Security & Viruses

Stop spam calls and robocalls on iPhone and Android using built-in call filtering, carrier tools, and the National Do Not Call Registry, including Silence Unknown Callers, Android Caller ID and spam, Filter spam calls, Verified Calls, AT&T Call Protect, T-Mobile Scam Shield, Verizon Call Filter, automatic spam blocking and labeling, reviewing blocked call logs, registering at donotcall.gov or 1-888-382-1222, reporting violators, understanding spoofed numbers, avoiding press 1 removal traps, and considering privacy before third-party call-blocking apps.

Tell whether a website is a scam before buying or entering information, including checking the exact domain name, understanding HTTPS padlock limits, finding real contact information and return policies, searching store names with scam or reviews, recognizing unrealistic prices countdowns and stock-pressure tactics, reverse image searching product photos, checking domain age with WHOIS, reviewing payment methods, avoiding wire crypto and personal payment app requests, checking BBB Scam Tracker, disputing charges, changing reused passwords, taking screenshots, and reporting to the FTC and BBB.

Spot fake online reviews before buying products apps services or local business offers, including clusters of five-star reviews, repeated generic phrases, vague descriptions, reviewer profiles with narrow histories, ratings that conflict with written complaints, repeated unusual wording, sorting by most recent, reading one- and two-star reviews, checking Verified Purchase labels, researching sellers separately, cross-checking professional reviews and forums, reporting fake reviews, understanding incentivized reviews and fake negative reviews, and knowing the FTC 2024 fake review rule.

Spot fake Venmo login websites from texts emails ads and QR codes, including checking the exact venmo.com address, avoiding links that claim payments are on hold or accounts need verification, recognizing requests for Social Security numbers card PINs ID photos and one-time codes, opening Venmo through the official app or typed URL, changing the Venmo password after exposure, turning on two-factor authentication, reviewing activity, contacting Venmo and banks about unauthorized payments, reporting fake sites, and treating QR codes like suspicious links.

Spot AI-generated images used in marketplace listings dating profiles social posts donation appeals and ads, including checking hands fingers teeth text signs labels logos backgrounds lighting shadows skin and hair, understanding that no single visual clue proves an image is fake, verifying with reverse image search, requesting a fresh photo or live video, reviewing account age and history, being cautious with emotional disaster images and too-good-to-be-true offers, and relying on independent verification as AI image quality improves.

Spot fake Microsoft Outlook Office 365 Xbox and account-security emails, including checking the real sender address, hovering over links, recognizing urgency and threats, avoiding requests for passwords codes gift cards or wire payments, verifying safely through account.microsoft.com, checking Security Billing and sign-in activity, changing a Microsoft password after exposure, enabling two-step verification, reviewing Outlook mail forwarding rules, scanning for malware after attachments, and reporting phishing to Microsoft.

Spot deepfake and AI voice scams involving family members bosses celebrities and business contacts, including cloned voices from public audio, urgent secret emergency money requests, wire gift card crypto and Zelle payment demands, odd cadence pauses word choice and audio quality, video glitches with blinking lighting lips and smooth faces, avoiding short scripted calls, verifying independently by calling saved numbers, asking private questions, setting family safe words, using a different channel, refusing pressure, contacting banks and payment services after money is sent, reporting to IC3 and FTC, warning relatives, understanding public voice privacy risk, and knowing classic emergency scams may or may not use AI.

Spot fake Apple ID phishing emails texts and calls, including locked account suspended account unknown device and fake purchase receipt messages, checking sender domains for apple.com, hovering over links for apple.com or icloud.com, recognizing urgency threats and fake invoices, avoiding password verification code gift card wire crypto and remote-access requests, verifying Apple ID status directly from iPhone Settings or appleid.apple.com, checking devices and purchase history, deleting or reporting junk texts, forwarding suspicious emails to Apple, changing Apple ID passwords after credential entry, enabling two-factor authentication, contacting card issuers after card entry, and uninstalling remote-access software after scam calls.

Spot fake Bank of America phishing emails texts and calls, including locked account suspicious activity and verification messages, checking sender addresses for bankofamerica.com, hovering over links, recognizing urgent threats generic greetings and requests for account number Social Security number password or one-time codes, checking formatting and logos, verifying through bankofamerica.com or official mobile app, checking secure Message Center alerts and unusual activity, calling the number on the card or statement, reporting entered credentials or card details, changing online banking passwords, monitoring transactions, and forwarding suspicious emails to Bank of America phishing report address.

Set up account recovery contacts and recovery options for Apple Google and Microsoft, including Apple Recovery Contact on iPhone iPad and Mac, adding trusted contacts through Sign-In and Security, accepting requests, using recovery codes without exposing passwords or data, adding multiple contacts, Google recovery phone email and recovery contacts, Microsoft security info recovery phone email Authenticator and passkeys, choosing independent recovery emails, keeping phone numbers current, reviewing recovery info yearly, and understanding recovery contacts supplement two-factor authentication.