David Ruiz

San Francisco

Writer, Malwarebytes at Freelance

Senior privacy advocate and Lock and Code host at Malwarebytes. Founding member of @StopStalkerware. Faulkner fan. Surveillance hater.

Articles

72% of people are worried their data is being misused by the government, and that's not all...

2 weeks ago | malwarebytes.com | David Ruiz

Bad vibes are big news in privacy right now, with the public feeling isolated in securing their sensitive information from companies, governments, AI models, and scammers. That’s the latest from Malwarebytes research conducted this month, which revealed that the vast majority of people are concerned about wrongful data access from nearly every corner of their lives.
Security expert Troy Hunt hit by phishing attack

1 month ago | malwarebytes.com | David Ruiz

Internet security expert and educator Troy Hunt disclosed this week that he had been hit by one of the oldest—and most proven—scams in the online world: A phishing attack. Through an automated attack disguised as a notice from Hunt’s chosen newsletter provider Mailchimp, scammers stole roughly 16,000 records belonging to current and past subscribers of Hunt’s blog. As such, readers should be the lookout for any scams or phishing attempts in the coming weeks.
23andMe bankruptcy: How to delete your data and stay safe from the 2023 breach

1 month ago | malwarebytes.com | David Ruiz

The genetic testing company 23andMe filed for bankruptcy on Sunday, announcing that, in searching for financial stability through its sale to a new owner, the business will continue operating as normal, including in how customer data is handled. “The company intends to continue operating its business in the ordinary course throughout the sale process,” 23andMe wrote in a news statement.
1 in 10 people do nothing to stay secure and private on vacation

1 month ago | malwarebytes.com | David Ruiz

This year, Spring Break vacationers are packing more than their flip-flops, bucket hats, and sunglasses—they’re also packing a few cybersecurity anxieties for the trip.
Macs targeted by info stealers in new era of cyberthreats

2 months ago | malwarebytes.com | David Ruiz

The latest, major threats to Mac computers can steal passwords and credit card details with delicate precision, targeting victims across the internet based on their device, location, and operating system. These are the dangers of “info stealers,” which have long plagued Windows devices but, in the past two years, have become a serious threat for Mac owners.
Phishing evolves beyond email to become latest Android app threat

2 months ago | malwarebytes.com | David Ruiz

There are plenty of phish in the sea, and the latest ones have little interest in your email inbox. In 2024, Malwarebytes detected more than 22,800 phishing apps on Android, according to the recent 2025 State of Malware report. Of those malicious apps, 5,200 could subvert one of the strongest security practices available today, called “multifactor authentication,” by prying into basic text messages sent to a device.
New AI "agents" could hold people for ransom in 2025

2 months ago | malwarebytes.com | David Ruiz

A paradigm shift in technology is hurtling towards us, and it could change everything we know about cybersecurity. Uhh, again, that is. When ChatGPT was unveiled to the public in late 2022, security experts looked on with cautious optimism, excited about the new technology but concerned about its use in cyberattacks. But two years on, much of what ChatGPT and other generative AI chat tools offer attackers is a way to improve what already works, not new ways to deliver attacks themselves.
President Donald Trump Archives

Jan 21, 2025 | securityboulevard.com | Richi Jennings |David Ruiz
The new rules for AI and encrypted messaging, with Mallory Knodel (Lock and Code S06E01)

Jan 13, 2025 | malwarebytes.com | David Ruiz

This week on the Lock and Code podcast…The era of artificial intelligence everything is here, and with it, come everyday surprises into exactly where the next AI tools might pop up. There are major corporations pushing customer support functions onto AI chatbots, Big Tech platforms offering AI image generation for social media posts, and even Google has defaulted to include AI-powered overviews into everyday searches.
Google Chrome AI extensions deliver info-stealing malware in broad attack

Jan 9, 2025 | malwarebytes.com | David Ruiz

Small businesses and boutique organizations should use caution when leaning on browser-friendly artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate ideas, content, and marketing copy, as a set of Google Chrome extensions were recently compromised to deliver info-stealing malware disguised as legitimate updates. Analyzed by researchers at Extension Total, the cybercriminal campaign has managed to take over the accounts of at least 36 Google Chrome extensions that provide AI and VPN services.