Sharenting: are you leaving your kids’ digital footprints for scammers to find?

Let’s be real: the online world is a huge part of our kids’ lives these days. From the time they’re tiny, we share photos, moments, and milestones online—proud parent stuff! Schools, friends, and family all get involved too. Before we know it, our kids have a whole digital history they didn’t eve...

Don’t let your kids on Roblox if you’re not comfortable, says Roblox CEO

In response to growing worries about the safety of children using Roblox, the CEO of the company has said to parents: "My first message would be, if you're not comfortable, don't let your kids be on Roblox." Roblox is one of the most popular gaming platforms, especially among young children...

Cyberbullying and the Law: When Does Online Harassment Become a Criminal Offense?

The rise of social media and digital communication has transformed how we connect, but it has also opened…...

Online safety tips for LGBTQIA+ communities

The internet is great for bringing people together, helping you feel part of a community, and staying in touch with your nearest and dearest. But it can also be a nasty place - from malware to scammers, to people just being plain awful to others. It's probably not surprising to read that recent...

US school district sues Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok over harm to kids

Public schools in a Seattle district filed a lawsuit on Friday against parent companies of the biggest social networks on the internet, alleging social media is to blame for "a youth mental health crisis", and saying these companies have purposefully designed, refined, and operated their platform...

Teen talk: What it's like to grow up online, and the role of parents: Lock and Code S03E21

Growing up is different for teens today. Issues with identity, self-expression, bullying, fitting in, and trusting your friends and family--while all those certainly existed decades ago, they were never magnified in quite the same way that they are today, and that's largely because of one enormou...

Internet Safety Month: Everything you need to know about Omegle

Omegle reached the heady heights of fame when everyone least expected it. Thanks to TikTok influencers, children flocked to this 13-year-old platform during the pandemic, unaware of the dangers already there. The concept of talking to strangers online is Omegles main selling point, but its not ne...

Yik Yak “cyberbullying”: What can be done?

In August 2021, Yik Yak, the once-popular anonymous social media platform on Android and iOS, made a comeback after shutting its doors in 2017. Six months after its return, its started to gain attention once more, as a result of cyberbullying—the main reason why it declined years ago. However, th...

What special needs kids need to stay safe online

Online safety is hard enough for most adults. We reuse weak passwords, we click on suspicious links, and we love to share sensitive information that should be kept private and secure. Just go back a few months to watch adults gleefully sharing photos of their vaccine cards. The consequences of...

A week in security (August 9 – August 15)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Home routers are being hijacked using a vulnerability disclosed just 2 before Ransomware turncoat leaks Conti data, lifts the lid on the ransomware business Check your passwords! Synology NAS devices are under attack from StealthWorker PrintNightmare and RDP RCE...

Cyberbullying 101: A Primer for kids, teens, and parents

At some point in our lives, we have likely either been bullied, stood back and watched others bullying, or participated in the act. Playing the role of offender, offended, and by-stander has become easier, thanks to the Internet and the technologies that make it possible to keep up connected. In...

Mother charged with using deepfakes to shame daughter’s cheerleading rivals

A Pennsylvania woman reportedly sent doctored photos and videos of her daughters cheerleader rivals to their coaches, in an attempt to embarrass them and get them kicked off the team. Shes alleged to have used deepfake technology to create photo and video depictions of the girls naked, drinking,...

Dox, steal, reveal. Where does your personal data end up?

The technological shift that we have been experiencing for the last few decades is astounding, not least because of its social implications. Every year the online and offline spheres have become more and more connected and are now completely intertwined, leading to online actions having real...

L1ght Looks to Protect Internet Users from Toxic and Predatory Behavior

Cybersecurity has been regarded as a necessity for all computer users, especially today when data breaches and malware attacks have become rampant. However, one of the more overlooked aspects of cybersecurity is the prevention of other forms of cybercrime, such as the spread of harmful content an...

Child identity theft, part 1: On familiar fraud

In 2013, 30-year-old Axton Betz-Hamilton received an angry phone call from her father two weeks after her mother, Pam, died. "What the hell were you thinking?" he screamed. He had just unearthed a credit card statement in her name that had run over its limit from a box of her mother’s paperwork...

New SchoolSafety.gov Provides Cyber Guidance for K-12 Schools

The Federal School Safety Clearinghouse just launched its website: SchoolSafety.gov. This website—a collaboration between the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services—features a fact sheet on Cyber Safety Considerations for K-12...

Safer Internet Day

February 11, 2020, is Safer Internet Day, a worldwide event aimed at promoting the safe and positive use of digital technology for all users, especially children and teens. This year's theme—Together for a better internet—encourages everyone to play their part in creating a safer, more secure...

Trolls abuse Twitter Lists to collate their targets

I’ve been using Twitter for more than a decade. And one of its features that I find valuable is Lists. Turns out I'm not the only one. Lists allow Twitter users to group profiles or feeds based on certain criteria, such as sports, tech news, celebrities, fashion—you get the idea. Having Lists mak...

FTC Promotes Resources to Prevent Cyberbullying

The Federal Trade Commission FTC has released an announcement on the importance of addressing cyberbullying. As children return to school, FTC encourages parents and educators to monitor kids' online activity and engage in conversations about preventing cyberbullying. NCCIC encourages users to...

Safer Internet Day

February 6, 2018, is Safer Internet Day SID, a worldwide event aimed at promoting the safe and positive use of digital technology for all users, especially children and teens. This year's SID theme—Create, Connect and Share Respect: A better Internet starts with you—encourages everyone to play...