Gavin Phillips

1 day ago | makeuseof.com | Gavin Phillips

The FBI has issued a warning that BADBOX 2.0 malware is surging through residential consumer electronics, infecting millions of internet-connected devices. The malware, often preloaded onto inexpensive streaming hardware and IoT devices, can steal your data and provide backdoor access to the device—and is extremely difficult to remove. The BADBOX 2.0 Botnet Is Back BADBOX 2.0 is the evolution of the original BADBOX malware.

2 days ago | makeuseof.com | Gavin Phillips

The long-awaited Switch 2 has finally launched, and folks are finally getting hands-on with Nintendo's newest portable console. But whenever a high-demand, sold-out item hits the market, scammers are waiting to take advantage with a myriad of tricks designed to leave you with empty pockets. This is one of the oldest launch-day scams in the book. Scammers will take a picture of a Nintendo Switch 2 (or steal one from elsewhere) and list it on a popular reselling platform, like eBay.

3 days ago | makeuseof.com | Gavin Phillips

If you're like me, you've embraced eSIM technology for its convenience—no physical card, quick switching between carriers, easy setup, and perfect for heading on holiday. However, eSIMs aren't entirely secure, and there are still a few ways they can be hacked. QR Code Scams When setting up your eSIM, you often scan a QR code provided by your carrier. Attackers exploit this by creating fraudulent QR codes disguised as legitimate setup tools.

1 week ago | makeuseof.com | Gavin Phillips

Opera's browser roster is expanding once more, and this time, AI is at the centre of its world. Opera Neon is a fully agentic AI browser that can surf the web and code games for you—or at least, cut down on the admin of life and leave you more time for the actual fun stuff you really enjoy. What Is Opera Neon? Opera Neon promises a new dawn for web browsing, and a big step forward for AI agents and mass adoption.

1 week ago | makeuseof.com | Gavin Phillips

I talk about phishing emails all the time, and how important it is to know how to spot them. But dealing with phishing emails in your inbox can be dicey—which is why I took Google's Phishing Quiz to see if I really know as much as I think. What Is Google's Phishing Quiz? As it sounds, Google's Phishing Quiz helps you learn to spot the signs of phishing emails. It takes you through ten questions designed to trip you up and make you click something you shouldn't.