Cybersecurity News You Can Use
MASSIVE DATA BREACH OF STUDENT RECORDS: This is a big one. Parents, students, teachers, and administrators across North America are grappling with the fallout from a major data breach involving PowerSchool, a service used by 16,000 K–12 schools worldwide to manage data for 60 million students.
This breach includes Social Security numbers, medical records, home addresses, phone numbers, grades, and caregiver details for students since 2017.
Parents are urged to check for fraudulent accounts opened using their child’s information. If no credit file exists, it’s a positive sign. Parents can place a credit lock with major bureaus like Equifax and TransUnion to prevent unauthorized use, adding an extra layer of protection.
MICROSOFT USERS: NOW IT’S UP TO YOU TO LOG OUT. Beginning this month, you will now remain signed in to your Microsoft accounts automatically unless you sign out or use private browsing, making it essential to stay cautious on public computers. Currently, users are prompted to choose whether they want to stay signed in, but this prompt will be removed.
WHEN IT’S YOUR MONEY, DON’T BE SO FAST TO MOVE IT. The FBI is warning of a growing scam called “the Phantom Hacker.” According to Forbes, it begins with a pop-up ad or phishing email urging the victim to call a number about a supposed “account infiltration.” Victims are pressured to quickly move their money to “protect” it, but the transferred funds go directly to the scammer. And once the money is gone, recovery is unlikely.
Their advice: Never install an app at the direction of someone claiming to be tech support, and remember, banks will never ask for security credentials over the phone.
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Answers to Your
Cybersecurity Questions
“I received an email that appeared to be from my credit card company, notifying me of a suspicious charge on my account. The email address looked legitimate, so I called the toll-free number provided. Instead of reaching a customer service representative, I was stuck listening to a recorded sales pitch for a Medicare Advantage Plan, with no option to connect to the help desk. What did I miss?” — Jackie S.
It turns out the toll-free number you called was, in fact, the credit card company’s legitimate number. However, some credit card companies have started using pre-recorded sales pitches before connecting callers to a representative. This is especially frustrating when the issue you’re calling about could indicate a potential breach of your account. To bypass the recording, try calling the number again—it should connect you directly.
“What should you do if your personal information is for sale on the dark web?” — Shundetta S
It probably is. The more active you are online—especially if you use lesser-known e-commerce sites, fall for phishing emails, or reuse passwords—the greater the chance your personal information is sold to scammers. A quick check on haveibeenpwned.com can help determine if your data has been compromised.
Companies like Norton, McAfee, Surfshark, Identity Guard, and Aura offer subscription services to monitor your credit and alert you to potential risks. It’s a good idea to research these services online to understand their pros and cons and learn how to freeze your credit to protect against fraud.
“I just saw a report on the news about someone whose house was sold without their knowledge, and they owned the house! I have a mortgage. How can I protect myself from that?” — Bendita12
This is called title fraud or property deed theft. It occurs when scammers transfer ownership of a property without the owner’s consent. Since property deeds are part of public records, fraudsters can exploit that accessibility. Although title fraud is relatively rare, it is more common in high-value real estate areas and among homeowners who own their properties outright.
To protect against this risk, many local government offices and private companies offer deed fraud alert programs, which notify property owners of any changes to their deeds. Title insurance is another valuable safeguard, protecting against potential future claims on the property. This is a one-time fee that varies by state.
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