Microsoft shares terrifying new uses for AI; Wrong Phone Number’ Scams Are on the Rise; Malware Steals 1.7 Billion Passwords — Publishes Them To Dark Web, and More!
Every day, we scan the tech world for interesting news, sometimes from outside the tech world. Every Thursday, we feature news articles that grabbed our attention over the past week. We hope you find this week’s ‘Thursday Newsbytes’ informative and interesting!
Microsoft shares terrifying new use for AI
A new future is coming, and many workers won’t like it.
Ever since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022 kicked off the current artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, many people have considered one question: how afraid should we be of this technology?
For decades, the hypothetical dangers of AI have served as a trope for science fiction literature and film, which often depicted a robot uprising. But recent advances in the technology have led to speculation that this dystopian future may not actually be so far away.
hen people discuss fears regarding AI, though, it is commonly within the context of chatbots replacing human workers, a trend that continues to spread throughout certain industries. When companies lay off workers, it is often with plans to streamline production by further implementing AI tools.
For some, though, these AI fears may be about to get extremely real. Microsoft (MSFT) has announced something that threatens to usher in a future many people have been dreading….
Wrong Phone Number’ Scams Are on the Rise
Fraudsters actually do not care how your day is going.
If you’ve received an innocent-sounding text from a number you don’t recognize, it’s not actually innocent. It’s likely the start of a “wrong phone number” scam, which is increasingly being used to steal money and information from victims. I personally have been sent variations on this theme: “Hello! I hope you had a good day.” “Are you able to work?” and just “Hello.”
Research from security firm McAfee reported by CNBC indicates that around 25% of Americans have received wrong number texts. But this isn’t the only widespread text message scam currently circulating. The unpaid tolls and unpaid parking fee schemes are phishing attempts that may seem legitimate at first glance but ultimately lead you to hand your credit card information over to thieves. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers lost $470 million to text message scams in 2024, a five-fold increase over 2020.
How the wrong number scam works
The wrong number text scam starts with a random and seemingly harmless text from an unfamiliar number, the first objective of which is to prompt a response and confirm that your phone number is active…
Malware Steals 1.7 Billion Passwords — Publishes Them To Dark Web
If you think that your password is safe and secure, the chances are you are wrong. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the evidence isn’t comforting. Unless you are among the relative few that really do take their security seriously, especially when concerning passwords and their management, reuse and construction, the hackers already have the upper hand. A new analysis has confirmed the extent to which this is true, as infostealer malware publishes 1.7 billion compromised passwords to crime forums on the dark web. Here’s what you need to know.
I have been warning readers of the dangers of infostealer malware for the longest time now. It has been apparent to me, and most cybersecurity professionals, that this single malware threat has a disproportionate impact on the attack landscape. Think about it, if a hacker, cybercriminal, state-sponsored espionage group, heck, any threat actor at all, wants access to your systems, accounts and data, what’s the easiest way to do that? Sure, they can exploit unpatched vulnerabilities, conduct multi-level supply chain attacks, or use adversary-in-the-middle tactics, but the easiest method is to use your login credentials. Stealing passwords is big business…
Google subpoena scam: What it looks like and how to avoid it
What is a Google subpoena scam?
The Google subpoena scam is a type of phishing attack where fraudsters impersonate Google to create a false sense of urgency and fear.
Typically, you will receive an email that appears to come from no-reply@google.com, claiming to inform you of a subpoena, a formal legal request. The email will often have a subject line like “Security Alert” or “Notice of Subpoena,” making it seem urgent and legitimate. These scammers prey on your natural concern about legal matters and data privacy, hoping to trigger a reaction.
Inside the email, the scammers falsely claim that Google has been served with a subpoena requiring the company to turn over your account data, such as emails, documents or search history…
The lukewarm reception to Windows 11 is clear from the wave of third-party tools built to fix it. One of the most recent is Crapfixer Rebirth Version, a utility that’s been around for about seven years (although it looks older), which has now been given a full refresh.
Winhance is another tool you’ll definitely be interested in. It can debloat and optimize Windows — and keep it that way. Although it’s been designed for Windows 11 it works just fine on Windows 10. Winhance was originally a PowerShell GUI application, but version 4 is a standalone app that can be installed or uninstalled easily, and it also comes in a portable version, so there’s no reason not to get started with it today.
Winhance allows you to install or remove Windows apps and features like Microsoft Edge, OneDrive, Recall, Copilot, and other optional packages and capabilities, as well as directly install additional software such as browsers, multimedia apps, document viewers, and any other applications you might need when setting up a fresh Windows installation.
The app offers an extensive selection of system optimization tools…
Thanks for reading this week’s Thursday Newbytes. We hope these articles were informative, interesting, fun, and helpful.
