multiple people if it’s going to be published outside your organization, or if it will be used for mission-critical tasks.

So, is Copilot a lying liar? Yes, it sometimes is. But it can be a useful one, as long as you handle it properly.

CrowdStrike reminded us last week just how fragile our computers are when it took down critical systems around the world with a buggy software update July 19. And while most companies are currently laser-focused on the notion of software failure, a computer blue-screening at boot is just one of many disasters that could befall it. Your computer could fall into a ravine, get taken out by a lightning strike, or just randomly refuse to turn on one day.

It’s difficult to prepare for outages like the one CrowdStrike caused, though many businesses will likely be moving away from CrowdStrike’s security software after the latest debacle. However, there are some things you can do to keep your PC protected and prevent different types of problems from taking it out of operation.

Want more advice for making the most of your PC? Check out my free Windows Intelligence newsletter to get three things to try every Friday and free in-depth Windows Field Guides.

Windows prep step #1: Back up critical files regularly

PCs come and go. Your laptop or desktop computer might just not turn on one day — it does happen. That’s why it’s critical to have up-to-date backups — and ensure you have multiple copies.

There are many ways to back up files. You might rely on an external drive using the File History feature built into Windows or another backup utility. You could use a cloud backup service that automatically uploads backups to online storage. Even having your files in a cloud storage service — Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or whatever else — is solid a way to ensure your data will outlive your PC.

Windows prep step #2: Know how to access troubleshooting tools

The buggy CrowdStrike update could be fixed from Safe Mode. That’s true with many buggy updates: Windows has a built-in way to boot into a recovery menu that gives you a lot of options for straightening out problems.

Windows will normally boot straight to this menu if your PC is having trouble starting up. You’ll see a blue “Choose an option” screen, and you can select “Troubleshoot” to access a wide variety of troubleshooting options. For example, you can uninstall updates, use System Restore to roll back software changes, and boot into a Safe Mode environment where you might be able to undo what went wrong.

In some cases, your computer might boot, but not work right. To access the recovery menu, just press and hold down the Shift key while you click the “Restart” option — for example, you might click “Restart” after clicking the power button on the lock screen, in the Start menu, or on the Ctrl+Alt+Delete screen.

Windows prep step #3: Create a recovery drive (or a full installation drive)

If things go really wrong, you might not be able to boot to that recovery menu at all. In this case, you can boot from a recovery drive to find the same troubleshooting options. Or, you can boot from a Windows installation drive to find both the troubleshooting options and a way to reinstall Windows and start over.

A recovery drive — or perhaps a full Windows installation drive — is a convenient thing to have in a pinch. If you have a USB drive lying around, you can create one easily using the “Create a recovery drive” tool built into Windows. Microsoft will also help you create a Windows 11 or Windows 10 installation drive: Just download the appropriate tool from the Download Windows 11 or Download Windows 10 website.

Your USB drive must be at least 8 GB in size if you want to turn it into a Windows 11 installation drive.

Chris Hoffman, IDG

Windows prep step #4: Be prepared to restart from scratch

For quick recovery, you should be prepared to restart your PC from scratch. You might have to reset it or reinstall Windows to get it working again. Or, perhaps your PC’s hardware has given up the ghost and you’ll need a new PC.

How quickly could you get up and running again on a fresh Windows system? It’s a good idea to note down the applications you use and the critical settings you always change. Perhaps you can export your settings from the applications you use and be prepared to import them after setting up a new Windows installation. If you rely on browser bookmarks, it’s a good idea to sync those using your browser’s sync feature or at least export a copy and be ready to import it again if you need to. (You might be able to quickly install your applications with Winget.)

Make whatever notes and arrangements work for you. The more prepared you are for an emergency, the faster you’ll get back up to speed.

Windows prep step #5: Ensure your PC’s storage is encrypted

Ideally, your PC’s storage is securely encrypted. This will protect your personal files and data if someone else gets their hands on your computer.

This is useful if a thief swipes your PC. But it’s also useful if your PC breaks. Let’s say your computer becomes unbootable, and its storage is unencrypted — if you send it off for repair or dispose of it, people will be able to get your data. If it’s encrypted, you don’t have to worry about unauthorized access to your files.

Most modern Windows PCs support “Device Encryption,” which will encrypt your PC’s storage — but only if you sign in with a Microsoft account. Here’s how to check whether your PC supports Device Encryption.

If your PC doesn’t — or if you choose to sign in with a local account and not a Microsoft account — you should seriously consider setting up BitLocker encryption. This will require a Windows 11 Professional or Windows 10 Professional license. That’s likely an upgrade you’ll need to pay for, which is why Device Encryption is likely the better option for most people.

With Device Encryption, Windows 11 Home and Windows 10 Home users finally have a built-in way to encrypt the storage on their PCs.

Chris Hoffman, IDG

Windows prep step #6: Have a backup computer waiting in the wings 

If you rely on your computer for work, it’s a good idea to have a backup computer at hand. If your normal computer won’t turn on one day, you can switch to your secondary computer and immediately get up and running.

This doesn’t really mean you need to buy a new computer. You may well have one lying around; an older Windows 10 PC will work just fine. But it’s a good idea to set that computer up ahead of time: Install the applications you use regularly and configure it to your liking. Then, you’re not stuck if there’s ever a problem with your primary PC.

Windows prep step #7: Use a surge protector

A surge protector is important to protect your computer from power surges. A downed power line during a storm could result in a power surge and could damage your PC. That’s what a surge protector is for — it takes the hit instead of your sensitive electronics. It’s worth investing in a decent surge protector and plugging your PC into there rather than directly into an electrical outlet.

Windows prep step #8: Don’t depend entirely on online services

The CrowdStrike bug crippled a lot of infrastructure, with many systems down. That’s why I don’t like depending exclusively on applications that require an internet-connected service to access your data.

For example, Notion is a great note-taking tool many organizations use. We use it at The Intelligence for our company-shared notes. But it requires an internet connection and isn’t designed to be used offline. I personally use OneNote for my own individual notes — while it syncs online, I can always access my notes offline. Even if Microsoft’s systems go down — or, more likely, if my internet connection goes down — I’ll still have access to my notes.

It’s a good idea to audit the services and tools you use. Do you have any critical tools that require an internet-connected service to function? If so, consider switching to something more robust.

And yes, you need antivirus

You probably already know you need to use antivirus software — luckily, decent protection is built right into Windows itself thanks to Windows Defender. But if you act on the above points, you’ll have a much more robust computing setup in case of emergency.

Want more timely PC tips? Come check out my free Windows Intelligence newsletter — I’ll send you three things to try every Friday. Plus, get free Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides as soon as you sign up!

Čtyři odvážlivci, kteří v rámci tzv. Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) žili po dobu 378 dní v maketě marsovského habitatu, trávili volný čas především sledováním televize a čtením. Prozradila to jedna z účastnic dotyčného projektu, mikrobioložka Anca Selariu. Pseudokolonisté ...

The threat actor known as Patchwork has been linked to a cyber attack targeting entities with ties to Bhutan to deliver the Brute Ratel C4 framework and an updated version of a backdoor called PGoShell. The development marks the first time the adversary has been observed using the red teaming software, the Knownsec 404 Team said in an analysis published last week. The activity cluster, also

The threat actor known as Patchwork has been linked to a cyber attack targeting entities with ties to Bhutan to deliver the Brute Ratel C4 framework and an updated version of a backdoor called PGoShell. The development marks the first time the adversary has been observed using the red teaming software, the Knownsec 404 Team said in an analysis published last week. The activity cluster, also Newsroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]

„První český Cybertruck“? To už jsme tu řešili na jaře. Tom Krcha nám tehdy v podcastu popovídal o tom, jak se s futuristickým elektromobilem žije, jaké má výhody, nevýhody, specifika a jak na něj reagují lidé: Hrdě vozí českou vlaječku, jediný „problém“ byl, že tenhle „český Cybertruck“ jezdí v ...

Watchdog reprimand follows similar cases in 2021

The UK's data protection watchdog has reprimanded a school in Essex for using facial recognition for canteen payments, nearly three years after other schools were warned about doing the same.…

Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Wednesday blamed an issue in its validation system for causing millions of Windows devices to crash as part of a widespread outage late last week. "On Friday, July 19, 2024 at 04:09 UTC, as part of regular operations, CrowdStrike released a content configuration update for the Windows sensor to gather telemetry on possible novel threat techniques," the company

Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Wednesday blamed an issue in its validation system for causing millions of Windows devices to crash as part of a widespread outage late last week. "On Friday, July 19, 2024 at 04:09 UTC, as part of regular operations, CrowdStrike released a content configuration update for the Windows sensor to gather telemetry on possible novel threat techniques," the company Newsroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]

Začíná se proslýchat, že nová generace grafických karet GeForce s architekturou Blackwell pravděpodobněji dorazí na pulty až začátkem roku 2025…

OpenAI uvedla další model generativní umělé inteligence. Jmenuje se GPT-4o mini a není to žádný revoluční obří model se stovkami bilionů parametrů. Naopak. Je to zmenšená verze modelu Omni. Zásadní posun nastal v ceně. Kdo by před rokem tušil že z GPT-4 bude dnes legacy model a o 3.5 zanedlouho ...

CZC vyprodává notebook Asus Vivobook 15X OLED (M3504) jen za 9990 Kč. Ještě nedávno stál přes 14 tisíc a pod 13 se nikdy nedostal. V dané cenové třídě má přitom neskutečné parametry. Při vydání tipu mělo CZC skladem 30 kusů, tak si pospěšte. Zařízení obsahuje lesklý 15,6" OLED panel s rozlišením ...

Web puzzles don't protect against bots, but humans have spent 819 million unpaid hours solving them

Updated  Google promotes its reCAPTCHA service as a security mechanism for websites, but researchers affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, argue it's harvesting information while extracting human labor worth billions.…

A now-patched security flaw in the Microsoft Defender SmartScreen has been exploited as part of a new campaign designed to deliver information stealers such as ACR Stealer, Lumma, and Meduza. Fortinet FortiGuard Labs said it detected the stealer campaign targeting Spain, Thailand, and the U.S. using booby-trapped files that exploit CVE-2024-21412 (CVSS score: 8.1). The high-severity

A now-patched security flaw in the Microsoft Defender SmartScreen has been exploited as part of a new campaign designed to deliver information stealers such as ACR Stealer, Lumma, and Meduza. Fortinet FortiGuard Labs said it detected the stealer campaign targeting Spain, Thailand, and the U.S. using booby-trapped files that exploit CVE-2024-21412 (CVSS score: 8.1). The high-severity Newsroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added two security flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, based on evidence of active exploitation. The vulnerabilities are listed below - CVE-2012-4792 (CVSS score: 9.3) - Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free Vulnerability CVE-2024-39891 (CVSS score: 5.3) - Twilio Authy Information Disclosure