News & Analysis
Resolutions for a Safe and Secure 2024
ConnectSafely CEO Larry Magid has advice on what you can do to have a safer and more secure 2024.
Beware of ‘Smishing’ Scams
The first few times I got a text message from a stranger that appeared to be directed at someone else, I politely informed them that they’d reached the wrong number.
How Americans Feel about AI
Talking to your family about artificial intelligence.
Meta, Ray-Ban Release Second-Generation Smart Glasses
I was riding my bicycle the other day taking pictures, talking on the phone and sending and receiving texts without ever taking my hands off the handle bars.
Ask Trish: What The Heck Just Happened At OpenAI?
“Hi Trish…I saw a bunch of stuff go down at OpenAI with Sam Altman. Can u explain what happened?”
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Managing Privacy on Facebook
There’s an old saying, “Everyone complains about the weather, but nobody ever seems to do anything about it.” The same could be said about Facebook privacy.
Why You Should Review Your App Privacy Settings
Chances are you have a lot of apps on your phone, and there’s a good chance that there are some you’re not using or maybe not even aware of.
Is Artificial Intelligence the Next Search Engine?
Google fundamentally changed the way we search for information, and IA services like ChatGPT and Bard may do the same.
What is Catfishing and Why It’s Dangerous
Catfishing can result in disappointment and broken hearts, but — as in the case in Riverside — it can also end in tragedy.
Shop Safely this Holiday Season
There are indeed some real bargains out there, but beware of any that are “too good to be true.”
Surveys Shed Light on Teen and Parent Feelings about Social Media
It’s relatively rare to get new research on teens, parents and social media but three surveys dropped this week.
Tech Checklist to Prepare for Disasters and Power Failures
Whether it’s earthquakes, tornadoes, impending fires or even massive hack attacks, it’s important to make sure that your tech is ready and able to operate even in the event of a power failure.
Snapchat Launches Family Center
The new tool allows teens to opt-in so that their parents have insight into how they’re using the popular platform.
Instagram Testing Age Verification Technology
Instagram has announced new ways to verify the approximate age of its users, including Face-Based-Age-Prediction (FBAP) technology that can anonymously determine a person’s approximate age.: How it works and why it matters
Ask Trish: Deepfakes
I’ve been hearing all about deepfakes in the news these days. What are deepfakes and why are people so worried about them?
Managing Privacy on Facebook
There’s an old saying, “Everyone complains about the weather, but nobody ever seems to do anything about it.” The same could be said about Facebook privacy.
Why You Should Review Your App Privacy Settings
Chances are you have a lot of apps on your phone, and there’s a good chance that there are some you’re not using or maybe not even aware of.
Is Artificial Intelligence the Next Search Engine?
Google fundamentally changed the way we search for information, and IA services like ChatGPT and Bard may do the same.
What is Catfishing and Why It’s Dangerous
Catfishing can result in disappointment and broken hearts, but — as in the case in Riverside — it can also end in tragedy.
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Social Media Can Contribute to Despair about War but also Provide Relief
Like many people, I’ve spent a lot of time in front of my phone, computer and TV, focused on the war in Ukraine. On some TV news programs, it’s literally the only subject covered, sometimes in minute detail.
How to Talk with Your Kids About War in Ukraine
How parents and other adults respond can have a big impact on how a young person handles the news coming out of Ukraine.
Russian Cyberattacks are Possible. Be Prepared But Not Panicked.
Although it’s very unlikely that average Americans will be directly targeted by a Russian cyberattack, it is quite possible to become an indirect victim of an attack against a company, health care organization or government agency we rely on.
Real-Time Location Sharing Can Enhance, Jeopardize Safety
Snapchat is the latest app to add real-time location sharing, which means you can use it to inform friends and family of your exact location even if the app is closed.
Metaverse: What’s the Risk?
You’ve probably heard the term “metaverse,” which is being embraced by numerous tech companies. The company formerly known as Facebook is so committed to the idea, that it’s renamed itself “Meta” to symbolize its deep dive into this new online world.
Computing Has Gone Full Circle, and It’s Time to Go Back a Bit
My very first computer was a Cyber 70. I didn’t own it nor did I ever get within a few feet of it. It was a giant mainframe housed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Graduate Research Center.
Facebook Not Alone in Embrace of ‘Metaverse’
As you’ve undoubtedly heard, Facebook has renamed itself Meta. Some people thought that was in response to the company’s recent troubles, but a company the size of Facebook doesn’t go through a major rebranding in a matter of weeks. It’s clearly been on the drawing board for months, if not longer.
FBI Issues Warning About Sextortion After Arrest in Teen Death
The FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) issued a joint national public safety alert on financial sextortion schemes.
Generosity is Great, But Be Cautious When Giving to Charity
“Giving Tuesday,” which is now behind us, is really the start of the end-of-the-year holiday giving period. Unfortunately, this season of generosity also brings out online scammers.