Phrack Journalists Suspended from Proton Mail

Phrack Journalists Suspended from Proton Mail

Cybersecurity

Two Proton Mail accounts used by journalists working for cybersecurity publication Phrack were suspended after Proton received an alert from a cybersecurity response team. The accounts were later restored after a public outcry, but questions remain about the trigger, the appeals process, and how Proton evaluates these cases. Phrack is a digital magazine written for […]

9/19/2025
Planning to Quit Social Media? Stop. Do This First. (4-step guide)

Planning to Quit Social Media? Stop. Do This First. (4-step guide)

Data

Ready to quit Twitter, Reddit, Facebook or other social media platforms? You’re not alone – most social media users have probably considered quitting at some point. Anxiety, depression, loneliness and FOMO all have well documented, strong ties to social media usage; if you’re feeling off – it might be time to unplug. The next step […]

9/15/2025
U.S. Social Media Screening Mandate for Student Visa Applicants

U.S. Social Media Screening Mandate for Student Visa Applicants

Government

All foreign nationals applying for student and educational visas must now undergo social media and online presence vetting. According to a leaked cable obtained by POLITICO, consular officers are now directed to scour the internet for signs of what they deem as “hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United […]

9/13/2025
Discord’s August 2025 Policy update: UK ID checks and new ad targeting controls

Discord’s August 2025 Policy update: UK ID checks and new ad targeting controls

Data

Discord rolled out a set of policy updates that touch safety, identity checks, and how they use data to power sponsored content. Two changes matter most for privacy minded users: new age verification for the United Kingdom and broader data use for ad targeting and ‘Quest’ measurement. We’ve broken down both of these core updates, […]

9/2/2025
What Is a Social Media Footprint and Why It Matters

What Is a Social Media Footprint and Why It Matters

Digital Footprint

Definition of Social Media Footprint A social media footprint is the sum of all the activity, content, and data linked to your presence on social platforms. Every comment, like, share, video upload, private message, profile update, and even your connections contribute to this footprint. Some of it is public and easy for others to find. […]

8/29/2025
The Most Common Scams on Facebook (2025)

The Most Common Scams on Facebook (2025)

Cybersecurity

Facebook feels personal. It is filled with familiar names, faces, and memories. That sense of comfort is exactly what scammers use to their advantage. Social engineering is not about hacking software. It is about manipulating people. If you trust what you see, you are more likely to click, share, or respond. That is why Facebook […]

8/27/2025
Home Depot’s Facial Recognition Lawsuit Raises Alarming Privacy Questions

Home Depot’s Facial Recognition Lawsuit Raises Alarming Privacy Questions

Surveillance

Facial recognition technology is spreading rapidly, showing up in airports, stores, and even our everyday devices. While it is often promoted as a tool for security and convenience, its quiet expansion into the private sector has sparked serious debate. The latest controversy centers around Home Depot, which is now facing a major lawsuit over its […]

8/22/2025
How to Turn Off the New Friends Reels Feature on Instagram

How to Turn Off the New Friends Reels Feature on Instagram

Instagram

If you’ve noticed Instagram’s new Friends Reels tab showing your likes and comments to others, you might not be thrilled. By default, the feature can display your reel activity to friends or followers you follow back. The good news is you can turn it off in just a few taps. Step-by-Step: How to Disable Friends […]

8/12/2025
Wikipedia Loses Challenge to UK Online Safety Act

Wikipedia Loses Challenge to UK Online Safety Act

Wikipedia

The Wikimedia Foundation, the charity that runs Wikipedia, has lost a court fight over some of the UK’s Online Safety Act provisions. The High Court action aimed to prevent the strictest rules of the law from being applied to the online encyclopedia. The judge dismissed the challenge but, as reported by Reuters the The Guardian, […]

8/12/2025
ID Verification on YouTube (2025): What It Is, Why It’s Here, and How Australian & UK Laws Are Driving It

ID Verification on YouTube (2025): What It Is, Why It’s Here, and How Australian & UK Laws Are Driving It

AI

TL;DR – YouTube is expanding age checks for viewers and tightening identity checks for creators. The UK’s Online Safety Act and Australia’s new under-16 social-media rules are the big levers forcing platforms toward “highly effective age assurance” (read: ID, credit card, or selfie verification). Read on for details about the changes, and how you can […]

8/11/2025